Photo by David Becker on Unsplash
Greetings, CTU Members and Friends –
This year, 19-22 March, we will be hosting a Pan African Unitarian conference here in Cape Town. Please diarise these important dates! We will need everyone’s help to care for our fellow Unitarians coming from several different African countries. And we’ll host special speakers to give us inspiration and support. If you’d like to be part of the planning committee or help in a specific area, please let me know. It’ll be a fun and joyful way to celebrate Unitarianism as it is practiced in different parts of the African continent.
This Ministry team has suggested we explore the diverse religions in more depth this year. Therefore, we will start in January with Indigenous wisdom. What are the similarities that can be found in Indigenous traditions all over the world? See the Sunday services for more detail.
Our beloved and long-time members, Gur Mouanga and Fred Benning, need our help! Any donation will be greatly appreciated. Details are at the bottom of our newsletter.
Lastly, following an independent investigation, Nolu was dismissed in December. We are grateful for her service to our community for the past four years, and we are sad to see her go. An update would be available shortly.
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 via email at: community@capetownunitarians.org
Sunday Services
Somerset West Update
Buddhist Sangha meeting
Council Updates
Sunday Services
All services will start at 10:30 am SA time
Please note: All Sunday services in January will be hybrid.
Contact Community@CapeTownUnitarians.org for the link
4 January, Animism: The world is alive. We begin the year by exploring animism—the ancient understanding that the world around us is alive, relational, and sacred. This service invites us to slow down and listen for wisdom in land, water, and everyday life. What changes when we treat the Earth not as an object, but as a living presence?
11 January, Listening to the Ancestors: African Indigenous Wisdom. Drawing on African Indigenous traditions, including the wisdom of the Sangoma path, this service explores the role of ancestors as guides, memory-keepers, and moral companions. We reflect on what it means to live in relationship with those who came before us. Healing, in this worldview, is never only individual—it is communal..
18 January, Walking Gently on the Earth: Indigenous Ecological Wisdom. Indigenous cultures around the world teach that the land is not owned, but belonged to. This service reflects on Earth as teacher, kin, and sacred responsibility. We ask how learning to listen again might reshape the way we live on this planet.
25 January, the Circle of Wisdom: What Indigenous Traditions Share. We close the month by weaving together the shared threads of Indigenous wisdom found across cultures. Connection, community, reverence for the Earth, and cyclical time emerge as enduring human truths. These values invite us to remember what modern life has encouraged us to forget.
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES
Somerset West Fellowship
NO MEETING IN JANUARY; BACK IN FEBRUARY
Vonke Meeting Room, Vonke House, 121 Lourensford Rd, Somerset West
📞 **Contact:** Rev. Roux Malan – 084 679 5466
🌐 **Website:** https://swunitarians.carrd.co
This is a free event—all are welcome!
Sangha: Cape Town Buddhist Gathering
No Sangha meeting in January, back in February
Fundraising
FRED NEEDS YOUR HELP: Fred Benning’s wife, Denise, became paralysed after back surgery with a rare (0.5% likelihood) side effect. As a result she needs a full-time carer in their home. Fred asks that you read his loving request on BackaBuddy: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/fred-and-denise
GUR NEEDS YOUR HELP: Gur’s GoFundMe link: https://gofund.me/150067d08
We almost have the money needed to change Gur and his family’s life dramatically for the better by getting their permanent residency approved. Most have donated via EFT to CTU. If you’d like to give in that way, here are the details: Unitarian Church, Standard Bank, account # 070440719, Swift Code SBZAZAJJ. 50 people giving R500 will achieve our goal! 5 people giving R5,000 works as well. Any amount is appreciated.
Council Updates
Next Council meeting is Sunday 18 January 12-2 pm: All are welcome. If you would like the packet of documents, contact Nima at NimaJanetTaylor@gmail.com.
Have questions or comments for Council? Please email us at community@capetownunitarians.org.