If you are the Chair of a Committee, Team or Task Force and have anything for the Winter Newsletter, please email it to Janni as soon as possible (the deadline is Jan. 4th). Janni will be on vacation Dec. 24th to Jan. 1st -- so the more she can do ahead of time, the better.
Please send your article as the text of an email, or as a Word document attachment (not as a PDF).
Questions? Contact Janni (604-926-1621 or info@northshoreunitarians.ca.
Bring a dish to share with your NSU friends. There will be no service — just a lovely opportunity to share food and fellowship following the Christmas rush. (No charge; hosted by Dianne Hicks).
With 2025 coming to an end , we extend a special THANK YOU to all who fulfilled their 2025 pledge commitments.
If you haven't completed your current year's pledge, please donate any remaining amount by December 23rd (the date of our last deposit of 2025), if you can. Any donations received in 2025 will be included on your 2025 tax receipt, which will be issued early in the new year.
Not sure if you still owe on your 2025 pledge? Contact Janni in the Main Office.
We sincerely appreciate all who have donated in support of our mission of helping people to live with greater depth, meaning and purpose.
The Hungarian Unitarian Church recently let us know of the following, and due to our prior involvement with a Partner Church in Hungary, we wanted to share this info with you. Learn more here.
If you are coming to the Christmas Eve service (6pm Wed. Dec. 24th), would you kindly consider contributing a dozen cookies or treats? They can be store bought or homemade. We'll have a big “treats” table downstairs after the service accompanied by some warm cider (non-alcoholic) for all to enjoy.
No plates required, since the goodies will all be put out in batches on a giant table covered in brown paper where you can write the name and the notable ingredients (contains dairy, or gluten free, or whatever) -- easy and fun!
Thank you for helping to contribute.
Join members of the Environmental Action Team in a new series of interactive presentations at noon in the sanctuary on the second Sunday of each month in 2026. Bring your curiosity and concerns. Dates and topics shown below.
January 11: Emerging Trends and Surprising Solutions
To kickstart our series, let's hear about some new and exciting climate solutions. While there is no silver bullet to solve the climate crisis, we do have all of the solutions we need - and some are sure to inspire. Dave Hunter, a local RegenerateBC facilitator, will walk us through ideas such as clear glass solar panels, microgrids, aquaculture, green bricks, and more! Included will be an update on carbon capture and storage - is it even possible?
February 8: Taking Local Action or "How can we actively participate in greening our communities?"
Working at the municipal level is one of the most effective way to take action for climate and biodiversity. From participating in local projects to engaging with municipal staff and local elected officials, getting involved is easier than you might think. To illustrate this, we'll hear stories about recent initiatives taken in our local communities to increase green space - itself a climate and biodiversity solution offering benefits ranging from carbon sequestration to improved mental health.
March 8: Food and Stuff: Impactful Individual Actions
Combined, food and other consumer items account for 60% of our individual ecological footprints. Ways to be more sustainable around food include reducing waste and increasing the amount of plant-rich food we eat. You've heard of the "3 Rs" (reduce, reuse, recycle) - these are great! Let's add re-purpose and re-think to "stuff." We're planning a participatory event involving food samples and stuff sharing. Stay tuned for more details.
This event has been postponed to next year.
Each month, 100% of our Sunday morning collection plate, unless otherwise noted, is donated to a registered charity whose mission is in line with our values. We call this “Outreach”.
During the month of December, we will collect donations for the North Shore Women’s Centre (NSWC) a local charity dedicated to improving the social, economic, legal and political status of women. They encourage and support self-empowerment by acting as a resource and a catalyst for change, from feminist perspectives.
The NSWC provides women with access to resources and assists them with life choices, actively addressing violence against women at all levels of the community, challenging sexism and discrimination in the community, and working towards the elimination of the feminization of poverty.
The NSWC welcomes women and gender diverse individuals, including those who identify as trans, Two-Spirit, and/or non-binary. They provide a variety of programs and services, including:
Learn more about the work of the North Shore Women’s Centre at their website.
Learn more about the payment methods we accept while collecting donations from NSWC. Whichever method you use, please clearly label your donation as going toward the North Shore Women’s Centre or simply “Outreach".
Join us for a warm, inspiring one-hour service centred on the universal message of the holiday season that will energize you for all that Christmas Day brings!! Cookies & warm cider (non-alcoholic) will be served after the service.
If you would like to bring a dozen cookies (home made or store bought), that would be great! More info here.
Please join Kerry Burke, Liz Moffitt and friends in a one-hour gathering in the Sanctuary to share fellowship with those of us experiencing less holiday joy.
There may be many reasons for this: loss of a loved one, ecological or political grief... or sometimes it is just a feeling without explanation.
With music & friendship may the warmth of sharing bring us peace at this dark time of the year.
