An important message from Rev. Ron regarding our March 15th service

Greetings Beloveds,

I am glad that we prepared to go digital this week as an augmentation to our regular service. As it happens we are ONLY DOING DIGITAL church this week. Please do not come to North Shore for services tomorrow. I have been informed that it is increasingly likely that the North Shore is about to see a rapid increase in verified cases of COVID 19 and that it is indeed the case that people are contagious prior to manifesting symptoms. 

Church is AMAZING! And our coming together is precious. It will be lonely without you all. But this stay of gathering is only temporary, and all the more so if we all take precautions. We care about your health and know that you care about each other's health as well. So for now, we will gather only virtually. 

Tomorrow at 10:30 you will see Ryan Gunther's smiling face on our live youtube broadcast (https://www.youtube.com/user/NorthShoreUnitarian). Within a few lines, I am sure he will illicit a chortle from you. And thusly, we will enter into a new mode of being together. We will find ways to hold one another without holding one another. We will persevere and find new opportunities in the midst of disruption. 

Keep in mind, as a congregation, we have been preparing for this moment for months. How? Well, to find that out, you'll have to tune in at 10:30 on Sunday morning. 

Yours in faith,

Rev. Ron Phares

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Service & other church events CANCELLED today

After two cases of the COVID 19 were diagnosed in Lynn Valley Saturday, NSUC is cancelling today’s Service and other church events scheduled for today. While hoping it is not an overreaction, the staff has decided to err on the side of caution giving that a great many of our congregants are in vulnerable populations and that it is possible to carry the virus prior to symptoms appearing. We hope to contribute to the early mitigation of the virus. 

Yesterday Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said, “At this time I am asking people to consider having virtual gatherings, to consider not coming together, particularly if you have people in your gathering who are elderly.” 

While it is too late for us to go virtual this Today, it may well be a necessity in the coming weeks. We will be in touch to instruct you all how best to do that. In the meantime, wash your hands and limit your exposure in densely public places.

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Canadian Unitarian Council (CUC) Annual General Meeting & Conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia, May 15-17, 2020

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Hosted by the Universalist Unitarian Church of Halifax, this conference promises to have a unique Atlantic flavour.

The theme for Conference 2020 is MAKING WAVES! Building on the imagery of The Ripple Effect, the CUC’s campaign on water and its related environmental issues, this theme inspires UUs to make waves that practice radical inclusion, challenge the status quo, and push us to remain relevant into the future.

  • View the Invitation HERE 

  • Registration info HERE. 

  • Find out more about special opportunities for music-making at the Conference, Nova-Scotia style HERE.  

  • Interested in representing NSUC as a delegate to the CUC AGM on May 15th?  See AGM info HERE and read the Motions HERE. 

  • We will screen the AGM in the NSUC Sanctuary by video-conference in real time.  All are welcome to attend! 

  • Questions?  Contact John Slattery or Liz Moffitt.

 

Outreach Report - December & January

During December, 100% of the donations in our offering plate (unless otherwise marked) was applied to our Pastoral Discretionary Fund, which is used by our Minister to support a variety of needs within our congregation, as well as within the greater community. We raised a total of $2,652 for this cause during December.

In January, 100% of the donations in our offering plate (unless otherwise marked) was given to the North Shore Women’s Centre, which provides a variety of support services for women in our community, including including a Health and Wellness Program, Family Law Clinic, Basic Computer Training, Annual Girls Empowerment Camp, support groups, and more.. We raised a total of $1,644.65 for this worthy cause.

In February, we will raise funds for Rainbow Refugee, 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.

Outreach Report

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Each month, 100% of our Sunday morning offering plate, unless otherwise marked, goes to a non-profit organization whose mission is in line with our principles. During November, we raised funds for Sheway, a Vancouver-based organization that provides comprehensive health and social services to women who are either pregnant or parenting children less than 18 months old and who are experiencing current or previous issues with substance use.

In December, our collection will be for our church’s Pastoral Discretionary Fund, which our Minister uses to provide relief for a variety of needs both within our congregation and in the greater community.

Symposium Recognizing the 75th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz

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Join a carpool to attend the UBC Symposium and/or see one of the opera performances “The Passenger” at the Chan Centre (UBC) during the week of January 27th - February 2nd.  A follow-up discussion will be offered by the NSUC Heart, Mind, Spirit Team on Tuesday, February 4th at 7:15pm in the NSUC Sanctuary. Click HERE for more information.

Information about the UBC Symposium beginning on International Holocaust Remembrance Day January 27th available HERE. Info about the UBC opera performances is HERE.

Contact Marcia Stephenson with questions.