05/28/2025 by Shannon Day

Staffing Update

A Letter from Rev. Carter With a mixture of sadness and gratitude for her service, I share the news that Rev. Katie Lawson who has been serving as our Director of Religious Exploration will be concluding her time at Westside UU at the end of this summer. She has taken on the work of caring for our children and families, and the challenges of this ministry in these times, with grace and creativity. We are sad to see Rev. Katie go, but we understand and support her decision which is based on unforeseen personal factors. We carry immense appreciation for

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07/17/2024 by Shannon Day

Westside UU Parent Group

Parenting Group meets on the third Sundays of the month from 10:30am–11:45 am, and is open to parents/caregivers of children, youth, young adults, and adults of all ages. Sunday August 18th WSUU Parenting Group meeting: folks can meet us at 10:30 am directly at the playground area at Lake Burien Memorial Park or or we’ll meet you outside church between 10 and 10:15 am and give rides to folks that need them, please let us know you’re coming so we can be sure to look for you and your family. Lake Burien Memorial Park located at 1620 SW 149th Street, Burien

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10/08/2021 by Shannon Day

Making Our Way by the Light of the Heavens

Beloved Members and Friends of Westside, As you read in the message earlier this week from the Board of Trustees, Rev. Cynthia Westby and Cheryl Brown have resigned their positions in our Religious Exploration program. We are grateful for the leadership and service each has offered to the congregation over their many years here, working through sometimes difficult situations as they cared for our children and youth. As they move into other pursuits, we wish for both Cynthia and Cheryl the very best. I know that for myself, as I’m sure it is for many of you, this is something

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02/27/2019 by Shannon Day

DRE Column for March – Rev. Cynthia Westby

Cabin Fever “You’re now free to move about the cabin!”  Words we live for when we’re trapped on an airplane in our 2X2 seats!  In February, confined to my house by the snowy weather, I was more than ready to hear these precious words of freedom.  My snowbound life gave me the same cabin fever I experience on an airplane. Did you notice cabin fever too, during those weeks of snow, cold and closures?  Many of us spent a good chunk of time holed up at home.  Because our cars were surrounded by mountains of snow and the City of

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01/23/2019 by Shannon Day

DRE Column for January – Rev. Cynthia Westby

The Hidden Treasure In Change Rev. Cynthia Westby, Director of Religious Exploration Transition shakes up most of us. Change messes with the order of things we’ve gotten used to, feel comfortable with, and prefer to see remain the same. Change is often not pleasant or agreeable. There is, however, hidden treasure in change. I’ve discovered that if I hang in there and observe myself and the situation, I may learn something. For instance, I may realize the new circumstances give me opportunities to offer a new way of thinking about things that is refreshing or interesting. One of my favorite stories about a

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12/19/2018 by Shannon Day

DRE Column for December: The Gift of the Bengali Tea Boys

Difficult situations are gifts.  Gifts we often resist and usually don’t appreciate.  They teach us about our blind spots. . . if we stop and listen to what is happening inside us.  You may want to return these gifts, but resist!  Sticking with the feelings and experience pays off. When my buttons get pushed, I start wondering what is going on in me.  What do I believe is happening?  What should the other person be doing?  Wanting the other person to be different only because they are driving me crazy is my cue to reexamine the situation more carefully. American Tibetan Buddhist nun Pema

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11/28/2018 by Shannon Day

DRE Column for November – Growth-full Grieving – Rev. Cynthia Westby

I’ve been finding grief catching me unawares lately. Any transition triggers feelings but usually it is bewildering and surprising when I realize I’m in the midst of a grief response to transition. Especially when the transition is happy. For me, there is the strange grief coming after my ordination. This huge transition marks the end of a year-long push to be ordained. Of course, I am happy to have completed my goal. Thrilled. But I also have this an odd empty feeling. The work has defined almost all of my personal time. Now what shall I do with all this

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10/24/2018 by Shannon Day

Cynthia Westby, DRE Column October 2018 – Transitions

As we transition into fall, with this glorious weather, watching the leaves drift down into colorful piles on the ground, I am looking forward to a deepening richness in my position as DRE. I am excited to be ordained and it gives me great joy to be a minister! I am deeply touched by the beautiful stole that was presented to me on Sunday morning, October 21st during service. The lovely presentation by Alex Holt, Nola Balch, RE Council Co-Chair and RE Council members Cara Mathison and Laura Strand on behalf of the congregation was so moving. Shannon Day picked

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09/25/2018 by Shannon Day

Ordination of Rev. Cynthia Westby, DRE

I was ordained as an Interfaith Minister on Saturday, September 15th by the Chaplaincy Institute Interfaith Community in Berkeley, California.  The beautiful, powerful two-hour long ceremony was held in the early evening at Christ Church in Berkeley.  It was an emotional, deeply moving ceremony and I am thrilled to now be Rev. Cynthia Westby.  With my husband, Eric, and seven other good friends who live in the area as my support and witness, I felt held in community and blessed by them, by all of you, and by the Chaplaincy Institute Interfaith Community.  It was an incredibly memorable experience. Below

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