unitarianfellowshipregina

The Rhythm of the Saints

Presenter: Darlene Juschka.

        Santería, also known as la Regla de Ocha (The rule of the Oricha) or la religión Lucumi is a syncretic system of belief found in Cuba that combines Yoruba (Southwest Nigeria) and Spanish folk Catholicism. In this presentation, Darlene will briefly explain the history of Santería and some aspects of the system of belief, such as the world view, the Orichas (the saints), and ritual practice such as possession and healing.

Almost Fifty Years: How Far We’ve Come Since Stonewall

Presenter: Jean Hillabold

Have gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender people (to use a broad description) gained rights and visibility since the Stonewall Riots of 1969? Definitely, and this diverse community is arguably further ahead in Canada than in the U.S. However, liberation from the worst forms of oppression has created big changes in "queer culture," and not all have been improvements.

Ray Kurzweil -- Famous Unitarians Series

Ray Kurzweil -- Famous Unitarians Series
Presenter: Allyne Knox
Introducing Ray Kurzweil, futurist, inventor, entrepreneur extraordinaire. Ray gives " his Unitarian upbringing credit for his interest in scientific investigation without dogma".

Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA): successes and challenges

Presenter:  Otto Dreidger

CoSA is a non-profit organization that strengthens community safety by helping high-risk offenders who re-enter our communities after periods of incarceration.  Volunteer Circles assist these individuals to successfully reintegrate into the community by offering support, modelling and encouraging law-abiding life styles and accountability.

Amnesty International

Presenter: Libby Jeffry

In 1989, a Colombian lawyer was arrested at home by security forces. He managed to shout “Call Amnesty! Call Amnesty!” before he was taken away. With over 3 million members, Amnesty International is the world’s largest human rights movement. Backed by the organization's research teams, members of Amnesty International are empowered to take action and support those who are facing violations that are unfounded, based on the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights. Find out what happened next to this lawyer. How has Amnesty International changed (or saved) lives? What campaigns are currently under way?

Famous Unitarians Series: Bruce Hyer – Unitarian Universalist & Green Party M.P.

Presenter: Victor Lau

A presentation on Canada's second Green Party Member of Parliament. Bruce's life as a Unitarian Universalist and his timely politics will be explored and discussed.

Conflict between Human Rights & Canadian Mining in Guatemala

Presenters: Robbi Humble


Canadian mining companies are leading the field in international mining concessions, and unfortunately, also in human rights complaints in mineral-rich developing countries far away from Canadian eyes. The Indigenous Peoples of Guatemala, their way of life and livelihoods, are particularly threatened and are rising up against these violations of their rights and of their spiritual beliefs in the centrality of life and Mother Earth. How is this happening? What can we, as Canadians, do to take responsibility for our part in these global systems that perpetuate injustice in the name of profits on our behalf?

By their agreements you shall know them

Visiting Minister: Karen Fraser-Gitlitz


What are the principles that support healthy, inclusive communities? What guidelines or ground rules do you follow in your family and your friendships? The bonds of friendship and association provide us with some of the greatest joy and satisfaction in human life . . . and, every now and then, they provide us with some of our trickiest challenges. This morning we will explore some wisdom (aka painfully learned lessons!) from within our own tradition and beyond.

Imagist Poetry: Fragmentation and the Wish for Wholeness

Presenter: Alex MacDonald


This illustrated talk was read in February of this year as part of the University of Regina lecture series commemorating the centenary of the start of World War I in 1914. The talk begins with the observation made in many histories of the period, that the Great War was a cultural watershed, and that a characteristic feature of this watershed was the fragmentation of old ways of seeing the world. While fragmentation is certainly evident in Imagist poetry of the years from about 1910 to 1918, the other side of the binary is also present -- the wish for wholeness

What is Zen?

Presenter: Harriet Vu               Zen is a way of living that is focused on being awake, finding joy, happiness, and enlightenment in the present moment. It is a practice that measures its success by the degree of peace one expects in life.