Making Meaning (August Discussion)
Follow up to the August 13 TED Talk On August 13th, we explored how language shapes the way we think and had the chance to engage with the topic of … Read more
Themes
Monthly Themes for Winter 2023
January Rest
February UU roots
March Social Justice
April What is ‘Enough’?
May / June Affirmation
Fall 2022
September Reconnection
October Balance
November Inner Peace
December Winter Holidays
Below you will find resources, further reading, and theme-related content for current and previous themes.
Awakening: Coming to UUism
On May 26th, Mark Mueller referenced the following publication created by Rev. Steven Epperson, of the Unitarian Church of Vancouver, which asks ministers from across Canada: “What do you wish … Read more
Creativity and Imagination (April 2019)
Our theme for April began with Caroline Balderston Parry speaking to the topic of Practicing the Art of Creative Living. In her Sermon, Caroline referenced the book Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous … Read more
Meaning (May and June)
Reading – “Angst” from the book Sum: Forty Tales of the Afterlives by David Eagleman A tale about important work, vacations, and the meaning of meaninglessness: http://jenorton.tumblr.com/post/20159632858/angst The Origin of the … Read more
Faith (April)
Faith and Trust are central pillars of a healthy spiritual community, emboldening us to openly seek out the new, while also recognizing our need to feel safe. A story of … Read more
Justice and Activism (March)
Lotta Hitschmanova and USC Canada Here’s a bio of Lotta Hitschmanova, from the USC Canada website: https://www.usc-canada.org/about-us/our-history/dr-lotta/item/40-biography-of-dr-lotta-hitschmanova/40-biography-of-dr-lotta-hitschmanova More Unitarian Histories of Justice and Activism Learn about Emily Stowe – one … Read more
Self-Reflection (February)
This month we’re making space to consider how we can strengthen our own spiritual practice, by allowing time and effort in considering what is special to us — and how … Read more
Covenant (January)
A key aspect of our Unitarian Universalist tradition is that we are non-creedal – which is to say that we do not identify our faith by one particular set of … Read more
Solemnity & Play (December)
Video – Measuring the Year – Soliloquy This choose-your-own-adventure video gives you several options on how we can measure the length of a year. Playful Article – The True Meaning … Read more
Theme for November – Healing the Spirit
Film – My Life as a Dog Contributed by Pat Lucey An endearing tale of a 12-year-old boy who seeks healing as he copes with challenges in his life. Available … Read more
Theme for June: Spirit of Summer 2
Ikebana (Photo: Rodrigo Emilio Solano-Quesnel, Ottawa 2017) Article – Ikebana: An Ancient Art of Complex Simplicity This article tells one student’s story of learning the paradoxical beauty of Ikebana flower … Read more
Theme for June: Spirit of Summer 1 – Rev. Dr. Heather Fraser Fawcett
Meditation – By C. J. Stevens Green things growing are a sacrament. The tiny flower in this stray plant Is just as catching to the soul or mind As the … Read more
Theme for May: Choices 2
Now With More Dimensions! Activity – Deeper Images See this in 3D – No glasses required! Viewing instructions: Cross your eyes until you see four images. Allow the two middle images … Read more
Theme for May: Choices 1
Challenges and Choices Books Free Will – Sam Harris – ISBN 9781451683400 – suggested by Mike Jan A belief in free will touches nearly everything that human beings value. It … Read more
Theme for April: Grace 3
Featured Film – Plan 9 from Outer Space – Ed Wood (1959) One of the first films to be known as “so bad it’s good”, with pacing, dialogue, and special … Read more
Theme for April: Grace 2
Meditation – on Bread by Thich Nhat Hahn You, me, the trees, the birds, squirrels, the creek, the air, the stars are all phenomena. There is a relationship between one … Read more
Theme for April: Grace 1
Artists – Hevesh5 and SuperMarMarMan1 are professional domino artists The Amazing Triple Spiral by Hevesh5 The Greatest Domino Effect of ALL TIME is a collaboration by Hevesh5 with … Read more
Theme for March: Presence 2
Neverending Stories Featured Film – The NeverEnding Story (1984) A young reader faces the real-life power that dreams can have when imagination is nourished – and the dangers when people … Read more
Theme for March: Presence
The Hand-made’s Tale Featured Film – Pride (2014) (available on Canadian Netflix) As a lesbian and gay rights group fights for equality in 1980’s UK, they see that striking miners … Read more