Canadian Memorial United Church
West 15th Avenue at Burrard Street Vancouver, BC, Canada

You are very welcome to join us for our annual (online) Good Friday worship service, held jointly with our friends from St. Andrew's-Wesley United. The live stream starts at 10:30am (PDT) on YouTube.

Rev. Beth talks Holy Week and how its rhythms can be a potent reminder of just what the path to resurrection entails. [Tip: Click on the volume icon for audio!]

Yes! As an Affirming congregation, we fully welcome, accept, include, and are thankful for transgender people in our community. And today we recognize that it's Transgender Day of Visibility!

What a privilege to be in conversation with Dr. Emma Lind. Warning, we talked about the death of her dad and her baby. This episode will bring tears of joy and heartache... a most appropriate offering for Holy Week. p.s. If you like what you hear be sure to follow us.

We are an inclusive, progressive Christian community in Vancouver, BC, and we’re searching for a permanent, part-time Director of Music Ministry. This is a salaried position with an average of 20 hours per week. The successful candidate will be an outstanding musician and accomplished choral conductor, and experienced in providing leadership to a worship band and professional and amateur singers. Application deadline is April 30. We are an Affirming congregation, and committ...ed to the full inclusion of all people and invite and encourage individuals of all sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, backgrounds, cultures, and abilities to apply. If you know someone who might be qualified, please share this post! All details are on our website: https://www.canadianmemorial.org//director-of-music-minist

Yesterday's Palm Sunday service included a replay of last year's most amazing Virtual Palm Parade. [We just love our community!] Check it out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxrDbpffUk4

One week ago we all watched in horror at the violent scene unfolding at the US Capitol. You might wonder if churches talk about situations like this. Or more specifically, do Canadian churches like CMUC talk about them? We’re here to say, yes, we do. It isn’t easy, but as you’ll see in Rev. Beth’s sermon from this past Sunday, we’re able to do it even without finger pointing, as she offers the concept of belovedness. Check out her words at the link below. #ComeforthesermonStayforthemusic https://youtu.be/xgQ5OVROp5I?t=1448

Here is some good food for thought as we try to make sense of what happened at the US Capitol this past week. Rev. Beth refers to this piece of writing in her sermon on Jan. 10.

Join us on 2nd Sundays for HOLY QUESTIONS! On the second Sunday of each month, our usual post-service coffee hour will be replaced with Holy Questions, a time to gather (virtually) in small groups to discuss the sermon and the service. You can join Holy Questions through the usual coffee hour link following our worship service. Starting at promptly 11:45am (PST), we’ll spend 20 minutes in small groups (randomly assigned), and then we’ll all return to the larger group for 20 m...ore minutes of group discussion, led by Rev. Beth. All are welcome! More details are on our website: https://www.canadianmemorial.org//join-us-for-holy-questio

This week we hear the story of the magi’s visit to the baby Jesus, and we invite you to join us for worship service tomorrow (Sunday) at 10:30am (PST). We also invite you to check out the Burrard St. Story Guild’s online presentation of ISHO and the FIRST LIGHT: GIFTS OF DESTINY at your leisure! The Story Guild (cast and crew of awesome 5-to-17-year-olds) offer a mythically reimagined re-telling of the journey of the stars that led astrologers from the east to the Child Kin...g of an ancient prophecy. The multi-media production premiered via YouTube on Dec. 18, and it’s ready for all to watch at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk6fvPYa3kY&feature=youtu.be *About Burrard St. Story Guild: The Story Guild is a non-auditioning community theatre arts program for kids and teens at CMUC. They perform the stories of "Isho and the First Light," a mythically reimagined re-telling of the story of Jesus.

