VanU held a successful Congregational Retreat on March 9 in Hewett Centre on our campus at 49th and Oak. It was a well-organized event with engaged participation with over 90 members registered for the day. After an afternoon of spirited discussion about future directions for our congregation, we were treated to a delicious catered dinner from Tamam and then entertained at an evening Coffeehouse with performances by young and not-so-young alike.

A big THANK YOU to the organizers, volunteers, and members who participated in making this day happen.

I hope you’ll plan to join us at 4:00pm on Sunday, May 5th, when the congregation will formally install me as the settled minister of the Vancouver Unitarians. You may be wondering why we will be doing this, given that I’ve already been “on the job” since the beginning of August. In a Service of Installation a congregation and its new minister enter into a covenant, making promises of mutual care and support to sustain our shared ministry. This is something the Vancouver Unitarians have done several times since the congregation’s founding in 1909.

Diana Ellis, our archivist extraordinaire, recently provided me with the Orders of Service from the Services of Installation for most of the congregation’s previous ministers. It has been a poignant experience to read through these materials, as it has served as a reminder that our present ministry is but a chapter in a book with many chapters that stretch back over a century, and, hopefully, many future chapters still to be written.

In the coming weeks, I will be drafting a version of the ritual for this service that will draw significantly on the words that have been spoken in the past between the congregation and its ministers. I will be reviewing these words with the Board in March to seek their approval. I will also include a copy of the agreed text in the April Monthly Bulletin, so that you may have an opportunity to read and reflect on the words in the weeks leading up to the ceremony. After all, these will be promises we will be making to each other, so it matters that we come to mean them.

I look forward to taking part in this ceremony with you. It has been a joy and an honour over these last many months to get to know the congregation as a whole, as well as the many wonderful people who make VanU all that it is. I am incredibly hopeful about who we will become, together, in the years ahead.

In faith and love,

Shawn

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Sunday Services coming up in March:

March 10^th – What Does It Mean to Be a Unitarian?

Rev. Shawn Gauthier

Many years ago, there was a trend for Unitarians and Unitarian Universalists to develop their “elevator speech,” the brief explanation of our tradition that one might offer up to a fellow traveller as you ride from the lobby up to the 24^th floor. As most people discovered, this isn’t an easy task! In this week’s service, Rev. Shawn will offer some tips that might be of help.

March 17^th – For Giving and For Getting

Rev. Shawn Gauthier

What are we to do we do when seeking an apology that never comes? How are we move to on if forgiveness isn’t forthcoming? This Sunday, Rev. Shawn will be reflecting on the many alternative paths we might take to undertake the work of forgiveness. 

March 24^th – Climate Transformation: Heeding the Call of the Anthropocene

Reilly Yeo, Candidate for UU Ministry

We’re called in this time of climate crisis not just to change our world, but to transform it. In the process, we will need to transform ourselves. Climate change is a wake-up call that heralds the urgency of our third principle as Unitarian Universalists – spiritual growth. Join Reilly Yeo, Candidate for Unitarian Universalist Ministry and Co-Founder of Climate Plan for this exploration of the spiritual dimensions of the climate crisis.

March 31^st  – Threatened with Resurrection

Rev. Shawn Gauthier

Theologically, Easter is one of those particularly complex days for Unitarians. But there is much to celebrate in this time of year, even if we don’t find personal resonance in the Christian story. Rev. Shawn’s sermon will explore the meaning that we, as Unitarians, might find in this time of renewal and, even, resurrection. 

The cooperation and patience of members and other users of our campus when we have snow days will be appreciated.

• Every effort will be made to ensure that the perimeter and interior sidewalks of the campus will be clear and accessible.
• Assume that the parking lot will not be accessible and/or it will be up to vehicle owners to determine whether or not to use it.

Many efforts have been made over the years to arrange the equipment and person-power to clear the whole site of snow. None have been found to be satisfactory. Cost of equipment – whether our own or contracted – and people availability (staff and volunteer) are the factors.

A snow-clearing route map has been prepared for the walkways. An information note is available for obtaining shovels. People are welcome to sign-up for voluntary snow clearing to complement what staff can do within their own availability, work schedules and duties.

Your help will be appreciated! (Contact: Patti Turner at pgaleturner[at]gmail[dot]com)

With thanks,

Vancouver Unitarians Buildings and Grounds Committee