Capital Unitarian Universalist Congregation

Cults are extreme forms of religious organization.  Seeming to offer love, support, community and meaning, they can also exploit, abuse and even kill their members.  Mary Dahonick will describe how she was lured, exploited and rescued from the Reverend Sun Myung Moon’s Unification Church (Moonies).   Why is this information of value to us today?  There are still many cult leaders who seek to control and manipulate individuals for personal gain.  Although we think we are not likely to fall prey to them, we can observe cult behaviours in our society, such as the spreading of misinformation for personal gain.  We can also become vulnerable in our lives through loneliness or suffering and fall victim to those who promise unconditional love in return for conformity, money and obedience.  How can we safeguard ourselves, our loved ones and our community in ways that truly offer love and support without the abuses of cult behaviours?

Our congregation’s first service was on Mar 3, 1996.  For 28 years our little community has created opportunities for newcomers and seasoned UU’s.  What has changed, what challenges have we faced, and what are we still doing the same?  Today after coffee, Joy will lead a Forum discussion of “what next for Capital”

There are no high school or college courses on ‘Fatherhood’ and many of us have only one example to follow (or not follow): Darth Vader.  While recognizing that parenting has many styles and genders, today Peter and friends will discuss lessons they learned from their fathers, or lessons they learned while fathering the next generation.

For our last service before the Summer Break… please join us on Sunday June 30th for Amanda Tarling “Lessons I have learned about our principles and Sources from wildlife photography.”

Starting wildlife photography has changed my life, given me a renewed appreciation for nature and has deeply concerned me.  Come and hear about Amanda’s remarkable journeys to remote areas of BC to capture images of Superfauna and what she has discovered about the dark side of wildlife photography.

Usually the first week back from Summer Break is a Water Communion but this summer has been more about fire and drought than water. This morning join us for a joyful welcome back as we celebrate each other, and our community.

There are elements of our congregation that folks have always treasured: the community feel, the music, the interesting homilies, the Forum, and the mix of backgrounds.  The Belief-O-Matic quiz has brought some people to our congregation; try it at www.beliefnet.com/entertainment/quizzes/beliefomatic.aspx  What for you is the essence of Capital UUism?

Board members, “Capital Conversations: where are we and where are we going?”  Members of Capital’s board will share their reasons why this congregation is meaningful to them. Following a break for coffee and conversation, there will be a financial update. The forum will be a time to talk about future plans for Capital. Share your ideas! What is of most importance to you? What do you hope for? Let’s make a congregational plan for the coming years

Intentional rest
In the midst of many demands and changes, what does it look like to prioritize rest?

The Taoist Society of Victoria teaches that tai chi, a series of moves and an exercise form, can also be considered a spiritual practice.  Unitarians Leigh and Joy will describe their experiences of tai chi.

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), son of a Unitarian minister and friend to Thoreau, was a poet and philosopher who led the Transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century in New England.  Transcendentalism – which believes in part that people can make their own intuitions about ultimate reality – formed an early core of Unitarianism.