NEXT SATURDAY!
Saturday, Sep 21st at 5:00pm
"Water Communion"

Please join us for the first service of our new church year. We will celebrate with a Unitarian Universalist water communion homecoming ritual in a service lead by your Worship Team.  Please bring some water from your home or from your summer adventures. We will enjoy food and fellowship at a potluck after the service.

Visitors are encouraged to also bring lanterns or lights of their own.  Here is the ink: 
https://stillmoonarts.ca/2024-renfrew-ravine-moon-festival/

Saturday, Sep 21st @ 2:00pm
Celebration of Life
for Chris Edgar

On June 5, 2024, after a short illness, Christopher Michael Edgar passed away peacefully, surrounded and supported by the family he loved so much. He was the beloved son of Patricia and David Edgar, husband to Tricia, Dad to Lauren, big brother to Karen and part of the Edgar and Wadsley extended family as nephew, cousin and uncle.

Barb Moore will be leading the service at Boal Chapel, North Vancouver.

INTO CIRCLE MEALS!

Joy Silver is once again inviting us all to participate in potluck lunches and dinners once a month in each other’s homes.  All you have to do is fill out the survey.  Joy will organize the lunches and dinners from four to six guests.  The more participants, the more circulation and opportunities for new folk to know us.

Carpooling can be arranged.

John and Joy are offering to host a lunch on Thursday, September 26th, from 11:30-1:30. Any offerings to host a Potluck Dinner in October?  Your choice of date.

This Friday, Sep 20th @ 8:00am

This Friday, Sep 20th @ 8:00am

The planning team for the Sunday gatherings on the North Shore (happening soon!) would like to know: how many of us own personal copies of the UUA blue book "Singing the Journey."

If you have one that you are willing to share email jilly.watson@shaw.ca to let her know.

 The planning team for the Sunday gatherings on the North Shore (happening soon!) would like to know: how many of us own personal copies of the UUA blue book "Singing the Journey."

If you have one that you are willing to share email jilly.watson@shaw.ca 
to let her know.

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. 

Congregational Conversations

Emerging Needs, Wed Sep 18th at  10:00am

Join us for a conversation about your needs:  What’s going on for you right now and what do you most want to connect around this fall?

Please register using this form. You'll find the link for the conversations and information about other scheduled sessions there. 

Online Goodbye and
Appreciation Event, Thursday Sep 19 at 4:00pm 

Two valued members of the CUC staff team, Casey Stainsby,  Youth & Young Adult Program Manager, and Rev. Danie Webber, Youth and Young Adult Ministry Specialist,  will complete their work with the CUC soon.  Casey is leaving to allow her to focus more fully on her studies in preparation for UU ministry. The First Unitarian Church of Hamilton has called Danie to be their minister.  

This event will be an opportunity to celebrate them and share some stories about their impact on their CUC roles and to offer our appreciation.  Join us on Zoom as we celebrate these Youth and Young Adult leaders.

If you haven’t already added your comments to the virtual going away cards you still can.  To make an addition to the card for Danie or Casey, follow the links.

Connect and Deepen: Caring, Saturday Sep 21st at 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. Registration here.

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. But regardless of the topic, I find myself surprised at what I discover about myself through this process.

Soul Matters groups are starting up again. There is plenty of space. Current groups that meet in-person on the third Wednesday morning, a weekend, and on Zoom on the fourth Monday evening are all seeking and welcoming new participants. And new groups either in-person or virtual are always possible. Please let Anne Mayall know of your interest or questions. Email annemayall51@gmail.com, or call or text 778-686-3643.

Did you know that almost 300 congregations are hosting a UU Climate Justice Revival!

On September 28-29, congregations will host UU Climate Justice Revivals to collectively reimagine a spirit-filled and liberatory future. Through conversations, worship, and advocacy, congregations will work together to realize climate justice and collective liberation in our communities. Congregations will receive everything they need to host a revival in their communities, including discussion guides and materials for all ages, training, worship resources, and advocacy actions designed to transform our communities through climate justice.

At the Revival, congregations will:

• collaboratively create  representation of the challenges of climate change
• Identify a vision for a flourishing future and actions we can take to make that vision a reality
• undertsand their role in the interdependent ecosystem of creating climate justice and collaborative liberation

If you are interested in helping our congregation be a part of this historic event, please email catherine.

