Unitarian Universalists
of the Salish Sea

Weekly Update
December 20, 2024

TOMORROW!!
Saturday, December 21 at 5:00 

St Margarets Cedar Cottage,
1530 E 22nd, Vancouver

Come gather around the solstice fire, to share stories and songs to help weather the winter. Join us for all-ages stories both silly and serious, and to explore the power of storytelling as a tool for learning, survival, building shared identity, and having fun. 

This service will take place indoors, at St Margarets Cedar Cottage, with food and fellowship to follow.

Coming up in the new year

January Sunday Gathering: "Exploring spirituality through literature -
what is your holy book?

Sunday, January 5 at 11:00am

Molly Nye House, 940 Lynn Valley  Road, North Vancouver

This is a gathering for connection  and conversation. January's theme:  Exploring spirituality through literature-what is your holy book?  You are invited to bring a book that has shaped your spiritual journey or simply spoken to you in a profound way. 

Soup lunch to follow discussion. Please RSVP to Barbara.Moore@vch.ca so we know how much soup to have on hand! 

While the purpose of this gathering is to provide in-person connection, we understand that some homebound folks may also want to participate. If you are unable to attend in-person, please contact Barb (see above) to receive a zoom link.

Also coming up in the new year - we need your review!!

We will be looking for your input on the following:

• final logo
• UUS Convenant
• Vision and Mission statements

Please watching your email and also the Member section on the website for the surveys.

Christmas Donations 
Bring Easter Eggs!

To get a 2024 tax receipt, make sure you submit your donations by Dec 31st. Please use our new email address for eTransfers, visit https://uusalishsea.ca/Donate  for up-to-date instructions.

from Ryan Guenther, Treasurer

Happy Holidays, everyone!! 

CONGREGATIONAL CONVERSATIONS

Connect and Deepen
Saturday, Dec 21 @ 1:00pm

Calls to Action

Support The Emissions Cap: Send a Letter Before January 8

The federal consultation on the emissions cap gives us one more chance to tell our government to make the emissions cap stronger and to implement it now. Don't let our voices be drowned out by fossil fuel lobbyists - send a letter before the consultation period closes on January 8!

Send a letter

You are invited to join an Antiracism Learning Circle this winter/spring. It’s on Zoom, so you can join from anywhere!  First Unitarian in Portland is the organizer. The first Circles start the week of January 16th. 

Full descriptions, schedules & registration information are HERE.

Canadian Wellspring 
2025 Cohort

Love at the Center: UU Values and Covenants is a transformational program that will explore the enduring love that is at the core of Unitarian Universalism. You will explore the related values and covenants through the lens of abiding love, building community, acting in faith, rooting in growth, and transforming in love.

As a part of the Canadian religious professionals cohort, we will also be exploring the interplay between Love at the Center and our CUC theological statements: 8 Principles, 6 Sources, and 5 Aspirations. By having this conversation in a heart and spiritually centred structure, we hope to come away with clarity and inspiration on how to lead these conversations amongst Canadian Unitarians and UUs.

The 11-session “Love at the Center: UU Values and Covenants” originally grew out of the work of the Article II Study Commission. It has grown to encompass resources and reflections that will allow each of us to nurture our values and share our experiences and stories to explore and strengthen our faith.  

The facilitators for your program are Revs. Arran Morton and Samaya Oakley. We will be meeting on every second Monday (skipping May long weekend) January 13th through Jun 9th at 1:30pm for 2 hours on Zoom.

Our UUA has created a number of images to celebrate and lift up our new UU values. They have also encouraged UUs to use their creativity to create and share other images and graphics to bring our new values to life.

​Inspired by these imaginative efforts, our own Soul Matters membership director, Susan Arnold, recently created an image to express her excitement about our new UU values. It is rooted in the idea of love manifesting itself in the world through the other six values. And she is generously sharing her image with all UU congregations to use in any way that is useful!
 

You can download her main image and its variants by going to the Members Page on our website. Here is the direct link: https://www.soulmatterssharingcircle.com/values-graphics.html 

You will notice that Susan has created three versions of the image, so be sure to download them all.

