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.
Elliott Andrew Lawrence Peters – Obituary
An obituary is now available for Elliott Andrew Lawrence Peters, son of Rev. Mavis Peddie Peters (RC15), who passed away on January 7, 2023. The obituary can be viewed here.
Condolences: Eileen Van Zoost
Condolences are extended to the family of Eileen Van Zoost, who passed away December 30, 2022. Eileen was the wife of the late Rev. William Van Zoost who was ordained in Maritime Conference and served pastorates in Nova Scotia. The obituary can be viewed here.
Lenten Planning 2023
With Advent and Christmas behind us, we need to remember that Lent is not far off. If you would like to begin planning for Lent, the Faith Formation and Leadership Development Committee of Region 15 is offering the opportunity to connect via ZOOM to look at the lectionary readings for the season and to share ideas and resources. We will gather on Thursday January 19th 2023 from 9am to noon. If you are planning, or helping to plan worship at any point during Lent we invite you to join us. This includes ministry personnel, laity and musicians. For more information you can contact Rev Sharon Lohnes at revsharonbeacon@eastlink.ca.
Ally is a Verb
Have you ever wanted to know more about land acknowledgments, or wondered why land acknowledgments are offered in church settings? Join the Regions East Anti Racism Network on January 25th from 2-4pm Atlantic Time in a conversation to learn how to prayerfully craft your own land acknowledgements! Click here to register.
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.
Region 15 Pastoral Relations News — January 2023
- Approved the Appointment of Catherine MacDonald in Interim Ministry with St. James United Church, Dartmouth, full time, January 2, 2023 to June 30, 2025.
- Approved the Supply Appointment of Dianne Kempt, DLM, with United Heritage Church, Sydney, 12 hours/week, January 9 to April 30, 2023.
- Approved the Renewal of Supply Appointment of Shane Doucette, Candidate, with Crossroads Pastoral Charge, 20 hours/week, January 1 to May 31, 2023.
- Approved the Renewal of Supply Appointment of Valerie Taylor, retired, with Kingston Pastoral Charge, 30 hours/week, January 16 to April 16, 2023, as Search continues. Anne Cameron, Liaison.
- Approved the Supply Appointment of Heather Fraser with Stairs Memorial United Church, 16 hours/week, January 13 to February 26, 2023.
- Approved the Profile and position description for Rawdon Pastoral Charge and that Search for half-time ministry personnel be authorized. Valerie Kingsbury, Liaison.
- Approved Shelburne Pastoral Charge as a Supervised Ministry Education (SME) site.
- Endorsed the upcoming retreat for younger ministry personnel, and provide funding assistance of $1500.
- Next meeting: Friday, February 10, 9:00 a.m.
For more information, please contact Regional Minister David Hewitt at dhewitt@united-church.ca.
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!
Annual Declaration of Criminal Records
As we celebrate a New Year, we wish for you continued grace and fortitude to continue in your service to Christ and all those around you through the ministry of the Church. We’d like to advise you that the 2023 Annual Declaration for ministry personnel is now open, until May 19, 2023. It’s free and only takes a few minutes. Log in to churchhub.ca (Remember that Chrome or Edge are preferred browsers for ChurchHub; Safari is not optimal) If you make your Annual Declaration (about whether you’ve had criminal charges in the last year or not) each year, you do not need to get a new police records check! Need help accessing ChurchHub? Please contact ministry@united-church.ca.
Information from the Regional Ecological Justice Working Group
(Please include this notice from the Regional Ecological Justice Working Group in your church newsletter or its equivalent and share it with relevant committees.)
How is our church helping to protect God’s life-giving Creation?
Watch a video of what some United Churches in the Maritimes have been doing.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pVf3_KEfzHDFauALQNZqalv23axHtDVj/view?usp=sharing
What ideas does this give us? What else can we do?!
Did you know:
The United Church of Canada has a new, ambitious policy to address the climate emergency! The whole church is committed to the goal of an 80% decrease in carbon emissions by 2030!
The United Church’s Faithful Footprints program (opens in a new tab) is currently working with 260 congregations to make their buildings more energy efficient. This is more than half way towards the goal of reaching 500 communities by 2025. For the 56 completed projects, carbon equivalency savings are equal to the annual energy of 147 homes (i.e., 628 metric tonnes of CO2e saved).
The United Church is also committed to stronger advocacy at both the provincial and the national government levels for bold climate action. The church is continuing its disinvestment from fossil fuels. We want to strengthen our work with Indigenous communities, global partners, ecumenical organizations, and relationships with young people who have shown great moral climate leadership.
What steps do you propose we – our congregation – take to live up to our commitment as the United Church of Canada? Send your proposals for action to our Council/Board.
Rural Routes Through the Holy 2023: Save the Date
Rural Routes Through the Holy will hold its 2023 gathering from June 15 – 17 at Camp Abby, PEI. These gatherings provide a space of nurture for those in rural congregations and for the communities in which they live. Rural Routes is a gathering with time for both structured and informal conversations, worship, education, play, prayer, and table fellowship.
We’d like to share our stories and to hear yours; what is working well and what you lament or long for, what brings you joy and who is your neighbour. We’d like to imagine together ways in which members of small, rural congregations might remain grounded in and able to share the Gospel despite challenging circumstances. You can read about last year’s gathering here.
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.
