top of page
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:

Loving Care: Tending Our Garden
of Life and Community

With Reverend Lara Cowtan

Click HERE to watch the Service online

Click HERE to view the latest Order
of Service

Upcoming Services:

  • May 31: Saved Alone or Freed Together (Reverend Mwibutsa Ndagijimana)

  • June 7: Oops, I didn't mean it! - On Impact versus Intention

 

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 Spring programming:

  • In the Rainbow room (ages 2-6) with Anusha, we will be reading “In the Tall, Tall Grass” and exploring our outdoor space.

  • In the Wonder room (ages 7-12) with Esther, we will be learning about influential people in the creation of Unitarian Universalism and making a nature chalice mandala.

Our Whole Lives

Our fourth OWL workshop, "Families", will begin at 10:30am in the Chalice Room.

 

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 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.
Information about our next Men's Breakfast event, happening on May 22. Click th image to find the information in text format and the registration link.
A poster inviting you to our Food Cupboard benefit concert, featuring the Beacon Community Concert Band! The concert will be help on Wednesday, May 27 in Worship Hall. Admission is by donation. Arrive at 6:30pm to enjoy some refreshments. The show begins at 7:00pm and a reception will follow. Expect Mambo greats, waltzes, and Bugs Bunny's favourites on he program.
A poster inviting you to join our bi-weekly Wednesday Community Dinner. The next Dinner will be held on Wednesday, June 3 at 5:00pm, in Fellowship Hall. $10 for adults, $5 for kids. Sign up to attend by emailing uuoffice@firtunitarinottawa.ca
bottom of page