Sunday Services: 11:00 am949 West 49th Ave, Vancouver, BC V5Z 2T1Office: 604-261-7204 |  |
We celebrated May Day outdoors near the Oak Street boundary just north of the Kids’ fenced-in playground area. Seven of us very successfully wove in and out around the maypole and–bonus–we found a tall thin wooden branch that we’ll dust off and dance around by next year.
We will meet on the first Tuesday of each month from 6 – 7 pm outdoors if weather permits, and otherwise in Hitschmanova Room- on the ground level-direct entrance from the parking lot/north side.
The biennial Chalice Choir–and Friends–Cabaret had a full house, great music and lots of fun. Here are some photos thanks to Gail Stephan.
The Chalice Choir of the Unitarian Church of Vancouver brightened up a cool rainy evening with their spring cabaret, Fascinating Rhythms, in Hewett Centre Saturday April 28, 2018.
The hall was beautiful with bright saris, flowers and snack food, the wine and beer pleasant, the program varied and the atmosphere cheerful. Every seat was full and the audience participation in a couple of the numbers raised the roof.
The full choir sang folk songs, including two crowd-pleasers by Stan Rogers, a Gershwin medley and a collection of Andrew Lloyd Webber songs. In between the first and last sets, JES (Jane Slemon and friends), soloists and small group numbers rounded out the program.
Photos taken Monday, April 10, 2018 by Darlene Rainbow.
There must be 200 grape hyacinths there, quite a few daffodils, a smattering of tulips, various kinds of primulas – perennials thanks to Hanno, new brightly coloured annual thanks to Vera.
Edging courtesy of Vera.
Most Sundays, unless there’s a downpour someone is gardening–come join us. Ask questions, pitch in or just walk the labyrinth in silence.
Lots of leaves on the geraniums.
The snow drops and crocuses are gone–at least their blooms are gone–lots of lovely foliage still.
There are numerous circle dances at the Unitarian Centre in April including guests from away.
Rosie Turnbull will be visiting from Findhorn, the spiritual community in Scotland where sacred circle dancing began.
Barbara Herring is visiting from Ontario – We’ve usually had the pleasure of Barbara visiting yearly for some time.
Barbara will be weaving the dances for the afternoon session and leading dances for the evening. In between we’ll have a potluck dinner with conversations.
Lucky us that many dancers have family and other reasons to visit Vancouver.
We also have a special session for dancers who are ready to move into facilitation–and facilitators who have a desire to practise a new dance or two. In the evening we’ll dance some more challenging dances after our potluck dinner. Mairy Beam will be our dance weaver.
Here’s your April events– a big one with 5 Sundays and therefore 5 services and 5 forums and tons of special events.
Newcomers and new members often have a hard time connecting with others at UCV. The hardest time is when they leave the service and enter the Hall room. They find themselves amongst a large group who seem to know one another…really well. It’s overwhelming. Even intimidating. So several of us asked ourselves, “What can we do?” And came up with the idea of creating a Sermon Discussion group.
Tamiko Suzuki thought it might create a friendly, casual environment where these new folks could sit with others and converse…introduce themselves … and talk about that morning’s sermon. A shared experience. Well, she was absolutely right.
We held the SD for several months and it was a real success. Those who attend are newcomers, new members and regulars. We averaged ten participants – the Sermon Groupies.
Sessions were moderated by a facilitator. “The discussions are thoughtful, insightful and dynamic,” said one new member. Another regular added, “This really enriches the potential Sunday experience.” One of the facilitators thanked everyone “for sharing in a meaningful discussion”. And another new member who comes frequently said, “it was a good discussion. I have been impressed so far with the depth and quality of communication in these sessions.”
There was a need to connect. The Sermon Discussions found one way to address that need. The group met weekly after services in the Priestley room from noon – 1:15.
Now the experiment is over having fulfilled the mission of connecting many people and helping them make new connections.
The Connect & Engage Team has now gone on to other initiaties.