You do not have to credit Susan or ask permission to use the images. But if you want to send Susan a thank you, you can email her at susan@soulmatterssharingcircle.com

Finally, here is how Susan describes her vision for the image:
"Inspired by our faith's bold embrace of loved-centered values that will lead us into the future, I kept thinking about the idea of a flame of love with the values as the light spreading out into the world. This graphic grew out of that idea. It's my small attempt to support our faith's effort to bring more love to our world, which is desperately needed right now."  -Susan

Check the calendar on our website for more events!

Unitarian Universalists
of the Salish Sea

Weekly Update
December 13, 2024

Next Saturday!
Saturday, December 21 at 5:00 

St Margarets Cedar Cottage,
1530 E 22nd, Vancouver

Come gather around the solstice fire, to share stories and songs to help weather the winter. Join us for all-ages stories both silly and serious, and to explore the power of storytelling as a tool for learning, survival, building shared identity, and having fun. 

This service will take place indoors, at St Margarets Cedar Cottage, with food and fellowship to follow.

Next Wednesday
December 21 at 11:00am

Soul Matters are small groups that meet consistently on a monthly basis to companion each other on our individual journeys of discovery and growth. We do this using a packet of materials researched by a group of highly skilled UU professionals. The method used is deep listening as taught by the Quaker teacher and activist Parker Palmer. The method promotes a “heart” over “head” experience, and a chance to get to know our fellow group members on a very deep level. Small groups are a time-proven way to increase connections in spiritual community. And you may just find that the practice of deep listening translates well into more meaningful interactions in other areas of your life.

This year’s monthly themes are The Practice of….Invitation, Deep Listening, Repair, Presence, Story, Inclusion, Trust, Joy, Imagination, Freedom. 

Please let Anne Mayall know of your interest or questions. Email annemayall51@gmail.com, or call or text 778-686-3643.

CONGREGATIONAL CONVERSATIONS

Connect and Deepen
Saturday, Dec 21 @ 1:00pm

CUC Annual General Meeting Date Announcement:
Saturday, May 31 @ 10:00am

Canadian Wellspring 
2025 Cohort

Love at the Center: UU Values and Covenants is a transformational program that will explore the enduring love that is at the core of Unitarian Universalism. You will explore the related values and covenants through the lens of abiding love, building community, acting in faith, rooting in growth, and transforming in love.

As a part of the Canadian religious professionals cohort, we will also be exploring the interplay between Love at the Center and our CUC theological statements: 8 Principles, 6 Sources, and 5 Aspirations. By having this conversation in a heart and spiritually centred structure, we hope to come away with clarity and inspiration on how to lead these conversations amongst Canadian Unitarians and UUs.

The 11-session “Love at the Center: UU Values and Covenants” originally grew out of the work of the Article II Study Commission. It has grown to encompass resources and reflections that will allow each of us to nurture our values and share our experiences and stories to explore and strengthen our faith.  

The facilitators for your program are Revs. Arran Morton and Samaya Oakley. We will be meeting on every second Monday (skipping May long weekend) January 13th through Jun 9th at 1:30pm for 2 hours on Zoom.

Unitarian Universalists
of the Salish Sea

Weekly Update
December 6, 2024

Next Saturday Service
Saturday, December 21 at 5:00 

St Margarets Cedar Cottage,
1530 E 22nd, Vancouver

Come gather around the solstice fire, to share stories and songs to help weather the winter. Join us for all-ages stories both silly and serious, and to explore the power of storytelling as a tool for learning, survival, building shared identity, and having fun. 

This service will take place indoors, at St Margarets Cedar Cottage, with food and fellowship to follow.

