HAPPY NEW YEAR!
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Glenn Tarver At our December Board meeting Tuesday, we discussed membership and the future of our congregation, noting:
We take the cakeA big THANK YOU! to Rosemary Wood for those scrumptious fruitcakes. They sold ... well, like hotcakes!
Splinters from the Board
Our next board meeting is Tuesday, January 10 at 7 pm EST on Zoom. Everyone is welcome. Find the Zoom link here. (Password: 1111). Ron Weigand is a new addition to the Board of Directors. Formerly we were eight, now we are nine. His role will be reporting on the Don Heights investments portfolio. Welcome Ron and thank you also to Jim Montgomery for your ongoing excellent advice and decisions on our invested capital. Congregation members are reminded that anyone can participate in any meeting of the Board of Directors. Everyone will be welcomed. It's an opportunity to learn more about our congregation and offer fresh ideas. And maybe be inspired to consider eventually becoming a director at a future AGM. Upcoming Events:
Monday, January 2 on Zoom Multifaith Spiritual Dialogue Circle "Hope For Our Future" Wednesday, January 4 11 am Sunday Services Committee on Zoom Every Wednesday 5 p.m on Zoom Coffee Hour with Judy Newman Every Thursday starting January 5 1 pm on Zoom Online vegan lunch group Friday, January 6 7 pm on Zoom The Starch Solution Meet-up Monday, January 9 11 am Publicity Committee on Zoom Tuesday, January 10 10:30 am ON SITE Do-Be-Do Group Wednesday, January 11 7 pm on Zoom "PQ Is For PQuliar UUs, Part 4" with John Sproule, UU A to Z Friday, January 13 10:30 am Live on site "Growing Our Congregation" 1st Meeting Saturday, January 14 8 pm Live and Zoom Bill's Coffee House and Open Mic at Don Heights featuring "Honeypaw" Tuesday, January 17 1 pm on Zoom Social Action Discussion Thursday, January 26 11:30 am on Men's Group Thursday, January 26 7 pm on Zoom Canadian Unitarians for Social Justice (CUSJ) "Eco-Social Justice Huddle" Friday, January 27 7:15 pm on Zoom Women's Group Lay Chaplain
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In my opinion, we are now at a tipping point and our congregation has an uncertain future. What's next?
A " Growing Our Congregation " initiative planned for September was postponed because of the generator. The concept was to involve congregation members working together in groups to develop plans to attract more members. We have determined that attempting to do this concurrently on line and in person is unworkable. The new plan is an ad hoc committee comprised of concerned members willing to meet in person at Wynford at 10:30 am on January 13. a Friday. Members who wish to be involved in the process but are unable to participate in face to face meetings are invited to offer comments and suggestions for the consideration of the committee. Please send them to me. We value all input. Several members have already offered some good ideas. So far our committee includes me, John Sproule, Susan McAlister, Germaine Kovary, Lorna Weigand and Judy Newman. Other members wishing to join the committee and participate in person please contact me. Long live Don Heights Unitarian Congregation! Coming in JanuarySunday Services Committee
Consider dropping into a Sunday Services Committee monthly Wednesday morning meeting to see how Don Heights is able to consistently deliver topics of interest and to our hearts and minds. Committee members field ideas and explore leads for guest speakers as well as take charge of the service music, readings and chairing on Sundays as a service leader. We're always on the lookout for speakers, leaders and those curious about giving it a try. Our next meeting is Wednesday, January 4 on Zoom at 11 a.m.
