10 ~ North Shore News — Sunday, April 9, 2000 W. Van congregation cultivating kindness Erin Stringer Contributing Writer 2000 Acts of Kindness in one year work out to approximately 167 good deeds a month. That’s a lot of kindness. Dan Chambers is the reverend of St. David’s United Church in West Vancouver. His congregation is in the midst of its 2000 Acts of Kindness, a mil- lennium program that has ‘church members. performing kind duties like giving food tz the homeless and helping friends and neighbours with odd jobs. There are few rules involved. If someone thinks it’s an act of kind- ness, then it is. Acts aren’t measured by size, and they can include ran- dom, unplanned deeds done by an individual or group. To date, the congregation has commitied over 390 Acts of Kindness, with the number increas- ing all the time. “We're saying, ‘Look what’s hap- pening — there’s so much bad news in the world, and here’s some good news,’ ” said Chambers. “This is - what people are about, not just all the bad things. Chambers gives examples of members visiting people in nursing homes, making food for the First REV. Dan Chambers and his congregation at St. David's United Church hope to collectively per- form 2000 Acts of Kindness before the first year of the millennium is through. Mission church on East Hastings, and helping a co-worker with English. He says people of all ages are involved, from an elderly person in a nursing home writing letters to Amnesty International, to a youth shoveling a neighbour’s snowy driveway. Chambers has performed three acts of kindness to date, one of which happened on a Friday evening a few weeks ago as he was locking up the church. “A woman who was drunk and despairing just showed up. I spent about 40° minutes just standing, talking to her.” A board at the church keeps a running tally of the acts, which will continue until the end of the year. Chambers is relatively new to both the country and the church — coming to St. David’s from a 750- member congregation in Berkeley, California. He grew up in what he calls a “quietly religious” family that attended church but didn’t speak much about their faith. “I wasn't drawn to church. I felt it was kind of boring,” he recalls. “In the beginning, I didn’t see myself as a minister. I was afraid I'd have to play a role based on other people’s expectations, something that wasn’: me.” But after being unsure for a few years, working, and travelling to Japan to teach English, he felt ready to start seminary school. Now the popular reverend of the congregation of around 250 at St. David’s Church, he and his wife and two young daughters have settled into Vancouver life nicely. “Ic feels like home to me,” he said, “This was not a career move at all, it was a family move. We felt drawn to an area that would . be good for raising children.” : A letter has been sent out to other local churches, some of which have accepted the challenge and started the program. “That’s a lot of kindness out there on the North Shore,” Chambers said. “None of this is meant to be necessarily ground- breaking or carth-shattering. That’s kind of the point, it’s the small things of our life. it’s just reminding . one another that we're valuable.” Lower Seymour Conservation workshops planned MORE workshops are planned as part of the process to develop the - Workshops 8 will provide the - public with th the opportunity to explore. the “issues associated with broad topic areas pertain- , depth, to the LSCR: in greater F ndividuals are invited to. :: Participate in any or all work- ~ shi nOps. . Site tours within the LSCR will be planned as follow-u; te the workshops. The input the spring workshops will be used to identify and assess interests and issues in the plan and form a basis for developing a vision and management prin- ciples for the LSCR. Additional workshops will be held following a second forum in the fall to explore options and recommendations for the plan. All workshops will be held at Capilano College in the multi-purpose room (Sportsplex) from 5:30 to 9 p.m. A light supper will be available. The workshops: & sensitive areas and features — Wednesday, April 19. This workshop will focus on the protection and manage- ment of. the diverse natural habitats, species, ecosystems and natural features within the LSCR including environmen- tally sensitive areas and species; @ research, demonstration, education and filming — Thursday, May 11. The focus of this workshop will be on research, demonstra- tion and educational activities and opportunities within the LSCR. Currently these include forestry, fisheries, wildlife, water utilities and integrated resource Management projects as well as public education and interpretation programs. The management and inter- pretation of cultural and histor- ical sites is included in this workshop. As well, the man- agement of filming activities within the LSCR will be addressed; #8 water utilities management — Wednesday, May 31. This workshop will Jook at the planned water cr utility capital rojects within the LSCR and iow they will be integrated within the context of the LSCR management plan. Capital pro- jects include: a seismic upgrade to the dam, the development of a filration ‘plant and construc- tion of water mains; M recreation — Wednesday, June 14. This workshop will explore the management of recreation- al uses and facilities within the LSCR. Current. activities include: nature appreciation, hiking, running, cycling, in-line skating, mountain biking, fish- ing, Kayaking, horseback rid- ing, target shooting and climb-- ing. - Meanwhile, later this month on Tuesday April 29, 5:30 to § p.m. the Greater Vancouver Regional District is hosting an open house of interest to. Seymour residents and com- munity groups regardin; con struction related i issues For th i Seymour water ui Proj ; The session is Hialed to be held at the Capilano College Sportsplex Room. . 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