PETER SHOWLER - former chair of the Immigration and Refugee Board- will speak of the problems of the refugee system and present his 45 minute play 'REFUGEE SANDWICH'
Shree Kumar Rai has been in Sanctuary at First Unitarian for six months, after a ten year struggle to be accepted into Canada as a refugee. WHY ARE SHREE AND SO MANY OTHERS BARRED BY CANADA'S REFUGEE SYSTEM?
A Q&A session will follow the play, then a reception in Fellowship Hall and a chance to meet personally with Shree.
ADMISSION FREE - ALL ARE WELCOME.
Donations for Shree's support would be greatly appreciated.
Friday October 12
Elementary-level Our Whole Lives (OWL) Teacher Training
7:00 pm
The First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa and the Canadian Unitarian
Council will be co-sponsoring an Elementary Our Whole Lives (OWL)
sexuality education teacher training. If you think you might want to
facilitate either the kindergarten-grade 1 or the grades 4-6 OWL
programs, this training is for you. The training starts Friday,
October 12 at 7:00 p.m. and continues through Sunday afternoon. Cost
is $200 and subsidies are available. For more information and to
register, download the registration form, or contact Becky Hogue (
, 613-228-4182) or Joan
Turner (
, 613-721-0791).
MONTHLY TOWN HALL MEETING
Sunday October 22th, 2006 in Worship Hall
Come ask questions of the Board of Directors;
get updates on the Congregational direction.
ARTS NIGHT
Friday October 27th, 2006 in Fellowship Hall
A series of monthly arts showcases at First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa. This month:
Author ... Lee Anne Smith
Visual Artist ... Mary Brett ... painter
Musical Artist ..John Brett ... singer
Colonial Mexico - an Audiovisual Show
Saturday November 8, 7:15 pm Worship Hall
The Camera Club of Ottawa and the First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa are proud to co-sponsor
An Audiovisual Show on "Colonial Mexico," plus a Mini-workshop on Travel Photography, with photos by Member Tom Stephens.
Tickets $20 at the door. To benefit a volunteer group providing medical and dental services to needy rural children in and around San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Contact: Tom Stephens, 613-692-6092, tom.stephens@magma.ca
The Refugee Dilemma -- An evening of Song, Drama, Ideas & Action!
Wednesday, Nov.15, 2006 7:00 p.m. - St. Joseph’s Catholic Church
St. Joseph’s Catholic Church
151 Laurier Ave. E. (Wilbrod Entrance)
Learn about the need to reform Canada’s Refugee System
Featuring Peter Showler, former Chair of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada and author of Refugee Sandwich: Stories of Exile and Asylum with panelists Michael Bossin, Ann Scholberg, Chantal Tie.
Moderator – The CBC’s Bob Carty
Opening music by the SWAT (Song Will Always Triumph) Team of First Unitarian Congregation and Mark Coderre of St. Joseph’s Church
Dramatic presentation “Excluding Manuel” by The Asylum Players
Refreshments courtesy of All Saints Lutheran Church
Free-will offering in support of Moti Nano in sanctuary at All Saints Lutheran Church.
Fall Fair/Holly & Lace Bazaar
November 18, 2006 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Contact Joan Hill, joanhill@rogers.com, 613 746-9513
or Meg Gourlay, meg.gourlay@gmail.com, 613-722-3163
ARTS NIGHT
Friday November 24th, 2006 in Fellowship Hall
A series of monthly arts showcases at First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa. This month:
Author -- Paul Hessel
Visual Artist – Joan Knight – photography
Musical Artist – Afroza Khan – East Indian dancer
GINGERBREAD HOUSE BUILDING WORKSHOP
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25th IN FELLOWSHIP HALL
Families, mark your calendars and plan to attend this sweet seasonal event!
MONTHLY TOWN HALL MEETING
Sunday November 26th, 2006 12:15 p.m. in NOW Room
Come ask questions of the Board of Directors;
get updates on the Congregational direction.
This month's topic: Congregational input into the hiring of an Interim Minister
Edith Holtom Memorial Lecture
The Upside of Down: Catastrophe, Creativity and the Renewal of Civilization
Tuesday, December 5 at 7:30 p.m. Worship Hall
Dr. Thomas Homer-Dixon
Thomas Homer-Dixon is the Director of the Trudeau Centre for the Study of Peace and Conflict at the University of Toronto and a member of First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto. His last book won the Governor General's award for non-fiction.
