Celebrate our earth. Share your concern for nature and humanity. Join our network!
We believe in the power of nature to connect us all. Dogs are welcome at all times.
All activities take place at Westmount Park United Church unless otherwise noted. Activities are free and suitable for all ages.
Paragraph: For more information on these activities, please visit our Facebook page.https://www.facebook.com/westmountparkunitedchurch/
Lost in Art
Creative responses to the beauty of the world through visual arts and poetry. Some supplies provided, but you are also welcome to bring your own.
- October 14th, 11am
- October 26th, 5pm
- Collective Kitchens
Collective Kitchens
Learn about and cook with seasonal fruits and vegetables. Suggested donation: $2-5. Bring your containers to take home leftovers!
- September 16th, 11am
- September 26th, 5pm
- December 16th, 11am
- December 21st, 5pm
What’s it all about?
We take our reading of the book of nature deeper by walking in our neighbourhood’s green spaces and engaging in guided meditation and contemplation, as well as active sharing. Reading the book of nature is a way to build relationships within this dynamic, ever-changing “text,” with both human and non-human parts of nature. It’s also a way to connect or reconnect with the divine, in whatever form it reveals itself through “reading” the book of nature.
How do I get involved?
1st Sunday of each month | 1st Saturday of each month | 1st Tuesday of each month |
Summit Woods | Local parks | Local parks |
Meet at the church: 9am | Meet at the church: 11am | Meet at the church (September-April): 5pm |
Meet at Summit Woods parking lot: 9:45am | Bring a picnic lunch! | Bring a picnic snack or dinner! |
We hike rain or shine, but if the weather is dangerous (blizzard, thunderstorm, freezing rain, extreme temperature warning), we will explore the book of nature in the Nature Niche inside the church.
What’s it all about?
We receive unwanted plants and provide bespoke care so that they can be regifted to the community, free of charge. Sometimes, the care involves nursing a plant back to health or helping it cope with an environmental issue, and it always involves taking cuttings to propagate more plants. Plants that come in to us are multiplied before going back out!
Giving away plants is important for a practical reason, too; the more we give away, the more space we have to receive, propagate, and grow more. The rhythm of our work is cyclical, a microcosm of the larger cycle of the seasons outdoors; from reception of a plant until its propagated cuttings are ready to be given away is about a month.
Plant recipients also receive plant-care instructions developed by our Houseplant Project Coordinator, and are looped into our communication network so they can take advantage of our in-house expertise with any questions they have.
How do I get involved?
Contact us westmountparkuc@videotron.ca to rehome plants you are no longer able to care for, or to receive a plant from our bank.
Invite us to your event or to a meeting of your group – we will supply plants that can be distributed to your attendees or members!
Houseplant Give-Away
Our big give-away is at Westmount Family Day each May.
: Outside of Family Day, swing by Westmount Park United Church to chat with our Houseplant Project Coordinator and pick up one of the plants that was propagated over the winter! We’re clearing out our stock to make way for summer’s new arrivals.
Houseplant Exchange
Sunday, September 17, 12-4pm: plant drop-off of any unwanted plants
Sunday, September 24, 12-4pm: new plant pick-up
At the end of the summer, many of us have houseplants that are beginning to droop – they don’t like the change in light or temperature, perhaps, or maybe they are just not suited to our home environments. Bring these plants to our two-day drop-off event, and leave with a new plant more suited to your home’s conditions!
“I never anticipated that I would find it so spiritually nourishing to create new plants in a beautiful church.”
What’s it all about?
Each Sunday in our worship service, we take a moment to focus in on some joyful or important aspect of the natural world. We call this our “Faith in Nature Focus” – usually a short video that takes us out of our building and into the wild.
Each Sunday we also begin listening to God’s word by “reading” from the Book of Nature. The early Church developed this idea of two complementary Books of God’s word: the Book of Nature and the Book of Scripture. Medieval European theologians would later argue that where the two books appear to be in contradiction, the fault lies with the reader! In our readings from the Book of Nature, we contemplate an image or an object from the natural world, before we begin to read from the Book of Scripture. We call this first reading the “Great Conversation” – a discussion between the different parts of creation!
How do I get involved?
Join us for worship on Sundays westmountparkuc@videotron.ca to experience both of these elements yourself!
What’s it all about?
Labyrinth-walking is an ancient Christian practice of contemplation.
This Labyrinth is specifically intended to help us focus our minds on the state of the Earth – our love for and need of her, and her love for and need of us. Walking the Labyrinth is an opportunity to rejoice and an opportunity to mourn, and most importantly an opportunity to connect to that deep part of ourselves that can be lost in the hustle and bustle of everyday environmental concerns, to return to our motivations for caring for the Earth.
How do I get involved?
Labyrinth walking takes place every first and second Sunday from 1:30-3:30pm, except for July and August.
You are invited to join in sock feet (the floor is cold, so wear thick socks or bring an extra pair!) at any time while the labyrinth is open.
We are also looking for volunteers to help facilitate the labyrinth! If you are comfortable explaining how it works to newcomers and watching to ensure that the candles don’t tip over, we’d love to hear from you.
Animals are welcome at every service. Bring your furry friends to worship with us.