Capital Unitarian Universalist Congregation

How can we align our politics and economy with what the science says we must do to address the climate crisis? Seth Klein brings an original and uniquely hopeful take to this challenge. His book A Good War: Mobilizing Canada for the Climate Emergency is structured around lessons from the Second World War – the last time Canada faced an existential threat. Others have said we need a “wartime approach” to climate change but this is the first book to delve into what that could actually look like.

Seth Klein served for 22 years (1996-2018) as the founding B.C. Director of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, a public policy research institute committed to social, economic and environmental justice. He is now the Team Lead and Director of Strategy of the Climate Emergency Unit (a 5-year project of the David Suzuki Institute that Seth launched in early 2021).

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Over the last several years there has been heightened attention and awareness about systemic racism and colonialism. The headlines continue to proclaim rampant inequality in major societal systems and treatment of Indigenous People and People of Colour. This is true as well in our UU communities. Our values and our principles call us to treat all people as inherently (and equally) full of worth and dignity. The reality is our congregations and communities are not yet the beloved, radically inclusive communities we yearn for. How can we get there? What barriers are in the way?

Rev. Shana Lynngood has been Co-Minister of the First Unitarian Church of Victoria with her wife Melora since September 2010. When not immersed in ministry Rev. Shana is busy with her two kids, 9 and 15, and likely being nourished by poetry, jazz, and dear friends and family—or all of the above.

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Darwin (1809-1882) was an English naturalist, geologist and biologist, best known for his contributions to the science of evolution. What kind of a man was Darwin, what was his family like and how did he come to be on the Royal Navy survey ship Beagle?

Barrie Webster is the past president of the Victoria Secular Humanist Association.  He has also held leadership positions with the Memorial Society of BC.

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At every juncture in our lives, we are asked to be attentive to that still small voice inside that guides us on our way. This is the journey of discernment which is revealed to us slowly over time and it is our responsibility to stay curious about how these callings will play out. Nicole will share how she has come to discern her call to ministry as a Unitarian Universalist military chaplain and how your own life’s journey is helping you bring your gifts and talents in service to the wider world.

Nicole is a member of First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto and a Canadian seminarian studying at the University of Toronto. She joined the Canadian Armed Forces and has served in a variety of roles. Nicole is drawn to the contemplative and mystical traditions of finding wisdom in the quiet whether that is out in nature, on her yoga mat, and in the silence of her own heart.

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In this powerful pre-recorded service from The Unitarian Church of Vancouver, six members of the congregation talk about the impacts of studying the book “Me and White Supremacy.”

In the Gospels called Luke and Matthew, the angel Gabriel tells two Jewish ladies, post-menopausal Elizabeth and virgin Mary, that they will become pregnant despite obstacles.  Their sons, John and Jesus, were worshipped from birth onward: John as a baptizer and Jesus as a healer.  How did Christians get from this story to the elaborate shopping, decorating and feasting rituals of Christmas 2021?
Peter Scales, a member of our congregation since 2004, loves the humanistic, pagan and historic rituals surrounding the darkest nights of the year.

Join us as we joyfully celebrate the season with carols and song, stories and poems.

In our social bubbles, each of us has experienced so much during Pandemic Year 2021.  As a congregation, Capital UU has continued to experience as much spiritual community as possible under the BC health orders.  45 Zoom services, Zoom board and committee meetings, in-person picnics and pub nights, and dozens of friendships maintained by walking, coffee-ing and dining.  Looking back, we have much to celebrate.  What are our hopes for 2022, individually and as a UU congregation?  What do we also hope for in our communities, the climate, food security, etc?
Peter Scales fondly remembers his mother every New Years Eve leading the family to look back, then look ahead.

This is the story of how personal tragedy taught me to live joyfully. Let’s see if we can approach a very uncertain New Year with joy….

In a long life Di has been many things, including a neuro-chemist, teacher, singer, hypnotherapist, mother, grandmother, immigrant, and all round eccentric.

Of his book, Ralph says

“My hope is that the pages that follow will give younger people
an insight into what these platinum years are like for those of us
who are over eighty. I hope they give us a bit of the feel, the taste, the
beauty and the pain of it all-that we’ll come to think of old as a good
thing to be. Platinum is even more precious than gold, but softer and
more easily marred.”

Ralph Milton was publisher of Wood Lake Books from 1980 to 2000. He has written hundreds of magazine articles and is the author of over twenty books. He holds two honorary doctorates (Doctor of Divinity and Doctor of Sacred Letters). Milton lives in Kelowna, BC, with Beverley, his wife of 63 years.

Ralph’s work has taken him to many different countries, mostly in
Africa and Asia, where he worked ecumenically with a wide variety
of churches and faith groups: Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and others.

As an observer and participant in marine ecological recovery, I am constantly impressed with the forces of the natural world. Presently this world is wrecking havoc as it strives to reach equilibrium caused, in large part, from human interference with natural cycles. I am intrigued with this time we are in, when we have opportunities to learn from processes and glean lessons on how to behave better towards all living beings. Thank you for this opportunity to share my musings to date.

Nikki Wright has served as the Executive Director of SeaChange Marine Conservation Society since 1998.

Who are we? And where are we going on this tiny planet of ours, this bright sparkle of life in a Universe so ridiculously vast? Are we rushing towards a civilizational cliff, our eyes set on material gain – or are we turning in a new direction, towards a future many have dreamed of, but few have found?

Guy Dauncey is an ecotopian futurist who works to develop a positive vision of a sustainable future, and to translate that vision into action. He is the author of Journey to the Future: A Better World is Possible, and he is currently completing a new book titled The Economics of Kindness: A Ten-Year Transition to a Green Cooperative Economy. He is co-chair of the West Coast Climate Action Network. His website is www.thepracticalutopian.ca.