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Unitarian Universalists
of the Salish Sea
December 19, 2025
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TOMORROW
"A Little Hope for the Solstice"
Saturday Dec 20 @ 5:00pm
St Margaret’s Cedar Cottage
1530 E. 22nd
in person and on Zoom
Join us on Dec 20th at 5:00 for a little hope for this season. We're offering a pagan-style Winter Solstice celebration that includes a story of hope for the world and many small rituals to ground us in the season and in the hope that is the coming light. There will be wassail (non-alcoholic) to share as well as our regular potluck dinner following the service. We look forward to celebrating the Winter Solstice with you.
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"Wintering: A mini retreat for the winter solstice"
Sunday Dec 21 @ 3:30pm
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The Vancouver Unitarian Earth Spirituality group invites you to spend some time with other creative souls on the longest night of the year.
Winter is a time to focus on our inner life, and yet the world sometimes pulls us out and about, spinning us around.We’ll gather in Hewett Hall, cast a circle of sanctuary to protect us from the busy world outside. We’ll ritually bid farewell to whatever we are eager to leave behind from the past year.
Then people will choose one of three workshops and spend 2 hours together, whether circle dancing, crafting garlands or reading and writing.The workshops will be a way to connect with others and possibly make new friends.
Come and experience the power of rest and retreat and enjoy a time of quiet joy in community with other creative souls.
At 4:30, we gather in the hall together in a circle for a winter solstice ritual and to release directions and open the circle, followed by a giveaway of pre-loved goods.At 5:00, go if you must, stay if you will. (Help with cleanup appreciated.)
To make this a comfortable and cozy space, we have a maximum enrollment, so please do register early. Registration
What to bring:
- Some goodies to share. Labels re gluten, nuts and dairy are helpful. Providing serving plates and utensils is much appreciated so we can minimize cleanup.
- A giveaway item. (Any leftover items will be donated to the Vancouver Unitarian Refugee Committee table.)
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Coming up on January 4th
Sunday Gathering
"Games and Connection"
Mollie Nye House
940 Lynn Valley Road
Join us for a relaxed gathering of games and connection.We’ll have a selection of games available, and you’re invited to bring along your favourite card or board games to share.
Not really into games? No worries—you’re still warmly welcome to come chat and cheer on the players.
Please RSVP to Barb so we know how much soup to have on hand. If anyone would like to make an additional pot of soup for this gathering, also please let Barb know: Barbara.Moore@vch.ca
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A year end note from Ryan
regarding donations
Winter is a special time in many religions, and while the specific traditions and rituals may differ, we all make a point to mark the shortest day of the year and the shortest time between making a donation and receiving a tax refund.
This is your one and only reminder to get any donations you were planning on making in before the end of the year. If you're donating via eTransfer, you theoretically have until Dec 31. If you want to donate cash or a cheque, your best bet is to give it to me (Ryan) at the Solstice Service on Dec 20.
Reminder that all donations have to go through the recently renamed UU Community of Victoria. Instructions are here: https://uusalishsea.ca/Donate
If you'd like some or all of your donation to go toward the Christmas hampers, please tell me how much as I don't see individual donations come in, and I don't want to pester the Victoria Treasurer unnecessarily.
Thanks and happy tax season!
Ryan
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Christmas Hamper
project update
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We had a very successful Holiday Hamper project. Thanks to your generous donations we created two very abundant gift baskets for a family of a young mother and her 12 year old son, and a 79 year old senior woman. And we had a lot of fun doing it, especially at the wrapping table (special thanks to Cindy and Harper) at the gift making workshop. Shelly and Anne delivered the hampers to the North Shore Christmas Bureau on Dec. 15, where we were also able to hand over a couple of additional gift cards. They are an entirely voluntary organization and were very appreciative. Thanks to all who helped us contribute happiness to our community.
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Come Join Barb as a Chaplain!
The CUC's National Lay Chaplains Committee will again be offering and facilitating the annual Basics Training for Rites of Passages, and also continuing with the successful LC Chats in the upcoming months. Registration and details to follow.
Dates for the training (1 cohort) are: Saturday April 11, Sunday April 12 and Saturday April 18, 2026. Training will be delivered via Zoom. A certificate will be issued to those who complete the required 3 sessions. This training is intended for those who are interested in pursuing the Lay Chaplaincy path, have been members of their congregation or fellowship for at least a year and have the endorsement of their congregational board.
LC Chats: Monday January 26, 2026 (evening) , Topic: "When things Go Sideways", Monday April 27. (Topic & speaker TBD. The LC Chats are open to Lay Chaplains and aspiring Lay Chaplains.
About the CUC's unique program:
The Canadian Unitarian Council’s unique lay chaplaincy program was created in 1971. The program trains and supports carefully chosen lay members of Unitarian Universalist congregations who create and perform rites of passage, including weddings, child dedications, and memorial services. Lay chaplains are pleased to provide this outreach service to people who want a religious or spiritual ceremony: both to the general public and to Unitarian Universalists in congregations without a minister. Read more about the program here.
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