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Members and Friends of FirstU marching in the 2025 Pride Parage, carrying our FirstU Banner, which reads "However you identify, whomever you love, whatever your heritage, we welcome you".
Members and Friends of FirstU marching in the 2025 Pride Parage, carrying our FirstU Banner, which reads "However you identify, whomever you love, whatever your heritage, we welcome you".

Welcome!

FirstU Logo - Green "chalice hands" holding a hovering green flame.

Our Church Isn't Just for Sunday Services;

It's a Gathering Place Where We Co-Create Our Community of Like Minds and Shared Values, ​Every Day.

Welcome to the First Unitarian Congregation, a liberal, spiritual congregation located on the shores of the Ottawa River. We're a diverse, multigenerational community built on a variety of philosophical and faith traditions,

and we're committed to turning compassion into action.


We're inclusive and caring, offer small group ministry, several choirssocial and personal growth eventsReligious Exploration for children and youth, and much more. Our social justice action groups are committed to climate action, mental health, affordable housing, food securityIndigenous reconciliation, and supporting our 2SLGBTQ+ community.
 

30 Cleary Avenue, Ottawa ON K2A 4A1      613-725-1066      uuoffice@firstunitarianottawa.ca
"We kindle the light within and inspire courage to nurture the web of life and to create a just and compassionate world."
​Reverend Lara Cowtan, Minister

Sunday Info

Sunday Mornings

A photo of FirstU's Worship Hall, featuring our baby grand piano in front of our bright wall of windows. A headshot of Reverend Lara, waving, has been added to the foreground of the image.

 

SUNDAY

SERVICE

Join us for Sunday Service at
10:30am.

You may also watch online!​

​​

This Week's Service:

Saved Alone or Freed Together

Reverend Mwibutsa Ndagijimana

Click HERE to watch the Service online

Click HERE to view the latest Order
of Service
​​​

Upcoming Services:

  • June 7: Oops, I didn't mean it! - On Impact versus Intention

  • June 14: A Cracked Cup - Perils of Perfection and the Power of Repair

 

RELIGIOUS
EXPLORATION

Here's what our UU Kids will be doing this week:

This Sunday, after Time for All Ages, we'll go downstairs to continue our Spring programming:

  • In the Rainbow room (ages 2-6) with Anusha, we will be reading “In the Tall, Tall Grass” and playing inside.

  • In the Wonder room (ages 7-12) with Esther, we will be learning about the story of  “David and Goliath” and painting stones.

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Our Whole Lives

Our fifth OWL workshop, "How Babies Begin", will begin at 10:30am in the Chalice Room.

 

HOSPITALITY

HOUR

Attending in Person?
We invite you to join us in Fellowship Hall immediately after our Sunday service for coffee and conversation, and to grab a green mug to let us know you're feeling new or would welcome meaningful conversation.

During our church year, there is hot food available for purchase from Mia's Indian Cuisine (cash preferred).

​

Looking for a deeper discussion of this week's Service topic? Join our weekly After-Service Discussion in the Lounge.
 

Parents: In addition to a kids' table in Fellowship Hall, we have the Chalice Room Cafe downstairs where you can connect with other parents while your kids enjoy free play.

Green Mug

Accessing FirstU's Campus During Construction

You can access Cleary Avenue by turning north at Byron/Redwood into the campus.

 

Updates on the detour, and the 2024-2027 ​Richmond Road closure, including maps showing entrance and exit routes, have been added to our Cleary Detour Page and will continue to be updated as information becomes available.

​

Click HERE to view the map.

Events

Upcoming Events at FirstU

A poster describing our Introduction to Nature Journaling drop-in classes. May 17, 24, and 31 at 1:00pm. Click the image to get details in text format on our Adult Learning and Growth page.
A poster inviting you to join our bi-weekly Wednesday Community Dinner. The next Dinner will be held on Wednesday, June 3 at 5:00pm, in Fellowship Hall. $10 for adults, $5 for kids. Sign up to attend by emailing uuoffice@firtunitarinottawa.ca
"Groove Dance Workshop for Trans Women, Cis Women, and Non-Binary Folks: A FirstU Food Cupboard Fundraiser. On Tuesday, June 16, at 7:30pm in Fellowship Hall! Come enjoy a loosely choreographed dance workshop where we'll play with boas, ribbon sticks, light-up rings, and do the steps our own way. Suggested donation is $10. Email uuoffice@firstunitarianottawa.ca to register."
The image is a poster featuring the above information. It also includes a photo of women of various sizes dancig together. The background is white and light blue.
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