WANTED: Your Stories of Christmas in Other Countries

Dear NSUC Congregation,

For our upcoming Christmas Choral service (December 11th), I have an idea . . . I would like to hear the stories that many of you have of Christmas in other countries.

The format of the service would be that one of you who have memories of Christmas in say . . .Kenya. . .or Poland. . . or Holland (etc.) . . . might come to the front to share a short story of a Christmas memory that is particular to that country. We will sing a Christmas Carol from that country.

If you might be able to contribute to this service, please get in touch with Alison as soon as possible at 778-688-2912 or alisonnixon@hotmail.com.

Thank you so much,

Alison Nixon, Music Director

Does the church close when it snows?

When weather is bad, our main concern is for the safety of our congregants.  It is up to each individual to determine whether or not they feel safe coming to church in inclement weather depending on the temperature, wind conditions, road conditions, vehicle type, tire type, level of experience driving in snow, and other factors.

On rare occasions, church services (and other church events) may be CANCELLED due to poor weather conditions, road closures, snow, and power outages.  On a Sunday, the decision will be made by 8:30am.  

If a Service is cancelled, we will try to notify the congregation several ways, including:

  • Posting a message on our website’s Home page.

  • Emailing congregants on our eBulletin email list.

  • Changing the message on our phone’s answering machine. 

  • Encouraging “word of mouth” communications. 

Unforeseen situations may prevent these methods of communication, in which case we will use whatever means we can to notify congregants of the closure.

Church events other than Sunday Services may be cancelled for bad weather at the determination of the event leader.  It is the responsibility of the event leader to communicate the cancellation with the participants.

Staff are likely to work from home if it is snowing.

MyceliUUm

National Youth CommUUnity - MyceliUUm is the national online youth community. After this first gathering, we'll be focussing mostly on Discord and other platforms.

The MyceliUUm Network, including the Gatherings, is run by youth, for youth! It's a great way to stay connected to other UU youth from across the country in between cons. Junior (12-13yrs) and senior (14-19yrs) youth are welcome to join this Saturday (tomorrow) October 22nd 11am-1pm.

Registration gives you access to this Zoom meeting and the Discord server. The theme for this gathering is reconnection and play! Come reconnect with old friends and new, play some fun games, enjoy a mini worship, and hear about what may be in store for the national youth community this year.

Senior High OWL (Grades 11 & 12) at the Unitarian Church of Vancouver

Registration is open for the first LGBTQ+ centred Our Whole Lives (OWL) sexuality education for senior high youth--ages 16-18 (grades 11/12) hosted by the Unitarian Church of Vancouver. The class meets 5-7pm one Monday a month plus three Saturday evenings. This class series will centre the LGBTQ+ experience, but registration is open to all youth ages 16-18. The program begins on October 24.

Contact Laura with questions.

Grocery Receipt Program

How the program works:

Our Grocery Receipt Program is a way for our church to convert grocery receipts into “free money” for the church. Since 1999, this program has earned over $8,000 for the church!  Here’s how it works:

  1. Congregants who shop at City Market at Park Royal and IGA Dundarave save their cash register receipts, and place them in the folder on the bulletin board in the stairwell.

  2. Tom Fullerton picks up the receipts, sorts them by store, and adds up the totals.

  3. When he collects $5,000 worth of receipts, he mails them to the store.

  4. The store gives us $25 or $50 gift cards for each bundle of $5,000 in receipts.

  5. Tom exchanges the gift cards for cash with people in the congregation who shop at those stores.

How you can help:

If you shop at City Market at Park Royal or IGA Dundarave, please save your cash register receipts and put them in the folder at the top of the stairs.

Nonviolent Communication

Catherine Strickland’s introduction to Nonviolent Communication course is full for the November-December 2022 session, but you can add your name to the waitlist for the next session (which will likely be offered in early 2023).

Our community is struggling with conflict and divisions that have arisen over the last couple of years. Members have experienced hurt and even trauma that has not been repaired or addressed. We are all wanting to build an inclusive space where everyone who wants to be here feels welcome. And yet, we lack the skills and practices, as individuals and a collective, to repair the harm we have caused, heal from the hurt we have experienced and rebuild the trust that has been lost.

Nonviolent Communication (NVC) is a skill, a practice and a consciousness that supports us to navigate conflict, repair relationships and speak our truth in ways that uphold our values as Unitarian Universalists.

This is being offered as a fundraiser for NSUC on a gift economy basis. To learn more about the gift economy and how it works, check out Necessary Trouble Collective’s description here.

Empowerment & Expression in a Trauma-Informed Community: Sunday, January 15th

Our JEDI Team invites you to this FREE (or by donation) workshop, but pre-registration is required. Please email sam@samdarling.com to register.

This in-person workshop with Sam Darling explores rupture and repair and how confident self-expression nurtures radical inclusion.

Community is built on connection and trust. We may think that connection will be threatened by ruptures to it, ruptures we must prevent as leaders. However, in the dynamic space of rupture real connection is made possible – because of the essential work of repair. Being trauma-informed in our leadership enables communities to face the hard work of justice and care and what it takes to welcome, not avoid, rupture.

This workshop is for those who want to be empowered in their communities in embracing truth-telling, healing wrongs, and building environments of safety and reconnection. Participants will learn how to use their inherent gifts as creative and heart-centered individuals to make spaces that are welcoming and whole.

Please email Sam if you’d like to attend the January 15th session (1-4pm in the Sanctuary).

Facilitator

Sam Darling was born in France and raised by a notable family of artists and doctors, and she traveled the world shadowing her mother's opera career. When they settled in New York City Sam embarked on her own theatrical career as a teen. Sam switched to a career as a screenwriter in Los Angeles on award-winning film and television programs all through her twenties. Sam switched gears again in her thirties to work as a science communicator for a large university in New Zealand. She traveled the planet with her own progeny and eventually settled in Canada in 2014. She has a Bachelor of Science (high honors) from Emerson College (1996), a Certificate in Adult Education from UFV (2023), and a lifetime of experience with a wide range of cultures.

Sam is secular and evidence based but leaves the possibility of magic in what happens when heart-centered people influence the world and each other. She wants to empower you to make a difference.

Music & Reflection

An opportunity for Music and Reflection

Remaining session:
7pm on December 7th
on the theme of “Purpose”

For NSUC folks who may be wishing for a little extra spiritual and/or aesthetic sustenance, four Wednesday evenings (7-8:15 PM) will be offered in our church sanctuary, hosted by one of our long-standing women's groups. Each gathering will focus on one of the following themes: how to live with depth, meaning, purpose and gratitude. These themes will be expanded through simple readings and music. As well, participants are always welcome to share an anecdote, poem etc. of their own related to the topic.

Everyone is welcome. Contact Kathryn Nicholson if you need a ride or have questions.