July 28, 2019 - Those mysterious, troubling Big Questions..... maybe Google knows? Not quite, but it can certainly assist- some personal reflections on the revolutionary ability of the internet to help us find truth. John Scott-Thomas has a Ph.D. in physics and has spent half his working life in research, and half in the corporate world. When not chasing down his kids, he enjoys the music of Bach, and studying philosophy and the world's religions.
Jul 28, 2019•15 min
July 21, 2019 by Nancy Rubinstein and Lorna Erickson-Fraser What does an atheist mean when she says she prays? Prayer is relational, a conversation, but with whom? Most Unitarians are uncomfortable with the concept of a traditional god. Let's ponder together another way. Nancy Rubinstein, a member of the UUFO, is a storyteller. She and her husband, Dan, co-authored the book 'Railroad of Courage' and a second book which will be published soon. Lorna Erickson-Fraser, a member of the UUFO, has alwa...
Jul 21, 2019•20 min
Former MP and current CUC Board Member Hon. John Reid will speak about a few “knowledge revolutions” we have gone through in our lifetimes, their impact on individuals, organizations, governments and nation states and the limits of our ability of to cope with many of these changes. When you think of the we had when we came of age inherited assumptions, the rapid changes in their validity, the resulting loss of stability in our world as our assumptions were upset, it is no wonder many are unable ...
Jul 07, 2019•27 min
June 30, 2019 - Sunday Message by Chuck Shields Canadian Unitarian Council Vice President Chuck Sheilds discusses the future plans of the CUC as it relates to our own First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa
Jun 30, 2019•30 min
Today's message comes from guest speaker Claudette Commanda - a Knowledge Keeper and Elder of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation. What are the fundamental principles of restorative justice; what does restorative justice mean for First Nation communities and individuals? Justice must be understood from a spiritual and cultural sense in order to fully appreciate the essence, the importance and the use of restorative justice for First Nation people. Restorative justice is about healing and (...
Jun 23, 2019•29 min
Rev. Pat gets us all ready to enjoy the summer with a short-but-sweet homily on "Being Present" before the congregation heads out to enjoy sunshine, food and fellowship together at FUCO's Spring Picnic.
Jun 09, 2019•9 min
Today we celebrate Fred and Bonnie Cappuccino. In 1953, Fred, first a Methodist minister than a Unitarian minister, and Bonnie, a student nurse, fell in love, married and started a family. Conscious of world overpopulation, they chose to have two children born to them and adopt one or two more, ending up adopting 19 children from around the world. In 1985, they established Child Haven International, a non-profit that assists destitute children and women. Child Haven has helped thousands of child...
Jun 04, 2019•36 min
Several years ago, Rev. Pat’s oldest sister sent her a blog post entitled, “I'm Christian, unless you're gay.” The writer noted he really wasn't writing about homosexuality or about Christians. He was writing about when well-intentioned folk, it could be any one of us, feel justified in abandoning loving-kindness because of who someone is. We aspire in our lives to live out our UU principles of compassion and acceptance. Yet, can we think of anyone, any groups we might list in the following blan...
Jun 02, 2019•26 min
Today we celebrate Fred and Bonnie Cappuccino. In 1953, Fred, first a Methodist minister than a Unitarian minister, and Bonnie, a student nurse, fell in love, married and started a family. Conscious of world overpopulation, they chose to have two children born to them and adopt one or two more, ending up adopting 19 children from around the world. In 1985, they established Child Haven International, a non-profit that assists destitute children and women. Child Haven has helped thousands of child...
May 26, 2019•36 min
Let us celebrate both the Unitarian Flower Communion service originated by Rev. Norbert Capek (1870-1942) that reminds us of the unity that flows through us within our diversity. We will also celebrate this month's anniversary of the Buddha's birth, marked as well by flower festivals and rituals of new beginnings around the world.
May 19, 2019•17 min
Sometimes it can take so little to be hurt or hurt someone else. We may even build a wall of protection around a hurt that makes it more and more difficult to dismantle over the years. Everett Worthington, who has researched forgiveness and endured coming to terms with his own mother's murder, likens unforgiveness to a dragon protecting a hoard. Join Rev. Pat in considering how we might transform this hurtful hoard into a treasure.
May 12, 2019•22 min
Rev. Patricia Guthmann Haresch has members of the congregation read excerpts in character from "The Faith Club: Common Themes in Christianity, Islam, Judaism". This highly recommended book is by Ranya Idliby, Suzanne Oliver, and Priscilla Warner, t...
May 06, 2019•28 min
The Case of Mother Earth vs. World’s People (Earth Day Service) To celebrate Earth Day, Rev. Pat with a troupe of First U actors will present an adapted version of Doug Stewart's entertaining and enlightening play, "Mother Earth vs. World's People." The complaint being that the people acted "in ways to cause [Mother Earth] grievous personal harm and limit her inherent civil rights to a fruitful existence." As the trial judge notes, "a serious charge, indeed!"
