Greetings, CTU Members and Friends –
Celebrating Dave and Jeanie
We continue our exploration of our Principle Statement with the theme of “How do we nurture and embrace each other?”
We had two great celebrations in May: Celebrating Dave and Jeanie for their Somerset West Fellowship leadership for almost two decades!
Celebrating Gur Mouanga’s graduation with a Master in Theology
And celebrating Gur Mouanga’s graduation with a Master in Theology from Meadville Lombard Seminary!
Lastly, thanks to everyone who participated in our Annual General Meeting last Sunday. Let’s congratulate our new Council members (listed below).
With love and light,
Nima
nimajanettaylor@gmail.com // WhatsApp 076 024 9120
In This Issue of the Newsletter
Check out our events page to view our church calendar. This includes events posted in the building and outside of the building. If you would like your event added, please contact us at via email: community@capetownunitarians.org
Sunday Services
Upcoming Activities
Community Highlights
Council Updates
Sunday Services
Please note: All Sunday services are hybrid and start at 10:30 am SA time
1 June - Music Sunday: Faith through Music. Being a Unitarian Universalist positions us with a specific privilege of holding space for the plurality of faiths. This morning we will share stories of this elusive experience of faith through music and personal stories. Come participate and experience the ways that music draws us together.
8 June - Journey Through the Labyrinth. Join Katleho for a guided journey through the labyrinth. This will be a gentle journey of self-reflection weaving together meditation, symbolism and vocal Alchemy. Some ceremonial Cacao will also be served as part of the journey ✨️💗
15 June - Sufi Practices. Join Nima as we explore our theme of “How do we nurture and embrace each other?” Sufi teacher Kabir Helminski shares many practical tools that we can cultivate to ensure each community feels nurtured and embraced. How might we see each other as Beings of Light where the Divine shines through us?
22 June - Niraj: The Universal Values of the Vedas. Vedas are often perceived as ancient scriptures relevant mostly to a Hindu belief system. However, a proper understanding shows that Vedas are in fact Divine, positive sound vibrations. These vibrations carry tremendous energy and when chanted correctly are capable of immense healing and transformation of mother and human nature. The Vedas have a universal outlook, embracing all that is noble and sacred and they teach the principle of equality in respect of everything. The Vedas proclaim the concept of oneness, extolling the One Universal God with different names.
29 June - Showing up for each other, with Nolu. Church isn’t just a building—it’s the people who make it home. One of the most important things we can do is show up for each other. Sometimes that means sitting quietly with someone who’s hurting; other times, it’s sharing a laugh and catching up over coffee. This Sunday, we’ll take a closer look at how we can be there for one another in meaningful ways—while also honoring healthy boundaries.
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES
Somerset West Fellowship
Saturday 7 June
Vonke House, 121c Lourensford Rd, Somerset West, 7600
For more information, contact Rev. Roux Malan – 084 679 5466
Website: www.swunitarians.carrd.co
9 am - Zen meditation
10 am - Speaker: Joseph Koetsier — Discover the Soul of a Library: The Epic Story of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina
Join us for a captivating talk by Joseph Koetsier at the monthly meeting of the Somerset West Unitarian Fellowship. Joseph will trace the remarkable journey of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina—from its founding in 300 BC as a beacon of wisdom, through its tragic destruction, to its inspiring resurrection in 2002. More than a storehouse of books, this library was a spiritual repository of neo-Platonic thought, a crossroads of cultures, and a testament to humanity’s capacity for both destruction and renewal.
He will share insights from the library’s first director, Ismael Serageldin, as well as his own experiences visiting the modern Bibliotheca in 2020. A short slideshow will bring this epic history to life.
Joseph Koetsier
About the Speaker:
A committee member of The Egyptian Society of South Africa (TESSA), Joseph has spent decades exploring Divine Wisdom across cultures. His career spanned universities in South Africa (UWC) and the Netherlands (University of Groningen), focusing on Lifelong Learning and Cross-Cultural Studies. He has worked with refugee communities in South Asia and Europe and supported educational projects in India, Sri Lanka, and Mozambique.
Joseph’s poetic journey began in 1989 after a profound personal loss, leading him to express spiritual connections—from the delicate beauty of insects and birds to the depths of human experience—through verse.
CTU Social Event
June Jamboree
21 June, Saturday
10am through 2pm
Freeze are the good cold days; you’re a sight for sore ice!
Come thaw out, and join in some fun activities for some Winter heart warming vibes; an opportunity to connect not just with yourself, but also with your Cape Town Unitarian tribe.
The activities include some arts and crafting, (basic materials will be provided).
Feel free to bring your own, if you have any creative hobbies. In addition, we will have some boardgames!
For food and beverages, we encourage a bring ‘n share, if you might be able to bring a favourite dish, or some snacks or drinks to share, please.
We look forward to being in community with you
Contact Hans via WhatsApp if you have any questions +27721276497
Buddhist Sangha gathering
In Person | 64 Hout Street
Saturday, 21 June | 2–4 pm (SA time)
You're warmly invited to our next Cape Town Buddhist gathering. We’ll share simple yet profound practices from the Buddhist tradition: sitting in stillness, chanting, reflecting on timeless teachings, and connecting in spiritual community.
This is a space of spiritual friendship rooted in compassion, liberation, and belonging. You don’t need to be a Buddhist to attend—just come as you are.
Feel free to reach out with any questions.
May all beings be well.
29 June Hindu Vedic Dancing with Niraj and others
CTU Choir
You are welcome to join your voice when you are ready. All are welcome, irrespective of experience level.
