Unitarian Universalists
of the Salish Sea

June 5, 2026

UPCOMING UUSS EVENTS

THIS SUNDAY!
June 7th at 11:00am
"Manna for the Journey"
with Casey Stainsby

Molly Nye House940 Lynn Road, North Vancouver

The Judeo-Christian story of how the Israelites wandered in the desert for forty years before arriving at their destination is full of rich lessons for any community going through a significant transformation. At our Sunday Gathering on June 7th, you are invited to hear and play with this wisdom story, to discover what it might have to say to you as an individual, or to you as a wider community. We might think about the promises that have been made, the things that sustain us through difficult times, and what is lost or changed along the way. The hope is that the act of engaging with an ancient story to see how it speaks to our current realities will be a kind of sustenance itself. 

General Meeting to Discuss UUSS Membership Criteria

Sunday, June 7th from 2-4
Molly Nye House
940 Lynn Road, North Vancouver

Light refreshments will be provided. We recommend you attend in person if you can but we will also provide a Zoom option. More info.

June Saturday Service will be on June 13 at 5:00pm 
instead of June 20

"All the Colours of Who We Are"

Please join us as we celebrate All the Colours of Who We Are at our Pride Flower Communion. Please bring a flower, or several, in the colours of the rainbow so we can build a flower rainbow for our altar. Bring red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple flowers - you can bring one colour or many! UU Flower Communion is all about the beauty of our community and Pride celebrates the power of love and courage. We're also looking for a few folks willing to share a Pride story - your first Pride parade, your favourite Pride event, what Pride means to you - whatever story you'd like to tell. Please email Laura (lauramcnaughton1972@gmail.com) to let her know you'd like to tell a story. 

We'll celebrate the beauty and diversity of our community on Saturday, June 13 at 5:00.

UUSS AGM will be held @ 6:00 after the June Service on June 13th

St Margaret’s Cedar Cottage, 1530 E. 22nd, Vancouver
In-person/Zoom

Bring your curious and creative selves to help us celebrate another year and chart the upcoming one. The meeting is a hybrid event so please join us in person or on zoom! (to offer or find a carpool contact Robyn Newton).   

Dinner will catered by Taman as well we will provide a celebratory cake.

Your Planning Team 

Hearts for Tumbler Ridge
Count for this week

Heart-Makers - 74
Made by last week - 1,456
Made this week - 264
Made to date - 1,894

Goal by August 15th = 2,700

Stitch Witches

Saturday, June 27th at 1 pm  at Jessica's North Van Home 

The Care & Concerns Team invites you to our second friendship gathering, Stitch Witches. People of all ages, genders, and rainbow identities are warmly welcomed to create hearts for our heart outreach to the people of Tumbler Ridge while we chat and snack. Beginners are warmly welcomed--we can help each other learn. Supplies will be provided. Nibble donations gratefully received. RSVP to Jessica’s email docjamm@gmail.com for directions and phone contact.

SOCIAL JUSTICE

Emergent Strategy Book Club- Session 2
This Saturday, June 6 at 10:00am

Join us  for the concluding discussion of Emergent Strategy by adrienne maree brown.

Our first gathering took place on August 30, 2025, where we explored themes from the book and reflected on how the CUC would actively practice emergence during the 2025–2026 church year—and invited you to do the same.

Now, ten months later, we’ll reconnect to explore what you’ve noticed: through the lens of emergence.

You do not need to have attended the first session to join this one. Anyone who is drawn to this work is warmly welcome. Registration for the event can be found here.

It's concert time!  Out In Harmony, the choir with the highest concentration of UUSS members, is holding a concert on June 20th.

The concert will be held at Vancouver Unitarians, 949 West 49th Avenue (at Oak). Doors open at 7:00 pm, show starts at 7:30 pm.

You can buy tickets after the June 7th workshop or after the AGM from Ryan for $18.00, or online via Eventbrite for $20.50. Tickets at the door are $23.00. Free admission for youth under 18, and nobody turned away for lack of funds.

Unitarian Universalists
of the Salish Sea

May 29, 2026

UPCOMING UUSS EVENTS

Sunday June 7th at 11:00am
"Manna for the Journey"
with Casey Stainsby
Molly Nye House940 Lynn Road, North Vancouver

The Judeo-Christian story of how the Israelites wandered in the desert for forty years before arriving at their destination is full of rich lessons for any community going through a significant transformation. At our Sunday Gathering on June 7th, you are invited to hear and play with this wisdom story, to discover what it might have to say to you as an individual, or to you as a wider community. We might think about the promises that have been made, the things that sustain us through difficult times, and what is lost or changed along the way. The hope is that the act of engaging with an ancient story to see how it speaks to our current realities will be a kind of sustenance itself. 

June Saturday Service will be on June 13 at 5:00pm 
instead of June 20

"All the Colours of Who We Are"

AND on that same date:

UUSS AGM will be held @ 6:00 after the June Service on June 13th

General Meeting to Discuss UUSS Membership Criteria

Sunday, June 7th from 2-4
Molly Nye House940 Lynn Road, North Vancouver

Light refreshments will be provided. We recommend you attend in person if you can but we will also provide a Zoom option. More info.

