Unitarian Congregation of Guelph

National Worship Sunday Service: Living into Covenant
2022-11-20 12:30 - 15:00 (America/Toronto) | 122 Harris St / Zoom
We Unitarian Universalists are a covenantal people. Our faith tradition believes in the power and possibility of covenant – a set of shared promises, agreements, and understandings to hold us together. How does a vision of covenant hold us together when we disagree? How does our faith community covenant overlap and diverge from the other covenants of our lives (being a partner or parent or friend or citizen of the world?)? How is all of this impacted by how well we are keeping a covenant with ourselves, our own well being? Join Revs Shana Lyngood and Anne Barker in exploration and reflection.
Please note time change:
We will meet on Zoom or at Harris St at 1245 for our opening and the sharing of Joys and Sorrows. We will then join the Canadian Unitarian Council for the service at 1:00 pm. This will be followed by a facilitated discussion.
You are welcome to gather in person or via Zoom at 1230 to connect with others in the “Sunshine Room”
We regret that no childcare will be available for this service.

Radical Inclusion Service: Polyamory
2022-11-13 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Toronto) | 122 Harris St / Zoom
Polyamory: Love, Consent and Communication
Polyamory (also known as Consensual Non-Monogamy, Ethical Non-Monogamy or Radical Relationships) is a relationship model practiced across Canada and around the world. Our talk will discuss the nature of polyamory and the legal, social, economic and emotional challenges/benefits of sharing love beyond a framework of monogamy.
Speakers:
Zoe Duff – a director and spokesperson for the Canadian Polyamory Advocacy Association (CPAA) since 2010, Facilitator of Vancouver Island Polyamory Social and Discussion Group since 2000. Practicing polyamory since 1999 and author of “Love Alternatively Expressed: the scoop on practicing polyamory in Canada. Originally from Mississauga, Ontario, Zoe resides in Victoria, BC, with her co-partners of 14 years, Jayson and Danny.
ly Sildra – a board member of the CPAA and Director of the Polyamory Edmonton Association. As a highly community-minded individual, she has worked diligently in partnership with the Pride Centre of Edmonton, the Alberta Sex Positive Education Centre, and other local organizations towards building community and supporting those who identify as polyamorous. She has been practicing polyamory since 2009 and is a lifelong Edmontonian.
We regret that there will be no childcare for this service.

Two-Spirit Presentation
2022-11-06 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Toronto) | 122 Harris St / Zoom
Laura Couchie will share the history and context behind what “Two Spirit” means and how it used to describe gender and relationships across many Indigenous people and communities. Connections to Indigenous language, culture and ways of life will be shared to illustrate how colonialism has impacted gender and relationships in Indigenous communities.
Bio:
Laura is Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) from Nipissing First Nation, redtail Hawk Clan. She is also of German and Scottish ancestry. Laura studies Mohawk and Ojibwe languages and is working toward an Honours Degree in Onkwehonwe Language. Laura has 15 years of social work experience and spent many years doing Indigenous Education in the community and in schools. Laura published a book of poetry in 2018 and is also a Beadwork Artist. In the past, she enjoyed many years as an Actor/Dancer/Performing artist and last year served on the final jury for the Hamilton Arts Awards.
For the Zoom link, please email Holly at admin@guelph-unitarians.com

Samhain
2022-10-30 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Toronto) | 122 Harris St / Zoom
Leaves are falling. Frost shrivels foliage, so plants decay. Their wrinkled bodies promise enriched soil for Spring. Let us join nature’s cycle, honouring loss and birth. Truly, change is the only constant and grace depends on our ability to accept and celebrate, to resist clinging to what was, so we can rest and prepare. Together, we have wisdom, because the love we share helps us be at peace. Come with your memories and hopes for the ancient ritual of Samhain, the Day of the Dead, Hallowe’en. The green team: Rebekah Jamieson, Diane Ward, Linda Reith

