Music & Reflection

An opportunity for Music and Reflection

Remaining session:
7pm on December 7th
on the theme of “Purpose”

For NSUC folks who may be wishing for a little extra spiritual and/or aesthetic sustenance, four Wednesday evenings (7-8:15 PM) will be offered in our church sanctuary, hosted by one of our long-standing women's groups. Each gathering will focus on one of the following themes: how to live with depth, meaning, purpose and gratitude. These themes will be expanded through simple readings and music. As well, participants are always welcome to share an anecdote, poem etc. of their own related to the topic.

Everyone is welcome. Contact Kathryn Nicholson if you need a ride or have questions.

Our Eight Principles

Unitarian Universalist congregations affirm and promote eightPrinciples, which we hold as strong values and moral guides.  The Principles are not dogma or doctrine, but rather a guide for those of us who choose to join and participate in Unitarian Universalist religious communities.

  • The inherent worth and dignity of every person;

Wonderdome

WONDERDOME

The Wonderdome is an area in the Sanctuary for anyone who needs to keep a little bit busy during the service. If playing with pop-it fidgets, colouring, drawing, knitting or crochet will help you focus, you’re welcome to the resources in the Wonderdome. Feel free to take what you need to your seat or hang out near the Wonderdome. Please just bring it back after service or Spirit Zones.

Fall Outreach Recipients

Each month, we Each Sunday, 100% of our offering plate collections, unless otherwise marked, are given to a nonprofit organization whose mission is in line with our own. We call this “Outreach”.

During September, October, and November, we are collecting Outreach funds to be divided evenly between these four organizations. (Click on any of these logos to visit that website).

(Click on the above images to go to the organization’s website to learn more!)

To contribute to our Fall Outreach Collection, place your cash or cheque in the Sunday morning offering plate OR you can donate by eTransfer, text giving, or credit card. Whichever payment method you use, please mark your payment as “Outreach” so we know how to apply the funds.

NEW: Pre-Service Centering Ritual

This week marks the beginning of a new element in our Sunday Services. There will be two stations, one with water, one with fire, on either side of the chancel. During the prelude you may wish to light a candle on the fire station for an inspiration, joy, or hope you are bringing with you. If you would like to acknowledge and release a burden or sorrow, you may wish to drop a stone into the water at the other station.

As a private gesture, we hope this fortifies your heart and soul. As a public gesture and witness we hope it knits us closer together as a community of care.

As with all new endeavors, this is a process of discovery. So please give us grace as we learn from experience.

CUC Symposium May 19-21, 2023

Now more than ever we need to come together to strengthen our connections, kindle hope, and move forward in love. The CUC has announced it’s 2023 National Symposium on the 8th Principle in Ottawa, Ontario or Online May 19-21, 2023.

In the spring of 2023, the Canadian Unitarian Council and First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa, in collaboration with the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ottawa, invite you to a national symposium. Join us in person in Ottawa or online to renew your spirit, reconnect with friends, and celebrate what it means to be Unitarian Universalist (UU).

The CUC is referring to this event as a symposium, not a conference. That's because it will be organized around a single issue rather than a general theme. Through engaging presentations, rich discussions, and worship, we will explore our newest principle, which calls us "to dismantle racism and systemic barriers to full inclusion in ourselves and our institutions."

Maury Prevost, lead for the Host Team, sends this warm invitation:

“On behalf of the Host Team, the hosting First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa, and our collaborators at the UU Fellowship of Ottawa, I invite you to come to Ottawa in person to join us for the events over the May long weekend of 2023. Although we can’t promise that the tulips will be at their best for the long weekend, spring will be well underway and the Tulip Festival should run May 12-22 in 2023. With spring flowers, national museums, many parks, and other activities in Canada’s capital city, it is a good time of year to visit Ottawa, so you may wish to extend your stay before or after the Canadian Unitarian Council (CUC) events. We look forward to seeing many of you in Ottawa and we equally look forward to welcoming online participants.”

Young adults will have their own gathering, Chorus, alongside the Symposium. The youth con, CanUUdle, will also take place concurrently on the campus of the First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa. 

The Annual General Meeting will be held on Friday, May 19th, from 1:00 to 4:30 pm ET, and will have online and in-person participation.

Watch for more details in the coming months. Registration opens at the end of January 2023. 

Volunteers Needed! The CUC’s national gatherings needs many, many people working together to organize and execute. Let us know if you'd be willing to help with the National Symposium in Ottawa from May 19 - 21, 2023. Volunteers are needed in different areas, so fill in this form to tell us how and when you'd like to be involved (feel free to share the link!)

Questions? Email conference@cuc.ca

These beautiful photos of Ottawa were taken by Maury Prevost:

Fall Office Hours

(Updated September 9, 2022)

Our office is generally open from at least 9:30am to 1pm (if not longer) Monday through Friday. Occasionally, staff work from home or have offsite meetings, so you’re welcome to phone first (604-926-1621) before coming to visit us.

You can reach staff via email on their work days:

September 18th: Water Communion

On September 18th, we will hold our annual Water Communion Service — which is a community-building and healing experience for us all. Please bring water to the service, whether it is water from a grand adventure, from your kitchen sink, or points between.

During the service Rev. Ron will invite you, by sections, to queue up before the chancel.

When it is your turn, you will approach the glass basin on the altar. There, the Sunday Service Associate will offer you a microphone so that you may each share with us, in a couple of words, the character of the experience around getting the water -- even if you just got the water that morning. You are encouraged to think of that experience as a blessing to this community, whether it was joyous or painful. All of your experience is welcome. For instance, you might say, "This represents new beginnings," or "This is the water of loss," or "Peace and relaxation." Then you can return to your seat.

Your characters will mingle. All our characters will combine.

Ushers will be available to assist those who need help going up or down the chancel stairs. We will also accommodate anyone who wishes to participate but cannot make it onto the chancel.

After this service, you’re invited to join us for our annual Corn Roast! Details.