CBUC offers most of these programs at no charge to participants.
If you are interested, just register or drop in. Church membership is not necessary.
CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER
Date: Starting Sept 13th, 2011 – Every Tues morning
Time: 8:00am – 9:00am
Leader: Ross White Place: Sanctuary
A group for sitting in silence, listening for the Spirit and Quaker-style sharing. Nurtured by the sunrise, meditative reading and quiet reflection on selected texts, the words of scripture become companions and food for you journey. No previous experience is required and you are welcome any morning. Come for one session or repeat as often as you like. No registration required. To register click here
CENTERING PRAYER
Date: Starting Sept 14th, 2011 – Every Wednesday afternoon
Time: 4:30pm – 5:15pm
Place: Youth Room
Contact: Barbara Hansen ( bmhansen@telus.net )
“Stopping, calming, and looking deeply,: is one way to describe a path which renews spiritual energy. The goal is not to find peace but to engage the world at a deeper level. These sessions are designed to support you in your exploration of meditation and encourage you in daily practice. Drop-in or come regularly, all are welcome.
To register click here
BIBLE 3.0
Date: Session I – Oct 13th, 2011 – Nov 24th, 2011 – Thursdays
Session II – Jan 19th, 2012 – Mar 1st, 2012 – Thursdays
Time: 1:00pm – 2:30pm Leader: Mark Green Place: Lounge
Bible study like you’ve never done it before! Together we will delve into the lives of two more of the Uppity Women of the Bible – Esther and Judith. Why are their stories preserved in the ways that they are? What is missing from the stories? What lurks below the surface as the meaning of these ancient texts? And what does it mean to us today? These and many more questions will be explored as we plunge the depths of these two books. In the remaining time we will look at other women characters in the bible that the group wishes to explore. To register click here
FAITH OF MY NEIGHBOUR II
Date: Sept 26th, 2011 – Nov 14th, 2011 – Mondays (excluding Thanksgiving Monday)
Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm Leader: Mark Green
Building on the experience of last year, participants asked that we continue our journey in learning more about other faith groups this coming year. This year’s faith groups will include Jehovah Witnesses, a few mainline denominations and a few faith groups outside of the Christian church, Participation in the first series is not a prerequisite for joining this series. To register click here
EVOLUTIONARY CHRISTIANITY:
conversations at the leading edge of science & faith
These courses are a new venture for 5 churches in the Victoria area. Sharing staffing and leadership, traveling to each other’s churches, we will engage with some of the newest cutting edge thinkers through a number of audio and video presentations. Interspersed with these bits of input will be small group discussion that will enable us to engage both our insights and our questions. Participants will come from each of the 5 sponsoring churches and from the community as a whole. This diversity should lend itself to both some exciting new connections and insights. To register click here
Session 1 – Oct 18th, 2011 at St. Aidan’s United 7:00pm – 9:30pm
(Mark Green, Terry Dance-Bennick, Betty Ann Dempsey)
Ian Barbour – God and Evolution – Ian speaks to why science and religion are not at odds. Ian is the elder statesman in the science and religion movement and was awarded the Templeton Prize in 1999 and is the author of Myths, Models, and Paradigms: Religion in an Age of Science, and Nature, Human Nature, and God.
Session 2 – Nov 1st, 2011 at Oak Bay United Church 7:00pm – 9:30pm
(Leanne Benoir, Ross White, Beth Walker)
Gail Worcelo – Sisters of the Earth and the Legacy of Thomas Berry – Gail is a Catholic nun who co-founded Green Mountain Monastery with the late Thomas Berry, dedicated to the healing and protection of Earth and its life systems. A leader in the Sisters of Earth movement, Gail is working toward grounding religious life within the context of the Universe Story.
Session 3 – Nov 15th, 2011 at First Metropolitan United 7:00pm – 9:30pm
(Bill Cantelon, Mark Green, Joan Mason)
Bruse Sanguin – Evolutionary Christian Mysticism and Cosmological Midrash – Bruce Sanguin is a pastor of Canadian Memorial United Church in Vancouver and author of Darwin, Divinity, and the Dance of the Cosmos and If Darwin Prayed. He suggests that it’s impossible to see what God is up to today without deep-time eyes and a global heart.
