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As of December 26, 2021, in-person attendance for worship services is temporarily suspended. Please subscribe to our YouTube channel for Sunday Worship and other special services. This decision was made based on information provided by the Pacific Mountain Regional Council (PMRC) of the United Church of Canada and is not a result of any government regulation. In a letter, PMRC Executive Minister Treena Duncan shared:

“Dr David Keegan, a committed United Church member, Alberta doctor and professor at the University of Calgary, reached out to me to offer some wisdom and guidance for the church. He is calling on the United Church in Western Canada to be leaders in the fight against Omicron.

“He said, “I suggest that UCC has the opportunity to save many lives, prevent hospital admissions and long-term disability, and to focus on the social justice and life orientation of Jesus by switching to online services for Christmas/Christmas Eve. Let’s give the gift of life this Christmas.”

“Dr Keegan goes on to say:

• “For anyone unvaccinated or partially vaccinated (or even for some who have two shots), Omicron is a severe threat to life and health, just like the previous variants.
• Omicron spreads incredibly rapidly, even with measures such as those in Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia.
• Omicron (and all COVID) is airborne, which has been known for over a year, but which many governments have been loathe to acknowledge.
• Omicron’s doubling time is moving at a record pace.”

Even with our new policy at Castlegar United Church requiring proof of vaccination for in-person attendance, the Church Board decided that the safest course of action would be to temporarily suspend in-person attendance until such a time as the infection rates slow down.

If you feel a deep spiritual need to attend in person and are finding online attendance not life-giving for you, please contact Rev. Robin. A small number of people are still needed for online production, including both technology help (YouTube and Projection operators), as well as a few people to simply provide congregational voices for the responsive readings and hymn singing.

Effective Dec 12, 2021, proof of vaccination will be required to attend indoor worship and other indoor church-sponsored gatherings at Castlegar United Church for all over the age of 12. Alternatively, you may present a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than 72 hours prior.

As per BC Government requirements, masks/face coverings must be worn during worship as well.

Those who choose not to be vaccinated are welcome to join us for worship services online and are also welcome to come to the Sanctuary for private prayer and reflection during regular office hours when the Sanctuary is not in use by others, with appropriate face coverings and social distancing. If you are struggling with technology and access to online worship services, give us a call and we will do our best to help you.

If you have proof of vaccination and do not wish to have to show it every time you come to worship, we offer preregistration in which you may opt to have your name stored on a list for future services, so you only need to show your proof the first time you come.

If you have been vaccinated but do not have your official proof of vaccine code, again, give us a call and we will do our best to assist you navigating the government system for getting yours.

Queer + Trans History BC with Heather from
Creating Accessible Neighbourhoods

This workshop will take participants through some of British Columbia’s milestone moments in 2SLGBTQIA+ history. We will journey from the 1950s, a time when homosexuality was a crime, to current day. Learn about the people and organizations that fought for, and secured, the rights, freedoms, and protections we currently hold. The workshop will cover the many firsts in British Columbia, including the first gay rights protest, first dyke march, and the first Pride house in the Olympic Games. Please join us to learn more about queer and trans history in B.C.

On Saturday November 20th we will be having a Transgender Day of Remembrance service to remember those we have lost to violence in the past year. This is an IN PERSON ONLY event and won’t be recorded or online.

We are so pleased to be able to have returned to offering worship at Castle Wood Village every second Monday afternoon and Castleview and Talarico Place Care Homes on alternate Sunday afternoons.

In our church building, we are delighted to welcome back several of our user groups after a long wait for pandemic restrictions to allow: Special Olympics, Brownies, Guides, Pathfinders and Rangers. Also, Narcotics Anonymous has resumed meetings on Sunday evenings after welcoming new volunteer leadership.

Our church choir has also resumed rehearsals and offering special music on some Sunday mornings. They are a little muffled by their masks and proof of vaccination is required to attend rehearsals, but it feels good to have more singing going on once again! Thanks be to God!