Jane Slemon is a member of ErRatica and JES (Jane Slemon, Ellen van der Hoeven, and Susan Larkin,)
Here’s what their website says about her.
Heading up to our tent in the Ontario woods, we were always singing in the car. I was the fourth kid to arrive into the family, so guess which harmony was left. My mother tended to get us out of bed in the morning by singing something silly: “Wakie, wakie, tea and cakie” (shoes tumbling affectionately toward her).
Mom and Dad knew tons of songs: the silly and the romantic war time songs, the swing songs, and they crooned beautifully together. All of us were subjected to piano lessons as kids, and (probably since we were more likely to be playing street hockey and climbing trees than be indoors practicing) a $50 scholarship was set for any who achieved the Grade 8 Royal Conservatory exam. I got close, but none of us won it.
When I moved to Vancouver, I picked up guitar and flute and found a community of people who wanted to play music—good luck, great parties. I know and love those people still.
They are all over town, making music, making things happen. Some of them are in the band.
Here are some youtube videos of JES.
Here are some recent photos of our labyrinth. Photo credit: Darlene Rainbow
May 5th is World Labyrinth Day and that weekend is also Jane’s Walks (in honour of Jane Jacobs).
We will celebrate both on Sunday, May 6th, with a labyrinth walk and workshop. Details will be posted when finalized.
The labyrinths (yes, we have two) are there 24/7 – so you can drop by any time and have a pleasant walk by yourself or with a group. If you’d like to help support the labyrinth with time, funds or plants, contact the Labyrinth Team by email.
Mairy and Mary will host a program for the kids in the First Sunday First Hour. All welcome.
A grounds work party is hosted every month on the third Saturday from 9 am on. Patti provides snacks and advice if desired. If you can help tend the labyrinth at that time, just show up and tell Patti.
Click here for our Labyrinth Page for more information.
Outreach Opportunities Fund Recipient February – May 2018
Community Legal Assistance Society (CLAS)
CLAS provides legal assistance to low-income people across British Columbia (BC). They focus on legal issues in the areas of: housing security, income security, human rights, mental health rights, and workers’ rights. They offer a wide variety of legal services, including: summary legal advice to outline client’s options and point them in the right direction, guidance to help clients represent themselves, and full representation.
Assistance is provided to clients in the following areas.
Housing evictions: if there has been an eviction and the tenant has lost a dispute resolution hearing at the Residential Tenancy Branch, if a home is being foreclosed upon, or if membership in a co-op is being terminated.
Access to Government Benefits: if an appeal at the Employment and Assistance Appeal Tribunal or Social Security Tribunal has been lost over regular or disability benefits, supplements or other kind of income support.
Human rights: if someone has been discrimination against, or an appeal has been lost at the Human Rights Tribunal.
Mental health: if a client has applied for a Review Board hearing under the Mental Health Act, or an upcoming Criminal Code Review Board hearing
Work-related legal issues: if an appeal at the Worker’s Compensation Appeal Tribunal, Social Security Tribunal or Employment Standards Tribunal has been lost over workers’ compensation, employment insurance, or other employment-related benefits.
CLAS also takes test cases through the court system. Currently, it has launched a Charter challenge on behalf of two individuals who have undergone forced psychiatric treatment. The case challenges the laws in BC that remove any right for involuntary patients to give or refuse consent to psychiatric treatment, either for themselves or through a trusted family member or friend.
CLAS also advocates for systemic law reform. They work with community and advocacy groups to develop concrete proposals to improve fairness in the law and policy that govern the lives of people in BC. For example, in 2015 their lawyers worked with the City of Vancouver Renters Advisory Committee on a report, Reforming the BC Residential Tenancy System.
From Melody Mason on behalf of the Outreach Opportunities Fund Committee.
A Celebration of the Life of the Rev. Dr. Phillip Hewett, Minister Emeritus of the Unitarian Church of Vancouver, will be held at the Unitarian Church of Vancouver, March 23, 2018, beginning at 1:30 pm. A reception will follow the service.
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