September 2020 Newsletter

SEPTEMBER 2020 NEWSLETTER Artwork by Martha Holmes for CTU's "Unitarian Perspectives: Reflections from South Africa," the first publication focused on Unitarianism in Africa. Greetings CTU members and friends, Finally! We’ve almost made it to September and the coming spring. Our theme this month is Renewal, as we explore how best to cultivate a greater sense of renewal in our lives, with a greater energy and insight. Included in this month's newsletter are many ways you can get involved in our community and get to know each other better in the process. On 13 September, we will be back in our building! Please see below for more details about attending and volunteering at the building on this day. We will continue to Zoom as well. The service will be in French, with Gur Mouanga translating for us non-French speakers. Niyungeko Gérard from Burundi will give the reflection. On 20 September, we will explore how best to have a continual renewal in our community, to encourage each of us to stay fresh in our various spiritual practices and to feel renewed in our interactions with each other. On 27 September, we’ll caravan together to Bonteheuwel for our Spring Flower Communion. Soraya Salie, who spoke to us in June, will join us in the peace garden she and her neighbours created, and we’ll celebrate that she and her husband Farouk have recovered from their COVID hospitalisations. What a blessing! As some of you know, several writers and artists in our community have contributed to a beautiful publication which we released on 17 August. Led by our community minister, Rev. Roux Malan, we hope you will take time to discover: “Unitarian Perspectives: Reflections from South Africa.” If you find value in this work, please consider donating to our community by visiting the link above and scrolling down to the donation section. With light and love, Rev. Nima nimajanettaylor@gmail.com WhatsApp number: 0760249120 Click here to join our Zoom service on Sundays at 10:30 am Meeting ID: 338 628 074 UPCOMING SUNDAY TOPICS 6 September - The Renewal of Your Mind - Rev. Nima We will explore how the Buddha’s and Jesus’ messages converge on the power of renewing our mind, becoming aware of our thoughts and realising the power to transform them. 13 September - La Vie Est un Mystère et Elle Est Courte, Mais en Jouissez-Vous (Life Is a Mystery and Short, But Enjoy It) - Niyungeko Gérard This service will be conducted in French, with Gur Mouanga translating. This is an opportunity for us primarily English speakers to hear the message in another language. This service will be held simultaneously on Zoom and in our building. RENEWING OUR BUILDING! This Sunday we will return to our beloved building and explore how we can renew it with love and nourishment after so many months with no services there (except for the loving care Celeste has given it!). We will take reservations for 10-15 people to attend the service in the building. All attendees will need to wear a mask the whole time and remain socially distant from others. More information to follow on the new COVID processes. Please let Elspeth know if you’d like to volunteer for this service: elspethmuirhead@gmail.com. 20 September - Our Spiritual Community as a Place of Renewal - Rev. Nima Join us this Sunday as we explore how we cultivate a spiritual community that creates a place to come for renewal. There are many places in the world that can be disheartening and difficult, but our spiritual home here at CTU is where we cultivate ways to be with each other that renews our spirit and gives us hope and healing to go out into the world with energy and inspiration. 27 September - Spring Flower Communion at Bonteheuwel Peace Garden - Rev. Nima and Soraya Salie We are delighted to caravan together to Soraya Salie’s peace garden in Bonteheuwel and perform our annual Flower Communion there. We will distribute details of the caravan the week prior. Join us in celebrating this very special spring 2020! Soraya is involved in a community feeding scheme and would appreciate any donations for a pot of food, such as rice, lentils or other legumes. If you are able to attend this event, please bring donations with you. If you are unable to attend but still wish to contribute, please email Elspeth. UPCOMING EVENTS Lay Leaders Program 6 Sept. • Sun. • 12 - 3 p.m. We are delighted that Mary Ryan, SA’s beloved female Catholic Priest, will be leading three classes on pastoral care for our lay leaders. Our next Lay Leaders Program class will be her third class and the topic is “How do we serve in the face of suffering?”. Everyone is welcome! Email Nima for info Spiritual Not Religious Check-In Wednesdays • 8 - 9 p.m. Every week we meet to talk about spiritual topics. Past discussions have covered love and loss, cancel culture and South Africa's nuclear energy program. Meeting ID: 945 1671 4009 Password: 531769 Join Zoom meeting Chalice Circle Mowbray 26 Sept. • Sat. • 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. All are welcome. This group meets once a month to reflect on a specific spiritual principle. The material for this month covers the topic of “Renewal”. Email Natalie Billings for info + materials Somerset West Unitarian Fellowship There will be no meeting in August. Please contact Dave Mayes at 021-850-0863 or davidjeanmayes@gmail.com for more information. Johannesburg Unitarian Fellowship Due to the lockdown, meetings have been suspended. For more information about this fellowship and future meetings, please contact the Secretary, Doug Wilson at douglas.brett.wilson@gmail.com. Durban Unitarian Fellowship Due to the lockdown, meetings have been suspended. For more information about this fellowship and future meetings, please contact the Spokesperson Carol on carol@seedtrust.net or visit the Durban Unitarian website at www.unitarian.co.za. SUNDAY SERVICE VOLUNTEER DUTIES Whilst we are meeting virtually via Zoom, would you be willing to volunteer to read some poetry or spiritual writings on each Sunday, based on that Sunday's theme? If anyone is interested, please contact Rev. Nima at nimajanettaylor@gmail.com. We also need volunteers at the CTU building for the 13 September service. Please contact Elspeth at elspethmuirhead@gmail.com if you’re interested in helping. Santa Shoebox 2020: Our Festive Season Outreach Project Each year the nonprofit Santa Shoebox collects and distributes personalised gifts to underprivileged children across South Africa and Namibia. Each box includes stationery, basic toiletries, an outfit of clothing, a toy and some sweets. You can participate in several ways: 1. Pledge a box you will shop for and finance as a family (one box = R350-R400). 2. Donate the cost of a box or part thereof. 3. Pledge the clothing item and/or toy for a box which you will shop for. 4. Volunteer to assist planning and/or shop for the project in September and October. 5. Donate a shoebox – we will need around 10 shoeboxes with separate lids. Please email Elspeth with your pledges by 7 September. When you donate to the church bank account, let Elspeth know how much so we can calculate how many boxes we can do. Standard Bank, Unitarian Church Branch 051001, A/C # 070440719 Swift Code: SBZAZAJJ Donation reference: Santa Donate to Cape Town Unitarians Even though we are not holding in-person services yet, our running costs remain the same. If you are able to EFT a little extra this month to compensate for the collections that we won't be able to take, we would really appreciate that. Here is our bank information: Standard Bank, Unitarian Church Branch 051001, A/C # 070440719 Swift Code: SBZAZAJJ Likewise though, if you are struggling financially or emotionally in this time please let Rev. Nima know so that our Pastoral Care Team can provide you with as much support as we can. Thank you. WRITER'S CORNER: SHAWN COMRIE Each month we feature an article from one of our friends and members. For September, we are pleased to feature Shawn Comrie's article “Corona Garden”. Please visit our website and see Shawn’s article under the "Publications" heading. CTU COUNCIL MEMBERS Melanie Ferreira, Secretary: 081-790-8030 Eduan Hauman, Treasurer: 083-580-2038 Martha Holmes, Member: 072-521-4504 Leigh Meinert, Chairperson: 082-408-4525 Laura Pohl, Member: 060-488-0372 Nima Taylor, Minister: 076-024-9120 Elspeth Muirhead, Church Secretary: 072-077-9911, elspethmuirhead@gmail.com Cape Town Unitarians 64 Hout Street, Cape Town 8000 SOUTH AFRICA nimajanettaylor@gmail.com