Stitch Witches
Saturday, June 27th at 1 pm  at Jessica's North Van Home 

The Care & Concerns Team invites you to our second friendship gathering, Stitch Witches. People of all ages, genders, and rainbow identities are warmly welcomed to create hearts for our heart outreach to the people of Tumbler Ridge while we chat and snack. Beginners are warmly welcomed--we can help each other learn. Supplies will be provided. Nibble donations gratefully received. RSVP to Jessica’s email docjamm@gmail.com for directions and phone contact.

Meeting Making Project for May: "The Practice of Liberating Love" can be found here. Let us know if you have any issues accessing it.

It's concert time!  Out In Harmony, the choir with the highest concentration of UUSS members, is holding a concert on June 20th.

The concert will be held at Vancouver Unitarians, 949 West 49th Avenue (at Oak). Doors open at 7:00 pm, show starts at 7:30 pm.

You can buy tickets after the June 7th workshop or after the AGM from Ryan for $18.00, or online via Eventbrite for $20.50. Tickets at the door are $23.00. Free admission for youth under 18, and nobody turned away for lack of funds.

SOCIAL JUSTIC

Emergent Strategy Book Club- Session 2

• in the CUC’s work

Our first gathering took place on August 30, 2025, where we explored themes from the book and reflected on how the CUC would actively practice emergence during the 2025–2026 church year—and invited you to do the same.

Now, ten months later, we’ll reconnect to explore what you’ve noticed: through the lens of emergence.

You do not need to have attended the first session to join this one. Anyone who is drawn to this work is warmly welcome. Registration for the event can be found here.

Unitarian Universalists
of the Salish Sea

May 22, 2026

UPCOMING UUSS EVENTS

TOMORROW!

May Service
May 23rd at 5:00
"Liberating love"

For our Universalist ancestors the belief that everyone is loved by God, that no one is predestined to be condemned to hell, was revolutionary. Now, almost 200 years later, we are living through a rise of a secular form of predestination: people are condemned for being immigrants, or trans, or some other aspect of their life and identity. Whole nations are being denied their basic humanitarian needs.  Now is the time to remember the belief of our Universalist ancestors in the liberating power of love and the right of everyone to live in peace.  Please join your Worship Team on May 23 to explore the liberating power of love. 

ALSO TOMORROW!


Come join us before the May 23rd Service at 2:00 for "Sociocracy Q&A and Structure Proposal".  This will be a hybrid event. You can register here.

Sunday June 7th at 11:00am
"Manna for the Journey"
with Casey Stainsby
Molly Nye House, 940 Lynn Road, North Vancouver

The Judeo-Christian story of how the Israelites wandered in the desert for forty years before arriving at their destination is full of rich lessons for any community going through a significant transformation. At our Sunday Gathering on June 7th, you are invited to hear and play with this wisdom story, to discover what it might have to say to you as an individual, or to you as a wider community. We might think about the promises that have been made, the things that sustain us through difficult times, and what is lost or changed along the way. The hope is that the act of engaging with an ancient story to see how it speaks to our current realities will be a kind of sustenance itself. 

June Service will be on June 13 at 5:00pm instead of June 20

"All the Colours of Who We Are"

AND on that same date:

UUSS AGM will be held after the June Service on June 13th.

Meeting Making Project for May: "The Practice of Liberating Love" can be found here. Let us know if you have any issues accessing it.

Hearts for Tumbler Ridge
Count for this week

Heart-Makers - 74
Made by last week - 1,456
Made this week - 174
Made to date - 1,630

Goal by August 15th = 2,400

If you are a Hearts-for-Tumbler Ridge-Maker, and you are going to attend this Saturday’s Worship Service, please bring any hearts you have completed.

General Meeting to Discuss UUSS Membership Criteria

Sunday, June 7th from 2-4
Molly Nye House940 Lynn Road, North Vancouver

Light refreshments will be provided. we recommend you attend in person if you can but we will also provide a Zoom option. More info.

SOCIAL JUSTICE

ALSO TOMORROW!

CUC Annual General Meeting 
Saturday, May 23 | Online and in person in Toronto

This is how congregations shape the national direction of Canadian UU life: through voting, dialogue, and shared governance. Register here. 

Dismantling Barriers: Boundaries Are My Love Language, May 28 at 12:00 pm

Unitarian Universalists
of the Salish Sea

May 15, 2026

UPCOMING UUSS EVEN

NEXT SATURDAY

May Service
May 23rd at 5:00
"Liberating love"

For our Universalist ancestors the belief that everyone is loved by God, that no one is predestined to be condemned to hell, was revolutionary. Now, almost 200 years later, we are living through a rise of a secular form of predestination: people are condemned for being immigrants, or trans, or some other aspect of their life and identity. Whole nations are being denied their basic humanitarian needs.  Now is the time to remember the belief of our Universalist ancestors in the liberating power of love and the right of everyone to live in peace.  Please join your Worship Team on May 23 to explore the liberating power of love. 

