Topic: Spirituality

The Adventure of Self-Discovery [hybrid]

Steve Sim’s, a new resident of Lachine In this presentation, Steve will explore themes that focus on growth in self-knowledge, and the wisdom of personal transformation. For each of us, an epic journey of learning and loving unfolds out of life’s endless summons to transformation – the invitation to live more consciously, more creatively, more compassionately.
Wisdom guides us into the unknown – a quality of attention and intention marks out a journey to find the hidden self. The way is often dark: moving beyond illusion and isolation, composting muddy emotions, deconstructing the ego, transforming fear into loving kindness. The soul fire of the universe is love. As we give and receive love, we connect with the whole of life – its beauty, its intelligence, its purpose, its timeless harmony.

Hints of the Numinous in the Ordinary

Dr. Wheatcroft says: As I gain in years, I find temporal things less valued, yet often more respected. Many of them are quite necessary for quality of life and so they are deeply intrenched in our memory and psyche, holding subjective and objective value. The great … read more.

Thanks Be for This Amazing Life

Richard Gilbert writes: ‘Sometimes I am so busy trying to repair a broken world that I leave my soul untended. Therefore, I will reflect on some soulful words from Unitarian poet e. e. cummings. It helps me remember that at 85 I need to ponder what this long life really means.’

The Power of the Human Spirit

Clifford Lincoln writes: Watching President Putin this week, as he delivered his frighteningly-negative decision about Ukraine, I could not help thinking about the immense good he could have done instead, by directing the billions in military hardware and preparations, towards the common good, and the welfare of his people.
I also thought of Russia, which I have visited on several occasions, and of a very special Russian individual who used the power of her indomitable human spirit towards the common good and the cause of the oppressed.

What the World Needs Now – A Larger Love

One feature of pandemic time is our continually shifting social landscape. Activities, events, appointments and gatherings are cancelled and endlessly rescheduled; schools and businesses close and reopen repeatedly. It used to be the snowy weather.
For one constant in today’s world, we need look no further than the timeless theme of love. Call it Universalism writ large — together let’s re-imagine what love looks like in our time.

The Gods Within My Hero’s Journey

It is always a joy to welcome Scott MacLeod back to our congregation. In the past, he has shared his animated early immigrant stories from three of Canada’s largest cultural communities as well as the heartbreaking tale of one of Canada’s indigenous peoples, the Abenaki.
Scott will now share with us his own story. He has created a series of self-portraits examined via grounded theory in an art-based research exploration of his identity and past, present and future. He collected nine cultural myths/gods of his predecessors that best reflect his own life history – what Joseph Campbell called the “hero’s journey.”

Influential Recordings

Matthew Hunt-Russell will discuss and show examples of music that have shaped the way he plays and listens to music. As a musician, listening to music is as important as instrumental practice, and certain artists have played vital roles in his cultivation of a personal sound and style.

The Mystical Way

Calogero Cumbo returns and he sets out his theme: I believe that the exclusivity of action and contemplation is a false dichotomy: action and contemplation can work together, each leading to the other.  In my talk I outline the four stages of what I call The Mystical Way, a way which undulates between action and contemplation.

Houses of Hope

Unitarian Universalist congregations are rightly held up as havens of hope – houses of hope – in difficult times.  In this emerging new world we now face, is this still true?  We will gently consider this question with music, readings, and reflection. 

Ecstatic. Thanks. Giving.

Three words.  Ecstatic Thanks. Giving.  Capitalized.  What do you feel, think, suppose, when these words appear before you?  Where is the pleasure and the pain within these few words?  Where is the challenge and the hope? 
Whether face down in the mud or dancing a jig, may we dare to be lifted by the Spirit and Mystery of Life. This Thanksgiving. May there be Ecstatic Thanks Giving.