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!

Dec
29
Sun
Peter Scales “Principles and Virtues”
Dec 29 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Peter Scales "Principles and Virtues"

What does it mean to be virtuous, and how does this goal manifest in our Unitarian Universalist principles? Which of the classical virtues match the UU principles, and which virtues have we abandoned? Let’s prepare for the year 2020 with 20/20 vision about virtue!

Peter Scales joined both of Victoria’s congregations when he moved here from Kingston in 2004. After 21 years as a federal servant he semi-retired to part-time work as a historian, philosopher and multi-uncle.

Jan
5
Sun
Oliver Belisle “Modern Mythmaking in the Information Age.”
Jan 5 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Oliver Belisle "Modern Mythmaking in the Information Age."

The Garden of Eden; Original Sin; the Abrahamic God: like a growing number of people in the world today, we Unitarian Universalists tend to regard these concepts as the product of ancient people trying to explain life’s great mysteries. Though imaginative and compelling, these accounts fall far from the mark, or so it would seem. Today, few among us give serious consideration to these ideas and the stories that birthed them, believing that they have little of value to offer us. But what if there is something of importance to be found in these myths and fables? What if, despite their lack of literal truth, these concepts nevertheless contain revelations that could help us better understand ourselves and the world at large? Join us as we explore these questions.

Ollie Belisle is a spiritual explorer and tour-guide whose goal is to open hearts and blow minds. Whether through his writing, YouTube channel, or daily conversations with friends, family, colleagues, and total strangers, he attempts to introduce new ways of looking at ourselves and our world in order to reveal the life-altering power of perspective.

Jan
12
Sun
Sheila Munro “Fleeing the pews.”
Jan 12 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Sheila Munro "Fleeing the pews."

Why is it that so many of us consider ourselves spiritual but not religious? What does that mean exactly? In this talk I will explore my own forays into Christianity, and how my own search for spiritual truth was at odds with my rational mind’s ultimate inability to accept the dogma of the Christian Church.

 

Jan
19
Sun
Nomi Kaston “Tradition!”
Jan 19 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Nomi Kaston "Tradition!"

What is a ritual? A Jewish Universalist look at the neuroscience of rituals, and their role in community building, health, and grateful, astonished living.

Jan
26
Sun
Dar Gareau-Levy “Unconditional Love.”
Jan 26 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Dar Gareau-Levy "Unconditional Love."

In a world where there are so much is conditional, what we are all really looking for is unconditional love.

Dar is a member of the First Unitarian Church of Victoria and facilitates their Radical Welcome Group. They lead FUCV’s Spiritual Care Team at Our Place.

Feb
2
Sun
Peter Scales “Imbolc, Paganism and UU Paganism”
Feb 2 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Peter Scales "Imbolc, Paganism and UU Paganism"

Long before humans invented religions, we looked with awe at the night sky, the changing seasons, the coming of the rains, and the beasts.  Today some people refer to the pre-religious people as ‘pagan’ and yet many of us hold pagan-inspired beliefs related to ‘Christmas’ trees and ‘Easter’ eggs.  What is paganism, and what is UU paganism?  Come and learn!

Feb
9
Sun
Sarah Weaver “Joy and despair – reflections of a nature lover”
Feb 9 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Sarah Weaver "Joy and despair - reflections of a nature lover"

Nature educator and earth activist for over four decades, Sarah ponders the challenge of finding joy in the midst of despair – and wonders about making a difference.

Feb
16
Sun
Jill Cooper and Amanda Tarling “Love is in the air.”
Feb 16 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Jill Cooper and Amanda Tarling "Love is in the  air."
It’s Valentine’s weekend, what better time to talk about love. The
incredibly talented Jill Cooper is going to play glorious wedding
tunes and Amanda will regale us with poignant stories from the
many weddings she has officiated at. A morning of joy and sor-
row, hope and inspiration all underscored with beautiful music.
Feb
23
Sun
Amanda Tarling “Preparing Intentionally for future resilience.”
Feb 23 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Amanda Tarling "Preparing Intentionally for future resilience."
It’s a tough time to be on planet earth.  The significance of our
actions as a species can no longer be ignored. How do we thrive
amongst the doom and gloom?
Mar
1
Sun
Peter Scales “Capital’s 24th Birthday!”
Mar 1 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Peter Scales "Capital's 24th Birthday!"

Happy Birthday, Capital!  Our congregation’s first service was 24 years ago, on March 3, 1996.  What has changed and what are we still doing the same?  This is also a time to envision the future of our community.  BC historian Peter Scales will share what he has learned.

 

 

Mar
8
Sun
Rev. Frances Deverell “International Women’s Day: Are We There Yet?”
Mar 8 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Rev. Frances Deverell "International Women's Day: Are We There Yet?"

Rev. Frances Deverell will take a tour through the different waves of feminism seeking what they were about; what we learned; how they helped to develop our vision of a world of mutual respect and equal opportunity; and where we are headed.

Rev. Frances Leigh Deverell served as minister for 3 Unitarian congregations before retiring in 2010. This followed a 25-year career in Management Training and Organizational Development. She is the author of Finding Common Voice, the Canadian congregational handbook for social responsibility. She serves as Past President of the Canadian Unitarians For Social Justice. She is chair of the Criminal Love and Justice Group of the Canadian Unitarian Council working on crime prevention and aboriginal justice issues. You will find her personal website at www.francesdeverell.com. Frances and her husband, Ron Wilson live in cohousing (Pacific Gardens) and attend FUFON in Nanaimo. Her daughter, Karen Abramson, lives in Coquitlam.

Mar
15
Sun
Thor Henrich “Deep Adaptation”
Mar 15 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Thor Henrich "Deep Adaptation"

The three strategies of deep adaptation address the impending climate crisis: Resilience, Relinquishment, and Restoration. Learn about this theory by Jem Bendell, professor of sustainability at the University of Cumbria in England.