Wednesday, Sep 11 at 3:30pm
National Check-in for 
"Seniors' Day of Climate Action"

October 1st will be National Seniors Day in Canada. We are re-purposing this celebration with a "Seniors' Day of Climate Action". Over 50 communities across Canada will hold events and actions focused on Climate Change. Join us for an evening of preparation, celebration and to hear our amazing speakers: Dr. Courtney Howard, David Suzuki and Amber Bennett will lead us in an exploration of how we can influence the course of climate change. You will learn more about the upcoming Oct. 1st "Seniors' Day of Climate Action", and feel the excitement building among Seniors across Canada who are concerned about Climate Change!  

Sign up here.

Thursday Sep 12 at 7:00pm
Next meeting for the
"Second Gathering Circle"

Zoom link will be sent out before the meeting.  Any questions, please reach out to Allyson Yee.

 with any questions.

Saturday, Sep 21st @ 1:00pm
Celebration of Life
for Chris Edgar

On June 5, 2024, after a short illness, Christopher Michael Edgar passed away peacefully, surrounded and supported by the family he loved so much. He was the beloved son of Patricia and David Edgar, husband to Tricia, Dad to Lauren, big brother to Karen and part of the Edgar and Wadsley extended family as nephew, cousin and uncle.

Barb Moore will be leading the service at Boal Chapel, North Vancouver.

JOIN US FOR OUR FIRST SERVICE OF THE NEW YEAR!
Saturday, Sep 21st at 5:00pm
"Water Communion"

Please join us for the first service of our new church year. We will celebrate with a Unitarian Universalist water communion homecoming ritual in a service lead by your Worship Team.  Please bring some water from your home or from your summer adventures. We will enjoy food and fellowship at a potluck after the service.

INTO CIRCLE MEALS!

Joy Silver is once again inviting us all to participate in potluck lunches and dinners once a month in each other’s homes.  All you have to do is fill out the survey.  Joy will organize the lunches and dinners from four to six guests.  The more participants, the more circulation and opportunities for new folk to know us.

Carpooling can be arranged.

John and Joy are offering to host a lunch on Thursday, September 26th, from 11:30-1:30. Any offerings to host a Potluck Dinner in October?  Your choice of date.

 Our October Service will be on the 19th at 5:00pm

 "Celebrating the sacred circle of life -  The interdependent web of all existence after death"

Life depends on death. Everything alive and vital depends on the death of other things to survive. It is a key part of the interdependent web of life. Lay chaplains Barb Moore (UUSS) and Laureen Stokes (Vancouver Unitarians) present how helping our clients deal with the death of a loved one has shaped our ideas on after death planning and care.  For the grieving, and the deceased.  Laureen will speak on how Terramation - a new method of body disposition - creates new ways to care for our deceased as we grieve, and reconnect us back into the web of life. 

All summer long, we have been featuring famous Unitarians that perhaps you wouldn't know were Unitarian. If you have enjoyed these features, let us know and we can add a few during the regular year too! send us a short emailat info@uusalishsea.ca.

All summer long, we have been featuring famous Unitarians that perhaps you wouldn't know were Unitarian. If you have enjoyed these features, let us know and we can add a few during the regular year too! send us a short emailat info@uusalishsea.ca.

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. But regardless of the topic, I find myself surprised at what I discover about myself through this process.

Soul Matters groups are starting up again. There is plenty of space. Current groups that meet in-person on the third Wednesday morning, a weekend, and on Zoom on the fourth Monday evening are all seeking and welcoming new participants. And new groups either in-person or virtual are always possible. Please let Anne Mayall know of your interest or questions. Email annemayall51@gmail.com, or call or text 778-686-3643.

Did you know that almost 300 congregations are hosting a UU Climate Justice Revival!

On September 28-29, congregations will host UU Climate Justice Revivals to collectively reimagine a spirit-filled and liberatory future. Through conversations, worship, and advocacy, congregations will work together to realize climate justice and collective liberation in our communities. Congregations will receive everything they need to host a revival in their communities, including discussion guides and materials for all ages, training, worship resources, and advocacy actions designed to transform our communities through climate justice.

At the Revival, congregations will:

• collaboratively create  representation of the challenges of climate changeIdentify a vision for a flourishing future and actions we can take to make that vision a realiunderstand their role in the interdependent ecosystem of creating climate justice and collaborative liberation
• collaboratively create  representation of the challenges of climate change
• Identify a vision for a flourishing future and actions we can take to make that vision a reality
  
  If you are interested in helping our congregation be a part of this historic event, please email catherine.

VanU is Hiring a Head Nursery Staff Person *New!*

Casey Stainsby is moving into the new Middle Years Coordinator position, taking over leadership of Crossing Paths and other programming for ages 10-12. Casey has been wonderful as our Head Nursery staff over this past year and now we need to fill that position with someone new!

Our infant and toddler members need supportive, open, and loving care while their parents and older siblings attend service and classes. Our youngest members need to feel safe to explore their burgeoning sense of wonder, joy, awe, and love of the world and beings around them to build trust in this place and its people.

Are you interested? Contact Kiersten Moore at kiersten@vanu.ca  You may check out the job description here.

2 Adult Volunteers Still Needed for the BC Fall Youth Gathering *Updated!*

Welcome Rory Brimacombe as our BC Fall Con Coordinator! Rory came up through UU youth culture in Vancouver through the early part of the last decade and is now back in Vancouver after completing a masters at UBC. They are excited to be able to bring their experience and knowledge to a new generation of youth!

• Advisor’s Advisor (1 adult)
• Peer Chaplains (1 adult)

These adult roles are less task focused and more support oriented, they do require a time commitment nonetheless. We need everyone to commit to meetings starting in early September and probably an hour a week of work, ramping up as we get closer to the conference.

The roles will be almost identical to the CanUUdle staff system, with the exception of online components that we do not do.

You can find more info about all these roles here: CUC CanUUdle Staff Roles

Mark your calendars: 
Saturday, Sep 21st at 5:00pm
"Water Communion"

Please join us for the first service of our new church year. We will celebrate with a Unitarian Universalist water communion homecoming ritual in a service lead by your Worship Team.  Please bring some water from your home or from your summer adventures. We will enjoy food and fellowship at a potluck after the service.

And on October on the 19th at 5:00pm:
"Celebrating the sacred circle of life - 
The interdependent web of all existence after death"

Life depends on death. Everything alive and vital depends on the death of other things to survive. It is a key part of the interdependent web of life. Lay chaplains Barb Moore (UUSS) and Laureen Stokes (Vancouver Unitarians) present how helping our clients deal with the death of a loved one has shaped our ideas on after death planning and care.  For the grieving, and the deceased.  Laureen will speak on how Terramation - a new method of body disposition - creates new ways to care for our deceased as we grieve, and reconnect us back into the web of life. 

Did you know they were Unitarian?

Tim Berners-Lee (1955 - )

Tim Berners-Lee is a British computer scientist generally credited as the inventor of the World Wide Web, HTML, the URL systems and HTTP. He is a professorial research fellow at University of Oxford and professor emeritus at MIT. In 2004, he was awarded a knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II and the inaugural Millennium Technology Prize (€1 million) by the Finnish Technology Award Foundation.

In 1998, he wrote:
"People have often asked me whether the Web design was influenced by Unitarian Universalist philosophy. I have to say that it wasn't explicitly, as I developed the Web well before I came across Unitarian Universalism at all. But looking back on it, I suppose that there are some parallels between the philosophies. 

If you're used to other religions you might be confused by UUism being called a religion, but it qualifies I think. Like many people, I came back to religion when we had children. Happenstance had our family living in the Boston area, where UU churches abound, and we were lucky enough to hit on a great one, with a great minister.

Unitarian Universalists are people who are concerned about all the things which your favourite religion is concerned about, but allow or even require their belief to be compatible with reason. They are hugely tolerant and decidedly liberal. The fundamental value and dignity of every human being is a core philosophy, and they have a healthy respect for those whose beliefs differ. They meet in churches instead of wired hotels, and discuss justice, peace, conflict, and morality rather than protocols and data formats, but in other ways the peer respect is very similar to that of the Internet Engineering Task Force. Both are communities which I really appreciate.

The is one other thing that comes to mind as common between the Internet folks and the UUs. The whole spread of the Web happened not because of a decision and a mandate from any authority, but because a whole bunch of people across the 'Net picked it up and brought up Web clients and servers, it actually happened. The actual explosion of creativity, and the coming into being of the Web was the result of thousands of individuals playing a small part. In the first couple of years, often this was not for a direct gain, but because they had an inkling that it was the right way to go, and a gleam of an exciting future. It is necessary to UU philosophy that such things can happen, that we will get to a better state in the end by each playing our small part. UUism is full of hope, and the fact that the Web happens is an example of a dream coming true and an encouragement to all who hope."

Volunteer to make our Second Monthly Community Event Happen!  

Monday Aug 26 was the first meeting of the Second Monthly Event circle. Our community is keen to offer two regularly scheduled UUSS events to help build community and support us to deepen into our faith. If you are curious or interested in joining the circle that will organize the second event every month, please contact Allyson Yee

. Planing for the second meeting is underway and if you are interested, please fill in this Doodle survey.

Did you know that almost 300 congregations are hosting a UU Climate Justice Revival!

On September 28-29, congregations will host UU Climate Justice Revivals to collectively reimagine a spirit-filled and liberatory future. Through conversations, worship, and advocacy, congregations will work together to realize climate justice and collective liberation in our communities. Congregations will receive everything they need to host a revival in their communities, including discussion guides and materials for all ages, training, worship resources, and advocacy actions designed to transform our communities through climate justice.

At the Revival, congregations will:

• collaboratively create  representation of the challenges of climate change
• Identify a vision for a flourishing future and actions we can take to make that vision a reality
• understand their role in the interdependent ecosystem of creating climate justice and collaborative liberation

VanU is Hiring a Head Nursery Staff Person *New!*

Casey Stainsby is moving into the new Middle Years Coordinator position, taking over leadership of Crossing Paths and other programming for ages 10-12. Casey has been wonderful as our Head Nursery staff over this past year and now we need to fill that position with someone new!

Our infant and toddler members need supportive, open, and loving care while their parents and older siblings attend service and classes. Our youngest members need to feel safe to explore their burgeoning sense of wonder, joy, awe, and love of the world and beings around them to build trust in this place and its people.

Are you interested? Contact Kiersten Moore at kiersten@vanu.ca  You may check out the job description here.

2 Adult Volunteers Still Needed for the BC Fall Youth Gathering *Updated!*

Welcome Rory Brimacombe as our BC Fall Con Coordinator! Rory came up through UU youth culture in Vancouver through the early part of the last decade and is now back in Vancouver after completing a masters at UBC. They are excited to be able to bring their experience and knowledge to a new generation of youth!

These adult roles are less task focused and more support oriented, they do require a time commitment nonetheless. We need everyone to commit to meetings starting in early September and probably an hour a week of work, ramping up as we get closer to the conference.

The roles will be almost identical to the CanUUdle staff system, with the exception of online components that we do not do.

• Advisor’s Advisor (1 adult)
• Peer Chaplains (1 adult)

Thank you everyone! Can't wait for another successful weekend! You are invited to submit an application online here.

CHANGE IN VENUE FOR
THIS SUNDAY

Join us for our Summer Picnic!
Sunday, Aug 25 at 11:30am

Due to a large event at Ray Perrault Park, we are moving our picnic and going back to Norma Elrod’s lovely garden on the Seymour River where we had our magical July service:

Norma Elrod's garden, 2012 Old Dollarton Road North Vancouver. Easily accessible by bus and parking is available on the street nearby or in the shopping plaza across the street. 

It would be lovely to catch up with each other before the business of September. To share stories of our summer and how we are all doing.  Anne would love to share what she learned at August Eliot family camp. It is a casual and do-it-yourself affair. Please bring your own picnic (and maybe a treat to share? ). Camping chairs and waterproof ground covers are important as the ground will be wet. If you have extra, please bring them. Any outdoor toys/games you want to play. After picnicking some of us might want to take a walk in the Wild Bird Trust just down the road. Or take in the Persian harvest Festival of Shahrivargaan at Ray Perrault Park. 

If you know you are coming, it would be great if you emailed or texted or called Anne Mayall. annemayall51@gmail.com. 778-686-3643. That way if the weather doesn’t cooperate we can contact you. But also please feel free to just show up.

Mark your calendars:
Water Communion
Saturday, Sep 21st 

Please join us for the first service of our new church year. We will celebrate with a Unitarian Universalist water communion homecoming ritual in a service lead by your Worship Team.  Please bring some water from your home or from your summer adventures. We will enjoy food and fellowship at a potluck after the service

And in October on the 19th: "Celebrating the sacred circle of life -  The interdependent web of all existence after death"

Life depends on death. Everything alive and vital depends on the death of other things to survive. It is a key part of the interdependent web of life. Lay chaplains Barb Moore (UUSS) and Laureen Stokes (Vancouver Unitarians) present how helping our clients deal with the death of a loved one has shaped our ideas on after death planning and care.  For the grieving, and the deceased.  Laureen will speak on how Terramation - a new method of body disposition - creates new ways to care for our deceased as we grieve, and reconnect us back into the web of life. 

