Sorry, the archives still need some TLC and some links may be broken.

February to end of Summer Serendipity 2007

September 2, 2007 - Open House 10:30 AM
Service Leader: Carl Ulrich
Musician: Jacqueline Willette

August 26, 2007 - Hymn Sing with Jacqueline Willette

August 19, 2007 - Lyndia Peters "where ART thou? Make a mark with visual art: Art, Activism and Spirituality"

August 12, 2007 - Favourite Songs - please feel free to bring yours to Westwood this Sunday.
Edmonton Folk Fest ticket holders meet at the Gospel Stage, 11 AM

August 5, 2007 - Lindsay McWhirter - Test Drive a Simplicity Circle

July 29, 2007 - Allison Akgungor - Walking a Labyrinth

We will learn about this ancient meditative practice by walking in a nearby outdoor labyrinth. Wear comfortable footware. Be prepared for rain or shine. We will meet before and after at the church.

July 22, 2007 - Gordon Grant: "The Wonderful World of Honey Bees"

July 15, 2007 - The Monday Afternoon Chalice Circle: "Test Drive a Chalice Circle" The topic was "Special Places".

July 8, 2007 - "Spirits and the Material World: Tokens and Talismans"

- Susan Burwash and Liz Webster

There was no service at Westwood on July 1, 2007

June 24, 2007 - Flower Communion Service

Our Annual Child Led Flower Communion Service

Suddenly a tradition. Many members of our congregation look forward to this lively and festive service that is conceived and put on by the kids. Please bring a flower or a few, or none if you don't have them (there will be extras provided) and come and celebrate the season, our church and each other!

Our annual BBQ will follow the service.

Service Leaders & Speakers: Westwood Kids & Kath Oltsher
Musicians: Westwood Kids

June 17, 2007 - Who's Your Daddy?

The role of Fathers in a family unit has changed as human beings have evolved physically and socially. How much of a Father's role is based on gender and how much on context? Using a fairly typical family unit from the Westwood Congregation as an example, we will look at how Father's fit in in modern day Canadian society.

Service Leader: Owen Brierley
Speaker: Pam Brierley
Musician: Keri Zwicker

June 10, 2007 - 25 Years of this Tree of Life - Westwood's Silver Celebrations Begin!

Today Westwood begins a year of celebrations marking our 25th year. Westwood's symbol of the Tree of Life and the 25th Anniversary symbols of the iris and silver mingle through alchemy to reveal riches about this congregation's beginnings and the growth that has been nurtured through these years. Rev. Meg Roberts and several founding members will share reflections on the wealth of these years. Come to hear the stories and celebrate.

Service Leader: Lorian Kennedy
Speaker: Rev. Meg Roberts
Musicians: Westwood's choir - Harmonia

June 3, 2007 - The Everything Seed

A Story of Beginnings by Carole Martignacco
and Illustrated by Joy Troyer

"What is the Everything Seed? It existed before the sun, the moon, and the planets. It gave rise to all of these. And all things in the universe, from the smallest child to the greatest galaxy, carry a little bit of that very first seed inside them. Take a journey to the beginning of the universe, a beginning that is still with us, still unfolding." (author's words)

Join us for our multimedia adaption of the story which we recently presented on stage at the Great Story Festival. Children are invited for the service and may head (weather permitting) to our gardens afterwards to help plant seeds for the Grow-A-Row Program.

Service Leaders: Pamela Bunge, Richard Hoblak & Kathy Lightfoot
Presentation Cast: Owen, Naomi & Molly Brierley, Mitch, Kyle & Aaron Waldon, Andrea Boyd, Susan Burwash, Lorian Kennedy, Doug Ridgway & Anastasia Sydor
Musicians: Westwood's choir - Harmonia, directed by Jacqueline Willette, accompanied by Joel Crichton

May 27, 2007 - How rights work. A user's manual.

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is a touchstone for human rights but do all our rights emerge from it? Didn't we have rights before 1982 when the Charter came into force? What happened to them? And what do we have to do to claim our rights, protect our rights, know what those rights are? Come and find out.

Service Leader: Allison Akgungor
Musician: Gordon Thomas

May 20, 2007 - If Life is a Leaflet...