Come join us before the May 23rd Service at 2:00 for "Sociocracy Q&A and Structure Proposal".  This will be a hybrid event. You can register here.

Sunday June 7th    at 11:00am
"Manna for the Journey"
with Casey Stainsby
Molly Nye House
940 Lynn Road, North Vancouver

The Judeo-Christian story of how the Israelites wandered in the desert for forty years before arriving at their destination is full of rich lessons for any community going through a significant transformation. At our Sunday Gathering on June 7th, you are invited to hear and play with this wisdom story, to discover what it might have to say to you as an individual, or to you as a wider community. We might think about the promises that have been made, the things that sustain us through difficult times, and what is lost or changed along the way. The hope is that the act of engaging with an ancient story to see how it speaks to our current realities will be a kind of sustenance itself. 

June Service will be on June 13 at 5:00pm instead of June 20

"All the Colours of Who We Are"

Meeting Making Project for May: "The Practice of Liberating Love" can be found here. Let us know if you have any issues accessing it.

Hearts for Tumbler Ridge
Count for this week

Heart-Makers - 73
Made by last week - 1,277
Made this week - 173
Made to date - 1,456

Goal by August 15th = 2,400 

LAST CHANCE TO TAKE THE BARRIERS SURVEY - OPEN UNTIL MIDNIGHT

We want to ensure that our services and gatherings are accessible to all who wish to attend. We know that some members are reluctant to attend Saturday services because of the time of day, and we are considering whether changing the time might allow more people to participate. At the same time, we would like to know if there are any other challenges that may be preventing attendance at our Saturday services or Sunday gatherings.

We are asking ALL members of our community could fill out this survey (even if you are not experiencing any accessibility challenges). 

It is 8 short questions, most of which are multiple choice or check boxes. It should take between 5 and 10 minutes.

SOCIAL JUSTICE

 at 12:0

CUC Annual General Meeting 
Saturday, May 23 | Online and in person in Toronto

This is how congregations shape the national direction of Canadian UU life: through voting, dialogue, and shared governance. Register here. 

Dismantling Barriers: Boundaries Are My Love Language, May 28 at 12:00 pm

Unitarian Universalists
of the Salish Sea

May 8, 2026

UPCOMING UUSS EVENTS

Next Saturday Service
has a NEW date

May Service will be on the 4th Sunday instead of the 3rd
May 23rd at 5:00
"Liberating love"

For our Universalist ancestors the belief that everyone is loved by God, that no one is predestined to be condemned to hell, was revolutionary. Now, almost 200 years later, we are living through a rise of a secular form of predestination: people are condemned for being immigrants, or trans, or some other aspect of their life and identity. Whole nations are being denied their basic humanitarian needs.  Now is the time to remember the belief of our Universalist ancestors in the liberating power of love and the right of everyone to live in peace.  Please join your Worship Team on May 23 to explore the liberating power of love. 

Come join us before the May 23rd Service at 2:00 for "Sociocracy Q&A and Structure Proposal".  This will be a hybrid event. You can register here.

June Service will be on June 13 instead of June 20

"Flower Communion and Pride"

UUSS AGM will be held after the June Service on June 13th.

SOCIAL JUSTICE

Meeting Making Project for May: "The Practice of Liberating Love" can be found here. Let us know if you have any issues accessing it.

Hearts for Tumbler Ridge
Count for this week

Heart-Makers - 71
Made last week - 41
Made to-date - 1,344

Goal by August 15th = 2,400 

Don't forget to take your survey on Barriers to Attending UUSS Services and Gatherings before end of day this coming Sunday, May 10

We want to ensure that our services and gatherings are accessible to all who wish to attend. We know that some members are reluctant to attend Saturday services because of the time of day, and we are considering whether changing the time might allow more people to participate. At the same time, we would like to know if there are any other challenges that may be preventing attendance at our Saturday services or Sunday gatherings.

We are asking ALL members of our community could fill out this survey (even if you are not experiencing any accessibility challenges). 

It is 8 short questions, most of which are multiple choice or check boxes. It should take between 5 and 10 minutes.

Link to Survey

TOMORROW!
Saturday, May 9 @ 10:00am
Navigating Conflict with Guest Speakers, Necessary Trouble Collective with our very own catherine Strickland!

In families, workplaces, friendships, and partnerships, tension is inevitable.When people care deeply, differences surface. When values matter, disagreement follows. The question is not whether conflict appears — but how we move through it. On May 9, RAMP! invites you to a practical, trauma-informed workshop. Register here.

