Photo by Andraz Lazic on Unsplash
Greetings, CTU Members and Friends –
In October, our theme will be vulnerability. How can we best create a safe and supportive environment where each person can feel comfortable being vulnerable and cared for, and caring for others? We’ll explore some way to do so this month.
Santa’s Shoebox update: we have committed to donate funds, purchase, compile, wrap and deliver ten shoeboxes for ten specific kiddos. We will need approximately R 4,300 worth of products to go in each box (and we’ll need ten regular size shoe boxes!) We need your help! Reach out to me if any of these activities appeal to you! See below details of our project meeting on 6 October.
Lastly, we will continue our discussion group on Sunday, 13 October, 12 - 1:30 pm. We’ll continue making our way slowly through the pamphlet, “Unitarian? What’s that?”
With love and light,
Nima
nimajanettaylor@gmail.com // WhatsApp 076 024 9120
In This Issue of the Newsletter
Check out our events page to view our church calendar. This includes events posted in the building and outside of the building. If you would like your event added, please contact us at via email: community@capetownunitarians.org
Sunday Services
Calendar of Events: Somerset West Fellowship, Mid-week Meditations, Create Space, Wardrobe Rejuvenation, Chalice Kids, Mandela Day, The Artist’s Way, Community Choir
Community Corner
Community Updates, A Note from Your Council Chair
UPCOMING SUNDAY TOPICS
Please note: All Sunday services are hybrid and start at 10:30 am
6 October– Traditional Service: Thandi Mpanga. My life’s journey. Thandi grew up in the midst of Apartheid, and despite horrific struggles, found a way to let go of the trauma she experienced, find her way to God, and live her spiritual truth.
13 October- Healing our Collective Trauma: introducing the work of Thomas Hübl. Nima will share some insights received at the September 2024 Collective Healing conference. How do collective traumas create individual trauma? While trauma healing is a lifelong journey, what practices are being investigated to heal trauma and are proving effective? How can we regain agency in healing?
20 October - Athi Khulu: The importance of educating the youth about the environment. Athi Khulu is an Environmental Education Facilitator for Earthchild Project (ECP). Athi joined ECP while in school and was involved with the first ECP Hiking Club. He now leads the hikes and is our environmental Green Team Lead. Athi loves teaching our children to fall in love with nature, the same way that Earthchild Project taught him to love nature.
27 October With a Little Help from My Friends: One of the lessons Tandie Mpanga taught us in sharing her story of triumph over trauma, is the importance and power of community. This Sunday will discuss how we come together at CTU to love and support each other in challenging times, as well as feel loved and supported ourselves. We’ll be exploring the question, “how do we create a safe space here at CTU?”
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES
Unitarianism? What is it?
12 October 12 pm - 1:30 pm
Hybrid (contact Nima for the Zoom link)
Join us for a discussion about what Unitarianism is and what it is not. We are working our way through a book by Unitarian minister Cliff Reed entitled, “Unitarian? What’s that?” Bring your own spiritual perspective and questions!
Somerset West Fellowship - In Person
Saturday 10 am 5 October
Vonke House, Chapel Room at 121 Lourensford Road
Guest Speaker: Annelee Steyn
Topic: “How to meditate and why”
Annelee is a Somerset West resident and regular meditation practitioner. Her first experience with meditation was nearly twenty years ago at the Kagyu Buddhist Centre in Kenilworth where she attended many meditation courses and retreats under inspirational teachers. Since the attendees were expected to attend a 10-day meditation retreat during their journey, she found herself directed towards the Dhamma Pataka Vipassana Meditation Retreat Centre in Worcester. There started her journey of highly disciplined and physically challenging 10-day silent meditation courses. She attended seven of these courses and thereby established a daily meditation practise which is a great source of joy and stability in her life.
In gratitude for her journey she would like to share her knowledge of meditation with those who are merely curious about the practice or with anyone who might be struggling and seeking calm, deep relaxation and inner peace.
Cost: Free, as well as free light refreshments.
We are limited to having 30 attendees. That means you will need to sign up for each meeting when it is publicised. You can do this by phoning us on 021 850 0863 or emailing davidjeanmayes@gmail.com
Midweek Meditation (online only)
We’re back at 12:30 pm on Thursdays, starting 6 June. Join us every week for some light meditation instructions. We start promptly at 12:30 pm and end promptly at 1 pm
Wrapping up Santa’s Shoeboxes!
Join us at 12 - 1:30 pm on Sunday 27 October as we gather all the wonderful clothes, toiletries and toys for our 10 kiddos. We’ll dance and sing some karaoke as we pull it all together in 10 decorated boxes, ready to be dropped off at the distribution centre the first week in November.
Chalice Kids - IN PERSON
We have a robust Chalice Kids education project every month. If you would like your child to participate, email Nima at nimajanettaylor@gmail.com. She will help you choose the right group for your kid(s) and share the homes where we are meeting.
CTU Community Choir
Council Updates
The Council met on 8 September. We discussed the following topics: switching over to using Xero as our accounting software, Theo and Gur going to the pan-African UU conference in October, Madeline’s and Nima’s offers to be frontrunners for our Santa's Shoebox commitment this year, and a new idea of organising a road trip dedicated to visiting our community's elders.
Next Council will be Sunday, 3 November 12-2 pm. Email Nolu at community@capetownunitarians.org for the agenda and documents to be discussed. All are welcome.
Have questions or comments for Council? Please email us at community@capetownunitarians.org.