Please join us for the first service of our new church year. We will celebrate with a Unitarian Universalist water communion homecoming ritual in a service lead by your Worship Team.  Please bring some water from your home or from your summer adventures. We will enjoy food and fellowship at a potluck after the servi

And in October on the 19th: "Celebrating the sacred circle of life -  The interdependent web of all existence after death"

Life depends on death. Everything alive and vital depends on the death of other things to survive. It is a key part of the interdependent web of life. Lay chaplains Barb Moore (UUSS) and Laureen Stokes (Vancouver Unitarians) present how helping our clients deal with the death of a loved one has shaped our ideas on after death planning and care.  For the grieving, and the deceased.  Laureen will speak on how Terramation - a new method of body disposition - creates new ways to care for our deceased as we grieve, and reconnect us back into the web of life. 

Did you know they were Unitarian?

Greta Gerwig (1983 - )

Greta Gerwig is a director, screenwriter, and actor. She began her career primarily focused up on acting, particularly in independent films, and earned a Golden Globe nomination for her performance in Frances Ha. Her solo directorial debut, 2017’s Lady Bird, saw rave reviews and led to her Academy Award nominations for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay. After earning praise for her movie adaptation of Little Women, Gerwig achieved her greatest box-office success with Barbie, 2023’s highest-grossing movie that also set a new earning record among women-directed movies. Gerwig regularly collaborates with her husband and fellow filmmaker Noah Baumbach.

"I was born into the UU community. My parents were married [at the UU Society of Sacramento], and I had my “naming ceremony” in 1983 with the then-minister Ted Webb. My parents ended up leaving the church for a time in the 1990s but have since returned. My mom likes to say that having a time of a “walkabout” is almost part of being a Unitarian. I think religion has always been something that has occupied me as a person, and Unitarianism is the most complete expression of my multiple and, at times, contradictory thoughts about the spiritual life. I think the openness of the community allows for a greater variety of personal faith and ideas. It isn’t oppressively open, but generously so."

Volunteer to make our Second Monthly Community Event Happen!  

Zoom meeting Monday August 26 at 7:00pm
(please see details below).

At our Inaugural General Meeting in June, most of us expressed a desire for a regular second monthly event. To make it happen, we need to create a circle (team) that organizes and coordinates it? You don't need to have experience, just willingness! Ideally, you will also participate in our Sociocracy Workshop, but that is not required.

There is a strong community interest in having our second event happen on the North Shore (Sat or Sun, time and location TBD). However, what it looks like, what we do together, etc. is still up in the air! You do not need to be willing to lead any activities (although a willingness to lead is welcomed) but rather you will be working with others to organize and determine what our second monthly gathering will involve.

Our first meeting for this circle will be Monday August 26 from 7:00-8:30pm. A zoom link will be emailed to the UUSS community on Monday morning. All are welcome to attend!

Call to Action for
UUSS social justice warriors 

Tuesday, Aug 27 at 9 am at the PNE Vancouver 

The Gitxsan will be rallying on Tuesday August 27 starting at 9 am PT at the entrance to the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) in Vancouver to demand that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police C-IRG/CRU not trespass on their traditional territory. The PRGT pipeline goes through Gitsxan territory without consent. Gitanyow have set up a blockade on the man camp access road. 

More at  
https://pbicanada.org/2024/08/11/gitxsan-to-rally-against-the-rcmp-c-irg-cru-trespassing-on-their-territory-at-the-pacific-national-exhibition-august-27/

VanU is Hiring a Head Nursery Staff Person *New!*

Casey Stainsby is moving into the new Middle Years Coordinator position, taking over leadership of Crossing Paths and other programming for ages 10-12. Casey has been wonderful as our Head Nursery staff over this past year and now we need to fill that position with someone new!

Our infant and toddler members need supportive, open, and loving care while their parents and older siblings attend service and classes. Our youngest members need to feel safe to explore their burgeoning sense of wonder, joy, awe, and love of the world and beings around them to build trust in this place and its people.

