Sunday May 25, 2008

DEDICATION OF UNITARIAN HOUSE
Rev. Felicia Urbanski

Kenneth Patton writes: "This is a house for the ingathering of nature and of humanity in nature. It is a house of friendship...a house of freedom...a house of truth-seeking, where scientists can encourage the devotion of their quest, and mystics can abide in the fellowship of searchers. It is a house of art...a house of prophecy...this house is a cradle for our dreams and the workshop of our common endeavour." As we celebrate today the presence of the new Unitarian House in the K-W community, we welcome many special guests from the Canadian Unitarian Council and from the interfaith community.
Music: Tracey Clarke Rankine.

We will also recognize several new members in today's service.

A special pot luck luncheon follows the service.

Sunday May 18, 2008

THE PRISM OF FAITH
Dr. Mitra Doherty

Dr. Mitra Doherty is a local dentist with a fascinating past and a current passion for promoting environmental issues via the Earth Charter. Today she is talking about her personal religious journey from her Bahai roots in Iran, through exposure to many other religions including marrying an Irish Catholic and moving to multicultural Canada. She has a unique perspective to share. She says "Our eyes fool us into thinking that white light is made up of one colour; however, a prism is able to break the white light into the seven beautiful colours of the rainbow. This is similar to our mind telling us that there is only one Faith to believe in, however, when you experience the Light and Love of God as I have experienced it in being brought up amidst many cultures and religions, you appreciate that the light of Faith has the same source but each one of us sees the colour we are exposed to through our culture and geography."

Sunday May 11, 2008

THE ART OF LIVING

Raj Dubey will speak about Hinduism both on the personal level and as a model for social and global development. Dr. Dubey is a retired professor of Engineering at University of Waterloo. He has pursued a spiritual practice for many years and has more recently begun working on writings about the spiritual aspect of human life.

Service leader: Susan Deefholts.
Music: Tom Nagy.

Sunday May 4, 2008

HONOUR THE EARTH
Multi-Generational Service

Spring is here! Today we celebrate Beltane and our seventh principle, reminding ourselves that we are part of the web of all beings on this earth. Our service will be multi-generational and interactive: bring your dancing shoes for our maypole dance - we will begin upstairs and proceed downstairs for the dancing. All ages are invited to participate in the service.
Service leaders: Dianne Heise Bennett, Ed Bennett and Fiona Heath.
Music: Rosemarie Harris, Jay Moore, Colin Read and John Green.

There are no classes for children or youth this day but child care is available as an option for those under the age of four.

Sunday April 27, 2008

No Exit from Mt. Hope Cemetery and Other Signs Along the Road
Jessica Purple Rodela

The phrase “trust the process” is a kind of mantra in ministerial formation. It’s advice that all of us can use, for Unitarians make no dedicated pilgrimage to mandated sacred ground; rather, we find faith in the journey itself. Jessica Purple Rodela is our Ministerial Candidate. Music: Stephen Preece.

A pot-luck lunch and a Congregational Meeting to vote on the Ministerial Candidate will be held after the service

Sunday April 20, 2008

Stranger Territory
Jessica Purple Rodela

A tour of a unique historic site set the stage for my unexpected encounter with place -- with history -- with people. When we welcome the stranger among us, we set the stage for transformation. This service is the beginning of Candidating Week. Jessica Purple Rodela is our Ministerial Candidate. Music: Boyd McDonald.

A candidate welcome potluck follows the service.

Sunday April 13, 2008

A Musical Extravaganza
Rev. Felicia Urbanski
In Honour of Boyd McDonald (and many others)

A minister friend confided in me recently that he prefers Sunday services to have "as little words as possible" because of his great love of music. This Sunday will be just that: wall to wall music! Boyd McDonald's involvement in the musical life of this congregation began over 15 years ago and has brought a profound sense of spiritual deepening to many. We will honour him by playing and singing our hearts out! We will include two choirs, several instrumentalists from within and from outside the congregation, as well as some very special surprises (not printed here because we know Boyd will be reading this!) Come for a Sunday morning full of musical inspiration. Bring your appreciative thoughts to write down in a book for Boyd. Musicians: Too many to mention here! (More on this service on page 12.)