Sunday January 7
Winter/Spring R.E. session begins, (Rainbow Family begins “Diversity” unit, Grade 1 and Grade 5 OWL begin with Parent/Child Orientation)
Wednesday January 10
Welcoming Congregation II Workshop Series
Wednesdays in January and February at 7:15 pm
Facilitators: Ellen Bell and Meg Gourlay
Contact: Meg Gourlay, 613-715-9385, meg.gourlay@gmail.com
Fee: $15.00 or $3.00/session, or pay-what-you-can
The Welcoming Congregation Workshop Series is an introspective and interactive educational journey into the issues surrounding the lives of bisexual, gay, lesbian and/or transgender (BGLT) people. The learning goals are:
• to explore thoughts, feelings and current knowledge about sexual orientation and gender identification;
• to probe the origins of our beliefs about sexual orientation and gender identification;
• to test attitudes toward sexual orientation and gender identification in Unitarian Universalist (UU) congregations and society, and their connections to current social issues;
• to understand the experiences of BGLT people;
• to see the effects of heterosexism and homophobia on people of all sexual orientations in UU congregations;
• to uncover the biblical roots of common religious perspectives on homosexuality;
• to devise individual and institutional strategies for UU congregations to become more welcoming to BGLT people and their families.
Because of the nature of a sharing process such as this, it is preferred that, after the first session, participants commit to the entire series of workshops rather than dropping in some weeks and not others.
Thursday January 11
Women's Adventure and Discovery Group
10:00 am - Noon - Lounge
Ian Brown from Ten Thousand Villages Ottawa Alternative Trade Corp. and Ten Thousand Villages store – selling fairly traded handicrafts from around the world.
Unitarian Go Go Grannies
Noon - Lounge
The Unitarian Go Go Grannies is a recently formed group which will be working, through the Stephen Lewis Foundation, to fund raise funds and liaise with Grannies in South Africa, . In March 2006 Stephen Lewis launched his campaign “Grandmothers to Grandmothers” to mobilize support for African matriarchs raising children orphaned by HIV/AIDS. Our next meeting (our second) will be on Thursday January 11, 2007 at 12:00 noon in the Lounge. We are welcoming new members to the group and invite you to attend. All are welcome, so please bring your friends. Contact: Pat Hill, 613-569-0369
Friday, January 12
UU ROUND TABLE LUNCH
1:00 p.m. - Tansy Buffet
NOTE - NEW PLACE: Tansy Buffet, 2583 Carling Ave., between the Western Parkway and Richmond Rd. (613-721-6006) Please call Tudy McLaine, 613-745-8074, or Norma Hatcher, 613-695-7638, by the previous evening to reserve a seat. Everyone welcome, especially newcomers to our Congregation, so we can get to know each other better…
Sunday January 14
Congregational TOWN HALL MEETING
12:15 - Worship Hall
Topic: New Administrative Model for First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa
Environmental Working Group - Fair Trade product sale
12:15 pm - Fellowship Hall
Buy your Fair Trade organic, shade grown, coffee, chocolate products and sugar.
Support Fair Trade for social as well as environmental reasons.
THE UU CHORAL SWAT TEAM (Song Will Always Triumph) will be at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ottawa (the ‘East End Fellowship’) on Sunday January 14, singing at the morning service. We look forward to our first collaboration with Rev. Frances Deverell.
Monday January 15
Art Lending
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Fellowship Hall
At Art Lending of Ottawa one may rent or buy original art at reasonable prices. Choose from a large selection of works by local artists: oil, watercolor, acrylic, sculpture, pastel and mixed media.
In addition to the regular membership's exposition, the January Focus will feature the work of Stuart Beaty, Mitsugi Kikuchi and Edith Liepa. Free admission and coffee. Free parking. Call Art Lending at 613- 594-8513 for information, or view our members' work at our website www.artlendingofottawa.com .
Tuesday January 16
Art Lending
10:00 am to 9:00 pm - Fellowship Hall
See Monday January 15
Saturday January 20
Winter Teachers’ Retreat
Fellowship Hall
Sunday January 21
OWL: Adult Content! - Free Tease in January
12:15 pm - Lounge
Don’t forget to sign up for engaging discussions on issues of gender, identity and health, and to get better acquainted with how sexuality is part of Our Whole Lives, with Adult OWL this January.
