First Unitarian Congregation Of Ottawa

In a world where we are constantly bombarded with negative media messages, in times of our own stress and distress, it is easy to forget our blessings, our good fortune. Maybe these are the best times for just a little more Attitude!

A presentation of the Global Justice Working Group, guest speaker Sophie Harkat is the wife of Mohammed Harkat an accused al-Quaida operative who has spent 12 years under strict restrictions and surveillance by the Canadian Border Security Agency.

A reflection on monastic life by former member and current intern at First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto, Curtis Murphy.

What does it mean to share part of a journey together, even when we know we must then part? Join us for Jenn's final sermon as our intern.

Our annual Aboriginal Day Service with guest sermon by Douglas Cardinal. Mr.Cardinal is a renowned Canadian architect, of German and Blackfoot heritage, and designer of the Canadian Museum of History (formerly Civilization) and Ottawa's Wabano Centre.

"My father used to play with my brothers and me in the yard.  Mother would come out and say: You’re tearing up the grass!" "We're not raising grass," Dad would reply, "We're raising boys."~Harmon Killebrew “It's a wonderful feeling when your father becomes not a god but a man to you—when he comes down from the mountain and you see he’s this man with weaknesses.  And you love him as this whole being, not a figurehead.” ~Robin Williams

In a world that is seemingly less spiritual day by day, where do you find faith? For many young people, their relationship with faith and spirituality is not in a church or with a religion. Many young people hesitate to even name an idea, action, or guiding principle in their lives as spiritual or faith based. Arts, in many forms, provide a means to express thoughts and feelings without categorizing them as faith or spirituality. By looking at contemporary art with new eyes, we see that the world is not becoming less spiritual, the terminology and expression has just changed.

Rabbi Garten, will be retiring this year after serving Temple Israel (Ottawa’s only Jewish Reform Congregation) for almost two decades.  Throughout his career Rabbi Garten has been involved in teaching, multi-faith dialogue, and social justice projects.   He is also an avid golfer.

This special service invites all ages in our congregation to honour the transition of twelve young people from childhood to youth.  Gather with our thoughtful and spirited 11 to 13 year old Coming of Age group as they share and celebrate their discoveries around the Campfire of Community.

Cecilia Owen will serve as our ministerial student intern starting next fall.  This is an opportunity for all to get a first glimpse of the newest addition to our staff team.

Guest speaker Reverend Frances Deverell delivers a special Earth Day sermon that delivers us on a pilgrimage through Burns Bog near Vancouver, BC. "We can only understand who we are when we understand ourselves in a dynamic relationship with all that sustains us. Whether our family our community, our sacred earth, or with some larger divine reality."

Have you ever found yourself in an in-between time, struggling with an uncomfortable challenge? Here are some thoughts, stories and poems about what happens when life is not going as planned. The Reverend Linda Goonewardene is a Community Unitarian Universalist minister, who has recent moved to Ottawa.  Her ministry is in addiction treatment and recovery.  She is a Family Counsellor with Rideauwood Addictions and Family Services.

We will celebrate the power of women in song with the Three Rivers Singers.  A variety of speakers will address the concerns of Women’s Reproductive Justice in our country and the role of communities of faith.

Rev. Ndagijimana is on the executive of the International Council of Unitarians and Universalists, and has worked closely with our UU friends in Kenya, playing an important role in the spread of our faith into Africa. He will speak during and after the service about about these topics, about the tragedy in his country and the capital city of Bujumbura, and about the power of UU congregations in Africa to be a healing force of social action and justice.

We've all made mistakes in life. Have you ever wished for a do over? There are religious traditions all over the world that whose belief in an afterlife involves reincarnation. It’s a fascinating idea, trying life again, working to learn different lessons. Our faith draws from many traditions, what lessons do reincarnation have to teach us about our lives?

The UU-UNO is a non-governmental organization (NGO) with consultative status at the United Nations Department of Public Information. The UU-UNO uses its consultative status on behalf of the UUA in the United Nations Economic and Social Council, an organization offering a forum for the discussion of economic and social issues. The office collaborates with other UN NGOs on particular issues, such as ending the genocide in Darfur. Bruce Knotts became the UU-UNO’s executive director in January 2008 and his chief areas of focus are human rights, with an emphasis on women’s rights and GLBT rights; ending genocide, particularly in Darfur; and working for peace. Mr. Knotts will give an overview of the current work of our U.N. Office.

Here at our annual Mitten Tree service for all ages we honour the Winter Solstice by kindling the light in our hearts, gathering in caring community and sharing gifts with the Ottawa Snowsuit Fund. For today's sermon, we animate Jane Yolen's story “Owl Moon” with music, movement, and “soul food.”

Martin Settle, from the Unitarian Service Committee (USC) will be speaking to us this Sunday. Originally from Rural Alberta, Martin has worked in social justice, spiritual care, youth services, food sovereignty, and social housing across Canada and England. A new staff member at the USC, Martin recently travelled to Ethiopia, the heart and the start of the Seeds of Survival Program.

"Poppies lay dormant until the soil is disturbed". Today we come to remember those who did not return from the war.  We remember those who gave their lives, or their youth in response to the call of this country.

The third speaker in our series of reflections on beginnings and futures is a leader from a new movement within Islam that recognizes full equality for gay, lesbian, and transgender peoples.