The First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa

Budget Forms Due July 5
If you are responsible for any activity that produces revenue and/or expense for FirstU, please complete your budget form and send it to OAS@firstunitarianottawa.ca and fm@firstunitarianottawa.ca as soon as possible but before July 5. Click here to download the form as a word document. For a printable PDF, click HERE, OR request your budget form from the office.

Seeking Items for Our Refugee
Do you have a used laptop or cell phone you are no longer using? We are trying to equip our new refugee friend who is in job search mode here in Ottawa. We can erase what’s on old devices. Please contact Lisa S if you can help.

Connect with Our Congregation!
The FirstU Ottawa Community Group on Facebook is a great way to share requests, ask questions and share thoughts with other congregants in a private space. Visit the page to request to be added and then start connecting!

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News from the Board

• New members: We are very pleased to welcome 3 new FirstU members who were approved at the April and May board meetings: Joe Duschinsky, Nicole Forbes, and Saphia Ould-Brahim (youth member).  To learn more about membership in FirstU, click HERE. 

• Committee chair appointments: John Emond has been appointed as the chair of the Governance Committee, and Brent Nicolle will be chair of the 2027 Pledge Campaign. Thank you, John and Brent, for stepping up into these important roles.

• And thank you Guy Belleperche for your years of service leading the Governance Committee, and Phil Nagy for leading the 2026 Pledge Campaign. Bravo! 

• Bulletin Board in the Lobby: You'll find a new bulletin board in the lobby outside the office that will make it easy to find board-specific information. Currently it contains pictures and bios for each board member.  Come check it out, and say hello when you see us!

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Orange Parking Flags
You will notice orange flags in front of some parking spaces on the campus. The flags on the south border are rented to the construction company of the Dentech building during the week from 6am-6pm only. They can be used by the congregations any other time. The flags beside the garden are for Unitarian House staff as they do not currently have access to their spaces on the CPR strip. These spaces can be used by the congregation on Sundays.

Reverend Mwibutsa's May 31 Sermon Text Available
Last Sunday, May 31, we welcomed our new community minister, Reverend Mwibutsa, to officiate. We received many requests for a written copy of his sermon, "Saved Alone or Freed Together". Reveverend Mwibutsu has kindly shared it with us: You can access it HERE.

Nina Strang at RAMP!
Our own Nina Strang will be presenting at the June 27 edition of RAMP's monthly skill-building workshops, "Projects, Partnerships & Practical Wisdom", where they'll be sharing about the projects that embody their UU values. The zoom workshop will be at 1:00pm. Full details and registration here.

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Youville Centre Toy and Clothing Drive
During our Easter program, our UU Kids voted to do a service project: Collecting donations for the young moms at the Youville Centre! If you have gently used children and infant clothing, toys, kids' books, and/or women’s clothing to donate, please bring them to the RE Library (Room 16) for collection. Our donation bins will be available on Sundays: June 7, 14, and 21!
Please Note: We cannot accept donations of safety gear or used hygiene related items (e.g.: car seats, cloth diapers).
 

FirstU on Social Media
In addition to our congregation's facebook group - for connecting with other congregants socially - FirstU also has two staff-run social media accounts. Our Facebook Page and Instagram Account are how we spread the word about upcoming events, Services, and activities and how YOU can easily share our upcoming events - like Flower Communion, Food Cupboard Fundraisers, Fall Fair, and more - with your friends. Give us a follow!