Upcoming AGM Update

Saturday, May 23 | Online and in person in Toronto

This is how congregations shape the national direction of Canadian UU life: through voting, dialogue, and shared governance. Delegate registration deadline is May 10. An updated bylaw motion will be circulated in early April

Be an Overnight Angel at CanUUdle – May Long Weekend 

What a joy it is to share that our Vancouver UU Community will be part of something truly special this May long weekend! CanUUdle, the National Unitarian Universalist Youth Conference, is coming, and young UUs from across Canada will be gathering together at VanU in community, faith, and friendship. We are so grateful to be part of welcoming them.

To help ensure that our youth guests are safe, supported, and cared for throughout the night, we are looking for warm-hearted volunteers to serve as Overnight Angels on Friday May 15, Saturday May 16, and Sunday May 17.

If you are able to offer one shift (or more!) over the weekend, please contact Rev. Christopher Wulff at 778-686-3693 or cwulff@gmail.com. We will do our best to match you with the shift that works best for you.

Some transition news from
Anne Barker

As the congregational year starts to wind down, there are often staffing transitions, and I have a personal one to share with you. 

I'm honoured to have been chosen as the next minister for the Grand River Unitarian Congregation in Kitchener ON. My position there begins August 1st, with a big move for Lori and me and Maisie the dog in July.

I have loved these three years as Congregational Life Lead for BC and Western regions - working with congregations (and the people who love them!) - and will miss our meaningful conversations. While I'll remain connected - as part of a member congregation in the Central Region - my final office day at the CUC will be June 26. 

Thank you for all the beautiful and courageous ways that you have journeyed with me, in this role. Your trust, wisdom, vulnerability, and insights will have lasting impacts on the ways I live my faith - in this beautiful Unitarian Universalist adventure we all share. 

Unitarian Universalists
of the Salish Sea

May 1, 2026

UPCOMING UUSS EVENTS

THIS SUNDAY!!

Sunday, May 3 @ 11:00am 
“Question Storming”
with Jessica Motherwell McFarlane
Molly Nye House
 940 Lynn Valley Rd, North Van

"The question mark is our magic carpet. It carries us to new spaces, new mysteries, new selves. When we question, we grow spiritually — and come alive, fully alive, to all that is possible." — Jessica MM

What happens when we stop rushing to answers and just ask questions? Come experience the full Question Formulation Technique (from the Right Question Institute) — the powerful method behind Jessica and Bill's beloved Inquiring Souls sessions offered over many years to our children and youth during UU religious education.

This deceptively simple questioning method gives everyone a simple structure for asking better questions and putting them to use. Born from the voices of low-income parents who said they didn't know what to ask in their children's school, it has since traveled far beyond classrooms.

The right question can unlock a puzzle or radically change a life. Disengaged students are feeling "smart" for the first time. People with disabilities are shaping their own care. Social services clients are moving from dependency to agency. And in community organizing, people whose voices have been overlooked are asking the questions that drive real change.

One question at a time, this powerful — and fun — questioning technique is becoming a force for social justice. Come join us — and boldly ask what no one has asked before.

Next 2 Saturday Services
have NEW dates

May Service will be on the 4th Sunday instead of the 3rd
May 23rd at 5:00
"Liberating love"

For our Universalist ancestors the belief that everyone is loved by God, that no one is predestined to be condemned to hell, was revolutionary. Now, almost 200 years later, we are living through a rise of a secular form of predestination: people are condemned for being immigrants, or trans, or some other aspect of their life and identity. Whole nations are being denied their basic humanitarian needs.  Now is the time to remember the belief of our Universalist ancestors in the liberating power of love and the right of everyone to live in peace.  Please join your Worship Team on May 23 to explore the liberating power of love. 

June Service will be on June 13 instead of June 20

"Flower Communion and Pride"

UUSS AGM will be held after the June Service on June 13th.

SOCIAL JUSTICE

Hearts for Tumbler Ridge
Count for this week

Heart-Makers - 71
Made last week - 277
Made to-date - 1,277

Goal by August 15th = 2,400 

Hello Beloveds,

Hopefully you know that we hosted an in-person healing session for our community on Saturday, April 18th. We recently emailed you a summary of that experience. The gathering helped us to release and process some of the lingering hurt, anxiety and distress that prompted us to leave NSUC and start our own community. 

We are offering the same experience over zoom for those of you who could not make the in person event. The session will be led by catherine strickland and Lindsay Hindle from 7:15 pm to 9 pm on Thursday, May 7th on Zoom. Here is the link. The link will also be shared by email with those who register, so please RSVP if you plan to attend.

This event will be followed by two separate opportunities to work with your grief. One will be an Emotional Freedom Technique session with Lindsay, and the second will be a Nonviolent Communication process led by catherine. You are welcome to join either or both.

Looking forward to doing this vital and spiritually nourishing work with you all! 

warmly,
UUSS Healing Team

Saturday, May 9 @ 10:00am
Navigating Conflict with Guest Speakers, Necessary Trouble Collective with our very own catherine Strickland!

In families, workplaces, friendships, and partnerships, tension is inevitable.When people care deeply, differences surface. When values matter, disagreement follows. The question is not whether conflict appears — but how we move through it. On May 9, RAMP! invites you to a practical, trauma-informed workshop. Register here.

