First Unitarian Congregation Of Ottawa

October 13th, 2019 - What is Grace? Philosopher and theologian Paul Tillich suggests that “Grace strikes us when. . .we walk through the dark valley of a meaningless and empty life. . . It strikes us when, year after year, the longed-for perfection of life does not appear. . . Sometimes at that moment a wave of light breaks into our darkness, and it is as though a voice were saying: “You are accepted.” On this Sunday before Thanksgiving, our Rev. Patricia Guthmann Haresch will reflect with gratitude on unbid and unexpected gifts.

October 6th, 2019 - Oct 6th, 2019 - On this "Pledge Sunday" we begin our pledge campaign for the coming year. As part of her sermon, Rev. Patricia Guthmann Haresch reads from a Dedication Address for the new church building of the First Unitarian Church of Buffalo, N.Y. on October 13, 1880

September 29, 2019 - This year Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, begins at sunset on Sep 29 and ends at sunset on October 1. The holiday marks the beginning of a 10-day period known as the “Days of Awe” or “High Holidays.” For Jews this is a time of self-reflection, forgiveness, prayer and introspection. The shofar, typically a ram's horn, is blown at Rosh Hashanah services to signal the New Year, but is also a sort of spiritual wake up call. Rev. Patricia Guthmann Haresch will reflect on being spiritually awake.

September 22, 2019 - In this first of a series focussed on Unitarian perspectives on the Bible, our Rev. Patricia Guthmann Haresch will answer, "Why the Bible?" Unitarian Universalism draws upon many sources including wisdom from Jewish and Christian teachings. The European Unitarian and Universalist movements grew out of an era of Protestant Revolutions, when the Bible was more widely distributed and read leading educated and common folk alike to question the doctrines of the Church. What they found in the Bible wasn’t necessarily what was being taught or demonstrated through the words and deeds of the Church.

September 15, 2019 - Rev. Patricia Guthmann Haresch reflects on the notion of all of us being part of a great cosmic dance. Not just as bystanders, but as partners and co-creators.

September 8, 2019 - Rev. Patricia Guthmann Haresch presents a reading of "Old Turtle" by by Douglas Wood "A man should treat all creatures in the world as he himself would like to be treated." (Sutrakritinga Sutra, circa 5th Century B.C.) When a people lose sight of an old truth, perhaps an old turtle and a child can help restore the knowledge once shared. All ages are welcome to gather together for our first "official" Sunday of the new congregational year and hear a telling of Douglas Wood's "Old Turtle and the Broken Truth."

September 1, 2019 - Sermon by Rev. Patricia Guthmann Haresch - We might speak as though being concerned about our carbon footprint, or how we impact or damage the world around us, are new ideas. But, concepts like “The Golden Rule” and “do no harm” have been asserted in philosophical and religious traditions for thousands of years - none more intense than in Jainism, an ancient religion that pre-dates and gave rise to Buddhism. Jainism is concerned with the welfare of all living beings and organisms, not just humans.

Aug 18, 2019 - Guest speakers from the 2SLGBTQ+ community will share their stories and experiences for Ottawa Pride Week!

Aug 11, 2019 - Loneliness is the unspoken reality for many of us at some point in our lives and/or right now. It can become a mental health issue. How can we understand the complexities of loving as a human need and a process, which can be a part of our spiritual journeys? Linda Goonewardene is one of two Community Ministers affiliated with First. In 2002, she graduated from Drew Seminary in Madison, New Jersey. Since 2013, Linda has worked as a Family Counsellor with Rideauwood Addictions and Family Services.

The average human takes 20,000 breaths per day, every day, no matter what is going on in our lives our breath comes and goes. Breath sustains us physically and mentally. Can it also support our spiritual growth? In all spiritual traditions, breath plays a central role both in metaphor and practice. Does our breath make us living souls? How does breath connect us to Spirit? What breathes life into you and me? Lisa Boulay, RP (Registered Psychotherapist), recently retired, and a UU member since March 2018. In her 20 years as a counsellor working in the addiction and recovery field, she has used the breath to help clients heal physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

July 28, 2019 - Those mysterious, troubling Big Questions..... maybe Google knows? Not quite, but it can certainly assist- some personal reflections on the revolutionary ability of the internet to help us find truth. John Scott-Thomas has a Ph.D. in physics and has spent half his working life in research, and half in the corporate world. When not chasing down his kids, he enjoys the music of Bach, and studying philosophy and the world's religions.