A wonderful time was had by all at the Craft Workshop last Sunday! Here are some pictures to share from the event below:

From Sandra Robinson:

"Gary Robinson is now home and recovering well from emergency surgery for a ruptured aneurysm three weeks ago. Gratitude for the love, care and concerns expressed. The VGH surgeon and OR team performed a miracle and the ICU nurses followed through. We are blessed and so grateful. "

CONGREGATIONAL CONVERSATIONS

Success Stories
Saturday, Dec 7 @ 10:00am

Connect and Deepen
Saturday, Dec 21 @ 1:00pm

Watch the CUC National Worship Service, November 3, 2024 
on Youtube: "The Church of Our Imagination"

CUC Annual General Meeting Date Announcement:
Saturday, May 31 @ 10:00am

This is a call for folks to come and hear directly from  land defenders on the frontlines of Gitanyow & Gitxsan Territory.  Saturday, Dec. 7, at 2:30 at 1965 Main St (Red Gate Arts, wheelchair accessible space) in so-called "vancouver", unceded Coast Salish Territories. 

Despite 10 years of saying NO to this proposal, these brave folks continue to face repression and invasion on their lands caused by creeping construction of the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT) pipeline.  Let’s welcome them and actively listen for ways to build future solidarity in resistance. 

   This zombie project should have been dead long ago, and it’s environmental permits expired on Nov. 26, but fracking lobbyists are continuing to press on the Eby government for access to these territories, many places where traditional title-holders have NOT given consent!   Besides the encroachments on the sovereignty of the original peoples here along the line, this LNG "liquified natural" (fracked) gas project is an environmental desecration--crossing  mountains, near the Sacred Headwaters,  and across an earthquake-prone subduction zone, even threatening salmon spawning grounds and the sensitive eel grass estuary at the supposed terminal point. 

Join North Shore 4 Palestine on Sunday, December 8th at 2pm. We’ll be silkscreening, snacking, connecting, discussing the film, and planning the advocacy work ahead.
Bring a blank shirt or tote to get silkscreened!

The event is free, but we will also be fundraising on site for Palestinian families in need of support.

The film is 65 minutes and will start at 3pm. Click here for tickets.

Environmental Action: 
Speak up now: tell Environment Minister Davidson to say NO! to PRGT. 

The Prince Rupert Gas Terminal pipeline is the first major decision facing B.C.’s new cabinet ministers. Building another Coastal GasLink-scale project would destroy salmon streams and wildlife, and it would cost BC Hydro ratepayers (you and me) billions in new transmission lines and electricity generation to power the LNG terminal. Please write to Minister Davidson.

Social Action:
This week marks the 22nd year of the Grassy Narrows blockade — the longest-running blockade in Canadian history — working to prevent logging and mining from happening in their traditional territories. Will you email Justin Trudeau and demand he honour his commitments?

Unitarian Universalists
of the Salish Sea

Weekly Update
November 29, 2024

UUSS Craft Workshop
THIS SUNDAY, Dec 1 @ 11:000am

Mollie Nye House, 940 Lynn Valley Road, North Vancouver

This crafting experience is for ALL AGES and is open to members and friends of UUSS.

Join the fun in creating some crafts you are familiar with and trying out some new ones.

Here’s what you can look forward to:  

• Sharpie tile coasters
• Felt hand-sewn heart ornaments 
• Wax print cards
• Cards and bookmarks using a Big Shot, a fun die -cutting machine 
• Christmas cards and ornaments
• Toque ornaments

Please bring a snack to share (sandwiches, crackers and cheese, veggie platter, chips, sweets etc.) for our finger food potluck! No hot dishes please.

Parking Directions:

Mollie Nye House is at 940 Lynn Valley Road.  We are in the basement, entrance on the south side.  We can't park in the Hillside Baptist lot as they are using their lot Sunday morning.  The best parking option is at the Karen Magnussesn Rec center.  It's a little walk.  If you have accessibility issues you could be dropped off at Mollie Nye and then the vehicle can be moved.

You really don’t want to miss out! See you there.

Inquiring Souls

THIS Sunday, Dec 1 at 4:00pm

You are invited to join Bill Richardson and Jessica Motherwell McFarlane for tea, snacks and question-  storming from 4:00- 5:00.

There is an online  attendance option too.   Please RSVP to  jilly.watson@shaw.ca if you wish to attend. 

Next Sunday gathering is on a Thursday this month!

Thursday, December 19 at 7:00

Zoom link will be posted on the website calendar the day before the Gathering. 