Are you interested? Contact Kiersten Moore at kiersten@vanu.ca  You may check out the job description here.

2 Adult Volunteers Still Needed for the BC Fall Youth Gathering *Updated!*

Welcome Rory Brimacombe as our BC Fall Con Coordinator! Rory came up through UU youth culture in Vancouver through the early part of the last decade and is now back in Vancouver after completing a masters at UBC. They are excited to be able to bring their experience and knowledge to a new generation of youth!

These adult roles are less task focused and more support oriented, they do require a time commitment nonetheless. We need everyone to commit to meetings starting in early September and probably an hour a week of work, ramping up as we get closer to the conference.

The roles will be almost identical to the CanUUdle staff system, with the exception of online components that we do not do.

• Advisor’s Advisor (1 adult)
• Peer Chaplains (1 adult)

Join us for our Summer Picnic!
August 25th at 11:30am

We are having a picnic at Ray Perrault Park in North Vancouver on Sunday August 25th at 11:30. Bring your own picnic lunch, chairs or blanket and outdoor toys and activities. The address is 1310 Grand Blvd E. More details to come.

Mark your calendars:
Water Communion
Saturday, Sep 21st 

Please join us for the first service of our new church year. We will celebrate with a Unitarian Universalist water communion homecoming ritual in a service lead by your Worship Team.  Please bring some water from your home or from your summer adventures. We will enjoy food and fellowship at a potluck after the service.

Please join us for the first service of our new church year. We will celebrate with a Unitarian Universalist water communion homecoming ritual in a service lead by your Worship Team.  Please bring some water from your home or from your summer adventures. We will enjoy food and fellowship at a potluck after the service

Did you know they were Unitarian?

Pete Seeger (1919-2014)

Pete Seeger was a legendary American folk singer, songwriter and political activist closely associated with causes including civil rights, Vietnam War protests, and conservation of natural resources.

 “My parents believed love was enough, so my brothers and I were not raised in any church,” he says. “Also, my father was a strong believer in letting us make up our own minds in matters of religion.”

Still, he had ties to the Unitarian  denomination—he had often sung in UU churches, and Stephen Fritchman, the longtime radical minister in Los Angeles, was a close friend. He finally joined the UU Community Church of New York mainly because he needed a place for his chorus to rehearse though.

Seeger’s vision of the ideal UU church is—like so much of his life—unconventional. “It would be like a water tower,” he says. “I would put the congregation on a platform at the very top, where they could see all around without walls. My church has always been the outdoors.”

VBC Fall Gathering youth and adult volunteer staff

Hello youth and advisors! We are getting ready for another BC con!

This conference will be held at UCV on Nov 22-24. Lots to do before then!

All staff roles require a substantial time commitment, even the ones with limited pre-con responsibilities. We need everyone to commit to meetings starting in August, and probably an hour a week of work, ramping up as we get closer to the conference.

The roles will be almost identical to the CanUUdle staff system, with the exception that we won't do a ton of online components:
Co-Deans (2 youth)
Tech Wizard (1-2 youth)
Activities Coordinators (1-2 youth)
Advisor’s Advisor (1 adult)
Peer Chaplains (1 youth and 1 adult)
Community Captain (1 youth)
Social Media Coordinator (1 youth)
Chalice Circle Coordinator (1 youth)
Worship Coordinators (2 youth)

You can find more info about all these roles here: CUC CanUUdle Staff Roles
Thank you everyone! Can't wait for another successful weekend!

Apply to be on Staff at 
https://vancouver.breezechms.com/form/bcfallconstaff2024

Vancouver Unitarians is Seeking a Fall Youth Con Coordinator

Do you love working with youth? Do you want to spend time with the coolest bunch of them and help them create an event that leaves them (and you) fulfilled, overjoyed, and deeply connected? VanU is looking for a Con Coordinator. That's somebody passionate about supporting youth in leadership who's looking for a 75 hour contract this fall. The Con Coordinator helps the youth to plan a youth con at VanU, Nov 22-24, and then attends the entire conference to manage the event. Are you interested?
Contact Kiersten Moore at kiersten@vanu.ca. You may check out the job description here.

A wonderful service was held on July 28th in Norma Elrod's lovely garden and was led by Robyn Newton. 

