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Your COVID-19 Advisory Task Force (Kristina Stevens, Jim Willis, Nancy Dobbs, Tiff Tiffany, Steve Sharlow, and Rev Melora Lynngood) has received Board approval to modify our procedures to better reflect our members’ wishes from the survey, the science and recent changes to the provincial guidelines.

Sunday morning worship will remain online until phase 4 of B.C.’s re-start plan which will allow for larger gatherings (50 or more people).

This means we will plan for online Zoom worship through May 2021.  This may be revised if, for example, the BC government changes its guidelines. The updated guidelines approved by the board are at here.

A survey of church members and friends was undertaken in June to help the Board assess the members’ levels of risk tolerance.

You told us that a majority felt vulnerable to COVID-19, and many were reluctant to take part in any in-person activities, especially indoors, until a vaccine is available. For this reason we are planning to continue with online worship services. A number of responses expressed concern to avoid setting up in-person church functions which would exclude those who felt unable to attend. View survey results here.

There were also a small number of responses from people who very much wanted to meet indoors in person for worship and social contact. To facilitate this, we encourage groups to meet in person while worship stays online so that people can get together to watch the online service.

If sufficient volunteers can be found, we will set up in-person viewing of Sunday services on Zoom in the Lion Hall, for those who would like to attend. We are working on the technical and volunteer aspects of holding in person viewing in Lion Hall and hope that it will be ready soon.

Protocols for indoor meetings would be observed. If you are interested in volunteering to support this, please email Nancy Dobbs.

The amended guidelines will permit gatherings of up to 50 people in the Sanctuary, up to 25 people in Lion Hall, up to 7 people in the Farmhouse Common Room and up to 50 people gathered outside the church. These numbers would also permit choirs and musical instruments, preferably outdoors. 

In order to ensure that everyone is familiar with the plan, we will be holding a Zoom online forum to answer any of your questions on Tuesday, October 6 from 7 pm – 8 pm. Please check the e-weekly for the sign-in information.

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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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Let the warm memories of your commitment live a lifetime.

A lay wedding officiant will help you design a ceremony that expresses your deepest feelings and spiritual ideals.

An uplifting wedding will touch the hearts of all and become a joyful occasion, telling the world of your abiding devotion.

Invite one our lay chaplains to design a ceremony that reflects your true selves – what you wish to say to each other; what you wish to show everyone. To contact a lay chaplain please email laychaplains

More information here.

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Curious about our congregation?

Just discovered us?

A Unitarian from elsewhere? 

During this time of the COVID-19 pandemic you can still get to know us. For more information please contact Rev. Shana at rev.shana@victoriaunitarian.ca or 250-891-6331.

You may view our Sunday services on Zoom. Just send an email after 9 a.m. Sunday to obtain the entry code. Then join us online at 10:15 a.m. for the Sunday worship service.

 

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Drop in for a 10:30 am Sunday service.

You’ll receive a friendly greeting at the door and after the service come by the Visitors’ Table in front of the sanctuary. Ask questions. If you wish, fill out a Visitor Welcome form to receive our newsletters and get connected to a friendly group in your neighbourhood.

More information.

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Do you want to attend Sunday morning services or Jazz Vespers but can’t get there?  Check here to locate a ride-share volunteer who passes through your area. The volunteers have provided contact information and their travel routes.

If you have questions please email LocationTaskForce@victoriaunitarian.ca

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7 pm to 8 pm in the Sanctuary – a cappella perfect 5-part harmony by Natasha Penfield, Jilaine Orton, Ryan Narciso, Kenji Lee and Taylor Caswell. This vocal quintet with its percussive accents and infectious swing defines jazz in the traditions of Manhattan Transfer, Pentatonix and Lambert Hendrix and Ross. With and the spiritual musings of Reverend Shana.

Fifth Street is a vocal quintet based in Victoria. Its five members met at the University of Victoria’s School of Music and formed the group out of a desire to make music together and continue growing as artists. Inspired by a cappella powerhouses such as Pentatonix, The Real Group and M-Pact, Fifth Street combines the worlds of pop, jazz and R&B in five-part harmony.

By donation and greatly appreciated.

Natasha Penfield’s vocal versatility is thanks to her passion across musical genres – as well as her years of study in musical theatre, classical, and contemporary music. A soprano, with high notes described as “ethereal”, she rounds off the top harmonies in Fifth Street.

Both a professional vocalist and music educator, Jilaine Orton’s alto voice brings a unique warmth to Fifth Street’s sound. She spearheads the quintet’s educational clinics, where her expertise as a performer and teacher shines as an invaluable asset to the ensemble.

Ryan Narciso is a singer, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist whose Youtube cover songs have garnered millions of views. Having performed around the world with award-winning musicians such as Tori Kelly and Jed Madela, he now lends his talents to Fifth Street as the quintet’s tenor.

In addition to performing as Fifth Street’s beatboxer, Kenji Lee also frequently sings with the quintet as a baritone and bass. Kenji is a prolific arranger who finds inspiration in fusing current popular music with both jazz and electronic dance.

Trained as a vocalist, pianist and bassist from childhood, Taylor Caswell was influenced by a variety of musical styles including pop, jazz, and musical theatre. He now sings as Fifth Street’s bass while occasionally arranging for the group.

Enjoy jazz with a splash of spiritual inspiration in venues with exquisite sound and setting. These hour-long evening services are a unique blend of jazz and spirituality. Each service brings together live music from popular local jazz musicians, a brief meaningful message, and a little of the history of the music performed. 

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Send an email after 9 a.m. Sunday to obtain the entry code.

Then join us online at 10:15 a.m. for the Sunday worship service.

 

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Fifth Street Quintet’s five members met at the University of Victoria’s School of Music and formed the group out of a desire to make music together and continue growing as artists. They were inspired by a cappella powerhouses such as Pentatonix, The Real Group and M-Pact, Fifth Street combines the worlds of pop, jazz and R&B in five-part harmony.

Soprano Natasha Penfield can hit the high notes described as “ethereal.” She rounds off the top harmonies in Fifth Street’s vocal versatility thanks to her passion across musical genres – as well as her years of study in musical theatre, classical, and contemporary music. .

Alto Jilaine Orton is both a professional vocalist and music educator, whose voice brings a unique warmth to Fifth Street’s sound. She spearheads the quintet’s educational clinics, where her expertise as a performer and teacher shines as an invaluable asset to the ensemble.

Tenor Ryan Narciso has performed around the world with award-winning musicians such as Tori Kelly and Jed Madela. As a singer, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist his Youtube cover songs have garnered millions of views.

Kenji Lee performs as Fifth Street’s beatboxer and also frequently sings with the quintet as a baritone and bass. Kenji is a prolific arranger who finds inspiration in fusing current popular music with both jazz and electronic dance.

Bass Taylor Caswell trained as a vocalist, pianist and bassist from childhood Influenced by a variety of musical styles including pop, jazz, and musical theatre he occasionally does arranging for the group.

 

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