NEWS AND UPDATES FROM REGIONAL COUNCIL 15 (RC15)
Please send announcements to trose@united-church.ca
www.ucceast.ca
Staff Directory
Emergency Response Memo’s Regional Council 15 (RC15)
Making Hope Visible – Podcast
To view upcoming programs at the Tatamagouche Centre please click here.
To view upcoming events at the Atlantic School of Theology please click here.
Regional Council 15 (RC15) Committee Volunteer form.
UCW Gathering April 19, 2021
All UCW members from all districts are invited to a Spring ZOOM gathering. We have had to put our Biennial on hold for two years now and we miss the connection. There will be a ZOOM gathering on April 19th 2021 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, and you are invited. Check in at 9:30 to have a time of chatting and reconnecting before the real gathering starts. Invite your UCW bubble of friends. We hope you will be able to attend.
Meet our new MUCW President , co-vice Presidents, and second vice. We will have worship, a presentation on our UCW special project “Women for Change Zambia” by Rev. Dr. Japhet Ndhlovu, the 60th Anniversary celebration in Sydney, NS and more. No business just facts, fellowship and fun. If you wish to attend, please send a request for the Zoom details to: ulvashepherdns@hotmail.com
“See” you on the 19th!!!
General Council Commissioners
The 44th General Council of The United Church of Canada will meet in July 2022, entirely online, for the first time in the history of the United Church. We encourage you to prayerfully consider serving as a General Council commissioner, which provides you a unique opportunity to be part of the wider church and have an impact on the future of The United Church of Canada. General Council Commissioners are voting members of the General Council meeting, and serve as commissioners for 3 years. More information about the role of a commissioner can be found here.
The Region 15 Regional Council will be electing the remaining six (6) commissioners and their alternates at our 2021 annual regional meeting.
After the 2020 election, 6 positions remain to be filled, plus alternates. To ensure balance and diversity, the 6 commissioners to be elected include:
- One ministry personnel and 5 alternates: in seeking to create a balanced and diverse group, we strongly encourage nominations from those who identify as male or non-binary
- 1 Youth Pilgrim, whose nomination will be determined following General Council procedures
- 1 youth or young adult, under the age of 30, and 1 youth alternate
- 3 additional representatives and 3 alternates, which may include Moderator nominees, lay representatives or ministry personnel.
- 1 additional alternate for lay representative
Nominations will close on May 6, 2021 at 11:59pm. There will be no nominations received from the floor. All nominees must be either elected lay representatives of a community of faith within the bounds of Region 15, or ministry personnel within the bounds of Region 15. Each nomination needs to moved and seconded by someone other than the Nominee (no self nominations, please), and the mover and seconder must be a member of a community of faith within the bounds of Region 15. These nominations do not need to be passed through a governing body of a community of faith.
If you are interested in serving as a Commissioner to the 44th General Council, please fill out the form here. If you have, any questions, please be in touch with the Nominations committee chair, Rev. Alicia Cox, aliciadawncox@msn.com
Ministry Personnel Zoom Check-in
Ministry Personnel in Region 15 are once again invited to join with Regional Minister David Hewitt for a casual check-in time, weekly on Wednesday afternoons at 1:00 p.m. Zoom instructions have been sent you to by email. If you did not receive an email, please email David at dhewitt@united-church.ca. See you soon!
Property Handbook
The latest versions of the Property Handbook and Appendix A are now posted on the ucceast.ca website.
Stewardship Training and Support for your Community of Faith
The road to better stewardship and increased generosity does not have to be stormy!
Called to Be the Church: The Journey can help you increase revenue in order to better fulfil your Mission!
Called to Be the Church: The Journey module 1 is set to launch in your Region during the first week of May (a separate session for each Region).
Module 1: Stewardship Best Practices consists of four 2-hour online sessions to dive into these vital best practices:
- Claim Your Mission –it is really why people give to you
- Cultivate Generosity –practical ways to increase giving
- Create A Culture of Gratitude –saying thank-you is critical
- Stewardship Is Discipleship –integrating stewardship in your spiritual growth programming
Module 1 also includes a Stewardship Analysis report, customized with your community of faith’s giving and stewardship data. Along with ongoing coaching and support after the four classes, the recommendations in the report will help you set solid, achievable, stewardship next steps.
To get more information, and to register, contact Roger by e-mail, rjanes@united-church.ca, or telephone, 709-486-3239.
First Annual Educational Event – The Association of United Church Clergy
The Association of United Church Clergy invites all ministry personnel to our first annual Educational Event. With special guest leaders Janice MacLean (spiritual renewal) and Kevin Parks (digital media in ministry). Registration is free with your membership in the Association, $49.00 for non-members. Thursday April 22nd, 9-12 on Zoom. To register go to https://www.yoursanctuary.ca/ and scroll down to the registration link. Hope to see you there!
Moderator Town Halls
This is an invitation to leaders across the church to give input into the development of a 2022‒2024 Strategic Plan for The United Church of Canada, with particular shape and direction of the work of the General Council Office.
I am grateful for the leadership role you play in the church. I would appreciate hearing your wisdom, insight, and perspectives through participation in a Moderator’s Town Hall. Two opportunities are “friendly” to western time zones, and I invite you to register to attend one. Please feel free to also pass this invitation on to someone else from your region or community who would make an important contribution. I am reaching out to you as a person in leadership, but the participation and insight of all members of The United Church of Canada is welcome. The sessions will offer an opportunity to hear about the context of this plan and to give high-level input to strategic direction.
Town Halls for Eastern, Atlantic, and Newfoundland time zones in English
Saturday May 1: Noon (EDT), 1 p.m. (ADT), 1:30 p.m. (NDT). Register now
Tuesday May 4: 6:30 p.m. (EDT), 7:30 p.m. (ADT), 8:00 p.m. (NDT). Register now
Town Hall in French
Thursday May 6: 3:00 p.m. (NDT), 2:30 (ADT), 1:30 (EDT), 12:30 (CDT), 11:30 (MDT), 10:30 (PDT). Register now
These Moderator’s Town Halls are part of a consultation process that also involves focus groups, including four regional circles with the Indigenous church, and a series of interviews, surveys, and discussions with varied stakeholders. To view the full invitation please view using this link https://mailchi.mp/united-church.ca/invite-to-moderators-town-halls-on-strategic-plan?e=53786d38a3
Soul of the Preacher begins Thursday, April 15
Last opportunity to Register
What a diverse group we are – from all Atlantic provinces, Ontario and British Columbia, from the USA and New Zealand. We are clergy and lay worship leaders. There are four spaces left in this online program rooted in the contemplative tradition designed to nourish your soul and support your worship ministry. Use this coupon code to claim a 25% discount for this program. Soul25 You can find the program description and more information here: https://prayerbench.ca/product/soul-of-the-preacher-zoom/
