Capital Unitarian Universalist Congregation

Staying deeply connected is in under threat! Technology is both a blessing and a curse; both linking us to the world while simultaneously reprogramming our brains. How do we navigate our digital lives and deepen our spirituality?

Wonder is the very first of our six UU sources, and where the other five are about knowledge in the head or tradition passed down by hand, that first source tells us to listen to our hearts, to the transcending experience of wonder. What happens when we fill our lives so full of doing, that we forget about the very wonder of our being? How does our tradition, our community, serve to create, or simply recognize, moments of transcendence in the world around us?

We need to build relationships with those people who are other to us or we become narrow. Privileges are merely rights taken from others. Let’s look beyond the social stigma that causes us to push others away.

Kym A Hines is a member of First Unitarian Church of Victoria. He is involved with various activist and social justice groups in Victoria including THAW Victoria, Rise and Resist, The Existence Project, newly forming Men With a Pulse support, education and action group. He is a co-parent, transgender, radical anarcho-feminist and a person disability who lives with complex post traumatic stress disorder.

Look around your community and notice who and what our monuments, parks and streets are named after. Mount Doug was re-named Pkols, its original indigenous name, in 2013 yet provincial maps still list it’s settler name. How do names tell the story of a place, what do we lose and what do we gain by re-naming our world?

Ever since her theological studies, Margot has been intrigued by questions about how the first-century church developed after the crucifixion of Jesus. In this talk, she will share some of these mysteries and a few speculations, but does not promise any definitive answers.

Margot Lods, a member of First Unitarian Church of Victoria, now self-identifies as a spiritual humanist. But for many years, she was a liberal Christian and still considers those days as an important part of her life’s spiritual journey. She holds a theological degree from Trinity College, Toronto, and served as Dean of Studies at the Anglican Women’s Training College, where she lectured in New Testament and Systematic Theology.

A square represents the earth and all things measurable and finite and a circle represents the heavens/spirit and all things unmeasurable and infinite. Ancient architecture embody in their design mechanisms to “square the circle” to join heaven and earth.

“This is what should be done by one who is skilled in goodness and who knows the path of peace…”

These words start a list of instructions given by the Buddha 2500 years ago to a group of agitated, frightened forest-dwelling disciples. What can we take from these teachings as we grapple with personal and societal confusion, anger, and greed? June will share the instructions and lead a short guided loving kindness meditation.

June Fukushima has been dedicated to a spiritual and healing path integrating mind, body and spirit for close to 30 years. She is a lifelong student of Buddhist mindfulness and meditation practices. June is trained in Somatic Experiencing®, a body-based approach to resolving trauma and is a Registered Counselling Therapist in Saanich, BC. June`s website

In honour of April Fool’s Day, I will tell stories of fools – the holy ones and the wise ones. Why be a fool? Why tell their stories? In part, it’s about freedom – try pinning down a fool, and you’ll find you’re grasping at air.

Jane Enkin is a storyteller, writer, singer and songwriter. She has told to all ages in schools, libraries, festivals, synagogues and seniors’ programs. Jane lives in Winnipeg and has enjoyed her many visits to Victoria’s Capital Unitarian Community.

After a few years of healing the sick, Jesus Christ gave an extended speech to his followers about how to live in accordance with Jewish law. The speech includes the Beatitudes including “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” and the Lord’s Prayer. Some people call it “a gospel within the Gospel,” and it is part of the historical sources of Unitarian-Universalism. Is there anything in the Sermon on the Mount that could apply to our lives in 2018?

Look around your community and notice who and what our monuments, parks and streets are named after. Mount Douglas was re-named Pkols, its original indigenous name, in 2013 yet provincial maps still list its settler name. How do names tell the story of a place, what do we lose and what do we gain by re-naming our world?

A square represents the earth and all things measurable and finite and a circle represents the heavens/spirit and all things unmeasurable and infinite. Ancient architecture embody in their design mechanisms to “square the circle” to join heaven and earth.

Hope, healing, and freedom can come through the process of forgiveness. Forgiveness is a multi-layered, internal process. Learn about 5 steps which can enable you to be freed from the grip of old hurts or resentments.

Anne is a member of the First Unitarian Fellowship of Nanaimo and serves as one of their Lay Chaplains. As a community developer and therapist, Anne has over 45 years experience facilitating ways for people to transform their inner pain so they can lead more fulfilling lives. Her Chemainus private practice focuses on personal, relationship,and family healing, as well as therapist training and supervision. annemorrison.ca