First Dawn Eastern Edge Regional Council
Weekly Announcements
June 23, 2020
First Dawn Eastern Edge Regional Council Page Emergency Response Link
United Church Bookstore & Gifts
First Dawn Eastern Edge Regional Council is now on Facebook!
UCC Regions East YouTube Chanel
Weekly Prayer from Rev. Ian March-MacCuish, First United Church Mount Pearl
Let us pray. Holy God, Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer, you continue to work in this your creation. From the beginning to the present, the works of your hands have always shown the magnificence of all things. From a single cell organism to the complexities of the human brain, your creation continues to leave us in awe. We are captivated by such things as the large icebergs that float by our shores, the beauty of a full “strawberry” moon, and new growth in our gardens. As the summer sun warms our bodies, we invite you to warm our hearts. As you opened Hagar’s eyes to living water that nourished her and her son, open our eyes to the living waters flowing through this pandemic. Neighbours looking after each other across backyard fences, between balconies, from deck to deck and porch to porch. Your spirit is in all conversations as we try to look after each other.
Our prayers are with those who grieve the loss of a loved one due to COVID-19. That grief being compounded by the inability to have a family gathering that celebrates a life, the opportunity to say good-bye and have a sense of closure. May your compassion, God, be with all families and friends that find themselves in this situation. COVID-19 has taken so much from our communities and our way of life. A feeling of safety and openness has been replaced by isolation and fear. As the world seemed to be so open to travel to be with family, vacations, and work, now our borders remain closed and being quarantined for 14 days is now our reward. As we start to open our businesses and restaurants and other services, may your Spirit instill in us a sense of peace that brings smiles to our faces and invites us to enter conversations without fear. We pray for those who were laid off that reopening may mean a return to work and for those unemployed, find success in new positions.
Loving God, we talk about equality among peoples but recent events show the systemic problem of racism and discrimination. May George Floyd, Rayshard Brooks, and Chantel Moore rest in peace in your loving arms. Help us to learn that such racism cannot continue and has no place in your kingdom of peace. May all those who protested peacefully continue to shine light on this problem and with your guidance God, may we become better people worthy of your love. Help us protest the patterns of empire that seek to dominate and destroy. Be with us as we reach out and embrace the stranger, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, re-store the shamed, and in so doing, realize the wonder of who you made us to be. All thanks and praise be to you loving God. Amen
Conversation with Clergy
The next session of Conversation with Clergy will take place on Tuesday, June 30, 2020 at 1 pm. The topic will be vacation time. The The zoom call details will be sent this week.
Stewardship News
Investment Opportunity with Canoe Financial: Does your Pastoral Charge have funds available for investment? Are you pleased with your current investments and your annual returns? Are you interested in exploring a fund that was set up for the United Church and includes a “superior risk/return” and reduced management fees? Why not check out this opportunity: buyingunited.net/investments. Any more information needed, or any questions, email Roger Janes or call 709-486-3239.
Webinar: “Raising Funds in A COVID-19 World”: For those who missed the recent webinar but would like to watch the recording or receive a copy of the resources/brainstorming ideas, please be in touch and I will send you the materials.
Church Re-Entry Checklist
Click on this link for the church re-entry checklist: ucceast.ca/59063-re-entry-to-our-church-buildings-checklist-june-17-2020/
First Dawn Eastern Edge Regional Council Webpage Emergency Response Link
Stay updated with Emergency Response Updates on COVID-19 on the First Dawn Eastern Edge Regional Council webpage.
Announcements
If you have news to share relating to First Dawn Eastern Edge Regional Council, please share it with us and we will include it in our weekly announcements.
Send any information to: info4rc16@united-church.ca.
Prayer Room Ministry
Church in Mission Unit is offering weekly Prayer Rooms for each Regional Council. Congregations and leaders are invited to join facilitated half-hour online times of prayer (modeled after the Prayer Room at GC43) to pray for every pastoral charge by name. Nothing is required except your presence.
Sign up online and join us every Tuesday on Zoom at 1:00 PM EDT beginning June 2, 2020 running until mid September
June 30, 2020: Eastern Ontario Outaouais
July 7, 2020: East Central Ontario
July 14, 2020: Shining Waters
July 21, 2020: Horseshoe Falls
July 28, 2020: Western Ontario Waterways
August 4, 2020: Antler River Watershed
August 11, 2020: Canadian Shield
August 18, 2020: Prairie to Pine
August 25, 2020: Living Skies
September 1, 2020: Chinook Winds
September 8, 2020: Northern Spirit
September 15, 2020: Pacific Mountain
