Calendar of events
Here you will find all of our congregation’s Sunday Services, Board and Committee meetings and other events. Use the calendar controls to see events for past or future dates. For a quick look at recent Sunday Services, click here!
What does it mean to be virtuous, and how does this goal manifest in our Unitarian Universalist principles? Which of the classical virtues match the UU principles and sources and which virtues have we abandoned? Why? Come and share!
For all of us, communication sometimes feels impossible. We can all learn from the innovative techniques that give a voice to people with Autism and other communication disorders. An uplifting and hopeful vision for a listening world.
Nomi Kaston, M.Sc., Speech Language Pathologist
Nomi earned her Master of Science degree at McGill University, in Speech Language Pathology. She has a private Speech Therapy practice in Victoria, specializing in creative exploration of AAC, Augmentative and Alternative Communication systems involving pictures, music, gesture, and computer generated speech. She has worked and presented internationally in the fields of social cognition and communication.
Trinity Western University’s recent application for a law school has been met with incredible backlash, both from the general public and from the legal community, due to its mandatory “community covenant” and the perceived discrimination contained within it. How does Canada continue to protect the rights of all (particularly the rights of women and LGTB community members) while still protecting religious freedom?
Paige Thombs is an MA Candidate in History and Culture, Social and Political Thought at the University of Victoria. As a member of the LGTB Community, she is grateful to live in a country where she can live freely. She seeks to find balance between her rights and the rights of others.
As Canadian Unitarian Universalists, we envision a world in which our interdependence calls us to love and justice.
Kristina Stevens has been a Unitarian for 25 years, drawn to a group of like-minded people who are not afraid to explore life’s big questions. She is a member of the First Unitarian Church of Victoria, and has been on the Canadian Unitarian Council Board for the past five years.
Kenneth Leo Patton. Some of you probably come to the conclusion that I look a lot to the past, well, I like to look at our forebears in Unitarianism to see what they have to offer us today. Patton was very influential on Unitarianism during the last century. Here is a quote from Minister and scholar, David Bumbaugh as he summed up Patton’s work: “It was he who taught a monotone rationalism how to sing; it was he who taught a stumble footed humanism how to dance;it was he who cried ‘Look!’ and taught our eyes to see the glory in the ordinary.”
Many religious traditions can turn to their scriptures for their inspiration to be compassionate. Without scripture, what do Unitarian Universalists do? Dyanne and Sara from the Care and Concern Committee will speak to the the issue of compassion in our community.
MiMi’s House is a small residential care facility in Saanich that provides short-term care to children with severe cognitive and physical impairments, allowing their families to obtain a brief respite from the challenges and demands of providing for their children’s on-going care. The story of MiMi’s House, from the crisis that led to it’s creation nearly 14 years ago to the provision of care that continues today, will be told by Charles Card, one of the founding directors of Children’s Respite Support Society, a small charitable organization that works to augment the respite care given at MiMi’s House.
Our congregation’s first service was 21 years ago. What has changed and what are we still doing the same? This is a time to envision the future of our community.
When chosen with care and respect, stories can guide, heal, inspire and even transform us. Come celebrate World Storytelling Day and Faye’s book Ancient Stories for Modern Times recently published by our UU Press Skinner House Books. Faye links personal journey with traditional wisdom tale in an exploration of our ever-changing relationships with nature, with one another and with ourselves.
Faye began storytelling in her 20’s. For over a decade, she has been sharing tales at the First Unitarian Church of Victoria, where she works as Director of Spiritual Exploration for Children and Youth. She puts a new spin on classic tales and weaves original stories full of mystery, humour, compassion and spirit. Her first book came out last year.
Learn the definition and history of diplomacy, how it generally works and the structure of diplomatic posts, what a typical Canadian Embassy is life, and hear a few stories.
Charles William Ross spent almost 35 years with Canada’s federal government and its diplomatic service, serving in the departments of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Industry Canada, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. His assignments abroad took him and his family to Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro, Canberra, Perth, The Hague, Sao Paulo, and Bogota. Upon retirement he spent 5 years as the President of the Canadian Vintners Association, and several years as an international trade consultant.
Drawing on her experiences and those of other people who help LGBTQ refugees, Barbara Freeman reflects on the nature of compassion, mutual respect, patience and cooperation with newcomers, and among their sponsors and donors. The devil of being an angel is often in the details.
Barbara Freeman is a member of Capital Rainbow Refuge, an Ottawa organization that sponsors LGBTQ newcomers to Canada and mentors other LGBTQ sponsorship groups. She is also a member of the First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa and a winter visitor to Victoria.