The Chalice Lighter

Newsletter for Members & Friends of the South Fraser Unitarian Congregation, Surrey BC

------------------------- December 2011 -------------------------Sunday Services (10:30 am)

Dec 4 Interfaith Series - Humanism ~ Ian Bushfield

CUC Statement on the Occupy Movement

Reprinted from: CUC.ca

The American Humanist Association describes Humanism as a rational philosophy, informed by science, inspired by art, and motivated by compassion. In this talk, BCHA President Ian Bushfield will discuss how humanism promotes living a good and moral life without the need for divine revelation. Rather than relying on immutable words and holy books, Humanists find value and purpose in life through reason and science. Humanist ethics are informed by the great philosophers of the enlightenment and seek to promote happiness. Finally, Humanists often seek to retain the social values of religion, from the rituals and ceremonies to the communal benefits, while rejecting the dogmatic requirements. Dec 11 Celebrating Our Unitarian Principles ~Daylene Marshall

What began in the Wall Street financial district of New York City this September, sparked Occupy protests in Canada and around the world. Many found voice during a time when increasing numbers of Canadians are anxious about their future, and are questioning whether governments and corporations decisions are truly for the benefit the majority. The CUC has resolutions that speak to many issues that are related to protesters concerns. Economic Justice, Environmental Integrity, Globalization, Peace, Democracy, as well as Racial, First Nations, Religious, Mtis and Inuit Justice and Equity are areas where weve spoken out, using our collective voice to identify shortcomings in public policy and personal choices. The protesters took to the streets to draw attention to the fact that for too long, many of our systems have failed to protect the most vulnerable among us. According to a recent report from the Conference Board of Canada, the gap between rich and poor is growing much faster in Canada than it is in the United States (even though the US currently has a larger gap). Canadian Unitarians recognize that it is both a moral and religious imperative to speak out when we see social, environmental, or economic injustice our principles demand we do this. A central requirement of effective democracy is an engaged citizenry. We are seeing democracy in action!

How do we value our UU beliefs in the season of hustle and bustle? Are we wrapped up trying to buy everyone the perfect present? Or are we missing the spirit of the season due to stress brought on by parties, gifts and family get-togethers? Join us on December 11th to take the time to reflect on what is really important and how we can live our principles more intentionally. Chalica is the unofficial Unitarian Universalist holiday that is designed to celebrate our own beliefs throughout the holiday season. It is celebrated for seven days beginning on the first Monday in December. Each day is dedicated to one of our UU principles. December 11th is the last day of Chalica and whether you have participated in the holiday or not, come and celebrate. Dec 18 Spirit of the Christmas Tree ~ Erin Knudsen and Sylvia Zeelenberg

Who is not touched by the birth of a baby especially a birth fraught with difficult circumstances? The image of a young couple with no place to go, their accommodation in a humble cattle stall, the mysterious light from a shining star, and the visit by both lowly shepherd and exotic kings these are glorious metaphors that still speak to us. Come share in a multigenerational celebration including the stories and music of the season, written by Joyce Poley and Frank Henning.

Calendar of Events for December 11

Sun, Dec 4: Holly Days Fair Sun, Dec 4: UU 101 Sun, Dec 18: Christmas Basket Raffle Tues, Jan 17: Stories of Change (details page 2) (details page 2) (details page 2) (details page 2)

South Frasers Bulletin Board

December Birthday Greetings to: 16th 18th 19th 22nd Julia Hall Gerri Ormiston Mona Milne David Dalley ------------------------------------------------------------------December 4 will be the last day to purchase ENTERTAINMENT BOOKS ($46), if there are still any available. ------------------------------------------------------------------Tickets for the CHRISTMAS BASKET RAFFLE will be $2.00 for one OR $5.00 for three. The drawing will take place at the Christmas dinner on Dec. 18. ------------------------------------------------------------------We are planning a MULTI-GENERATIONAL MUSIC SERVICE for our December 18th service using Joyce Poleys Spirit of the Christmas Tree program with original and familiar music and stories. We welcome volunteers of all ages and abilities to participate in the choir and pageant roles. Please speak to Erin Knudsen or Sylvia Zeelenberg if you would like to take part of find out more information. ------------------------------------------------------------------UU 101: Sunday Dec 4. An information session for newcomers, taking an in-depth look at what Unitarianism/Universalism is all about. There will be available time to answer participants' questions. The session will be held during the regular service in the quiet room across from the front desk. ------------------------------------------------------------------STORIES OF CHANGE: Meet at Monas place on Tuesday Jan. 17 to share personal stories about changes in your understanding or actions, or just to listen. Call Mona at 604-535-8704 for more information. -------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------------Join us after the Service on Dec 4 for our annual HOLLY DAYS FAIR. Our members and friends have been busy creating delicious baked goods, unique greeting cards and crafts as well as evergreen decorations for both inside and out. The last four small, crystal nail files will be available @$5. Gerri will raffle a gift basket, and she also will bring in sandwiches so that you may linger a while. ------------------------------------------------------------------COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROJECT: Our thirdSunday collection for the Food Bank will be on December 18th. The needs are great during these cold months, especially, so your donation will be doubly appreciated. If you wish to receive SFUC tax credit, either identify the cash by putting it in a marked envelope, or write a cheque. ------------------------------------------------------------------Does someone on your Christmas List love to sing? Give the gift of a CHOIR WORKSHOP with Kathryn Nicholson, dynamic director of the Vancouver Universal Gospel Choir. June 2nd, 2012 at Sasamat Unitarian Family Camp. $67 includes lunch. Download a registration form at www.beaconunitarian.org.

