Sunday Services return to Zoom until the temporary generator outside our suite is removed
The diesel generator situated directly outside the Don Heights sanctuary is still there, much to our chagrin and inconvenience. A fire in the building's electrical room on August 22 and the related wait for a delayed transformer part from Thailand forced the Board to suspend in-person meetings and activities until the generator is gone.
The diesel generator situated directly outside the Don Heights sanctuary is still there, much to our chagrin and inconvenience. A fire in the building's electrical room on August 22 and the related wait for a delayed transformer part from Thailand forced the Board to suspend in-person meetings and activities until the generator is gone.
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Glenn Tarver Recent issues with our web site, including removal of stale dated information, and especially the difficulties accessing Zoom because of intrusive advertisement pop-ups when clicking on the link, have been addressed. Thank you Ron Weigand. This was really important. We are grateful for your technical expertise.
Our Office Administrator, Heather Vesh has had a couple of very difficult weeks personally. Her beloved 17 year old rescue dog Bella died after a courageous fight with cancer. And shortly afterwards, her 91 year old mother had a serious fall in her retirement residence and has fractured fingers, shoulder and knee cap. For days, after admission to hospital, because no room was available, she was a traumatized hallway patient. Only recently has she been moved to a hospital bed. It will be a long difficult recovery.. Heather - all your friends at Don Heights are with you offering support and love. For a couple of years, we had to cope with COVID-related extreme restrictions on gatherings. We persevered and made it through with Sunday services on Zoom, thanks to our highly competent tech crew and our excellent Sunday Services Committee. And now there is yet another problem. Since August 22, we have had that massive diesel generator spewing soot and intolerable noise into our unit. For weeks, the building property manager has repeatedly said the parts are on order, this is only temporary, it will take two to five weeks and things will be back to normal. Well we are now beyond eight weeks with no end in sight. (Continued above) Christmas ServiceCircle December 11, Sunday evening, on your calendar for our Christmas service and ceremony. We have placed our wish to Santa for the type of Christmas magic that will make the generator disappear. Otherwise, the service will be on Zoom. An event that is suitably warm and cheery is in the planning and you may be called upon to have a role.
Remembering those who served and the freedoms for which they fought. |
So here we go again, with no in-person Sunday services nor congregation special events, including celebrations of life and an exciting book talk fund-raiser. We have always been able to adapt. We will meet this challenge too
Should the generator issues persist, and we still haven't returned to our premises, here are the plans for Christmas 2022 at Don Heights, with everything using Zoom Sunday December 11 - our traditional evening service including seasonal music and the mitten tree Sunday December 18 - Sunday morning Christmas service with Janis Daly our lay minister Sunday December 25 - a special 10:30 am Christmas coffee hour gathering of members On November 6 we were lucky to have Rick Pyves, author, historian and genealogist, reading from his book, "Night Madness" and discussing his father Ron's time as a rear gunner over Dresden during the Second World War and the amazing love story between his mother and father that blossomed through the exchange of hundreds of letters. Impeccably researched, everything in this story is factually correct, including details of Ron's Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, a condition he suffered as a result of his heroic and incredibly dangerous military operations. A big thank-you to all those who purchased tickets for our Zoom event. Congratulations to book prize winner Matt Wood. Here is information to pass along regarding books by Richard Pyves. Click on a cover for details.
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This month: |
NOVEMBER 6 |
NOVEMBER 13 |
NOVEMBER 20 |
NOVEMBER 27 |
Nicole McKay |
Anita Nickerson |
Rev. Wayne Walder |
Marilyn Rivers |
The Meeting Place |
Our Democracy Should Include All Voices |
Being Thankful |
COVID-19 Anxiety Is Real |
Music by Don Heights Singers |
Music by Lorna Weigand, Curator |
Music by Don Heights Singers |
Music by Rob Sutherland |
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
Sunday Services Committee
Sunday Services Committee members are: Lorna Weigand and Janis Daly (ministerial contacts), Sharyn Devine (chair), Rosemary Sheppard, Heather Vesh (office Administrator), John Sproule (Zoom master), Glenn Tarver (publicity), Sheila White (choir director). Linda Schofield attended our October meeting re: planning for the holiday season in December. The board's decision to vacate our premises due to the generator was not ideal, but healthier. For the 2022-23 season, we will have Nicole McKay monthly in our ministerial Services and we will fill the rest of the 20 Ministerial Sundays with Wayne Walder, Janis Daly and Terri Palmer for three Sundays each. We had very good feedback on Janis’ first Sunday speaking as a lay minister. Congratulations and thank you Janis! Christmas Day falls on a Sunday and we will be meeting on Zoom for a friendly coffee hour. Sunday Services Committee meets monthly. As always, we welcome new members with fresh ideas. Otherwise: Would you like to lead a service? Do readings at a Service? Read the welcoming words? Select music? If yes, we are interested in you. The next meeting of the Sunday Services Committee will be at 11:00 am on Wednesday November 9th, 2022. Let me know if you would like to join us. Anna Niemenen's Embodied Climate Justice Fitness Video
This is a program we'd like to offer at Don Heights as a series.
Publicity Committee
Do you have ideas for promoting our quality Sunday Services, programs and events. We would love to hear from you. [email protected] Splinters from the Board
Our next board meeting is Tuesday, Nov. 8 at 7 pm EST. Everyone is welcome. Find the Zoom link here. Do you have items for our monthly Don Heights Unitarian Web Bulletin?
Send your photos, news and ideas to [email protected] United Nations Update
Pakistan is on the frontlines of the climate emergency, a spokesperson for (UNHRC), the UN's human rights agency, says.
UNHCR seeks additional funds to address immediate needs and assist in early recovery processes. “It could take months for flood waters to recede in the hardest-hit areas, as fears rise over threats of waterborne diseases and the safety of millions of affected people, 70 per cent of whom are women and children,” Matthew Saltmarsh says, reminding that "environmental sustainability will remain central to the response." Our own Janis Daly walked us through the important work being done at at the UN in an informative and timely service on October 23 concerning climate change and the ensuing human displacement, upheaval and suffering. Janis is Don Heights' representative at the Unitarian Universalist Office at the UN. As our envoy she is always bringing us up to date on world problems that urgently need help. |
Lay Chaplain News
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Heard singing "Meditation on Breathing" are Don Heights Singers' Dianne Ramsawak, Gloria Watson, Janis Daly, Paul Standish, Janis Daly, Ed Cartwright and Sheila White.
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DID YOU KNOW?
You can donate to the UU at the UN by e-transfer to [email protected] and noting "UN" in the subject line.
You can donate to the UU at the UN by e-transfer to [email protected] and noting "UN" in the subject line.
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.
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.
This Month's Wise Words
"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even be touched = they must be felt with the heart."
~ Helen Keller
~ Helen Keller
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