Sunday February 26, 2012

SING YOUR SONG, LIFT YOUR SPIRIT
Rev. Jessica Purple Rodela and the Spirit of Life Choir
Music: Stephen Preece 

As a “UUvangelist,” I am always wondering how to describe Unitarianism to outsiders.   When we tell our congregation’s history, we model the values we stand for in the wider community. 

The service is followed by our Annual General Meeting.  This year we vote on a budget, a new board member, and a possible new name for the congregation.

Sunday February 19, 2012

BETWEEN SOLITUDE AND ISOLATION
Rev. Jessica Purple Rodela
Music: Boyd McDonald
   
Being alone and being lonely are not the same thing.  While others celebrate “Family Day” weekend, how do those in a ‘family of one’ cope?

Sunday February 12, 2012

THIS ONE WILD AND PRECIOUS LIFE
Rev. Jessica Purple Rodela and friends
Music: Stephen Preece
   
Allan, Brenda, Carol and Michele respond to the question posed by Unitarian Universalist poet Mary Oliver: “Tell me, what else should I have done?  Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?  Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” 

Stay after the service for a delicious bowl of spicy chili

Sunday February 5, 2012

WHEN RAINBOWS FADE
Rev. Jessica Purple Rodela
Music: Stephen Preece
   
Teenager Jamie Hubley of Ottawa committed suicide last year, citing depression, the pressures of being openly gay, and school bullying.  As a welcoming congregation to the lesbian/gay/bi/trans/queer community, we have voted to ‘stand on the side of love.’  Today, let us consider how to practice that commitment to honour diversity of sexuality.  

After the service, you are invited to attend a special Take 40 presentation on “Being a Good Ally” by university student Nadia Hutton of GLOW. 

Sunday January 29, 2012

SHAKING THE DRAGON’S TALE
Rev. Jessica Purple Rodela
Music: Stephen Preece
   
Carl Glick writes:  “If the dragon is nature in all her terror and majesty, let us not be afraid.  Let us go out and meet that fear...  Shake hands with the dragon, that’s the way of Tao, the way of peace.”  Today we observe Chinese New Year 2012:  The Year of the Dragon.

Sunday January 22, 2012

A BREATH OF FRESH AIR
Rev. Jessica Purple Rodela
Music: Stephen Preece
   
The English chemist Joseph Priestley, who ‘discovered’ oxygen, also founded some of the first Unitarian congregations.  Rev. Priestley said: “I have always been delighted at the prospect of a new day, a fresh try, one more start, with perhaps a bit of magic waiting somewhere behind the morning...”   Come hear a story of inspiration and exasperation.

Join us for Souper Sunday after the Service.  
The Name the Name Forum follows the Souper.

Sunday January 15, 2012

CHOICE IN DYING: IT’S A MATTER OF JUSTICE
Wanda Morris
Music: Boyd McDonald
   
In May 1993 the member congregations of the Canadian Unitarian Council adopted a resolution supporting choice in dying.  Almost twenty years later that support has not wavered.  For many Unitarians, choice in dying is a matter of justice.  In this service Wanda Morris, the Executive Director of Dying with Dignity Canada, will review some of the arguments around choice in dying and their relationship to our Unitarian Principles and Sources.  Service Leader: Mavis Kerr.

Please return after lunch for a workshop from 1:30 until 3:00 pm where you can learn more about the current legal status of end of life choices and the current court challenge being supported by the CUC. 

Sunday January 8, 2012

THE TOLERATION OF HAPPINESS
Rev. Jessica Purple Rodela
Music: Stephen Preece
   
What do the theologies of Muslims, Universalists, and Thomas Jefferson have in common?   Islamic mystic Al’Arabī writes, “No reward that a human being can receive for his achievements can compare with the felicity awarded to whoever shows compassion to humanity.”

Sunday January 1, 2012

FIRE COMMUNION: RESOLVE
Rev. Jessica Purple Rodela with Stephen Preece
Music: Stephen Preece

What will you leave behind, and what do you look forward to in 2012?  Come share your New Year’s Resolutions in an informal service of readings, poetry, and music we will create together.  Everyone is encouraged to bring poems, readings, musical instruments and songs to share.

Sunday December 25, 2011 - No Service

There will be no service on Christmas Day Sunday.
You are invited instead to the Christmas Eve on Saturday Dec 24, 7:00 pm.

