NEWS AND UPDATES FROM REGIONAL COUNCIL 15 (RC15)
Please send announcements to trose@united-church.ca
www.ucceast.ca
Staff Directory
Emergency Response Memos for Regional Council 15 (RC15)
Making Hope Visible – Podcast
News from the Pews Newsletter
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: Paul MacWilliams
Condolences are extended to Rev. Kym Burke upon the sudden passing of her companion, Paul MacWilliams who passed away on March 13, 2022. The obituary can be viewed here.
Supporting Ukraine
Members of regional council have asked how we can help support the people of the Ukraine during this crisis.
The United Church has provided an opportunity to contribute financially, should you wish to do so, please see this link .
If you have a Ukrainian community in your neighbourhood, please reach out to them and consider offering support and care.
Host a vigil or worship service, to pray and acknowledge the range of emotions that we feel as we listen to and watch the news. This may also be a time to collect donations for the help and support through our united Church.
As people come into Canada as refugees, you may want to check with your local government officials to see what your congregation or community can do to help.
1 Corinthians 12:26 “when one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it.”
We hold in prayer all those who search for peace. May it be so.
Rev. Faith March-MacCuish
Annual Meeting Registration is Open
Registration is open for the annual meeting. Please read the memo sent from the Executive Minister. Visit the annual meeting webpage regularly for the latest updates and information on the upcoming meeting
Annual Meeting Information
Please read the March 16, 2022 memo from the Annual Meeting Planning Committee.
All information for the upcoming annual meeting is included on the Regional Annual Meeting webpage.
Elected Members to Regional Council 2022
Please use the below link to complete the elected members form to Regional Council for 2022.
Pastoral Charge Information Form
The 2022 Pastoral Charge Information Form can be found on our Regional Council website under forms.
If you have had your annual congregational meeting and have elected your governing body for 2022, please click on the below link to complete. If you have not had your annual meeting, and have the same people serving in the governing body, we kindly ask you to still fill out the information forms.
Nominations are open for President-Elect
Regional Council 15 is seeking nominations for President-Elect of Regional Council 15. The president serves for a total of 3 years: as president-elect, president, and past president. The President Elect will serve as a member of the regional executive, leading our region in the work and ministry of Regional Council 15, within the bounds of Nova Scotia and Bermuda. Serving as president of the region offers many unique and exciting opportunities to engage in the work and life of Region 15.
More information on the role of president can be found here.
As this election will take place through the Annual meeting held online, no nominations will be accepted from the floor, due to the nature of the online voting process. All nominations must be received by May 13, 2022 at midnight. Nominations are open to all members of the regional council of Region 15, including ministry personnel and lay representatives. To submit your nomination, please fill out the form here.
Each nomination must include the names of two people who will move the nomination. These people must be members of regional council. The nomination does need to come from the governing body of your local community of faith, it just needs to be 2 people from the region who support the nomination.
If you have any questions, please contact Nominations Chair, Rev. Alicia Cox.
Ally is a Verb: Regions’ East Anti-Racism Network Conversation Series
Check out the Regions East Anti-racism Network’s conversation series “Ally is a Verb”! The fourth Wednesday of every month at 7pm ADT, 7:30 in Newfoundland, we’re gathering by Zoom to learn how to take our actions beyond words. On March 23rd, we’ll be talking about celebrating Black history all year long. Join us for conversation and a sharing of resources! Please click here to register.
Called to be the Church: The Journey
Coaching and support to meet your stewardship needs
Create a stewardship team of 3-5 people from your Community of Faith (including your minister or key lay leader, where possible), and spend some focused time with a Stewardship Specialist and teams from other congregations. Be inspired by a program with a proven track record, and receive personalized coaching and on-going support that reflect your congregation’s unique mission, focus, and resources.
- Cohort 1a:
Wednesday, April 27, May 4, May 11, May 18 from 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. EST - Cohort 2a:
Thursday, April 28, May 5, May 12, May 19 from 12:00 p.m.- 2:00 p.m. EST - Cohort 3a:
Tuesday, April 26, May 3, May 10, May 17 from 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. EST - Cohort 4a:
Monday, April 25, May 2, May 9, May 16 from 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. EST - Cohort 5a:
Wednesday, April 27, May 4, May 11, May 18 from 9:30-11:30 p.m. EST
Annual Declaration of Criminal Records
It is that special time of year again…
As ministry personnel (including candidates in Supervised Ministry Education appointments or other appointments) you need to submit your annual declaration on criminal charges form on ChurchHub. This can be done now, and the portal will remain open until May 15, 2022.
It is essential that you fill out this form in order that you may remain on the registry of accredited minsters, be eligible for calls or appointments and for licenses for sacraments and marriages.
There is no payment required, neither does it require a lot of time. To fill out the form:
- Log in to churchhub.ca and click the “My Ministry Page” tile.
- Look to the right for the “My Professional Requirements” box and then select the “View” link next to “Annual Declaration 2022”.
- Enter the date of your last police records check. (Contact your OV minister if you do not have the date of your last police records check).
- Tick the appropriate box for your declarations and submit.
If you are having technical problems with ChurchHub, please contact ministry@united-church.ca
Rural Routes Through the Holy: Thrive Where You Are
Rural Routes Through the Holy: Thrive Where You Are June 16 – 18, 2022, CampTa Wa Si, Johnston Point, NB. Registration is now open at hemofthelight.com/ruralroutes for this gathering to nurture community among rural congregations and places. Dr. Marvin Lee Anderson will be our main presenter and rural café facilitator. We’ll also have a good group of Tasters, 30 minute presentations on a variety of things so good we may want to go home and cook them up in our own communities. Spiritual Memoir, Messy Church, Labyrinth, Healing Pathways, Coffee in the Church Woods and Sustainability Projects at the local high school are a few of the offerings, each given by someone who loves them well. You can read more about the gathering online at hemofthelight.com/ruralroutes or on our FB page Please register as early as possible; accommodations in the area are filling up fast.
The Postcard Project
The Postcard Project Rural Stories, the third postcard in the series has gone out to those whose faith communities fall within the parameters of size and geographic range the price of stamps has suggested we set. But anyone can read about and participate in The Postcard Project by clicking on the links offered here or by visiting our Rural Routes Facebook page. Don’t forget to like or follow the page to stay in touch with resources and goings on. We’d love to hear from you too so message the team or drop us a line at ruralroutesatlantic@gmail.com.
Point LePreau Update and New Radioactive Waste Policy
Point LePreau Nuclear Power station: Application for unprecedented 25-year licence renewal (currently 5 years). Have your say before March 28th, using information and helpful tools at: https://crednb.ca/participate/
If the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission does not hear from the interested public, it could be 2047 before we next have any say!
New Draft Radioactive Waste Policy for Canada – open for comment until April 1st
In response to concerns by the International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA), the government has finally developed a draft policy based on consultations over 7 months, i.e., round tables and many written submissions. Council of Canadians and expert-citizen groups feel that the draft policy falls seriously short in numerous ways. Please read and consider signing this letter and sharing it widely. https://canadians.org/nuclear-waste