There will be a free Teaser Session on Sunday January 14! Join us in this lively and insightful 7-part workshop! It begins on Saturday January 27 and continues every Tuesday evening from February 6 to March 13.
For further details please ask: Rebecca Hogue, 613-228-4182; Scott Drennan, or 613-228-4182; Ted Thiessen, 613-761-9998.
Thursday January 25
Women's Adventure and Discovery Group
10:00 am - Noon - Lounge
Transport 2000 – David Jeanes will give us an update on public transportation in Canada.
Information: Maureen Cassidy, 613-829-4231, maureencassidy@sympatico.ca
Friday January 26
Arts Night
7:30 - Fellowship Hall
Writer Brian Kopke .. the making of a sermon
Visual Artist Hawa Kaba .. African art plus (to be confirmed)
Musical Artist .Joan Milliken .. classical pianist
Information: Joycelyn Loeffelholz-Rea, 613-523-8713, jc.ray@sympatico.ca
Sunday January 28
Glebe/Centretown/Ottawa South Neighbourhood Group
7:30 pm - home of Ann Denis
Glebe/Centretown/Ottawa South Neighbourhood Group will meet at the home of Ann Denis, 113 Sunnyside Ave. at 7.30 pm, Sunday January 28, for coffee and dessert. Renée de Vry will drive away winter blues by speaking about gardening. Bring dessert if your turn. RSVP to Ann at 730-0283. Postal codes K1P,K1R,K1S,K2P are welcome.
Tuesday January 30
Seniors' Group Lunch
11:30 am - Fellowship Hall
Come to our friendly lunch meetings, near the end of each month! In January there will be a short worship service at 11:30 am followed by lunch at 12:00 noon and entertainment by a group of Scottish dancers, “Hugh Reekie and his Scottish Dance Group", at 100 pm. There is a small charge for the lunch – and no lower age limit – so come and enjoy lunch and the program with us. If you plan attend the lunch please call Maureen Sly at 613-728-7610 by Saturday January 20.
Friday February 16
Sing your heart out!
Valentine's is coming, and love is in the air. For some people. For others, love is elusive, or troublesome. Whatever the feeling, there's a song for it. And we're going to sing about it, in a warm, friendly pub environment, right at First Unitarian. On Friday night, February 16th, 80 people with gather to share a glass of wine, or a glass of beer, and some favourite love songs, old and new, at a karaoke pub night in Fellowship Hall. The festivities will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 (or $15 for seniors and students), and include your first beer or glass of wine, and pub food (wings and pizza, along with other munchies). All proceeds go the general operating fund of the Congregation. For more information, contact Havi Echenberg or David Gero at 613.728.5380, or by email at havi@havidave.com or dave@havidave.com.
Saturday February 17
Caring Committee Workshop: CELEBRATING A LIFE.
9:15 am to 1:00 pm - Fellowship Hall
Join us for an informative morning. The agenda will include the Whys and Hows of organizing material for a Memorial Service (yours or a friend’s). Participants will receive a workbook to provide valuable guidance for your planners. Reserve your spot – advance registration is $10 in January at the Caring Committee table on Sundays in Worship Hall. Information: Marianne Wood, 613-725-3452.
Thursday February 22
Unitarian Go Go Grannies: PIE BAKING
noon - Fellowship Hall
The Unitarian Go Go Grannies next meeting will be held at 12.00 noon. The group is open to members of the community as well as those attending First Unitarian. The group has discussed taking over the very successful pie making initiative that was developed to assist in raising funds for the Steinway piano. However we realize that there may be other fundraising groups in the church who would like to share baking pies. If this is the case, would you contact Maureen Cassidy or at telephone no. 613-829-4231 and let her know of your interest. The Unitarian Go Go Grannies communications contact for February will be : Beth Elliott,
Thursday April 12
UU-United Nations Office SPRING SEMINAR
Thursday April 12 to Saturday April 14, 2007
Theme: Stop Modern-day Slavery: Breaking the Web of Human Slavery
Place: Church Centre for the United Nations, and the UN, New York City.
SAVE THE DATE NOW!
For further information call Tudy McLaine, 613-745-8074, or Marnie Johnstone, 613-237-3443.
Other Events
We try to keep this page up-to-date with events, but a better way to stay informed is our monthly Parkway Spire newsletter and our email bulletins:
