Background

Aphrodite and husband Mason Harris joined the Unitarian Church of Vancouver in 2006. Previously the couple were members at the North Shore Unitarian Church in West Vancouver. She says throughout their lives they had identified as agnostic/atheist but in their 50s, began to feel they wanted more spirituality in their lives.

Aphrodite is a professional librarian, having worked at Vancouver Community College as campus librarian and then information services librarian.  She thoroughly loved her work because she was serving adults who were  new Canadians learning English as well as students who had not completed their secondary education and were inspired to upgrade their education and skills. Last year, she joined the library committee and really enjoys working with its  members. After Nancy Lagey’s death and Lucy Stewart left Vancouver, she was elected chair.

She says that even before she joined UCV, “Whenever I visited, I was admiring of the library—what a great church to have its own library. It promotes literacy and critical thinking.” She adds, “I never met a library I didn’t adore.”

Her hopes and dreams for the future of the UCV library can be summed up as: More of the same. Right now she and all members are engaged in brightening up and organizing the library, purchasing and cataloguing new books, handling book bashes and sales, promoting new titles in print and on the library bulletin board and planning some events for the new year.  Recently, the group organized the 500+ Julian Fears collection into secure cupboards (thanks to the dedicated carpentry skills of Noel Armstrong); unfortunately, there isn’t space to display or loan these titles at this time.

Her main goal is to keep the library running and thriving, ensure it’s accessible, encourage people to borrow and suggest titles they would like the library to consider for the collection. She feels the library provides a good place for people to have a respite from the busy part of the church, engage in conversation and indulge themselves in reading. Aphrodite stresses that her “work” in the library and with members is fun!

First Unitarian experience

She first had contact with the Unitarian church when she was a student at the University of Buffalo in the early 60’s. She recalls a charismatic fellow student who held small group meetings to help them understand politics and the growing civil rights movement.. This person was Jeremy Taylor, who later became an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister. He has devoted his life to group dreamwork. (Many Unitarians in the lower mainland have attended his workshops sponsored by local churches or at Seabeck through the Eliot Institute. His books are in the UCV Library.) This small group of students often met at the local Unitarian church in Buffalo . Aphrodite recalls that he was very inspiring. When he wasn’t available and on road trips on his motorcycle, he’d make tapes and send them to the students for their edification!

Politically active

On Saturday, October 18, Aphrodite had just made some bread when she heard about a demonstration to end homelessness at City Hall and that several people were ending a hunger strike. She decided to go to City Hall and deliver some home made bread to the people who had participated in the strike. She was interviewed on CBC Radio One by a reporter who put a microphone in front of her and said, “Please say something!” She said, “I’m so glad people are addressing homelessness – it’s so chronic, and a very straightforward issue.”

Aphrodite and Mason have been active politically like so many other Unitarians. They have worked in areas of human rights, education, and support fair access to decent jobs and pay, health care and housing for all Canadians.  Aphrodite is proud that Canadian Unitarians for Social Justice puts out thoughtful and inspiring articles in their excellent newsletter, Justnews (available in the Library). She comments that the combination of “social justice and nurturing people as human beings” is something quite special through Unitarianism.

Why the UCV

When asked what she would say to a visitor on Sunday morning who was church shopping and considering coming to UCV, Aphrodite replied, “I often am sitting next to someone new to the church. I welcome them and encourage them to please come back again. Most of them seem very pleased to be there. I’ve talked to quite a few young people. They told ME how wonderful our church was, how welcome they felt and how excited they were before I could say anything to them.”

Vision for the future of the UCV as it celebrates 100 years of history in 2009

“I like this church so very much. I’d like to see it grow. It can offer so much to individuals as well as to the community. We have an excellent minister, leadership and staff. There isn’t a service where I don’t feel enriched; I know there are many people looking for that kind of sustenance.

“Long before I joined UCV, I knew of many events of interest were happening at 49th and Oak:  workshops; the foodbank; political meetings that people wouldn’t hold at other places. This church is a real focal point in the community and hits way above its weight.” She mentioned that she’s aware that our minister, Steven Epperson, is a member of a multifaith organization and agrees there’s more in common among people from different backgrounds and communities than divides us.

She says, “The Unitarian church has enriched our lives as a couple and as a family. We’re very lucky that UCV exists in our community.”  Unitarians can provide a place for “spiritual connection that doesn’t ask members to commit to religious dogma but encourages them to think and act intelligently and compassionately. I just want the church to continue offering the wonderful services that it does. We have a philosophy that is truly universal and would be attractive to so many people.”