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!

Jul
28
Sun
Dawn Fizzard “Learning by Heart.”
Jul 28 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Dawn Fizzard "Learning by Heart."

Dawn Fizzard will share her journey in discovering the value and importance of Heart-Centered Learning. “How doodling to jazz taught me that ‘learning by heart’ means so much more than ‘committing to memory’.”

 

Aug
4
Sun
Peter Scales ” PK Page and Sufism”
Aug 4 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Peter Scales " PK Page and Sufism"

Canadian poet PK Page is well-known for her written work. But she also participated in a Sufi spirituality group in Victoria. What can we learn about this ecstatic form of Islam through the eyes & words of PK Page.

Peter Scales is a community sabbaticant at the UVic Centre for Studies of Religion and Society.

Aug
11
Sun
Greg Boorman “Fire at Notre Dame: Is History being Repeated?”
Aug 11 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Greg Boorman "Fire at Notre Dame: Is History being Repeated?"

Fires are only one of the mysteries surrounding the Gothic cathedrals of France. This talk will highlight some history and reveal interesting aspects of these marvels of architecture.

Aug
18
Sun
Alan Dawson “Toleration and Acceptance”
Aug 18 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Alan Dawson "Toleration and Acceptance"

Looking at Tolerance from a Unitarian ‘religious’ perspective. Acceptance comes from a much more personal viewpoint and looks at how we and I as Unitarians might not be as accepting as we think we are or ought to be.

Aug
25
Sun
Jule Briese “The Hot Chocolate and Decadent Cake Society”
Aug 25 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Jule Briese "The Hot Chocolate and Decadent Cake Society"

This talk will reflect Jule’s advocacy for Advance Requests For Medical Assistance In Dying for those diagnosed with Alzheimers when quality of life as defined by the individual becomes painfully compromised. She will draw on personal experience through snapshots of navigating the first year following her husband’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis.

Jule Briese is a a poet living in Qualicum Beach, B.C. Her inspiration is drawn from nature and the guidance and wisdom offered through her Guides. Jule’s most recent book The Hot Chocolate And Decadent Society is a memoir in poetry and prose. Her book advocates for legalization of Advance Requests for Medical Assistance In Dying for those with dementia who have expressed this choice.

Sep
1
Sun
Diana Clift “Who Controls Your Mind?”
Sep 1 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Diana Clift "Who Controls Your Mind?"

Diana will argue that our conscious reality is largely shaped by suggestion and habit, but that conscious reality is not who we are!  From the moment we’re born we are taught how to perceive the world, and from then on our beliefs and assumptions are shaped by family and culture.  Our thoughts directly impact our physiology, hence the placebo effect and related phenomena. The reverse is also true.  The body directly influences the mind. It is possible to change our minds and physiology dramatically.  I shall propose some simple techniques to break damaging habits of thought, feeling and behaviour and provide more useful suggestions for ourselves and others.

Diana writes: “I’ve always thought there’s more to consciousness than brain and yet I was trained as a biochemist and did research in Neurochemistry at a time when the prevailing assumption in science was that mind and brain were indistinguishable. I was a pretty incompetent neurochemist anyway so I left and worked in Environmental Science for several years before moving into complementary therapies, most notably music therapy and entertainment for elderly people and then hypnotherapy. I was a professional hypnotherapist in England for 12 years before emigrating to Canada last year. I still treat clients in the UK by video call and am now starting a practice here in Victoria. My work convinces me that consciousness is infinitely more mysterious and complex than our current understanding.

Sep
8
Sun
Michelle Brown “Mary Oliver: A Devotion”
Sep 8 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Michelle Brown "Mary Oliver: A Devotion"

Mary Oliver instructs us, “Attention is the beginning of devotion.” We will bring our attention to a selection of her poems, and allow her to lead out attention into the realm of prayer. This service is in honor of Mary Oliver’s September 10th birthday.

Michelle Poirier Brown is a poet and photographer who has brought numerous homilies to the pulpit at Capital. For more information, visit www.skyblanket.ca

 

Sep
15
Sun
John Pullyblank “Resilience and Finding Our Way”
Sep 15 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
John Pullyblank "Resilience and Finding Our Way"

Dr. John Pullyblank will talk about a selection of strategies to promote withstanding what life throws at us, including considering the responsibilities of the individual for their resiliency, versus society for creating a healthy environment.

John has given homilies on resilience in 2006 and 2014, and now will provide an updated version for 2019.

Sep
22
Sun
Kim Cummins, Shelbourne Community Kitchen Program Coordinator “The Kitchen: Building Community Through Food”
Sep 22 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Kim Cummins, Shelbourne Community Kitchen Program Coordinator “The Kitchen: Building Community Through Food”

With over 700 members, they offer a unique neighbourhood food centre model, providing opportunities for people to: prepare and share healthy meals together, access nutritious food, work together to grow food and build gardening skills, and connect with other community resources and become resources for one another. In this talk, you will hear fun and wonderful stories about food and community, and learn how how multiple, diverse faith groups and community organizations joined together to found the organization and the exciting collaborative network that continues to support their work.

Sep
29
Sun
Sara Comish “The Science of Religion”
Sep 29 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Sara Comish "The Science of Religion"

Let’s take the taboos out of religion.  How can we begin to approach this immensely significant part of human behaviour in a different way?  We will look at how we can use the tools of science to help us to begin to understand what religion actually is.

Dr. Sara Comish is a Psychologist who has been a Unitarian for so long that makes her feel old, so we won’t say how long.

Oct
6
Sun
Em Bellinger “CRFAIR: Food as a Connector”
Oct 6 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Em Bellinger "CRFAIR: Food as a Connector"

Learn about the work of the organization CRFAIR (Capital Region Food and Agriculture Initiatives Roundtable) that serves as the Capital Region Food Security Hub. Our speaker will discuss food advocacy and their personal journey that drew them to be involved in this work.

Em Bellinger is Communications and Engagement Coordinator at CRFAIR. In their spare time Em gardens and volunteers on a farm, leads a queer bike club, plays roller derby and explores by bike.

Oct
13
Sun
Arran Liddel “Who Rescued Who?”
Oct 13 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Arran Liddel "Who Rescued Who?"

“Who Rescued Who?’ Is a common bumper stickers among folks who have adopted pets from various rescue centres. It highlights that the ‘rescue’ is often a two-way street, with the animal offering as much or more than the human! This Thanksgiving weekend come and explore the myriad of ways animals can be allies in our liberation.

Send your favorite photos of yourself or loved ones with pets or other animals by Oct 5th to contact.capital@unitariancongregation.org to be included in a slide show shown during the service.”

Arran moved to Victoria from Toronto (though he is Scottish) with his partner, Gen, to be​ near​ the ocean and the trees. Arran is the Director of Spiritual Exploration and Learning at First Unitarian Church of Victoria and is doing a Masters of Divinity, focussing on earth-based spiritualities, at Cherry Hill Seminary. Arran is a member of Capital and one of our Lay Chaplains.