Circle Dinners

Circle Dinners are times to enjoy conversation and food with different groups of people.  Held on the last Saturday of the month, dinners generally have 6-8 people. Hosts provide space, beverages, and hospitality; guests bring potluck dishes tailored to the dietary needs of the participants.  Dates are: September 30th, October 28th, November 25th,  January 27th, February 24th, March 31st,  April 28th and May 26th.  To participate as a guest or host, sign up on the sheet on the bulletin board downstairs, or contact either Joy Silver or the Church Office.

Parenting as a Spiritual Practice

Parents are often busy and pulled in many directions. Finding time and energy to slow down, breathe, set intentions, receive support and listen deeply can be few and far between.

On the first Sunday of each month starting October 1st, join Rev. Emily from 12:30-2pm in the Chelsea House preschool building for a monthly centering practice specifically geared towards parents, followed by facilitated listening time and conversation on how toapproach parenting with more compassion—for ourselves and the little people in our lives.

This is a drop-in monthly opportunity, open to anyone with children under the age of 20. Childcare will be offered, but please RSVP one week prior to Lynn Sabourin so we can plan for your families’ needs (604-926-1621, lsabourin@northshoreunitarians.ca).  

Share Your Story: A Sermon Writing Workshop

You're invited to What's Your Story:  A Sermon-Writing Workshop facilitated by Rev. Meg Roberts at the Unitarian Church of Vancouver on Saturday, October 28, 2017, 1:00 – 6:00 pm.  

Is there something you would like to share in your congregation’s Sunday service but have never written a sermon before? Or perhaps you have experience and want to develop your skills and comfort? Or even don’t know what you would speak about but want to learn the process? Rev. Meg Roberts will show you a process to support your creative expression so you can touch the head and heart of your listeners. She will also share various service resources.

To help integrate your learning, a follow-up 1 ½-hour group coaching session is included on either Tues. Nov.28, 7-8:30pm OR Sat. Nov.25, 10:30am-12noon. This will encourage you to work on your sermon, offer support for any roadblocks you hit, and provide feedback to polish your creation.

Maximum 24 participants so register early. 

Three ways to register:

• Online at Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/share-your-story-a-sermon-writing-workshop-tickets-37795393038 (payment by credit card).
• By email UCV Worship Committee chair, Way Kent: 110395@telus.net 
• By phone the UCV office (604-261-7204)

Payment by credit card, cheque, or e-transfer.

Early Bird Registration Deadline and Cost: September 30 ($35)

Final Registration Deadline and Cost: October 22 ($50)

Small Group Ministry starts next month!

Small groups will begin gathering next month to discuss the monthly theme using materials from the Soul Matters sharing circle, a resource over 150 Unitarian congregations in Canada, the UK and the US contribute to and use for service preparation and small group ministry.

Register here! 

Want to learn more about Soul Matters? Check out their website at https://www.soulmatterssharingcircle.com.

If you are interested in facilitating a group, please contact Rev. Marcus. There will be a facilitator training on Tuesday, September 26 from 7-9pm at church.

Hot off the press: Fall Newsletter!

Our Fall newsletter (covering September, October, and November) is now available to view!  Locate it HERE, or pick up a printout from the foyer table.  

First Aid & CPR Class: October 28th

We're offering several First Aid & CPR classes on October 28th, starting at 9:30am in the Fireside Room. There are 3 different price points and ending times depending on the certification you want:

• Renewal of CPR/AED only ($45+GST, 9:30am - 12:30pm). You must be able to prove that you have prior CPR/AED certification.
• CPR/AED for first timers or those who want a full refresher ($65+GST, 9:30am - 3:30pm).
• Emergency First Aid with CPR/AED ($90+GST, 9:30am - 5:30pm). This class covers the skills needed to recognize, prevent, and respond to circulation emergencies for babies, children, and adults. It includes airway & breathing emergencies, stroke, heart attack, TIA, bandaging, and the prevention of disease transmission. Full CPR and AED training are also included.

If you'd like to attend, please fill out the registration form HERE. Payment will be due later (as the time gets closer). Contact Janni in the Church Office (604-926-1621 or info@northshoreunitarians.ca) for more information.