Session 4 – Nov 29th, 2011 at Cadboro Bay United 7:00pm – 9:30pm
(Terry Dance-Bennick, Joan Mason, Betty Ann Dempsey, Beth Walker)
Mary Sutherland – Deep-time Art and the Language of the Heart – Mary is a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph and a student of Thomas Berry. Her paintings, sculptures and Earth Calendars communicate a sacred and deep-time relationship to Earth and Cosmos across religious divides. She speaks to how the Universe story expands and enriches traditional Christian theology.
WALKING THE LABYRINTH
Date: Mondays between 10:00am & 1:00pm
Tuesdays between 10:30am & 1:00pm
Thursdays between 10:00am & 1:00pm
Sundays by appointment only
The labyrinth is a meandering, but purposeful pathway. It represents a journey to the deepest self and back out again into the world. Come and walk the labyrinth at any of the times above and see what this sacred walking can do for your soul.
THEOLOGY AND THE ARTS: Making the Connections:
Date: Part I Nov. 21st, 2011– Dec. 12th, 2011 – Mondays
Part II Jan. 9th, 2012 – Jan. 30th, 2012 – Mondays
Theological Concepts: Creation/re-creation/Sabbath, prayer, discernment, hope
Time: 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. Leader: Mark Green Place: Sanctuary
We will be using insights from movies, poetry, paintings, novels, music and any of the other disciplines in the arts to go deeper. Participants will be encouraged to bring examples from any of these modalities that speak to the theological terms of the week after Mark gets the discussions going with examples. Participants will think about the concept in advance and bring excerpts/samples to share with the group. This will provide an opportunity to deepen our current understanding of some of the core theological concepts through both our left and right brain. To register click here
EXTROVERTED SPIRITUALITY
Date: Jan. 31st, 2012 & Feb. 7th, 2012. (Two evenings)
Time: 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Leader: Ross White
Protestants have always tended to practice an extroverted style of faith. For example, until recently, going on retreat meant forming a think tank to come up with a new solution to a church problem. The landscape has changed. Spirituality has shifted the spotlight to the inner life. Now there is an appreciation of the role of silence in spiritual growth. But have you ever wondered if the spiritual life is not for you because you are just not an introvert? Have you felt your extroversion to be a liability? Or, if you are an introvert have you tried to make your extroverted friend “deepen” or “get real”? Using Nancy Reeves book Spirituality for Extroverts: and tips for those who love them (Abingdon 2008) we will explore the qualities present in most extroverts and the beliefs, attitudes and behaviours that can be stumbling blocks or turning points. Introverts are also welcome to attend. Coffee and Tea are provided. To register click here
EMBRACING AN ADULT FAITH
Dates: Feb. 6th, 2012 – March 5th, 2012 – Mondays
Time: 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. Leader: Mark Green
This is an exciting series for both those new to the Christian faith and the study of such, and those who are looking to renew and deepen their understandings of some of the basic issues in contemporary Christian practice and theology. In the 5 sessions we engage with best-selling author and theologian Marcus Borg. The questions: Who is Jesus? Who is God? What is salvation? How do we practice our faith? How do we live in community? To register click here
ADULT CONFIRMATION WEEKEND
Dates: March 2nd, 2012 – March 4th, 2012
Place: Camp Pringle Leader: Mark Green
Cost: to be shared among participants for food and lodging
What does it mean to belong to the United Church? What are its core beliefs and values? Its history? How is it different from other denominations? What do I believe about God, Jesus, life after death, ethical decision making, science and religion? What place does the United Church Creed play in my faith? These questions and many others will be explored over a weekend intensive experience of living, laughing and studying in community. At the end of the experience, persons attending may choose whether they wish to formally join the United Church and/or reaffirm their faith. To register click here
MOVIE NIGHT
Date: 2nd Friday of each month
Time: 6:00pm for soup & 7:00pm movie and discussion
CBUC’s line up of films for the 2011-2012 year from every genre: Hollywood, independent, foreign language, documentary and social justice designed to stimulate thought, contemplate change and appreciate art.
September 9 The Soloist New Beginnings
October 14 Caramel Diversity (with special guest Nabiha Rawdah)
November 11 Of God’s and Men Jonah: Live your Calling
December 9 Wasteland The Advent of the Unexpected
January 13 I Captured the Castle Jairus Daugher: faith and wellness
February 10 The City Island Cain and Abel: family issues
March 9 Education of Little Tree The struggle for authenticity, growing up
April 13 Vision of Hildegard Paul: Letters from Prison
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