This summer has also brought its share of pain and distress from the ever increasing wildfires lending urgency to the need for deep and complex changes to how we live and work. I hope we can offer some stillness, perspective, and spiritual connection here at Vancouver Unitarians this year. We are a sanctuary offering shelter, sustenance, inspiration, and learning to strengthen our efforts to do the work and live with joy and meaning.
The UCV staff enjoyed an intense and productive three days of planning and visioning with Rev. Shawn Gauthier and we are all feeling energized for what this new ministry will bring to the life of this community. We have a variety of programming planned both for us to offer and to support the facilitation of. We can safely say, once more, that there is a lot that goes on around here!
Sign up now for the following Fall and Winter programs:
Sunday Children and Youth Programs
Children’s Groups during the service, 11:15 am-12:15 pm
- Ages 5-9: Cosmology, Celebrating our origins in the universe
- Ages 10-12: Crossing Paths: learning about the faith of our neighbours and how it informs and relates to our own.
- Youth programs after the service:
- Our Whole Lives, sexuality education, for ages 13-14 (entering grades 8 or 9) Noon–1:30 pm
- Youth Group–radically inclusive teen driven community 1:30–3:45 pm with food!
Creating Theology Together – led by Rev. Shawn Gauthier and Kiersten Moore
A three part series of retreats and workshops exploring our own theology within, defining the theology that exists amoung Unitarians, and exploring how we represent our shared theology beyond our campus.
Creating Theology Within: Saturday, October 28th–retreat 10:30 am–4:00 pm and then Wednesdays, Nov 1, 8, 15; from 7-9 pm
Creating Theology Among: Saturday, February 24th–retreat 10:30 am–2:30 pm and Wednesdays, Feb 28, Mar 6, 13; 7-9m
Creating Theology Beyond: Sunday, April 14th–retreat 1:00 pm–5:00 pm and Wednesdays, April 17, 24, May 1; 7-9pm
For more information about all Creating Theology programs, click here.
Small Group Facilitator Training with Rev. Shawn
Gain confidence and grounding in coordinating and leading a small group or Covenant Group with skill. September 24th, 1-4:30 pm.
UU Wellspring: Spiritual Practices
Retreat: September 30, Saturday, 1-5 pm, Fireside Room
2nd and 4th Tuesdays, October 10th through June 11th, 7-9 pm, alternating Fireside Room and Online (not multi-platform). Note: the December meetings are the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays.
Wellspring is a small group cohort that delves into aspects of Unitarian Universalism, how we live in the world and put our faith into action. This year the focus is on spiritual practices, our own and others’, and our experiences with them. We will learn about the origins of different kinds of practices, and how they relate to our U*U faith.
Spiritual practices help us tap into deep wells of knowledge beyond our own personal experience or rational understanding. They sustain us in times of great pain, difficulty, or suffering, building spiritual resilience to sustain our work in the world.
Spiritual Practices is one of the advanced offerings from UU Wellspring, led by Kiersten Moore and Nan Gregory, open to anyone who has been part of a Wellspring group in previous years.
Paganism 101 with Louise Bunn
10 Thursday evenings, 7-9 pm, October 5th through December 7th, Fireside Room
Today’s Pagans revere the Earth and all its creatures. We see all life as interconnected, and we strive to attune ourselves to the cycles of nature. Our practices are rooted in a belief in immanence – the concept of divinity residing within. (More info)
UU Wellspring Reads: Crises of Life
Six sessions online, Oct-Dec, exact date and time TBD
Crises of Life explores how the wisdom and understanding of our chosen faith supports us during the challenges and crises of life. It is based on the book, Take What You Need: Life Lessons After Losing Everything by Rev. Jen Crow. and essays in The Book of Delights by Ross Gay, African American poet, educator and dedicated community gardener.
The course combines Rev. Crow’s wisdom with Ross Gay’s poetry and life experiences to understand that even in oppressive situations beauty and delight offer us unparalleled joy.