Photo by Scott Goodwill on Unsplash
Greetings, CTU Members and Friends –
As we continue this year focusing on one religion or spiritual philosophy per month, in June we will focus on humanism.
I will be facilitating a workshop on Unitarianism on Saturday afternoon 2-5 pm 20th June. See below for all the details. Also, see Carl Lindemann’s proposal for learning to tell your personal spiritual story.
Please diarise Sunday, 28 June, 11:30 - 13:30 for CTU’s Annual General Meeting. More information and documents will be provided in early June.
Lastly, PLEASE CONSIDER DONATING TO GUR’S GoFundMe for his and his family’s lawsuit to gain permanent residency! We just need R20,000 to go forward. Your gift will make a positive life changing difference in the lives of Gur, Lungi, Alpha and Roselyn. Details below.
With love and light,
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
Upcoming Activities
Fundraising
Council Updates
Sunday Services
All services will start at 10:30 am SA time
Contact Community@CapeTownUnitarians.org for the link
7 June, Courage to Think for Ourselves: From Socrates to Modern Humanism. The ancient Greek philosopher Socrates taught that an examined life is essential to human flourishing, encouraging people to question assumptions and seek wisdom through dialogue. This reflection explores how modern humanists continue that tradition by valuing critical thinking, intellectual freedom, and personal responsibility in a complex world.
14 June, The Gift of Time Travel. As part of Youth Month, join Sidley du Preez for a deeply personal and thought-provoking conversation inspired by letters she wrote to political prisoners on Robben Island as a teenager. Through storytelling and dialogue, she explores a simple but profound question: What happens in the small moments before leadership becomes public?
21 June, What Makes a Good Life? From Aristotle to Humanist Ethics. The Greek philosopher Aristotle argued that a good life is built through the practice of virtues such as courage, generosity, and justice. This reflection explores how contemporary humanists—including thinkers such as Martha Nussbaum—continue to ask how we can create flourishing lives and communities grounded in human dignity and shared responsibility.
28 June, SHORTENED SERVICE. Because of the Annual General Meeting starting at 11:30 this Sunday, we have only a short service, with our chalice lighting and some of our favourite songs, along with joys and concerns.
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES
Somerset West Fellowship
SATURDAY, 6 JUNE 2026 @ 10h00
Vonke Meeting Room, Vonke House, 121 Lourensford Road, Somerset West
HOW ISLAM CAME TO THE HELDERBERG
Missionary Expansion at the Cape and the Spread of Islam to Mosterd Bay
Following the expansion of Christian missionary activity at the Cape after 1804, how did the Muslim community respond, and did Islamic leadership at the Cape have the resources to counter this growing missionary drive?
This talk explores the spread of Islam from Cape Town to the Helderberg, specifically to Mosterd Bay — now known as Strand. Through historical research and community memory, the presentation traces the development of Islamic da’wah during the Dutch and British colonial periods and the role played by early Muslim communities in preserving their faith and identity.
Ebrahim Rhoda is a respected community historian, former educator and researcher with a lifelong interest in the history of the Strand Muslim community. He taught for 35 years at Strand Moslem Primary School and later completed a Masters degree in History at the University of the Western Cape, receiving distinction for his research on the founding and development of the Strand Muslim community. He has published several works on Islamic and local community history and has received numerous awards for his contribution to heritage preservation and lifelong learning.
📞 **Contact:** Rev. Roux Malan – 084 679 5466
🌐 **Website:** https://swunitarians.carrd.co
This is a free event—all are welcome!
A FREE online course for the CTU Community!
Telling your Spiritual Autobiography/Personal Myth
Facilitated by Carl Lindemann
Come join me in the Winter weeks ahead to tell stories about our lives, where we’re from and what we’re for. We will be collecting the stories we know by heart about ourselves and working to craft something to share with the community to test a new way we might conduct services. Instead of a traditional sermon, we share who we are by what’s in our hearts.
I am adapting a course I have taught at the Centre for Applied Jungian Studies along similar lines – albeit adapted for CTU. The idea is to develop something to serve as an introduction to CTU’s beliefs and practices, while helping new members get to know themselves, each other and us.
The weekly course will take place over 6 evenings, two hours each session. We will be talking about love, work, interests – all the things that define our lives. Readings, movies and songs from various sources serve as prompts to get us telling our own stories.
After, those who feel inspired will have an opportunity to tell their story as part of a Sunday CTU service.
It would be great to do this in person, but likely we’ll get greater participation online in the Winter cold and dark. I’ve taught versions of this both in person and online – and what’s great is that it translates nicely online.
I’m also open to suggestions for Unitarian-themed readings, movies, songs that get us thinking, feeling and telling our stories. No day/time is set yet, but want to get started sometime in June. Let’s find a time to gather that works for everyone! Contact Carl on WhatsApp at +27 79 021 5079
Workshop on Unitarianism
Saturday 20 June 2-5 pm
ONLINE ONLY
Berry and Nima are working on a new networking breakfast project with colleagues at Gate House in Constantia (91 Brommersvlei Road). It is designed to be a gathering for thoughtful professionals, entrepreneurs, facilitators, creatives and leaders who want deeper conversations, meaningful relationships, and practical collaboration. The first one will be Thursday 25 June, 8:30 am - 10:30 am. Tea/Coffee and snacks will be served. Suggested donation is R50. For more information, contact Nima at 0760249120. In cooperation with Gate House!
Fundraising
GUR NEEDS YOUR HELP: WE ONLY NEED R20,000 MORE TO SUE HOME AFFAIRS ON GUR AND HIS FAMILY’S BEHALF. Gur’s GoFundMe link is here: https://gofund.me/150067d08
It will change their lives 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.
Council Updates
Council meeting was held on Sunday 31 May. Nima shared updates on our various grant applications, and the success of the March Pan African Conference. Shelley reviewed the upcoming Annual General Meeting agenda. Lastly, with Nima stepping down at the end of this year, there was a lively discussion about innovative ways to do ministry going forward.
Have questions or comments for Council? Please email us at community@capetownunitarians.org.