Sunday Services
Sundays at 10:30 am
September through June
In-person and online
Care and Connection: Our Community Responds
February 23 at 10:30 am
In-person and online
Speaker: Speaker: Jennifer Keane
Service Leader: Tracey Mitchell
“In times of profound change, the best strategy is to focus on creating islands of sanity amid wildly disruptive seas.” -Margaret Wheatley
We are living in difficult, if not horrifying, times: climate crisis, war, violence, polarization, and ultimately, loneliness and despair. How can we create an island of sanity? Research is showing that engagement in community is the prescription for these times. The Care and Connection Team is responding by offering more opportunities to gather together, to get to know each other better and to offer support to those in need. Learn more and join us!
Observations from a Newcomer Perspective
March 2 at 10:30 am
In-person and online
Speakers: Chona Gage and Farrah Penpena-Obelidon
Service Leader: Cecile Coppens
Mother and daughter team Chona Gage and Farrah Penpena-Obelidon will offer us insight into their world as Philippine immigrants coming to Canada and permanent residences of Saskatchewan. Coming to a new country by choice or fleeing a country, making a new home is an art and a challenge. Now settled in Canada for many years Chona and Farrah will offer us some insight to their experiences.
After the service, we’ll be enjoying a finger food potluck! Bring a dish to share if you can, and let’s enjoy some delicious food and great company together. Families and kids are warmly welcome—let’s make it a joyful gathering for everyone!
Be Here Now
March 9 at 10:30 am
In-person and online
Speaker: Rev. Jonipher Kūpono Kwong
Service Leader: Chris Lindgren
In a constantly shifting world, what are the spiritual practices that allow us to be present to ourselves and be committed to our spiritual community? What resources and wisdom can we draw from to achieve equanimity in our lives and become more resilient? In this pre-recorded reflection, Rev. Jonipher Kūpono Kwong, the lead minister of First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto, will share some down-to-earth strategies – like breathing! – to help us cope with difficult times.
About Sunday Services
In the past, we have often had professional ministry, but currently we are lay-led. This means all our programs are run by volunteers, with the support of our part-time paid administrator. Most of our Sunday services this year 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.
Frequently asked questions
What do Saskatoon Unitarians believe?
As Unitarians, we believe that what matters is not who or what you believe in, but how you live your life. We have no creed or dogma. You will find people who would describe themselves as humanists, atheists, agnostics, religious naturalists, Buddhists, mystics, and more, as well as many who have trouble classifying their beliefs. What we have in common are our eight principles, which we all agree to support, the desire for a faith community where we can be accepted regardless of what we believe and the commitment to make a difference in the world.
How do you worship together if you don’t all believe the same thing?
What unifies us is our desire to share our experience of life, to celebrate what is important to us, and to engage together in a search meaning. Sometimes we use different words to describe the same thing (service or worship; hall or sanctuary) and that is okay. We know that the same ritual might be experienced differently (a moment of silence can be for prayer, meditation or contemplation) and that is okay, too – it’s an expression of the diversity of life.
Some of our services are more spiritual, others more intellectual. Some aim to inspire, and others to provoke or challenge. But all of them are grounded in freedom, responsibility, and respect. It is up to each individual to consider the speaker’s point of view and then to follow their conscience and come to their own conclusions about the meaning of the ideas or experiences presented.
Will I fit in?
Affirming the worth and dignity of every person is one of our eight principles. We welcome people of all races, ages, gender, sexual orientation, and abilities.
Will I be pressured to join or be “saved”?
No. The right to a free and independent search for truth and meaning is one of our eight principles. Expect people to be friendly. You will likely be greeted, offered a name tag, and given an opportunity to sign our guest book. We are not oriented towards spreading our religion as much as we are towards making it available for people who are looking for it. If, after a while, you would like to learn about becoming a member of our congregation, just let our administrator know and she will connect you with our Membership Committee.
Is there childcare or Sunday School?
We welcome children of all ages but we are in the process of rebuilding our children’s program and for now are not offering any separate activities for them. They are encouraged to hang out with their parents or caregivers or at the table with art supplies and other activities at the back of the hall. Please contact us if you are interested in being part of and/or helping with programming for families and children.
What provisions do you have for people with disabilities?
The entrance level, which includes the foyer, meeting room, all-gender washrooms, and offices is wheelchair accessible. A short flight of stairs provides access to the sanctuary, where services are held. While there is a stair lift to aid those with mobility challenges, at present the sanctuary is not wheelchair accessible. Some events are held in the lower level, which is also accessed via stairs. We are exploring options to bring full wheelchair accessibility to our building.
What should I wear?
Whatever you are most comfortable in! Most people dress casually (jeans are fine), but some may dress up.
How do I get there?
We are located at 213 2nd Street East. Street parking is easy to find near our building and we have a bike rack onsite. Access via bus is possible, but time-consuming.
If I can’t attend in person, can I still participate?
Many of our Sunday services and some of our meetings and other activties include an online option. On Sunday mornings, our Zoom greeter and Online Experience Coordinator make sure online participants feel welcome and included. As long as you can connect via Zoom, you are welcome to participate virtually. The Zoom link for Sunday services is at the top of this page, and for meetings and other activities, it will be provided via email.
How do I join via Zoom?
There are many ways to join a Zoom meeting depending on the device you are using and the way you want to log in. Please visit Zoom’s support page for the various methods and if you would like to test it before the service, let us know and someone will be happy to help you get logged in and comfortable.