Unitarian Services 2023-2024

If your congregation is taking a break over the summer, you can still gather with other Unitarian Universalists (UUs) for worship. Many Canadian UU congregations plan to host services online throughout July and August–and you are welcome to join them. The Canadian Unitarian Council is currently compiling a list of these congregations. As they are confirmed, we will add them to this page. If you would like to list your congregation’s online services here, please contact us at communications@cuc.ca.

Please check the Meaning Making in Liminal Times project for winter month services.

Summer Services Online:

First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa‘s summer services will be broadcast live on YouTube (youtube.com/c/OttawaFirstU) from 10:30 am on Sunday mornings.

      • July 2: “How Free Are We?  Prisons All Around” – Rev Linda Goonewardene. As an affiliated Community Minister with FirstU Ottawa since 2014, Linda works in Ottawa as a psychotherapist specializing in addiction treatment and recovery. Inspired by two books, “Going Up the River” by Joseph T. Hallinan, and “Abolitionist Intimacies” by El Jones.
      • July 9: “Come Sing a Song” – Rev Anne Orfald.  Minister Emerita of Unitarian Fellowship of Peterborough, Born/raised in Minneapolis, lifelong UU. Reflecting on “Spirit of Life,” its centrality to UU worship, and how singing inspires us and connects us as a community. This service is dedicated to the composer Carolyn McDade, and to her life of activism and creativity.
      • July 16: “It’s not how you die, it’s how you live.” – Jackie Holzman.  Past mayor of the city of Ottawa. Powerful leader in countless community organizations and activities over the years. She is currently the president of the board of Unitarian House of Ottawa. “It isn’t how you die, it’s how you live.” Calling all Boomers, Gen Xers, Millennials, Zoomers, & all those who are still enjoying the company of parents &/or elder loved ones. My message is a shout-out to all of you: Have you had “the talk”?
      • July 23: “Opportunities: Surprises! Changes! Adventures!” – Dr Suzanne Arnold.  Specialist in Occupational Health Nursing with an RN and a PhD who has focused on mental health in the workplace & beyond. We will explore the concept of “opportunities”, which are presented to all of us, from time to time, and which can lead to surprising changes in our lives and those of our families, and can also offer wonderful adventures not previously considered.
      • July 30: tbd – Mary Ella Keblusek.
      • August 6: tbd – Lee Rose.
      • August 13: tbd – Rev Eric Meter.  Lead minister of FirstU Ottawa.
      • August 20: Annual Pride Service.   Fae Johnstone.
      • August 27: tbd – Alex Campbell.
      • September 3: tbd – Justine de Jaegher.

Meaning Making in Liminal Times project

Would you (and your congregation) be interested in a sustained conversation with other UUs from across Canada?

Saskatoon Unitarians is offering “Meaning Making in Liminal Times” in collaboration with six UU ministers, Debra Faulk, Brian Kiely, Meg Roberts, Arran Morton, Samaya Oakley and Karen Fraser Gitlitz.

The goal is to explore six urgent questions for our time in the company of other Canadian UUs.

Each month in October, November, January, February, March and April there will be a live service on the first Sunday of the month, with a recording available for watching or presenting. Congregations are welcome to show the recording as a Sunday service or at another time. There will be a full recording and a sermon-only recording with script, for those who want to bring it to life themselves.

Then on the third Saturday of the month, there will be a two hour “deeper dive” adult religious education conversation, hosted by that month’s preacher, for those who want to explore the topic in more depth.

To find out more: Description of how the program works,  Topics and Dates.

Congregations register to purchase the sermon/worship package, and then receive materials to advertise the “deeper dive” adult religious education experience.

Congregational registration opens August 9 and closes September 15.

Contact Rev. Karen Fraser Gitlitz for more information.