Photo by Lucas Calloch on Unsplash
Greetings, CTU Members and Friends –
Our theme for October is “Living Our Values,” which is again from our new Principle Statement. We will be exploring this theme through the lens of Unitarianism, Buddhism and Indigenous wisdom. If you have a topic you would like covered in the coming months, please let me know.
If you are a member of CTU, you should have received an email requesting your vote on one item, the approval of our auditor. If you haven’t already voted, here is the form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdjaEF7U0FlAKeVuMNWE8sCOK4Uh-NshaVFpXN9gt160w8THg/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=115119913310743493039. We need your vote before 5 October. Thanks!
Gur’s GoFundMe link is here: https://gofund.me/150067d08. We have already raised almost half 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.
Take a look at all the exciting activities happening this month 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 via email at: community@capetownunitarians.org
Sunday Services
Somerset West Update
Buddhist Sangha meeting
Bring and Share social activity
Santa Shoebox Project
Community Choir
Council Updates
Sunday Services
Please note: All Sunday services are hybrid and start at 10:30 am SA time
5 October, The Free Church and the Courage to Live Our Values. We’ll explore together how Unitarian history calls us to live our values of freedom, reason, and tolerance in daily life. Living our values means showing up in community, honouring diversity, and aligning actions with principles like dignity, equity, and compassion.
12 October, Right Action: Bringing the Eightfold Path into Everyday Choices. Living our values through śīla (ethical conduct). Right Action invites us to refrain from harm, cultivate compassion, and align our daily habits with nonviolence and truth. How living ethically is not abstract but practiced in the small, ordinary choices—what we consume, how we speak, how we respond to conflict.
19 October, Walking in Right Relationship with All Our Relations. Many Indigenous traditions teach that living our values means walking in balance—with the Earth, the ancestors, the community, and the generations to come. The principle of reciprocity: we take only what we need, and we give back in gratitude. Living our values means honoring kinship not just with humans but with animals, plants, waters, and lands.
26 October, Perseverance with Paula Otukile. Join us for Paula Otukile to be with us IN PERSON to share her reflection on Perseverance and how she has learned this spiritual practice in her own life.
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES
Somerset West Fellowship
Vonke Meeting Room, Vonke House, 121 Lourensford Rd, Somerset West
10 am - Saturday, 4 October 2025
“Celebrating Cultural Diversity & Spiritual Wisdom”. Together with poet Thabo Solomon Leholo, drummer Litha Mgweba, and singers Erica Gangazha and Lulutho Mcaba, we will celebrate through song, poetry, drumming, and dance. Music will include isiXhosa, Sesotho, Afrikaans, and English songs such as Igqirha lendlela, Noyana, Mangwane Mpulele, Dis Heerlike Lente, and the Unitarian hymn Where You Go, I Will Go, Beloved. Rev. Roux Malan will open and close with some words of wisdom.
📞 Contact: Rev. Roux Malan – 084 679 5466
🌐 Website: https://swunitarians.carrd.co
🌟 Bonus: A free Zen meditation session will be offered beforehand at 8:55 AM in the same venue.
This is a free event—all are welcome!
Sangha: Cape Town Buddhist Gathering
Saturday, 18 October
2–3:30 pm (SA time)
Online only
Sangha is an opportunity to learn Buddhist teachings and practice with others. There is power in a community of practitioners who support and encourage each other on their spiritual paths. We’ll say some Buddhist prayers, mantras and meditate.
We will discuss the book by Ezra Bayda, “At Home in the Muddy Water: a guide to finding peace amid everyday chaos.” (No need to read the book unless you want to!)
Contact Nima for the Zoom link.
Bring and Share, Halloween edition
Sunday, 26 October, 12 noon ~ 4pm
Hello ghoul gang and spooky friends
~ you are invited!
Witches wail, and werewolves howl
Ghosts scare “Boo!” and monsters scowl
Pumpkins smile with toothy grins
Here is where, the fun begins!
On this threshold of All Hallows' Eve,
come to 64 and 3/4 Hout Street, and enter a hidden, magical realm. A bit rusty, it’s an opportunity to shake off the pixie dust and practice ‘em spells ~ Rictusempra for tickles (with giggles), Riddikulus to banish fears with bouts of laughter, or Tarantallegra for a dastardly dance off with your nemesis! There’s nothing like a ‘Monster Mash’ to get dancing bodies into the mosh pit, and as we all know ~ werewolf fur and goblin fuzz give witchy’s brew a potent buzz! So park your Nimbus 2000, leave your cares and the muggles at the door!, and join in some wizardly non-earthy delights and wicked revelry.
Any grubs or delicious eats, drinks and libations to share are welcomed and are always much appreciated. Dress up is encouraged if you feel the spirit move you. Party tricks, pranking and general shenanigans encouraged ~ so beware! Please reach out to Hans via WhatsApp on what to contribute: +27721276497
Help us to creep it real, and join in some humerus Halloween fun!
Santa Shoebox Project
The Unitarian Unicorns have pledged to provide 20 children in need with a Santa Shoebox personal gift for the upcoming Christmas holidays.
If you would like to get involved, by making a financial contribution to source supplies, or to help decorate, pack and personalize the children’s gifted Santa Shoeboxes, please contact Hans at +27721276497 for more details. Last contributions due by Friday, 31 October, please.
Help us to light up, and bring a smile to a child in need this holiday season. Thank you for making a difference!
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.
Council Updates
Here is a recap of the September Council Meeting:
A proposal was made for additional pastoral care on Sunday mornings. Lizette, Melanie and Nima will meet to discuss next steps.
Gur’s GoFundMe was noted. A special accounting code is being set up for his funds for his permanent residency.
Hans’ contract was renewed for another six months, from 1 October 2025 - 31 March 2026.
A quote to repair the rotten parapet with a new method of rubber carpet was reviewed. Jeremy will ask for customers who have purchased this treatment, and some will go see it after completion. Nima will draft a grant application for the Gregson Trust in UK, which focuses on old Unitarian buildings.
Financials are slowly being brought up-to-date. A request for approval of ProSyra as our auditors will be made to the CTU members via email.
Next meeting will be 16 November at 12-2 pm.
Have questions or comments for Council? Please email us at community@capetownunitarians.org.