Saturday, December 21 at 5:00

St Margarets Cedar Cottage,
1530 E 22nd, Vancouver

Come gather around the solstice fire, to share stories and songs to help weather the winter. Join us for all-ages stories both silly and serious, and to explore the power of storytelling as a tool for learning, survival, building shared identity, and having fun. 

This service will take place indoors, at St Margarets Cedar Cottage, with food and fellowship to follow.

Some of you may have noticed that we shared a logo in a recent newsletter! Here’s how it came about: 

Last summer we put out a call to the community for volunteers to help design a logo for us to use. A small team volunteered to work on it. There was some urgency, because Barb Moore, our lay chaplain, wanted to start communicating with the wider community about the services she offers under the banner of UUSS. She needed a logo to put on business cards and correspondence.

Barb happened to spot a logo design that seemed like a good place to start for us. The team used that as a base, with the permission of the original creator and a small fee. Several versions of a UUSS logo were developed by the team and shared with Barb and other interested community members, including some of our resident artists. A final version was approved by the planning team and Barb. Unfortunately, it was launched without giving the whole community an opportunity for both feedback and final approval. 

So, we are inviting your feedback now. There are two options for offering feedback:

1. You can send me an email (catherinemarystrickland@gmail.com).  

2. You can participate in a community call on Wednesday, Dec. 4th at 7 pm on zoom. Here is the link:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86478451677?pwd=L7hcqBIUIetqSkLbeHdUSnVJyxpVMm.1 

If you like or are neutral on the new logo, please let us know that too! Just send a quick email to me saying so. The deadline for feedback is Friday, December 6.

The feedback we gather will be used to modify the logo (if required) and we will then host a community decision making circle for consent. As with all of the elements of our community, we can modify and change this when the need arises.

CONGREGATIONAL CONVERSATIONS

Challenges of Being a Congregational Leader
Wednesday, Dec 4 @ 10:00am

Success Stories
Saturday, Dec 7 @ 10:00am

CUC Annual General Meeting Date Announcement
Saturday, May 31 @ 10:00am

After taking part in the wonderful and informative last service that focussed on Covenant, would anyone else like to join the Covenant Team as we craft our UUSS Covenant for review and discussion?   Please send an email to info@uusalishsea for the Zoom link.

The Metro UU congregations are hoping to do an all ages camp. If you would be interested in being on a team to help plan this, please contact Cara.

Unitarian Universalists
of the Salish Sea

Weekly Update
November 22, 2024

UUSS Craft Workshop
Sunday, Dec 1 @ 11:00am

Mollie Nye House, 940 Lynn Valley Road, North Vancouver

This crafting experience is for ALL AGES and is open to members and friends of UUSS.

Join the fun in creating some crafts you are familiar with and trying out some new ones.

Here’s what you can look forward to:  

• Sharpie tile coasters
• Felt hand-sewn heart ornaments 
• Wax print cards
• Cards and bookmarks using a Big Shot, a fun die -cutting machine 
• Christmas cards and ornaments
• Toque ornaments

Please bring a snack to share (sandwiches, crackers and cheese, veggie platter, chips, sweets etc.) for our finger food potluck! No hot dishes please.

Parking Directions:

Mollie Nye House is at 940 Lynn Valley Road.  We are in the basement, entrance on the south side.  We can't park in the Hillside Baptist lot as they are using their lot Sunday morning.  The best parking option is at the Karen Magnussesn Rec center.  It's a little walk.  If you have accessibility issues you could be dropped off at Mollie Nye and then the vehicle can be moved.

You really don’t want to miss out! See you there.

Saturday, December 21 at 5:00

"Yule Storytelling"

St Margarets Cedar Cottage,
1530 E 22nd, Vancouver

Stay tuned for more details.

Did you know there is a new membership section on our website?  If you have registered with us as a Member, you will be able to access:

Did you know there is a new membership section on our website?  If you have registered with us as a Member, you will be able to access:

• important UUSS files
• a membership directory
• volunteer to get involved 
• a new sub area: Forum
• • you can list topics that are on your mind and have others chime in with their thoughts.  Give it a whirl!
    
