Friday, July 3, 2026

Sunday, July 5, 2026 – Through a Reflecting Pool Darkly

Sunday, July 5, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.Through a Reflecting Pool Darkly – The American experiment, as it is sometimes called, is marking the 250th anniversary of its birth while some see it teetering on the precipice of its own demise. As the United States marks this milestone, has the experiment run its course? Has it become the latest fading empire? Or does it still have within it, as Abraham Lincoln once envisioned, yet another “new birth of freedom?” – Rev. Stefan Jonasson

Services are in the Gimli Unitarian Church's landmark building at 76 Second Avenue, near Centre Street. Dress is casual – after all, it's summer!




Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Summer Sundays at Gimli Unitarian Church

Summer Sundays at the Gimli Unitarian Church Second Avenue near Centre Street – 11:00 a.m. – Everyone Welcome!

July 5Through a Reflecting Pool Darkly – The American experiment, as it is sometimes called, is marking the 250th anniversary of its birth while some see it teetering on the precipice of its own demise. As the United States marks this milestone, has the experiment run its course? Has it become the latest fading empire? Or does it still have within it, as Abraham Lincoln once envisioned, yet another “new birth of freedom?” – Rev. Stefan Jonasson

July 19Those Silly Love Songs – “Some people want to fill the world with silly love songs,” sang Paul McCartney. “And what's wrong with that?” Half a century after his Silly Loves Songs hit the top of the charts, it’s still a good question. From medieval tales of chivalry to the latest romantic film, love (and its heartfelt songs) still makes the world go round. – Rev. Stefan Jonasson

August 2Enough Light to Find Our Way – We first encountered the word raðljóst on the signage along the Gimli beach boardwalk that introduces visitors to Icelandic words. It means “enough light to find your way.” This useful word for describing the experience of Iceland during both summer nights and winter days is also helpful in describing the twists and turns on the path of our spiritual journeys. – Rev. Wayne Arnason & Rev. Kathleen Rolenz

August 16 What Are the Odds? – Have you seen the pharmaceutical commercial about the odds of getting shingles? Beyond its obvious purpose, it reminds us how wrong we can be when estimating the chance of misfortune – or good fortune, for that matter. From random events to the nearly certain, what are the odds? And how can we live well while calculating life’s risks? – Rev. Stefan Jonasson

Services are in the Gimli Unitarian Church's landmark building at 76 Second Avenue, near Centre Street. Dress is casual – after all, it's summer! See less



Wednesday, August 28, 2024

Sunday, September 1, 2024 – Enough is Enough

Sunday, September 1, 2024, at 11:00 a.m.Enough is Enough – Many complain about overregulation, but overdevelopment and overconsumption are greater threats to our wellbeing. When is enough enough? And why can’t we seem to regulate our appetites for more? Our human footprint threatens the sustainability of both our species and the planet. – Rev. Stefan Jonasson

Services are in the Gimli Unitarian Church's landmark building at 76 Second Avenue, near Centre Street. Dress is casual – after all, it's summer! This will be the last service of the Summer 2024 season.



Wednesday, August 14, 2024

Sunday, August 18, 2024 – Martyrs and Mayhem

Sunday, August 18, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. – Martyrs and Mayhem – I am generally unmoved by join protests, vigils, and acts of civil disobedience. They often seem like feel-good exercises more than effective strategies for social change. And they too often magnify voices on the fringe at the expense of reasonable voices advocating for constructive change. Rev. Stefan Jonasson

Services are in the Gimli Unitarian Church's landmark building at 76 Second Avenue, near Centre Street. Dress is casual – after all, it's summer!



Monday, July 29, 2024

Sunday, August 4, 2024 – Finding Joy Amidst the Noise

Sunday, August 4, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. Finding Joy Amidst the Noise – Every day brings the news of the latest catastrophe. Each day we must decide what we choose to listen to and how it will challenge us and change us. Icelandic Festival weekend invites us to explore the deeper joys that live alongside life's challenges. We will reflect on the life-giving role of joy in our lives and how we can learn to practice it on a daily basis. – Rev. Wayne Arnason & Rev. Kathleen Rolenz

Services are in the Gimli Unitarian Church's landmark building at 76 Second Avenue, near Centre Street. Dress is casual – after all, it's summer!



Friday, July 19, 2024

Sunday, July 21, 2024 – Dressed in Nature, Crowned in Lore

Sunday, July 21, 2024, at 11:00 a.m.Dressed in Nature, Crowned in Lore – A century has passed since the first Fjallkona, Sigrun Lindal, presided over the Icelandic Festival when it was still held in Winnipeg. Iceland wasn’t the first country to personify the nation in the shape of a woman, but this symbol and its origins are unique and deeply spiritual. – Rev. Stefan Jonasson

Services are in the Gimli Unitarian Church's landmark building at 76 Second Avenue, near Centre Street. Dress is casual – after all, it's summer!



Thursday, July 4, 2024

Sunday, July 7, 2024 – The Idolatry of the Far Right

Sunday, July 7, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. – The Idolatry of the Far Right – Alabama has mandated the Ten Commandments in schools, and Oklahoma will require teaching the Bible in theirs, injecting fundamentalism into the classroom. This isn’t piety, it isn’t education – it’s idolatry. The Ten Commandments have morphed into a golden calf. Rev. Stefan Jonasson

Services are in the Gimli Unitarian Church's landmark building at 76 Second Avenue, near Centre Street. Dress is casual – after all, it's summer!