Our Church Office will be closed on Friday in recognition of the Remembrance Day holiday on Saturday.
Janni will be back in the office regular hours next week (7am-2pm Monday through Thursday, and working the same hours from home on Friday).
NSUC Closures (due to snow or other conditions)
On rare occasions, Sunday Services and other NSUC events may be cancelled due to extreme weather conditions, loss of electricity, or other emergency situations. When this happens on a Sunday morning, the decision will be made prior to 8 am.
Safety First
Our number one concern is for the safety of our congregants. We recognize that there are many factors that determine the safety of driving in inclement weather conditions, including:
The temperature -- and whether it’s rising or falling
Wind conditions
Rate of snowfall and buildup of accumulated snow
Road conditions
Road closures
Type of vehicle (front wheel drive, four wheel drive, etc.)
Vehicle tire type and condition
Level of experience the driver has with driving in snow
The presence or absence of electricity in the area
And more!
Therefore, it is not possible for us to have a “one size fits all” recommendation when it comes to emergency situations and inclement weather.
NSUC Policy on Cancelling Sunday Services
We leave it up to individuals to determine whether or not they feel comfortable coming to NSU events considering all of the factors listed above. When Sunday Services are cancelled, other events scheduled on that day will also be cancelled.
Communication
When Sunday Services are cancelled, we will use a variety of ways to communicate the closure to the congregation, including:
Posting a message on the Home Page of our website.
Sending out a mass email to the members and friends on our eBulletin and newsletter distribution list.
Changing the message on our phone’s answering machine to announce the closure.
Encouraging “word of mouth” communications.
Although we have no official “phone tree”, we encourage members and friends to communicate with each other via phone about closures, especially those who may not have online or email access to the information.
It is possible that unforeseen situations may prevent the above methods of communication, in which case we will do our best to communicate the closure to congregants using whatever means we can.
Our Policy on Cancelling Other NSUC Events
Other NSUC events may be cancelled due to inclement weather conditions at the determination of the event leader. It is generally the responsibility of the event leader to communicate the cancellation with the participants.
Social Justice Workshop: Sun. November 26th
The Workshop will be on Sunday November 26th from 12 noon to 1:30 pm.
A vital congregation is like a small village: nurturing and caring for the people within its walls, as well as to the communities that surround it.
Our Board has decided to focus on an Environmental action issue and a Social Justice issue so as to not spread ourselves too thin. Barb Kroon is the Board Member liaison with the Environmental Action Team, and Elain Duvall is the Board liaison with the Social Justice Team. Alison Nixon has offered to help the Social Action Team focus attention on the issues we as a church think are most important.
After church on Sunday November 26th, Alison will lead us in a short workshop to determine a Social Justice "Mission", for the congregation. She hopes that by the end of the workshop we will have determined a Social Justice Focus, and have some early ideas of ways we can support that focus.
In preparation for this important work, Alison asks that you consider various Social Justice Causes — AND hold them lightly. Be prepared to change your mind and embrace others' ideas as we all listen deeply to each other.
There will be sandwiches available after church that day, which you can bring up to the Sanctuary (along with tea and coffee) for the workshop .
November's Outreach: Food Stash
Each month, 100% of our offering plate collections (unless otherwise noted) are given to a nonprofit organization whose mission is in line with our values. We call this “Outreach”.
During the month of November, we collected $1,553.09 in donations Food Stash, a Vancouver-based nonprofit that collects over 100,000 pounds of food per month that would have gone to waste, delivering it to charity partners and households weekly. Learn more at their website: https://www.foodstash.ca/
An Invitation from Rev. Shawn Gauthier to a Breakfast with Our Multifaith Partners
We received an email letter from Rev. Shawn Gauthier (the Minister at the Unitarian Church of Vancouver) inviting our church members to participate in a Community Prayer Breakfast on November 18th at 8:00am in Surrey. You can read Rev. Shawn Gauthier’s letter HERE. See the Prayer Breakfast poster HERE or learn more HERE.
Join us for Sandwiches after the September 15th Service
You’re invited to join us downstairs after the Sunday’s Service on September 15th for sandwiches provided by Dianne Hicks. (Suggested donation is $5 per person). A variety of options will be provided (including vegetarian).
You are invited to an Art Appreciation brainstorming session - date TBD
We are planning a meeting for early in the new year — and you are invited: art makers, appreciators, writers, crafters, poets, movie makers, dancers, musicians, photographers and creative thinkers. . .
Please join us for a fun brainstorming session to create art related activities, shows and events at NSUC for 2024.
Watch this space (and the weekly eBulletins) for the date/time as the new year gets closer.
~Inga Puhlmann
Art Appreciation Team
Learn more about SeedChange (this month's Outreach recipient)
Join Marcia Stephenson in the Sanctuary after church October 29th to find out more about the history of SeedChange (formerly the Unitarian Service Committee Canada) and the role played by founder Dr. Lotta Hitschmanova. Viewer Advisory: we will watch a CBC documentary that includes graphic historical footage of victims of war and famine.
Donations can be made directly to SeedChange or through NSUC this month.
October 16th was World Food Day. WATCH a SHORT VIDEO about World Food Day and Seedchange. Farmers and seeds are the lifeline of our food supply chain. But farming is also hard work that requires year-round investment. Without farmers and seeds, THERE IS NO FOOD.
You can donate directly to SeedChange, or through NSUC during the month of November.
New-ish to our church? Welcome!
After the services on most Sundays, we invite people who are new-ish to our church to stop by our new "Welcome Table" for coffee or tea. Board members will be there to informally chat, share, and answer questions you may have about us. Look for them downstairs in the Fireside Room, at a table with a white tablecloth.
~ Liz Moffitt, Board Welcoming Liaison
Ceilidh: November 25th
Alison Nixon and Bob Rentz are hosting a Ceilidh (pronounced “Kay Lee”) from 4:30 - 6pm on Saturday, November 25th — and the whole family is invited!
Come prepared for snacks, music, and dancing! Alison and her violin students will provide music, and Bob will “call” the dance steps. (No prior dance experience needed).
Suggested donation is $10 per adult (children are free); proceeds go to the church. Please bring finger food snacks to share with the group. Contact Alison with questions.