Our Lay Chaplain team will lead us in a service honouring the Pagan tradition of Imbolc by reflecting on the meaning and power of spiritual intentions. Like last year the "spiritual intentions" will be read out loud, with a phrase of acknowledgement affirmed by the congregation. Download the Order of Service…
Rev. Shawn Gauthier While Valentine’s is typically thought of as a day to celebrate romantic love, we will mark this approaching holiday as an invitation to bask in the splendour of love’s many forms. This Sunday’s service will involve a marvellous mix of music and powerful poems that speak to…
Rev. Shawn Gauthier Are we, at VanU, Unitarians, Universalists, or Unitarian Universalists? The answer to this perennial question isn’t always simple or straight-forward. This Sunday, Rev. Shawn will attempt to provide us with some context to help everyone in deciding this question for themselves. Download the Order of Service Recommend…
Rev. Shana Lynngood, Guest Minister We are joined this Sunday by Rev. Shana Lynngood, Co-Minister at First Unitarian in Victoria. (Rev. Shawn and Rev. Shawna are exchanging pulpits this Sunday, so Shawn will be leading the service in Victoria.) About the service, Rev. Lynngood writes: “I have found myself reflecting…
Rev. Shawn Gauthier There’s an old and unflattering quip about Unitarian congregations being like groups of porcupines huddled together for warmth. Rev. Shawn’s sermon on Sunday will explore whether this statement holds a kernel of truth, and whether we just might aspire to greater things by finding strength in community.…
VanU Partner Church Team This Sunday, come celebrate the near-completion of the church we built with our Burundian partners! Our celebratory service will include talks by our own Burundian refugees, a song by our choir in Burundi’s national language and a rendition of the Burundi’s moving national anthem. There will…
Rev. Shawn Gauthier It’s been five years, this week, since Covid-19 shut down much of the world around us. Five years on, much has changed, some for the better, and some for the worse. We now find ourselves in a new period of heightened anxiety over the present state of…
Rev. Shawn Gauthier As Unitarians, we often take a bit of pride in our aversion to proselytizing. But why is that? And is our aversion serving us—or the world—well? On Sunday, Rev. Shawn will be speaking about why it’s important that we live our faith out loud, especially in these complicated times.…
Rev. Shawn Gauthier This Sunday, Rev. Shawn gathers with a number of the elders of our congregation to reflect in conversation about the highs and lows across their many years at VanU. This circle of elders will speak about when they’ve been proudest of the congregation, when they’ve been most…
Casey Stainsby When the world is turned upside down, how are we to respond? It’s understandable to feel that big upheaval requires an equally big response, but the truth is, there are an infinite number of responses available to us. One that is perhaps counter-intuitive is to tend to the…
What Do We Owe Our Children? Rev. Shawn Gauthier This Sunday we will gather to celebrate the role of children in our lives, and especially in our congregation. Rev. Shawn will lead us in a double child-dedication ceremony for Rowan and Benjamin Wulff. Rev. Shawn’s sermon will reflect on our…
Rev. Shawn Gauthier This Sunday, we celebrate Easter from a Unitarian angle. Rev. Shawn's sermon will explore the meaning of redemption for Unitarians. Kiersten will tell the story of The Rainbow Fish. And the choir will bring us Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" and Bob Marley's "Redemption Song." Download the Order of Service…
