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.
Condolences: Donald MacPherson
Our sympathy is extended to the family of Rev. Donald MacPherson (FSLDW) who passed away February 27, 2021. A copy of the obituary can be viewed here.
Funeral Arrangements – Yvette Swan
It is with great sorrow, that the family of Rev. Yvette Swan announce her passing on the 18th of April 2021 at the age of 75.
Born in Jamaica, after studying in the UK, for 25 years Yvette had an optometry practice in Bermuda, before receiving her Masters in Divinity from AST and moving to New Brunswick. A past president of BPWI and Project 5-0, Yvette was also a past Senator and Minister in Bermuda’s government.
Yvette is survived by her husband of 52 years Malcolm, (sons) Brian, Dene, Dane, (daughters-in-law) Nicci, Kim, (grandsons) Elliot, Daniel, (grand daughter-in-law) Stania, relatives and her congregation at the United Church of Canada Nashwaak Pastoral Charge who she served for 7 years.
A Funeral Service by invitation will take place at York Funeral Home’s T. Gordon MacLeod Memorial Chapel on Thursday, May 6, 2021 at 2 pm with Rev. Steve Berube and Rev. Dr. Kelly Burke officiating. The public are invited to attend via webcast, please follow the provided link to sign up to watch. . Interment will be held in the Taymouth Community Cemetery. For those who wish, remembrances may be made to the Taymouth United Church. Personal condolences may be offered through www.yorkfh.com.
Obituary – Garth Caseley
The obituary for Rev. Garth Caseley (FSLDW) is available for viewing here.
General Council Commissioners are needed!
The deadline for nominations is fast approaching on May 6th, with no nominations from the floor due to the nature of online voting! Currently, there have been no nominations submitted for the remaining General Council Commissioner positions. General Council is an important part of our ministry as a denomination, and regional representation at the meeting allows Regional Council 15 to have a voice on important matters facing our church. I urge you to prayerfully consider the role of a General Council commissioner. Clink on the following links for details on the position description and the nominations form.
President-Elect
The deadline for nominations are fast approaching on May 13th, with no nominations from the floor due to the nature of online voting! Currently, there have been no nominations submitted for the role of President-Elect. The position of President within the region is an important role that provides unique opportunities to engage with the wider church and communities of faith within our region. I urge you to prayerfully consider the role of President-Elect. Click on the following links for information on the Office of the President and the nominations form.
Annual Meeting Updated Agenda
The Regional Council 15 Annual Meeting updated agenda is now available online, view using this link.
Don’t forget to check the Annual Meeting page regularly as information is updated often.
Seeking Narrative Lectionary Users
The Region 15 Faith Formation and Leadership Development Committee would like to offer an opportunity to explore the Narrative Lectionary together. For those who are unfamiliar with the NL, it’s a 4-year cycle of scripture readings which focuses on telling the major stories of our faith in narrative order, beginning each fall with units from the Hebrew Bible.
Because there’s a growing number of UCC congregations using the NL, we hope to share more information about this lectionary, brainstorm ideas for its use, and identify resources available for those using it. In order to do this, we need your help: If you’re currently using the NL, would you be willing to share your knowledge and experience with us? Can you help us to facilitate a wider conversation for those interested in learning more? If so, please contact Rev. Sharon Lohnes at revsharonbeacon@eastlink.ca We cannot offer this workshop without your help, so please carefully consider this request. With thanks from your FFLD Committee.
Faith Formation and Leadership Development Committee
The Faith Formation and Leadership Development Committee of Region 15 is in the process of putting together a service that can be used by congregations on May 30th during the AGM for the Region. Watch for more details in the following weeks.
Stroll for Your Soul | Individual & Group
Starting May 15 – June 4, 2021 Stroll for Your Soul with the Prayer Bench & Kereru Publishing.
Stroll for Your Soul offers 21 days of accompaniment through a brief email delivered early each morning to your inbox. Each email will offer a practice, or a reflection, or a video, or a photograph giving direction and encouragement to your time spent strolling (or rolling, skateboarding or running.)
The Stroll emails offer practice at paying attention and being in the present moment. Weave stillness and mindful reflection into your daily walk around the neighbourhood or even over to a door or window to look out with intention.
Our 2021 Theme is Homes. Each day we’ll share a unique habitat with you and words about those who make their home in burrows, nests, oceans, stables, and who even who carry their homes. Perhaps you’ll see these homes on your Stroll. Maybe not. Each one, though, has a spiritual lesson for us.
individual Stroll. See https://prayerbench.ca/product/stroll-for-your-soul-individual-2/
Group Stroll (unlimited numbers) https://prayerbench.ca/product/stroll-for-your-soul-group/
Pastoral Relations Liaison Training
“Pastoral Relations” is the term used in the United Church for the relationship of churches and ministry personnel with each other, and the process of movement of ministry personnel in and out of ministry positions. General Council implemented a revised process at the beginning of 2019 that established the role of Region Liaison that supports this work in the local community of faith. In Region 15 we currently have 25 people who have been trained as Liaison and who are active in a variety of settings. However, there is a need for more. If you would like to offer to serve as Liaison, and to receive training for this role, please contact Regional Minister David Hewitt at dhewitt@united-church.ca.
Centre for Christian Studies
CCS Fridays are online conversations to help people of faith respond to emerging issues in local contexts. Each session is from 12:00 to 1:00 CT and in the form of a Zoom workshop. There will be a presentation that will be recorded for future viewing, plus opportunities to engage with the ideas in small groups. Sessions are open to all and are free but you must register.
Join in on April 30 for “How It Ends”, a reading by playwright Debbie Patterson. “How It Ends” is an immersive, interactive dance/theatre piece, produced in Winnipeg in 2019. It explores end-of-life issues, seen through the lens of disability. Playwright Debbie Patterson uses her lived experience of a progressive, debilitating, incurable illness to provide a new understanding of what makes life worth living, the value of suffering, and the pleasure of surrendering control.
Property Inventory Update – April 2021
The RC15 property inventory list has been updated as of April 27, 2021, this inventory lists property (buildings, cemeteries, lands) currently registered to your pastoral charge. Any forms and amendments received up to April 27, 2021 are included. Pastoral charges who do not hold property will not appear on the list. Please take a moment to review and ensure your pastoral charge details are correct, you can review by A-Z property name or by postal code using the link below and submit a form if there are any additions or amendments.
Experiences and Conditions of the Growing Number of Bi-Vocational and Part-time and Ministers
With the support of the United Church Foundation, Dr. Ross Bartlett is conducting an independent study of the experiences and conditions of the growing number of BIVOCATIONAL and PART-TIME ministers within the United Church of Canada. Did you know that some estimates suggest that over 40% of our clergy will be in part-time appointments/calls by 2030? Yet, we know very little about this rapidly growing group. With this independent study, Dr. Bartlett is hoping to provide the church with a baseline of data from which to consider a wide range of governance and employment policies. View more information and the link to the study here.
