When you contribute $, time and talent to this Church, you are contributing to these ends.
Part of your pledge pays my wages.

How is that mission accomplished?

As your employee, I am dedicated to providing made in Canada leadership and services for all our congregations and fellowships. Daring to be religious in all that we do.

I am committed to upholding our congregation's ministries, both lay and professional. Shared ministry

I am commitment to the growth and vitality of our churches and fellowships. Whole church

I travel lots in this job and consider that part a real perq.
And what do you do? My plane seat mate sometimes says:

One of a national staff of 6, I was hired September 2002, to implement the vision in Canada WEST.

Have as my prime focus the new model - Regions and RNGS a template for U and U connections and services. The plan challenges me & you, to collectively envision new ways of using our skills and talents for the betterment of U*U Fellowship Westwood and the sharing of our religion with the world.

A most enjoyable thing from this working life is my pleasure, translating vision into reality with all the accompanying nuts and bolts issues along that path. I am a list maker by nature and I have turned 35 pages of the plan into 41 To-do.

It is my job to serve two regions directly: Western and B.C. I cover territory of 22 UU emerging groups, churches, fellowships and congregations and individual UUs - from Comox to Thunder Bay and from this side of the Canada/US border to the North Pole. I get to hear from U*Us recently in Yellowknife, Grand Forks, Smithers, Rocky Mountain, Sioux Lookout.

As a rich beneficiary of my 16 years of U and U experience-and of those who created this model, I've moved from green around the edges to seasoned in this phase of development.

We are far apart, and geography is one - no THE - major interesting challenge in linking with others in like spiritual pursuits.

My seatmate will sometimes say travel? - sounds interesting. But, aren't you lonely working at home? This morning and many weekends. I am not alone. I'm in church.

Sylvia Bass West, my coworker, lives and works out of her home in London Ontario. Working with Life Span volunteers across Canada she develops and delivers programs and services for children, youth, young adults and adults.

The rest of Canada, East of Thunder Bay to Newfoundland, is staffed by Linda Thomson. Linda lives and works out of her home in Burlington, Ontario.

CUC has a single one office in TO where 2 administrators work. And our fearless leader, Mary Bennett, flips between the East and the West, TO and Vancouver.

But what you really do, says a good friend.

Well, the core of this CUC vision is not the staff. Rather it is still, the regional network, volunteers who provide connections and services among congregations.

So what do I do?

I network. I ask, "What do you need?" Then I go out and find it. I'm a volunteer coordinator.

Then I ask, What's going well. And I trumpet it to other congregations.

And in case you're wondering. Things are going very well here.

Westwood is my model for the best of lay led congregation. Active LL program. All ages Shared ministry and whole church is happening in this congregation. Use part-time ministry well. Strong lay leadership. Turnover and stability among leaders and members. And you have something quite unique - Mentoring among long term and new members and leaders.

Let me share what I wrote about this congregation in my monthly newsletter.

I was relating events that led me to leave the Presbyterian Church at 17, wandering in a spiritual wilderness for 20 years and eventually come home to my U*U faith. I recounted how I had preached a sermon in my head to the Presbyterians for many of those years. A U*U friend suggested I write it down.

I was member of my church in the 60's - a teen - and hung around with other church teens. The young people's group at the time was leaderless. Although many requests had been put out asking for adult sponsorship, no one had come forward. We enjoyed getting together and asked the church Board if we could use the church one Saturday to play cards, music and be together. We were refused access to the church. Our Board was in the middle of a capital campaign to remodel the building. Our Elders were concerned that permission might alienate the givers in the church from donating. So they said no. That was it for me and the Presbyterians. I left and never went back. I've come to think of the message - you are not welcome, you're not a leader, you are not a precious legacy here - as my gift, leading me to my very fulfilling U*U faith and vocation.

40 years later, I have found a place and place that feeds my spirit and allows me to make contributions in my own way. Perhaps I didn't make that original speech because I did not see women or other youth in the pulpit?

Women & men, children & youth in all our affairs is one whole church reality that speaks to me in my current spiritual life.

On Sundays, in this church, I see whole church in action all the time. People of every decade of life are in the chairs. Children, adults and young people welcome visitors and members and hand out hymnals and orders of service. An RE recognition lunch here for volunteers in the religious education program honoured 40 people; well over half of the congregation had made a contribution. Youth have served on the Board. Sunday services are led by the children with all the elements of a regular service - readings-music-stories. Youth read stories to children and adults Kids are in the line up for candles of concern and celebration.

Beyond these walls, CUC services to the WEST strive to partner your example in planning events for multi-generations. Regional fall gatherings have programs for all ages and stages. Youth are invited to regional workshops such as Dreams and Dollars. The D&D curriculum was constructed on a whole church model.

As your staffer, one of the signs I look for in a congregational initiatives is, "does it have congregational blessing and whole church tangible support?"

Whole church approach calls me to ask "who's missing or 'what's missing" to help our congregations reach that place where we think through all of the church functioning as a whole, engaging our community in developing and supporting programs. And where we have easy access to the resources that will help them in our work. In my experience and work Westwood is in that place!"