    

After taking part in the wonderful and informative service last weekend all on Covenant, would anyone else like to join the Covenant Team as we craft our UUSS Covenant for review and discussion?   Please send an email to info@uusalishsea if you are interested.

The UUS of Salish Sea have a new email for donations - check out the website for more information!

CONGREGATIONAL CONVERSATIONS

Challenges of Being a Congregational Leader
Wednesday, Dec 4 @ 10:00am

Success Stories
Saturday, Dec 7 @ 10:00am

CUC Annual General Meeting Date Announcement
Saturday, May 31 @ 10:00am

KAIROS Momentum event
November 26 at 4:00 - 6:00PST

KAIROS Program Coordinators will share stories and campaigns from their program pillars: Gender Justice, Migrant Justice, Indigenous Rights and Ecological Justice. Hear highlights of the year past and upcoming opportunities to be involved. This is your chance to ask questions about the programs and to get a glimpse of what to expect in 2025. Join the momentum! 

KAIROS unites Canadian churches and religious organizations in a faithful ecumenical response to the call to “do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God”.  Register

If you live in the City of Vancouver (or even if you don't), please urge City Council to vote against rolling back their green policies.  On November 26, Council will be considering rescinding their policy to restrict gas heating in new residential buildings.   Find out more about this topic.

You can write to City Council here (https://vancouver.ca/your-government/contact-council.aspx), or speak at the Council meeting (https://vancouver.ca/your-government/speak-at-city-council-meetings.aspx)

The Metro UU congregations are hoping to do an all ages camp. If you would be interested in being on a team to help plan this, please contact Cara.

And - Happy Thanksgiving to our southern neighbours on Nov 27!

Unitarian Universalists
of the Salish Sea

Weekly Update
November 15, 2024

TOMORROW!

Saturday, November 16 at 5:00

"Covenant"
In Person and Zoom

St Margarets Cedar Cottage, 
1530 E 22nd

Covenant is the thread that joins Unitarian Universalist congregations, communities, and individuals together in a web of interconnection. The practice of promising to walk together is how we build beloved community. Please join Cara Elrod, Sara Stevens and your Worship Circle as we explore what Covenant can mean to us as individuals and as a community. 

Look for the Zoom Link to be sent out in the Service Announcement email.

THIS SUNDAY
November 17 at 4:00pm

Inquiring Souls is back for another  exciting year!  You are invited to join Bill  Richardson and Jessica Motherwell McFarlane for tea, snacks and question-storming from 4:00- 5:00 There is an online attendance option too.   
Please RSVP to  jilly.watson@shaw.ca.

THIS Monday
Nov. 18 at 8:00pm - Zoom
Nov. 20 at 8:00pm - In Person

Soul Matters are small groups that meet consistently on a monthly basis to companion each other on our individual journeys of discovery and growth. We do this using a packet of materials researched by a group of highly skilled UU professionals. The method used is deep listening as taught by the Quaker teacher and activist Parker Palmer. The method promotes a “heart” over “head” experience, and a chance to get to know our fellow group members on a very deep level. Small groups are a time-proven way to increase connections in spiritual community. And you may just find that the practice of deep listening translates well into more meaningful interactions in other areas of your life.

This year’s monthly themes are The Practice of….Invitation, Deep Listening, Repair, Presence, Story, Inclusion, Trust, Joy, Imagination, Freedom. 

This Month is Living Love through the Practice of Repair.  Materials can be found in the "Members Section" on the website under "Files".

