09/08/2021 by Shannon Day

Westside Conversations for Connection to continue in October

This October, WSUU will be offering Conversations for Connection, a series of three 90-minute virtual conversations that offer Westside congregants the opportunity to feel heard and to renew and/or form connections with others in a small group.  This program gives participants a way to experience intimacy and cultivation of trust in conversation groups during this time when we have limited options to be together in person. This summer, the pilot round of the Conversations for Connection program took place, involving 22 participants in three groups. The overwhelming feedback from these groups affirmed the importance of the program goals of deep

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06/09/2021 by Shannon Day

Idea Forum Follow Up

Thanks to all who stayed after our marathon annual meeting to attend the idea forum, where two proposals were presented and discussed. These ideas are also offered here in writing. Please take a look and indicate your level of support in this survey. 1) Thanks to the Board and the Nominating Committee for their dedicated, hard work during difficult times. I’m grateful to volunteers who offered to serve for the coming year. This is not about who was chosen, but how. The committee itself recognized the need for a more democratic and transparent process and took many steps to make improvements, but we still

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06/09/2021 by Shannon Day

Westside Conversations for Connection- BIPOC Series open for Registration

All Westside members are invited to participate in the new Westside Conversations for Connection program, a three-session listening and conversation series designed to give members an opportunity to feel heard and to renew and/or form connections with others in small groups. The program aspires to achieve these goals by: Encouraging members to share their stories and experiences of our congregational community in a small-group facilitated setting.  Connecting members with each other across existing congregational and affinity groups in structured formats with sequential questions (one question per session). Prioritizing the opportunity for congregants to experience intimacy and cultivation of trust in

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03/24/2021 by Shannon Day

Calling Westside Delegates to General Assembly 2021 (June 23-27)

Unitarian Universalist Association’s Annual Meeting, General Assembly, is 100% virtual again this year! You can learn more about this year’s theme: Circle ‘Round for Justice, Healing and Courage, as well as, the schedule of events here. https://www.uua.org/ga The annual meeting being virtual is allowing easier access to more people and lower registration costs, which is in alignment with WSUU’s new delegate policy and our priorities. This is an ideal year to explore our faith tradition’s largest annual event and represent our community in action! Westside is allowed four delegates this year, who will vote for us during GA business meetings.

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08/19/2020 by Shannon Day

DRUUMM Pacific NW Caucus

Join us for a Gathering of Northwest BIPOC UUs -DRUUMM NW Caucus Saturday, September 19, 9am to noon Agenda available. Register now for a free virtual program, Belonging & Liberation, for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color) UUs, September 19th, from 9am to Noon (Pacific), to deepen connections with one another, be present to one another’s stories and truths, and to foster systems of care. Explore the experience of our faith in new ways and together build a more beloved community.  (read more) Agenda Opening Family Rally- open to all (i.e. white family members, children) led by Justin Almeida (of University Unitarian

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08/19/2020 by Shannon Day

Rainier Valley UU Congregant, Chas Talbot Passed Away

We share with sadness that Chas Talbot passed away on August 14 at the grand age of 90. Chas was a charter member of the Rainier Valley UU Congregation and had many friends at Westside. Recently he had been attending Shoreline UUC. This was a difficult year for him physically, and he had grown increasingly weak since March. His wife Mardi and daughter Jennifer were with him near the end and said he went peacefully. Chas was a lawyer with a wide-ranging intellect. He liked to garden. He was proud of his Scottish heritage and enjoyed the challenge of learning

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06/26/2019 by Shannon Day

Transition Working Group Update 6.26.19

Greetings!  It is with great excitement that we can announce two individuals who have said ‘yes’ as Transition Working Group Co-Chairs in preparation for Reverend Christopher Wulff’s arrival!  Thank you to Laura White and Judi Finney! See Judi and Laura’s bios below. Purpose of the Transition Working Group The Transition Working Group will play a very important role in these coming months between Rev. Alex’s departure and Rev. Christopher’s arrival. The transition work comes in three parts: (1) maintaining a healthy and vibrant congregational community in our gap time, (2) supporting the effort to bring Rev. Christopher to us, and

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06/19/2019 by Shannon Day

Minister’s Musings Among the Mountains – Week of 6.21.19

“Angry people want you to see how powerful they are… loving people want you to see how powerful you are.  ~Chief Red Eagle, c 1800 These are times of profound anger in America and the world. Who among us isn’t angry these days? I know that I’ve carried anger as well as sorrow for many years of my life. I can point to people or events and say, “They caused my anger.” Really? Is that really true? Do we not have a choice whether to take on anger – or not? Is it someone else’s fault that we carry the

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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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04/11/2018 by Shannon Day

Why We Can’t Shy Away from the Term “White Supremacy” – Tracy Burrows, Social Justice Council Chair

At a Social Justice Council meeting earlier this month, we discussed plans for a new Racial Justice initiative at Westside. We’d met with representatives from Eastshore UU’s Beloved Racial Justice group and we’d reached out to nearby UU congregations to see if they were interested in joining with us to offer the UUA curriculum Beloved Conversations: Meditations on Race and Ethnicity. We also discussed Eastshore UU’s advice that we not begin our conversations on racial justice effort with the term “white supremacy.” We heard that the term was too divisive – especially for congregants who are just beginning to understand

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