The Lens of Liberation

Kelly Schaecher, Homilist
Jesse Invik, Worship Associate

Kelly reflects on her journey across places, identities, and personal crises to explore what “liberating love” truly means. Weaving together stories of wartime resistance, cultural mistrust, neurodiversity, and years of caregiving through illness and uncertainty, she reframes liberation not as escape, but as the courage to live with honesty, trust, and vulnerability. Through exhaustion, anxiety, and “poly crisis,” she discovers that freedom comes not from pushing harder, but from connection, adaptation, and care—for ourselves and each other. In the end, liberation is deeply personal, nonlinear, and shared: a messy, human process of breaking through what confines us and choosing to keep going, together.

Music: Cantabile Handbell Choir

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Time: Sunday, May 24, 7:15 pm
Place: UUCV Sanctuary

Be sure to join us for this uplifting, fun, and vibrant evening as your host, co-minister and Reverend of Jazz, Shana Lynngood, explores the historic roots of jazz interspersed with a note of spirituality.

Find Stella on Instragram at: @stellawhitemusic

All are welcome – admission by donation. All contributions go to the musicians and are very much appreciated.

The post Spirited Jazz: Stella White Quartet appeared first on Unitarian Universalist Community of Victoria.

Capacious Love

Rev Shana, Homilist
Karen Christie, Worship Associate

Some of my most favourite images of love are those that invite me to see it as larger than I can imagine. If love is not just a sentiment shared between particular, individual people what size and shape and form might we imagine it takes? How can we feel free to love others and ourselves and the world around us in ways that feel as large as we know might be possible?

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Neurodiversity: The Spice of Life

Dar Levy, Homilist
Dan Klimke, Worship Associate

Being neurodiverse in a one size fits all world is hard. Especially when our differences are judged as a disorder and something that needs to be fixed to better suit the ways of this world. Science tells us that diversity is a normal occurrence and is something needed for the survival of all species; then why does our modern day culture insist on pushing such differences away with such vengeance, and what can be gained or regained by embracing all of it as a welcome part of the whole?

Music: Chalice Choir

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In these tumultuous times in which the headlines are often deeply upsetting, our nervous systems can feel stressed and overwhelmed. We feel it as individuals, and we also feel it collectively. We are on edge. We find ourselves feeling both fragile and angry. We need spaces and places to come together and find and create a sense of comfort and connection.

Please join Music Director Christine Taber and Rev. Shana in an evening service designed to have us sing together, breathe together—connect in silence and song. We’ll learn chants and hear some words of poetry for reflection, as well as share some moments of silence.

The post Calming Our Spirits: A Special Evening Worship Experience appeared first on Unitarian Universalist Community of Victoria.

What Can I Say? Trans Affirmation

Rev Melora, Homilist
Ian Warrender, Worship Associate

What do you do when your old friend from high school posts something about transgender people that makes you uncomfortable? Or when an uncle at the Thanksgiving table says something ill-informed about the LBGTQ+ community? Recently, some of us UUCV members participated in the online course sponsored by CUC (our national organization of Canadian UUs, the Canadian Unitarian Council), and led by the phenomenal leaders of Transforming Hearts Collective. The program specifically focused on responding to the Anti-Trans Movement. We see it most clearly in Alberta, but its hateful fingers reach everywhere. In this service, we’ll share what we learned about the strategic ‘issues’ the right wing uses to divide us, and how to counter their arguments and influence.

Music: Bare Bones Band

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Does Love set us Free?

Rev Shana, Homilist
Jesse Invik, Worship Associate

Sophocles wrote, “One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life: that word is love.” It is certainly true that love, as our theme this month reminds us, has liberating qualities. There is a dimension of love that is about letting go and appreciating, the opposite of controlling or possessing. And yet, love is complex. How do we love in ways that feels freeing both to ourselves and those we love?

Music: Chalice Choir

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How it works: Members and supporters – watch your email for the auction link to go out on April 28! Then sign up for the auction using just your name and email — no password or payment info required. You’ll receive a paddle number and can browse items starting April 28. Bidding opens May 1 at 8am.

(Don’t see the email? Check your spam before reaching out to Jen.)

This year’s categories include:

• Early Bird Specials (fixed price — first come, first served!)
• Gift Cards from Victoria-area restaurants and shops
• Food experiences and dinner parties hosted by members
• Events & Getaways, including a treehouse stay and fireworks night
• The Market: homemade jams, baked goods, crafts, and more
• Pro Shop: services from handyperson work to harp lessons
• Gifts & Treats, including original First Nations art prints
• Raffle basket packed with local artisan products ($5/ticket)

The raffle draw takes place at the May 10 service. You don’t need to be present to win.

Questions about how the auction works? View our handy FAQ and how-to guide!

Still have questions? Reach out to Jen at hellojenyoung@gmail.com for help. (NOTE: The office is not directly involved in the auction and will not be able to help you.)

Need help bidding? Contact Astrid at afedesign@firley.ca or Fran at hancockf@telus.net — personal shoppers are available.

The post Auction 2026 — Our Biggest Fundraiser of the Year! appeared first on Unitarian Universalist Community of Victoria.

Earth Day; Nature Calls, will you Answer?

Brian Short, Homilist
Mollie Twidale, Worship Associate

It’s Earth Day again. What emotions does that bring up for you? Joy in the nature that surrounds us? Dread that we are not taking care of our Mother Earth? Our news feeds serve up a daily platter of climate disasters, but our collective response often seems to be helplessness, complacency, or similar. What if there was another response that might actually alter our course of potential doom? Brian will expound on where we are at, and what we can do to help heal.

Music: Bare Bones Band

View Service

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Time: Sunday, April 19, 7:15 pm
Place: UUCV Sanctuary

Be sure to join us for this uplifting, fun, and vibrant evening as your host, co-minister and Reverend of Jazz, Shana Lynngood, explores the historic roots of jazz interspersed with a note of spirituality.

Preview what’s to come at: www.attilafias.com

All are welcome – admission by donation. All contributions go to the musicians and are very much appreciated.

The post Spirited Jazz: Attila Fias appeared first on Unitarian Universalist Community of Victoria.