January 4—Annual Fire Ceremony We return today to an annual January tradition, a chance to welcome ourselves into the new year by releasing some of the old year, with fire helping us not to hold back on the changes that are life-giving and life-sustaining. This All-gen service is led by Family Life Coordinator Caitlyn Seale.

January 11—The Weight of Absence Rev Jeff Brown, UCM Minister Emeritus  “Absence is a house so vast that inside you will pass through its wall.”   Pablo Neruda

January 18—Hope for New Beginnings? Rev Pegi Ridout, Retired Minister United Church of Canada Now the glow of the new year is wearing is wearing off, what are you noticing?  What keeps you awake at night?  What questions are you asking for yourself, the congregation, the world?  Where do you see the light?  Where do you find hope?

January 25—Dr. King and the UUs Rev Sally Fritsche, Minister Neighbourhood UU Congregation Unitarian Universalism came together as a merged denomination in 1961, the same year the first Freedom Rides bused through the American South, and just two years before Martin Luther King Jr's march on Washington and his much-quoted "I have a dream" speech. King's legacy is honoured each January, and today we will take the opportunity to reflect more deeply on where our tradition's unique story intersects with that of Dr. King. Where were the UUs during Rev. Dr. King's push for Black civil rights? And what lessons can our justice efforts today take from that unique history? Rev. Sally Fritsche will lead us in reflecting on historical moments of connection and mutual support between Dr. King and UU communities, as well as missed opportunities we can still learn from. Together we will sing, pray, and meditate deeply on the ongoing impact of our shared histories.

February 1—Be Realistic... Demand the Impossible!  Einstein said, "We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them." To address climate destruction, racial injustice, housing and food insecurity, and other forms of oppression, we will need "impossible" changes. What role might creativity, art, storytelling, fantasy, and visions of utopia play in helping us imagine new ways forward? Let us flex our imagination muscles together, strengthening our capacity to dream "impossible" solutions into future realities. Rev. Arran Morton (he/they/Arran) currently lives in Saint John, New Brunswick, though was born and raised in Scotland. He is a Community Minister and Spiritual Director, supporting people of all genders and theologies. They are a UU who is primarily inspired by Pagan, Buddhist, and arts-based practices and has previously served as the Minister at Comox Valley Unitarian Fellowship and the Director of Spiritual Exploration at the Unitarian Universalist Community of Victoria.