Capital Unitarian Universalist Congregation

Ripples in the Community Pond” Learn about the origin of Citizens’ Counselling Centre, the work they do in the community, the volunteers they train and supervise and the clients who come to them for support.

Phoebe Ramsay spent seven months volunteering in solidarity with refugees in Greece, and will return in January to continue her work. In this, the season of giving, Phoebe will be sharing with the congregation some of the gifts that she received while on the refugee trail, and the stories and journeys they hold. Reflecting on our 6th principle, responsibility to the larger community, she will also be sharing the story of her personal journey, and speaking about finding light and hope in the darkest of places.

Come join us to explore the various midwinter cultural traditions and sing and have fun!

Gather for a simple ritual of new beginnings. Take this opportunity to reflect on what you would like to let go of and what you wish to welcome into your life.

We welcome teaching from the Rabbi of Congregation Emanu-El, the egalitarian Conservative Jewish congregation in Victoria.

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.