Image by Mark Kuznietsov @Unsplashed
Greetings, CTU Members and Friends –
Our theme of August is Community. There will be many opportunities to reflect upon what it means to be in a community as well as all the benefits and challenges that arise.
Don’t miss our special 9 August 4 - 6 pm SA time hybrid event for International Indigenous Peoples Day!
Please note that on 27 August, our service will be devoted to discussing a potential Code of Conduct. We will explore ways of communing together and consent for our community. This is in response to the unacceptable behaviour situation in July. We hope you can attend. We’ll have an opportunity to hear everyone’s point of view.
See below for all the great activities happening in our community this August.
With love and light,
Nima
nimajanettaylor@gmail.com // WhatsApp 076 024 9120
In This Issue of the Newsletter
Sunday Services
Somerset West Fellowship
The Barbie Movie
CTU Community Choir
National Women’s Day
Bring and Share Potluck
Online Chalice Circle
Archive Digitisation Party
!Khwa ttu San Culture & Education Centre
Chalice Kids
UPCOMING SUNDAY TOPICS
Please note: All services are hybrid
2 July – Traditional Service: Annual Pan African Unitarians Day: join us to celebrate the many different Unitarians communities on the African continent! We’ll hear from several of our brothers and sisters from near and far.
13 August – Indian Unitarians: The Unitarian community in Northern India will share what they find valuable in their community.
20 August – Why Commit to Being in Community? Based on Mphala's beautiful reflection on communing as an act of resistance, we’ll explore the benefits and challenges of committing to a spiritual community. Nima will share some important research on this topic.
27 August– How We Commune in Our Inclusive Unitarian Community: Our service will be devoted to discussing a potential Code of Conduct. We will explore ways of communing together and consent for our community. This is in response to the unacceptable behaviour situation in July. We hope you can attend. We’ll have an opportunity to hear everyone’s point of view.
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES
Gregory Peck, the Ward 15 councillor in Somerset West
Somerset West Fellowship - IN PERSON
5 August, Saturday, 10:00 am
Vonke House, Chapel Room at 121 Lourensford Road
Gregory Peck, the Ward 15 councillor in Somerset West, will talk about striving to build a resilient city. He will discuss energy, water, employment opportunities and poverty alleviation. During his working life, Gregory was a farmer, winemaker and fruit exporter in the Stellenbosch region. Many years before retiring, he made a promise to himself that he would spend much of his time giving back and working for the community in which he lives. This is his enjoyment and what for seven years has driven him daily to serve the residents of Ward 15.
COST: Free, as well as free light refreshments.
RSVP: Contact Dave Mayes at 021 850 0863, or davidjeanmayes@gmail.com
The Barbie Movie
Saturday, 5 August, 2:30 pm
V&A Waterfront Ster Kinekor Theatre
R 119 per person
Join Hans and Nima as we enjoy the Barbie movie together! Come dressed in something pink. Did you know that the director, Greta Gerwig, is a Unitarian!? Afterwards, for anyone wishing to do so, we will find a cafe nearby to have a glass of wine or other beverage and discuss the movie. You can buy your tickets at the theatre or online here: https://www.sterkinekor.com. If you buy online, choose V&A, 5 August Saturday, 2D (to get in the correct theatre), and 14:45 start time.
National Women’s Day- HYBRID
9 August, Wednesday, 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
64 Hout Street and online
Join us for a South African celebration of worldwide indigeneity. Our mission is to honor the history, ancestral wisdom and traditions of all indigenous peoples globally. To strengthen and uplift the Feminine voice, for the good of ALL.
Zoom link.
CTU Community Choir - HYBRID
Every Wednesday, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
64 Hout Street and Online
All are welcome to join our hybrid Community Choir rehearsals irrespective of experience or ability. Each week we will explore some UU hymns, other congregational style hymns, and work on repertoire for upcoming services. We aim to sing in service once or twice a month. See this Google doc for more information about choir practice. If you have questions, contact Camille at camillemhatton@gmail.com or on WhatsApp at +1 831 345 6128.
A scene from last month’s Bring and Share.
Bring and Share- IN PERSON
19 August, Saturday, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
64 Hout Street
We meet again in community, sharing in our togetherness sampling some delicious prepared meals and savouring the opportunity to connect and to have meaningful conversation. Please join us and bring a dish or beverage to share.
Please contact Hans to RSVP, WhatsApp: +27721276497
Online Chalice Circle - ONLINE
19 August, Saturday, 10:00 am - 11:30 am
This month we will reflect on the theme of community. What does community mean to you and how does it impact your life? Contact Nima at nimajanettaylor@gmail.com for more information.
Zoom link
Meeting ID: 912 2488 4093
Passcode: 5390682
Chalice Kids - IN PERSON
We have a robust Chalice Kids education project every month. If you would like your child to participate, email Nima at nimajanettaylor@gmail.com. She will help you choose the right group for your kid(s) and share the homes where we are meeting.
Archive Digitising Party
27 August, Sunday, 12 Noon
64 Hout Street
Gratitude to Ana and Christine for prototyping the digitising of our archives. Did you know that in April of 1964, CTU's Rev. Victor Carpenter wrote letters of protest against the 90-day detention clause, as part of his active involvement in the anti-Apartheid movement? This is one of many documents in our archive. Thanks to new technology, anyone can help us digitise these important pieces of history.
!Khwa ttu San Culture & Education Centre
1 September, Friday, 11am - 4 pm
Cost: R350 per person for transport; museum entrance is free; guided tour is R180
Please RSVP by 15 August to Nima
Note: We need at least 10 people to make this trip affordable for transport
Join us on a field trip to learn more about San culture at the !Khwa ttu San Culture & Education Centre. Museum entrance is free on the 1st of each month. The museum alone is amazing. If you want a guided tour it will cost R180 per person.If you can afford to pay extra, please do! Nima will collect the money on the day of. Some may want to have lunch in the cafe https://www.khwattu.org/visit-and-explore/ or bring a picnic lunch. Bursaries are available to pay for the R350 transport. Please RSVP by 12 noon on 15 August, Friday, so we can confirm the minibus and driver. RSVP to Nolu on 069 437 8926.
COMMUNITY UPDATES
The choir practices every Wednesday. If you’d like to join, contact Camille Hatton on WhatsApp at +1 831 345 6128.
The social justice team recently met up in person on Mandela Day 18 July at Ground Culture café in Observatory to spend some time in community and to share our light with others.
AGM Minutes
If you would like to read the full meeting minutes from May’s Annual General Meeting, please visit this link.
July Council Meeting Recap
We finalised our 2023 strategic priorities.
Brand refresh is ongoing.
Theo Mayekiso received a $10,000 USD grant to support his youth development program in underdeveloped areas.
Altaira has volunteered to help with our fundraising efforts.
Roux is going to the international conference in Prague
Volunteer Opportunities - Please Share Your Time and Talents with CTU!
Our communications committee is always looking for people who can write, edit, photographand create graphics. Contact Laura on WhatsApp at +27-60-488-0372.
Join the Social Justice committee by contacting Cele on 082 433 8815.
Help with events by contacting Hans on 072 127 6497.
Please Donate Children’s Games for Mfuleni Outreach
We are looking for children’s games like Monopoly, Scrabble, cards, dominoes, Clue, Snakes and Ladders, etc. for the Mfuleni Youth Centre that Roux is working on with an ex-Catholic Priest Fano. They would like to have games on hand for the children in the area. Bring your games to 64 Hout Street. Roux will pick them up from there and take them to Mfuleni.
Have questions or comments for Council? Please email us at community@capetownunitarians.org.