The Chalice JANUARY 2015 A Note from Rev. Linda Thomson New Year, New Leaf? I am no fan of New Year‟s eve parties. I‟ve had some bad experiences. Too often slightly drunken people have decided to bend my ear, and tell me how bad things have been, how much the past year has been „a disaster‟, how much they love me, and how they are so glad it is a New Year, a new leaf. Now as I write that it doesn‟t sound so bad really. Sometimes the last year has been more challenge than not. „I love you‟ isn‟t a bad thing to hear. New beginnings are exciting. But slurred delivery aside, the self-pitying, let‟s forget this past year ever happened sentiment seems, to me at least, to miss the spirit of the New Year‟s observance. January is named after the Roman God Janus, a deity with two faces, one looking in one direction, the other looking to the other… this looking back and looking forward approach seems to be the one that makes the most sense. If we dismiss the past year as completely worthless, we deprive ourselves of the opportunity to learn from it, to be informed by it. Even in the hardest times of our life, there quite likely are lessons to be learned. Not all lessons are ones we would have asked for, some might have been painful. However if we choose not to reflect on the lessons of adversity, we, in effect, waste our suffering. The clock will turn over and 2015 will come. The questions remain though, “What have we learned about ourselves, the world, and our relationships with others? How can we look back long enough to learn what will be useful, even as we look forward to the future?” 2014 has been a year of change for the Unitarian Fellowship of London. Some changes have been harder than others. There has been regret. And, I note, there is a sense of hope for the future. We‟ve spent time talking about what the UFL has meant to individuals and to the larger community. It seems now, as we turn the calendar to 2015, we need to ask ourselves what we‟ve learned about ourselves in 2014 and where we as a community are going. We‟re not going to erase the past year, or any of our past years, but rather use them as part of the foundation for the future. I‟m so grateful to be here with you, as you do this important work. HAPPY NEW YEAR! The Chalice January 2015 1 Save The Date~ February 22 At the UFL we invite you to bring your whole self. You are welcome here, whatever your background, whoever you are, whatever your age , gender or culture, whatever religious tradition you were raised in, whatever your abilities or disabilities, whomever you love. We ask only that you similarly welcome others. Sunday February 22, after the service the Stewardship Committee will host a special lunch to celebrate this wonderful community and the positive impact it has on each of our lives. We encourage you to start thinking about your financial support for our beloved Unitarian Fellowship to keep it strong and to ensure its future. We are hoping to have some special entertainment. Pledge forms will be collected. See you there! - Stewardship Committee Eileen Howay Judith Warren Lorna Dean Sunday Worship Schedule 10:45 a.m. January’s Theme is Leadership Jan. 4 First Sunday Nurturing and Renewal: Leadership - Are Leaders born or made? Pot Luck Brunch Service Leader - Judith Warren Jan. 11 Tapestry of Faith (Harvesting the Power) Service Leader - Alison Konrad Jan. 18 Intergenerational Service Wisdom From the Hebrew Scriptures Service Leader - Lori Otte Jan. 25 Learn to Follow, Learn to Lead This month, as we explore the theme of leadership, we‟ll look at the ways each of us contributes to the work of the whole. Sometimes our work is to step up, and other times it isn‟t. My reflections will focus on the changing nature of leadership. Worship Leader - Rev. Linda Thomson The Chalice January 2015 2 UFL Social Action Committee in Action Karen Kidd, President of the UFL Board of Directors and a member of the UFL Social Action Committee presents a cheque for $100.00 to Life*Spin Director Jacqueline Thompson. This donation will be put towards their annual Community Garden project. The Chalice January 2015 3 From the Treasurer Finances – Mortgage Paid Off: The mortgage on the UFL building was completely paid off on December 22, 2014, with a final payment of $1,442.59. This is a great accomplishment for the congregation, and we thank everyone who made donations over the years. Finances – Other Issues: During December 2014, in addition to paying off the mortgage, the UFL paid for the new security system ($2,203.50), for the annual Financial Review ($1,412.50), and sent our annual donation to our partner church in Kocsord, Hungary ($1,413.00). As of December 28, 2014, our various bank accounts have the following balances: Chequing Account $12,203.74 Operating Investment Savings Account $26,599.43 Capital Account $18,863.88 Living Tree Fund $41,874.13 Judith E. Corrin Endowment Fund $ 6,463.39 Rent Fund $ 1,580.40 CUC Sign Grant Fund $ 1,654.20 Total $109,239.17 Tax Receipts for 2014: Your tax receipts for donations during 2014 will be distributed on Sunday, January 18 and Sunday, January 25, 2015. Eileen Howay has kindly volunteered to handle the distribution of tax receipts while I am away. If you do not pick up your tax receipt on these Sundays, it will be mailed to you. Lorna Dean, Treasurer [email protected] The Chalice January 2015 4 The Unitarian Fellowship of London To Contact Your Minister Rev. Linda Thomson will be available in the UFL building most Tuesday evenings from 5:30 - 9:00 p.m. (519-4510424) At other times she can be reached by: Email - [email protected] or Telephone Home office - 1-905-332-3851 Cell - 1-905-515-6517 Please try her email first before telephoning. 557 Clarke Road, London, ON, N5V 2E1 Minister: The Reverend Linda Thomson Sunday Services 10:45am The Board President…………………... …. Karen Kidd Vice President & Congregational Health Trustee ……………………..Bob Harrington Past President ………………….. Carol Cott Treasurer & Stewardship Trustee ………………………….Lorna Dean Living Tradition Trustee……. Eileen Howay Secretary…..…………………….Ann Klinck Youth Rep………... ………………. Vacant Lay Chaplains Edna Anderson and Joyce Orchard Coordinator Children’s Religious Exploration Humanist Association Lori Turner-Otte Our January meeting will be held on Wed. Jan 14, 2015, 7:30 p.m. at the Cross Cultural Learner Centre. This will be our Annual General meeting which will be followed with a talk by Don Hatch on the topic: Ingenious Minds - the Discoverers of Electricity and Electronics. Care Team Contact For January Office Manager Patricia Daly Pianists Melanie Cancade, Eric Charbonneau Contact us… Telephone (519) 451-0424 Email [email protected] www.unitarianfellowshipoflondon.org Tom Orchard 519-455-9309 The Chalice Office Hours Monday & Wednesday 10:00 am - 1:00 pm Thursday 10:00 a.m.- 12:00 noon January 2015 5
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