Mark your calendars:
Saturday, Sep 21st 

Please join us for the first service of our new church year. We will celebrate with a Unitarian Universalist water communion homecoming ritual in a service lead by your Worship Team.  Please bring some water from your home or from your summer adventures. We will enjoy food and fellowship at a potluck after the service

Coming up in the Fall

Congregational Conversations 

Meaning Making: Roots of Resilience program
Meaning Making: Roots of Resilience program
Many of you shared how helpful the Meaning Making in Liminal Times sermon series was for your group.  Rev. Karen Fraser Gitlitz, coordinator of last year's program, is at it again.  The 2024-25 series will include 8 sermons and an accompanying theme program with 8 Canadian theme ministry packages.  Info and registration is available here: https://forms.gle/m586oekUoFSULXQE8

CUC Co-Lab: Experiences of Transformation 
Join us from November 1st to 3rd, 2024, when Unitarians, Universalists, UU congregations, and UU inspired communities come together to connect, enjoy, and engage in profound conversations. Register Now! 

Some classes of interest at the CLF

Some classes of interest
at the CLF

You're Soaking In It: White Supremacy Culture
for White Folks

October 19 - November 2

Did you know they were Unitarian?

Christopher Reeve (1952-2004)

Christopher Reeve had various stage and television roles before becoming the star of Superman and its sequels. In 1995 he became paralyzed from the neck down following a horse-riding accident. He founded what became the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation in 1996 to promote research on spinal cord injuries. He died of cardiac arrest in 2004.

When asked about his decision to become a UU late in life in an interview with Reader's Digest, Reeve commented: It gives me a moral compass. I often refer to Abe Lincoln, who said, When I do good, I feel good. When I do bad, I feel bad. And that is my religion.' I think we all have a little voice inside us that will guide us. It may be God, I don't know. But I think that if we shut out all the noise and clutter from our lives and listen to that voice, it will tell us the right thing to do.

JOIN US
THIS SUNDAY @ 12:30 in Norma Elrod's garden!!
This will be a special service  led by Robyn Newton!

Location: Norma Elrod's garden, 2012 Old Dollarton Road North Vancouver. Easily accessible by bus and parking is available on the street nearby or in the shopping plaza across the street.  Please bring a chair or blanket for sitting on the lawn, and finger food to share as we will have a "picnic" social at Norma's after the worship service.  

The service will be focused on our sacred relationship with nature, and our interconnection with the web of all life.  Much of it is based on the book "Church of the Wild" by Victoria Loorz.

Loorz invites us to honour our own experience of falling in love with the world, and that is what Robyn is going to invite us to do in this ceremony "in the wild.

Some classes of interest
at the CLF

How do we not create an "other" in ways that uphold systems of oppression? September 24, 2024

Coming up in the Fall

Congregational Conversations Congregational ConversationsCongregational Conversations will return in September.  Your openness and willingness to imagine a strong future is inspirational and we look forward to further connection. more details in August.

Meaning Making: Roots of Resilience programMany of you shared how helpful the Meaning Making in Liminal Times sermon series was for your group.  Rev. Karen Fraser Gitlitz, coordinator of last year's program, is at it again.  The 2024-25 series will include 8 sermons and an accompanying theme program with 8 Canadian theme ministry packages.  Info and registration is available here: https://forms.gle/m586oekUoFSULXQE8

CUC Co-Lab: Experiences of TransformatioJoin us from November 1st to 3rd, 2024, when Unitarians, Universalists, UU congregations, and UU inspired communities come together to connect, enjoy, and engage in profound conversations. Register Now! 

Please send your feedback on the previous year as well as thoughts about the upcoming programming year to the Planning Committee before the August 1st Planning Team Retreat  
info@uusalishsea.ca. 

Hope Matters: Addressing Our Eco-Grief, Sharing Our Eco-Joy, and Tooling Up For Action

A Program in 4 Sessions: 
Facilitated by Teresa Morton and Rev. Meg Roberts @ Beacon Unitarian

Are you overwhelmed in the face of the climate crisis? Are you seeking a safer place to think about this existential threat and support in deciding how you feel about it? We offer a series of 4 sessions where we will collectively grapple with how to engage with these challenges, build resilience and explore how hope is nurtured and incorporated into our daily lives. We will be drawing from Elin Kelsey’s book Hope Matters: Why Changing the Way We Think is Critical to Solving the Environmental Crisis.

