The First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa
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Friday, May 29, 2026
We acknowledge that our campus is located on traditional, unceded and unsurrendered Algonquin Anishinaabeg Territory, and that the work of reconciliation is a responsibility of our congregation, and all Canadians.
Sunday, May 31, 2026
In-Person and Online
Starts at 10:30am
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Saved Alone or Freed Together
With FirstU Community Minister Reverend Mwibutsa Ndagijimana
Exploring the tension between personal salvation and the call to collective liberation. Behind words like community, fellowship, and world community are real,
daily choices—choices that shape not only our individual lives,
but the kind of world we are building together.
Is faith about securing my own well-being, or participating in the freedom of all? What does it mean to be “well” in a world where others remain bound?
This sermon will invite us to wrestle with a haunting question:
If I am thriving alone, am I truly free or simply comfortable?​
Information About Your Sunday Offering
The offerings collected each Sunday help us to live into our values within this congregation and in supporting many good works beyond our walls by highlighting a community partner organization each month to share with. During the entire month of May, our Sunday collections, unless marked towards your pledge, will be split 50/50 with our community partner, Flaming Chalice International.
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Flaming Chalice International supports refugees in East Africa and community-led development in Burundi. Through education, community-building, and support for vulnerable families, FCI empowers people to shape their own futures. Your generosity directly supports community-led change and the building of hope, opportunity, and resilience.
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Children's Religious Exploration
This Sunday, after Time for All Ages, we'll go downstairs to continue our Spring programming:
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In the Rainbow Room (ages 2-6) with Anusha, we will be reading “In the Tall, Tall Grass” and playing inside.
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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.
Featured Volunteer Opportunity
Affordable Housing
Interested in becoming involved in our Aspire affordable housing project? Join our group to develop plans for this exciting project. Interested? Contact Lisa S!
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FirstU's Caring Team
We are all interconnected, interdependent and minister to each other in many ways.
Caring Contacts are monthly volunteers who receive phone calls and emails when you wish to alert us to a need, a grief or a concern, or have a joy to celebrate. They prepare cards to be signed on Sundays, and try to ensure no one is forgotten, connecting people with appropriate help when requested.
Caring Contacts for May
Marilen Gerber - Email - 613-843-1688
Maury Prevost - Email - 613-231-7391
Caring Contacts for June
Alexandra Devine - Email - 613-224-5695
Jan Glyde - Email - 613-680-0495
Caring Visitors are specially trained and certified FirstU Members, available to provide spiritual care and deep listening for those who seek support during a transition or challenging time. Visits can be by phone/zoom, a walk, coffee shop, in home, hospital, hospice, or wherever is comfortable.
Caring Visitors: caringvisitors@firstunitarianottawa.ca
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Read All About It
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).
Our New Website
If you're reading the eUU online, you’ve already visited and experienced our updated website. We continue to update and fix links, and now we need YOUR help! If you are the lead for a church group, team, or committee with a webpage (e.g.: Volunteer coordinator; Ajashki point person, Music Director, Caring Team lead, head of Adult Learning and Growth) please check your page and send us any updated information you’d like included before the end of JUNE.
Housing Subsidy Applications
If you are interested in living in our new Aspire building (expected to be ready for occupancy in 2028), but need a subsidy, you need to apply to the Ottawa Housing Registry to get on the City of Ottawa waiting list. If you would like help with your application, we can help! Please contact Lisa S for assistance.
Wrapping Up Spring Free from Plastic '26!
This Sunday is the final day of our Spring Free from Plastic '26 challenge. We hope that this exercise has been helpful in your efforts to reduce the plastics in your life. Stop by our table in Fellowship Hall on Sunday and let us know: what did you learn, and what have you changed or are in the process of changing? There's still time to support Oceana, the David Suzuki Foundation's Stop Plastic Pollution initiative, and Environmental Defence, by signing their petitions to our Federal Leaders asking them step up action on plastic pollution. Find more info at the Spring Free from Plastic ‘26 Table this Sunday.
PFLAG Chapter at FirstU
FirstU is planning to start an Ottawa Chapter of PFLAG for 2SLGBTQIA+ communities including families, friends, allies, and loved ones. PFLAG (formerly parents, friends and families of lesbians and gays) is dedicated to creating a safe and affirming world for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community by providing peer support, advocacy and community resources.
