Unitarian Universalists
of the Salish Sea

Weekly Update
January 24, 2025

Unitarian Universalists
of the Salish Sea

Weekly Update
January 17, 2025

TOMORROW!

January Service:
"Unsettled Times"

Sat, January 18 at 5:00pm

St Margarets Cedar Cottage,
1530 E 22nd

Please join Cara Elrod and your Worship Team as we look at the unsettled times we are in and how, as a community, we can support each other through grief, fear and uncertainty. How can our UU faith help guide us through the months ahead?

There will be a special ritual to accompany this service. We will enjoy food and fellowship at a potluck after the service.

PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN DISHES AND CUPS THIS WEEK.

Justice News

Take Action!! We need your Voice!!

Lower Snake River Dam Recreation Survey

Comments due January 19, 2025.

The WA legislature approved several different studies before considering breaching the dams.  This is study evaluates the recreational uses of the dams.  Even if you have never been to the Snake River, you are encouraged to answer those questions that speak to the future of the river without dams. 

Toward the end of the survey, there is a section for a narrative where you can speak to all the different recreational uses once the dams are breached.  You can also visit Columbia Snake River Campaign Survey Toolkit to help formulate your responses.  Respond to the survey here.

Are you one of your congregation's facilitators for the UU Climate Justice Revival? All facilitators need to join one of our 2-hour Facilitator Training Sessions. Come learn how to be the best facilitator you can be for your congregation's Revival! Register to join us.

From the CUC

Connect and Deepen - January

Congregational Conversations: Pastoral Care (2nd run)
January 22 at 4:30pm

Lay Chaplains Chat: Challenging Memorials with our own Barb Moore
January 27 at 4:30pm

Dismantling Barriers: Meet up - Burn Out Edition
January 30 at 4:00pm

Why Burnout?
From Camellia Jahanshahi, CUC Dismantling Barriers Lead

Dismantling barriers to inclusion is easier when we actively understand and work with our nervous systems. Conflict can be productive and valuable when we are collectively more rested. Addressing burnout and being transparent about what’s happening in our lives makes us more ready to engage in challenges and keep learning, respecting our inherent worth and dignity at the core of that work. 

This toolkit is based on research and my many personal experiences and challenges with burnout as a faith-based activist trying to navigate the world. I hope that you find this offering helpful. Not all of it will resonate, but I hope it provides you with whatever external permission you need before you can reflect and rest. 

Interested in becoming a Lay Chaplain? There is a training coming up: Designing & Leading Rites of Passage: Basics Training for Lay Chaplains,  2025

This workshop is for those considering lay chaplaincy, recently appointed lay chaplains and members of a congregation’s Lay Chaplaincy Committee. It provides basic guidelines on the management of a congregation’s lay chaplaincy program and the training new lay chaplains need to begin their work.
Sessions to be held on Feb 22 at 9:00am, Feb 23 at 11:30 and
Mar 1 at 9:00am.  More info. 

Join a particularly timely webinar on The Trudeau Record: Promises v. Performance—the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives' analysis of the Prime Minister's policy record and a discussion on what might lie ahead in the context of an impending federal election and a new Trump presidency.

When: Jan 21, 2025, 9-11 am

The event is free but you need to register to get a link to the webinar.

Come one, come all!  You can  get tickets from Ryan, Yette, Sonia, Carla or Jackie. 

Paper tickets: $18
(from a choir member)

Eventbrite (online): $20.50

At the door: $23

Mark your calendars for
Sat, Feb 22. 

You are invited to join for the Coldest Night of the Year! CONY wil be taking to the streets again as a way to raise awareness and finds for our neighbours who are experiencing  extreme poverty and homelessness in the Downtown Eastside.

January 20–February 14

Join Side With Love for 30 Days of Love 2025! Beginning Monday, January 20th through Friday, February 14th, this annual event offers spiritual nourishment, political grounding, and shared practices of faith and justice over four weeks. These offerings are for individuals, families, religious professionals, partners, and communities who need soulful sustenance for the work of liberation and justice. 
more info.

Unitarian Universalists
of the Salish Sea

Weekly Update
January 10, 2025

NEXT WEEKEND on SATURDAY

January Service:
"Unsettled Times"

Sat, January 18 at 5:00pm

St Margarets Cedar Cottage,
1530 E 22nd

Please join Cara Elrod, Cynthia Becker and your Worship Team as we look at the unsettled times we are in and how, as a community, we can support each other through grief, fear and uncertainty. How can our UU faith help guide us through the months ahead?

There will be a special ritual to accompany this service. We will enjoy food and fellowship at a potluck after the service.

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

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

Last chance for feedbacktonight -  January 10

A reminder that our Covenant is the thread that joins us together, in a web of interconnection. The practice of promising to walk together is how we build beloved community. To create consensus around a shared vision and direction requires people to be in relationship with each other. Covenants are tools for setting guidelines and building trust so that those relationships can flourish. 

Our Covenant is one of a series of documents that we will create as a community to define who we are, what we will do, where we hope to go and how we will get there. The other documents to be created are:

Our Vision: Will articulate the world we want in the future.

Our Mission: Will articulate how we will contribute now to building the future we seek.

Our Covenant of Right Relations: Will spell out what we will do when we fall out of Covenant with each other.

Our Bylaws: Will articulate various details of our governance system and the processes we will use to guide us in our work.

SHARE YOUR INPUT ON THE LOGO!

Share your input on our Logo Options!Share your input on our Logo Options!

Please complete this survey to provide your input. This is the easiest and most efficient way for us to collect and use this information.

