06/10/2020 by Shannon Day

Some things I’ve Learned from our Finance Committee

… in this role as board president (Jade Lowry) Westside has been fortunate to have had a long line of committed volunteers with strong budgeting skills supporting our financial health. And this year was no exception! Our board benefited enormously from the deep and thorough research work and budget planning this year’s Finance Committee offered (Paula vanHaagan—chair, Shelley Webb—treasurer, Alan Mendel, and Shannon Day). They took the time to meet with us and made incredible spreadsheets to educate us about the important details of Westside’s budget. Below is what I’ve learned about triple bottom lines, how a budget is a plan,

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06/09/2020 by Shannon Day

President-Elect, Vanessa Shaughnessy’s Address from 2020 Annual Meeting

My Dear Westside, it’s an honor to be your next board president! I’m humbled by the work of my predecessors, and deeply grateful for lasts year’s board navigating us through a time of so much upheaval, while still moving forward with increased transparency, connection, and deepened commitment to justice. It’s amazing to me what they’ve accomplished. We’ve been without a called minister for almost exactly 5 years, and there have been times that have tested us deeply. But I’m incredibly proud of the ways this congregation has grown. We are at the threshold of a new beginning, and we’ve built

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05/20/2020 by Shannon Day

Changes in Congregational Care Clusters – Thomas Terence and Jade Lowry

Many thank you’s to our Cluster Facilitators, who have helped us to connect and support one another as we transitioned into the new normal of pandemic world. We set up these clusters as an emergency measure to hold the community and focus on care, and they have been serving their purpose. Now we are in a place of needing to set ourselves up for a long haul. Our journey ahead has many unknowns. Given the generally good place we are in now with the health and well-being of most of our congregants, our care needs are actually more about social

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04/29/2020 by Shannon Day

Full-On Gratitude – We’re Rockin’ It!! Jade Lowry – Board President

We seriously rock. Our Westside community is really showing up, in all kinds of ways! Many of us shifted our priorities to caring for one another, and it’s really happening! Here is some good news about us – We truly do show up – our Sunday service attendance is higher than usual, averaging over 100 logins each week to our Zoom Webinars, which means even more people are participating since a login can represent a whole family. Our Sunday plate collection is averaging 50%  larger than before COVID-19! And our Social Hour time has been full and amazing! Check out

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04/01/2020 by Shannon Day

Beloved Community Check In

A quick summary of 2020 to date: January was long, February was fast, and March has been weird.  As we journey into April together the essence of this month begins to unfold.  One bit of clarity we do have – we will remain a virtual community for the month of April. For our First Sunday of the Month Joys and Sorrows candles, you are invited to prepare a candle to light in your own home for the ritual and/or to place a candle in the chat box during worship on Sunday.  A virtual candle will be available in the chat

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03/25/2020 by Shannon Day

A Message from your Stewardship Team

Our Westside congregation has been very generous over the years. This is a time for our generosity to match our hopes. Our community will endure as we embrace our vision for the future and our love for each other. We are all a bit nervous about the effect these uncertain times will have on ourselves, on our congregation, and on funding for the congregation next year. Many of us are going to be challenged and will find it difficult to make decisions as we peer into the unknown. We know some might need to give less to our congregation. We

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03/25/2020 by Shannon Day

Shifting to the Long Haul Together

Monday marked an intense day for the West Seattle and Westside UU community, with the announcement about the West Seattle bridge closure and the Governor’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order happening almost at the same time. However this news landed for you, we invite you to take a moment, take a breath, and be gentle with yourself.  The changes will continue to unfold AND you are a part of a beloved community that cares about you.  Please do not struggle in silence or alone. Westside UU Congregation continues to adapt with intention, holding our mission and vision central to our

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03/11/2020 by Shannon Day

We Are Bringing Back Congregational Care Clusters!!

The board would like to offer gratitude for the good thinking and input we have received to help to navigate our path through this time. Input and ideas are always welcomed, so that we can benefit as a community from the collective awareness and wisdom we bring. The board has identified caring for one another as a top priority at this time. We do have budget-making processes going forward in the background. AND we are making space to focus on what it can look like to strengthen our connections and mutual support. These radical times are an opportunity for us

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03/04/2020 by Shannon Day

WSUU & COVID-19 – Making Space for All That Emerges From Jade Lowry, Board President

We are entering a unique time, for sure. In this next unknown stretch of time, spaciousness, flexibility and slowing down will be essential to how we continue to operate as a community. This was not my first reaction in recent days and nights. I would say that anxiety and overwhelm have been my default reactions. So I feel grateful for all the people who are seeing a path forward in this, and for the wisdom that is being shared. One of those people we are fortunate to have with us, is Rev. Deanna. She has calmly shared deep wisdom from her experience

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02/26/2020 by Shannon Day

The Bridge – Thomas Terence Board Trustee

On the first day of 5th grade, my teacher announced that we were going to do things a little different this year. She said we were going to be in middle school next year so we would have to have more responsibility this year. Plus, we had to show the younger kids how things were done. First up, our teacher said we would fill out our own registration cards. We didn’t have to bring them home to have our parents fill them out anymore. It made sense – all of us should know our address and phone number and parent’s

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