Capital Unitarian Universalist Congregation

Dr. Sara Comish is a Psychologist who uses Mindfulness both in her work and in her personal life on a regular basis. She will talk about Mindfulness as a building block skill for coping with the world.

Susan Breiddel is a Counselor with Victoria Hospice. She works with a nurse, going into the community, responding to a crisis of a physical, mental, emotional, social or spiritual nature. Susan is a counsellor, writer and educator in the field of palliative care. She graduated from the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology in Palo Alto, CA, and is presently a PhD Candidate at the University of Victoria in Education Curriculum and Instruction.

Albert Schweitzer brought medicine to west Africa, organ music to Europe, and a new view of Jesus Christ to the west. Come and hear about this inspirational figure!

Imagine the good life without runaway climate change, degraded forests, but with a strong economy that can fund our education and health care. Cultures adapted to the natural world, live well at nature’s pace, and 　Canadians must learn how to do the same.

Picnic (with music and bubbles!)

Irving Park (James Bay beside 234 Menzies at corner of Michigan)

We provide the music, you bring your chairs or blanket and food.

12:00 noon: bubble wishing circle at the labyrinth.
We provide bubble wands and bubble mix, you bring your wishes and hopes for the new season.

All welcome.

The Deaf community has its own culture which many of us know little about. Keeping in mind the First Unitarian Universalist Principle: “The inherent worth and dignity of every person”, let us learn more about the factual circumstances in which many Deaf community members live; which factors define this community as having its own sub-culture; and the nature of this culture — e.g. who is considered to belong and, surprisingly, who may be excluded; and the positive and negative effects new technology has on this community.

Our Place is an inner-city community centre serving Greater Victoria’s most vulnerable: working poor, impoverished elderly, mentally and physically challenged, addicted and the homeless. Our Place offers a sense of belonging to Greater Victoria’s most vulnerable citizens. Our Place provides a home, nourishment and hope through living, sharing, learning and worshipping together. Our Place serves over 1,200 meals per day, and provides hot showers, free clothing, counseling and outreach services, plus 45 transitional housing units. Most importantly, it provides a sense of hope and belonging to neighbours in need. Don is the Executive Director of the Our Place Society.

At mealtimes, Christians thank their god, while humanists thank the farmer.　 To whom or what do Unitarians give thanks?　 Where is the divinity – or the farmer – in today’s factory food?

Bill 36, the proposed Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act, would introduce a controversial approach into Canadian law by criminalizing the purchase of sexual services but exempting one party from prosecution. Is this a helpful solution? What other approaches could we have considered?

Rachel Phillips, PhD, executive director of Peers Victoria Resource Society, and health researcher, has taken a very active part in the debate and will shed light on the legal and social tangles this bill appears to create. She will also highlight just how complex an issue our lawmakers are grappling with.

Join us at First Unitarian Church of Victoria (5575 W Saanich Rd,) as we celebrate a Sunday Service together with our sister church and the attendees of the BC Fall Gathering.  Please note there is NO SERVICE at Capital today.  However there will be car pooling up to FUCV. Please speak to Amanda or a Board member for more information.

The nice things about UU principles is that if you are trying to do good you are most likely living out the intent of at least one or two of them. How about a compassionate action that covers all of our UU principles – costs very little money, takes a small amount of time and changes the world. Interested?