UUSS Craft Workshop
Sunday, Dec 1 @ 10:30am
Mollie Nye House, 940 Lynn Valley Road, North Vancouver

This is a crafting experience for all ages open to members and friends of UUSS

CONGREGATIONAL CONVERSATIONS

Connect and Deepen
Saturday, Nov 16 @ 1:00pm

Connect & Deepen is an online community for adults interested in meaningful reflection, conversation, and shared ideas for living our values. This is a welcoming space that encourages spiritual as well as philosophical exploration, with an eye to putting these explorations into action

Communications Needs & Resources
Wednesday, Nov 20 @ 10:00am

KAIROS Momentum event
November 26 at 4:00 - 6:00PST

KAIROS Program Coordinators will share stories and campaigns from their program pillars: Gender Justice, Migrant Justice, Indigenous Rights and Ecological Justice. Hear highlights of the year past and upcoming opportunities to be involved. This is your chance to ask questions about the programs and to get a glimpse of what to expect in 2025. Join the momentum! 

KAIROS unites Canadian churches and religious organizations in a faithful ecumenical response to the call to “do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God”.  Register

If you live in the City of Vancouver (or even if you don't), please urge City Council to vote against rolling back their green policies.  On November 26, Council will be considering rescinding their policy to restrict gas heating in new residential buildings.   Find out more about this topic.

You can write to City Council here (https://vancouver.ca/your-government/contact-council.aspx), or speak at the Council meeting (https://vancouver.ca/your-government/speak-at-city-council-meetings.aspx)

The Metro UU congregations are hoping to do an all ages camp. If you would be interested in being on a team to help plan this, please contact Cara.

Unitarian Universalists
of the Salish Sea

Weekly Update
November 8, 2024

TOMORROW!
UUSS Gathering and 
Listening Circle Brunch on 
the recent US election       

Saturday, Nov 9, 11:00am -1:30

M4497 Epps Avenue, 
North Vancouver

A significant number of our Community have expressed serious grief over the results of the US election results.  It has been suggested that we find a place to gather on Saturday to help share our grief and imagine how we can move forward.  Shelley Hrdlitschka kindly offered her spacious home out at Deep Cove to gather for a potluck brunch.  Carpooling is advised. RSVP

Please bring brunch items to share. Any questions, please reach out to Joy (604-329-8073) or Shelley (604-908-5393).

Saturday, November 16 at 5:00

"Covenant"

St Margarets Cedar Cottage, 
1530 E 22nd

Covenant is the thread that joins Unitarian Universalist congregations, communities, and individuals together in a web of interconnection. The practice of promising to walk together is how we build beloved community. Please join Cara Elrod, Sara Stevens and your Worship Circle as we explore what Covenant can mean to us as individuals and as a community. 

THIS SUNDAY
November 10 at 4:00pm

Inquiring Souls is back for another  exciting year!  You are invited to join Bill  Richardson and Jessica Motherwell McFarlane for tea, snacks and question-storming from 4:00- 5:00 There is an online attendance option too.   
Please RSVP to  jilly.watson@shaw.ca.

UUSS Craft Workshop
Sunday, Dec 1 @ 10:30am
Mollie Nye House, 940 Lynn Valley Road, North Vancouver

This is a crafting experience for all ages open to members and friends of UUSS

Q: How many Unitarians does it take to change a light bulb?


A: We choose not to make a statement either in favour of or against the need for a light bulb. However, if in your own journey, you have found that light bulbs work for you, that is wonderful. You are invited to write a poem or compose a modern dance about your personal relationship with your light bulb. Present it next month at our annual Light Bulb Sunday Service, in which we will explore a number of light bulb traditions, including incandescent, fluorescent, 3-way, long-life, and tinted, all of which are equally valid paths to luminescence.

CONGREGATIONAL CONVERSATIONS

Connect and Deepen
Saturday, Nov 16 @ 1:00pm

Connect & Deepen is an online community for adults interested in meaningful reflection, conversation, and shared ideas for living our values. This is a welcoming space that encourages spiritual as well as philosophical exploration, with an eye to putting these explorations into action

Communications Needs & Resources
Wednesday, Nov 20 @ 10:00am

Necessary Trouble Collective is excited to announce that applications are now open for our upcoming, in-person gathering called Movements of Belonging. It will be held between January 21 and 26, 2025 on Nex̱wlélex̱wm (Bowen Island). The aim of the gathering is to bring together between 15 to 20 climate, racial and social justice movement leaders from Greater Vancouver and southwest BC to experience the power of being in a community of belonging. 

