“God is Holy Mystery, beyond complete knowledge, above perfect description…. Nothing exists that does not find its source in God.” (The United Church of Canada “A Song of Faith,” 2006 ).
South Arm United is a progressive, inclusive Christian Congregation that follows the United Church of Canada’s theology and the motto “that all may be one.” SAUC encourages its members to participate in our Christian Development opportunities, to deepen their spirituality and connection to the teachings of Jesus.
The Christian Development Group works to provide experiences for adult faith formation and explorations of bible stories in Church school.
Bible Study
South Arm United Church often have Bible studies, including book studies, film studies, or pre-packaged thematic material to study. Occasionally, our Minister will pick a topic or theme, prepare the study materials, and present to the group.
Learning with Children
Some members of the Christian Development team teach and spend time with the children in our congregation, from 10 - 11 am (during worship service), utilizing the “The Whole People of God” curriculum, making lesson planning for the children easy.
Youth Group
South Arm United’s Youth Group is a multi-church group in partnership with our friends at Gilmore Park United Church, Our Saviour Lutheran Church, St. Anne’s, and Stevenson Anglican Church. New members are always welcome to join our collaborative Youth Group!
The Parish Life & Hospitality team crafts and welcoming environment on Sundays, helping Sunday’s at SAUC operate smoothly, with cookies and coffee awaiting everyone after every worship service. Volunteers are always needed on the Parish Life & Hospitality Team, which will help newcomers get acquainted with our amazing community quickly.
Coffee Hour After Sunday Service
We have a coffee hour every Sunday after SAUC’s service. Helping with coffee hour consists of multiple tasks:
- Making and serving coffee and tea to the congregation (occasionally including bringing milk for coffee hour)
- Cleaning up the kitchen after coffee hour
- Dry mopping the gym floor
- Plating (and enjoying) baking/treats delivered by various bakers.
Set-up and Take-down Crew
For SAUC’s social events like after service coffee hour, memorial teas, and special events, we have a volunteer team who help set-up tables and chairs before the events, and putting them away after the events.
For Sunday coffee hour, table and chair set-up starts around 9:15 AM Sunday morning. The take-down happens around 12Noon once the event has finished. Many hands make quick work of set-up and tear-down, so new crew members are always welcome.
For other special events, the volunteer crew has to be planned ahead of time and a group of people who can help with be contacted with the details of the event.
Memorial Teas
Memorial Services are a reality of Parish Life. At South Arm United we have a dedicated group which provides food and beverage service after memorial services.
This group has a set of tasks to complete for every Memorial Tea:
- Setting up tables and chairs
- Making and serving coffee and tea (occasionally bringing milk for the event)
- Baking and plating delicious goodies
- Serving and refilling for the Memorial Tea guests
- Taking down and putting away tables and chairs when the Memorial Tea concludes
- Cleaning up the kitchen
- Dry mopping the gym floor
Whether it’s reading scripture or helping with our open table communion, we have many opportunities for community members to participate in our Worship Service.
Lay Scripture Reader
Lay Scripture Readers read the liturgy for the week before Rev. Lauren’s sermon. Lay Scripture Readers partner with another community member of their choosing to process and recess the Bible and Flame (Processional and Recessional).
Welcoming Team
Being a member of the Welcoming Team, you’ll take on the role of greeter or usher, welcoming people, answering questions, and helping people to a seat in the Sanctuary.
Members of the Welcoming Team also participate in service by collecting and presenting the offering. When we have our Open Table Communion on the first Sunday of the month, members of the Welcoming Team invite congregants to take Communion and collect the second offering for a charity supported by South Arm United’s Outreach Committee.
Communion Team
South Arm United Church practices an open table Communion, where all are welcome to participate. Six members of the Communion Team provide Communion to our congregation on the first Sunday of every month.
Music
South Arm United Church has two different community choirs everyone is welcome to join.
We have our traditional vocal choir, where all skill levels, experience, and backgrounds are welcome.
Our other choir is our Chime Choir. The Chime Choir is a multi-church group that provide bell and chime ringing at several services every year. The Chime Choir meets every Tuesday afternoon from 3 - 4:30 PM.
Community Outreach is something we hold dearly. Not only do we aim to help our own community members, we aim to help and connect with our friends in the wider community, supporting philanthropic efforts in Richmond and Vancouver.
