Greetings, CTU Members and Friends –
We were all deeply saddened by the death of Archbishop Desmond Tutu. He had a very special place in our community. Please read CTU’s touching tribute to the Archbishop, with memories and stories from our own Roux Malan, Gordon Oliver and Shelley Adams and her daughter Willow.
Our theme for January is living with intention. How can we live more intentionally, even amidst the uncertainties that life throws at us every day? Join us each Sunday to ponder this theme.
Our beloved Burning Bowl and Water Communion services will be this month, and check out Cele’s update on the social justice projects underway, as well as Melanie’s care bag project.
May 2022 be a year of discovering the best that life has to offer, including the friendship and fellowship of our beloved community.
With love,
Nima
nimajanettaylor@gmail.com // WhatsApp number: 0760249120
UPCOMING SUNDAY TOPICS
2 January - Appreciative Inquiry: So often, our tendency is to charge ahead, focussed on the next thing and new goals. Join Leigh and the group for a moment of pause, connection and consolidation at the threshold of a new year.
9 January - Burning Bowl: Join us for time to reflect on the past year and set your intention for 2022. The beloved Burning Bowl ceremony allows us to create a conscious way forward into this brand new year.
16 January - Rev. Roux Malan and Rev. Theo Mayekiso, Community Gardens to Help Heal the World: Roux and Theo will join forces to explore what’s happening the expanding work in community gardens, and how each of us can participate in and support this important work.
23 January - Enter the Holoflux: Based on the teachings of physicist David Bohm, Nima will explore how each of us has access to the universal resource of the invisible energy in and all around us. How can we better “listen to” and hear from the conversation without words
30 January - Water Ceremony - Water is the basis of all life, and at our annual water ceremony, we encourage everyone to collect some water from wherever you are:—a stream, the ocean, your faucet—and bring it with you to this Sunday’s gathering (we will assess if we can be in person closer to the date). With all the water collected, we then mix the water together, just as we mix our lives with each other.
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES
2021 Chalice Kids classes
We have a robust Chalice Kids education project every month. This month will be exploring the theme of Joy with some song and dance with drumming! If you would like for your child to participate, contact Nima at nimajanettaylor@gmail.com.
Young Adults Chalice Circle
We have a group of young adults who gather for various fun activities and deep discussions. Contact Johan Groenewald at +27-82-897-5000 for more information.
Next Council meeting
Our council will meet via zoom on Sunday 23 January 12 pm - 2 pm. Contact Community@CapeTownUnitarians.org if you would like to attend All are welcome.
UPDATES
Thank you for your help on the care bags and Siqalo book/toy library!
The care bags for hospice patients and their carers were purchased and Melanie and her friend Beryl compiled all the bags and took them to Tygerberg. We would like this to be an ongoing project in 2022. See below for more information.
Thanks to Trisha’s generous donation, Hans was able to purchase all the toys and books you see to the right. Rev. Theo picked them up for distribution in Siqalo. This will be an ongoing project, so if you have books and/or toys to donate, please let Nima or Nolu know, and they can arrange to meet you at 64 Hout Street, CBD.
Thanks for care bag donations
A big thank you to everyone who supported this worthy endeavour. With your wonderful support we provided 30 care bags, which covered all the residents over the Christmas period.
Tygerberg Hospice is much more than a place to go when you are dying. It encompasses the Intermediate Care Facility (for those who are recovering from their hospital stay before they can go home), Hospice and Palliative Care Facility, and a host of other community and home-based care programmes.
My intention when I asked for this initiative to be introduced was two-fold. Firstly, to convey a level of care for those in need of comfort and to provide some simple dignity with basic personal items that the residents do not have. Secondly, to create awareness within our CTU community of the work that Hospices and Palliative Care Facilities offer – they are there to walk alongside patients and their families from the point at which a life-threatening or terminal diagnosis is received. This is my passion and I wanted to share that with you, my beloved community. — Melanie
From our new administrator, Nolubabalo Bulana
I am 26 years old. I am a social justice activist mainly in gender based violence and food security.
I love reading, going to the beach (I don't swim) and chilling at home.
I am the first born of five siblings and a first-time mother to Enzokuhle Langalethu Bulana (son), who is 8 months old.
I am free spirited love to laugh and eat! You can reach me on WhatsApp at +27630645348 or at Community@CapeTownUnitarians.org.
From the Social Justice Team
Elspeth, Cele and John at one of the many protests against Shell Seismic Exploration Project. Kudos for temporarily stopping of the project by the recent court injunction!
We are committed to work together as people of faith for a more just, compassionate, and loving world for all. We believe that together, with boldness and solidarity, we can stop the harm of the planet.
Last year we participated in petitions, protests and demonstrations to support causes that are close to our hearts. From standing against the desecration of our land to standing together to make our demands heard, we were there.
In the upcoming year we will continue to forge relationships and alliances to address the climate crisis. Whether together by celebrating a Sacred Season of Climate Justice, or individually by committing to Living the Change through lifestyle modification.
If you are interested in participating in our social justice projects, reach out to Cele at +27 82 433 8815.