Chalice Lighter Submission SFUCs Participation in the Surrey Interfaith Council

By David Dalley

Rosemary Liburd and Royce Rourke brought a strong Unitarian presence to the early stages of what many hope will lead to the formation of a Surrey Interfaith Council. This newly forming group is exploring the possibility of formalizing an interfaith council within the City of Surrey. The meeting was attended by religious and community leaders from across Surrey, and the project has a broad base of support from both religious and secular organizations in the community. While much of the mandate of the Council has yet to be decided, participants came together under the broad vision of creating and sustaining a positive climate for religious diversity in Surrey. At the initial meeting in mid-November, participants were guided through a dialogue process to get to know each other, build trust, and seek common ground. It was an opportunity to explore common values and visions for creating peace and understanding in our religiously diverse community. Both Rosemary and Royce spoke passionately and eloquently, at times drawing applause from the assembled group of community leaders. Their perspectives and insights were alive with Unitarian values of justice and inclusiveness. The Surrey Interfaith Council has the potential to be a powerful vehicle for the expression of Unitarian values in our community, and with the leadership of Rosemary and Royce, we are indeed in good hands. Please take some time to talk to Rosemary Liburd, Royce Rourke or David Dalley about this project.

Roots and Wings: Religious Education at SFUC

By Kate Coghlan, DRE

The first Monday in December marks the beginning of a week-long "new" holiday for Unitarians, Chalica. Created by Have you had a good start to the church event, have, and the first holiday born out of Unitarianism itself. this Facebook Daylene Marshall in 2007 as a Facebookyear? I Chalica is I'm really excited about our Spirit Play program The year. invitation explains that: I want to tell you a bit about the amazing resource that is available to us. Last year, David Dalley and the Surrey Neighbouring Faiths group worked alongside the Surrey Public December through to a set of Each day kits. We did "Chalica is seven days long and runs from the first Monday inLibrary to put together Sunday. multi-faith represents a one for Unitarian Principle, a fun to think of what and gift(s) the box and received. Gifts can be made, bought, differentUnitarianism, and it waschalice is lit each dayshould go inare givenfor discovery by curious young people and their caregivers. verbal, written, acts, shared/personal celebrations. One can have seven different chalices or one common chalice.
With our new multi-faith series didn't see the need for a new holiday. I worried to the name Chalica would offend... I admit, that part of me balked. Iof speakers, I thought it was a great opportunitythat use these kits in our lesson plans. Each is filled with books read, music to dance to, sacred objects to explore, even MORE like "pick and choose somebody. I worried thattoinventing a holiday would make Unitarians seem activities to try, andaeven felt stories it fits right which I sometimes struggle religion,"in to the Spirit Play format! with. I worried that this might be an attempt to replace Christmas, which I really, truly love. More, I didn't see the need to add "something else" to December, more reasons for gifts, more pressure. We had the pleasure of checking out the Hinduism kit for the month of October. I believe each teacher got to work with it once, and my tune. I've changed I'm sure some of us learned a lot from it (I know I did). Timing was perfect as our friends and neighbours got ready to celebrate Diwali, just this past week. In 2009, the Dalley family created their own Chalica traditions, and the pictures they shared started to warm me up. It On a day when we that visitors from the Spirit Play promise triangles to their the kit It that faith lightbulb went off probably didn't hurt have they included another faith, we will always try on have chalice.for was like ain our classroom. I hope head that this holiday, honouring a different Unitarian principle each day, works perfectly with the if you'd I was in my that this can generate some discussion between children and their parents, learning together. And promiseslike to come down kids in class. "Okay," I thought, at the kit won't celebrate any of but what a neat way just let me the Spirit teaching the to the classroom and take a look "Maybe