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Members and Friends of FirstU marching in the 2025 Pride Parage, carrying our FirstU Banner, which reads "However you identify, whomever you love, whatever your heritage, we welcome you".
Members and Friends of FirstU marching in the 2025 Pride Parage, carrying our FirstU Banner, which reads "However you identify, whomever you love, whatever your heritage, we welcome you".

Welcome!

Our Church Isn't Just for Sunday Services;

It's a Gathering Place Where We Co-Create

Our Community of Like Minds and Shared

Values, ​Every Day.

FirstU Logo - Green "chalice hands" holding a hovering green flame.

Welcome to the First Unitarian Congregation, a liberal, spiritual congregation located on the shores of the Ottawa River. We're a diverse, multigenerational community built on a variety of philosophical and faith traditions, and we're committed to turning compassion into action.


We're inclusive and caring, offer small group ministry, several choirssocial and personal growth eventsReligious Exploration for children and youth, and much more. Our social justice action groups are committed to climate action, mental health, affordable housing, food securityIndigenous reconciliation, and supporting our 2SLGBTQ+ community.
 

30 Cleary Avenue, Ottawa ON K2A 4A1      613-725-1066      uuoffice@firstunitarianottawa.ca
"We kindle the light within and inspire courage to nurture the web of life and to create a just and compassionate world."
Reverend Lara Cowtan, Minister

Sunday Info

Sunday Mornings

A photo of FirstU's Worship Hall, featuring our baby grand piano in front of our bright wall of windows. A headshot of Reverend Lara, waving, has been added to the foreground of the image.

 

SUNDAY

SERVICE

Join us for Sunday Service at
10:30am.

You may also watch online!

This Week's Service:

No Love Without Risk

With guest minister Reverend Erika Hewett

Click HERE to watch the Service online

Click HERE to view the latest Order
of Service

Upcoming Services:

  • May 17: Love at the Center - UU Values in Words and Actions

  • May 24: The Nature of Nurture

 

RELIGIOUS
EXPLORATION

Here's what our UU Kids will be doing this week:

This Sunday, after Time for All Ages, we'll go downstairs to continue our new Spring programs.

  • In the Rainbow room (ages 2-6) with Anusha, we will be reading “A Spring Walk” and exploring the gardens looking for spring blossoms. 

  • In the  Wonder room (ages 6-12) with Esther, we will be learning about a Hindu source story called “The Mountains of Tibet” and making paper kites.

Click HERE to learn more 

Our Whole Lives
All children registered in OWL, will begin at 10:30am in the Chalice Room, with our second workshop called Body Boundaries.

 

HOSPITALITY

HOUR

Attending in Person?
We invite you to join us in Fellowship Hall immediately after our Sunday service for coffee and conversation, and to grab a green mug to let us know you're feeling new or would welcome meaningful conversation.

During our church year, there is hot food available for purchase from Mia's Indian Cuisine (cash preferred).

Looking for a deeper discussion of this week's Service topic? Join our weekly After-Service Discussion in the Lounge.
 

Parents: In addition to a kids' table in Fellowship Hall, we have the Chalice Room Cafe downstairs where you can connect with other parents while your kids enjoy free play.

Green Mug

Accessing FirstU's Campus During Construction

You can access Cleary Avenue by turning north at Byron/Redwood into the campus.

 

Updates on the detour, and the 2024-2027 ​Richmond Road closure, including maps showing entrance and exit routes, have been added to our Cleary Detour Page and will continue to be updated as information becomes available.

Click HERE to view the map.

Events

Upcoming Events at FirstU

Poster detailing the basics of our 2026 Spring Free From Plastic Challenge - focused on how we replace plastic items in our daily lives with more sustainable ones. Click the image to open a pdf with more details OR talk to members of the Environmental Action Group at their info table - in Fellowship Hall after every Sunday Service in May.
A poster advertising the Unitarian GoGos plant sale in support of the Stephen Lewis Foundation. Bring cash (or cheques, or eTransfers) to the church May 8-10 to purchase plants and other goodies at pay-what-you-can rates in our parking lot.
A poster describing our Introduction to Nature Journaling drop-in classes. May 17, 24, and 31 at 1:00pm. Click the image to get details in text format on our Adult Learning and Growth page.
Our next Wednesday Community Dinner is on May 20 at 5:00pm. $10 for adults, $5 for kids. Join us in Fellowship Hall. Email uuoffice@firstunitarianottawa.ca to let us know you're coming!
A poster detailing our May 20 "Empowering Upstanders" bystander intervention training. Click the image to visit our Embracing Diversity page for details in text format.
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