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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.
Condolences – Evelyn Jean Udall
Our condolences are extended to the family of Rev. Evelyn Jean Udall who passed away on March 28, 2023. The obituary can be viewed here.
Condolences – Rev. Ralph Johnston
Our condolences are extended to the family of Rev. Ralph Johnston who passed away on April 16, 2023. The obituary can be viewed here.
Condolences – Margaret Ann Plant
Our condolences are extended to the family of Margaret (Maggie) Plant who passed away on April 18, 2023. An obituary will be posted once it is available.
Annual Meeting Draft Agenda
The Annual Meeting full draft agenda is now available online, view using this link.
Don’t forget to check the Annual Meeting page regularly as information is updated often.
Proposals Deadline
The deadline for Proposals is April 28, 2023. More information on proposals can be found here.
Division/Committee Meetings Adjacent to the Regional Council Meeting Deadline
The deadline to submit your request for Division/Committee Meetings Adjacent to the Regional Council Meeting is April 28, 2023. Please click here to submit your request.
Display Space Request Deadline
The deadline to submit your request for Display Space is April 28, 2023. Please click here to submit your request.
Youth @ Region! (Formerly I@C and YF!)
Registration for Youth @ Region is now live! Please make this link available to the youth, grades 6-12 in your community of faith. Have questions? Email Catherine Stuart, Regional Minister for Children, Youth and Young Adults, cstuart@united-church.ca.
Executive Minutes
The draft minutes of the March 22, 2023 meeting of the Executive are now available on the website.
Region 15 Ministry and Personnel Committee webinar
M&P 101
An introductory webinar for Ministry and Personnel Committee members will be held on Tuesday, April 25, 2023 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., facilitated by Regional Minister David Hewitt. Topics will include:
• Purpose and function of M&P Committee
• Confidentiality and Accountability
• Record keeping
• Annual Reviews
• Conflict
• Leaves
• Resources
• Q&A
Please register to confirm your attendance, share your questions, and receive the Zoom link.
Registration: https://ucceast.ca/77224-2023-region-15-ministry-and-personnel-committee-workshop
Please direct questions to Regional Minister David Hewitt dhewitt@united-church.ca.
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
April 16 to 23 is Earth Week!
Join the many faith communities that are taking action for climate justice during Earth Week (April 16-23, and beyond!)
Sunday April 16th or April 23rd is Earth Sunday! Focus sacred readings, prayers and messages on loving and caring for the Earth. Use “For the Love of Creation” worship resources or those of your own choosing. Earth Day Sunday Worship Service, click here – Use in full or in part.
Sign the Open Letter to Stephen Guilbeault, M.P. Minister of Environment & Climate Change, click here.
The theme for the global Earth Day 2023 is “Invest in Our Planet”. There are a number of online resources available including 52 actions for any day of the year. Access additional resources for the campaign.
Earth Day is April 22nd: Come join or watch the “People’s Parade for Life on Earth!”
Opening Ceremony & Assembly: 1:00pm at Sackville Landing, Halifax Waterfront
Parade Start Time: 2:00pm
Post-Parade Celebration: 2:45-5:00pm Peace & Friendship Park
April UNJPPI news (United Network for Justice and Peace for Palestine and Israel)
In UNJPPI’s April Network News:
– Kairos Palestine’s Easter Alert
– April 27 event “New Developments in Israel-Palestine and the Role of the Churches” that takes place in Ottawa and online
– CPT’s Prayers for Peacemakers
– Video recording of Rabbi Rous’ sermon “Tears of Zion”
– “The Trip that Changed My Life” video series by Palestinian film maker on his experiences of travelling to South Africa
Plus resources, relevant articles, campaigns and more, here.
For more information about the United Network for Justice and Peace in Palestine Israel or to subscribe to our newsletters visit: http://www.unjppi.org/.
Caring
Caring for Me – Caring for You – Caring for the Church Family – Caring for the Wider Community: it’s at the heart of who we are. Join us at Bridgewater United Church, 87 Hillcrest St., for a day of drama, meditation and music. Saturday April 29 10-3. To Register Contact Cindy Embree 902-656-2793 scembree@auracom.com or Marg Forbes 902-543-2495 raforbes@ns.sympatico.ca Fee of $15. covers entire day.
Special Service of Commemoration
Coming up May 2: a special service of commemoration for all the mission co-workers from The United Church of Canada who have served in Korea over the years. United Church mission co-worker John Egger, who has served in Korea since 2018, is now in Canada on his final home assignment. John’s return to Canada marks a significant ending for the United Church, as he stands at the end of a long line of mission co-workers who have served in Korea since 1898, when the first mission co-workers from the Presbyterian Church in Canada arrived in Korea.
