Why you don’t want to miss “UU Expressions: Love in Real Life”
The conversation is starting – Don’t be left behind!
What does bringing Unitarian Universalist (UUism) values to life in Canada in 2025 mean? How can we embrace the diversity of our faith while imagining a sustainable future together? These big questions drive UU Expressions: Love in Real Life, a 10-episode docu-podcast series that uncovers, celebrates, and challenges how UUism is expressed nationwide.
Hello from Erin Horvath and Amber Bellemare 🙂
We’re the Canadian Unitarian Council’s (CUC) Justice and Equity team and are excited to share this series with you. As we planned for the future of UUism in Canada, our staff team began wondering: Can we sustain a movement that allows diverse people to shape diverse expressions of UUism beyond congregational life? And if so, what does this mean for our shared national identity?
We interviewed 27 Unitarian Universalists involved in 17 different UU expressions to find answers. Their stories reveal how UUism is flourishing (or facing challenges), and what the CUC can do to nurture a larger vision of our movement.
Get informed, get inspired, get involved!
This series will bring you up to speed on what’s happening across the country RIGHT NOW and how it all connects to the bigger picture. UU Expressions: Love in Real Life is just the beginning of a vital conversation.
Who is willing to co-create what comes next?
What to Expect from the Podcast
Each episode dives into a key theme shaping UUism today. While you can enjoy the episodes as stand-alone stories, we encourage listening to the whole series in order to experience the journey we’re presenting.
- Episode 1: Wildflowers
A comparison of a UU congregation, an online meme community, and a daily singing group introduces the idea of diverse UU expressions. - Episode 2: The Gap
Examines the contrasts between congregational culture and young adult culture and what these differences mean for the future of UUism. - Episode 3: The Bridge
Explores how intergenerational UU communities can bridge cultural gaps and foster a stronger, long-lasting faith organization. - Episode 4: Authenticity
Highlights the value and challenges of authentic connection. - Episode 5: Proximity
Focuses on how geography and ministry practices shape relationships within and beyond UU communities. - Episode 6: Community Ministry
Celebrates how UU values are harnessed to create meaningful change in local communities. - Episode 7: Money
Tackles beliefs, systems, and challenges related to money. - Episode 8: Potential
Investigate how sustainable revenue streams can unlock the potential of community ministries. - Episode 9: Art or Artifact?
Questions what it means to innovate while staying true to UUism’s core values. - Episode 10: Goosebumps
Explores the role of the CUC in supporting and amplifying the collective energy of UUism in Canada.
You don’t need to be a Unitarian Universalist to benefit from this docuseries
But you can learn from our journey! While the stories are focused on UU expressions, they offer avenues of exploration for all communities passionate about bringing their values to life in the world and want to connect with like-minded organizations.
Who should listen to this series?
If you are a concerned member of a congregation in decline,
If you are a youth or young adult who envisions a UUism that reflects your unique needs and priorities,
If you have an entrepreneurial spirit and innovative ideas!
If you are passionate about the history of our movement and maintaining a sense of tradition,
If you love to serve the needs of your community,
If you are a part of a religious organization that is challenged by the decline of religious interest,
If you feel isolated, out of touch, or disconnected from the greater collective,
If you care about making positive change in the world and want to hear how some people are doing it,
If you feel uninspired or uncommitted,
If you find money to be a barrier to full inclusion,
If you struggle to find volunteers or are burnt out from carrying the weight of responsibilities in your community,
If you want to stay current and involved,
Then this series is for YOU.
Why UU Expressions Matters
This series is more than a collection of stories; it’s a call to action. As Unitarian Universalists, it’s easy to focus on the challenges within our communities, but this series reminds us that we are part of something bigger. Together, we can harness UUism’s collective energy to survive and thrive.
You’ll also find expanded research notes, links, and thought-provoking questions in the show notes for each episode—perfect for small group discussions or personal reflection.
Join Us on This Journey
Whether new to UUism or a lifelong member, we invite you to explore this series. Listen, reflect, and imagine what UUism can become when we think beyond scarcity and embrace abundance.
Start your journey today with Episode 1: Wildflowers.
Together, let’s imagine a UUism for everyone.
Tips for listening:
Each episode is between 40 minutes to an hour and a half – intentionally crafted to take you on a journey – if that feels too long for you, here are some helpful tips:
- Passive listening is easy! Listen while doing dishes, folding laundry, or driving to the grocery store.
- Take a break – Like chapters in a book, there are musical interludes between ideas, so feel free to hit pause and come back to it when you can
- Organize a listening group or buddy up with a friend
- Listen with intention: check out the discussion questions in each episode for some engaging thought exercises or conversation
- If listening is not your thing, there are accessibility transcripts and videos available as well!
- New to podcasts? No Problem! We have audio files available for you to download.
Every episode unlocks new insights—how many will you discover?
Has something caught your attention? Would you like to share it with us? We invite you to use this insights form to help inform our future planning.
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Call and Response, the Canadian Unitarian Council’s new blog, is a forum for sharing ideas, tools, and resources with people and organizations who want to create a more loving, just, and equitable world.
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