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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.
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.
Childcare Providers Needed for Annual Meeting
The Region is looking for people who are certified to provide paid childcare at our annual meeting. If you are that someone or know of someone please forward your resume to Jenn Whittemore at the Regional Office.
Elected Members to Regional Council 2023
Please use the below link to complete the elected members form to Regional Council for 2023, thank you to those who have completed it already. Without completing this form elected members will not be able to vote at the Annual Meeting.
RC15 Elected Members Memo and The Discipleship of Being a Member to Regional Council 15
Covenanting Service for Noel United Church
A covenanting service to mark the new ministry with Rev Gary MacDougall and Noel United Church will be held on Sunday, March 26, 2023 at 10:30am. All are welcome and invited to attend. Potluck to follow.
Covenanting Service Postponed
Please note the Covenanting service for Shubenacadie Pastoral Charge and Rev Krista Elizabeth Winn is NOT happening March 26 and will be rescheduled in the months ahead.
Region 15 Pastoral Relations Committee News – March 2023
- Approved that the Appointment of Kathleen Anderson, with Sambro Jollimore Pastoral Charge, 20 hours/week, be extended until April 30, 2023.
- Approved that the Call of Neil McEwen with LaHave New Dublin Pastoral Charge be revised to become a collaborative ministry, full-time, with LaHave New Dublin and Bridgewater Pastoral Charges.
- Approved the Call of Wendy Kean with Harmony Camden Pastoral Charge, 14 hours/week, effective April 1, 2023. Linda Atkinson, Liaison.
- Approved that the Appointment of John Tapscott with Whycocomagh East Lake Ainslie be extended to June 1, 2023.
- Approved the Appointment of John Parsons, retired, with Brunswick Street United Church, Truro, 20 hours/week, March 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024. Harvey Gullon, Liaison.
- Approved the position description for short-term, full time, Sabbatical Supply at St. Andrew’s United Church, Halifax.
- Approved the Appointment of Shaun Fryday with St. Andrew’s United Church, Halifax, full-time, April 23 to July 31, 2023, during the sabbatical leave of Susan Chisholm.
- Approved the Request for Change in Pastoral Relations from Annika Sangster, St. John’s United Church, Halifax, effective March 31, 2023.
- Approved the Ministry Services Agreement between Bridgewater United Church and New West Pine Pastoral Charge, effective July 25, 2022 to August 31, 2023.
- Approved the Ministry Services Agreement between Bridgewater United Church and St. Margaret’s Bay Pastoral Charge, effective January 1 to June 30, 2023.
- Approved the Ministry Services Agreement between Bridgewater United Church and Caledonia Pastoral Charge, effective January 1 to December 31, 2023.
- Approved that the Interim Ministry work at Fort Massey United Church is substantially complete, and authorize Profile development to proceed. Anne Hoganson, Liaison
- Approved the Profile and position description for Rockingham United Church, Halifax, and authorize Search for full time ministry personnel to begin. Susan MacAlpine Gillis, Liaison.
- Approved that the proposed Covenanting Service Policy be submitted through the Division of Ministry Resources to the Region 15 Executive for approval.
- Approved that Sheila Stewart represent the Pastoral Relations Committee on the United Fresh Start task group.
- Next meeting: Friday, April 21, 2023
Pastoral Charge Information Form – Reminder
The 2023 Pastoral Charge Information Form can be found on our Regional Council website under forms. The completion of this form is important to the region in order to have current contact information for staff and committees as we attempt to provide you with current communications relevant to your Local Board, Council or Committee. If you do not have some of these officers in your community simply mark that section as N/A (non-applicable). It is essential that each Pastoral Charge completes and submits this form.
If you have had your annual congregational meeting and have elected your governing body for 2023, please click on the link below 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. If you have already submitted your form, there is no need to do so again.
Call for Nomination to General Council Committees – Spring 2023
General Council launched their call for Nominations on February 1 and they have a few exciting and different opportunities available during this current recruitment, specifically the National Muslim Christian Liaison Committee and the Task Group to Review the Roles of the Moderator and General Secretary. Please review the current calls and share with others. If you think you or someone you know would be a good fit, encourage them to apply or contact Member Engagement. For more information on the various committees and how to apply, please click here. The deadline for receiving nominations is Thursday March 23.
Bring Visibility to Guaranteed Livable Income
Dear Guaranteed Livable Income supporters,
A Guaranteed Livable Income (GLI) (also known as a universal or basic income, although “livable” is more specific, which is why The United Church of Canada uses it) is a regular payment to individuals or families by government that is not conditional and allows everyone to live with dignity and security. Since the 1970s, The United Church of Canada has called for a universal GLI that is non-discriminatory and accessible, particularly for Indigenous peoples. With the cost of living skyrocketing, a Guaranteed Livable Income is urgently needed.
