Sunday, February 3rd.

Unitarian Universalism: Then and Now
Reverend Shana Lynngood
This Sunday we welcome guests from the Victoria multi-faith society and will take this opportunity to reexamine our faith tradition. Are there a few formative historic stories we should regularly remind ourselves of? What does our faith have to offer in the 21st century? What is the link between our past and present?

Worship services every Sunday at 10:30am – Everyone Welcome!
First Unitarian Church of Victoria
5575 West Saanich Road
Victoria, B.C.
V9E 2G1    

Dear friends,

A multi-faith conference in honour of World Religion Day will be held,

Sunday, January 20^th, 2013 at 1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Place: David Lam auditorium,  MacLaurin Building (A)*
University of Victoria

The theme of the conference is: Justice and Compassion – Where is the Balance?  The public is warmly invited to attend this free event, which will include panel discussions with local members of 8 world faiths, music, a question and answer period, displays and refreshments.

The event is sponsored by the Bahá’í community of Victoria, the Victoria Multifaith Society, the Inter-Cultural Association of Victoria, Restorative Justice Victoria, and Mead Simon the Baha’i representative with UVic Multifaith Services.

Program:

1:30 pm Audience views displays and chooses seats.
1:45 pm Welcome by MC, Dr. Elaine McCreary.
1:50 pm Video Presentation: “I Was Here”
1.55 pm Keynote, Mead Simon of UVic Multifaith Services.
2:00 pm Moderated Panel of Faiths, Question1: Christian, Islam, Aboriginal Spirituality, Buddhist.
2:40 pm Audience Interactive Pause.
2:45 pm Moderated Panel of Faiths, Question 2: Jewish, Hindu, Sikh, Baha’i.
3:25 pm Audience Q & A for panel.
3:40 pm Closing arts presentation.
3:45 pm Refreshments in the lobby, with displays and information.

MC and Discussion Chair: Dr Elaine McCreary.
Dr. McCreary has been a tenured professor in the field of lifelong learning as applied to social and economic development. Her degrees are in in Andragogy, History and Philosophy of Adult Education, and information science. she has worked for over five years in Haifa, Isreal at the Baha’i World Centre and has served as the Baha’i representative in UVic Multifaith Services. She currently works for the BC Ministry of Advanced Education.

Discussion Panel One.
Question: How do we balance compassion and justice, based on the teachings and spiritual principles of our respective faiths?

Islam: Sheikh Afraz Baksh. Immam of the Masjid Al-Iman, the new mosque of Victoria’s Muslim community, now estimated at 2000 members, more than one-quarter being students. Afraz is also the Muslim Chaplain for UVic Multifaith Services.
Christian: Jenn Geddes. Jenn is currently the Presbyterian Chaplain for UVic Multifaith Services.
Buddhist: Venerable Eshu Martin. He is the guiding force behind the Victoria Zen Centre and the past chair of the World Interfaith Education Association (BC).
Aboriginal Spirituality: Sabrina Williams. Sabrina is the Cultural Programs Coordinator at Surrounded by Cedar Child and Family Services. She is from Quw’utsun territory and has worked with Aboriginal organizations for over twenty years.

Discussion Panel Two.
Question: What does a compassionate world and compassionate community look like, especially when dealing with those who hold different world views?

Baha’i Faith: Dr. Mary-Wynne Ashford. Mary was a family doctor and Palliative Care Physician for 15 years, was active in the nuclear disarmament movement. She has received the prestigious Gandhi Award and the Governor General of Canada’s medal on two occasions.
Judaism: Rabbi Harry Brechner. Harry has been the spritual leader of Congregation Emanu-El in Victoria, he has served as the head and director of education for a number of schools in the USA. He has a background in early childhood education and child development.
Hinduism: Dr. Shashi Prasad is active in the Hindu community in Victoria. She has degrees in the Hindi language and Litrerature, Comparative Religion and Philosophy and has taught at universities in India and Canada including the University of Victoria.
Sikhism: Jagir Singh Virk has served as the Sikh Board member for the Victoria Multifaith Society since 2010. He has an M.A. in Sociology and an M.B.A. He has lived in Victoria since 1994, working as a mental health worker and a real estate agent.

We look forward to seeing you at this exciting and joyful event!

Kind regards,

S. Flood for the WRD Organizing Committee

* The closest parking lots are near the Music Wing of the MacLaurin Building and also the Fine Arts Building / Interfaith chapel.  There is no charge on Sunday for either lot.

The Multifaith Action Society  is pleased to announce the launch of its latest interfaith bridging project, entitled “The Power of Spirit: A Multifaith Exploration of Triumph Over Adversity and Persecution,” on the evening of January 23, 2013 at the Vancouver Baha’i Centre (5880 Main Street, Vancouver).

The Power of Spirit focuses on the various ways in which faith and spirituality has helped BC’s diverse religious communities to overcome adversity throughout history and into today. By inviting community-nominated speakers and participants of different faiths to reflect on and share the spiritual principles that saw them through dark times, the Society hopes to explore how they might empower people and communities who find themselves in similar situations today.