July 21, 2019 by Nancy Rubinstein and Lorna Erickson-Fraser What does an atheist mean when she says she prays? Prayer is relational, a conversation, but with whom? Most Unitarians are uncomfortable with the concept of a traditional god. Let's ponder together another way. Nancy Rubinstein, a member of the UUFO, is a storyteller. She and her husband, Dan, co-authored the book 'Railroad of Courage' and a second book which will be published soon. Lorna Erickson-Fraser, a member of the UUFO, has always loved her life of learning including being a mother, a social worker and a student of Carl Jung.

Former MP and current CUC Board Member Hon. John Reid will speak about a few “knowledge revolutions” we have gone through in our lifetimes, their impact on individuals, organizations, governments and nation states and the limits of our ability of to cope with many of these changes. When you think of the we had when we came of age inherited assumptions, the rapid changes in their validity, the resulting loss of stability in our world as our assumptions were upset, it is no wonder many are unable to make sense of this world. John will propose approaches we should take to lessen the deterioration of our democracy.

June 30, 2019 - Sunday Message by Chuck Shields Canadian Unitarian Council Vice President Chuck Sheilds discusses the future plans of the CUC as it relates to our own First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa

Today's message comes from guest speaker Claudette Commanda - a Knowledge Keeper and Elder of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation. What are the fundamental principles of restorative justice; what does restorative justice mean for First Nation communities and individuals? Justice must be understood from a spiritual and cultural sense in order to fully appreciate the essence, the importance and the use of restorative justice for First Nation people. Restorative justice is about healing and (re)connection with creation, ceremony and land. What role do Canadians have in restorative justice?

Rev. Pat gets us all ready to enjoy the summer with a short-but-sweet homily on "Being Present" before the congregation heads out to enjoy sunshine, food and fellowship together at FUCO's Spring Picnic.

Today we celebrate Fred and Bonnie Cappuccino. In 1953, Fred, first a Methodist minister than a Unitarian minister, and Bonnie, a student nurse, fell in love, married and started a family. Conscious of world overpopulation, they chose to have two children born to them and adopt one or two more, ending up adopting 19 children from around the world. In 1985, they established Child Haven International, a non-profit that assists destitute children and women. Child Haven has helped thousands of children, and has grown to include eight separate homes in Nepal, Tibet, India and Bangladesh. Fred also received the Order of Canada in 1996.

Several years ago, Rev. Pat’s oldest sister sent her a blog post entitled, “I'm Christian, unless you're gay.” The writer noted he really wasn't writing about homosexuality or about Christians. He was writing about when well-intentioned folk, it could be any one of us, feel justified in abandoning loving-kindness because of who someone is. We aspire in our lives to live out our UU principles of compassion and acceptance. Yet, can we think of anyone, any groups we might list in the following blank: “I am a loving, compassionate Unitarian Universalist, unless you are a ______”?

Today we celebrate Fred and Bonnie Cappuccino. In 1953, Fred, first a Methodist minister than a Unitarian minister, and Bonnie, a student nurse, fell in love, married and started a family. Conscious of world overpopulation, they chose to have two children born to them and adopt one or two more, ending up adopting 19 children from around the world. In 1985, they established Child Haven International, a non-profit that assists destitute children and women. Child Haven has helped thousands of children, and has grown to include eight separate homes in Nepal, Tibet, India and Bangladesh. Fred also received the Order of Canada in 1996.

Let us celebrate both the Unitarian Flower Communion service originated by Rev. Norbert Capek (1870-1942) that reminds us of the unity that flows through us within our diversity. We will also celebrate this month's anniversary of the Buddha's birth, marked as well by flower festivals and rituals of new beginnings around the world.