NEWS AND UPDATES FROM REGIONAL COUNCIL 15 (RC15)
Submission Request for Weekly Announcements
www.ucceast.ca
Staff Directory
It’s Your Call – 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.
To view Continuing Education opportunities at the Atlantic School of Theology please click here.
Regional Council 15 (RC15) Committee Volunteer form.
Condolences – Rev. Austin Jagoe
Condolences are extended to the family of Rev. Austin Jagoe who passed away on December 27, 2022. The obituary can be viewed here.
Condolences – Mary Thomson
Condolences are extended to Mary Thomson, and family, whose husband James “Jim” Thomson passed away on January 6, 2023. The obituary can be viewed here.
Condolences
Our condolences are extended to Rev. Mavis Peddie Peters (RC15) and her family on the sudden passing of her son. We have no further information at this time, the obituary will be shared when it becomes available.
Join us for Camp Kidston’s Annual General Meeting!
You’re invited! Camp Kidston’s Annual General Meeting is a wonderful opportunity for volunteers, camper families, alumni, donors, and community members to learn more about Kidston!
This year’s AGM will be held on Tuesday, January 17th at 7pm, with in-person and virtual (Zoom) attendance options available. The AGM will be held at the Boyneclarke office at 99 Wyse Road, Dartmouth. If you’re planning to attend in person, please RSVP to Janice at director@campkidston.com. Registration for the Zoom meeting, as well as copies of the AGM Agenda and Camp Kidston’s annual report, can be found here.
All are welcome to join!
Handbells
We are looking to borrow a 2-3 octave set of hand bells for our church. If you have hand bells that you are not using, and are willing to lend them, we would be delighted to be able to ring them. We have been ringing hand bells for 2 1/2 years but recently returned the set we had borrowed. Please contact Hillsborough United at huc1862@gmail.com.
The Manual, 2023
The Manual, 2023, can now be found under the Resources tab on the Regional website.
Camp Wegesegum – 100th Year Anniversary
Camp Wegesegum – Chipman, New Brunswick
100th Year Anniversary – July 15, 2023
We will be hosting a party to honor 100 years of camping at Camp Wegesegum. There will be music, food, children’s activities and everything that makes camp good. More details to come.
Guaranteed Livable Income Update
By the time you read this email, Canada’s richest CEOs have already made more money in 2023 than the average worker’s salary for the entire year.
Grocery store chains and oil and gas companies are all seeing record profits — but these profits are only lining the pockets of top executives. Meanwhile, food bank use has skyrocketed, and inflation and price gouging are hurting most of us at the grocery store, the gas pump, and just about everywhere else.
2023 is projected to be a hard year economically, and those running Canadian corporations are only looking out for their own best interests. As the cost of living rises, we need our government to step up and protect everyday people from the worst impacts of inflation and economic downturn.
A guaranteed, livable basic income would ensure that everyone can meet their most basic needs, like putting food on the table and keeping a roof over their heads. If everyone reading this email sends a message to their MPs demanding a guaranteed livable income, it could make our leaders reassess their priorities for the year and put basic income on the legislative agenda — or risk losing the support of their constituents.
Will you send a message to your MP asking them to prioritize basic income as we enter 2023?
Send a message
We know basic income works. A basic income trial in Manitoba had positive physical and mental health benefits — and it even improved high school graduation rates. A more recent Ontario pilot helped people buy food, pay their bills, and participate in job training. And research shows that basic income could lift millions of people out of poverty, while boosting the economy by $80 billion a year.
The status quo is not working. The wage gap between CEOs and workers is bigger than it’s ever been, with the top 100 richest CEOs making 243 times more than average workers. And it’s not just hurting individuals — poverty costs the government an estimated $72-86 billion every year in health care, incarceration, and social service costs. We desperately need a new federal program to address the root causes, rather than the symptoms, of systemic poverty.
A guaranteed, livable income would lift us all up. Coupled with a strong social security net, basic income would help close the gaps by radically simplifying access to income support. If you believe that everyone should be able to meet their basic needs and live a dignified life, will you send a message to your MP in support of basic income?
Send a message
https://act.leadnow.ca/BI-2023
A New Year with Prayer Bench Resources
Quick Glance:
The Prayer Bench offers two subscription packages until the end of January. A personal subscription ($49). Learn more.
A group subscription ($99). Learn more.
Read on for more information:
THE PERSONAL SUBSCRIPTION ($49)
A January mini retreat coming soon
Lent Pause & Practice ( Six practices for Lent.)
EASTER Email Retreat
Stroll for Your Soul
Autumn Rambles
Advent Email Retreat
THE GROUP SUBSCRIPTION ($99)
A January mini retreat coming soon to share with community of faith.
Lent Pause & Practice (for group study or Lenten lunches)
EASTER Email Retreat
Group Stroll for Your Soul (unlimited sign up)
Group Autumn Rambles (unlimited sign up)
Advent Email Retreat
Advent Small Group Study – Musicians of Holy Mystery. Already at work on this with Dr. Janet Hammock.
Register six (or more) group participants to receive all resources directly.
Visit here for even more information.
Grant Opportunity – Relief Fund for Thriving Congregations
The United Church of Canada Foundation has sent us the below information for a grant opportunity that your community of faith may benefit from:
“Last year an anonymous couple, who have deep love for the church and who have been members of various congregations across the country, created the Relief Fund for Thriving Congregations.
This granting fund will provide the opportunity for congregations that have plans to continue to be of service to their communities and that have vibrant programs and outreach to receive a grant to help alleviate the pressure of debt.
We understand that some congregations in your region have been carrying significant debt and believe that this grant opportunity may be of help to you. We will be accepting applications for this grant from 15 January – 15 April 2023. The application, and additional details, is available on our website (click here).”
Please contact Jenna Yango Leonard, Foundation Coordinator at JYLeonard@united-church.ca or 1-866-340-8223 with any questions you may have and please feel free to share details of this grant with other congregations you think may benefit.
Covenanting Service
A covenanting service to mark our new ministry with Minister Marty Clark-Ettinger will be held on Sunday, March 19th at 2:00 pm at Bass River United Church, Bass River, NS. All are welcome and invited to attend. The Rev. Valerie Kingsbury will be offering the sermon. Light refreshments will be served following the service. Please consider joining us as we celebrate this new beginning!
