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.
Condolences – Rev. Lorna MacQueen
Our condolences are extended to the family of Rev. Lorna MacQueen. A celebration of life service will be held at St. Mark’s United Church, Dundas, Ontario, on Friday, September 15, at 11:30 am (ADT). A livestream of the service can be viewed here.
2024 Mission Support Grant Applications – Deadline is September 20
The 2024 Mission Support Grant applications are now available here. Deadline for completed application and supporting documentation is Tuesday, September 20, 2023 and can be forwarded to: jwhittemore@united-church.ca or mailed to the Regional Office.
Executive Minutes
The draft minutes of the July 19, 2023 meeting of the Executive are now available on the website.
Celebration of Ministry Services – Save the Dates!
There will be two Celebration of Ministry services held in the region this fall. Please save the following dates in your calendars:
October 17, 2023 at 2:00pm for the Ordination of Catherine Ann Dickson
Service to be held at Trinity United Church, Summerside, PE
October 19, 2023 at 2:00pm for the Admission of Pierre Momberg to The United Church of Canada
Service to be held at St. Andrew’s United Church, New Richmond, QC
All are welcome! For those unable to attend in person, the services will be live streamed so that all who wish to may witness these milestone events. The links to the services will be shared closer to the dates.
Stewardship Update
Please click here to read the Stewardship update.
Mini Music Matters for UCC EAST
Music Leaders are invited to a one-day conference Saturday Sept 30th at Knox United Church in Sackville.
This workshop day will feature time to worship together, mingle, share ideas, to share stories. We’ll form new friendships as part of our region music ministry network.
Our keynote speaker is Rachel Lutz, director of the “Halifax Newcomer Choir”. She will speak to us about offering welcome in our church ministries, with an eye to diversity and inclusion. In addition, there will be a hymn sing from the new sampler for Then Let Us Sing!
Pianists, organists, choir leaders, band members and choir members, in fact anyone who is interested in the church’s music is invited to attend.
You will need to bring your lunch or there are several nearby local restaurants for lunch out. Snacks will be provided. There is no cost for this event, but donations will be accepted to help defray the costs. Don’t miss out. For those who are coming from afar, an inexpensive accommodation option ($60/night) on either Friday or Saturday night is available in downtown Halifax at the Barat Spirituality Centre.
The day will begin at 10:30 am and conclude at 5pm. There is no registration cost to attend this event.
Please help us know how many people to expect please get your FREE tickets by clicking here. There is a complete schedule of the plan for the day on the Eventbrite listing.
For more information email musicucceast@gmail.com
Hello from FSLDW President Elizabeth
On the road again…
Sunday, September 10 I had the privilege on behalf of the Region to join United Church friends in Florenceville-Bristol, NB to celebrate the formal amalgamation of St. Paul’s (Centerville) and Faith Memorial United Churches.
Joy filled the air as friends gathered with smiles abundant while carrying baskets of their best food for the essential and most delicious after worship pot luck.
The people of these two congregations have been living together for some time. Still Sunday was a new day. Like many couples who follow the same path of living together before formal union, eventually comes the time to make a public commitment. To say “I do.”
Sunday they said, “I do.” They made a public statement of how they wish to be united, how they wish to live out God’s dream for the world here and now, in Florenceville-Bristol, neighbouring communities and into the world.
With Spirit in out midst, Rev. Susan Estabrooks guided us with word, song and silence through a very meaningful liturgy which led us to a place of Oneness.
Worship began by acknowledging the territory, lighting the Christ candle and publicly declaring “We are indeed on Holy ground, for a power greater than ourselves has brought us to this day.” For indeed, Spirit led these congregations to this place.
I had the privilege to offer a reflection and declare, on your behalf, the official words “You are now one congregation in Christ.”
Going forward in hope, may it be so.
Please hold Rev. Susan and the newly amalgamated community of faith of Faith Memorial to the light. The future needs them.
Finally thank you to everyone of Faith Memorial for your gracious hospitality… even sending us home with a bag of gluten free rolls and a jar of mustard pickles! I love this United Church of ours… and of course Gods.
To see photos from Sunday check out FSLDW Facebook (Insert link 1 here)
In Peace,
Elizabeth
Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Stevenson
President, FSLDW Region
An Affirming Ministry
elizstevenson@gmail.com
506-650-4812
2024 Church Calendar
The United Church Bookstore is taking pre-orders for 2024 church calendar. Please submit your order to Leona at llaundry@united-church.ca by September 29, 2023.
Continuing Education for LLWLs
Learning on the Way (Fall 2023) September, October, November 2023
“Creation, Remembrance and Power: Resources for lay leaders leading worship”
Three monthly ”live” Sessions, and forum discussion in between sessions. The “live” sessions will run for 90 minutes each. In these sessions, we shall be engaging lectionary readings related to three Sundays that occur in the Fall. The scriptures designated for those days could also be used for other Sundays during the year as well.
Online training for Licenced Lay Worship Leaders
Interested in becoming a Licenced Lay Worship Leader?
This program is offered over two years entirely online through 4 modules, each containing an introductory webinar that provides an overview of the topic for that module, six online sessions with others and your mentor, assigned readings in preparation for the module, assignments to be completed and shared with the group during the timeframe of the module.
The Fall unit focuses on Prayers and Music and the Season of Pentecost and runs from September to December 2023. Register before September 18th.
Clergy Labyrinth Retreat
Take sometime for yourself and your well being this fall. We are inviting all active clergy, student ministers and/or retired clergy to join us for a time of relaxation and centering as we seek to reconnect with the Holy in our midst.
LLWL Annual Gathering
The Annual Gathering of Licensed Lay Worship Leaders from Bermuda-Nova Scotia and Fundy St. Lawrence Dawning Waters Regions will be taking place at the Tatamagouche Centre October 19-21. This event provides additional training/instruction, spiritual enrichment, and fellowship for LLWL. It is also appropriate for those considering the LLWL program.
Our instructors this year are Pix Butt and Ross Bartlett. Previous events have proved to be truly valuable and this one promises to be as well.
Registration is open on the Tatamagouche Centre’s website.
Rural Routes Through the Holy Day Away: Save the Date
On November 18th, 2023 from 10:00 – 3:00 we’ll be gathering for a Rural Routes Day Away at the beautiful St. Ann’s Anglican in Westcock, NB (just on the edge of Sackville).
We’ll be offering the usual mix of presentations, Rural Café conversations, worship, workshops and good food. We’ll have more specific information out soon. You can register at https://hemofthelight.com/registration-rural-routes-day-away-2023/.
For those who’ve attended any or all of our annual Rural Routes Through the Holy 3 day gatherings, this is a chance to reconnect. For those who’ve been curious, this is a chance to experience a gathering of those involved in, rural concerns, rural voices, rural hopes and rural laughter. To read about earlier gatherings visit https://hemofthelight.com and hover over Rural Ministries.