If that is not doable for you, you can use the above image to provide your input via email. In the email, please share one of the following for each of the 4 options labelled Option 1, Option 2, Option 3 and Option 4: 

At our Jan 5 Sunday Gathering, 18 people joined in a wonderful circle of sharing of their self chosen “Holy book”.  And delish soup lunch. Hereis that list for anyone interested. 

catherinemarystrickland@gmail.com

From the CUC

Connect and Deepen - January

Congregational Conversations: Pastoral Care (2nd run)
January 22 at 4:30pm

Lay Chaplains Chat: Challenging Memorials with Barb Moore
January 27 at 4:30pm

Dismantling Barriers: Meet up - Burn Out Edition
January 30 at 4:00pm

Interested in becoming a Lay Chaplain? There is a training coming up: Designing & Leading Rites of Passage: Basics Training for Lay Chaplains,  2025

This workshop is for those considering lay chaplaincy, recently appointed lay chaplains and members of a congregation’s Lay Chaplaincy Committee. It provides basic guidelines on the management of a congregation’s lay chaplaincy program and the training new lay chaplains need to begin their work.
Sessions to be held on Feb 22 at 9:00am, Feb 23 at 11:30 and Mar 1 at 9:00am.  Mo

re info. 

Come one, come all!  You can  get tickets from Ryan, Yette, Sonia, Carla or Jackie. 

Paper tickets: $18
(from a choir member)

Eventbrite (online): $20.50

At the door: $23

Mark your calendars for
Sat, Feb 22. 

You are invited to join for the Coldest Night of the Year! CONY wil be taking to the streets again as a way to raise awareness and finds for our neighbours who are experiencing  extreme poverty and homelessness in the Downtown Eastside.

To the UUSS Community, if you have any joys and/or sorrows to share, please reach out to our wonderful Cares and Concerns team .

 @uusalishsea

Check the calendar on our website for more events!

This message was sent to you by UUs of the Salish Sea
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www.uusalishsea.ca      2025

Unitarian Universalists
of the Salish Sea

Weekly Update
January 3, 2025

THIS WEEKEND on SUNDAY!

The 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.

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.

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

We will be looking for your input on the following: final logo, Covenant, and Mission & Vision.

Vision and Mission sPlease watching your email and also the Member section on the website for the surveys.

AAAAA  Amnd first up is input on our UUSS Covenant. An email went out on December 24th with feedback due by next Friday,  January 10. Let us know if you didn't receive the email for any reason:info@uusalishsea.ca 

A reminder that our Covenant is the thread that joins us together, in a web of interconnection. The practice of promising to walk together is how we build beloved community. To create consensus around a shared vision and direction requires people to be in relationship with each other. Covenants are tools for setting guidelines and building trust so that those relationships can flourish. 

Our Covenant is one of a series of documents that we will create as a community to define who we are, what we will do, where we hope to go and how we will get there. The other documents to be created are:

Our Vision: Will articulate the world we want in the future.

Our Mission: Will articulate how we will contribute now to building the future we seek.

Our Covenant of Right Relations: Will spell out what we will do when we fall out of Covenant with each other.

Our Bylaws: Will articulate various details of our governance system and the processes we will use to guide us in our work.

Message from Lynn Sabourin

Lesley Giroday reached out to ask if there is anyone that might be interested in serving on the CUC nominating committee as the Western rep (replacing her) for a three year term starting May 2025. Someone interested in the wider movement with computer skills who "plays well with others" would be ideal... It is actually a good way to get involved nationally and find out about and help support our wider movement! The job is relatively easy as it is an exceedingly well-run process (set up and administered for many years by Maury Prevost from Ottawa) with excellent existing resources and only 6-8 1.5-hour (sharp!) meetings held over the year, most between September and March. If there is anyone there, young or old, that would suit,  please email Lynn at lynnsabourin51@gmail.com.  Thanks for turning your mind to this for her and the CUC writ large!

To the UUSS Community, if you have any joys and/or sorrows to share, please reach out to our wonderful Cares and Concerns team .

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.

In the last four months, 10  people have been killed at the hands of the police in Canada – and the media has barely reported on it. Police brutality in Canada is a glaring epidemic for First Nations people that is unacceptable to turn away from. Together, this is our opportunity to raise our voices and demand change. Will you add your name to support the Assembly of First Nation’s call for an inquiry into racism and policing in Canada?

Canadian Wellspring 
2025 Cohort
[program starts January 13]

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

Unitarian Universalists
of the Salish Sea

Weekly Update
December 27, 2024

Coming right up next Sunday

the 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.

And first up is input on our UUSS Covenant. An email went out on December 24th with feedback due by January 10. Let us know if you didn't receive the email for any reason: info@uusalishsea.ca 

A reminder that our Covenant is the thread that joins us together, in a web of interconnection. The practice of promising to walk together is how we build beloved community. To create consensus around a shared vision and direction requires people to be in relationship with each other. Covenants are tools for setting guidelines and building trust so that those relationships can flourish. 

Our Covenant is one of a series of documents that we will create as a community to define who we are, what we will do, where we hope to go and how we will get there. The other documents to be created are:

Our Vision: Will articulate the world we want in the future.

Our Mission: Will articulate how we will contribute now to building the future we seek.

Our Covenant of Right Relations: Will spell out what we will do when we fall out of Covenant with each other.

Our Bylaws: Will articulate various details of our governance system and the processes we will use to guide us in our work.

Christmas Donations 
Bring Easter Eggs! 
Donate by December 31st!

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

Some final end of the year greetings - find many more by belonging to  one of our social accounts below.

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.

In the last four months, 10  people have been killed at the hands of the police in Canada – and the media has barely reported on it. Police brutality in Canada is a glaring epidemic for First Nations people that is unacceptable to turn away from. Together, this is our opportunity to raise our voices and demand change. Will you add your name to support the Assembly of First Nation’s call for an inquiry into racism and policing in Canada?

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.

Check the calendar on our website for more events!

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.