Two weeks before Rev Debra was to retire, anticipating with pleasure her last two services and a retirement party, she got a call from her doctor. His recommendation was that she have a medical procedure immediately. In a moment, everything changed. All the ‘last’ meetings, conversations and plans, in the moment she said ‘yes’, evaporated, and new plans evolved. Two months later, as she starts radiation chemotherapy, she reflects on change, cancer and the communal necessity of healing.

Rev Debra Thorne served our Fellowship for three and a half years, and before that, the Beacon Unitarian Church in New Westminster for seven years. Although Rev Debra discovered Unitarians in her early twenties, Ministry was her second career. She began her journey toward ministry after three decades in the performing arts as an actor, director and instructor. She served the national movement as the Minister Observer to the Canadian Unitarian Council Board, and on the CUC Nominating Committee. She is kept honest and grounded with the help of her daughters, Casey and Lucy, and her husband, Theo Boere. 

All services are currently hybrid (i.e. both in person and via Zoom) at 11:00 a.m. To join any of our upcoming services on Zoom, please click on this SERVICE LINK a few minutes before the service. Find the past recorded services here