The Flaming Chalice Newsletter
May 2008

Own the Day!

e-mail address for submissions: dgillatly755@gmail.com

The Program Team is committed to developing a diverse selection of high quality Sunday service experiences. You can assist by suggesting possible speakers, being a part of the team, offering to train as a Service Leader, presenting a topic, joining the choir or by simply showing up on Sunday as an active participant.

Please talk with Wendy Cornelis (Program Team Chair), Wendy Starr, Sharon MacKay, Allan McKeown, Judy Lindberg, Jessie Rabbitt or our music director Jessica Core.

Can you speak on a topic at a Sunday service or would you like to act as a Service Leader, We Want U? Talk to one of the Program team members!

NEXT NEWSLETTER DEADLINE IS MAY 20th,THE THIRD SUNDAY of the MONTH, FOR JUNE 2008.

President's Message

“A man is rich in proportion to the number of things he can afford to let alone.” Henry David Thoreau

The only thing that I might add to this quote is that, with our present state, a man is wise who knows the value of restoring that which has not been let alone.

We had a wonderful opportunity this past Sunday, Earth Day, to visit the home of one such wise man. A huge “Thank you” to Larry and Wendy Cornelis for hosting a tour of their reclaimed wetlands and native gardens. This project was truly an act of love towards the planet and along with others in our community, it really gives me a sense of hope for the future. To hear Larry talk about how this wetland came back so quickly, full of nesting shore birds, frogs, turtles and fish, was inspiring! And I will take this opportunity to remind everyone about the annual native plant sale to be held on May 3 from 8AM until 12 noon. It is located at 1267 Lakeshore Rd. with parking on Carl St. This is a fund raiser for Lambton Wildlife who we share some members with. Get out and naturalize a little piece of your yard and, who knows, you might get hooked!

By the time that you read this, we will have just finished our Annual General meeting and set a course for our next year by approving a budget and electing a new Board. Please give the board your support, ideas, suggestions and even criticisms (if you have them). Hearing from all of you helps the board try to create the community that YOU want, one that honours our diversity and celebrates our commonality. It has been a real pleasure for me to work with everyone this year but I am looking forward to easing into a less involved role for a time.

Peace and Blessings, Wendy Starr

All Aboard: Executive Team Info.

April's executive meeting was a dynamic event, preparing for the Annual General Meeting scheduled for Sunday, April 27th.  We are excited to have a full slat of candidates for nomination (you'll have to be there to hear who's in the running), and we agreed on a balanced budget (make sure you come to the AGM to hear how we plan on spending your money).  There was good participation in the canvass, with some surprising feedback (you know where to be to hear all the details).

ANNOUNCEMENTS & EVENTS

A Big Thank You to each and everyone who helped with setting up and returning the Kiwanis room to its usual placement before and after the remembrance service and reception for Zena Graf’s mother Iris Hill

Country Circle Dinner at the Farm Home of Wendy & Larry Cornelis
Last Sunday afternoon all were invited to the home of the Cornelis’s and those who attended thoroughly enjoyed the hayrides to tour the wetlands(a very big thank you to Ruby, the horse), the drumming circle led by Richard Learn –there could be lots of photos from this in the near future, check the Fellowship’s albums, and the food was excellent ! Maybe we could ask Larry & Wendy if they would be willing to host this Fellowship event next year so those who didn’t make it this year might be able to go too! It was GREAT!!

Our Website has been updated
Thank you Christy

Men’s Group!
Sunday, May 4th at 4:00 p.m. approx. Allen McKeown is hosting the next Men’s Group. You are asked to R.S.V.P. by calling 519-542-3661 if attending etc.
EVENT NOTE: If events, such as the men’s group, which involve our Fellowship are planned and which the editor may not know about please send an e-mail or phone so the information can get into the Newsletter.

Circle Dinners
If you are interested in hosting a circle dinner, please contact Don Gillatly at 519-337-5094 at least one month in advance of the Circle Dinner date.

Soup Sundays
Mark your calendars! The 4th Sunday of April, we will be serving home-made soup with bread and butter as a community building, fellowship funding experience! Zena Graf will be co-ordinating, so talk with her about volunteering a batch of your steaming speciality! The cost is $5 per family.

Drumming Circle
At Northern Collegiate 940 Michigan Ave. Sarnia Mon. nights at 7pm. Come and join us! Contact Richard Learn for details. 519-337-4039.

Coffee & Tea
There will be a Fair Trade Coffee and Tea order this month It’s Great!!
Contact Chris Danner at:810-982-0463 or e-mail: chrismardanner@hotmail.com for information.

Members of the Unitarian Fellowship of Peterborough, Ontario
invite you to share in their celebration of a very special milestone. The Rev. Julie Stoneberg has been called as our first full time minister, to serve with us in creating a vital liberal religious community for Peterborough and surrounding area. After almost 35 years as a lay led congregation, 10 years of part time ministry, and then three years of interim ministry, we are excited about this transition and optimistic about our future. We are planning a special service of installation on Sunday, April 27, at 6 p.m. We welcome your attendance. Look for details in the invitation which will be mailed to your congregation.

Paula Greenwood
Newsletter editor
Unitarian Fellowship of Peterborough

Growing the Fellowship and You!

Here are some ways to become involved in helping us to “grow” together and minister to one another and I encourage you to take full advantage of the many possibilities to belong. These are just a few examples (with the contact person in parentheses).

• Be a greeter on Sundays (Wendy S. or Don)
• Join a small group ministry group (Betty)
• Begin a “small group” (Betty or Judy)
• Attend meditation sessions (Jessie or Marc)
• Assist with Children’s RE ( Bekki, Jessie, Wendy, Sharon, Dwayne)
• Help set room up, make coffee and clean – up. (Heather)
• Join adult RE series or lead one (Allan)
• Work with our youth (Jessie)
• Volunteer on second Sundays at Food Bank (Sharon)
• Make soup for Soup Sunday (Zena Graf)
• Host a circle dinner or BBQ (Don)
• Join our men’s group (Graham)
• Attend Book Club (Betty)
• Lead a Sunday service or be a speaker (Sharon or Wendy S. or Wendy C.)
• Join a board committee or plan to take on a leadership role (Wendy S.)
• Plan a social action venture (Sharon)
• Bring flowers on Sunday (Wendy S.)
• Support a member in need (Sharon)
• Attend drum circle (Richard Learn)

INFORMATION CORNER

Regarding Newsletter Submissions

Submissions that do not directly relate to the Fellowship or UUism can not be published in the newsletter. In matters which are not clear the editor will endeavour to seek the approval of at least one member of the Executive Team before printing unusual submissions such as:

• Cartoons and jokes
• Political announcements
• Personal letters or articles from individual members of the congregation
• Anything else not already noted

THE BOOK CLUB

Meeting at Alternate Grounds 3rd Sunday each month at 9:15 a.m.. Enjoy breakfast and stimulating conversation.

The book for June is A New Earth, by Eckhardt Tolle.

The book for July is The Secret by Rhonda Byrne

For Information call: Betty Learn 519-337-4039. All are Welcome.

Join Us For ~Meditation~

Weekly meditation practice at Jessie's studio at Davis and Mitton, on Wednesday's from 6 to 7:30 p.m. . The form of practice will be vipassana or insight meditation.  Marc Muzzerelli will provide basic instructional guidance with discussion.

f you have any questions feel free to contact Marc Muzzarelli at 810-985-3570. Meditate at Jessie’s Studio Corner of Davis and Mitton Streets call 519-339-0478. All are Welcome.