Calendar of events

Here you will find all of our congregation’s Sunday Services, Board and Committee meetings and other events. Use the calendar controls to see events for past or future dates. For a quick look at recent Sunday Services, click here!

Oct
17
Sun
Peter Scales on Zoom “A History of a Community – Capital UUs History”
Oct 17 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Peter Scales on Zoom "A History of a Community - Capital UUs History"

Our congregation’s first service was on Mar 3, 1996 . What has changed and what are we still doing the same? As the Board contemplates returning to in-person services after a break of 18 months, this is a time to envision the future of our community.

For Zoom link please send an email through the contact link above.

Oct
24
Sun
Trevor Hancock “The importance of Beauty for our wellbeing” on Zoom
Oct 24 all-day
Trevor Hancock "The importance of Beauty for our wellbeing" on Zoom

 

For some years, on and off, I have been thinking about the importance of beauty – in our surroundings, not personal beauty – for our wellbeing. I will discuss the importance of beauty in our built environment, in art and in nature. But as with all determinants of health, there are social justice issues here: Who lives in ugly environments, who in beautiful environments – and what are the implications?

For Zoom link please send an email through the contact link above.

 

Oct
31
Sun
Amanda Tarling “A Wiccan Celebration of Samhain”
Oct 31 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Amanda Tarling "A Wiccan Celebration of Samhain"

A High Holiday for Wiccans Samhain is a time to honour our ancestors. Join us as Amanda takes us on a journey to discover how Wiccans celebrate this very special day.

 

For Zoom link please send an email through the contact link above.

Nov
7
Sun
Seth Klein “The Role of Faith Institutions in Mobilizing Canada for the Climate Emergency” on Zoom.
Nov 7 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Seth Klein "The Role of Faith Institutions in Mobilizing Canada for the Climate Emergency" on Zoom.

How can we align our politics and economy with what the science says we must do to address the climate crisis? Seth Klein brings an original and uniquely hopeful take to this challenge. His book A Good War: Mobilizing Canada for the Climate Emergency is structured around lessons from the Second World War – the last time Canada faced an existential threat. Others have said we need a “wartime approach” to climate change but this is the first book to delve into what that could actually look like.

Seth Klein served for 22 years (1996-2018) as the founding B.C. Director of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, a public policy research institute committed to social, economic and environmental justice. He is now the Team Lead and Director of Strategy of the Climate Emergency Unit (a 5-year project of the David Suzuki Institute that Seth launched in early 2021).

 

For Zoom link please use “contact us” email address.

Nov
14
Sun
Rev. Shana Lynngood “Reckoning with Race and Reconciliation” on Zoom
Nov 14 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Rev. Shana Lynngood "Reckoning with Race and Reconciliation" on Zoom

Over the last several years there has been heightened attention and awareness about systemic racism and colonialism. The headlines continue to proclaim rampant inequality in major societal systems and treatment of Indigenous People and People of Colour. This is true as well in our UU communities. Our values and our principles call us to treat all people as inherently (and equally) full of worth and dignity. The reality is our congregations and communities are not yet the beloved, radically inclusive communities we yearn for. How can we get there? What barriers are in the way?

Rev. Shana Lynngood has been Co-Minister of the First Unitarian Church of Victoria with her wife Melora since September 2010. When not immersed in ministry Rev. Shana is busy with her two kids, 9 and 15, and likely being nourished by poetry, jazz, and dear friends and family—or all of the above.

 

For Zoom link please contact us.

Nov
21
Sun
Barrie Webster “Charles Darwin’s early life” on Zoom
Nov 21 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Barrie Webster "Charles Darwin’s early life" on Zoom

Darwin (1809-1882) was an English naturalist, geologist and biologist, best known for his contributions to the science of evolution. What kind of a man was Darwin, what was his family like and how did he come to be on the Royal Navy survey ship Beagle?

Barrie Webster is the past president of the Victoria Secular Humanist Association.  He has also held leadership positions with the Memorial Society of BC.

 

Please contact us for Zoom link

Nov
28
Sun
UU Military Chaplain Nicole McKay “Called to Serve” on Zoom
Nov 28 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
UU Military Chaplain Nicole McKay "Called to Serve"  on Zoom

At every juncture in our lives, we are asked to be attentive to that still small voice inside that guides us on our way. This is the journey of discernment which is revealed to us slowly over time and it is our responsibility to stay curious about how these callings will play out. Nicole will share how she has come to discern her call to ministry as a Unitarian Universalist military chaplain and how your own life’s journey is helping you bring your gifts and talents in service to the wider world.

Nicole is a member of First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto and a Canadian seminarian studying at the University of Toronto. She joined the Canadian Armed Forces and has served in a variety of roles. Nicole is drawn to the contemplative and mystical traditions of finding wisdom in the quiet whether that is out in nature, on her yoga mat, and in the silence of her own heart.

 

For Zoom link please contact us.

Dec
5
Sun
Sunday December 5th on Zoom  “Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor” Nan Gregory and members of the Unitarian Church of Vancouver.
Dec 5 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Sunday December 5th on Zoom  "Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor" Nan Gregory and members of the Unitarian Church of Vancouver.

In this powerful pre-recorded service from The Unitarian Church of Vancouver, six members of the congregation talk about the impacts of studying the book “Me and White Supremacy.”

Dec
12
Sun
Sunday December 12th on Zoom Peter Scales “The Origins of Christmas” 
Dec 12 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Sunday December 12th on Zoom Peter Scales "The Origins of Christmas" 

In the Gospels called Luke and Matthew, the angel Gabriel tells two Jewish ladies, post-menopausal Elizabeth and virgin Mary, that they will become pregnant despite obstacles.  Their sons, John and Jesus, were worshipped from birth onward: John as a baptizer and Jesus as a healer.  How did Christians get from this story to the elaborate shopping, decorating and feasting rituals of Christmas 2021?
Peter Scales, a member of our congregation since 2004, loves the humanistic, pagan and historic rituals surrounding the darkest nights of the year.

Dec
19
Sun
Sunday December 19th on Zoom Amanda Tarling “A Unitarian Christmas in story and song”
Dec 19 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Sunday December 19th on Zoom Amanda Tarling "A Unitarian Christmas in story and song"

Join us as we joyfully celebrate the season with carols and song, stories and poems.

Dec
26
Sun
Sunday December 26th on Zoom  Peter Scales “Looking Back, Looking Ahead.”
Dec 26 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Sunday December 26th on Zoom  Peter Scales "Looking Back, Looking Ahead."

In our social bubbles, each of us has experienced so much during Pandemic Year 2021.  As a congregation, Capital UU has continued to experience as much spiritual community as possible under the BC health orders.  45 Zoom services, Zoom board and committee meetings, in-person picnics and pub nights, and dozens of friendships maintained by walking, coffee-ing and dining.  Looking back, we have much to celebrate.  What are our hopes for 2022, individually and as a UU congregation?  What do we also hope for in our communities, the climate, food security, etc?
Peter Scales fondly remembers his mother every New Years Eve leading the family to look back, then look ahead.

Jan
2
Sun
January 2nd Di Clift ” The Discipline of Joy”
Jan 2 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
January 2nd Di Clift " The Discipline of Joy"

This is the story of how personal tragedy taught me to live joyfully. Let’s see if we can approach a very uncertain New Year with joy….

In a long life Di has been many things, including a neuro-chemist, teacher, singer, hypnotherapist, mother, grandmother, immigrant, and all round eccentric.