I or read through myself the materials, please to reiterate know. Do ask these as a are on loan we eventually have kids." Playlessonsitemsfamily when through personal library cards, and we need to make sure to keep the kit together but I'd be more than happy to arrange it for you. I'm still in the process of changing my tune. Our month of studying Hinduism has come to a close for now, though I look forward to more of it in the future. This year, the Dalley family is inviting those from our congregation to join them in their celebrations. Oh, they have a way of getting to me, don't they? "You could do a Spirit Play story if you like." I do like, I really do. By David Dalley And I got thinking about how well I really know those principles. I can rattle off the promises to you, of course, but that Spirit entirely translate to have gathered again out of our separateness to know that we are goal to finally make some doesn't of Life and Love, weknowing and living the Unitarian principles. So, I've made it a not alone. effort to celebrate Chalica just for me! In my own home, with my husband. Not presenting a story (though I'm still On September 17, Patsi Chism the kids," not even "for church." Just as a way of reflecting on these our community going to do that, too), not "for addressed a room full of spiritual leaders from diverse faith traditions inprinciples that I at the in, and in turn teach the kids. believeannual Interfaith Peace Conference at Northwood United Church. Her words were carefully chosen, and gently delivered. In our fears, we are not alone. In our grasping for peace, finding it in fleeting moments, and losing it again to some turmoil do the same. I invite you toof the mind and heart, we are not alone. Later have a conference, a speaker this the international interfaith organization United Religions Do you in the chalice in your home? If not,from isthe perfect time to get one. Make one! Find one! Anything that can Initiative (www.uri.org) would hold a flame can be a chalice. elaborate on this idea that peace is not something we arrive at, but something that we must struggle to principles? They can every moment on the UUA website or on one of our brochures Do you know thecreate and re-create in be found easilyof our lives. But for now, Patsi held the stage: at church. Take it home and read it over every day. And so we dwell in You, Spirit Give yourself a gift each day. of healing and wholeness, for this brief time - willing to be held here in an immense and eternal love whose origins we do not know, whose reality is irresistible. Give somebody a gift to somebody who doesn't even know about the holiday. Dress in the promise colours each day. Go on, try it. It's kind of fun. Before we can have peace, we must be able to listen to one another. Really listen. Not be deciding whether we for or disagree with what is internet. If you can't access There are lots more ideasagreecelebrating Chalica on the being said. Not be thinking the facebook page or need help about how we are going to respond when it is our turn to to point need to just listen; finding more information, please let me know. I'd be happytalk. We you in the right direction or even print it out for you. listen meantime, will go over the days/Principles quickly, want to trust, and trust In the because we Iwant to understand, understand because wefor your easy reference. I'm sure you can come up with because we want and I many great ideas, peace.look forward to hearing them!

Monday: We light our chalice for the inherent worth and dignity of every person (wear red!) Tuesday: We light our chalice for justice, equity, and compassion in human relations (orange) Wednesday: We light our chalice for acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our BOARD HIGHLIGHTS congregations (yellow)Submitted by Carrie Phillips, Board Secretary Thursday: We light our chalice for a free and responsible search for truth and meaning (green) Highlights for the Board Meeting held Oct 6, use Friday: We light our chalicefromthe right of conscious and the 2011 of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large (blue) PRESENT: Lynne Rhead, Erin Knudsen, of world peace, REPORTS for all (indigo) Saturday: We light our chalice for the goal Mike Sands, liberty, and justice FROM Carrie Phillips, Sandy chalice for respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are part (violet) Chism COMMITTEE Sunday: We light our LIAISONS: 3

BOARD HIGHLIGHTS
Submitted by Carrie Phillips, Board Secretary Highlights from the Board Meeting held Nov 2, 2011