Thanksgiving Service
2022-10-09 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Toronto) | 122 Harris St / Zoom
You are invited to co-create our gathering on Sunday, October 9 at 11:00 am. Think of this as a Sunday Service Potluck where you bring your favourite elements of a service to share. This might be a children’s story, songs, special readings or stories about gratitude that are meaningful for you. We will gather in a ‘circle’ ie horseshoe in the sanctuary so that those on Zoom are included as well to reflect on and celebrate all that we have to be thankful for. You can bring your ideas with you Sunday morning or send them to Lorna at lwyllsun@gmail.com.
“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Thus gratitude becomes a quality of our hearts that allows us to live joyfully and peacefully even though our struggles continue.” Henri J. M. Nouwen

Unicorn Rebellion
2022-10-02 11:00 (America/Toronto) | 122 Harris St / Zoom
Chris Paul (Rainbows) Farias is a Creative Director and Partner at Unicorn Rebellion, a creative agency working with good people to do good things. They are an author/illustrator, speaker and queer activist. They also have the bylaw-maximum number of chickens in their backyard!
Chris will be speaking about queer inclusion and belonging.

WHISPER, WIND AND WISH: A SERMON BY REV. JESS OF GRU READ BY LORNA WYLLSUN
2022-09-25 11:00 (America/Toronto) | 122 Harris St / Zoom
This service marks the beginning of an experiment the Sunday Services Committee is inviting you to participate in as we attempt to continue providing meaningful content and experiences while also continuing to care for our precious human resources. You will receive more information about this over the coming weeks.

For now please join us Sunday morning at the usual 1100am in person or by Zoom. We will create a sacred container in the usual manner and hear Lorna Wyllsun read a service presented by Rev Jess from Grand River Unitarian. “Whisper, Wind and Wish.” Rev. Jess. An invisible whisper nudges summer into fall. What is the world calling you toward?

We are happy to announce that nursery care with Teah will be back this week! We look forward to seeing you!

WATER COMMUNION
2022-09-18 11:00 - 23:00 (America/Toronto) | 122 Harris St / Zoom
Despite a tendency to avoid “Churchy” language there are some rites that are standard fare among Unitarians.

After the Summer break the Water Communion marks our communing together once again. As described by the UUA:

“During the appointed time in the service, people one by one pour their water together into a large bowl. As the water is added, the person who brought it tells why this water is special to them.”

If you are attending the Communion in the Sanctuary please bring your water in whatever container you see fit. if you are comfortable you can share with us why it is special. Those of us joining online to tell us about their water and why it is special.
Please feel free to send any photos or videos related to water that you have to Sundayservices@guelph-unitarians.com . It’s a brave new virtual world and we will try our best to integrate these into the service. Looking forward to seeing your lovely faces live or virtually on Sunday September 18th at 11:00 AM.

Please note that we will not have nursery care during this service. We apologize for the inconvenience.

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NO SERVICE TODAY.
2022-09-11 11:00 (America/Toronto)
Our Sunday Services Committee is busy making plans for the year to come.
Want to join in?
Contact Carey and Hannah (care of Holly) at admin@guelph-unitarians.com

REV. BECKETT (KINGSTON UNITARIAN FELLOWSHIP)
2022-09-04 10:30 (America/Toronto) | Zoom
Rev. Beckett (Kingston Unitarian Fellowship) will lead the last of our Summer Sundays this morning.

GROWING IN SPIRIT
2022-08-28 10:30 UTC | Zoom
Rev. Fiona Heath
(Unitarian Congregation of Mississauga). In troubled times our inner light struggles to shine, in need of tending. Rev. Fiona speaks to the three things our spirits need to shine.

STORIES FROM A HOSPICE COUNSELLOR
2022-08-21 10:30 (America/Toronto) | Zoom
Susan Briedall (Neighbourhood UU Congregation) will share stories from her work as a hospice counsellor.

LGBTQ+ PRIDE: FINDING BELONGING IN OUR COMMUNITIES & OURSELVES
2022-08-14 10:30 (America/Toronto) | Zoom
(Unitarian Congregation of Mississauga) We all deserve to be loved and accepted as we are, however we identify, whoever we love, this is an expression of our first principle – the inherent worth and dignity of every person, as they are. This Sunday we celebrate LGTBQ+ Pride with speakers Devin Kreuger & Nim Poland sharing queer stories of community and resilience.

A FAMILY SERVICE
2022-08-07 10:30 (America/Toronto) | Zoom
A family friendly service for this summer morning.

