Holding Us Together
Join a small group with Rev. Shana this fall and discuss how we can care for ourselves, our inner circle of connections and our larger world while staying distant. What tools of spiritual practices and reflection can sustain us in these uncertain times?
1) Tuesday afternoons from 12:30 pm to 2 pm — Sept. 22, Oct. 6 and 20, Nov. 3 and 17, and Dec. 1
or
2) Thursday evenings from 6 pm to 7:30 pm — Sept. 24, Oct. 8 and 22, Nov. 5 and 19, and Dec. 3
When times are hard we need to have our spiritual lives in good shape (a sort of spiritual-wellness/ fitness such as we have for our physical health), and we need to be able to contemplate what matters most with others. The pandemic has laid bare our need to focus on what is “essential.”
Each small group session will focus on a practice and invite group sharing on what has been most challenging and what has been most nurturing during the Covid-19 outbreak. Please consider joining one of the two 6-session groups that will run from late September to early December.
Depending on the state of the pandemic we may meet outside on church grounds to begin and then move to Zoom for November and December.
Please sign up if you are available for at least 5 of the 6 sessions so that we may build a depth of connection and sharing as a group. Email Rev. Shana or text 250-891-6331 to sign up.
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Beloved Conversations
UU Anti-Racism Program – Coming this Fall to our congregation! Sign up before Sept 15!
This fall, our congregation will have the opportunity to pilot the new online version of this deep and rich Unitarian Universalist program on race and ethnicity. 
“…this is a program for Unitarian Universalists who are seeking to embody racial justice as a spiritual practice. We believe that we are here to heal the impact of racism on our lives in order to get free together. Beloved conversations is intended to be a tool in your toolbox, for you as an individual, and [as] a part of a congregation, to eradicate white supremacy, to work to become anti-racist, and to make our faith a welcoming place for everyone.” – Rev. Kierstin Homblette Allen, co-creator of Beloved Conversations
Beloved Conversations: Virtual will be rolling out over the next several church years, beginning in September, 2020. This new version of the program will be released in three phases:
- Within (the individual, personal work we each need to do);
- Among (the institutional, systemic change needed in our congregations); and
- Beyond (the work outside our congregations, with our local communities).
The program this fall (phase one -Within) runs October through mid-December, and includes:
- Individual study of videos and readings, accompanied by reflection prompts and suggested conversations with “critical friends” chosen by the participants
- Bi-weekly small group conversations in a “learning pod”
- Larger, monthly, ‘meaning making sessions,’ facilitated by Beloved Conversations staff
The “Within” work is different for White folks and for Black, Indigenous and other People of Color and will be done entirely in race-based caucuses.
The program normally costs $150 per person, but thanks to a generous grant from our Ruth Humphreys Innovation Fund, we have secured 20 spaces for our congregation.
To register–
Step 1, before Sept 15:
Let Rev. Melora know you want to sign up by adding your name and contact info to this google doc
(If you can’t do the google doc sign up, you can email Rev. Melora directly or phone 250-891-6330. Please put “Beloved Conversations” in subject heading.)
Step 2, before Sept 20:
Use the code Rev. Melora sends you to register as part of our congregation’s group with the Continental UU Beloved Conversations Program, through which we will each receive the program materials.
As this is work we need to do as an entire congregation, our ministers, Revs. Shana and Melora Lynngood, and our Director of SEL-CY (Spiritual Exploration and Learning for Children and Youth), Arran Liddel, will all be engaging in the program as well.
“We are welcoming people into this work no matter where they find themselves in their understanding of race and racism and what their experiences have been in the world.” – Rev. Kierstin Homblette Allen, co-creator of Beloved Conversations
More information about Beloved Conversations can be found here. Feel free to ask Rev. Melora if you have any questions.
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Connect During COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed how we gather and connect. Through it all, rest assured that the church staff and community are still here for you — virtually and by phone. Here is how to connect with the community:
Sunday worship
We continue to gather online at 10:30 a.m. every Sunday. The Zoom connection info will be emailed to all members and friends on Friday or Saturday. You can connect by phone or online. Check your inbox and then please join us.
Kids and Families
Social Justice Storytime: Picture book stories for all ages. Gather at 8:15 am Monday – Saturday.
Click here for more info.
Summer Camps
Visit https://victoriaunitarian.ca/children-youth/curriculum/ for information about children’s summer camps.
Pub Night
Meets on Zoom on the first and third Mondays at 7 pm each month for informal social connection. Email hopewell@telus.net to receive the Zoom link.
Pastoral Care
Communications and Church Business
Our church office and staff continue to work to keep us connected. Our weekly, newsletter, and sometimes special messages will be sent out to keep you posted on what is happening and how to remain plugged in to the community. Be sure to check the Church Calendar for upcoming Zoom meetings.
Our office staff will be working remotely and you can still reach them during their regular work hours — their email addresses are unchanged. You can leave voicemail messages on the church phone 250-744-2665 as they will be retrieved each business day (not Friday or Saturday).
You can reach Shannon about all Communications needs (setting up a Zoom meeting, sending out messages to the congregation, database, social media) at communications@victoriaunitarian.ca.
You can reach Church Administrator, Niki, for questions about cheque requisitions, rental concerns, general office needs, or property questions that have arisen even while we don’t meet on West Saanich Road. Niki can be reached at churchoffice@victoriaunitarian.ca.
More than anything, we want you to know that we are still here for you. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with a call, text, or email if you want to connect.
– Rev. Melora and Rev. Shana
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