March Outreach: Wild Bird Trust of BC

Each month, we raise funds for a registered charity whose mission is in line with our values. We call this “Outreach”.

During the month of March, donations marked “Outreach” will be given to the Wild Bird Trust of BC, whose mission is to provide wild birds with sanctuary through ecological protection and restoration, and support communities with education, culture, and reconciliation programs. 

See our payment methods here. Whichever payment method you choose, please mark your donation as “Outreach” so we can correctly apply your donation.

(Donors will receive an end-of-year tax receipt for their donations to our Outreach campaigns).

A Spring Creative Garden Event: Creative Writing

This event is led by ElJean Wilson, who wrote: “People make music in groups. Artists work in studios together. Writing is more solitary. But I love to write with others, in person or in a Zoom room. As companion’s pens move and keyboards click, flow comes more easily to me. I’ve led others in writing together a number of times, and I look forward to writing with you this spring as part of the Creative Garden program.

No prior writing experience is needed. ElJean will provide the inspiration and prompts to get your creative juices flowing!

There is no cost for this event — and no registration is required. Simply bring pen & paper for writing (or a laptop for typing) and meet us in the Fireside Room for any or all of these dates/times:

  • 1-3pm Tuesday, March 24th

  • 1-3pm Tuesday, March 31st

  • 1-3pm Tuesday, April 7th

Questions? Contact ElJean Wilson or Janni in the Main Office.

Your Input Wanted for our March 8th Service

March 8th Participatory Service: Your Input wanted!

Next week (Sun. March 8th), Kathryn Nicholson and others will be presenting a service called, "The Transformative Power of Music: A piece of music.  A two-minute story.  A shift in perspective."  

In this participatory service, congregants will share a piece of recorded music that, for them, became a container, vehicle and/or catalyst for remembering, reflecting, perhaps processing important life moments.  If a piece of music has stirred, challenged or transformed you and you'd like to share a story about it next Sunday, contact Kathryn Nicholson.

Ikebana Flower Arrangement Workshop

You’re invited to participate in another “Creative Garden” event:

Ikebana

1-3pm on Wed. March 18th & Wed. April 1st.

(It’s best to attend both sessions)

Ikebana is the traditional Japanese art of flower arrangement, often known as the "way of flowers".

Dating back to the 6th century, it is a disciplined, meditative art form that uses, alongside flowers, elements like branches, leaves, and stems to emphasize minimalism, line, shape, and form, rather than just raw color or volume.

Sessions will be led by Judith Radford & Julia Covell, as part of our Creative Garden program.

There is a one-time cost of $5/person.

Participants will need to bring the following items with them:

  • Shallow bowl such as pasta bowl

  • Sharp scissors or small clippers

  • Small cloth for drying scissors and wiping up spills

  • Newspaper for collecting plant debris

  • Box, larger than your bowl, that will hold your finished creation for safe transport

  • Kenzan (floral frog) if you have one, otherwise it will be provided.

  • (Session 1) Plant materials such as twigs, leaves, evergreen boughs, dried plant material, moss—anything that catches your eye while you are out and about.

  • (Session 2) Plant materials such as flowers, greenery, leaves.

Registration required. (20 participants max). Sign up online (HERE) or on the bulletin board in the stairwell.

Register

2025 Tax Receipts sent Feb. 12th

Janni issued 2025 Tax Receipts on February 11th by email (for those with an email address) and by mail (for those without email). 

If you donated in 2025 but did not receive a tax receipt, check your Junk or Spam folder.  If it's not there, or if you have questions about your receipt, contact Janni in the Main Office.

Donors who give through CanadaHelps get their tax receipts from CanadaHelps (not from NSU). More info at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/receiptdownload.aspx.

The Hands That Feed Us - film screening & discussion with filmmaker Devon Cooke

film screening and discussion
with filmmaker Devon Cooke

Friday, March 13th at 7pm

(doors open 6:30pm)
Admission by donation ($10 suggested)
Light refreshments available

Filmmaker Devon Cooke sets out to find out why his dream of becoming a farmer seems so impossible. The film chronicles Devon's journey and five Canadian farmers as they cope with border shutdowns, labour shortages, market closures, and wild price swings. When the crisis is over, will it be business as usual, or will our farmers create a stronger, more local food system?