Greetings CTU members and friends,
In February, our theme will be “Beloved Community.” How can we work together to build a supportive community that bonds a diverse group of individuals? In keeping with this theme, I’m delighted that we have several people who will be officially joining the Cape Town Unitarians as members on the 7th of February. If you are interested in membership information, please contact me.
With light and love,
Rev. Nima
nimajanttaylor@gmail.com // WhatsApp number: 0760249120
UPCOMING SUNDAY TOPICS
7 February - New Members Sunday: Join us as we celebrate our new members and explore our theme of Beloved Community. What can we do to cultivate and nurture our community? How can we be in relationship with each other in a way that encourages and inspires us?
14 February - An 8th Principle? Bring your perspective to help us explore this whether or not we need to add a principle addressing the inequities in our world. The Unitarians in the USA are considering this new principle: “We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote: journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.”
21 February - Health Equity in the Time of COVID and Beyond: COVID-19 has exposed the weaknesses and inequalities that have existed in health systems globally. In South Africa, the Health Justice Initiative (HJI) has been vocal in raising awareness to these issues and also calling for real change to promote true health equity, with a particular emphasis on addressing racial and gender inequalities. How can we better understand this issue and help to promote true health equity within our society?
28 February - LGBT+ in the South African Context: In 2017, the SA Institute of Race Relations (IRR) indicated that in Africa, tolerance for "homosexuals and other groups" ranked well below tolerance for differences in ethnicity, religion, immigrants, and even those with HIV. Writer/activist Siya Khumalo will join us to discuss some of these issues. He has written on topics concerning religion, politics and sex in various SA news media outlets. He is the author of ‘You Have To Be Gay To Know God’ (Kwela Books, 2018), which won the Desmond Tutu-Gerrit Brand Literary Prize.
UPCOMING EVENTS - ALL ON ZOOM
6 Feb., Saturday, 2:30-4:30 pm on Zoom Chalice Circle Mowbray
This month’s topic is imagination. Email nataliebillingsarch@gmail.com for more information and materials
7 Feb., Sunday, 12:00-3:00 pm on Zoom Lay Leaders Programme
Rev. Nima will be teaching the first of three classes on “Leading Services”. All are welcome. Meeting ID: 981 0533 9711. Email community@capetownunitarians.org for the passcode.
21 Feb., Sunday, 12:00-2:00 pm on Zoom Neo-Taoism with Dave Potgieter
Is life black and white, or a blurry grey blob of cognitive dissonance? (Modern) Life offers many confusing, conflicting conundrums like Globalisation and such (are Americans taking our jobs?? 😉). Neo-Taoism offers a method for creating clarity out of these, using simple, coherent, complementary concepts, harmonised in/by the Yin Yang
Tuesdays until 23 Feb., 6:00-7:30 pm on Zoom Basics of Buddhism
Nima will review several key Buddhist concepts like the four noble truths, the five skandhas and others, as well as explore ways to incorporate Buddhist practices into everyday life. She will share meditation tips, chanting and visualisation practices that can transform the way we experience ourselves and the world around us. Zoom link: : https://zoom.us/j/94450118640, Meeting ID: 944 5011 8640. Receive the passcode by RSVPing to community@capetownunitarians.org.
Suggested donation of R 400 for all six classes can be made through our website (www.capetownunitarians.org.za). Just scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the donation button for R 400. Contact Nima for information about bursaries.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Thanks to volunteers who prepared the church for de-beetling.
Our Church is Ready to be De-Beetled!
Thank you to everyone who helped us clear out the church and protect the organ as we prepare to have our wood floors rid of a beetle infestation. The de-beetling work will take about two weeks.
Donate to CTU Relief Fund for Food Vouchers
In this difficult time, we know some CTU members are having difficulty putting food on the table. We have started a relief fund specifically to buy and distribute food vouchers for our friends in need. Please consider donating by emailing William at community@capetownunitarians.org for more information.
2021 Youth Religious Education
Nima will begin Youth classes, starting at 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm on Saturday, 6 February. The first hour will be for the younger kids and the second hour for the older kids. Contact Nima at nimajanettaylor@gmail.com to RSVP.
Buy a Cape Town Unitariants T-shirt Post-lockdown special: Buy one shirt and get one free!
T-shirts are for sale for R150 each. Contact Celeste Esau via WhatsApp at 0824338815 to place your order.
Donate to Cape Town Unitarians
Even though we are not holding in-person services yet, our running costs are the same. We would be grateful if you can EFT a little extra this month to compensate for the in-person collections that we can’t take. Here is our bank information:
Unitarian Church
Standard Bank, Branch 051001, A/C # 070440719
Swift Code: SBZAZAJJ
If you are struggling financially or emotionally in this time please let Rev. Nima know so that our Pastoral Care Team can provide you with as much support as we can. Thank you.