Upcoming AGM Update

CUC Annual General Meeting 
Saturday, May 23 | Online and in person in Toronto

This is how congregations shape the national direction of Canadian UU life: through voting, dialogue, and shared governance. Delegate registration deadline is May 10. An updated bylaw motion will be circulated in early April
  Register your delegates now.

Be an Overnight Angel at CanUUdle – May Long Weekend 

What a joy it is to share that our Vancouver UU Community will be part of something truly special this May long weekend! CanUUdle, the National Unitarian Universalist Youth Conference, is coming, and young UUs from across Canada will be gathering together at VanU in community, faith, and friendship. We are so grateful to be part of welcoming them.

To help ensure that our youth guests are safe, supported, and cared for throughout the night, we are looking for warm-hearted volunteers to serve as Overnight Angels on Friday May 15, Saturday May 16, and Sunday May 17.

If you are able to offer one shift (or more!) over the weekend, please contact Rev. Christopher Wulff at 778-686-3693 or cwulff@gmail.com. We will do our best to match you with the shift that works best for you.

Unitarian Universalists
of the Salish Sea

April 17, 2026

UPCOMING UUSS EVENTS

TOMORROW!!

 UU Salish Sea Monthly Service 
April 18th at 5:00pm
"Nourishing Nature"

We can experience spiritual healing through our engagement with nature, not just with our minds but in our bodies and hearts. As we nourish and help to heal our earth we are in turn nourished and healed. The love and connection we feel in community is enhanced by our connection to the interdependent web of life and can sustain us in hard times. Please join us as we practice healing ourselves and the earth through song, story and engagement with nature as we approach Earth Day. 

TOMORROW as well at 2:00
"Healing Together" 

Please join us for a Healing Together session on Saturday, April 18th from 2 pm to 4 pm at St. Margaret's Cedar Cottage. This event will offer us an opportunity to share our stories and be witnessed as well as offer some tools and practices that can help us process our unresolved impact. The session will be lead by Lindsay Hindle, Casey Stainsby and catherine strickland.

UUSS AGM will be held after the June Service on June 20th.

SOCIAL JUSTICE

Meaning Making Project
April 2026

As Unitarian Universalists our interdependence calls us to love and justice. We begin from the knowledge that we belong to the earth, a truth both profound and mundane. Yet we often feel estranged from nature, disconnected from the connected web of creation.

Don MacKenzie, A United Church of Christ minister suggests this estrangement grates on us on some deep level, unsettles us. He says his grandfather, when feeling off, would say “If I could just walk across a newly ploughed field in my bare feet, and feel the dirt coming up between my toes, I’d know where I was.” https://orionmagazine.org/article/climate-and-creation/

I think we need the healing that comes from connecting with nature and I know the earth needs our help to heal and adapt to the climate crisis.

Spiritual resilience can arise in part through a visceral experience of the interdependent web of life, not just in our minds, but in our bodies and hearts. To find sanctuary in this blue green earth that is our home. This sense of love and connection can sustain us in the hard times, and these feel like hard times on so many levels.

My own spiritual practice to connect is simple – I go outside and sit under a tree – or I go outside and walk – or I just look out my window at the trees that I am so lucky to have around my home. I feel such gratitude to have all this green life just beyond my door, and every year I learn a little more about the trees and plants and birds and animals that share this land with me. I am beginning to know where I am.

I encourage all of you to find spiritual practices that connect you to the earth, from sketching a flower to singing a song outside to growing basil on the windowsill to hiking a mountain. Whatever lets you feel the way Mary Oliver feels in this excerpt from a poem:

  When I am among the trees
  especially the willows and the honey locust,
  equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,
  they give off such hints of gladness. 
  I would almost say that they save me, and daily.

Find the way nature nourishes your spirit and find ways to nourish nature. It is these gifts of connectedness that help us all. 
Apr_2026_Theme_Packet_colour_with_discussion_guide.pdf

Hearts for Tumbler Ridge
Count for this week

Heart-Makers - 48
Made last week - 535
Made to-date - 826

Goal by August 15th = 2,400 

Join us for a warm, relaxing night of music and good company at the beautiful Vancouver Unitarians Sanctuary, on the corner of 49th and Oak on April 25. Doors open at 6:15 pm, and the music starts at 7:00.

Tables fill up quickly, so arrive early to pick your spot. The balcony is open, with a lovely view of the whole room, and great acoustics too.  Seating is not reserved/general admission only. Because the music happens in two different areas through the evening, feel free to turn or shift your chair whenever you’d like a better angle. 

Yummy Bits and Bites will be waiting on your table when you arrive, and drinks can be bought at the bar in the entry hall. You are welcome to bring your drink to your seat but please be careful with your food and drink in our beautiful space! 

Wayne Hanna's Celebration of Life
2pm Sat. April 25th at NSU
All are invited to attend Wayne's Celebration of Life Service at NSU with reception following in the Fireside Room.  