The January 23 session at the Vancouver Baha’i Center will be the first of six monthly forums, each hosted by a different spiritual community and featuring a revolving guest community. The series will conclude with a communal event in which all participating faiths will gather together to share what they have learned and forge new intercultural and interfaith connections.

All sessions will take place between 6:30pm and 9:00pm. Admission is free, event passports will be stamped for door prizes, and refreshments will be served. All are welcomed to attend.

The event schedule is as follows:

• January 23: Vancouver Baha’i Centre, 5880 Main Street, Vancouver
• February 20: Laxmi Narayan Mandir, 8321 140 Street, Surrey
• March 27: Church of Scientology of Vancouver, 401 West Hastings Street, Vancouver
• April 17: Aboriginal Mothers’ Centre, 2019 Dundas Street, Vancouver
• May 15: Masjid al-Salaam, 5060 Canada Way, Burnaby
• June 19: Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara, 8115 132 Street, Surrey

The Power of Spirit project is made possible through funding from the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia.

Celebrate Gandhi’s Birthday and the International Day of Non-Violence!

Place: 1st. Metropolitan United Church Chapel
            932 Balmoral Avenue, Victoria.
Time:   7pm – 9pm

FREE EVENT – ALL ARE WELCOME!

Discover and explore the many paths to peace through storytelling and discussion with members of Victoria’s spiritual communities.

… be the change you want to see in the world …
A religion that takes no account of practical affairs and does not help to solve them is no religion.
Mahatma Gandhi.

In collaboration with the Canadian Department of Peace Initiative (Victoria) www.departmentofpeace.ca
Contact: Penny Joy,  pjoy@shaw.ca or phone 250-383-5878

There will be an event hosted by the Baha’i Community of Victoria to celebrate the centenary anniversary of the visit of Abdu’l-Bahá to Canada.

Abdu’l-Baha was the son of Baha’u’llah, founder of the Baha’i Faith.  He came to America at the invitation of the American Baha’is.  He was 67 years old and in frail health, having lived most of his life in exile and as a prisoner.   He had, before coming, received seven invitations to speak.  Beyond these engagements an amazing number of opportunities emerged, affecting thousands of people.  This performance will share some of the stories of those who met him.

Date: The event will be held on Sunday, 9 September, 2012
Place: Alix Goolden Hall – 907 Pandora Avenue.
Time: There will be a reception at 3:00pm, followed at 4:00pm by  a performance.

You are all warmly invited to attend this joyful event, and to share this invitation with others. The event is open to everyone.

We hope to see you all there.
Sharon Welsh, Victoria Multifaith Society Baha’i Member

Indigenous Rights in the UN System
Celebrating the 5th. Anniversary of the UN Declaration
on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Speakers:
Journalist & Educator Kenneth Deer of the Mohawk Nation at Kahnawake.
Robert Morales, lawyer and chief negotiator for Hul’quminum Treaty Group.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 13, 7:00 – 9:00p.m.
Room 159, Fraser Building
University of Victoria (3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, BC)
Admission is free. Seating is limited.

To mark the 5th. anniversary of the UN Declaration of Indigenous Peoples, Kenneth Deer will discuss (via videotape) the development of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and its 25-year passage through the UN system. Deer’s talk will be followed by an address by Robert Morales on the recent Canadian developments & issues relating to the UNDRIP.

For other talks in the series see www.lrwc.org or contact lrwc@portal.ca; 604-738-0338

Co-sponsored by: Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada, www.lrwc.org; www.hulquminum.bc.ca; Amnesty International, www.amnesty.ca; University of Victoria – Law, www.law.uvic.ca; University of Victoria – Social Justice Studies, web.uvic.ca/socialjustice.

Learning from the Celtic Traditions

A one hour talk with The Very Rev. Logan McMenamie,
Dean of Christ Church Cathedral

Musical Guest, Emlyn Sheeley, Soprano

First Church of Christ, Scientist, Victoria
1205 Pandora Avenue, at Chambers

Monday evening, July 16 @ 7pm

“Following the departure of the Roman Legions from Britain, the country declined into a dark age, However, in the north and west, a light continued to glow. That light came from what has come to be known as the ‘Celtic Fire.’ This evening will be an opportunity to learn about the essence of this fire in the life of these people we know as the Celts,” writes Rev. McMenamie.

This evening will be a rare opportunity to discover more about early Christianity from fresh perspectives and to discuss its relevance for today.

 We will ask, “What do the traditions of those who live in the islands of the North Atlantic have to teach us in our present context?”

 After the talk, there will be an opportunity for questions and discussion and to meet the Very Rev. McMenamie – while enjoying dessert.

Everyone is welcome

The following events take place as a continuation of Part II Dialogue Project (ICA) and The Victoria Multifaith Society.

Open House Series.
The Victoria Multifaith Society and the Intercultural Association invite you to the following Open House series.
People of all faiths are invited to attend these events and to learn about each other in community.

