unitarianfellowshipregina

What Does It Mean to Have Hope

Guest Minister: Rev. Fulgence Ndagijimana

When Pandora opened the box, and all manner of problems flew out, hope remained. Can we have hope in this world? Why and how does hope persist? Is it even helpful? How is hope generated? Originally from Burundi where he was an ordained Unitarian Minister, Rev. Ndagijimana is now affiliated with the Saskatoon Unitarians as a Community Minister.

Insights into the Transgender World of Jett Brewer

Presenter: Jett Brewer

Jett Brewer tells us about his personal journey as a transgender person. Jett Brewer is a trans man who is transitioning midlife. After 3 decades of depression and social anxiety he discovered the cause of these struggles to be that he is transgender. He was shocked to learn that gender issues are incredibly common. He spent the next 3 years doing peer counselling, advocating, lobbying and educating anyone that would listen about trans issues. He has held the positions of Vice President and Co-Chair of TransSask, and been on many boards and committees with such organizations as Queen City Pride and Camp fyrefly.

Jett has spoken at rallies at City Hall and the Legislative building. He has also talked to university classes, community organizations, churches, and the Regina Mental Health Clinic staff. He has helped facilitate support groups for trans gender individuals as well as their families. He has met personally with politicians and participated in a provincial education round table on GLBTQ issues. He has been interviewed on TV and radio many times. Most recently he has put volunteering aside to focus on his own healing journey. He is breaking his silence now because of his respect for the Unitarian Fellowship and the relationships he has built with some of the members here.

Learn about Yom Kippur

Presenter: Rabbi Jeremy Parnes

Yom Kippur, also known as "Day of Atonement", is the holiest day of the year for the Jews. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Jews traditionally observe this holy day with a 25 hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue services. Yom Kippur completes the annual period in Judaism known as the High Holy Days. As one of the most culturally significant Jewish Holidays, Yom Kippur is observed by many secular Jews who may not observe other holidays. Rabbi Jeremy Parnes is the spiritual leader of the Beth Jacob synagogue and helps us understand this most important of days.

Dare to be Different

A participatory discussion facilitated by Andrew Quackenbush
Recently we’ve seen news stories about civil disobedience and the value of same. What sorts of resistance are most fruitful? When do you speak up and dare to be different?

The Inherent Worth and Dignity of Every Person, Without Exception

Speaker: Jamie Struthers

Unitarian Universalist congregations throughout Canada and the U.S. affirm and promote seven Principles, which we hold as strong values and moral guides. We strive to live out these Principles within a “living tradition” of wisdom and spirituality, drawn from sources as diverse as science, poetry, scripture, and personal experience.
As Rev. Barbara Wells ten Hove explains, “The Principles are not dogma or doctrine, but rather a guide for those of us who choose to join and participate in Unitarian Universalist religious communities.” Today Jamie Struthers, a Regina Unitarian, will reflect on our First Unitarian Universalist Principle and his belief that it be applicable without exception.

 

Fall Equinox

Presenter: Erin Wood

Erin Wood is a clergy member for the Congregationalist Wiccan Association of Saskatchewan (CWAS).  Today, she discusses the significance of the Autumn Equinox for Wiccans.  This festival is also known as Harvest Home or Mabon, and is part of the Wheel of the Year, a cycle of seasonal festivals celebrated by Wiccans and many other modern Pagans. The Autumn Equinox is a time of thanksgiving for the fruits of the earth, and the second of three harvest festivals.  The CWAS is an incorporated non-profit organization that offers free public Wiccan rituals and services to the general public in Saskatchewan (www.cwasask.ca)

Women In Islam

Presenter:  Hira Zahid

Hira Zahid speaks about her experiences as a Muslim woman.  Hira is currently a student at the University of Regina and is the VP External Affairs in the U of R Muslim Students Association.

Non-Theist Christianity

Presenter: John Whyte

It is not clear that belief in God is an essential aspect of pursuing a religious life or of being alive to spiritual experience. In fact, the God idea – no doubt generated and adopted for the good reasons of reflecting our need for bewitchment, our craving to understand human experience and our sense that human liberty must be tempered by accountability –  creates a divide in human experience that can separate us from a  rich and ennobling engagement with life’s full spiritual possibilities. While God can be a harmless metaphoric interface with experience, the causal improbabilities associated with dominant conceptions of God probably serve to drive the modern mind away from spirituality and away from the undoubted good of following the gospel’s central mandate to live mercifully.

Life on the Poetry Path

Quoting from her own poems, June Mitchell reflects on the Poetry Path and what puts the wind beneath her wings on her journey.

Out of The Mouths of Babes: Healthy Relationship Agreements [HRA] are Valuable

Presenter:  Joan Carolyn, Canadian Unitarian Council

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A message from our Canadian UU Youth Gatherings- HRA are desired and done.
Are you ever ready to kick in the “flight” response when you hear about a HRA? We celebrate the relationships which draw us and keep us here. We explore the value in creating a welcoming space which acknowledges that we all have room to grow and encourage people to risk “buy-in” with a process we feel is fair and appropriate when we address our growing edges.