The United Church of Canada’s national GLI network invites churches and faith communities across the country to hold an action over the weekend of March 24–26 to call for a Guaranteed Livable Income.
What you can do
Engage your local politicians, MPs, municipalities, or provincial representatives (MLAs, MHAs), by
gathering outside their offices
attending a town council meeting
inviting the politicians in for a GLI-focused service (could be a great photo op for them)
For a sample vigil format, click here and for other resources, click here.
Deliver a message to your politicians and the public. Consider handouts (which can be adapted from this one), letters, petitions (if your municipality is at a stage that would benefit from this), and public visibility.
Look at what your municipality has done on this, then include a letter for your politician stating what you’d like to happen. Consider at what stage your community is: sharing information? asking for a specific action? Expressing support and furthering the actions already taken?
If you are engaging with your federal Member of Parliament, call on them to support Bill C-223 An Act to develop a national framework for a guaranteed livable basic income.
Moderator’s GLI video
Please check out the new video from the Moderator regarding Guaranteed Livable Income. It can be used in any way useful.
An Easter Retreat: for Personal & Con Ed
Beating Hearts: An Easter Retreat (Digital Resource)
There are beating hearts in the garden of life, and we hear echoes of other stories in our tradition in this Easter story. By holding them side by side and pondering on them, we gain insight into the true meaning of Easter. We come heart to heart with the ever-seeking Mary Magdalene and the two early morning runners and learn how to see. We ponder what spiritual practice might nourish us during the 50 Great Days of Easter.
What You Receive Learn more
A nine-page Retreat Guide offer suggestions for creating a space for settling into your retreat, a reflection on the theme, Beating Hearts, several prompts to evoke reflection, art or journaling, and three suggestions for spiritual practice during the Easter season.
You have permission to share this retreat with others for the purpose of retreating together in the same space.
There is no right or wrong way to make this Easter retreat. You might want to set aside an hour or a half day of quiet time. You might want to get up at sunrise, matching your setting with the time of the story. You might want to work with the retreat over a few days, allowing it to work in you. You will know what your heart needs and what fits with the realities of your life.
Maritime UCW – Annual Meeting
The annual meeting will be held April 28-29, 2023 at Visions United Church in Moncton. Deadline for registration is March 28, 2023; the registration form can be found here. If you require more information, please contact Ruth Kennedy at ulvashephersns@hotmail.com.
Stewardship: New Learning Opportunities
Click here to view information, or to register, for new learning opportunities.
Turning Ourselves Inside Out: Late COVID Reflections on Thriving Churches
Monday, April 17th and April 24th via Zoom
8:00 pm Atlantic/7:00 pm Eastern
$20 per person plus Eventbrite Fee
Two evening sessions with Russ Daye and Rob Fennell, co-authors of Turning Ourselves Inside Out: Thriving Christian Communities. Join these two pastor-scholars to learn about their research on thriving churches, and their most recent reflections on church life in the COVID era. These sessions will be interactive and will not be recorded.
These sessions are geared towards anyone who wants to learn how churches can thrive in the post-COVID era.
The first 40 registrants will receive a FREE paperback copy, by post, of the book, Turning Ourselves Inside Out: Thriving Christian Communities. Register soon!
To learn more about this book, go to: https://www.fortresspress.com/store/product/9781506470023/Turning-Ourselves-Inside-Out
To attend, please register at this link: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/turning-ourselves-inside-out-late-covid-reflections-on-thriving-churches-tickets-532118449607
Rural Routes Through the Holy: 2023
Rural Routes Through the Holy: 2023 is happening June 15th at 10:00 through June 17th, 2:00 at Camp Abby, PEI. Started in 2019 from a small, rural United Church in New Brunswick, RRTH is now an annual event, a space of nurture for people in rural congregations of any denomination. It’s a gathering with time for both structured and informal conversations, worship, education, play, prayer, good food and stories, lots of stories. You can register and read about last year’s gathering and see a list of accommodations here. Just hover over the Rural Ministries tab to see all that’s there. You can also email ruralroutesatlantic@gmail.com with questions.
This year Dr. Marvin Lee Anderson will again be our main presenter, but we’ll have lots of Tasters too, brief presentations from those who are doing things they love in the congregations they call home. We’ll hear about Community Gardens, Faithful Footprints, Pop Up Church and more. Registration is $50. Gather a group from your congregation, reach out to your neighbouring congregations, consider a carpool, and come. On your own or with friends, you’ll be warmly welcomed!