If you would like more information, consider watching this series of short videos about the event. Then visit the Movements of Belonging website, where you will find additional information including a link to the application form. The retreat is being offered on a sliding scale from $400 to $2,500. Details about the contribution request are on the website and there are scholarships available.

The Metro UU congregations are hoping to do an all ages camp. If you would be interested in being on a team to help plan this, please contact Cara

Unitarian Universalists
of the Salish Sea

Weekly Update
November 1, 2024

THIS COMING SUNDAY

Sunday, Nov 3, 11:00am -1:00

Mollie Nye House, 940 Lynn Valley Road, North Vancouver

This month's theme: We’re supposed to be a “welcoming community of spiritual seekers”.  Spiritual seekers?  What on earth does that mean to you?

This is a gathering for connection and conversation.  A short presentation by John Slattery followed by small group discussions. Soup lunch to follow. RSVP so we know how much soup to have on hand!

Saturday, November 16 at 5:00

"Covenant"

St Margarets Cedar Cottage, 
1530 E 22nd

Covenant is the thread that joins Unitarian Universalist congregations, communities, and individuals together in a web of interconnection. The practice of promising to walk together is how we build beloved community. Please join Cara Elrod, Sara Stevens and your Worship Circle as we explore what Covenant can mean to us as individuals and as a community. 

UUSS Craft Workshop
Sunday, Dec 1 @ 10:30am
Mollie Nye House, 940 Lynn Valley Road, North Vancouver

This is a crafting experience for all ages open to members and friends of UUSS

The Metro UU congregations are hoping to do an all ages camp. If you would be interested in being on a team to help plan this, please contact Cara.

Are you interested in joining a book club? Last year a group met to read Karen Armstrong’s book Sacred Nature. Some book club suggestions:

1. Heather Cox Richardson’s Democracy Awakening

2. A literary fiction book club with a different book each month

3. A book, or books, related to our 8th principal such as White Women: Everything You Already Know About Your Own Racism and How to Do Better

4. A book, or books, about nature and/or environmental issues such asSacred Nature

If you would be interested in participating in a book club and/or have a suggestion for a book that you think would be a good starting point, let Cara know. We can have more than one group and can meet virtually or in person. 

Hope everyone had a great Halloween!

What two things do UUs and Dracula have in common?

........

They both have origins in Translyvania and they both shy away from the cross. 

Drumroll please:

Introducing our new logo!!

This has been awhile in the making and we are very proud of the outcome.  Barb first spied a version of this logo on a poster and reached out to the original artist who happily agreed to let us edit his creation for a small fee.  Yette then took the original and came up with a few variations.  Then the Planning Team reviewed all of the options and unanimously agreed that this is one of the best!  You will start to see this all over our website and communication soon.

CUC Co-Lab: Experiences of Transformation 
Saturday Nov 2, 9:30am    

The Vancouver Unitarians are hosting informal satellite in-person gatherings at the Vancouver Unitarian church and have invited those interested to join them. They will have a conference camera and large screen TV and access to the kitchen. People should bring their own food, snacks to share are welcome. We will have tea and coffee.  

Register here.

CONGREGATIONAL CONVERSATIONS

Hard Conversations
Wed, October 30 @ 10:00am

A healthy community anticipates there will be hard conversations.  Join us as we consider challenges and best practices. more info.

Connect and Deepen
Saturday, Oct 26 @ 1:00pm

Connect & Deepen is an online community for adults interested in meaningful reflection, conversation, and shared ideas for living our values. This is a welcoming space that encourages spiritual as well as philosophical exploration, with an eye to putting these explorations into action. more info.

Communications Needs & Resources
Wednesday, Nov 20 @ 10:00am

Necessary Trouble Collective is excited to announce that applications are now open for our upcoming, in-person gathering called Movements of Belonging. It will be held between January 21 and 26, 2025 on Nex̱wlélex̱wm (Bowen Island). The aim of the gathering is to bring together between 15 to 20 climate, racial and social justice movement leaders from Greater Vancouver and southwest BC to experience the power of being in a community of belonging. 

