Sunday Services
Sundays at 10:30 am September through June
The Antidote to Despair
May 3 at 10:30 am
In-person and online
Service Leaders: Kathie Cram, Jennifer Keane, and Kathryn Green
With the state of the world seeming to worsen with each passing day, how do we avoid falling into despair? Turning off the news may be tempting, but it’s not a good solution if you care about your fellow humans. This morning we’ll explore a well known antidote to despair and anxiety—action! Together we will identify realistic things we can do, as individuals and as a community, to work towards a better world.
Afterwards, we’ll enjoy a simple finger-food potluck lunch. Please bring a dish to share if you can.
Harm Reduction: A Dignified, Compassionate Approach to Treating Addictions
May 10 at 10:30 am
In-person and online
Speaker: Jeannie Coe
Service Leaders: Kathie Cram and Bonnie Heilman
Many of us are concerned about the abrupt closure of Prairie Harm Reduction and what it will mean for the people who found support there, their families, their friends, and our community as a whole. At this service, special guest Jeannie Coe will join us as we explore harm reduction, its relationship to UU principles, and how emerging medical frameworks of substance use disorder can assist in broadening our understanding.
Jeannie Coe is a nurse practitioner and champion of the harm reduction approach to addiction treatment. She has worked for most of her nursing career in Canada’s north and currently treats patients at the Opioid Assisted Treatment Clinic at Mayfair Drugstore.
We will be hosting a post-service discussion, everyone is welcome!
Liberating Love
May 17 at 10:30 am
In-person and online
Speaker: Rev. Samaya Oakley (video)
Service Leader: Paige Mortensen
The practice of liberating love: How do we bring love into the world? How can love liberate us? Samaya speaks to us by video in this year’s Meaning Making series, “Meeting this moment with love and justice.”
We will be hosting a post-service discussion, everyone is welcome!
About Sunday Services
All our programs are run by volunteers, with the support of our part-time paid administrator. Most of our Sunday services are created and led by teams from within our congregation, each with its own focus. These teams include:
- Cultivating Caring Communities: Learning about values and caring practices that help us be effective community members
- Green Sanctuary: Celebrating and caring for the interdependent web of life
- Widening the Circle: Developing our understanding of racism/anti-racism and other forms of discrimination and oppression
- Earth-Based Spirituality: Celebrating the sacredness of nature through the seasonal cycle of the year, in story, music and ritual
In addition, we are offering a series of eight services developed by Unitarian Universalist ministers across Canada, “Meaning Making in Liminal Times – Roots of Resilience,” which addresses themes from Intentional Rest to Cultivating Joy.
While every service has some consistent elements, the content and style vary from one Sunday to the next. Some services are informal and conversational; others are explorations of ideas or reflections on how to live life well. While there are often opportunities for participation, it’s never required; we trust everyone will take part as they feel comfortable. The general format of most services involves lighting our chalice (symbol of Unitarianism), sharing milestones, usually music and/or singing, and a brief talk by a member of the congregation or a guest speaker.
After the service ends (around 11:30 am), coffee, tea, and treats are provided in the foyer and everyone is invited to stay and chat. On some Sundays, there is an opportunity to return to the sanctuary to discuss the service topic or engage in a related activity.
Those who attend online are welcome to connect via Zoom a little ahead of the service to get to know other online attendees. We encourage but don’t require you to keep your camera on. After the service, you are welcome to stay online to visit, too.
Missed a service? You can request a recording. We only record the speaker (if they have agreed).