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!
This morning we are celebrating a 40 year old UU tradition of a Water Communion. The Google dictionary defines “Communion” as “the sharing or exchanging of intimate thoughts and feelings, especially when the exchange is on a mental or spiritual level.” Join us for an exploration of this poignant water ritual.
Hanna Leavitt lives in Victoria, is blind, has service dog ‘Ogden’, and has recently written a book. Hanna recently won a $14,000 Arts Council grant and went to Montreal to research the history of residential blind schools in Canada.
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The CUC is hosting “Unsettled and Unafraid,” a national service to honour The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Join Elder-in-Residence Sharon Jinkerson Brass, Rev. Danielle Webber and folks from across the country as they reflect on what the process of un-colonizing looks and feels like to them.
This will be followed by a FREE 2.5-hour art therapy workshop facilitated by Rev. Karen Fraser Gitlitz and Ceremony Keeper Carey Jeanette Sinclair. It will be based on their popular, multi-day workshop, “Unsettling Our Spirituality.” (Details to follow.)
A pre-recorded service will be available to congregations on September 21. Please contact amber.bellemare@cuc.ca to receive the link.
Join us on Zoom. For those calling in on landlines, the toll-free number is 1-855-703-8985.
Meeting ID: 873 6525 5786
Password: 742984
You can also watch live on the CUC’s YouTube channel.
The biographer of CUUC member Dr. Murray Enkin (1924-2021) will talk about the challenges of writing what became a much larger book than intended in order to draw together the threads of a ‘large life’.
-And just what can we expect to receive, anyway? And by the way, what does this have to do with Thanksgiving??? Join us as we explore the mysterious power of Asking.
As an art student of visual art and art history, I spent 2-4 art history classes a week in a darkened room with projections of art on the wall. One of the strongest and most persistent questions from this very potent period of my life has left me with, is; what is spirituality in art? The first art, in western art history, that was defined as abstract was spiritual. These early 20th Century artists endeavored to paint spirit, beauty, the soul as personal spiritual beliefs rather than religious beliefs, while also being very engaged in the advancements in science.
The covid-19 pandemic had many people debating “the science” as each new shred of data hit the news and social media. Politically, ‘science’ was often stated as the chief reason for important policy decisions. What is science, though? One of the sources of UUism is “Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against the idolatries of the mind and spirit.” Dr. Sepideh Heydari has been a neuroscientist at UVic and is now an IT analyst at Island Health.
Remembrance Day is a time to remember those who died in wartime, to consider why humans go to war, and to discuss how to strive for peace. Today’s service speaks to all who never want to see war again. Peter is a BC historian, a member of both Victoria UU congregations, and the Unitarian chaplain to the University of Victoria. Before moving to Lekwungen territory, he served 21 years in the RCAF.
If you would like to join via zoom, please contact Niki at the church office churchoffice@victoriaunitarian.ca to receive access to the zoom link.
In the interests of promoting Truth, Healing and Reconciliation, we invite you to learn about the Doctrine of Discovery. This papal bull was brought to the attention of Canadians following the death of Queen Elizabeth II and also during the visit of Pope Francis to Canada. In 2021/22 several Victoria UUs joined a study group on the excellent film Doctrine of Discovery: Stolen Lands, Strong Hearts, produced by the Anglican Church. They will share with you their increased understanding of the implications of the Doctrine of Discovery on ongoing efforts towards reconciliation. You may be interested in viewing the 67-minute video on which the study group focussed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQwkB1hn5E8
Amanda Tarling, Jan Greenwood, Sarah Weaver and Karen Christie are active members of our congregation, and a couple participate in the Truth Healing and Reconciliation team of UUs in Victoria (THRUU), a small group from both UU congregations in Victoria. THRUU’s mandate is to facilitate educational opportunities in the interests of contributing to the reconciliation process. All speakers participated in the study group on the Doctrine of Discovery and most in the earlier groups for the CUC’s Indigenous Film Discussion Series.