We want to create a team to work together on scheduling, promotion, and logistics. If you are interested in getting involved with this group, contact: diversity@firstunitarianottawa.ca
Capital Pride Dates for August - Mark Your Calendars
Capital Pride is taking place one week later than normal this summer - here are important dates:
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Our Pride Service will be on Sunday August 23
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The Pride Parade will be on Sunday August 30
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We intend on participating in the Pride Parade, and having a community information table again. More details to come.
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Upcoming Events
Introduction to Nature Journaling
This Sunday, May 31
1:00pm – 3:00pm
Meet Outdoors at the Lower Level Entrance
Join Laurie Foster-MacLeod for one more Sunday afternoon exploring nature around FirstU and learning the fundamentals of nature journaling. Bring a small ( 8"x5" or 6" square) sketchbook - mixed media paper recommended - plus pencils, pencil sharpeners, pens, and your curiosity. No registration required. Drop in if you're curious. Kids welcome, but those under ten require adult accompaniment.
FirstU Food Cupboard Fundraiser: Groove Dance Workshop!
Tuesday June 16
7:30-8:30pm
Fellowship Hall
By Donation - $10 Suggested
Groove dance fitness class fundraiser for the food cupboard, led by Deb Thompson. Suggested $10 donation, for cis and trans women and non-binary folks. This is a very loosely choreographed class where you can't get it wrong! Similar to Body Groove by Misty Tripoli, you'll be led through easy low-impact steps that you do your way to great tunes. Play with boas, ribbon sticks, light up rings, and more. Stretching and stillness to close. Email uuoffice@firstunitarianottawa.ca to RSVP.
Women's Inclusive Pagan Circle: Midsummer Ritual
Wednesday, June 24
7:00pm
Fellowship Hall
$5 Suggested
Trans women, cis women, and non-binary folks are invited to celebrate Summer Solstice with playfulness and gratitude. Bring any seasonal items you'd like to add to our collaborative altar, and finger foods to share after the ritual!
Weekly Calendar
Please contact your regular group leader for meeting details. Contact info can be found on the congregation's calendar.
The link for Sunday Service can be found on our This Sunday page or on our YouTube Channel.
For inquiries or to join a group, email the office for information.
Friday, May 29
12:15pm
Singing Spires
Saturday, May 30
7:00pm
Just Voices Concert chez FirstU
Sunday, May 31
10:30am
Sunday Service - Online and In-Person
Children's Religious Exploration
OWL Program
11:30am
Hospitality Hour
Chalice Room Cafe
FirstU Food Cupboard is Open
11:45am
After-Service Conversation
1:00pm
Introduction to Nature Journaling
Recurring Events - Topics and Schedule Changes
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June 3 - The Mess We Are In study group will meet at 7:00pm to discuss Silicon Empires: The Fight for the Future of AI, by Nick Srnicek. Contact Marc B for details.
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June 5 - The Men's Breakfast Group will meet at 8:00am in Fellowship Hall for breakfast and an engaging talk followed by a lively discussion. $10 per person. Details and registration link HERE.
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June 5 (date change) – Friday Afternoon Reading for Growth – 1:30pm. Our book selection is Disorientation: Being Black in the World, by Ian Williams. Contact Clea for the zoom link.
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June 11 - Virtual Discussion Circle - 1:30pm on zoom. This session's discussion topic is "Success". Click here to join the discussion.
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June 15 - Our monthly online Trivia Quiz takes place on zoom at 7:00pm. Click HERE to join the quiz!
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June 17 - The Mess We Are In study group will meet at 7:00pm to discuss Silicon Empires: The Fight for the Future of AI, by Nick Srnicek. Contact Marc B for details.
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June 25 – Thursday Evening Reading for Growth – 7:00pm. Our next book selection is The Power of Guilt: Why We Feel It, and Its Surprising Ability to Heal, by Chris Moore, Contact Ken for the zoom link.​
Need to check if a weekly, biweekly, or monthly event has been rescheduled? Click here, or check our month-at-a-glance calendar.
Looking for a new social group to join, or need to confirm a zoom link or locate a registration form? Click here for a full list of our recurring events, plus zoom links for those that occur online.
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Chez FirstU
Just Voices Spring Concert
This Saturday, May 30 - 7:00pm
Chez FirstU
$5 - $25 at the door
Join the Just Voices activist choir for their spring concert, featuring special guest singer Chris MacLean. Proceeds benefit the Ottawa Food Bank. Enjoy some rousing music in support of a good cause.
