Join us for a warm, inspiring one-hour service centred on the universal message of Christmas Eve that will leave you energized for Christmas Day celebrations!
(Light food and drink will be provided after this service).
Blue Christmas: 1pm Wed. December 18th
Please join Kerry Burke assisted by Liz Moffitt and friends in a one-hour gathering to share fellowship with those of us experiencing less holiday joy. There might be many reasons for this: the Christmas season generally might be a difficult time of year, or a loss of a loved one, ecological grief, the recent election… the reasons can be many. With music and a little fun, may the warmth of sharing bring us peace at this dark time of the year.
Christmas Hampers: Nonperishable food items for the Lookout Shelter
This winter, we collected non-perishable food packages that will be distributed to 25 people living in transitional housing at the Lookout Housing and Health Society’s shelter.
Special thanks to all who brought tins of soup, pasta, sauces, tea bags, coffee, cookies or treats, and other non-perishable food items. Elain Duvall arranged for them to be packaged and dropped off at the Lookout Shelter.
Did you know that the Breeze App does this?
Did you know you can donate on your phone using the Breeze app and "Give Now" (on the main menu)? Once you've entered your credit card details ONCE, it will save them for later use (although you'll still need to log-in every time).
You can use the app to make payments toward your pledge, lunch, or offering contributions -- just use the drop down arrow to select the right category so your donation or purchase goes to the right thing! Contact Janni in the Church Office with questions.
Not yet a Breeze User? NSUC Members and established Friends may be granted Breeze access through the Church Office (certain restrictions apply).
Fall Back 1 Hour Saturday Night, November 2nd
Remember to change your clocks back 1 hour on Saturday night before going to bed.
Janell Hilton's Photography and Art Sale
Janell Hilton (who passed away at the end of September) donated a number of art pieces to our church before she died. These pieces are for sale, with the proceeds going to the church in Janell’s name.
Some of the pieces are photographs Janell has taken — and some are art pieces that she purchased (or was gifted) from other artists.
See the new display of these pieces in the hallway leading from the Church Office to the side Sanctuary door. Many of Janell’s pieces are displayed there now — with more coming soon. So watch the display over time, as it will change as pieces are sold and new ones are added.
To purchase Janell’s pieces (or any of the other art pieces for sale in the church building), contact Inga Puhlmann (our Art Team Chair) or Janni in the Church Office.
Special thanks to Inga for displaying such beautiful (and varied) art throughout the church building!
More Tree Removal -- Why?
On October 25th, we took down 2 trees that were BADLY rotted from within. Both were at high risk for falling soon — causing possible damage to fences, buildings, vehicles, and people.
These two images show how the rot was deep . . . so these trees were on borrowed time!
Special thanks to Brian Welwood (B&G Chair) and Brian McConnell (the Church Factotum) for their foresight to have these trees removed, and overseeing the work.
Sandwich Lunch on April 13th
After the service on April 13th, you’re invited to join us downstairs for a sandwich lunch arranged by Dianne Hicks. (Suggested donation: $5/person). Vegetarian options will be provided.
"Living in the Spirit of Reconciliation" Reading List
As a follow-up to our September 29th service, our guest speaker (Ken Coates, PhD) put together the following reading list of books that relate to the theme of “Living in the Spirit of Reconciliation:
Best Historical Overviews
J.R. Miller, Skyscrapers Hide the Heavens: A History of Indian-White Relations in Canada
Olive Dickason and David Newhouse, Canada’s First Nations: A History of Founding Peoples from the Earliest Times
Contemporary Policies and Legal Issues
Jodi Wilson-Raybould, True Reconciliation: How to be a Force for Change
Jodi Wilson-Raybould, From Where I Stand: Rebuilding Indigenous Nations for a Stronger Canada (and watch for her new book, Reconciling History, coming out this fall)
Bob Joseph, 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act
Bruce McIvor, Standoff: Why Reconciliation Fails Indigenous People and How to Fix It
Greg Poelzer and Ken Coates, From Treaty Peoples to Treaty Nation: A Road Map for All Canadians
Sniderman and Sanderson, Valley of the Birdtail
Indigenous Perspectives
Michelle Good, Five Little Indians
Maria Campbell, Halfbreed
Tanya Talaga, The Knowing
Murray Sinclair, Who We Are
Thomas King, The Inconvenient Indian
Thomas King, The Truth About Stories
There is a large and wonderful body of literature by and about Indigenous peoples, Indigenous-newcomer relations, and the path to reconciliation. This is only a start of your reading!! Enjoy!
FUNfest Re-Imagined
Remember our annual FundFest event (formerly called "Bidnight"). . . what a great fundraiser and people-pleaser it was? We are pleased to announce a modified version of FUNfest. Instead of an auction, the newly-imagined FUNfest is based on a simple sign-up and payment format with 100% of the proceeds going to NSUC. This is a great way of getting to know others in the NSUC community while having FUN and contributing to church funds. Starting this fall, we are offering a series of events starting with BUNKO on October 18th, T’was a Dark and Stormy Night on November 9th, and continuing with one event per month now throughout the new year! Watch for more details coming soon.