Have you seen a leaflet today? What are the messages? Do mass media and advertising set our priorities? How do Unitarian principles frame media & communications? These & many questions will be explored, including what might be in your life's leaflet?

Service Leader: Andrea Boyd
Speaker: Dawn N.
Musician: Jacqueline Willette

May 13, 2007 - Celebration of Mothering

Mother's Day is celebrated annually in many countries around the globe. Past the successful commericalization of this annual event, there is much to embrace. Please join members of Westwood as they share perspectives on the sacred Mothering, Motherhood, Peace and Nurturing. Service Leaders & Speakers: Members of Westwood

May 6, 2007 - Traveling to Find a Remedy

Journey with an adoptive mother and her daughter back to the orphanage where their loving family began. Map their material and spiritual path through temples, courtyards, kitchens, earthquake zones and other sacred grounds in China, Vietnam and Indonesia.

Service Leader: Carl Ulrich
Speaker: Janice Williamson
Musician: Rebecca Patterson

April 29, 2007 - Labour & Spirituality

What possible connection could there be between trade unionism and spirituality? Well, sisters and brothers, there is the profound sense of common cause, of recognizing how much we share. Solidarity. It means we stand up for each other, protect each other, and recognize the inherent worth of each other. And then of course there is the uplifting music brought to us by Pete Seeger and others. Join Keith Wiley, Jakalin MacGregor (on piano) and Jakalin's Dad, William Butler (on guitar), for a celebration of solidarity just in time for May Day.

Service Leader: Jakalin MacGregor
Speaker: Keith Wiley
Musician: William Butler

April 22, 2007 - Earth Day - We Are Interdependent

How we act and live on this lifeboat Earth, affects the future for our grandchildren's grandchildren. How we act and live in our homes and communities reflects our understanding of how interdependent we are and the urgent need to work together to conserve resources and teach respect for Mother Earth. Charles Bidwell is an avid recycler and shares his spiritual basis for this with us.

Speaker: Dr. Charles Bidwell
Service Leader: Christine Watts
Musicians: Westwood's wonderful choir: Harmonia lead by Jacqueline Willette

April 15, 2007 - Creating a Covenant of Right Relations
(or How We Play Nice in the Sandbox)

This service is the beginning of a dialogue about creating a Westwood covenant - the promises we make to each other - to sustain our thriving, inclusive, diverse community. A covenant statement sets out how we want to relate to each other in our religious community in ways that demonstrate living out our principles. It provides a safe place for airing and resolving disagreements. It gives us a chance to practice how we want to be in the world. In other words, how we share our pails and shovels and build beautiful sand castles together while avoiding sand in the eyes.

This will also be a New Member Recognition service.

Service Leaders & Speakers: Bonnie Stonehouse & Allison Akgungor
Musicians: Toot Ensemble and Cherilyn Michaels

April 8, 2007 - Jesus Christ Superstar:
                A Unitarian look at Easter

JESUS DIED TO SAVE YOUR SOUL! At least, that's what we hear often this time of year. What can Unitarians learn from the teachings of Jesus? Join your fearless service leaders as they navigate the treacherous waters that are our Christian roots, in a search for meaning this Easter.

Service Leaders & Speakers: Deidra Helmig & Hannah Barrington
Musician: Joel Crichton

April 1, 2007 - The UUism of Clowns

"Clowns always start in hope." -Jan Henderson

Clowning, and more specifically personal clowning, is an area of creative exploration that is rooted in similar ideas and ideals of UUism. This service will be lead by a clown named Frizzle and once you have experienced the joy of the moment with Frizzle, Owen Brierley will take some time to connect the essence of the personal clown with some of the core beliefs that UUs share. As this is typical of the inclusiveness of all our services, all personal clowns are welcome! Please join us as we celebrate the joy and wonder of the world through the eyes of a clown.

Speaker: Owen Brierley
Service Leader: Frizzle
Musician: Beth McColl
Special Thanks to Andrea Boyd

March 25, 2007 - The Image of Divinity in Suicidal Persons

Susan Anderson, a member of the Unitarian Church of Edmonton, will speak on her master's thesis. A remarkable presentation receiving accolades from local UU's. Susan Anderson on the web

Speaker: Susan Anderson
Service Leader: Sara McEwan
Musician: Steven Bell

Susan's presentation

March 18, 2007 - The Year of Living Fearlessly

Many of us have experienced letting fear drive our actions, or more often, inaction. What happens when we intentionally steer our journey to places that scare us? Christine Lesiak will talk about her personal story, Westwood's path seeking permanent professional ministry, and how Unitarianism sup-ports us on our personal and collective journeys.