Apr 29, 2019•36 min
In their books, theologian Rita Nakashima Brock and the Rev. Dr. Rebecca Parker, the former president of the Unitarian Universalist Starr King School for the Ministry, discovered for most of their first 1000 years, early Christians didn't focus on the resurrection of Jesus. Rita and Rebecca found that Jesus’s teachings and the practices of the early church affirmed life in THIS world as the place of salvation. Let us consider a life affirming message on this Easter Sunday.
Apr 22, 2019•25 min
Rev. Ndagijimana served the Unitarian church of Bujumbura in Burundi for 14 years. The congregation got very involved in social justice work and was noticed by the brutal regime in Bujumbura. The congregation was attacked with grenades and bullets, Rev. Ndagijimana was kidnapped, jailed and tortured and was only able to escape with a tremendous pressure of UUs around the world. When he was temporarily released, he escaped from Burundi and found his way to Canada after a brief stay in Rwanda.
Apr 14, 2019•23 min
Rev. Pat continues her "Wounded Word" series. Tied for third among the most common words noted was the word "church." Church has four current definitions within Christianity: a building for worship; a congregational or denominational organization/assembly of people; all Christian assemblies and people as a whole; congregational governance. How does this word fit or not fit for us at First U?
Apr 07, 2019•19 min
Rev. Pat continues her "Wounded Word" series. The third most common words noted were "religion" and "church." What came to Rev. Pat's mind was the Dance of the Seven Veils featured in Tom Robbins' novel, Skinny Legs and All. With each veil dropped, another truth is revealed. When the fourth veil dropped, a Robbins character reflects that “longing for the Divine is intrinsic in Homo sapiens. . . enlarging our souls and lighting up our brains. . . Religion is nothing but institutionalized mysticis...
Mar 31, 2019•19 min
Sunday Sermon on "The Celtic and Pagan Crossover" by our Rev. Pat Haresch
Mar 17, 2019•23 min
Sunday Sermon on Gods and Goddesses by our Rev. Pat Haresch
Mar 10, 2019•22 min
The Canadian Unitarian and Universalist Women's Association (CUUWA) invites all Canadian congregations to celebrate International Women's Day. Our guest speaker, Ketty Nivyabandi mobilized women to protest against her country's goverment. Burundi, leading her to flee from persecution to Canada. As a refugee, Ketty continues to be a voice for peace and rule of law in her country and regularly speaks on human rights, refugee issues, and the intimate effects of conflict on women’s lives globally. S...
Mar 03, 2019•26 min
Our Rev. Pat harsh ponders... How often do we speak of salvation among Unitarian Universalists these days? Seldom, if ever. However, this word was one of the most frequently mentioned when Rev. Pat asked people to submit "wounded words." What might "salvation" mean to or for UUs today?
Feb 24, 2019•24 min
UU Ottawa Minister Rev. Linda Goonewardene delivers a sermon that explores the makeup and dispels the myths of what it takes to truly be happy.
Feb 17, 2019•20 min
A sermon about UBUNTU by our Rev. Patricia Haresch
Feb 10, 2019•24 min
A first instalment in our Rev. Patricia Haresch's participatory "Wounded Words" series that she introduced at the start of 2019.
Feb 03, 2019•21 min
Our Rev. Patricia Haresch gives us a chronological history of Unitarian Universalism, hearing directly from prominent Unitarian and Universalist minds of the past.
Jan 27, 2019•30 min
Tu BiShvat is a Jewish holiday that's also called "Rosh HaShanah La'Ilanot", literally "New Year of the Trees." In contemporary Israel, the day is celebrated as an ecological awareness day, and trees are planted in celebration. Sermon by Rev. Patricia Haresch
Jan 13, 2019•23 min
"Words are tough...Words can be complicated...Words are so packed with meanings based on our life experience" Reverend Patricia Haresch invites members of First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa to offer Examples of their wounded words.
Jan 06, 2019•29 min
Our Minister, Reverend Patricia Haresch, welcomes and prepares for 2019 with reflections on resolutions and other changes that come with the new year.
Dec 30, 2018•24 min
A Yule Celebration with our FirstU children & youth. During the holidays, we commonly hear stories of Baby Jesus and Santa Claus. Yet, many of our holiday customs are rooted in ancient Yuletide lore of Oak Kings, Holly Kings, Winter and Spring Goddesses, the forces of Winter battling with or trying to capture the forces of Spring. The celebration of Yule reminds us that life always holds the promise of transformation and a new beginning.
Dec 16, 2018•13 min
Let us celebrate many of our Unitarian connections to modern North American Christmas songs and traditions... including our own favourite FUCO Christmas tradition: The Mitten Tree!
Dec 09, 2018•14 min
