Capital Unitarian Universalist Congregation

Anyone hoping to understand women’s lives needs to attend to the extent to which religion has not only reflected basic cultural assumptions about gender but has also helped shape, alter and reinforce those assumptions. The study of women in religion gives us access to women’s interior lives and how women have understood themselves, their social context and their world. Religious institutions historically have been a major sphere of women’s activities, second perhaps only to the domestic sphere itself.

In this presentation of images, sounds and spoken word, explore the world and visit places of worship for different faiths –  learn how “stillness speaks” in our global cathedral of spirit. Maybe one of these faith traditions speaks to your soul…

A look at the principles and sources of Unitarian Universalism.

Churches were language sanctuaries for Hungarians who came under Romanian authority in
1920. Even today, seminarians are charged with responsibility for the cultural survival of
Hungarian-speaking Transylvanians. Michelle Brown, recently returned from a three-month stay
in a Unitarian seminary, offers a look at the 21st century reality facing this child of the
Reformation.

Michelle Brown is currently a Community Fellow in the Centre for Studies for Religion and Society at the University of Victoria. A poet and essayist, she was long-listed in the 2015 PRISM international Creative non-fiction contest, receiving an honourable mention in the Victoria Authors Association 2016 Flash Fiction Contest and was recently nominated for the Grouse Grind Lit Prize for V(ery) Short Forms. She is Cree from the Metis Nation.

Joan Carolyn, CUC Congregational Dev. staff welcomes you to join her for a service celebrating the role of small congregations within our UU family. Leaders within a variety of faith traditions see the small congregation as a growing trend and highly valuable. How do we tell our small congregation stories from a Strengths Based Perspective, which not only provides wisdom and inspiration for others but re-energizes our own involvement?

Following the service, all are welcome to Capital’s focussed forum conversation. Joan anticipates hearing feedback regarding concerns and celebrations, both regarding Capital as well as CUC, your national office. There will also be time to honor just some of Capital’s contribution and in invitation to consider another option to share your wisdom.

Ms. Joan Carolyn, CUC Congregational Development staff, has been an active participant with the First U. U. church of Winnipeg since early 1999. She is married to life partner, Ken Nicholson and shares with him two sons, a daughter-in-law and two granddaughters.

Joan has been privileged to pursue studies in World Religions and Cultural Anthropology as well as completing a B. Th. and M. Div.. Of special note are training and experience with: Conflict Resolution; Cycles of Violence and Wellness Planning and; Cross-cultural Awareness.

There has always been tremendous pressure on individuals to conform and follow the rules laid out by various social institutions, and this pressure appears to have reached a fever pitch in today’s world. Whether covertly or overtly, we are constantly being told how we should look, speak, think, and behave; what goals we should pursue and what situations we should avoid. We often hear about the plight and suffering of people who, for one reason or another, fail to follow these instructions and end up on the fringes. But could there also be advantages to being on the outside? What can we learn from history’s best known outsiders and how can we put this knowledge to work in our lives?

Oliver Belisle is a father of 3, husband, blogger, writer, and spiritual explorer whose travels have led him along many different paths. He recently discovered the need for a structured and systemic approach to life and started building his own philosophy, which he describes as a blend of Stoicism, Taoism, Vedanta, and Zen. From the first time he set foot in a Unitarian Universalist church he knew that it was a perfect fit for him, and he has been a member of FUCV since 2014.

Come wade in the water and explore the “communion” part of Water Communion. Communion, from the Latin: “common, ordinary, communal.” Fire Communion, Water Communion, Flower Communion . . . . We Unitarians seem to love our communions. Join us!

D L Seaborn experienced her first water communion at age 5 when she fell into the duck pond at the local park. Her subsequent university studies in psychology and religion prepared her to speak to religious communities; however, her studies did not prepare her for a full immersion baptism in Shawnigan Lake at age 45, when her black lab capsized her kayak. As a result of these, and other, experiences, Dana considers herself to have extensive experience with water communions of various types. Happily, she’s a good swimmer.

Using restorative justice as a reference point, we will have a conversation about healing – what it means to “heal” and struggles and triumphs we’ve witnessed on people’s healing journeys, whether they were harmed by another or were the ones who created the harm.

Restorative Justice Victoria is a non-profit, community-based organization that facilitates dialogues in the aftermath of crimes that occur in the City of Victoria, Oak Bay, and Esquimalt. They are our August Capital Connects Recipient.

Leonard Cohen was Canadian singer, songwriter, musician, poet, novelist, and painter. His work explored religion, politics, isolation, sexuality, and personal relationships. Come, immerse yourself in the words and music that touched the hearts and minds of so many of us in celebration of his September 21st birthday.

In these challenging, tumultuous and uncertain times, you may feel helpless, sad, fearful, angry and/or uncertain of your future, that of your family, and the planet. You may think there is little or nothing you can do to help build peace in the world. I believe there is much that you can do, and it may be easier than you think. Pamela will share practical strategies that will help you find inner peace and enable you to begin helping to build peace in the world one person (or more!) at a time.

Pamela Thompson, BN, MSc. is a keynote speaker, certified life & business coach, facilitator, global health & management consultant, & author of the #1 Best Selling book “Learning to Dance with Life: A Guide for High Achieving Women”. She has a diverse background and experience as a nurse, university professor, project manager and consultant on 5 continents. Pam supports women and organizations to embrace the art of change. Trained in conflict resolution and mediation and having lived and worked in a number of conflict zones, Pam’s larger mission is to help build peace in the world. She is President of Creative Life Coaching Inc pamela-thompson.com

There was a time when neurologists’ credo was, “Diagnose and adios.” Learn of recent discoveries about the adaptable brain which bring hope for us all. Even injured, elderly, and diseased brains can heal and adapt. Come wrap your head around that!

On the topic of neurology, D L Seaborn is an autodidact who likes to think she has at least half a brain.