As a beloved community, we support one another in many ways. Our Minister, Rev. Dr. María Cristina Vlassidis Burgoa is available for guidance and counseling, Lay Pastoral Ministers are available for ongoing support, plus our various support groups and friendships help fill the gaps. Our goal is to provide a ministry of hope and caring so no member or friend of our congregation need be alone during a crisis or other time of need.
We Support One Another By:
- Connecting with those who are ill, lonely at home, or in recovery at a medical facility.
- Supporting those going through a life crisis.
- Maintaining contact with those unable to attend worship services due to illness or disabling condition.
- Supporting those involved in caregiving.
- Comforting the bereaved.
Lay Pastoral Ministers
The Lay Pastoral Ministry Team works with the Minister to ensure the pastoral needs of church members and friends are met. Lay Pastoral Ministers are specifically chosen and trained to provide emotional support, companionship, and caring to church members and friends with both acute and chronic mental, physical and spiritual needs. They also work with the Minister in coordinating other pastoral care volunteers for immediate responses to people in crisis. Referral to professional caregivers or community agencies may be made by or in consultation with the Minister.
Groups
Covenant Circles
The Covenant Circle program deepens and broadens personal spiritual growth. These groups usually meet once every two weeks. Each meeting is focused on a spiritual or religious topic. The goals are to:
- Listen and be listened to in a safe place.
- Learn about the mysteries of our world and our spiritual paths.
- Build new and deeper personal connections.
- Serve our community and the needs of one another.
- Maintain personal connections and a caring community.
These groups are open to members, and those in the path to become a member.
Family Covenant Circles
The purpose of the ESUC Family Covenant Circle (FCC) is to be a caring religious community offered to you to help you enter more fully into the life of the church community. We meet once per month on Sunday at East Shore. While the kids are cared for by East Shore staff, the adults meet in a small circle with a designated leader to check in with one another, share what’s happening for them and discuss a prepared topic. We choose topics related to (but not limited to) family life, parenting and spirituality. We have two groups, one for parents of younger children, and one for older children.
Salish Sea CUUPS
East Shore also hosts a chapter of CUUPS, the Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans. We meet monthly to share inspiration and resources for earth-centered and Pagan spiritual practices, share readings and songs that resonate with us, and connect with each other in community and friendship.
In addition, we contribute a Pagan and earth-based perspective to our church and local community, through our annual Winter Solstice service, an outdoor worship space, and readings and blessings that enrich our other worship services and social events.
If you are drawn to earth-centered spirituality or are curious about pagan spiritual life, we welcome you to attend a meeting. We invite members and friends of East Shore, as well as Pagan-identified folks from the greater Eastside community, to connect with us.