Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Rassemblement UU Ottawa
Everyone Welcome | Bienvenue à tous
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.
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 cross-cultural communication as a group. Thank you to those who attended this very interesting discussion. Below are the links to the two videos that we … Read more
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 people knew about Unitarian Universalism?
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 Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer, an Indigenous professor of biology and environmental science. It is also quite beautifully … Read more
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: https://www.tumblr.com/jenorton/20159632858/angst The Origin of the Nobel Peace Prize – Ted Talk A background look at the Nobel Peace Prize – where it came from and how it’s chosen. The Future … Read more
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 Apollo 13 Amy Shira Teitel tells a short account of the Apollo 13 mission – its failures, successes, and learning opportunities. You can also watch … Read more
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 of the first women physicians in Canada and a suffragist: http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio.php?id_nbr=6804 And a short biography of Joseph Workman, reformer in psychiatry and founder of the … Read more
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 that connects us to all that is larger than ourselves. Link – The Empty Chalice – Rev. Fiona Heath Rev. Fiona Heath is the … Read more
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 beliefs. Instead, our community is built around Covenant – a set of promises around how we seek to live in right relationship with each other. … Read more
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 of Christmas (That Everyone Forgets) – David Wong David Wong, from the humour site Cracked.com offers a touching and playful reflection on the spirit of … Read more
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 through the Ottawa Public Library, via Kanopy streaming: https://ottawalib.kanopystreaming.com/video/my-life-dog Featured Author – Dr. Paula Reeves Contributed by Nancy Rubenstein Want to find out more about … Read more
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 arranging. https://www.thestar.com/life/homes/outdoor_living/2009/05/23/ikebana_an_ancient_art_of_complex_simplicity.html Video – How It’s Made – Fireworks The bouquets of fire we often see around summer holidays have a story of their own … Read more
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 roses that proud in the corner stand, And green things growing have a stubbornness. They say to winter, to drought, to time, to us, Wait … Read more
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 to merge so you only see three images in total. Let your eyes adjust on the middle overlapping images until the picture adds depth! Have … Read more
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 is difficult to think about law, politics, religion, public policy, intimate relationships, morality—as well as feelings of remorse or personal achievement—without first imagining that every … Read more
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 effects so offbeat they are comical! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzrzxnPKLtA Video – On the “Historical and Future Trajectories of Black Lives Matter and Unitarian Universalism” – UU Planet, April … Read more
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 phenomenon and another. If we observe things deeply, we will discover that one thing contains all the other things. If you look deeply into a … Read more
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 SuperMarMarMan1: Video – The Beginning of Everything – Kurzgesagt And for a view in a larger scale:
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 give up the power of imagination and give in to fear. (available in DVD at the Ottawa Public Library) You can also try the book … Read more
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 face many of the same of challenges in seeking dignity and recognition. This story gives witness to the power of presence – being there – … Read more