These 4 sessions will include:

• Understanding ecological grief through psychology and ritual
• Building strategies for processing our responses
• Experiencing the power of accessing our ecological joy so we can deeper our connections with the natural world
• Sharing hopeful stories of positive environmental action
• Learning how to shift perspectives and cultivate ecological hope
• Providing resources and support for engaging in sustainability efforts
• Providing resources and support for engaging in sustainability 
  
  

We’re deciding on whether to hold the sessions on a weekday afternoon or a Saturday session. Please indicate which option you would prefer BY AUGUST 1st by filling out this short online form. 

Or if more info is required, please contact: Teresa at president@beaconunitarian.org

Did you know they were Unitarian?

Lousia May Alcott (1823-1888)

She was a Unitarian best known as a writer of Little Women. Louisa May Alcott was the daughter of New England transcendentalist philosophical leader and Unitarian minister Bronson Alcott. 

Alcott served as a nurse in the American Civil War and spent her life as a contented single woman. An abolitionist and temperance worker, she worked tirelessly in feminist movements and women’s suffrage. 

JOIN US JULY 28th @ Norma Elrod's garden!! There will be a special service this summerJuly 28th led bRobyn NewtonThe service will be focused on our sacred relationship with nature, and our interconnection with the web of all life.  Much of it is based on the book "Church of the Wild" by Victoria Loorz.

Loorz invites us to honour our own experience of falling in love with the world, and that is what Robyn is going to invite us to do in this ceremony "in the wild. 

Location: Norma Elrod's garden, 2012 Old Dollarton Road North Vancouver. Easily accessible by bus and parking is available on the street nearby or in the shopping plaza across the street.  Please bring a chair or blanket for sitting on the lawn, and finger food to share as we will have a "picnic" social at Norma's after the worship service.  

Oliver is STILL
looking for a home :-(

Oliver is STILLlooking for a home :-( He's really sweet. An indoor cat. His mom of 3 months was heart broken to learn that she has developed asthma due to Oliver allergy. Please email Barb if interested.  Thank you! 

Coming up in the Fall

Congregational Conversations Congregational Conversations will return in September.  Your openness and willingness to imagine a strong future is inspirational and we look forward to further connection. more details in August.

Meaning Making: Roots of Resilience programMany of you shared how helpful the Meaning Making in Liminal Times sermon series was for your group.  Rev. Karen Fraser Gitlitz, coordinator of last year's program, is at it again.  The 2024-25 series will include 8 sermons and an accompanying theme program with 8 Canadian theme ministry packages.  Info and registration is available here: https://forms.gle/m586oekUoFSULXQE8

CUC Co-Lab: Experiences of Transformation Join us from November 1st to 3rd, 2024, when Unitarians, Universalists, UU congregations, and UU inspired communities come together to connect, enjoy, and engage in profound conversations. Register Now! 

Your erstwhile Planning Team (Allyson, Cara, Catherine, Cynthia, Jackie, John, Liam, Robyn and Ryan) will be doing a planning retreat on August 1 which includes looking towards the fall and a Year 1 postmortem as well as going through the survey results.  Please send thoughts that may not have been surfaced at the Annual Extravaganza on June 8th before than to info@uusalishsea.ca. 

Hope Matters: Addressing Our Eco-Grief, Sharing Our Eco-Joy, and Tooling Up For Action

Hope Matters: Addressing Our Eco-Grief, Sharing Our Eco-Joy, and Tooling Up For Action

A Program in 4 Sessions: 

Facilitated by Teresa Morton and Rev. Meg Roberts @ Beacon Unitarian

Are you overwhelmed in the face of the climate crisis? Are you seeking a safer place to think about this existential threat and support in deciding how you feel about it? We offer a series of 4 sessions where we will collectively grapple with how to engage with these challenges, build resilience and explore how hope is nurtured and incorporated into our daily lives. We will be drawing from Elin Kelsey’s book Hope Matters: Why Changing the Way We Think is Critical to Solving the Environmental Crisis.

Each session incorporates sharing, learning and experiencing through ritual and creativity.  Sessions will happen every 2 weeks, to give an opportunity to apply what we are learning and bring back insights to share at the next session.

Interested? We need your feedback on when we offer these sessions:

We’re deciding on whether to hold the sessions on a weekday afternoon or a Saturday session. Please indicate which option you would prefer BY AUGUST 1st by filling out this short online form. 

Or if more info is required, please contact: Teresa at president@beaconunitarian.org

Take a peek at year in review highlights in 30 seconds to learn more about this social justice group