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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02/25/2020 by Shannon Day

Help us Identify Candidates to Serve on Our 2020-21 Board of Trustees!

As your 2020 Nominating Committee, it is our task to select a slate of qualified Board candidates for the congregation’s consideration at our June 7th Annual Meeting. We would like to ask for your suggestions as we begin this process. All members of WSUU are eligible to serve on Westside’s Board of Trustees. Board positions include president, vice president, treasurer, secretary and trustee at large. We will also be seeking nominations for next year’s Nominating Committee. Some of the qualities we are hoping to find in nominees include: Community builders and advocates; Ability to hold what is beloved, and be

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01/29/2020 by Shannon Day

Would You Like to Serve on Westside’s New Music Council? – Jade Lowry

As Scott Farrell steps into his role as our Music Director, we want to offer him strong supports to create a path of success for this next phase of Westside’s music ministry. As with our DRE and our Religious Exploration program, he will have the supportive supervision of our minister. He will benefit from the professional development, resources, and mentoring offered through the Association of Unitarian Universalist Music Ministries. He collaborates with local UU music director colleagues. And we are re-establishing a music council, that Scott and our Chorale are calling our “Music Worship Support Team!” Scott, the board, our

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01/29/2020 by Shannon Day

Do You Know About This Year’s Raise the Paddle Focus for the Auction?

Our board could not be more excited about this year’s Raise the Paddle focus! We are riding on the powerful movement that started years ago, and resulted this past fall in celebrating the installation of our lift. Our focus is ACCESSIBILITY – ensuring that we are doing everything we can to allow everyone to access our congregational life. We have an extraordinary congregation. We are vibrant and loving. We are thinkers and doers. There is a warmth at Westside, a magnetism of love, and we are learning to expand it – to be more and more inclusive and welcoming. The

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01/23/2020 by Shannon Day

The Board Unveils our Raise the Paddle Focus!

Each year for our auction, we have a Raise the Paddle segment to raise money for a particular project or need in the congregation. The priority project has typically been identified by the board. Some examples in the past are the redesign of the admin office and the redesign of the nursery. In the last few years, we have focused these funds on bolstering our operating budget. However, with the careful planning of last year’s board and the forethought of our treasurer – Shelley – and the finance committee, we are fortunate to be able to highlight a special project

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01/23/2020 by Shannon Day

Music Ministry Update

Music Ministry Update: Please Welcome Scott Farrell as our Permanent Music Director! Jade Lowry, Board President We have been in transition in many ways in the past four years. This year’s board was confronted with navigating our bridge and music ministries and how to contract with our bridge minister and our acting music director when our called minister isn’t coming until so late in the year, which was not what this community had initially planned for. In an effort to be inclusive, transparent and collaborative, the board engaged in an open and unstructured process – for better or worse –

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