Brian Blann's Celebration of Life
2pm Sat. May 2nd at NSU
All are invited to attend Brian's Celebration of Life Service at NSU with a reception at 3:30pm at the West Vancouver Yacht Club. 

Unitarian Universalists
of the Salish Sea

April 10, 2026

UPCOMING UUSS EVENTS

NEXT SATURDAY at 2:00
"Healing Together" 

Please join us for a Healing Together session on Saturday, April 18th from 2 pm to 4 pm at St. Margaret's Cedar Cottage. This event will offer us an opportunity to share our stories and be witnessed as well as offer some tools and practices that can help us process our unresolved impact. The session will be lead by Lindsay Hindle, Casey Stainsby and catherine strickland.

Next Saturday as well

 Monthly Service directly following the Healing Session on
April 18th at 5:00pm
"Nourishing Nature"

We can experience spiritual healing through our engagement with nature, not just with our minds but in our bodies and hearts. As we nourish and help to heal our earth we are in turn nourished and healed. The love and connection we feel in community is enhanced by our connection to the interdependent web of life and can sustain us in hard times. Please join us as we practice healing ourselves and the earth through song, story and engagement with nature as we approach Earth Day. 

Updates from your
Worship Circle

The Worship Circle has been working on planning our last three services our year. We are enjoying our last month of collaborating with Casey Stainsby as she finishes up her time with us. April's service will explore our community's healing journey while celebrating our nourishing relationship with the Earth. Our May service will look at how the liberating power of love is at the centre of our faith and how we can work for peace in our world. In June we will honour the many colours of our world as we celebrate Pride month and enjoy our year-end flower communion. The Worship Circle would welcome ideas for services and are looking forward to starting to plan our next year.

There is a Metro UU cross border support Google group just starting up. For anyone interested in joining a discussion about how we can support UU's in the States, especially our LGBTQ+ friends, please contact Cara.

UUSS AGM will be held after the June Service on June 20th.

May 3: “Question Storming” with Jessica Motherwell
June 7: with Casey Stainsby

SOCIAL JUSTICE

From Dogwood: On April 12, bands take over the Cobalt in Vancouver for a high-energy fundraiser, supporting Indigenous land defenders fighting the MAGA billionaire-backed Ksi Lisims LNG terminal. Get the details...

From Seniors for Climate: In a world rocked by war and climate chaos, Canada is doubling down on fossil fuel megaprojects—using public dollars to fund projects that harm our health, climate, and Indigenous rights. The “LNG: Not in Our National Interest” campaign is pushing back, demanding investment in clean energy instead. Show your support for this campaign by showing up at Housing Minister Gregor Robertson's MP constituency office Saturday, April 18 at 1pm.

Make energy efficiency a national priority! More here.

From Avaaz: Israel has just passed a law that will allow them to hang Palestinians.  The EU is Israel's largest trading partner - this is how we make Netanyahu listen. Sign and share this global call to EU leaders to suspend the EU–Israel trade agreement now.

If you believe in a Unitarian Universalism that is multiracial, just, and spiritually alive—this is a moment to act, not just affirm. DRUUMM’s annual Public Worship on May 14, 2026 is an invitation into that vision:“We Ride at Dawn: Showing Up, No Matter What.” Led by Rev. Summer Albayati and Rev. Verdis L. Robinson, this online service centers the leadership and spiritual traditions of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color in our faith. The service is open to all. We invite you to attend—and to engage your congregation or organization in visible, material support. We hope you will personally attend—and we invite you to encourage your congregation, ministry, or organization to become a visible sponsor of this work.Sponsor form.Deadline: April 15

Special Announcement

"The CUC Board of Trustees is pleased to share that Michael Jodah has been selected  as the new Executive Director of the Canadian Unitarian Council. Michael will join on a part-time basis beginning April 13, working alongside current Executive Director Vyda Ng through a shared transition period until June 15. Vyda's last day with the CUC will be June 30, closing a chapter of dedicated service to Canadian Unitarian Universalism.

Michael brings significant experience in executive leadership, community-building, environmental sustainability, and education. A Guyanese-Canadian social entrepreneur and academic, he has dedicated his career to building spaces where people belong, where young people are genuinely invested in, and where communities are strengthened from within. He also brings a personal connection to Unitarian Universalism, having served as a board member in a UU congregation.

Throughout the search process, Michael stood out for the grounded and collaborative way he approaches leadership: clear in his vision, attentive to people, and genuinely motivated by the growth of progressive communities across Canada. He is particularly inspired by the possibility of growing Unitarian Universalism among younger generations and deepening the role UU spaces play as places of real connection and shared life.

"I'm excited to take on this new challenge and to work alongside communities across the country," Michael shares. "I'm an action-oriented person, and I look forward to building momentum together, finding ways to grow progressive communities and strengthen the role UU spaces can play in people's lives."

Members of the Search Committee and Board expressed strong confidence in Michael's leadership, noting his experience, energy, and forward-looking vision for Canadian UUism.

