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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.
Interested in Attending the Retirees and Jubilarians Dinner?
If you are interested in attending the Retirees and Jubilarians dinner being held at Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU) on June 10 fill-out the MSVU Meals and Accommodations form choosing option “Selecting Meals Individually”, then select “Dinner June 10”. From there you can follow payment instructions. If you have any questions please contact MSVU directly, their contact information can be found on the link above.
Moderator’s Visit
To all ministry personnel and lay members of Regional Council 15,
As you receive this notice, our Moderator, the Right Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne, is busy making final preparations to travel to our region for her official visit on April 13-17, 2023. I know you join with me in wishing her travelling mercies as she and her daughter travel across the country to our wonderful region. Attached you will find the summary of her activities in Nova Scotia. Thank you to all of the places that have invited our Moderator. Our thoughts and prayers are with you as you prepare for her arrival.
The following are the invitations that the Moderator has accepted.
Thursday, April 13 – Friday, April 14
YOUNGER MINISTRY PERSONNEL EVENT – Debert, Nova Scotia
Saturday, April 15
9:30 am – 11:30 am
JUSTICE, MISSION & OUTREACH COMMITTEE
2:30 pm – 6:30 pm
DARTMOUTH AREA CHURCHES
Sunday, April 16
ORCHARD VALLEY UNITED CHURCH
Please note that two events on the Moderator’s schedule are open to everyone. We are inviting anyone in the Dartmouth area to join the Moderator at Woodlawn United Church on Saturday, April 15. The Moderator will be at Woodlawn for the following activities:
3:00pm – Worship
4:00pm – Question & Answer Session
4:30pm – Coffee and Tea Reception
On Sunday, April 16, the Moderator will be the guest of Orchard Valley United Church. All are welcome to attend the worship service at 10:00am in person or online. Please see the attached link for the service:
https://youtube.com/live/NzrnRVMZXNo?feature=share
We look forward to sharing these visits with you all, as the Moderator participates in worship and fellowship in these sacred spaces. If you have any questions, please direct them to Rev. Faith March-MacCuish, Executive Minister, at fmaccuish@united-church.ca.
Moderator Visit – Woodlawn United Church
The Moderator of the United Church of Canada is coming to Dartmouth. You are invited to hear the Right Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne – our Moderator – speak at Woodlawn United Church (54 Woodlawn Rd., Dartmouth) on Saturday afternoon, April 15. We’re focusing on Renewing Hope in our churches.
We’ll begin at 3:00 pm with a brief, chapel-style service. Then from 3:30pm-4:30 pm, the Moderator will speak followed by a facilitated Question and Answer time following her address – we’ll have post-it notes for you to write down your questions. Questions can also be sent to ucfd@gracedartmouth.ca. There will be a reception downstairs from 4:30pm with light refreshments.
This should all wrap up by 5:00ish. We know Saturdays are busy for a lot of families: if you can only join us for a piece of this event, please do so.
This event is sponsored by United Churches for Dartmouth; all are welcome.
Ask and Imagine: Youth! YAYA Leaders – National Conversation
We invite those who lead and love young people to a Zoom conversation—a first step—to hear what young people have told us and to invite your thoughts, questions, and opinions.
The conversations will be led by Pamela Evans, Pacific Mountain Regional Council, and Amy Crawford, General Council.
Please join us at one of these four opportunities—no registration is required:
Tuesday, April 25, 7:00 p.m. ET
Thursday, April 27, 1:00 p.m. ET
Thursday, April 27, 5:00 p.m. ET
Monday, May 1, 9:00 p.m. ET
Zoom link: https://united-church.zoom.us/j/87351214321
Classic Sanctuary Furniture
Three Gothic style chairs and/or pulpit available free for collection from Parkhill United Church building, 5 Kirk Rd, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3P 1A5. If interested, please contact Sheila Kindred at kindredsheila@hotmail.com.
Caring Workshop
Caring for Me: Caring for You: Caring for the Church: Caring for the Wider Community. Sat. April 29. 10am to 3pm. Bridgewater United 87 Hillcrest St.
Register with Cindy Embree scembree@auracom.com 902-656-2793 or Marg Forbes raforbes@ns.sympatico.ca 902-543-2495. $15 covers lunch, drama, meditation and music.
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.
