NEWS AND UPDATES FROM FUNDY ST. LAWRENCE DAWNING WATERS (FSLDW)
Submission Request for Weekly Announcements
www.ucceast.ca
Staff Directory
Emergency Response Memos for Fundy St. Lawrence Dawning Waters (FSLDW)
It’s Your Call – Podcast
Spark 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.
Fundy St. Lawrence Dawning Waters (FSLDW) Committee Interest form.
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.
FSLDW Elected Members to Council Memo
Nominations are Open for President-Elect
Fundy St. Lawrence Dawning Waters Regional Council is seeking nominations for President-Elect. 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 its work and ministry, within the bounds of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Gaspé, Quebec. Serving as President of the Region offers many unique and exciting opportunities to engage in the work and life of the Region. More information on the role of President can be found here.
The election will take place at the Annual meeting. In order to post bios of the nominees and have an opportunity for the nominees to address the council, please submitted nominations by May 5, 2023 at midnight. Nominations are open to all members of Fundy St. Lawrence Dawning Waters Regional Council, including ministry personnel and lay representatives. To submit your nomination, please fill out the form here. The nomination form must include the name of the mover and seconder of the nomination. The Nominee, the mover and seconder must be members of Regional Council. Nomination can also come from the floor of the meeting at which time the deadline will be at the close of the Friday night session. If you have any questions, please contact Nominations Chair, Rose-Hannah Gaskin.
Proposals Deadline
The deadline for Proposals is April 6, 2023. More information on proposals can be found here.
Interested in Attending the Retirees and Jubilarians Dinner?
If you are interested in attending the Retirees and Jubilarians dinner being held at the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) on May 27, you will be able to do so through your registration to Annual Meeting. You will note that the meals and accommodations information is at the bottom of the registration form this year.
Notes from Pastoral Relations Committee
Correction:
Approved the appointment of Rev. Doreen Bird-Daley, retired supply, to the Trinity Clifton Pastoral Charge from January 1, 2023, until May 31, 2023.
In case you missed it – Resources from the recent Conversion Therapies Webinar
The recent webinar addressing “Conversion Therapies. How to recognize them and how to help people in recovery” led by Sue King, was not recorded. Here is a list of resources used and recommended By Sue King
Cartoons: https://nakedpastor.com Cartoonist artist David Hayward
BOOKS:
Erotic Justice –A Liberating Ethic of Sexuality –Marvin. M. Ellison Westminster John Knox Press 1996
Making Love Just: Sexual Ethics for Perplexing Times
Marvin M. Ellison
Copyright Date: 2012 1517 Media, Fortress Press
Qu(e)erying Evangelism Cheri DiNovo Winner of the 2005 Lambda Literary Award for Spirituality & Religion
Gifted by Otherness: Gay and Lesbian Christians in the Church
Louis William Countryman, M. R. Ritley 2001
Morehouse Pub.
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma Paperback – Sept. 8 2015.
by Bessel van der Kolk M.D. (Author)
WEBSITES:
https://affirmunited.ause.ca/
https://women-gender-equality.canada.ca/
https://chromanb.ca/
Articles needed for SPARK
Our Regional newsletter is ready to go except…. There has only been one article submitted. So…have you had something interesting happening in your pastoral charge? Had your Regional Committee some interesting news to share? Maybe you have an opinion you would like to get out there?
SPARK articles can be sent to alounder@gmail.com.
Office Administrator
Are you looking for a rewarding part time position in which you can use your people skills and creativity?
Visions United Church, an innovative urban congregation in Moncton, is looking for an Office Administrator who has strong writing and computer skills, and who can work cooperatively with staff and volunteers. This position is permanent part-time; 12 hours per week. The office is in a busy community setting (Community Hub on Joyce, Moncton).
Duties include receiving the public, managing the church office, data entry, receivables, email, filing and creating electronic communications. Proficiency with Microsoft office, Gmail/Webmail, technology, web-based programs and applications is essential. Experience using MailChimp and Canva is an asset.
Candidates can email resume and cover letter to jobs@visionsunited.ca.
Eligible candidates will be contacted for an interview.
Click here to see the job posting and job description.
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.
Grant Opportunity – Relief Fund for Thriving Congregations
The United Church of Canada Foundation has sent us the following 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. Applications are being accepted for this grant from 15 January – 15 April 2023. The application, and additional details, are available 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.
