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Last Sunday, May 1, 2022, LVUC hosted a community event quite unlike anything we have done before. The war in Ukraine has been uppermost in people’s minds since it began.  The people of Lynn Valley, so distant from Ukraine, are feeling outrage, anxiety, fear, anger, grief.  The Social Justice and Outreach Team thought there was a better way to mark the sufferings caused by this war than conversations over coffee, so we held a community vigil, something that we had never done before. The community responded. Approximately 75 people attended.

Three other churches joined us: Hillside Baptist, St. Clement’s Anglican, and North Shore Unitarian. Tsleil-Waututh Elder Carleen Thomas greeted us with a welcoming ceremony. Government representatives provided their support: Cynthia Bunbury on behalf of the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, MP; Susie Chant, MLA; and DNV Councillor Jordan Back.

Maple Hope Foundation volunteers sang the Ukrainian National Anthem, sold crafts and collected donations for the work they are doing on the ground in Ukraine and in Vancouver supporting Ukrainian refugees. The choir from the North Shore Unitarian Church very movingly sang a prayer in Ukrainian. Prayers were offered for peace and in recognition of the pain, loss and ongoing suffering of the Ukrainian people. 

Fittingly, we ended with “Make me a channel of your peace.” The Social Justice and Outreach Team is comprised of Victoria Mah (chair), Rev. Franklyn James, Marion Kirk, Ray Boucher, Joe Catlin, Andrew Spence, and Judith Clark. The Vigil Planning Team included Kelly Jenner and Myrna Pearce

Please  Click here to view video.

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