In this year that has pushed us beyond our limits we have learned to look for the wonder to sustain our hope. This should help! Merry Christmas everyone! #CMUC #Christmas2020 #ChristmasEveService

If you didn't tune into our Christmas Eve service this evening, you'll have missed this most beautiful performance of 'The Yearning' by this talented ensemble. (The good news is that you can watch this video, along with any of our live streamed services, on our YouTube channel whenever you want - all recordings are posted there.) Check it out. We like to think this song captures the feeling of this very unique Christmas. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yKI9myxM-k&feature=youtu.be

Tis the season! CMUC invites you to help our community Christmas tree at the Centre for Peace shine brightly this year. If you participated in last year’s LIGHT UP THE SEASON campaign thank you! The lights brightened our neighbourhood, and the stories behind the lightsthe joys and the sorrows, the celebrations and the endingsheld us all in the good news that a light still shines in the darkness and the darkness does not overcome it. If you have a story to share about what... it meant for you last year, connect with Rev. Beth! If you haven’t participated before, might you consider donating a light this year? Your contribution will brighten our neighbourhood through the Christmas season and live on in acts of love and justice through the work of CMUC. Donations of lights will be accepted until Dec 19. (All Canadian donations are eligible for a tax receipt.) And, whether you're a regular part of the CMUC community, a neighbour, or a far-away friend, you are so welcome to join us at 7pm on Dec 19 as we wrap up LIGHT UP THE SEASON with a good old-fashioned Christmas carol sing-along. But this year, it’ll be live streamed via YouTube, so you don’t even have to leave the house! PLEASE HELP SPREAD THE WORD! Share this post! Tell your friends! And watch for more information coming soon about our carol sing-along. Details and ways to donate a light at our website: https://www.canadianmemorial.org/lightuptheseason

ADVENT AT HOME! If you’re looking for a resource to accompany you in a week-by-week Advent practice this year, we’ve got two different booklets available for download. Take your pick (or choose both!) we’re sure there’s something in here to enrich your experience of the season of Advent, at home. For families with young ones, we offer an all-ages booklet, Naming Jesus - A Family-Friendly Devotional. For everyone else, we offer a very special, Maya Angelou and the Freedom Poetry of Advent. Both booklets are available for download at our website: https://www.canadianmemorial.org//advent-at-home-booklets-

CMUC PARENTS! Join our Connection Circle: Sunday, Nov. 29 at 1pm via Zoom While we may be feeling physically isolated, we don't need to parent in isolation. Our spiritual community is rich with other parents and families facing similar challenges. We invite you to join Mary Toth & Joanna Brewster for a special parenting connection circle. This virtual circle will provide a safe space in which parents can share some of the struggles and gifts that come from navigating these un...usual times with our children. We'll offer each other support and ideas as we move into this new season. Come and share, or listen, within a space where we can connect and find nourishment in knowing we are in this together. Please reach out to Mary at [email protected] with questions or to register and get the Zoom link. [Mary serves as CMUC's Godly Play Program Director as well as a Life Coach and Roots of Empathy Instructor. Joanna is an Emotional Intelligence Coach as well as Practitioner and Assessor for youth and adults.]

Due to rising numbers in COVID-19 cases in the province, on Nov. 19 our Provincial Health Officer has further restricted in-person gatherings with an order in place until Dec.7. Therefore, here are changes to our operations, until further notice: 1. There are no congregants permitted to attend worship services in person 2. There is a decreased maximum number of people permitted at ceremonies (10 instead of 50) 3. We can not host 'social or community gathering' rental clients ...4. Staff will wear masks in all shared spaces 5. Visitors to our buildings will wear a mask at all times If you'd like to check out our full protocols document, and any updates whenever they happen, see this web page: https://www.canadianmemorial.org/status

Today is Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR). It's a day to remember and honour our Trans siblings who have been victim of hate, bigotry or violence, and in particular, those who have lost their lives. We thought we'd share the link to the Vancouver TDOR event that is scheduled for downtown this evening at 6:30. In addition to holding a march and memorial in person, they're also offering the event through a live stream that some of you may wish to attend. Trans folx: we acknowledge your struggle to simply exist, and we want you to know that you are loved, you are accepted, and you are very welcome here.