Women’s Retreat
When: Saturday, April 22, 2023, 9 am – 12:30 pm
Where: St. John’s United Church, 75 Alma St., Moncton, NB (use Victoria St. entrance); on-street parking is available free of charge on Saturday.
Introduction: In the fall of 2019, St. John’s United Church in Moncton hosted a gathering of women for a half-day retreat led by Rev. Janice MacLean. The event brought together women from the greater Moncton region and provided space for learning, sharing and growth in faith. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive and we’ve looked forward to being able to host the second Women’s retreat, led by Rev. Janice MacLean and hosted by St. John’s United ever since. It is finally time!
Theme: Inviting Kindness
Being kind – truly kind – is hard work. It is more than being “nice” or simple “do-goodery.” It asks us to reach out, take risks, and expect nothing in return. During our retreat day, we’ll journey with Ruth from the bible, who might surprise us with how she radically extended kindness. We’ll look at prayers, quotes and bits of poems that encourage kindness. We’ll see the kindness in ourselves and celebrate how we can change the world by inviting kindness.
Facilitator: Rev. Janice MacLean
Rev. Janice MacLean is host of the Prayer Bench, an online ministry offering resources to deepen spirituality. She actually has a wooden prayer bench she took home from Scotland in a backpack, which she’ll bring to show you. It’s a story of kindness. Over a life-time, Janice is grateful for many experiences that she carries in her heart. Janice lives in Cape Breton with her partner.
Who can attend? Anyone identifying as a woman who is interested in inviting kindness into their lives and their world.
What can you expect? A time of fellowship and exploration. Snacks and tea and coffee will be provided. There is no fee to attend this event. You can choose to wear a mask or not.
Please let us know if you plan to attend to help us plan; email sjuc@nb.aibn.com or call the church office 506-858-8289.
Singing Gregorian Chant: An Introductory Workshop
Presented by the Holy Heart Schola Cantorum and hosted by the Atlantic School of Theology, this workshop will introduce participants to Gregorian chant and its nature, forms, and functions in the liturgy. Participants will leave equipped with ideas for introducing chant in a church setting. Following the workshop, they will have the opportunity to attend and participate in sung Evening Prayer which will include many of the chants learned during the workshop.
These sessions are geared towards anyone who wants to learn how to sing Gregorian Chant and introduce it to others.
About Holy Heart Schola Cantorum: The Holy Heart Schola Cantorum is Halifax’s only men’s choir specifically focused on singing Gregorian Chant, primarily in a liturgical context. They have been singing together regularly since 2007. The Schola has been chanting Evening Prayer every Sunday evening at Saint Mary’s Roman Catholic Cathedral Basilica since 2014.
Date: Saturday, April 29th from 2pm to 6pm
Location: In-Person at the Atlantic School of Theology Chapel
Registration Fee: $15.00 per adult (18 and over) plus Eventbrite fee
Learn More and Register Here.
Stilling and Stirring: A Spring In-Person Retreat
Contemplative Pathways is hosting a time of silent retreat and rest from May 3rd to 6th at the Tatamagouche Centre. We will be supported in our silence by gathered worship to begin and end our time together, optional morning and evening prayer, brief teaching times and the possibility of sharing experience in common for those who feel this would enhance their retreat.
Learn more and register here.
Genuine Online Relationships
In a post-lockdown church, online community has become a common reality. Most churches are offering ministry online, whether it be a weekly email, a Facebook group, online studies, or live-streaming worship. In this course, students will consider how to widen ministry beyond the church walls and into their online community. Readings will include case studies as well as work on building community, missional thinking, pastoral care, and online strategies. Students should come ready to investigate their current context and with a knowledge of the online platforms they currently use.
This event is sponsored by Pine Hill Divinity Hall.
About the Instructor: Dawn Leger is a pastor of Harbor Online Community, a virtual community of people following Jesus outside the lines of traditional church models. Dawn served in parish ministry for 15 years in urban and rural churches and is currently a PhD candidate at Martin Luther University College.
Dates: Thursdays in May from May 4th to May 25th from 1pm to 2.30pm AST
Location: Online
Registration Fee: $50.00 plus Eventbrite fee
Learn More and Register Here.
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!
Are you considering retirement?
If you are considering retiring or have retired since our last annual meeting, please see our Regional retirement resource. If you have made the decision to retire please fill out the form.
Thank you.