WHOLLY / HOLY ... AND THAT'S NOT A PUN
2022-07-31 10:30 (America/Toronto) | Zoom
The first “source” named by our Living Tradition is the human experience of mystery and wonder that renews the spirit and upholds life. Let us explore the ideas of wholeness and the holy….and sit for a while in the quiet of that mystery.

CAN I FIND GOD HERE?
2022-07-24 10:30 (America/Toronto) | Zoom
A stranger arrives at the Kingston Unitarian Fellowship or any Unitarian church on a Sunday morning and asks, “Can I Find God Here?” How would you answer this question? Today’s talk is a brief look at one person’s history, KUF’s history, and Unitarian history with God. Hopefully an answer to the stranger’s question can be found that invites everyone to stay.

YOUTH ENGAGEMENT IN CLIMATE JUSTICE AND PEACE WORK
2022-07-17 10:30 (America/Toronto) | Zoom
This service by Neighbourhood UU Congregation’s Kasha Slavner will discuss youth engagement in climate justice and peace work.

MATT DAMON AND HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS
2022-07-10 10:30 (America/Toronto) | Zoom
Unicamper Greg Carter ( Grand River Unitarian) shares some hard-won lessons about relationships inspired by a chance encounter with actor Matt Damon.

WOVEN IN A SINGLE GARMENT OF DESTINY
2022-07-03 10:30 (America/Toronto) | Zoom
“Woven in a Single Garment of Destiny” a UUA service hosted by Rev. Jess (Grand River Unitarian). We’re all connected: an interdependent whole. Therefore, says UUA President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, “covenant is our religious response to our fundamental interdependence.” We make promises about how to be together, and how to be in the world. We also fall short of honoring those promises, inviting us to repair and strengthen the strands of community. The choice to mend broken strands of the web is an act of faithfulness. This service, designed by Rev. Erika Hewitt (UUA Minister of Worship Arts), features a range of UU leaders and features 2 original songs composed just for this service.

FLOWER COMMUNION
2022-06-26 10:30 (America/Toronto) | Zoom
Join us this Sunday as we part temporarily for summer with one of the rites we share with Unitarians worldwide: The Flower Communion, which started in 1923. An integral part of the communion is the sharing and distribution of flowers, so please bring flowers from your garden if you will be at the sanctuary. The communion will be led by our two Lay Chaplains, Rebekah Jamieson and Carey McDonald.

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UNITUNZ REUNION!
2022-06-19 10:30 (America/Toronto) | 122 Harris St / Zoom
“We resist transition not because we can’t accept the change, but because we can’t accept letting go of that piece of ourselves that we have to give up when and because the situation has changed.” (William Bridges).

Join us Sunday for a musical exploration of navigating life changes and transitions. Hosted by the UCG Unitunz musical group, back for the first performance in a very long while!

SPIRITUAL PRACTICES IN A TIME OF CLIMATE CRISIS
2022-06-12 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Toronto) | 122 Harris St / Zoom
As we face the ongoing challenges of living in a time of climate crisis, let us consider together the spiritual practices that will keep us connected to and caring of our one and only Mother Earth. How do we engage active hope for sustenance?

Rev. Dr. Michelle Walsh, PhD, LICSW is a Unitarian Universalist community minister who is a certified Internal Family Systems therapist/practitioner and trained spiritual director with a private practice known as Sacred Play Explorations. She brings a wide variety of lived experiences with urban, parish, and academic ministry to her preaching, writing, and work with individuals and groups.

THE WELL EARTH COLLABORATIVE
2022-06-05 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Toronto) | 122 Harris St / Zoom
Central to the Well Earth Collaborative is the idea that we cannot heal ourselves until we have healed the planet and we cannot heal the planet until we heal ourselves.. It is not enough for doctors to look at the biological and psychological aspects of health, but also the social environment that people live in and the spiritual meaning of their lives.

Dr. Riina Bray has been Medical Director of the Environmental Health Clinic at Women’s College Hospital and Associate Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine for over ten years. She was Chair of the Environmental Health Committee of the Ontario College of Family Physicians for ten years.

Dr. DavidFancy is a professor of drama at Brock University. David has an extensive creative practice as a playwright and director.