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Unitarian Universalist nUUs
Canadian Unitarians for Social Justice Annual General Meeting
Saturday, June 6 - 1:00pm
Online
Join the Canadian Unitarians for Social Justice for their Annual General Meeting. You do not have to be a member to attend, just register for the zoom link by clicking here. The AGM will take about thirty minutes. Stay on the call to attend the Keynote Address (see below). Want to vote in the AGM? Become a member of Canadian Unitarians for Social Justice here.
Canadian Unitarians for Social Justice present: "Surviving the Climate Crisis" with Dr Peter Carter
Saturday, June 6 - 1:30pm
Online
Immediately following their AGM, and using the same zoom link, the Canadian Unitarians for Justice present a Keynote Address by Dr Peter Carter of the Climate Emergency Institute. He will cover how corporations and our own governments keep us fixed on fossil fuels, and how to break the addiction in order to create conversion and transformation. He will focus on what’s needed globally and what we need to do personally to “survive” the climate crisis. Register for the zoom link by clicking here.
Canadian Unitarian Council (CUC): Reciprocal Annual Mentorship Program (RAMP!)
RAMP! offers monthly Skill-Building workshops open to everyone interested. These public, online, 90-minute workshops align with the program’s monthly themes and connect with other national programming such as Congregational Conversations and Dismantling Barriers. Upcoming workshops include:
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June 27, 1:00pm: Projects, Partnerships & Practical Wisdom from RAMP!
Click the embedded link above to register for the workshop(s) of your choice!
Canadian Unitarian Council (CUC): Dismantling Barriers Series
Join the CUC online, on Thursday, June 25, 2026 at 7:00pm, for a workshop facilitated by Camellia Jahanshahi called Engaging Governance. There are many different governance models to explore— each with its own strengths, limitations, and impacts on how communities function. Together, we’ll look at the pros and cons of different approaches and examine the ways governance structures can create barriers or tear them down. Full details and registration HERE.
Canadian Unitarian Council
Information about upcoming CUC events can be found on their Events Page. Check them out and consider ways you can engage with fellow UUs beyond the congregation.
UUFO Refugee Sponsorship Fundraising
UUFO, partnering with the Ottawa Centre Refugee Action Group (OCRA), is pursuing sponsorship of an Afghan refugee family.
This is a family of six, at high risk of harm and currently in hiding. OCRA is a strong partner with experience over the past decade in settling more than 100 refugees in Canada. The Fellowship has conducted two successful earlier sponsorships. OCRA is spearheading the effort to get the family to a safe third country, where they can apply to come to Canada. This effort is aligned with our Unitarian social justice mission. If you would like to receive the pledge letter and information, and consider a donation, please email treasurer@uufo.org.
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ottawa (UUFO)
Information about events and activities at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ottawa can be found by reading the latest UUFO Friday Notes.
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News from Our Friends
Capital Region Interfaith Council presents: The Joy of Faith
Saturday, June 6 - 1:00pm
St Augustine Parish (1060 Baseline Rd)
Join the Capital Region Interfaith Council as they honour Reverend Gary van der Meer (St John the Evangelist Anglican) and Rabbi Daniel Mikelberg (Temple Israel) for their dedication to building bridges, featuring special guest Louise Profeit-LeBlanc, story-keeper and member of the Baha'i community. No prayers or religious activities will take place at this event. Email jgreen@jewishottawa.com with any questions.
Humanist Perspectives: Spring Edition Available
Click here to read the new edition of Humanist Perspectives, including news about the 2026 Humanist World Congress, to be held in Ottawa, an editorial reframing of intergenerational responsibility in an age of growing distance between generations, and more.
Submissions and Zoom Bookings
Sunday Announcement Submissions
If you would like an announcement made during the livestreamed Sunday Service, please send an email, by Friday at 10am, to boardannouncements@firstunitarianottawa.ca. Do allow for time in case there are questions with regard to the announcement. Also note that announcements may need to be edited for length and that time-sensitive announcements may be prioritized.
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Booking Online Meetings
Email zoominfo@firstunitarianottawa.ca to book a Zoom meeting and to find help with questions about how Zoom works. Standard requests will receive a reply within 24 hours. Please label urgent requests with 'Urgent' in the Subject line and someone will respond as soon as possible.
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eUU Submissions
Submit your eUU messages for consideration to publications@firstunitarianottawa.ca no later than Wednesday at noon of the week you want your announcement or event to appear. Submissions may be edited for length.
60 words or fewer, please. Allison, our Communications Coordinator, works Thursdays and Fridays.
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Our contact information:
30 Cleary Ave,
Ottawa, ON
K2A 4A1
613-725-1066