Join us on May 2 at First United Church in Truro as we celebrate the ongoing partnership in mission between Canada and Korea and commemorate the contributions of the many mission co-workers who have served in Korea over the past 125 years.
May 2, 2023
7 pm (Atlantic time)
First United Church, Truro
711 Prince Street, Truro, Nova Scotia
live-streamed at: https://www.youtube.com/@firstunitedtrurons
Covenanting Service – Rev. Kymberly Burke
Please Join us for this special occasion Sunday May 07, 2pm for the Covenanting Service of Rev. Kymberly Burke at Stairs Memorial United Church.
Guest Preacher: Rev. Gloria Churchill
All are welcome.
44 Hester St, Dartmouth NS
Surplus Furniture & Equipment
The surplus items include a storage cabinet and a small fire proof sentry safe. They are available free of charge to any ministry within Region 15. First come, first serve. Please contact the Board’s Treasurer for more information at (902) 489-2962, or cebhalifax@gmail.com.
2023 Self-Assessment Form Now Available
Greetings from your Region 15 Living Faith Stories and Community Covenant Committee!
We are happy to announce that the 2023 Self-Assessment Questionnaire is now available and ready for communities of faith to complete.
The Self-Assessment process is an opportunity for every community of faith within Region 15 to review together the ways in which they have been living out their mission and ministry on a regular basis. It also provides an opportunity for the Region to evaluate the ways in which it might strengthen connections between communities living through similar circumstances and best use its resources for the building up of the church in Nova Scotia and Bermuda. Please take the time to complete this assessment together with your governing body and/or congregation.
The form can be found here.
Deadline for completion is June 30th, 2023.
Thank you and blessings on your continued ministry!
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.
Berwick Camp Promotion Video
Berwick Camp is a 10-day camp for all generations located in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia. The Berwick Camp Communications Team has prepared a promotional video to be shown in churches for Camping Sunday or some other Sunday at a congregation’s discretion. The link can also be forwarded to members of your congregation.
For more information, visit the Berwick Camp website.
Vital Church Maritimes 2023 – Registration info
We are ‘Setting Sail!’ for a new voyage in missional ministry. Join in three days of encouragement, leading-edge learning and sharing ideas at Vital Church Maritimes 2023 conference.
Taking place April 27 – April 29 in Truro, NS, and on Zoom, this year’s keynote speaker is the Rev’d. Dr. Dawn Davis, professor at Huron University College, London, ON. She teaches Contextual Theology and is Director of Leadership for Ministry Programs. Dawn also hails from St. Luke’s, Dartmouth.
VCM 2023 conference emphasizes spiritual formation and discipleship, as well as opportunity consider present realities and future trends. Let’s explore where God’s Spirit is leading us in missional ministry! Keynote talks titles are:
• Leaving Port
• Sitting in the Fog
• Leaning into the Wind
• Set Sail!
An additional speaker is Registered Psychotherapist, Stephen Doucet Campbell, of Shad Bay, NS. He offers a talk on leadership mental health and resilience. He has a Masters in Counselling Psychology from Providence Theological Seminary and works from the models of Attachment, Narrative, and Dialectical Behaviour therapies. Stephen has worked with adults, youth, and families in out-patient mental health and addiction clinics, clergy and congregational care programs, schools, health centres, and with the justice system.
On Friday there’s a festive fun night, Sea Shanty Kitchen Party. Be sure to bring your musical instruments and wear your finest Sou’wester!
VCM 2023 is open to anyone – laity or clergy. (Invite your friends from other local churches too!)
Conference registration includes engaging presentations, plenty of group discussion, creative worship, materials and most meals. Hotel guest room costs are separate.
MORE DETAILS (including schedule) HERE.
REGISTER HERE.
Inn on Prince Hotel is the conference location. For guest room reservations, ask for our SPECIAL DISCOUNTED Anglican Diocesan rate of $121/night (includes a free hot breakfast).
GOT QUESTIONS? E-mail lvaughn@nspeidiocese.ca or call 902-789-4840.
Nuclear Power Initiatives in Atlantic Region raise concerns
The Coalition for Responsible Energy Development In New Brunswick (CRED-NB) is actively raising concerns about several nuclear power developments in New Brunswick
Concern with NB Power Exploring Partnership with Ontario Power Generation
New Brunswick government and NB Power misleading the public about plan for ARC-100 radioactive waste
Upcoming Events – Centre for Religion and Its Contexts
The Centre for Religion and Its Contexts has upcoming events for the spring and summer and have asked that the details be shared widely with your congregations, communities, friends and colleagues. Details can be found here. The next event is Thursday, April 20th and it is an online book launch of Practical Theology Amid Environmental Crises; the link for registration can be found here.
