The First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa

Author bell hooks referred to love as a practice, not a feeling, and observed that “there is no love that does not involve risk.” On this Mother’s Day, we’ll join guest minister, Reverend Erika Hewett, to reflect on what it means to practice love, with all of its risk, in our personal relationships. Click here to watch the service in full Use the 36:05 time stamp in the description to jump to Reverend Erika's Homily

"We are all longing to go home to some place [...] Someplace where we can be free." ~ Starhawk This Sunday, we are joined by guest speakers Sheldon Leong and Sahada Alolo, the Director of Fund Development and the Director of Community Engagement, respectively, of Multifaith Housing Initiative. Click here to view the service in full Use the 46:22 timestamp in the description to jump to Sahada Alolo's Reflection Use the 46:22 timestamp in the description to jump to Sheldon Leon

The Selma, Alabama, Civil Rights Actions in 1965 were a watershed Unitarian event in American history. It had been named by Martin Luther King as a place to pursue voter's rights. After the Rev. James Reeb was murdered there, several hundred Unitarian ministers descended on Selma. There was a 5-day non-violent Gandhian stand-off between the marchers and the police. That was followed by a 50 mile March to Montgomery, Alabama. Reverend Fred, who was the Minister at the UU Sil

A multigenerational service to celebrate nature! The service has been crafted to engage all ages, and is filled with stories, songs, and movement activities! Click here to view the service in full Use the 26:09 time stamp in the description to jump to Jodi's story, "The Great Kapok Tree".

This Sunday, we'll explore the idea of "practicing resurrection" as we celebrate Easter, and the awakening earth, in a Unitarian Universalist style. Click here to view the service in full Use the 49:21 time stamp in the description to jump to Reverend Lara's Sermon

Observing Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31, we celebrate and honour the contributions of the transgender community and promote trans joy, resilience, advocacy and inclusivity. Click here to view the service in full Use the time stamps in the description to just to our guest speakers' Reflections.

Introducing the new UU virtual hymnal! We will explore how our hymns reflect our values and help us cultivate resilience, wonder, and wisdom.​ Click here to view the service in full Use the 46:09 time stamp in the description to jump to our Music Director's Reflection.

We are faced with many pressures, internal and external. What practices will help us face the future together? Join us as we celebrate this year’s Sharing our Faith Sunday with a reader’s theatre-style service. Grief, gratitude, imagination, courage, and action will all have their say. Click here to view the service in full Use the time stamps in the description to jump to various Acts in our Reader's Theatre piece.

The enduring wisdom of Goddess traditions and the divine feminine, presented through a non-biologically-reductionist lens. Click here to view the service in full Use the 51 :15​ time stamp in the description to jump to Reverend Lara's sermon.

Long before there were textbooks, sermons, research papers, Google, and podcasts, there were myths, fables, parables and wisdom stories. Click here to view the service in full Use the 44:26​ time stamp in the description to jump to Reverend Lara's sermon.

Canada's Black History Month is a time to honour the leadership, and contributions of Black communities across Canada. It is also a time to reflect on the systems that continue to shape the lives of Black Canadians today. Click here to view the service in full Use the 43:10 time stamp in the description to jump to Reverend Lara's sermon.

Our UU Fourth Principal states that we are all entitled to our own "free and responsible search for truth and meaning". For a covenantal faith, with deeply held shared values, but no expectation that everyone in a given congregation will have the same beliefs about the nature of the cosmos and their place in it, the "Free" part of our Fourth Principle is self-explanatory. But what is a "Responsible Search"? How do we discern what makes truth true or what makes meaning meaning

The great Sufi poet, Rumi, believed that before we speak, our words should pass through three gates. Each gate asks a simple question, yet each one carries weight. Is it true? Is it necessary? Is it kind? These poignant questions aren’t meant to restrain us, but to become invitations to awaken and grow conscious of what we release into the world. ​ Click here to view the service in full Use the 41:11 time stamp in the description to jump to Reverend Lara's sermon.

What do you do when the life you’d imagined for yourself is stuck in committee? Join us for the story of the UU Hysterical Society - a story of feeling lost, finding yourself, and UUism-outside-the-box with UUHS founder Liz James. ​ Click here to view the service in full Use the 35:15 time stamp in the description to jump to Liz James' Reflection

This Sunday, we explore how we can live into a practice of cultivating wonder and reverence for the world around us. Click here to view the service in full Use the 44:27 time stamp in the description to jump to Reverend Lara's Sermon

Wonder often begins with love. In this service, we reflect on love as a grounding and awakening presence - one that invites us into deeper relationship, shared values and faithful action in the world. Click here to view the service in full Use the 45:34 time stamp in the description to jump to Reverend Lara's Sermon

Grounded in science and spirit, this service invites us to consider our place in an ever-unfolding universe - and the wonder that awakens us to belonging. Click here to view the service in full Use the 44:10 time stamp in the description to jump to Reverend Lara's Sermon

We have a basic need for awe wired into our brains and bodies, so finding awe is easy if we just take a moment and wonder. All of us, no matter our background, can find our own meaningful path to awe. How awesome is that?! Click here to view the service in full Use the 33:25 time stamp in the description to jump to our guest speaker's Reflection.

With the marking of the Winter Solstice on the 21st, we have begun another circle around the sun together. This Sunday we’ll participate in a fire communion/ or burning bowl ritual to center ourselves, seal our intentions, and leave behind what we wish, as we move into the New Year, as individuals and in community. Click here to watch the service in full Use the 29:13 time stamp to jump to Lay Chaplain Lisa Boulay's Reflection

A contemplative, candle-lit service of readings and carols. No time stamps for this service. We invite you to enjoy the whole thing. Click here to watch the service in full