Current Executive Director Vyda offers her welcome: "I welcome Michael to the CUC and the use of his skills and experience on behalf of Canadian Unitarian Universalism. I also want to extend deep appreciation to the Search Committee for their many hours of thoughtful work in this process."

We step into this next chapter with confidence in what our communities have built, and in the leadership Michael brings to what comes next."

Unitarian Universalists
of the Salish Sea

April 3, 2026

UPCOMING UUSS EVENTS

Healing Together 

Hello Beloveds,

Many of us still carry trauma and distress from the experiences that led us to leave NSUC. And while this resulted in us creating our wonderful UUSS community, we continue to be impacted and possibly limited by these experiences. 

Please join us for a Healing Together session on Saturday, April 18th from 2 pm to 4 pm at St. Margaret's Cedar Cottage. This event will offer us an opportunity to share our stories and be witnessed as well as offer some tools and practices that can help us process our unresolved impact. The session will be lead by Lindsay Hindle, Casey Stainsby and catherine strickland.

Next Saturday Service directly following the Healing Session on   April 18th at 5:00pm
"Nourishing Nature"

We can experience spiritual healing through our engagement with nature, not just with our minds but in our bodies and hearts. As we nourish and help to heal our earth we are in turn nourished and healed. The love and connection we feel in community is enhanced by our connection to the interdependent web of life and can sustain us in hard times. Please join us as we practice healing ourselves and the earth through song, story and engagement with nature as we approach Earth Day. 

Updates from your Planning Team

The Planning Team meets every 3rd Wednesday of the month gathering status from all of the other teams (circles soon?) and monitoring the administrative aspects of helping keep UUSS going.Here are some updates from the last meeting on March 26:

• We are working on getting UUSS to be a charitable society.  We have submitted our packet after much work to the CUC and are awaiting their feedback
• This is Casey's last month with us for her practicom. Her last planning team meeting with us is next month.  She has been primarily working with Worship Team and Sociocracy and most recently helping with the Healing Journey planned for April 18th.
• Cares and Concerns will be scheduling another Stitch Witches event to make more hearts in support the Heart Ministry.  The target is 2400 hearts to be delivered to Tumbler Ridge.
• For Social & Environmental Justice, Robyn has been representing us on two different projects that focus on one where different agencies opposing federal government funding for pipelines: BC Climate emergency campaign and Mother Tree Leaders Program, organized by Sierra Club.
• Financially, we are running a good balance to cover expenses.
• In Communication, Ryan and Cynthia welcome James as a major contributor to our services. Enews has changed its format a bit in the last few week's for better accessibility. We currently have 55 Facebook followers and 140 Instagram followers.  Please use our hashtag @uusalishsea when posting.
• Metro UUs are starting a chaplaincy support committee for all metro congregations who have chaplains and maybe not enough people to form support committees for chaplains. 
  
  

UUSS AGM will be held after the June Service on June 20th.

NO GATHERING THIS SUNDAY
due to the date falling on
Easter Sunday

There is a Metro UU cross border support Google group just starting up. For anyone interested in joining a discussion about how we can support UU's in the States, especially our LGBTQ+ friends, please contact Cara.

SOCIAL JUSTICE

Join the Metro UUs Ecochallenge! The Team is named Metro-Van-Unis - JOIN the team!

From 350.org: Demand powerlines not pipelines 

From Amnesty International : Urgent action - Call Call on the US to drop charges against journalists for doing their job.

From Action Network: Tell Carney to join other leaders in opposing Israel's  inhumane Prisoners Execution Law.

From LeadNow: Tell our Canadian Pension Plan to stop funding ICE

HAPPY APRIL FOOLS FROM CUC!
Click here for more April 1 fun!

“Unitarian Universalists: The MUUsical”
Coming to a Congregation Near You

Congregations are in for a treat this spring with the CUC’s national service. Starting April 2, 2026, a recording will be provided to all congregations who request it of the smash Broadway hit: “Unitarian Universalists: The MUUsical.”

“Unitarian Universalists: The MUUsical” was written by a group of musically gifted UU young adults who hoped to give Unitarian Universalism a publicity boost similar to that which “The Book of Mormon” gave to that faith.

In keeping with the living tradition that has long guided UU’s, the musical puts a fresh spin on old classics. Audiences will find themselves singing along with “The RuuM Where It Happens”, a spoof of the song from “Hamilton”, about the hidden world of UU board meetings, and “Oklahoma”, which has been rewritten as a gospel tune featuring the choir of Tulsa’s All Souls Unitarian Church, one of the world’s largest UU congregations.

While the recording of the musical is being provided to congregations free of charge, tickets for live performances are hard to come by: seats for the Broadway show have been packed for months.

Unitarian Universalists
of the Salish Sea

March 27, 2026

UPCOMING UUSS EVENTS

Healing Together 

Hello Beloveds,

Many of us still carry trauma and distress from the experiences that led us to leave NSUC. And while this resulted in us creating our wonderful UUSS community, we continue to be impacted and possibly limited by these experiences. 