I'm sharing with you my professional and spiritual need for "wholly" church. Daring to be religious in all that we do. All fosters integrity of the entire community of U*U adherents.

I am a profound believer in the power of our movement driven by volunteer effort. This congregation is built on it. Westwood would not exist without those of you and those who preceded you in conceiving, building, nurturing and growing Unitarianism.

So back to CUC and Westwood's partnership with me. What I call a partnership of shared ministry.

The CUC vision is not new, however it's adding a vital component to the time for enriching our national identity and addressing our regional and local needs.

When my seat mate asks Who's the minister? I reply, "We all are".

You as stakeholders of churches and fellowships add an immeasurable dimension to your spiritual communities. You love it in lean or troubled times; you shape its culture or identity. As an organic whole, you as volunteers are the living current manifestation of this church.

And you sustain me in church every Sunday I sit here on the left seeking spiritual renewal, contemplation and songful outlet.

Now, some say that Canadian UUs may be too small to carry ourselves in a national framework. A memebership of 5283 sounds small. I prefer to look at our prospects from the other end of the lens.

I believe our numbers foster familiarity and facility for conversation and dialogue about how we are meant to be in our home towns as well as across the land. My faith in RNGs and regions model is built on a belief that small is necessary and effective. I like knowing that I can speak with leaders, lay and professional across Canada, and know them beyond their role in the organization.

These days, I am working with a Regional Network Group - a RNG - in each region comprised of 17 volunteers perforling roles of Congregational Networkers and Service Consultants with specialized areas of service delivery. Your regional service delivery teams. All the details for the Western RNG are in that brochure in your order of service.

I have found pioneers, qualified curious folk who want to serve as Networkers who connect congregations while I act as a hub of information & coordination between CUC and the region.

Let me introduce you to yours. Laura McDonnell, your congregational networker is a lay leader from UC Edmonton and serves Westwood, the Unitarian Church of Edmonton and Saskatoon. If you want to know how things are going over there or share with her how things might go here, introduce yourself….

And 7 Consultants who can provide us with training opportunities.

In the early stages of my time as staff RNG recruitment, orientation and training of volunteers were my biggest challenge. Now, delivering quality relevant services to congregations is our growing edge.

I can tell you for sure that the RNG members are excellent and dedicated.

Together as a RNG group, we have served you this year: checking in by networkers; organizing events and providing to our best ability the services.

Westwood folk have attended Dream and Dollars, Communications and Cu*ul school as well as fall gatherings. Chaplaincy workshop was held here. We offered resources and input to the early development of your long range plan.

We were involved in over 30 consultations with congregations leaders of congregations

30 workshops were completed in BC and Western regions, all in partnership and shared ministry.

In a six week period last October close to five hundred U*U's gathered in places and spaces hosted and served by another 200 volunteers. At Olinda, Calgary and Montreal and West Vancouver. Quite the turnout, I think, for our small but might 5000 plus denomination in Canada.

We expect the same in Saskatoon in fall 2006 because UUs have shown and told us they are not only resilient in the face of WEATHER and DISTANCE, but ready for connections and growth.

I have experienced the rewards from faith that there is gold in them there hills and valleys of the Western region. Good Unitarian folk bring programs to you as volunteers for developments and growth in key areas of Lifespan learning, Mission, Vision and Long Range planning Congregational Wellness and Vitality, Worship and Financial Stewardship, all essential components of good UU church. Some even have an appetite for Conflict, either preventing it or dealing with it!

Overall, it is my intention to continue to create stronger networks, bringing congregations & fellowships closer to each other across this vast territory and promote sharing of the best of what we do.

Also the best of you and your capacities is worth sharing with others. Although I speak to you as one of the men & woman in the WEST for CUC, I constantly dream of Canadian resources and solutions reflected in our mutual work. The words and music of this service reflect my desire. All by Canadian UU's

So I say to my travel mate and friends. Best job I ever had - working with U*U's. It is a pleasure to have had a formative and adventurous role in this grand CUC chapter.

And although I can feel solo *isolated at times I become mindful that it really is me; thee and the CUC, one of the gifts of a small but mighty denomination.

Although my title is Director of Regional Services, Most office days find me working at home in my favourite work outfit, pink pajamas.

I work in Edmonton from a home base. My most important contacts - are 95% are via toll free number for out of towners and E-mail.

So for Westwood, you are blessed, or as you may see it, surrounded by today, CUC staff and volunteers with strong support for consultancy and connecting.

And I feel blessed and surrounded by you on home Sundays as I attend services and am spiritually sustained by Westwood's gifts.

I am asking for your friendly financial support this morning for our sharing the faith grant program. Thank you and the others for the ministry, the shared ministry we are all part of. Its not theory, it's a fact here and I am incredibly lucky and sustained to have found a spiritual home while I do work I love.

That, to me, is the best of shared ministry.

Today's service has been brought to you by us - the CUC and the best of Canadian UUs.

Sara McEwan
January 2006                                                                                                  

We believe that everyone has the right to seek truth and meaning for themselves. The fundamental tools for doing this are your own life experience, your reflection upon it, your intuitive understanding and the promptings of your own conscience.

Last update October 2, 2006.