01/10/2018 by Shannon Day

Minister’s Musings Among the Mountains – Week of January 8

“Pilgrimage as Spiritual Practice” This coming Sunday I will talk about a quote from one of my colleagues who wrote a sermon some years ago on pilgrims. Rev. Wayne Arnason is well known in the UUA for his particular gifts of ministry and insights. This is the quote I will use: “Tourists come to see, come to learn, come to be entertained. Pilgrims have a different motivation Pilgrims come to experience, come to understand, and come to be transformed.” Pilgrimage is an ancient powerful tradition in the human story. We might make a pilgrimage to Boston to see Unitarian Universalist

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01/03/2018 by Shannon Day

To be Called – Margo Rinehart, Ministerial Intern

Holding vigil at the NW Immigration Center A few weeks ago, in honor of her birthday, Westside UUC member, Regina Brennan, invited us to hold vigil at the Northwest Immigration Detention Center in Tacoma.  Holding vigil means non-violently standing in solidarity with those detained at the facility and with their loved ones who come to visit.   It was a cold, clear day as we traveled on, Regina’s purple birthday cake in tow.  What does it mean to give of ourselves in this way? Several members of the Vashon UU congregation hold vigil one Sunday per month and we joined them. 

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12/28/2017 by Shannon Day

Religious Exploration – Cynthia Westby, Director of Religious Exploration

Happy New Year!  I am so grateful to all of you for your support of religious exploration for Westside’s children and youth.  Our amazing community’s gifts of teaching, contributions to the classroom supplies, and commitment of financial resources makes RE possible.  Thank you! I wish for all of you a year of blessings, health and resolve … for whatever resolutions you choose to dedicate yourself to this year.  May your faith or credo support you on your path. The new year is a time of both celebration and reflection.  The cold and dark of winter naturally turns our attention inward

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12/20/2017 by Shannon Day

We’re In This Together: Our Coach for the New Search – Patti McCall, Board President

Dear Beloved Community, These last few weeks I have been overwhelmed with gratitude for belonging to such a tightknit, loving community which celebrates when one of our members has a joy to share; and who grieves when someone has a loss.  Today at Sunday Service, the congregation broke out in applause welcoming Eli Breidford home from Howard University for his winter break; and for Kate Longabaugh who arrived home from a six-month immersion course in Argentina.  We took great joy in the children who lit candles and told stories.  We welcomed Candy Sullivan back to church after her shoulder surgery. 

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12/06/2017 by Shannon Day

Minister’s Musings Among the Mountains – Week of December 4

“Why Bother to Celebrate Christmas?” Why, indeed. Most Unitarian Universalists find ourselves unsure as to why we would bother to have Christmas Eve services if we don’t believe in Christ Jesus. The commercialism is appalling; the recorded Christmas music at malls, elevators and stores can be grating after a while. Credit cards and bank accounts magically rise and fall depending on shopping. We may not look forward to family gatherings around Christmas and New Years because of old dramas and sorrows. Why bother to celebrate Christmas with all that baggage? One answer could be “we’ve always done it…” and that

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11/30/2017 by Shannon Day

Minister’s Musing Among the Mountains – Week of Nov. 27

“What’s up with holiday services this year?” Several Westsiders in recent days have asked me about various holiday services this year. The holidays can become crammed with shopping, traveling, and many demands on short notice. Attending special holiday services can become a burden so I thought I’d mention what will be done this year. Shannon in the office will also be putting out information about the schedule of services. Westside has a tradition of a Blue Holidays gathering before Christmas Eve for those who find themselves quietly dreading the holidays for various reasons. Major difficult feelings about holidays include the

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11/20/2017 by Shannon Day

We’re In This Together: The Season of Gratitude – Patti McCall Board President

“Let us rise up and be thankful…”  I’m thankful to my beloved community at WSUU for the kindness, support and love you consistently demonstrate to me, our membership and our new friends.  A special thank you to our staff for unfailingly giving more than your job description requires.  Alex, Shannon, Cynthia and Bert — a thousand thank yous.  Thanks, too, to our chaplain, Mark Newton—a source of strength and compassion we have all benefitted from.  Thank you to Viv Monahan for chairing our 2018 Auction.  Viv jumped in beyond the last minute with the creative enthusiasm we have come to

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11/15/2017 by Shannon Day

November DRE Column: Spiritual Care in Times of Stress, Cynthia Westby

The holiday season is upon us and with it comes, for many of us, a lot of stress and challenge.  I encourage us to cultivate some form of compassion and/or self-love practice to support us as we move through this busy time of year.  In addition to offering yourself kindness and love, these practices will support extending your compassion and love out into your community. As part of our covenant with each other at Westside, we promise that we will dwell together in peace and love each other.  Believing the best of each other, listening attentively and speaking thoughtfully and

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