Our Lay Chaplain
Our Lay Chaplain, Kathryn Nicholson, is provincially licensed to perform legal weddings. But she also can help individuals, families and communities recognize or celebrate significant rites of passage for those in the broader community, including individuals and families who have no formal association with organized religion. Kathryn is ready to perform ceremonies at locations that are especially meaningful to the participants: lakeside, private home, garden, park, mountaintop, or anywhere else! Our Sanctuary is also available for rent and is suitable for any rite of passage, and our Fireside Room is perfect for receptions.
About Kathryn: Kathryn has been a member of the North Shore Unitarian Church since 1987. She was our Music Director for 14 years and has since served in many other church leadership roles. Kathryn worked as a Registered Nurse and Clinical Counsellor in Palliative and Hospice Care for 30 years. Now retired, she feels privileged to serve NSUC as our Lay Chaplain. Kathryn has been accredited by both the Canadian Unitarian Council and BC's Vital Statistics Agency to perform weddings and other types of ceremonies for significant life transitions, memorial services etc. Kathryn's years of multifaceted work and volunteer experience in the community inform her ability to facilitate meaningful services designed to suit your particular needs and preferences. Contact Kathryn through our Church Office at 604 926-1621.
Rites of Passage
The most frequent rites of passage performed are weddings, memorials and naming ceremonies (to welcome children into the community). But our Lay Chaplain can also create lesser-known services such as coming of age celebrations, co-parenting commitment services for divorcing couples, or coming out services for gays and lesbians. She would also be delighted to work with individuals, couples or families to create new rituals. Services may do some or all of the following:
Respond to individuals who have an important life event to recognize;
Provide services that are meaningful, but not necessarily religious;
Create unique rituals and celebrations that are grounded in the values and beliefs of those involved, in language that feels appropriate to them;
Call participants to be their highest and best selves;
Meet the needs of people coming from differing faith traditions, or from non-church backgrounds.
Creating a Memorable Event
While ensuring that the basic legal elements of the ceremony are in place (for weddings), our Lay Chaplain also works with the couple or family involved to create a unique and memorable event reflecting personal needs, tastes and backgrounds, as well as the liberal religious traditions of Unitarianism.