Our Fall Newsletter is available HERE.
It tells the story of our summer renovations (including new flooring in the foyer, sanctuary, offices and stairwell) — as well as information about what’s happening in our church this fall.
Outreach Report for June
Unless otherwise marked on an offering envelope or cheque, 100% of our offering plate donations are given to a different charity each month. During June, we collected $1304 for the David Suzuki Foundation, which works to conserve and protect the natural environment, and help create a sustainable Canada.
We held no services during the month of July, but will have two summer services at the end of August. Our August collections (unless otherwise marked) will be donated to Dying with Dignity Canada, a human-rights charity committed to improving quality of dying, protecting end-of-life rights, and helping Canadians avoid unwanted suffering.
Summer Newsletter!
Our Summer Newsletter is available! Locate it HERE or see a printed copy on the foyer table.
Please note that we will have regular Sunday services through the end of June, but that we will not have services in July or for the first two Sundays in August.
May Outreach Report
Each month, 100% of our Sunday morning offering plate collections (unless otherwise designated) are donated to the featured charity for the month. During May, we collected $1,411.60 for the Wish Drop-In Centre, which works to improve the health, safety, and well-being of women who are involved in Vancouver’s street-based sex trade.
During June, we will collect funds for the David Suzuki Foundation, which empowers people to take action in their communities on the environmental challenges we collectively face.
Pact for a Green New Deal
The Canadian Unitarian Council is one of 65 organizations that launched this movement on May 6th, calling on Canadians to urge their leaders to:
Meet the demands of Indigenous knowledge and science and cut Canada’s emissions in half in 11 years while protecting cultural and biological diversity.
Oversee a rapid, inclusive and far-reaching transition to deeply reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect critical biodiversity.
Fully implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
Meet the demands of the multiple crises we face, create over a million jobs in the process, leave no one behind and build a better present and future for all of us.
What You Can Do:
Sign the pledge for a Green New Deal and if you are part of an organization, encourage it to endorse and participate.
Help develop a shared vision by joining a town hall near you. Our very own Catherine Strickland is hosting Green New Deal Town Hall at our church at 7pm on Sunday, June 16th. All are invited!!!
Help make the climate crisis a federal election issue by pushing political leaders to act.
Share this campaign with your networks.
On social media use the hashtag #GreenNewDeal.
Call on federal election candidates in your riding to support a Green New Deal.
April Outreach Report
Each month, 100% of our Sunday morning offering plate collections (unless otherwise designated) are donated to the featured charity for the month.
During the month of April, we collected $1,541.55 for the Rainbow Refugee Society, a Vancouver-based community group that supports people seeking refugee protection in Canada because of persecution based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or HIV status. Thank you to all who gave generously!
During May, we will collect donations for the WISH Drop-In Centre, whose mission is to improve the health, safety and well-being of women who are involved in Vancouver’s street-based sex trade. It operates an on-site clinic and learning centre, which is staffed with instructors from WISH and Capilano University. The WISH Drop-In Centre is a (self-identified) women-only space.
March Outreach Report
Each month, 100% of our Sunday morning offering plate collections (unless otherwise designated) are donated to the featured charity for the month. During the month of March, we collected donations for our Partner Church in Hungary, raising $2,494.75 for this worthy cause. Thank you to all who gave so generously!
During April we are collecting for the Rainbow Refugee Society, a Vancouver based community group that supports people seeking refugee protection in Canada because of persecution based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression (SOGIE) or HIV status.
KAIROS Blanket Exercise
2-5 pm on Sunday, June 2nd
in the nsuc Fireside Room
Our Church is pleased to bring the Blanket Exercise to our church community. The KAIROS Blanket Exercise program is a unique, participatory history lesson (developed in collaboration with Indigenous Elders, knowledge keepers and educators) that fosters truth, understanding, respect and reconciliation among Indigenous and non-indigenous peoples.
This event will be open to the general public and is suitable for ages 13 and up. Sign up HERE or on the paper sign up sheet below the poster in the stairwell.
Nominate a Volunteer now through April 28th
We’re accepting nominations for our annual Volunteer Awards now through April 28th. Here’s the story of how we started this tradition, as well as information on how to nominate an outstanding volunteer.
The Mary Segal Award
In 2011, Mary Segal, a beloved founding member and long-time volunteer at North Shore Unitarian Church, passed away. In her honour, our church established a prestigious award that is given annually to an outstanding individual or group whose volunteer service has had a significant impact on the church. The volunteer(s) may have contributed a considerable length of time, or volunteered for a variety of tasks, or have demonstrated effective leadership in our Church community or in the community at large. See a list of prior recipients HERE.
Nominations
Each year, congregants are invited to nominate outstanding volunteers for the Mary Segal Award (our highest honour) as well as for Service Certificates, which are granted for one or more individuals or groups who have offered frequent volunteer service, whether in the past or present, either over a long period of time, or to accomplish something special in a single year.
There are two ways to nominate volunteers for these honours:
Fill out a paper nomination form (on the foyer table) and leave it in the box provided.
Fill out the online form HERE.
The deadline for nominations is Sunday, April 28th. Awards will be presented at our AGM on Sunday, May 26th.
Clothing Swap April 6th
Clothing Swap
April 6th, 10am-2pm
Starting March 31st, bring your women’s and children’s clothing, accessories, and Halloween costumes to the church (only clean items in good shape, please!)
On April 6th, a $10 donation gets you in the door (proceeds will be given to the Wish Drop-In Centre). Take clothing, accessories, jewelry, or whatever you like, at no extra cost! We will serve light refreshments. Come early and swap till you drop! Unclaimed items will be donated to Wish and other local charities. Tell all your friends, and invite them to bring something to “swap shop”. The more the merrier!!