Living Extraordinary: October 4th, 7pm

Living extraordinary means living your gift. Having a message and speaking it. Your art, gift or talent comes from a place of power and certainty. To live extraordinary means you are on a journey of self exploration and your purpose in life is to continuously explore and deepen your truth.  Living Extraordinary is an event where local heroes share what they have learned on their journeys of greatness, and inspire you to embark on your own. Speakers provide touching, thought-provoking messages that are the catalyst for conversations, shifts in perspective and ah–has. 

All are invited to this FundFest event on Wednesday, October 4th. Tickets are $25 (all proceeds go to NSUC). Registration and more info HERE, or contact Janni in the church office for details and payment.

Wounded Words

Navigating the Minefield of Religious Vocabulary

with Rev. Marcus

God. Worship. Prayer. Sin.  Feeling uncomfortable yet?  How about Salvation, Soul, Faith or even Church?

We live in a world where religion shows up in the headlines more often associated with violence than peace. Many of us have painful childhood memories associated with religion, or have chosen to make a break with the traditions of our families over important values. Many of us, especially my cohort of urban Millennials, are probably more likely to regularly hear spiritual talk at a commercial yoga studio than in a religious community.

So what do these “wounded words” really mean? Where did they come from and how did their meaning develop over time? What happened to wound them so deeply for so many of our ears? And why do people continue to use them and what meaning does the progressive theology of our tradition make of them?

This series will be held the first Sunday of each month, October-June, in the Sanctuary from 12:30-2:00pm. We’ll take one word each month and explore its history and meaning in our culture and in our lives. Drop-in for one session, come when you can, or join me for the whole series—no registration required. Looking forward to having this conversation with you!

Small Group Ministries

One of the greatest gifts of community is being known and seen. One opportunity to connect more deeply in the North Shore Unitarian Community is through joining a small group. This Fall we will begin small groups centered around the theme that we focus on each month during Sunday Services. These small groups will gather at the church or in people's’ home once a month for intentional sharing and reflection. Each month, participants will receive a packet of materials on the monthly theme and are invited to try a “spiritual exercise.” These exercises are accessible and do-able for atheist, agnostics and theists alike — and certainly the discussion is richer with a wider range of perspectives and experiences. 

This year our church offers a small group ministry drawn from Soul Matters resources, a sharing circle of hundred of Unitarian Universalist congregations. You can learn more about the Soul Matters approach HERE. The content will align with our monthly Sunday service themes, but perhaps more important is the process. Rooted in the Quaker teacher Parker Palmer’s model of “Circles of Trust,” deep listening and quiet companionship make space for supporting one another as we listen to sources of wisdom within and without.

If you would like to participate in a Soul Matters group, please click HERE or contact Janni in the church office. 

If you are drawn to facilitating or co-facilitating a group, please get in touch with Rev. Marcus and plan to come to church Tuesday, September 26th 7-9pm for a facilitator training and orientation. The success of these small groups depends greatly on the commitment of facilitators, so please consider stepping into leadership in this vital ministry! There will be plenty of support along the way, including a monthly group for the facilitators that will be led by Rev. Marcus.

Walk for Reconciliation: Sunday, Sept. 24th

Join us on Sunday, September 24th at 9:30am the 2017 Walk for Reconciliation in Vancouver.  The Walk for Reconciliation is a positive movement to build better relationships among Indigenous peoples and all Canadians. Now is the time to transform and renew relationships among Indigenous peoples and all Canadians. The act of walking and sharing our stories joins us in a commitment to create a new way forward for reconciliation.  All are invited and welcome to join in the support the spirit of ‘Namwayut - We are all one.

The Walk follows a 2km route from Cambie and Georgia Streets to Strathcona Park.  Rev. Emily will be attending, along with other UU ministers from the area. All Unitarians attending are invited to meet at the Playhouse stage door on Cambie at Dunsmuir. More info HERE.

Note: There will also be a regular Sunday service happening during this time at North Shore Unitarian Church, with Rev. Marcus preaching. We hope you will attend where you feel drawn to connect on this special Sunday morning!