Voices of ICUU - 1

Hello friends,

I regret not being able to post more live during the conference, but things were a bit hectic for awhile.  One project we undertook was to create some video clips of participants.  Here are a couple of reflections to give you a small sense of why people traveled so far to be part of the Council Meeting and Conference.  Speakers are Kat Kowalski, a Starr King ministry student from the USA, Derek Pariat, President of the Unitarian Union of Northeast India and ICUU Past President Gordon Oliver from South Africa.

On the first full day of meetings, ICUU delegates had the pleasure of welcoming a new full member group and a new emerging group.  From the Netherlands comes our newest full member, the Vrijzinnige Geloofsgemeenschap NPB... more easily known as the NPB.  And after more than four years of contact and work, we were pleased to welcome the Kenyan Unitarian Universalist Council as our newest Emerging Group.  Meet our newest members featuring Wies Houweling from the NPB and Ben Machaira and Josphat Gesimba Mainye from Kenya. On the first full day of meetings, ICUU delegates had the pleasure of welcoming a new full member group and a new emerging group.  From the Netherlands comes our newest full member, the

Inspired by the Children of Manila

OK, now that was different for a Canadian minister!  

On Sunday, February 5^th I had the opportunity to join with about 20 other ICUU types in attending a service with the Unitarian Universalists of Western Bicutan…their name is larger than the open air garage into which they cram a community of about 30 children, 30 adults and us. 

This Bicutan community is located in a poor neighbourhood of Metro Manila and was begun as an outreach project of a congregation in Quezon City.

It was simply one of the most joyous and vibrant services I have ever attended – a sentiment echoed by all of the ‘visitors’.  The quality of warmth and welcome was unlike any I have ever experienced – there was no holding back, no reserve, no shyness.  We were inspired most of all by the participation of the children.    We must have had our hands shook a hundred times each, and the children carefully prepared valentine heart messages for us complete with translations of common words from Tagalog.  

Our wonderfully competent service leader for the day was a 12 year old girl named Irish, and the music came courtesy of Bob Guerrero and his guitar.

“Coffee Hour” came in the form of packets of cookies passed hand to hand.

To the gracious people of Bicutan, we say Salamat! Thank you!

New Movie from Czech Unitarians

Dear Friends,

I invite you to look at the new documentary movie titled "Welcome to the Prague Unitarian Congregation". The movie is 9 minutes long and serves especially to the public to understand more who we are and what we do, invite to our programs and describe the spiritual environment which we strive to create together.

petr samojský

minister of the prague unitarian congregation

The link on the video is here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idQl9uQrSoA&feature=youtu.be

101st Global Chalice Lighting Words

Here is the 101st in the monthly series of Global Chalice Lightings from the International Council of Unitarians and Universalists, for use during January 2012. It is submitted by the Australian and New Zealand Unitarian Universalist Association. Please see that this Global Chalice Lighting is translated, if necessary, and distributed as widely as possible within your group.

In faith,

-Lorella

Lorella Thomas Hess

A golden thread binds us to all that has been and will ever be.

Here the tender soul yearns.

Here the greatest dreams are sighted.

Here the sacred flame burns.

-Mark Allstrom

submitted by the Australian and New Zealand Unitarian Universalist Association www.anzuua.org

Getting Excited about the Philippine Council Meeting

Hello friends,

It's Brian Kiely, ICUU President writing.

I am started to get excited abut heading to the Philippines on Thursday in advance of next week's Council Meeting. We will have a very full house at the meetings and the conference. And as someone in the middle of a Canadian winter, the idea of south sea breezes and swaying palm trees also holds some attraction.

But the real attraction, as always, is the chance to spend time with Unitarians and Unitarian Universalists from six continents, finding commonalities and exploring and appreciation the differences in the way we celebrate our liberal religion. And of course this will be the first Council Meeting ever held outside the North America or Europe.

The meetings formally convene next week, running February 7-12. I am heading over early, because I have been invited to preach twice next Sunday, a real honour. One service will be in Quezon City. I am told it will be familiar to me as a North American, a congregation of educated professionals and middle class folks. But the other service will be at an outreach community they have begun in Bicutan, one of the poorest parts of Manila. It should be an fascinating experience.

I hope to use this blog to record some of these experiences with pictures, and perhaps some short video clips, and invite any other conference participants to post comments as well. Hopefully we can convey some of what makes these events special.

December ICUU Global Chalice Lighting Words

The International Council of Unitarians and Universalists announces the 100th in its monthly series of global chalice lighting readings. Congregations worldwide are invited to participate.

All ICUU-affiliated groups have been asked to submit brief chalice lightings for the project. Every month, a reading will be distributed to Unitarian and Universalist congregations around the world.

We ask each congregation to use the reading for at least one worship service in the designated month, identifying it as the “Global Chalice Lighting” for that month and naming the group which submitted it.

Readings will be circulated in English and, where different, in their original language.

It is hoped that the ICUU Global Chalice Lighting Project will enhance the worship experience in our congregations and raise awareness of the international dimensions of our religious movement.

This Global Chalice Lighting is submitted by Unitarian Union of North East India. This reading is to be used during December 2011:


We kindle the chalice flame, symbol of our gathered community, across faiths, across cultures, beyond borders.


May it lead us from the shadows into the light, from ignorance to wisdom, from untruth to truth, from exclusiveness to inclusiveness, from mortality to immortality.


May the flame be a symbol of warmth, kinship, wisdom, truth and liberty.


Khublei.

Rev Derrick Pariat

President, Unitarian Union of North East India