Dying with Dignity

On Sunday, February 4, 2024, we are welcoming guest speaker Alex Muir to our pulpit. Alex is the Chair of the Vancouver chapter of Dying with Dignity. Alex will talk about the experience and gift of MAID (Medical Assistance In Dying). He will explain the latest legislation, the process and experience -- and will stay after the service to answer questions and allay any concerns. I hope you'll join us for this meaningful presentation!

Alex provided us with a helpful list of resources for BC; find it HERE.

February's Outreach

Each month, 100% of our offering basket (unless otherwise designated) is donated to a non-profit group whose mission is in line with our principles.

During February, we collected $1,078.85 for the SAGE Transition House run by the North Shore Crisis Services Society. SAGE provides supportive housing and trauma-informed services for women & children on the North Shore who are fleeing abuse.

On February 4th only, we collected $512.39 for Dying with Dignity during our Sunday Service featuring the topic of MAID (Medical Assistance in Dying).

Budget Meeting: 12:30pm on Sunday, January 28th

We’re holding our annual “Budget Meeting” (a Congregational Meeting, at which Members will vote on our 2024 budget and other issues) on Sunday, January 28th. Sandwiches will be provided by Dianne Hicks between the Sunday Service and the Budget Meeting.

Meeting Notice Packets were emailed or mailed to Members around 1pm on January 17th. If you are a Member and do not receive the packet, please check your “junk” or “spam” folder for the email. If it’s not there, contact Janni in the Church Office, locate it in the Member-only area of our website, or pick up a printed copy from the foyer table.

As explained in the Notice Packet, all voting for this meeting will be done in person (in the Sanctuary) or by proxy. Although Zoom will be provided, Zoom, no voting will be done by Zoom — and Zoom participants will not be able to speak at the meeting.

Anyone may attend the meeting, but only Members who meet our Bylaw requirements will be allowed to vote.

UPDATES to how we reimburse you for church expenses

We're moving away from paper cheques toward electronic payment methods (eTransfers and Direct Deposits).  This will save on paper, and also (hopefully) make it easier and more convenient for you to receive reimbursements from the church.

We've set up a new Payment Request Form (HERE) that includes the following:

  • The top section includes information about you and what you need to be reimbursed for.

  • The middle section allows you to select the payment method you prefer (eTransfer, Direct Deposit, or Cheque) with space to provide us with the information we need for each payment method.

  • The bottom section is for office use only.

As always, please allow at least 2 weeks processing time.

If you have questions about reimbursements, please contact Janni in the Church Office.

WANTED: FUNdfest Ideas!

WANTED!!  A few brave souls to help put on a couple of Fundfest events to help our community enjoy time together each month outside of a Sunday Service.   

If you have any ideas and/or are willing to help with an event or want to know more - please contact Leslie Gibbons or the Church Office. 

It will be fun, bring some laughs and earn a little money for the church. (And as always, you will get a TAX RECEIPT at the end of the year for the amount of money your event brings in for the church).  

Social Justice Workshop: Sun. January 21st

Alison Nixon is hosting a Social Justice Workshop at noon on Sunday, January 21st — and you’re invited!

The purpose of this meeting is to dig deeper into specifically how we might implement our focus on health and mental healthcare in our personal lives, in our church, and in the wider community.

Read Alison’s full letter HERE, which explains more about the work that was done in November as well as the plan for this January 21st workshop.

Clothes Swap

Saturday, April 13th 10am to 2pm

Our 2024 Clothes Swap was a huge success! We helped reduce waste AND raised funds to support our Butterfly Garden Project!

Our long-advertised Clothing Swap (which was sponsored by our Environmental Action Team) was held on April 13th. We had people lined up at 10am with enthusiastic swappers enjoying themselves all day. Our community welcomed newcomers who both swapped and assisted. Donations were good with our final tally to come.

Left to right: Donnie Rose, Jean Prescott, Barb Kroon, Jasha Ramsay Latter, and Karen Funt

Special thanks to the organizers of this event (Jean Prescott, Stuart Browning, and Jasha Ramsay-Latter) PLUS everyone who helped with the event, including: Barb, Rebecca, Annabelle, Marcia, Jim, Kerry, Liz, Bob, Marguerite, Julia, Karen, Inga, Frances, Jennifer, Sharon, Marie, Linda, Elain and Janni. Of course, special thanks to all those who donated and swapped to make this event possible. A HUGE Thank YOU!

Proceeds for this event will help support the Environmental Action Team’s Butterfly Garden Project. Leftover clothing was donated to the Good Stuff Connection thrift store, which is operated by the North Shore Crises Services Society (a registered charity dedicated to promoting a secure and abuse-free environment and resources for women and children fleeing violence).