Capital Unitarian Universalist Congregation

Now that the Gay Rights Movement has led to the legalization of same-sex marriage in nine states and the District of Columbia, it is time to re-examine the history of this practice and recover past precedents.

This talk examines diverse evidence of the existence of same-sex marriages in North America from the 16th century through the twentieth century. Unfortunately memory of this history of marital variability has been erased, owing in part to the tendency of contemporary descriptions to describe such unions as “impossible.” The rhetoric of impossibility allowed communities to accommodate couples who transgressed the rule that marriage should be cross-sexed, without redefining the category of marriage.

Rachel Hope Cleves is Associate Professor of History at the University of Victoria. She is the author of the forthcoming book, Charity and Sylvia: A Same-Sex Marriage in Early America (Oxford University Press, 2013), which examines the lives of two ordinary women who lived in an extraordinary same-sex marriage in Vermont, from 1807 to 1851. Originally from New York City, Cleves is a happy transplant to B.C.’s beautiful capital city.

What came first: the chicken, the egg, or the Easter Bunny? Join us as we resurrect the sources of our European spring festival traditions!

In Buddhism, one begins with the human predicament in order to grow into a more satisfying life.

“When one studies Buddhism, one studies the self; when one studies the self, one forgets the self; when one forgets the self, one is enlightened by all things.” Great Master Dogen (1200 – 1253 AD)

Rev. Master Meiten McGuire was originally a clinical psychologist and educator in both the US and Canada. She has been a Buddhist monastic in her Soto Zen order for 33 years and teaching on Vancouver Island for the past 10.  She is a member of the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives, and a Resident Teacher of the Vancouver Island Zen Sangha.

Coodinator: Amanda S Tarling

Dr Rippin is a Professor of Islamic History at the University of Victoria, he is a specialist in the Qur’an and the history of its interpretation.  Dr Rippin authored the textbook “Muslims: their religious beliefs and practices”.

As part of SPARK! Circus, Karina Strong, founder of VestaFire Entertainment, travelled to Thailand in 2012 with her family (Kevin, Jenna (8) and Caden (3)) to bring a circus experience to Burmese refugee children. Using multi-media, Karina and Kevin will share the stories of this mission to bring a little joy and playfulness to underprivileged children they met and the impact it had on her own family. Karina is a member of First Unitarian Fellowship of Nanaimo.

We make community on Sunday mornings.  Unitarians also make community at dinners, regional gatherings, summer camp, and the national gathering each May.  Come and learn more!

Dr Norbert Čapek founded the Unitarian church in Czechoslovakia and created the flower celebration service in 1923. Dr Čapek was born in 1870 and was murdered in 1942. The impetus for writing the flower communion came from his feeling that his church needed a symbolic ritual that would bind his congregants more closely together. Come and join us in this beautiful service.

Let’s discuss what we think about global warming, Enbridge
pipelines, Immigration and Refugee Protection, and electronic democracy,
in advance of the Unitarian gathering where the national position will be
decided.  Allison Benner is a past-chair of Capital and Peter Scales
is the current chair of the board.

From the paleolithic to the present, the Mother Goddess has been worshipped and
revered.  Join us as we explore her myths and traditions which, despite
all obstacles, have endured to the present day. Dr. Dana Seaborn, a local
Unitarian, began her study of Eurasian goddesses in the early 1980’s.

Join Rosemary as we raise our voices together to sing about everything spring.

Dr. Pullyblank’s homily begins by looking at general issues in mental health and a video clip of a case study. We then explore how our Unitarian Principles influence our understanding of mental health, and how mental health informs our day-to-day adherence to Unitarian Principles.

Dr. Pullyblank has been a Psychologist for 25 years, a Unitarian for 20 years, and a member of Capital for 14 of those years.

Wonderings and wanderings among religious denominations and tenets, philosophies, nature, books and friends.　 Are there　 answers?