PRESENT: Erin Knudsen, Lynne Rhead, Mike Sands, David Grant, Carrie Phillips, Sandy Chism, Royce Rourke. TREASURERS REPORT: An $18,000 bequest from the estate of Mary Adams has been received. REPORTS FROM COMMITTEE LIAISONS: Social Action: The committee will present opportunities to become involved at the Womens Center. A new small banner has been designed to use at public events, as well as T-shirts, and vests with SFUC identification. Individuals who have made investments with KIVA have experienced success when the money has been returned to the investor. Adult RE: Lynne plans future movie night presentations at homes in Langley and South Surrey. Mitsu Oishi will get the Book Club started. Membership: Patsi Chism has joined the committee. UU 101 for prospective members will be presented in the small room on Dec. 4. YEARS OBJECTIVES The space needs/location objective was discussed. Lynne agreed to be a board liaison to a potential committee tasked with investigating the congregations

space needs and desires for a potentially new space in the future. She offered to discuss this with members and try to identify some people to serve on a committee for this purpose. OLD BUSINESS: Volunteers are needed to serve on the Personnel Committee, and others to be liaisons for the Surrey Neighbouring Faith Program. Budget requests are needed by the end of November from all committee chairs for the forthcoming budget planning. The Board briefly discussed the Restorative Justice process to resolve conflict within the congregation. The Board will look at another method of conflict resolution at the following meeting. Three examples of Code of Conduct from Unitarian Congregations were reviewed, and discussions will continue on this topic. NEW BUSINESS: A new Connections will be made available to all members. The meeting adjourned at 9:00 pm. The next meeting will be at the Surrey Museum in Cloverdale on Saturday, December 3 at 12:00.

Among Ourselves
By Pearl Glen

Ah me! Amidst a room filled with flowers, food galore, dozens of well wishing cards, beautiful gifts and a steady stream of visitors I thank you one and all. It most assuredly isnt the place Id like to be but sometimes we do make stupid choices. By the way, I especially enjoyed the childrens contributions. Rev. Barbara Davenport had an operation on her sinuses and is recovering nicely. She sends you all her best and warmest thoughts. We hope to celebrate our mutual birthday at a later date with everyone. Life goes on! Nancy Vivian and her partner have headed south for the winter again.. Meanwhile, Royce is home again after exploring many parts of Canada and the US with her cousin from New Zealand. The trip included a stop over in Parksville to visit Laurel Allard. Do remember our shut ins and anyone else who can use your loving healing energy. Laurie Gibson, our drum facilitator, will be moving in with me so things do work out. Perhaps I will host a few more drum sessions! Im not sure about the next bake sale, but while you are baking set aside a bit for the sale. By the time you recieve this, Christmas will be upon us so I will take this opportunity to wish you time with your loved ones, time to love yourself and energy to face the challenges of the New Year in 2012. See you in church. Love and gratitude, Pearle

Reflections from the CUC Fall Gathering

By Erin Knudsen

I really enjoyed the weekend we spent at the Fall Gathering in Kelowna. It was filled with music making and connection with Unitarians from all over the province. In her homily on Sunday morning, Rev. Dr. Linda Weaver Horton spoke about a congregation as a home a place where we feel included and accepted (even if we disagree) and where we nurture and mentor one-another across the generations. She also spoke of the responsibility of a home to offer hospitality. Stories from many sources feature a visit from the divine, disguised as a stranger seeking hospitality. Whether we interpret this literally or figuratively, the message that we are enriched when we reach out and share our home with others is important. This inspired me to think about how we, in our spiritual home, welcome the strangers who visit us. As we come together on Sunday mornings, we naturally devote time and energy to existing relationships and to the tasks and roles that make our service function. But how much time and thought do we give to what a visitor experiences when they join us on a Sunday morning? Certainly, free coffee in a blue mug and conversation after service is a genuine gesture of welcome. But are there other aspects that say There is a place for you here; this could be your spiritual home? Do the practices that we include and the ways that we commune together invite the stranger to engage in meaningful, even spiritual connection with us? Do we provide invitations to new people to take part in our community in ways that they might find enriching and deepening? Do we welcome and encourage the newcomer who expresses an interest or offers to play a role? As a visitor to other congregations I have felt a powerful connection to others, even those that I didnt know, when the warmth of a vital community filled the space around me with the sharing of rituals, affirmation of values, and the making of music. I felt I belonged that I had come home. For me, a connection with others is created when we come together in song, word, or idea to co-create something better than what we could do alone. That is what reminds me why it is good to be part of this spiritual community. I invite you to reflect on what elements of our services co-create the feeling of home for you, for one-another, and for our guests.

This Holiday Mend A quarrel Seek out a Forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion, And replace it with Trust. Write a love letter. Share some treasure. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your beliefs in word and Deed. Keep a promise. Find the time. Forego a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Listen. Apologize if you were wrong. Try to Understand. Choose peace. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Appreciate. Be kind; be gentle. Laugh a little. Laugh a little more. Deserve confidence. Take a stand against malice. Decry complacency. Express your gratitude. Let go of fear. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love. Speak it again. Speak it still Once again.