Children's Choirs starting in September

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Children and youth between the ages of 8 and 13 are invited to participate in our fun and vibrant choral program with Music Director Alison Nixon.  The focus is on developing healthy singing techniques in a joyful and creative environment. 

Two choirs will be forming: Vivace (ages 8-10) and Allegra (ages 11-13).  More info HERE or in the Church Office!  

Contact the Church Office for more information, or to make an appointment at your voice placement interview: 604-926-1621 or info@northshoreunitarians.ca.

 

Acting Against Racism: Strategies for Moving Forward

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Have recent national and international events made you feel uncertain or helpless about what you can do to prevent racist or discriminatory behaviour on the North Shore? 

Racism is not new and neither is Islamophobia, but police-reported hate crimes have recently increased in Canada, leaving many of us wondering how we can avoid being victims or bystanders.

This forum on September 14th at Kay Meek Centre in West Vancouver aims to connect people in our community and share strategies and actions we can take together and individually. Sunera Thobani will be the Keynote Speaker.  More info HERE.

Join Rev. Emily and other members of the Social Action Team at NSUC to continue the momentum of resiliency and hope as active participants who see building an inclusive North Shore as a top priority.

Tickets are free but please RSVP to 604-973-0457 or www.nsiip.ca/acting-against-racism

 

Step Up, Step Back

In Unitarian Universalist youth groups and conferences, there is a phrase often repeated, almost always a part of the community covenant: “Step up, step back.” The phrase is both an observation of the habits that emerge in groups, and an invitation to change. Generally, some people are more likely to step up to take on the work and the leadership and others are more likely to hang back and follow.

“Step up, step back” means just that – it is the dance we do in community of stepping forward to take space and stepping back to make space. While we all need to do both at times, healthy community encourages everyone to practice stepping out of our defaults.  Those of us who default to the sidelines need to step up for our own growth and health, and for the growth and health of the whole. And sometimes we who are likely to take the center stage need to step back for our own wellbeing, and perhaps even more importantly, so there is room for others to step up.

This phenomenon of participation is described in management fields as the Pareto Principle. Many refer to it as the 80/20 rule: 20% of the people in an organization often do 80% of the work.

Step-up-step-back is an essential tool for maintaining balance and wholeness in a community over time. When 20% of people are doing the majority of the work, it is not because these people are inherently better organized or more responsible (although this is often how our puritanically-rooted work-focused culture may explain it). The 80% of people not doing the work are not lazy or self-centered. This distortion happens because there is often a lack of clear understanding in how leadership (and responsibility) is passed on. The most important role long-time leaders play in the life of the congregation is to create meaningful and joyful ways for newer people to move more and more towards the center. It is not just the responsibility of new people to come forward, it is also the responsibility of leaders to step back.

Sometimes, there needs to be space — a pause in programing or events — so that what is waiting to be born can step forward.

As we enter the summertime, we invite you to experiment with this concept: step up and step back. Marcus preached this past month about the challenge, and the importance of saying no.  When we say no, it allows us to say yes to what really matters, what really brings us alive. Discerning what is really important to you and what brings you alive takes time. It may require quiet reflection; it may require a conversation with a trusted friend you don’t speak with very often.

In July, the congregation will not be holding Sunday services, so we invite you to use this time as a Sabbath.  A Sabbath is an ancient religious practice in which we stop our normal routines of life and make space in our schedules as well as emotionally and spiritually, to listen deeply.  A Sabbath means time set aside from professional work, and also from household work (tasks such as laundry, cooking, cleaning).  In some traditions, people do not use electricity during a Sabbath, or even walk further than a certain distance.  This summer we invite you to join us in a Common Practice and a Common Read:

A Common Practice

We invite you this summer to create a Sabbath that is meaningful to you. Your Sabbath need not be a particular day of the week or last any particular amount of time. No particular rules or restrictions are necessary for your Sabbath. What’s important is to give yourself a chance to slow down, to reconnect with yourself and what you love, and to open to what emerges in this precious fallow time.

In our experience, wonderful creativity, generative thinking and fresh perspectives often emerge from intentional rest.  And if all that happens is you take a few deep, deep breathes, that is a “productive” Sabbath in itself.

Some possible ideas for how to have a Sabbath:

· Go outside. Get in the sunshine. Take your kids, or grandkids. Or take an elderly friend or family member. Focus on moving at their pace.

