Show You Care
Help out with children on Sunday mornings, be a mentor to the young people in our congregation, or offer pastoral care. Interested? The Directors of our programs provide training and opportunities for volunteers.
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Our Whole Lives
Our Whole Lives (OWL) is a positive, comprehensive, and age-appropriate educational program that promotes sexual health and provides accurate, developmentally appropriate information in the context of our Unitarian Universalist community. Programs for elementary aged children, youth, and adults are administered and coordinated through the Director of Religious Exploration and related groups. Adult Learning and Spiritual Growth Lifespan Learning includes Religious Exploration for Children and Youth, but it doesn't end there! The Adult Learning Team take the time to consider proposals for courses, speakers and workshops at FirstU. We plan, implement, promote and evaluate adult learning programs. If you'd like to be part of this team, contact the office for more information! |
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The Mental Health Support and Action Group
The Mental Health Support and Action Group was formed to support the Ancoura supportive-housing initiative for people living with mental illness.
We work to bring greater awareness of the problems faced by those living with a mental illness, to counter the stigma associated with these illnesses, and to promote healthy attitudes, remove stigma, and advocate for specific actions and societal change on mental health issues.
MHSAG also offers mutual support for congregants who are living with mental illnesses and to caregivers supporting loved ones facing mental health challenges.
The Mental Health Support and Action Group was formed to support the Ancoura supportive-housing initiative for people living with mental illness.
We work to bring greater awareness of the problems faced by those living with a mental illness, to counter the stigma associated with these illnesses, and to promote healthy attitudes, remove stigma, and advocate for specific actions and societal change on mental health issues.
MHSAG also offers mutual support for congregants who are living with mental illnesses and to caregivers supporting loved ones facing mental health challenges.
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The Caring Network
We encourage and nurture a caring network in the Congregation. We recruit volunteers to provide occasional transportation, phone or make personal visits to people who are ill or house-bound, and to assist people, as necessary and when possible, in emergencies; we send caring cards; and we help to organize memorial receptions for Members when requested. Please reach out to this month's Caring Contacts if you'd like to get involved with the Caring Network. |
Spiritual Care Visitors
Volunteer Spiritual Care Visitors visit members of the Congregation who ask for, or who are thought to need, support. They help people to make their own decisions and clarify their own choices. They are not professional counselors but may make referrals to the Spiritual Care Visitor and to the ministerial staff. Volunteer Lay Spiritual Care Visitors are members of the Congregation who have completed the Lay Spiritual Care training.
Volunteer Spiritual Care Visitors visit members of the Congregation who ask for, or who are thought to need, support. They help people to make their own decisions and clarify their own choices. They are not professional counselors but may make referrals to the Spiritual Care Visitor and to the ministerial staff. Volunteer Lay Spiritual Care Visitors are members of the Congregation who have completed the Lay Spiritual Care training.
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Lay Chaplaincy
Lay Chaplains perform both child naming/parent dedication services and memorial services and are licensed by the province to perform weddings. They perform these services for both members of our congregation and people who are not members but wish to use their services. Lay Chaplains take intensive training that includes regular meetings with the Minister and observing services they will perform. Their training is overseen by the Canadian Unitarian Council through the Ministry and Lay Chaplaincy Committee. Unitarian Universalist Lay Chaplains across Canada are part of an organization which provides workshops for professional development. |
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The Lay Chaplaincy Team is responsible for overseeing the Lay Chaplaincy program at FirstU. If you would like to pursue Lay Chaplaincy, please contact the office for more information.