Please contact Camille with any questions you may have about the choir.
Community Highlights
Heart Fund Creation
CTU is delighted to announce the creation of a new “Heart Fund”; a donation fund held by the church for the express purpose of offering temporary support to members in need. This fund can be applied to for support for medical emergencies, emergency bill pay, and food access. Funds may be applied for no more than 2x/year. In some cases we may consider small business start-up requests(in situation of members in long-term poverty).
Please apply using this form:
https://forms.gle/cJq5tR3rZbcdHcaU6
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Please donate by contacting Altaira, Nima, Camille or Hans.
Donations can be made by EFT: Unitarian Church
Standard Bank, Branch 051001, Account # 070440719
Swift Code: SBZAZAJJ
Notate funds to be used for Heart Fund, or email us
We have already received several donations from community members!
Reflections from the Chair
Hi everyone! I was surprised and delighted to serve as your Council Chair this year. It has been a consequential, and educational experience for me. After many international board positions, CTU is my first South African NPO. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to learn about our institutional history, governing laws, and organizational culture. And I’ve been really happy to help people; that’s my happy place.
We’ve had such a beautiful year of services, from Katleho’s cacao ceremony, to Nima’s deep listening, to Janette Lallier’s gorgeous performance. We had incredible guest presenters too. Gur Muoanga completed his internship through Meadville Lombard this year, and will have graduated by the time you read this. I believe that Gur is the first African graduate of a Unitarian seminary, and his incredible journey at our church begins an exciting legacy.
Our sweet church saw birthdays, a wedding, regular meetings, dances, a DJ, game night, Bring and Shares, and equipment rental. We have already earned more through building use than projected for the whole of 2025. Last year’s Pledge Drive, led by Camille, was also a success, and this year our pledges and donations look positioned to perform well.
We have met with Investec several times about our church’s modest portfolio, and if our returns stay similar to the last few years, we are projected to keep our expenses under our earnings. Obviously there is a fair amount of market volatility this year, so we’ll need to keep a close eye on this delicate balance.
Here’s a list in no particular order of the projects which I’ve had the honour to lead, oversee, or create this past year, of course with the help and support of our amazing Minister, Admin, Council and volunteers.
New accounting platform sourced, acquired and set up
Uncovered 3+ years of incorrect SARS filings
Uncovered 3+ years of incorrect salary payments
Corrected both
Created accounting code system to normalize payment sheet and budget
Met with Investec multiple times, revealing that many reports were being sent in error to Eduan, determining a new withdrawal schedule to minimize portfolio impact, and updating our contract and filings
With Camille, sponsored wildflower viewing trip to the West Coast National Park
Contacted Heritage Department and Society, to search for building repair funds
Attended meetings with our Intern Minister and the Director of Operations and Finances for the Unitarian Universalist Minister’s Assoc.
Created Heart Fund, a designated fund for church members in need (bringing back a CTU tradition)
Advocated for gay Ugandan refugee church member in deportation proceedings, including fundraising for him, creating support teams, attending legal advisement sessions, and helping him attend choir
Created Bequest Subcommittee
Oversaw multiple church repairs(wood, masonry, electrical, cosmetic) over several sessions
Created 2025 budget
Created and maintained 2025 budget actuals
Approved UUA year grant dispersals
Filed UUA grant, year 2
Spent multiple hours repairing church laptop
Proposed and approved COL increase for all staff and stipend workers, the first in 3 years
Hosted interfaith Iftar with the late Imam Hendricks jama'ah
Attended Imam Hendricks private memorial as a representative of CTU
Proposed educational video for GA on African Unitarianism, video was accepted
Proposed and carried out a CTU First Thursday African Cultural event
With our Admin, sourced and scheduled new pest company
Facilitated all Council meetings, including agenda, readings, packet and budget actuals.
Wrote monthly report/thoughts for newsletter
Upon resignation of the Treasurer, found and co-opted suitable(financial professional) replacement from among church membership
Attended PanAfrican Grant project meetings
In dialogue with UUA about status, minister sponsorship, transitions, and partner church program
Created new document storage membership and system (in process)
Initiated mural exploration project, including looking up city codes and contacting potential muralists
Drafted initial grant proposal for Hibbert Trust and Gregson Grants, by researching building issues, solutions, and history. Program proposal is open for additions
Created importation process for 3 years of bank statements into Xero history
Joined PanAfrican and Interfaith groups, in order to better facilitate CTU support
Assisted Katleho M. J. G. Orrill-Legg in taking the first steps toward becoming a Unitarian Minister
Thank you all! I’m looking forward to serving you for the next year, and continuing to grow and learn with our beautiful community. Please reach out to me with your ideas, hopes, and dreams for our community, I’m excited to build with you!
Council Updates
We had a wonderful Annual General Meeting on Sunday 25 May. We had a quorum, so we were able to vote and approve many items, including the Chair’s report, the MInister’s report, a Strategic Priorities update and vote for new council members. Please welcome the following members who will be serving on our council for the next year:
Altaira Hatton
Berry Behr
Gur Mouanga
Jacky Woodman
Jeremy Rumble
Katleho Orill-Legg
Leigh Meinert
Lizette Oliver
Melanie Ferreira
Roux Malan
Shelley Adams
Trisha Riedy
Given the changes and intricate reports from the Finance team, it was agreed that there will be a separate council meeting to review them, followed by a special AGM to review and approve the financials.
Have questions or comments for Council? Please email us at community@capetownunitarians.org.