If you would like more information, consider watching this series of short videos about the event. Then visit the Movements of Belonging website, where you will find additional information including a link to the application form. The retreat is being offered on a sliding scale from $400 to $2,500. Details about the contribution request are on the website and there are scholarships available.

Unitarian Universalists
of the Salish Sea

Weekly Update
October 25, 2024

Join us for our next service - 
on a Sunday!

Sunday, Nov 3, 11:00am -1:00

Mollie Nye House, 940 Lynn Valley Road, North Vancouver

This month's theme: We’re supposed to be a “welcoming community of spiritual seekers”.  Spiritual seekers?  What on earth does that mean to you?

This is a gathering for connection and conversation.  A short presentation by John Slattery followed by small group discussions. Soup lunch to follow. RSVP so we know how much soup to have on hand!

Saturday, November 16 at 5:00

"Covenant"

St Margarets Cedar Cottage, 
1530 E 22nd

Covenant is the thread that joins Unitarian Universalist congregations, communities, and individuals together in a web of interconnection. The practice of promising to walk together is how we build beloved community. Please join Cara Elrod, Sara Stevens and your Worship Circle as we explore what Covenant can mean to us as individuals and as a community. 

UUSS Craft Workshop
Sunday, Dec 1 @ 10:30am
Mollie Nye House, 940 Lynn Valley Road, North Vancouver

This is a crafting experience for all ages open to members and friends of UUSS

The Metro UU congregations are hoping to do an all ages camp. If you would be interested in being on a team to help plan this, please contact Cara.

Are you interested in joining a book club? Last year a group met to read Karen Armstrong’s book Sacred Nature. Some book club suggestions:

1. Heather Cox Richardson’s Democracy Awakening

2. A literary fiction book club with a different book each month

3. A book, or books, related to our 8th principal such as White Women: Everything You Already Know About Your Own Racism and How to Do Better

4. A book, or books, about nature and/or environmental issues such asSacred Nature

If you would be interested in participating in a book club and/or have a suggestion for a book that you think would be a good starting point, let Cara know. We can have more than one group and can meet virtually or in person. 

Will you join our Vision and      Mission Team?

During our Sociocracy workshop, it became clear that the first step to creating our new governance structure is to define our overall UUSS Vision and Mission. While we have a deep sense of shared purpose for UUSS, getting more clarity on how we will fulfill that purpose is essential to knowing what circles we need going forward.

The UUSS Vision and Mission Team will create a proposed Vision and Mission for the whole community to consider. There will be at least one and possibly two rounds of comments and suggestions that will be incorporated into the Vision and Mission before we come together to make the final decide. The decision making process will use the consent model from Sociocracy, similar to the model we have been using for our other decisions. 

The team will pull elements of our vision and mission from these resources. The team will co-create a proposal to present to the community. They will then review the comments and suggestions from community members and incorporate as many as possible. The team will then bring the amended proposal to the community for a decision.

The project will start sometime in the next week or two and wrap up ideally before Christmas break.

If you would like to be a part of this team and help us develop a proposal, please email catherine at catherinemarystrickland@gmail.com . We are hoping for a team of between 3 and 5 people. 

CUC Co-Lab: Experiences of Transformation 
Saturday Nov 2, 9:30am    

The Vancouver Unitarians are hosting informal satellite in-person gatherings at the Vancouver Unitarian church and have invited those interested to join them. They will have a conference camera and large screen TV and access to the kitchen. People should bring their own food, snacks to share are welcome. We will have tea and coffee.  

Register here.

CONGREGATIONAL CONVERSATIONS

Hard Conversations
Wed, October 30 @ 10:00am

A healthy community anticipates there will be hard conversations.  Join us as we consider challenges and best practices. more info.

Connect and Deepen
Saturday, Oct 26 @ 1:00pm

Connect & Deepen is an online community for adults interested in meaningful reflection, conversation, and shared ideas for living our values. This is a welcoming space that encourages spiritual as well as philosophical exploration, with an eye to putting these explorations into action. more info.

Communications Needs & Resources
Wednesday, Nov 20 @ 10:00am