· Go offline. Set your cell phone and computer down for 24 hours, or 72 hours, or a week, if you can!

· Go on a solo adventure. Make some time, even an afternoon, to just be alone. Don’t plan to do any specific activities or tasks, just wander and see what draws your eye, your attention, your heart.

Try a weekly Sabbath. Assign one day each week and plan to get absolutely nothing done, not even chores around the house.

In August or September, let us know how it goes. We’d love to hear from you!

We recognize doing nothing can be particularly challenging for some people — ourselves included. Please stretch a little and try a Sabbath, in some form, however brief. 

 

A Common Read

If you are looking for something “to do,” we recommend reading Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal and Delight in our Busy Lives by Wayne Muller. This book explores the Jewish tradition of Sabbath with a wide lens, using inspiration from Buddhist, Christian and secular sources to share how the wisdom of Sabbath spans across traditions and cultures.   You can purchase it from Amazon by clicking HERE

For those interested in church leadership, we also recommend Erik Walker Wikstrom’s book, Serving with Grace. This is a short but profound read about how the concepts of Sabbath apply to church life.  

If you are interested in reading this book, please let our Church Administrator Janni (in the Church Office) know by July 14th. If there is enough interest, we will make a bulk order of this book and offer copies for purchase in August.

You can also order individual copies of this book (including an ebook version) for $12 from the UUA HERE.

by Revs. Emily & Marcus Hartlief

 

 

 

Summer at NSUC

Sunday Services:  We’re taking July off — but please join us for Sunday Services in August.  (More info on page 3).

Ministers:  Emily and Marcus will be on summer break and out of email contact from June 20th to August 14th, but will be available by phone for Emergency Pastoral Care and member Rite of Passage services.  (Emily 604-704-6749; Marcus 604-704-6740).

Lay Chaplains:  Our Lay Chaplains will be available throughout the summer to perform Rite of Passage services such as weddings, memorials, child dedications, and other life transition events.  Please contact the Church Office if you need their assistance (keep in mind that Janni will respond to phone/email messages on Mondays and Fridays only).

Board of Trustees:  Lesley Giroday (President) and Marcia Stephenson (VP Congregational) will be available for church-related issues throughout most of the summer. 

Church Office:  Janni will work 10am-1pm on some Mondays and Fridays throughout the summer, and will check voice messages and emails on the Mondays/Fridays she is away.  Her office days are shown on the Church Calendar.

Lynn Sabourin, Director of Lifespan Learning:  Lynn will work limited days during the summer.  Her out-of-office days are shown on the church calendar for July & August.

 

Our 50-Year History Book is for sale!

North Shore Unitarian Church recently celebrated its 50th Anniversary!  To commemorate this special milestone, we've prepared a history book that can be purchased in print or as a PDF file.  Containing over 50 pages of information and coloured photos, this keepsake honours our past while looking forward to the years to come!

Click HERE to purchase a PDF version for $5.

Contact the Church Office to purchase a printed and bound version for $24:

Phone 604-926-1621 

Email info@northshoreunitarians.ca

July/August Newsletter!

Our Summer newsletter is ready!  Click HERE to access it online, or pick up a printed copy on the foyer table.  

This edition contains important information from our Ministers about "Stepping Up & Stepping Back" -- including a common practice and common read for the summer.  This edition also explains how we're switching to a QUARTERLY newsletter (instead of a MONTHLY newsletter) in the fall.  It will be more important than ever that you're included on our weekly eBulletin list, as that will be our primary means of communication going forward.  If you're not currently receiving our weekly eBulletins, please contact Janni in the Church Office (604-926-1621 or info@northshoreunitarians.ca) so we can add you.

Nominate Local Heroes by June 21st

"Living Extraordinary" is a FundFest event that will take place at NSUC on Wednesday, October 4th at 7pm. Ten local heroes share what they have learned on their journeys of greatness to inspire you on your own journey. It is a vision where attendees are a part of the event, the speakers provide touching, thought-provoking messages that are the catalyst for conversations, shifts in perspective and “ah ha” moments of inspiration. Kate Muker will host this event, and all proceeds will benefit NSUC.

Please nominate potential speakers from within NSUC or the local community -- you are even welcome to nominate yourself! Nominations must include the hero's first & last name, contact information (phone, email, and website if applicable), and an explanation of why you feel this person would be a good fit for the event. Email nominations to kate@katemuker.com or the church office by June 21st.  Please write "Nomination" on the subject line.