Heart of Richmond AIDS Society Dinners
Once every quarter, South Arm United Church suppports the Heart of Richmond AIDS society, providing dinners to people impacted by HIV/AIDS.
First United Church
First United Church has served Vancouver’s Inner City and the Downtown Eastside for over 140 years, providing assistance to low income, under-housed, and homeless individuals with essential services and support desperately needed. As a member of the United Church of Canada, South Arm United Church joins the United Churches across the lower mainland supporting First United’s mission and ministry.
Fun(D)raising
South Arm United Church hosts a number of fundraising events throughout the year and welcomes anyone who wishes to help out at the various fundraising events and brainstorm ideas for future Fun(D)raising to join the Fun(D)raising Group.
Here are some of our annual Fun(D)raising events that you could participate in and all are welcome to attend any of our Fun(d)raising events:
- Strawberry Tea in June (with SAUC’s famous Strawberry Shortcake!)
- A Taste of Country Fair in September (which is an open invitation to the general public to share in a public offering of food, fellowship, and bargains)
- Christmas Sale - A craft fair similar to the Taste of Country Fair, but with Christmas themed crafts, items, and baked goods.
- Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper - A sausage and pancake supper SAUC serves that is open to all Richmond United Churches to participate as we embark on the Lenten season.
Community Garden
South Arm United Church has a small community garden on the west side by the Pioneer Church. These plots are rented to individuals in wider community and the renters are responsible for taking care of their gardens plots. However, there are projects that volunteers are needed for, providing gardeners in the community another opportunity to help people in the wider community take care of their plots, while helping maintain South Arm’s green spaces.
Part of being a spiritual community is being there for each other, whether we’re experiencing joys or concerns. Pastoral Care is a way for our community to be there for each other where care is needed.
Being a member of the Pastoral Care team means checking in on South Arm United members, recognizing and provided support where needed. Members of the Pastoral Care Team identify “Joys and Concerns” with our congregation that are to be shared with the congregation.
Not all service and small groups are church related. Join one of our groups focused on connection and fun!.
Knitting/Prayer Shawl
While this group no longer meets in person but individuals produce lovely prayer shawls that are given to those needing spiritual and physical comfort or in celebration of their 90th birthday.
Wednesday Morning Coffee Group
The Wednesday Morning Coffee Group meets in he Heritage Wing of South Arm United Church every Wednesday at 10:30 am for coffee and conversation. All are welcome, but make sure to bring a beverage with you.
Quilting and Knitting Group
The Quilting and Knitting Group is a dedicated group that meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 9 am to 12Noon in South Arm United’s Heritage Wing. This group has been meeting and hand quilting as a group since 1979! They’re very proud of their hand quilting often taking on the finishing off quilts for people outside the South Arm community.
Men’s Social Group
The Men’s Social Group only meet once a month for lunch. They’d love to welcome more members to the group and begin to offer more activities.
It takes a lot of work and helping hands to maintain South Arm United and its acres of land. SAUC has many ways for community members to lend a helping hand and help maintain the beauty of our Sanctuary and gardens. The Maintenance Group maintains an email list that sends out a list of projects for the present week, allowing people to pick and choose which projects and when is best for them to participate.
Maintenance tasks include small repairs to the church plant, minor plumbing repairs, arranging and supervising larger repairs, and moving items around the building as needed.
Gardening - Part of the Maintenance Team
Part of South Arm United Church’s charm is our gardens and orchards. If you have a green thumb, love garnering, or simply loving using a lawn mower, we’d love to have you join the Gardening Maintenance Team.
The Gardening Team takes care of our Memorial Gardens (located on the northeast corner of SAUC’s property) and its plants, mowing the laws, maintaining the flower beds around the church, and maintaining the orchard.
South Arm Untied Church’s Communication options are currently in development with many hands helping to create and manage SAUC’s social media, worship service production, and online presence.
Production
There are opportunities to help with sound engineering, photography, videography, and graphic design. Share your skills and show them to the world by helping produce South Arm United Church’s live and online media.
Media
There are opportunities to help manage South Arm United Church’s media. Community members share their skills by completing Website Maintenance, posting and managing our social media streams (Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube).
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