Monday 30 August 2010

ICUU Exec meets in Philipinnes

Hi folks,

Here is a link to 25 photos from our visit to local congregations and the ICUU 2010 Councilo Meeting site. I'll post a story in a day or so.

Brian
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=271566&id=668711040&l=f9c7370707

Tuesday 10 August 2010

Join Us For Online ICUU Special Meeting Sept 28

Join us for a Webinar on September 28

The Executive Committee hereby calls a special general meeting of the ICUU Council for Tuesday, September 28, 2010 at 12.30 pm GMT for the agenda below. The meeting will be conducted online through any computer with a web browser and an internet connection. It is expected the meeting will conclude no later than 2.30 pm GMT.

(Sample Local Times:
USA Eastern Time 7.30 am
South Australia 9.00 pm
Continental Europe 1.30 pm
Philippines 7.30 pm
Please check equivalent local time in your area)

This meeting is free and open to council members and observers. All participants must register in advance using the Gotowebinar invitation circulated via ICUUMlist. Council members/proxies must complete and return a delegate form to be able to vote during the meeting.

AGENDA
1. Welcome from President
2. Guidance on Gotowebinar (Exec Sec)
3. Determination of Quorum (Pres & Exec Sec)
4. It is proposed that section 4. MEETINGS of the ICUU Constitution be revised to read:
The Council shall hold a general meeting biannually, no earlier than eighteen months following the previous general meeting and no later than thirty months following the previous general meeting. A quorum shall consist of more than half the member groups.

And Section 1: General Meetings of ARTICLE II : MEETINGS of the ICUU Bylaws be revised to read:
The General Meeting of the Council shall be held at such place and on such days as the Executive Committee may by resolution determine.”
(The current versions: 4. MEETINGS The Council shall meet every second year. A quorum shall consist of more than half the member groups. SECTION I. GENERAL MEETINGS The General Meeting of the Council shall be held every other year at such place and on such days as the Executive Committee may by resolution determine.)
5. Report on developments since the last Council meeting and on plans for the next Council Meeting –
6. Opportunity for questions and discussion

Title: Special ICUU Council Meeting

Date: Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Time: 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM BST

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

Reserve your Webinar seat now by going to the following wweb address:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/639572329

Death of Indirias Bhatti

We regret to report the death in July of Indirias Bhatti, known in ICUU as a representative of Unitarians in Pakistan. Messages of condolence were sent to his family by ICUU Hon Treasurer the Rev David Shaw and former ICUU Hon Secretaary, the Rev Richard Boeke.

The Rev Shaw wrote: "I am so sorry to hear the news and send to you my love and prayers. I remember well meeting Indirias in Sri Lanka - I think now 15 years ago.
I remember his dedication and vision for all things fair. I have since been aware of how much work he has done and achieved in difficult circumstances towards achieving peace, support, co-operation and love for humanity around him."

The Rev Boeke wrote: "I am sad to learn of the death of Inderias. For two decades he struggled bringing a Unitarian witness to Pakistan. For years Polly Guild was the "angel" who helped, as she did for other UU groups especially the Unitarians of Khasi Hills.

Only last year we lost Polly.
This weekend we lost Inderias Dominic Bhatti in Lahore..
The very weekend in which the angry factional violence exploded in a bomb
In a Sikh Shine in Lahore.

This prayer:
Holy Spirit ,
Like Jesus, we pray for forgiveness.
Like Jesus. We pray
"Thy Kingdom come,. Thy will be done ..."

Inderias Bhatti sought religious harmony and peace for Pakistan.
He was a worker for the coming of thy Kingdom.
As with our own lives, his success was limited.
May the hope in which he lived
Bear fruit in the years to come.
May his family be blessed and be a blessing."

Tragedy Affecting Unitarians in Congo

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Faith

It is with deep sadness that we learned of the tragic death of two Unitarian church members in the greater tragedy in the village of Sange. That so many people could suffer so in the midst of what should have been a happy celebration of world sport seems especially sad.

On behalf of the ICUU Executive, We pray both for those lost and for their families, and we encourage Unitarians and all people of faith to offer support and assistance as they are able.

In faith and sadness,

Rev. Brian J. Kiely
President
International Council of Unitarians and Universalists

On Friday, July 2, a gasoline truck overturned in the center of the village of Sange, in the province of South Kivu, near the Burundi border. The vehicle caught fire and the fire spread to nearby houses where people watched the televised World Cup football. The result was very heavy, 231 deaths (including at least 61 children) and 195 burnt.

The Unitarian Church of the Democratic Republic of Congo, there Lisanga Bandimi na Nzambe (which has over 1500 followers in the country), is directly in mourning with two church members died in this tragedy and six people hurted and unfortunately they have no medication

Those who can help the Church can do so by going to the webpage of the Unitarian Church in French (EUfr) dedicated to our partnership with this church, you will find an address in France for donations in euros and in America for donations in dollar
http://eglise.unitarienne.francophone.over-blog.fr/article-29288116.html

Global Chalice Lighting for August 2010

Here is the 84th in the monthly series of Global Chalice Lightings from the International Council of Unitarians and Universalists, for use during August 2010.

It comes to us from the Unitarian Universalist Association's new publication for military personnel and their families. 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
editor, The Global Chalice
ICUU newsletter
www.icuu.net

Global Chalice Lighting for August 2010

What words tell the truth? What balms heal? What proverbs kindle the fires and passion of joy? What spirituality stirs the hunger for justice? We seek answers to these questions—not only for ourselves, but for our communities and our society.

What are the ways of being with one another that enable life to flourish, rich with meaning? When violence has fractured communities, isolated people, and broken hearts, how can life be repaired? We ask these questions not to arrive at final answers, but because asking them is fundamental to living.

Rita Nakashima Brock & Rebecca Ann Parker
Unitarian Universalist Association
www. uua.org