Sunday Services can draw newcomers to our congregation and become a means for them to discover us and Unitarianism. Our free, monthly calendar lists everything we have to offer. The email address for getting on our mailing list is [email protected]. As you see from the Sunday calendar below, January is packed with interesting topics as speakers share their expertise with us and stimulate meaningful discussion. On January 15 we'll hear from a karate master and Anti-Black Racism specialist who teaches martial arts to children with autism. On January 29 the topic will be Creating Employment Opportunities for Neurodivergent People, again all about diversity and inclusivity and in keeping with our eight Unitarian principles. The ceremony will be followed by a meal atMandarin, 88 Copper Creek Drive. A much beloved member of Don Heights, Ryo was a renowned Buddhist priest whose series on Buddhism was extremely popular. Our condolences to Tery and family. "Through Ryo I came to a deeper understanding and sensitivity to the harsh internment of Japanese / American citizens during WW2. What a fine man!" said Don Heights president Glenn Tarver. Among members's comments about Ryo: "A man for whom I had a great deal of respect", "Very sorry to hear about the end of a very kind and wise life" and, "I hope he knew how much he was loved and respected by us all." Read Ryo's bio and obtain links to his series of Don Heights lectures on Bhuddist thought and practices.
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Sunday services this month: |
JANUARY 1 |
JANUARY 8 |
JANUARY 15 |
JANUARY 22 |
JANUARY 29 |
Marylyn Peringer |
Nicole McKay |
Sensei Colin Ninvalle |
Janis Daly |
Ed Shiller |
"Stories for Diversity" |
"Why? Why? Why?" |
"Towards A Non-Racist Society: Revisiting Beginnings & Other Stuff" |
"The Population Bomb" |
"Creating Employment Opportunities for Neurodivergent People" |
Music by Rob Sutherland |
Music by Don Heights Singers |
Music by Alex King |
Music by Don Heights Singers |
Music by Eka Shanshiashvili |
JOIN ON ZOOM SUNDAYS , 10:30AM https://zoom.us/j/8339952710?pwd=R0k0ZXI3WllFR2xFMW9UWEdjTDlOZz09
Meeting ID: 833 995 2710 Password: 1111 Phone in: 647-374-4685 or 647-558-0588
Meeting ID: 833 995 2710 Password: 1111 Phone in: 647-374-4685 or 647-558-0588
Tax ReceiptsThe office will be issuing tax receipts for the year 2022 prior to February 28, 2023. Thank you, all donors, for your generosity.
Social Action Report
Our storied Canadian Unitarians for Social Justice group is at a crossroads. Efforts are being made to keep it going. Can Unitarians afford to lose their national voice for meaningful action on environmental and social concerns? Enough of us think CUSJ is invaluable that we're having conversations to gather the best restorative ideas about the way forward. Join us on Zoom, Thursday, Jan. 27 at 7 pm for our important "Eco-Social Justice Huddle".
Caring Committee
Have a joy, concern or milestone to share confidentially one on one? Send an email to [email protected] or phone the office to be put in touch with our Don Heights Caring Team. Music Notes by Sheila White
Got news and photos for our monthly Don Heights Unitarian Web Bulletin?
Send your items to [email protected] |
Quite the Cleanup!Bits and Bites
Don Heights members raised $635 for Out of the Cold. In addition, Christmas service donations from the Mitten Tree and annual holiday card will be dispatched to North York Women's Centre and Seed Change. Thank you, Linda Schofield, for your work coordinating Amnesty International's Write for Rights program again this year. It netted a healthy number of seasonal cards bearing warm wishes and words of support for specific people unjustly imprisoned and subjected to human rights violations. The other part of the program calls on supporters to press governments to release political prisoners. Please contact [email protected] to reach Linda to learn more and help. DID YOU KNOW?
You can donate to Don Heights and individual causes that we support as Unitarians by sending contributions to [email protected], noting where to direct them. |
This Month's Wise Words
"In the depth of winter, I finally learned, that within me, there lay an invincible summer."
~ Albert Camus
~ Albert Camus
This Don Heights Unitarian Web Bulletin is a publication of: EDITOR: SHEILA WHITE
Don Heights Unitarian Congregation 18 Wynford Drive, Toronto, ON M3C 3S2 416-444-8839 [email protected] Website
Don Heights Unitarian Congregation 18 Wynford Drive, Toronto, ON M3C 3S2 416-444-8839 [email protected] Website