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: Jim St. Clair
Our sympathy is extended to the family of Jim St. Clair who passed away May11, 2021 (lay rep to Maritime Conference and a supervisor of theological students). A copy of the CBC notice can be viewed here.
Annual Meeting Agenda, Reports to the Region and Regrets
The updated draft agenda has been posted for the annual meeting. The full PDF of the Reports to the Regional Council will be posted on the annual meeting page by the end of the week.
Regrets for the meeting can be submitted here.
Annual Meeting Information Webinars
Planning is well underway for the 3rd Annual Meeting of Regional Council 15, being held on May 28-30, 2021. In preparation for the Annual Meeting, the Executive is offering three webinars so that members are able to ask questions for clarification about the matters that we will be voting on at the meeting. You will also have the opportunity to hear from the nominees for commissioners to General Council and President-Elect, so you are familiar with those whose names will be presented for voting.
It will help all of us have a productive meeting in May to have as many people as possible take part in the webinars. Thank you for your commitment to this United Church of ours and to your Regional Council. As more information becomes available, it will be posted on the website. In preparation for the webinars and the Annual Meeting, please take the time to read the posted material, including the Agenda, accessed using the link: Annual Meeting 2021
Webinar #1: Intro to Zoom/Orientation for New Members – Lunch & Learn – Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at 12:00pm-1:00pm (ADT) view webinar here. PowerPoint presentation is available here.
Webinar #2: Division Reports/Budget 2022 and 2020 Audited Statements – Thursday, May 20, 2021 at 7:00pm-8:30pm (ADT)
Webinar #3: GC44 Commissioner and President-Elect Nominee Introductions and Proposals – Wednesday, May 26, 2021 at 7:00pm-8:30pm (ADT)
Webinars will take place using zoom video conferencing. Please contact the Regional Council Office if you have not received the April 26 email with links to join.
Nominations Close Tomorrow, Thursday, May 20, for President-Elect
As we have received no nominations for president elect as of the May 13th deadline, we will be extending the deadline for president elect nominations until May 20th at 11:59pm. Due to the nature of the online voting system, we are unfortunately unable to receive nominations from the floor at this time. 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. Nominations need to be moved and seconded by a member of the regional council (such as ministry personnel or an elected representative of a community of faith).
The role of president elect is important role within the ministry of our church. I encourage you to prayerfully consider being nominated for this role, which offers unique and exciting opportunities to engage in the work of the wider church. I also encourage you to nominate someone you know whose leadership wold be a gift to the Region.
If you have any questions regarding the nominations process or this role, please contact Nominations Chair, Alicia Cox at aliciadawncox@msn.com
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.
General Council Youth Forum
The Children, Youth and Young Adults Committee of Region 15 is calling for youth between the ages of 15-19 (in 2022) to consider letting their names stand to be a member of General Council Youth Forum 2022. This person will be a Commissioner (voting member) of the General Council and will also attend Youth Forum. All General Council events will take place online via Zoom. At this time, there is a possibility of employment, as well as the opportunity to attend the GO Project as part of this experience. For more information and to state your interest, please email Catherine Stuart, Minister for Children, Youth and Young Adults at cstuart@united-church.ca Please express your interest by June 5, 2021.
Picture Collage
Many thanks to all Communities of Faith for who sent picture donations for the picture collage at Annual Meeting we had an overwhelming response.
Property Inventory Update – May 2021
The RC15 property inventory list has been updated as of May 18, 2021, this inventory lists property (buildings, cemeteries, lands) currently registered to your pastoral charge. Any forms and amendments received up to May 18, 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.
Looking for help to complete your 2021 annual declaration?
Attention Ministry Personnel!
Looking for help to complete your 2021 annual declaration? The Office of Vocation Ministers are hosting several sessions over the coming weeks to provide assistance and walk you through the process. These sessions will be on Zoom:
Tuesday, June 1st at 1:00 pm https://united-church.zoom.us/j/95349643212
Remember to have the date of your most current police records check handy and be logged in to our ChurchHub account https://churchhub.ca/.
It’s free and only takes a few minutes, by logging in to churchhub.ca (Just remember to use Chrome or Edge as your browser; do not use Safari).
Need help accessing ChurchHub? Please contact ministry@united-church.ca.
Greg MacLeod House
Cape Breton University students are invited to apply to be part of an Ecumenical Christian Community in the heart of downtown Sydney. The students will live together in a beautiful historic home and commit to building community with one another and deepening their faith.
To learn more visit: https://sites.google.com/view/cbunewmansociety/home
Or contact Alison Etter at alisonlouiseetter@gmail.com
Call to Preach for Palestine and Israel
“I have called you by your name
You are mine
I have gifted you and ask you now to shine.”
It’s a song we treasure – a thought we treasure – to be called by name.
On this Pentecost Sunday we are asking you to extend this same blessing to the people of the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood in East Jerusalem. We ask you to talk about their situation during your worship time and to pray for them as they face eviction from their homes of 50 years because of a ruling by the Israeli Court.
Our Christian kindred in Palestine are calling people of faith to take prophetic actions and to speak out boldly against their oppression. Here is a link to their call. Please read it, share it, and incorporate it into your service. https://www.kairospalestine.ps/images/kairos-palestine-call-for-world-solidarity.pdf
The United Church of Canada asks us to take action to stop the latest evictions of Palestinians from East Jerusalem: https://united-church.ca/social-action/act-now/stop-latest-palestinian-evictions-east-jerusalem
Rev. Marianna Harris offers a prayer for use in your service: Pentecost and Sheikh Jarrah
