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!

Jun
16
Sun
Dana Seaborn “A Land That I’ve Heard Of.”
Jun 16 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Dana Seaborn "A Land That I've Heard Of."

“Hold fast to dreams”, said the poet. Unitarians dream of building a land where we bind up the broken. Let’s look at the ways we can inspire one another to action on this celebration of Aboriginal Day!

Dana Lynn Seaborn is a Métis elder. This homily is adapted from a sermon by Rod Richards of the San Luis Obispo Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.

We will also welcome visiting guest Samara Jade to perform a song as Guest Musician.

Jun
23
Sun
Jill Cooper & Amanda Tarling “The Anthems of Pride”
Jun 23 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Jill Cooper & Amanda Tarling "The Anthems of Pride"

Don’t miss this high energy music filled service highlighting the amazing music of Pride. Jill Cooper is an acclaimed Victoria Musician. For more information about Jill see her website:

https://jillcooper.webs.com/

Jun
30
Sun
Anna Isaacs “Flower and Bubble Communion”
Jun 30 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Anna Isaacs "Flower and Bubble Communion"

Join us in this lovely Unitarian Universalist ritual to welcome in the summer months.

Jul
7
Sun
Don Vipond “When Roads Diverge.”
Jul 7 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Don Vipond "When Roads Diverge."

You are a dedicated Unitarian. But then you decide to also become a Quaker. Why would anyone do that? Don Vipond, an elder at First Unitarian Church of Victoria, had three reasons and he will tell you. And it all turns around a Unitarian principle.

Don Vipond is active in social justice issues at his church, in particular the Lifeline List Project and the annual Healing Our World campaign. Before retirement he was a reporter and an editor at the Times-Colonist.

Jul
14
Sun
Faye Mogensen “In Praise of Trees”
Jul 14 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Faye Mogensen "In Praise of Trees"

Trees sustain us both material and spiritually and so it’s no surprise that they feature in religion, folklore and mythology from all around the world. Enjoy a morning of stories that explore our relationship with these noble, life-giving beings.

Faye Mogensen is the author of Ancient Stories for Modern Times and has been telling stories professionally for many years; first as a Park Naturalist, later as the Director of Spiritual Exploration at First Unitarian. She continues to love sharing the wisdom of folktales and mythology, and playing with them to enhance personal, historic, scientific and other tales.

Jul
21
Sun
James Bay Roundtable “James Bay Picnic at Irving Park Spiritual Gathering”
Jul 21 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
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.