Saturday December 24, 2011 7:00 pm

EVERY NIGHT A CHILD IS BORN IS A HOLY NIGHT
CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT SERVICE
Rev. Jessica Purple Rodela and Stephen Preece
   
Come, let us hear again the ancient story that reminds us of the holiness of every child’s birth, and raise our voices in the familiar carols celebrating the love and mystery of our highest hopes for humanity.

Sunday December 18, 2011

DANCING LIGHTLY IN THE DARK
Rev. Jessica Purple Rodela
Music: Stephen Preece and the Spirit of Life Choir
   
We observe the Solstice today with music, poetry, and reflections.

Sunday December 11, 2011

DECK THE HALLS
Rev. Jessica Purple Rodela and friends
Music: Sydney Street Trio
   
One time-honoured holiday ritual is decorating the tree.  At this year’s annual Christmas Party Service, we put bows on the boughs together with a holiday ornament communion. 

Please bring a dish to share for a community potluck following the service.

Sunday December 4, 2011

HOW UNITARIANS CREATED CHRISTMAS
Rev. Shawn Newton
Music: Stephen Preece
   
It is a question we all get at some point: "Do Unitarians actually celebrate Christmas?"  Too often our answer is a tepid, "Well, it depends," when it should be "Why, yes, we practically invented Christmas!"  Come find out how we did it.  Shawn Newton is the minister at the First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto.

Sunday Novemberr 27, 2011

HOW THE LIGHT GETS IN
Rev. Jessica Purple Rodela
Music: Boyd McDonald; and Colin Read, Joanne Davis, and Judith Koeller.
   
There is a delicate balance in the spiritual practice of acceptance and the psychological ability of assertiveness.  How do we know when to let go?   

Sunday Novemberr 20, 2011

FINDING UU PRINCIPLES IN UNLIKELY PLACES
Rev. Jessica Purple Rodela
Music: Stephen Preece and the Unitunz group from the Unitarian Congregation of Guelph.
   
We come together from diverse backgrounds and histories carrying bags that are loaded with a wide assortment of experiences, beliefs and thoughts.  We come together with spirits that are seeking.  We come together to join in community, knowing that there is more that makes us the same than makes us different.  This service will focus on the Seven UU principles which bind us together and form the basis of our spiritual community.  Come prepared to sing, clap your hands and tap your feet!

Sunday Novemberr 13, 2011

THE DEMARCATION OF DEMOCRACY
Rev. Jessica Purple Rodela
Music: Sydney Street Trio: Tom Nagy, Colin Read, and Stephen Preece.
   
At this summer’s Question Box sermon, a congregant asked me to address the definition and limits of the democratic process that we affirm in our fifth principle.  Reinhold Neibuhr wrote: “Man’s capacity for justice makes democracy possible, but man’s inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary.”

Today we also celebrate New Member Sunday.  (Those interested in joining the congregation, please contact Rev. Jess for an appointment.)

Sunday Novemberr 6, 2011

WRESTLING WITH REALITY: A DREAMSCAPE
Rev. Jessica Purple Rodela
Music: Stephen Preece (piano) and Andy Klaehn (flute and clarinet).
   
Joseph Campbell says: “Myths are public dreams; dreams are private myths.”  From nightmare to daydream, a dream is so many things – fantasy and predictors; projection and reflections; illusion and goal; motivations and distractions.  Are we truly awake to a dream’s potential?

Sunday October 30, 2011

REQUIEM: KNOCKING ON HEAVEN’S DOOR
Rev. Jessica Purple Rodela

Unitarians carry no ‘life insurance policy’ guaranteeing an afterlife. So how do we face our
finite lives in light of an infinite future? What lies beyond?

Children's Halloween party after the service. Bring costumes.

Sunday October 23, 2011

VIOLENCE AND COMPASSION
Steve Higgins

His Holiness the Dalai Lama once remarked, 'It may surprise you, but I am not necessarily against the spectacle of violence. It all depends upon what lessons one draws from it!'

Violence is a difficult subject for most religions. Within Buddhist culture, for example, room must be made not only for pacifist Theravadin monks, but also for Zen-inspired samurai and for Tibetan bandits-turned-guard-monks equipped with great big nasty swords! Focusing primarily on the Buddhist tradition, Steve Higgins, sifu at Cold Mountain Internal Arts, will explore some of the difficulties, tensions and rationales surrounding the treatment of violence within the contexts of spirituality and religion.