A special reception for Boyd will follow the service.

Sunday April 6, 2008

The Care and Feeding of Your New Minister
Rev. Felicia Urbanski
As you enter into the exciting time of "Candidating Week" with Jessica Rodela, most likely the process will conclude with the joyous occasion of a call by you and the acceptance by her. What happens after that? I will reflect this Sunday on the significance of the "covenantal relationship" between a Minister and the Congregation. A covenant is an agreement of mutual trust that you make with one another. There are also some very practical ways in which each and every one of you can contribute to the creation of a dynamic and successful shared ministry. Music: Boyd McDonald.

Sunday March 30, 2008

HOW CAN WE WORK TOGETHER WELL?
Rev. Wayne Walder

Today eight ministers and eight congregations in Southern Ontario will exchange pulpits for
the day. We will share the same topic and readings while enjoying the diversity of style
each congregation has come to expect and each minister brings. We will speak about how
we struggle to work together cooperatively as a faith community of more than 50
congregations. This is Sharing Our Faith Sunday. Rev. Wayne Walder is Minister of
Neighbourhood Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Toronto. (Rev. Felicia Urbanski
will be at First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto.)
Music: Tracey Clarke Rankine and Eric Schildroth.

Sunday March 23, 2008

CHRISTIAN VOICES IN UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM
Rev. Felicia Urbanski

On this Easter Sunday, we will be hearing some personal stories of Unitarian Universalists
who, for a wide variety of reasons, find relevance for their lives in the message of liberal
Christianity. Since many of you have been asking about my own personal story and why I
embrace this theological perspective, I will be sharing some of that with you today as well.
Music: Stephen Preece.

Easter egg hunt takes place after the service during coffee hour.

Sunday March 16, 2008

CAN HUMANISM BE RELIGIOUS?
Rev. Felicia Urbanski

According to Peter Samson, Humanism can indeed be religious. The most meaningful and
liveable kind of humanism is itself a religious way of understanding and living life. It offers
a view of people and their place in the universe that is a religious philosophy. Overarching
and undergirding it all, there can be a haunting sense of wonder. Life itself is a mystery and
miracle. To be caught up in this sense of wider relatedness, to sense our being connected
with all the world and everyone in it, is the heart dimension of religion, whatever its name.
Music: Boyd McDonald.

Sunday March 9, 2008

SWEDENBORGIANISM
Rev. John Maine with Rev. Felicia Urbanski

Emanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772) was a brilliant scientist, engineer and inventor who also
became a great Christian mystic and theologian. Here in Kitchener, there has been a
Swedenborgian congregation since 1833. Today we will have the opportunity to hear their
minister, Rev. John Maine, speak to us about their faith as “New Christians”. The revelation
received by Swedenborg emphasizes the universality of the coming new spiritual age and
new consciousness and also how we as human beings have the freedom and responsibility to
create our own spiritual destinies. Music: Rosemarie Harris.

Sunday March 2, 2008

SPIRITUAL BEING IN MUSIC
Carolyn Arnason

Music has the power to reach hidden depths of the human spirit. Perhaps there is a piece of
music that you love because of its personal meaning or the imagery it conjures. What role
does music play in our spiritual practices? How can music deepen us spiritually? I will share
some thoughts about music and spirituality in my life as an improvising musician and a
music therapist. Today will be a time to contemplate our relationship with music and
spirituality, and to listen. Service Leader: Fiona Heath. Music: Boyd McDonald.