Speaker: Christine Lesiak
Service Leader: Marc MacKenzie
Musician: Suzanne Grant

March 11, 2007 - Time, Talent, Treasure!

Please join us on Canvass Sunday, as we explore the following questions: Does Westwood Unitarian Congregation add value to my life? What would my life be like without Westwood? What resources (time, skills, finances) can I contribute to Westwood? What does it mean to have a "diverse" congregation? How does this diversity make us stronger? Please plan to stay after the service. We will have a congregational meal and everyone will have an opportunity to meet individually with their assigned canvasser.

Speaker: Kevin Fitzgerald
Service Leader: Carl Ulrich
Musicians: Harmonia

Kevin's presentation

March 4, 2007 - Women, Words and Change

Betty Friedan, Gloria Steinem, Beth Hone and Rob Brownlie - what do they have in common and how are they linked to the history of our Unitarian Universalist principles? It will all come clear in this morning's service as we mark International Women's Day.

Speaker: Elaine Roberts
Service Leader: Christine Watts
Musicians: Toot Ensemble & Cherilyn Michaels

February 25, 2007 - Healthy Bereavement

Loss, death, and other endings are a natural part of life. Yet in our culture we often respond to these natural transitions by denying them, sugar coating them, running away from them, or repressing the feelings they evoke. Why do we respond in these ways? Is it ever good for us to respond in these ways? At what cost do we respond in these ways? Let's look together at healthy bereavement.

Service Leader: Pamela Bunge
Speaker: Dr. Marguerite Robbins
Musician: Jacqueline Willette

See Marguerite's presentation in our archive.

February 18, 2007 - Camp fYrefly

Camp fYrefly is Canada's largest leadership retreat for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-identified, two-spirited, queer, and allied (LGBTTQ&A) youth. The camp, which was founded in 2004 by Dr. André P. Grace and Mr. Kristopher Wells, is designed to help youth develop the leadership skills and resiliency necessary for them to become change agents in their schools, families, and communities.
Camp fYrefly's 4th leadership retreat will be held August 2-5, 2007 in Edmonton. For more information about the camp or to learn how you can sponsor a youth to attend, please visit the Camp fYrefly website .

Also check out the Alberta Teachers' Association's Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Educational website here

Service Leader: Leigh Bornn
Speakers: Emily, Jill & Tam
Musician: Gail Olmstead

February 11, 2007 - Choosing Nonviolence

Is violence the ethos of our times? Do we recognize violence when it occurs or are we numb to it? Do we enable violence without knowing what we are doing? Is nonviolence passivism? What are the principles and history of intentional nonviolence? What strategies can we employ to practice nonviolence? Come have your consciousness raised about this very important topic.
Service Leader: Carl Ulrich
Speaker: Marguerite Robbins
Musicians: Harmonia

See Marguerite's presentation in our archive.

February 4, 2007 - Sharing Our Faith

Join us for Sharing Our Faith Sunday when the details of the new CUC Go-4-It strategy will be explained. "CUC" is the acronym for the Canadian Unitarian Council which is the national organization for Unitarian Universalism in Canada. The new strategy has four components designed to inspire the ongoing development of Unitarian Universalism across our country. The components of the strategy are named: Going On, Going Deep, Going Out, and Going Big. Come find out what Go-4-It is all about.
Speaker: Marguerite Robbins
Service Leader: Bonnie Stonehouse
Musician: Rebecca Patterson

The offering from this service went to the Canadian Unitarian Council Sharing Our Faith fund. This fund provides grants to Canadian congregations to support growth, ministry and outreach. Westwood has twice been the recipient of grants from this fund and may apply again. For a tax receipt, cheques can be made out to the Canadian Unitarian Council, marked Sharing Our Faith. Through this fund congregations have been able to support each other in special projects.
A total of $609. was contributed to the CUC's Sharing Our Faith fund. Thanks to everyone for their support.