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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01/24/2018 by Shannon Day

Religious Exploration – Cynthia Westby, Director of Religious Exploration Column for January

The world is made of stories.  We are all storytellers.  Every day we tell stories – to our friends, families and co-workers.  We share our experiences and whether we are aware of it or not, we share what we have made of these experiences in that moment.  Telling our stories we end up reflecting on and exploring what is meaningful to us.  Stories are powerful. They can teach.  They can inspire us – possibly to act. Each Sunday, near the beginning of our service a storyteller offers a story relating to the theme of the sermon and service that day

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01/24/2018 by Shannon Day

Your Nomination for the Ministerial Search Team (MST)

The Nominating Process for our Ministerial Search Team has begun.  John Britt, the Discernment Team and their helpers have identified three ways you can nominate someone you think would represent the congregation well on this vital team. 1.  Fill out a “ballot” at John’s table after Sunday service 2.  Send in your nomination to MinisterSearchTeam@wsuu.org 3.  Wait for someone to call you. Nominations are due by February 4, 2018.   The following members cannot serve on the MST so don’t ‘waste’ your nomination by sending in their name: Shannon Day (staff) Last year’s MST… John Britt Paula Van Haagen Cecelia Hayes Lisa

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