Sunday February 24, 2008

THAT WHICH WAS LOST…HAS BEEN FOUND
Kate Green and Rev. Felicia Urbanski

In the 1960s and 70’s a program of systemization of agriculture was promoted around the world via a package of tailor made seeds, pesticides and fertilizers. This was known as the Green Revolution, and India was one of the regions to adopt the program. Kate Green, recently returned from a field visit to Southern India, will reflect on the small and large forces that affect farming families as they grow food and save seed. She will offer reflections on seed saving and organic agriculture amid the Green Revolution in India. Music: Boyd McDonald

Sunday February 17, 2008

Claiming the positives
Rev. Felicia Urbanski

This is the final Sunday of our interactive services based upon the curriculum entitled "Owning Your Religious Past". It is not necessary that you had participated during previous Sundays in January in order to attend this service, although participants who had will probably experience more personal gain. Our goal today will be to begin to claim the positive aspects of both the past and present in our individual lives. As well, I will leave you with these questions: What am I still seeking? How might I get it? What changes would have to occur in my congregation for me to find what I need? What changes in myself?Music: Boyd McDonald.

Sunday February 10, 2008

Label and dismiss?
Mavis Kerr, Brenda Bissell and Sky Dasey

Mavis, Sky and Brenda (the same team that brought us the Seed Service) bring us another multi-faceted, non-traditional service, this time, exploring the pitfalls of labelling. The human brain naturally categorizes and labels. Often, this is expedient and useful, butit can lead to dismissing the rich possibilities of life and spiritual poverty. Come explore how to keep life compassionate and juicy. Are you looking at a weed? Or the Colour Purple? Open your heart to the beauty of the field that surrounds you where you already stand. Music: Stephen Preece.

Sunday February 3, 2008

The Care and Feeding of Congregational Leaders
Rev. Felicia Urbanski

After this morning's service, we will hold our Annual General Meeting. Members will vote on important business matters, such as the annual budget. At the same time, votes will be taken on new and returning Board members. Other congregational leaders include committee chairs, and they are approved (ratified) by the Board when they are recommended by the committee members themselves. How does our unique congregational leadership structure serve all of us? How can we all attend to the "care and feeding" of these dedicated individuals? I will share with you pros and cons of some of my experiences in other congregations, a bit about the history of Unitarian polity, and will include suggestions for making possible changes. Brief ceremonies will be included to install the incoming Lay Chaplains, as well as to honour outgoing Board members and outgoing Committee Chairs.Music: Tracey Clarke Rankine.

Sunday January 27, 2008

An Exercise of Reconciliation Rev. Felicia Urbanski

The third of our series from "Owning Your Religious Past" involves people. Who was influential in your personal spiritual development? Who is "back there", no longer being a part of your journey? What would it be like to have a dialogue with that person? For example, this could be a Sunday School teacher, relative, clergy figure, or historical personage - a person who is either living or dead. Before we conclude our series of interactive explorations together, we will have enriched each other's journeys through sharing our own and through active listening. Music: Stephen Preece, Tom Nagy and Colin Read.

Sunday January 20, 2008

The Haunting House of Worship Rev. Felicia Urbanski

What do you remember about your place of worship before the age of 16? Some of us were perhaps in a large ornate indoor space, or a small intimate home, or some may have worshipped in the great outdoors. We all can benefit by looking back upon these memories. This Sunday, we will continue the interactive exploration that we began on January 6, with a special focus on place. A guided meditation will aid this process. Music: Boyd McDonald.

NOTE: Our experiment with Joys and Sorrows begins today. Please see a designated person at the front door with a large book in which you may write your joy or sorrow to be read during the service. Plan to stay for a facilitated Sharing Circle following the service, if you wish.

Sunday January 13, 2008

A Pagan's crisis of faith at a Thai Buddhist Temple Matt Habermehl

For over a decade I had identified myself as a Pagan. However, a two-week stay at a Buddhist temple in Northern Thailand initiated my "deconversion" process. It is funny how it is the little things - a question here, a reflection there - that can change a person's life. Matt is a PhD student in philosophy and an ex-Pagan. Service Leader: Melissa Rockenfield. Music: Boyd McDonald.