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CHALICE CAFE: SHARING OUR BELIFS
2022-05-29 11:00 - 12:30 (America/Toronto) | 122 Harris St / Zoom
Unitarian-Universalism conscientiously makes room for a wide variety of religious and spiritual beliefs. Like our many gifts and talents, the variety of our beliefs is worth celebrating, yet we don’t often talk about what we believe in a way that brings the differences to light.
Join us via Zoom or in person at 11am Sunday for an enlightening and fun conversation, facilitated by Hannah Schell.
For the Zoom link, please email admin@guelph-unitarians.com.

NEGOTIATING OUR PLACE AS THE EARTH TRANSFORMS
2022-05-22 11:00 - 12:30 (America/Toronto) | 122 Harris St / Zoom
Human activity has now resulted in crossing four of nine planetary boundaries. These are: 1) excess flows of nitrogen and phosphorus, 2) loss of diversity, 3) excess impact of novel entities and 4) excess variability of access to green water. In addition, the probability of staying below a 1.5C increase in average global temperature is now less than 10%. There are possible pathways for humans to adapt, within the limits of Earth Systems. Negotiating our place will require appropriate understanding and responses to real limits, in real time, in the context of increasing inequalities.

Biography: Ralph C. Martin grew up on his family farm in Wallenstein, ON. After 4-H, his formal education includes a B.A. and an M.Sc. in Biology from Carleton University and a Ph.D. in Plant Science from McGill University. His research and teaching began at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College, in 1990, and he realized students teach him too. In 2001, he founded the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada www.dal.ca/faculty/agriculture/oacc/en-home.html to coordinate university research and education pertaining to organic systems, across Canada . In 2011, he was appointed as Professor and the Loblaw Chair in Sustainable Food Production at the Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph. In 2019, he retired and published his book, Food Security: From Excess to Enough

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CUC NATIONAL SUNDAY SERVICE
2022-05-15 13:00 (America/Toronto) | Zoom
Enter a sacred communal space in your own time, engage with it however feels right to you, and deepen into the experience for as long as you feel you need to. Using your breath as a way to return to yourself, over and over, you are invited to a National Sunday worship service like no other. Less focus on words, more on communal experience. Less information, more contemplation. Less rigidity, more spaciousness.

It’s been a rough couple of years and we hope you will find some solace here. We’ve accomplished much together in these trying times. Let’s appreciate our inclusion work, express gratitude, and pause as a community.

Come with curiosity, and catch your breath with us.

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FIBERS OF LOVE: CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF KATHLEEN ERSKINE
2022-05-15 11:00 (America/Toronto) | 122 Harris St / Zoom
This Sunday we celebrate the contributions made by Kathleen Erskine, a true gentlewoman, seamstress and friend in our community. Join us as we look back on the stitches she wove into the tapestry of our community and our hearts. If you have a favourite memento of Kathleen, whether it be something that she made or otherwise, please bring it to the service or have it on hand.

Please join us online or in person for this celebration.

GIFTS DIFFERING
2022-05-08 11:00 - 12:30 (America/Toronto) | 122 Harris St / Zoom
As we proclaim in our UU principles, we are part of an interdependent web. But how do we manifest that in our appreciation of our gifts and recognition of the variety of different gifts that we have and share with each other? Under an industrial worldview, we tend to applaud the “number of widgets” someone produces. But what if we considered this through a more agricultural lens, and thought about our gifts as seeds, the sun, the rain, the soul, and various microorganisms – all the components that contribute to growth and blossoming?

Join us for a service about celebrating and appreciating our gifts as a community.
This service will also include a brief ceremony to formally welcome our newest Lay Chaplain, Carey McDonald.

BELTANE
2022-05-01 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Toronto) | 122 Harris St / Zoom
Beltane is the Celtic name for this traditional fire festival. The fires signaled a cleansing, getting ready for crops and livestock to bring forth abundance. Join us as we prepare for the abundance of the year ahead, ready to commit to what we want to bring forth personally, as a congregation, and as a wider community.

THE TURKEY, THE RABBIT AND IDIOT COMPASSION
2022-04-24 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Toronto) | 122 Harris St / Zoom
What if we were to get over ourselves? Then what? What would be left? Who would be there?

Join Mel for a series of stories, poetry and reflection, as we explore our minds, inner motivations and hearts.
Please pack your sense of humour.