Please join us for a Healing Together session on Saturday, April 18th from 2 pm to 4 pm at St. Margaret's Cedar Cottage. This event will offer us an opportunity to share our stories and be witnessed as well as offer some tools and practices that can help us process our unresolved impact. The session will be lead by Lindsay Hindle, Casey Stainsby and catherine strickland.

After the Healing session, we will offer a light snack before the start of our monthly Worship and potluck dinner starting at 5 pm.  The Worship service will provide opportunities to reflect on and integrate the work done in our Healing session.

We hope you will join us!
warmly, UUSS Healing Team

Tumbler Ridge Heart Ministry – Community Update

The Unitarian Universalists of the Salish Sea are honoured to serve as the host sponsors of a growing outreach effort to support the people of Tumbler Ridge as they cope with the aftermath of the recent tragedy in their community. What began as a small gesture of care has quickly grown into a powerful circle of compassion.

Volunteers have been gathering to sew handmade hearts—one for every member of the Tumbler Ridge community. Each heart is a simple reminder that people far away are holding them in love and solidarity during this difficult time.

Here is where the project stands so far:
Over 40 volunteers are already helping by sewing hearts, cutting fabric, preparing ribbons, and assembling materials. Together we have created more than 130 hearts, with a goal of 2,400 hearts so that every community member can receive one. The project is spreading through word of mouth. Neighbours, friends, members of volunteer groups, local merchants (including Michaels and a sewing shop), and even people Joy meets while out shopping have offered support. Ron McKinnon, MP for Coquitlam–Port Coquitlam, has offered to contact the Member of Parliament representing Tumbler Ridge to help connect our effort with the community there.

Deadline: To make this gesture of care possible, all hearts need to be completed by August 15 so they can be prepared and delivered to the community by the beginning of this school year. This project is growing quickly, and there are many ways people can help.

We are currently looking for:
- People willing to sew hearts
- Volunteers to assemble heart kits (cut fabric, ribbons, stuffing, etc.)
- Donations of sewing supplies
- Hosts for small sewing gatherings
- People willing to spread the word to friends, neighbours, and community groups

Small acts of care can travel a long way. Each heart carries a message: you are not alone. If you would like to participate or donate supplies, please contact us. Together we can surround the people of Tumbler Ridge with a visible sign of compassion and community.The Unitarian Universalists of the Salish Sea are grateful to everyone who has already stepped forward to help grow this circle of care.

NO GATHERING IN APRIL due to the date falling on Easter Sunday.           
May 3: “Question Storming” with Jessica Motherwell

A reminder to keep our wonderful very own Lay Chaplain, Barb Moore, in mind when planning weddings, life celebrations, child dedications and more. She crafts ceremonies to cater to the individual circumstances, taking faith, values, sexual orientation and gender identity, and cultural differences into consideration.
Learn more about Barb here.

There is a Metro UU cross border support Google group just starting up. For anyone interested in joining a discussion about how we can support UU's in the States, especially our LGBTQ+ friends, please contact Cara.

SOCIAL JUSTICE

No war! No ICE! No Tyrants!

TOMORROW!!

Lets have a UUSS showing at the No Tyrant's Day on March 28, starting at 11:00 at the Vancouver Public Library downtown and marching to Jack Poole Plaza. This event is sponsored by Indivisible Vancouver and Democracy Rising. The threat to the globe by the current administration in the US is increasing daily. Let's raise our voices against the insanity and show up in force! Please reach to Cindy if you want to go.  More info.

CUC 

Register Now! CanUUdle XXVI is happening in Vancouver, BC from May 15-18th, 2026! 

CanUUdle is the annual national conference for Unitarian Universalist youth (ages 14-19) and their adult advisors (25+). 

​​It’s a beautiful weekend where youth and adults create an amazing community, worship together, grow as spiritual beings, and join in multigen activities. CanUUdle attendees stay overnight at the Vancouver Unitarians Congregation from Friday to Monday. 

Don’t delay in registering! We require a minimum of 30 participants registered by April 15 for the event to go ahead.

Congregational Conversations: Shifting from Problem to Opportunity
April 16 & April 18  10:00 am 

Dismantling Barriers: Positionality and Economics
April 23 4:00 pm

Workshop: UUism and Social Enterprise with Shaun Loney
April 25 10:00 am

Upcoming AGM Update

CUC Annual General Meeting 
Saturday, May 23 | Online and in person in Toronto

This is how congregations shape the national direction of Canadian UU life: through voting, dialogue, and shared governance. Delegate registration deadline is May 10. An updated bylaw motion will be circulated in early April
  Register your delegates now.

Seeking a Parliamentarian
The CUC is looking for someone well-versed in Robert's Rules of Order to guide our democratic process at the AGM. This is a meaningful volunteer role. Know someone who'd be a great fit? Applications are due April 15. See the full Terms of Reference.