Christian Open House
Saturday April 28, 2012, 2:00 – 4:00pm
Christians from a diverse range of Christian backgrounds will come together for an afternoon of sharing, music and essential Christian expressions and presentations, each sharing from their own tradition, resulting in a mosaic of Christian expression as found in the Greater Victoria area.

Christian Faith Open House.
First Church of Christ, Scientist. (Christian Science Church)
1205 Pandora Ave. at Chambers St.
(Large white domed building at the top of Harris Green)
Program:
2:00 – 3:30pm   presentations and question and answer.
3:30 – 4:00pm   meet and greet and refreshments.
Parking is in the lot next to the church on Chambers St.
For more information about this event contact the Christian Science Reading Room 250-383-0216; or christiansciencebooks@telus.net

Speakers at This event will be:

• The Very Rev. Dr. Logan McMenamie fulfills roles in both the local Victoria Anglican parish and the diocese of British Columbia. As Rector of Christ Church Cathedral, he is a pastor and teacher and supervises all operations of the parish. As Dean of Columbia, he is second in ecclesiastical rank to the Bishop.

• Anna Bowness Park is a full time Christian Science practitioner of spiritual healing, and the spokesperson for Christian Science in British Columbia. She also is the founder and co-moderator a multifaith discussion blog, Spiritually Speaking,  for the Victoria Times Colonist newspaper print edition and website.

• Pastor Lyle Mackenzie is pastor of Evangelical Lutheran Church Of The Cross, on Cedar Hill Road. He also is a chaplain at the University of Victoria, and a contributor to the Times Colonist Spiritually Speaking blog.

• Margaret O’Donnell is founder and executive director of The Oasis Society for Spiritual Health offering spiritual care for the most vulnerable – those largely on the street.

• Gordon Miller is a United Church member and a professional musician with a music business that offers a wide range of services.  As a person of deep faith, he has beautifully melded his faith with his music and loves to engage people with their community through music.
  Please join us for this family friendly community faith event. Refreshments and snacks served. No registration required.

Baha’i’ Faith Open House.
Sun. May 27th. 3 – 5pm
At Windsor Park Pavilion – 2451 Windsor Road, Oak Bay.

Buddhist Open House Open House.
Sat. June 9th. Noon -2pm
4095 Orion Place – Saanich, Gordon Head near UVic.

Unitarian Faith Open House.
Sun. June 10th. Service10am – 11am, Open House 11am – 2pm.
Capital Unitarian Universalist Congregation at James Bay New Horizons – 234 Menzies Street, Victoria.
All faiths are welcome at the service and the open house.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission will be holding its first Regional Event, April 13-14, 2012 in the city of Victoria, BC.
There will be two – five day workshops leading up to this event – one for non-aboriginal people and the other for aboriginal people – the workshops are sponsored by Returning to Spirit non-profit society to support the healing process of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission dealing with residential schools in our communities.
For more information go to:
www.trc.ca and http://vimeo.com/33428256

RETURNING TO SPIRIT
WELCOME to the RTS Workshop One (NON-ABORIGINAL)
Monday to Friday (March 26 – 30, 2012)

Hosted by the Diocese of Victoria at:
St. Joseph the Worker Parish
753 W. Burnside Road, Victoria, BC V8S 3Y2

Coordinators: Cynthia Bouchard-Watkins and Mary Parry
For information, please contact Mary at 250-477-0593 or
via email: maryparry@shaw.ca

RETURNING TO SPIRIT
WELCOME to the RTS Workshop Two (ABORIGINAL)
Monday to Friday (March 26 – 30, 2012)

Hosted by the Diocese of Victoria at the:
Health Unit – Penelakut Island

For information, please contact the Coordinators:
Fr. Jai Joseph (250) 737-1967
Rella Sylvester (250-709-9394)
Sarah Modeste (250-701-7103)

Brought to you by: CONNECTING CULTURES

Info at www.healthandsocialdevelopment.com or romy.pritchard@ccultures.com 250.920.0373

5 Diverse communities, 10 Artists, 50 Pieces of Art.

5 Cultural Events, One Final Art Show.

Connecting Cultures would like to invite you to participate in the upcoming “Seeing it Through Your Eyes 2”.  This project comprises 5 events with 5 diverse cultures where the Culture, Art, Music, Food, Friendship, Customs, Language, Conversation and Community will be shared. Be a participant in this cultural exchange.

There is no charge for these events but donations will be gratefully accepted. The next events are at:

Italian Community, March 11, 2012, 4:00 – 6:00 pm
Da Vinci Centre, 149 Bay St.

Art Show – Opens May 14 – May 26, Hours 9 – 4 pm.
Daily: Opening Night, May 14, 6 – 9 pm.
Arts Centre at Cedar Hill Recreation Centre, 3220 Cedar Hill Rd.

This project is made possible through the funding from the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia in partnership with the Community Arts Council of Greater Victoria and the Arts Centre at Cedar Hill. .