Adult Learning and Growth
The First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa offers a variety of programs for adults who wish to explore new topics and experiences.
Take a look at the Lifespan Learning Guide for more information, and read on below.
If you're looking for information on established, ongoing fellowship, growth, creativity, and social justice groups, please visit our Connect With Us page.
Take a look at the Lifespan Learning Guide for more information, and read on below.
If you're looking for information on established, ongoing fellowship, growth, creativity, and social justice groups, please visit our Connect With Us page.
Spiritual and Personal growth
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Women's Pagan Circle
Our trans-inclusive, loosely "Eclectic-Dianic" Circle meets every 6 weeks (except for August) to celebrate the Quarter and Cross-Quarter days together. Trans women, cis women, and non-binary folks are welcome and encouraged to attend! Our next ritual will be Monday, February 3, when we'll be celebrating the Imbolc: Honour Goddess Brigid and celebrate the growing daylight and the promise of Spring to come. Bring finger foods to share after the ritual and anything seasonal you'd like to include on our altar. |
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We gather at 7:00pm and start our rituals around 7:30pm, in Fellowship Hall. Participation is by donation ($5 suggested).
Contact Laurie at lauren.fosterm[at]gmail.com with any questions.
Contact Laurie at lauren.fosterm[at]gmail.com with any questions.
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A Process for Moving from Despair to Inspired Activism:
The Spiral of the Work that Reconnects Saturday, February 8 - 9:30am to Noon Our dream of a better world and healthier planet for all is still with us. Yet, as we begin 2025, the path to achieve this dream looks longer, tougher and more dangerous than we hoped. |
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If you are feeling despair, or feeling blocked in the work you are called to do in this hurting world, or even just unsure of what you want to come next in your life, join facilitators Jane Lindsay and Rev George Buchanan in a well-known process for finding our way through difficult times This process is the “Spiral of the Work that Reconnects”, described by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone in their book: Active Hope (revised): How to Face the Mess We’re in with Unexpected Resilience and Creative Power.
At the workshop, we will follow the four stages of this process: coming from gratitude, honouring our pain for the world, seeing with new eyes, going forth. Reverend George says: “I have led workshops with this spiral process many times. The process can be demanding … but it can also lead to new insights and new goals". Advance registration required. Email [email protected] to reserve your spot.
At the workshop, we will follow the four stages of this process: coming from gratitude, honouring our pain for the world, seeing with new eyes, going forth. Reverend George says: “I have led workshops with this spiral process many times. The process can be demanding … but it can also lead to new insights and new goals". Advance registration required. Email [email protected] to reserve your spot.
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Map Making: Navigating Your Spiritual Journey at FirstU
Dates TBD If you are a new/newish congregant - or a long-time one - Mapmaking will involve you in a range of activities to make connections with others; reflect together on your concepts of spirituality, faith and our Unitarian Universalist principles; learn more about the congregation and its linkages to the broader world; consider what it means to belong to the FirstU community of faith and what you can bring to it; and reflect on your ‘credo’ of who you are and where you in your faith journey. Facilitators are Jane L and Fred B. Email [email protected] to sign up or with any questions. |
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Introducing Ourselves
Sunday, April 13, 2025 12:00pm – 2:30pm This will be a small group, casual gathering over lunch. You will share with other newcomers what brought you to FirstU, hear and ask about the basics of Unitarian Universalism and get some insight into how First U functions and ways you can get connected here. Brent Nicolle and Rev. Eric Meter will be your guides. Light lunch will be served. For more information and to register, email [email protected] |
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Enriching Our Minds and souls
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Conversations for Cultivating Compassion
In alignment with our congregational focus, Cultivating Compassionate Community, you are invited to a series of conversations. This series of 5 gatherings, each on a different topic, is based on the work of a non-profit project called Living Room Conversations. Living Room Conversations has created structured conversation guides to enable participants to practice communicating across differences while building understanding and relationships. Rather than debating or convincing, these conversations are about encouraging conversation based on sharing, learning, and curiosity. Our Conversations for Cultivating Compassion will take palce in Winter-Spring 2025. You are welcome to participate in as many or few conversation topics / gatherings as you like. Please register in advance at [email protected] and specify which of the sessions you would like to attend: Conversation for Cultivating Compassion: Aging and Ageism
Conversation for Cultivating Compassion: 2SLGBTQIA+ Exploring Our Understanding
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Grieving the Loss of a Relationship
Postponed to 2025
Whether losing someone through death or breakdown of a relationship, it is a loss involving many stages of grief. Join us for a discussion on how to get through the many losses of relationship in our lives. Led by trained OWL (Our Whole Lives) facilitators. For more information or to register, contact [email protected].
Postponed to 2025
Whether losing someone through death or breakdown of a relationship, it is a loss involving many stages of grief. Join us for a discussion on how to get through the many losses of relationship in our lives. Led by trained OWL (Our Whole Lives) facilitators. For more information or to register, contact [email protected].
Well being
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Taoist Tai Chi Practice and Learning Sessions
Every Tuesday - 1:00pm - Fellowship Hall Led by Friends of Taoist Tai Chi, Ottawa Tai Chi is a series of gentle movements that improves circulation, strengthens the bones, and develops good balance. Many have found their health greatly improved by regular practice. Master Moy first developed Taoist Tai Chi to improve his own health, and later dedicated his life to enabling others to do the same. We welcome anyone to participate, beginners included. Each two-hour session will be led by experienced instructors from "Friends of Tai Chi" and will include a break for tea. No advance registration needed just drop in. Some familiarity with Tai Chi is recommended. Send questions to: [email protected]. |
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Weekly Online Meditation
Wednesdays - 7:00pm on Zoom Join our long-standing meditation sessions by dropping in on Wednesday evenings. We meditate together and share readings from teachers like Thich Nhat Hanh. Click HERE to join the meditation session Meeting ID: 880 7343 6250 Passcode: 259109 Let Colleen know if you would like to receive a friendly email reminder on Tuesday. |
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Just for Fun
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Monthly eUUchre Group
One Sunday a month (check the eUU for details) - 6:30-9:00pm Join us for a social game of euchre! Don't know how to play? No problem! All are welcome and you can learn as you play. No need to pre-register – just show up. |
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