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.
Rev. Alison Etter – Obituary
An obituary is now available for Rev. Alison Etter, who passed away on February 14, 2024; it can be viewed here.
Gathering stories and song for the family of the late Rev. Alison Etter
As colleagues of Alison Etter, many of us are struggling to find a way to express our grief and support Alison’s loved ones. As a result, two initiatives are being offered.
1) A choir made up of her colleagues is being organized, so we can offer special music, under the direction of Lloyd MacLean during her celebration of Life. If you plan to be there and are willing to be in the special choir, please reply to Donna Tourneur. Also, please bring a favorite stole to wear.
2) A collection of stories about Alison, to be shared with her family and used by them to help Oliver know what we knew about his mom, is being compiled. Send your stories to Donna Tourneur.
Workshop Space Requests Deadline
The deadline to submit your request for Workshop Space is February 28. Please click here to submit your request.
Elected Members to Regional Council 2024
Please use the below link to view a memo from the Executive Minister, Faith March-MacCuish, regarding elected members to Regional Council for 2024.
Fundy St. Lawrence Dawning Waters Memo
Hello from FSLDW President Elizabeth
Sunday February 18, I joined worship at St. Paul’s UC in Fredericton, NB to bring greetings and words of gratitude on behalf of the Region.
Please click here to read the full Hello from FSLDW President Elizabeth.
Workshops at Rendez-Vous!
Do you have a creative workshop to offer?
Please see the invitation from the Rendez-Vous Planning Team!
Questions? Email Catherine Stuart
Communities of Faith: Singing Songs of Hope to Support Mental Health – Rescheduled to February 28, 7:00 PM
Our next Affirm Webinar : Our spirituality is our unique SONG: our sense of Self; connection to Others, understanding of the Natural order of things and our relationship to God.
When life is out of balance a person’s mental well-being can become compromised. They might change behaviors, forgot who they are, who cares for them and maybe they even feel disconnected from God.
This webinar will be an opportunity to dive deeper into our understanding of spirituality, mental health and the impact a community of faith can have on providing support.
Our Presenter is Kelly Hudson-Lewis, Manager of Spiritual Care for the Saint John Area of Horizon Health. Kelly is a United Church minister who, in 25 years of ministry, has served in congregations, community advocacy agencies as well as mental health outreach.
For registration please click on this link. If you registered for this webinar previously, the same Zoom link will apply.
Notes from FSLDW Pastoral Relations Committee – February 2024
Approved the request for a change in Pastoral Relations from Rev. Shawn Redden effective March 15, 2024, to accept a position with Shining Waters and Canadian Shield Regional Councils.
Approved the appointment of Christina Hague, DLM, to the Newtown-Waterford Pastoral Charge twenty (20) hours per week from February 1, 2024, until July 31, 2024.
Green Enthusiast for My Church
Do you know someone in your church who is enthusiastic about the environment and concerned about how to have a green future? We would like to connect with them for mutual sharing and communication, maybe funding and advocacy opportunities, also. We have information and resources we would like your church’s ‘Green Enthusiast’ to know about. Could you send us their name and email address, along with your church’s name, please? This could be the beginning of something amazing! Send their info to SMunikwa@united-church.ca. Thank You, Your Maritime region’s Eco-Justice Working Group, JMOC.
CCS Friday: Creating Harmonious Space
On Friday, February 23 from 12:00 to 1:00 CST join an online conversation about creating “harmonious space” rather than “safe space”. Harmonious space is the condition in which diversity and inclusion truly grow. Guided by author and educator bell hooks, who said, “ Learning takes place in harmonious space” and “Community that allows for risk, the risk of knowing someone outside your own boundaries is love.” We will consider harmony and risk as opposed to “safety” as the best environment suitable for diversity.
Our special guest will be Deaconess Adrainne Gray. Adrainne was consecrated a Lutheran Diaconal Association (LDA) deaconess and ordained an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) deacon in 2017. She is currently the Director for Recruitment for the LDA with a focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and works remotely from her home in Atlanta, GA.
CCS Fridays are free. Please register HERE to receive a zoom link.
CCS Fridays are online conversations to help us respond faithfully to emerging issues in local contexts. These workshops are open to anyone who might be interested. There will be a presentation that will be recorded for future viewing, plus opportunities to engage with the ideas in small groups.
Herbert S. Sharp Scholarship – Deadline March 1, 2024
This scholarship was established by Herbert S. Sharp, Class of 1890 and is awarded to students located in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, or Prince Edward Island, who are Protestant, a non-smoker, and who have demonstrated financial need. Preference given to members of the United Church of Canada and to applicants from Prince Edward Island. The application deadline is March 1, 2024. Further details on how to apply here.
Lenten Reflections
Daily Lenten reflections from Orchard Valley United Church are available on YouTube or Orchard’s Valley website, throughout the Lenten Season. Please join Rev Don as he ponders and shares thoughts on what the season of Lent means. A fun way to help us take time each day to reflect on the Lenten journey.
Greetings Growth Seekers from Growth Animator Sharon
You are invited! Who else did you invite? Where? When? What time? It sounds like some excitement in the air, don’t you think? Historically Easter Sunday has included Baptisms and Confirmations. This means Lent was a time of preparing for Baptism, learning and connecting, participating and being involved, prioritizing spiritual growth and commitment. Lent offers a time of preparation, getting ready and inviting people. everyone invited to join in, to be intentional in deepening their spiritual relationships. Perhaps your community of faith is doing a special worship series, book study or special gathering. One community of faith started a Saturday afternoon cup and conversation at a local diner to invite others. It might attract newcomers, others at tables nearby to come join the conversation. As we’ve moved through Epiphany reencountering the invitation, “come and see,” we take it into the Lent season and hopefully our every day practices. Don’t go alone … invite someone to church, to join you on errands, a special event , interest activity, on a walk/drive, for a “cup and conversation.” It’s better together! Think of all the things you might invite another to join you to do, and then do what you can. Imagine it! Share it! In what ways can I invite others to “come and see” Talk about it with others and transform ideas to action. Reach out. Invite me for a chat and share what you are up to. You can reach me by email at sballantyne@united-church.ca or by phone 705 875-8837. Let’s grow together with deep spirituality, bold discipleship and daring justice
Potential CIRA Internet Grant Opportunities for Rural Areas – Next Window for Applications begins March 1
Sharing a potential granting opportunity (which might be linked to the broader Rural interests in general), with CIRA. CIRA is the Canadian Internet Registration Authority. They have infrastructure grants available to support providing high speed internet to more rural and remote spaces. You can find more information here.
GLI Urgently Needed
Friends: There are many anecdotal stories about the increasing level of poverty in the Atlantic provinces, indeed in all of Canada. And we experience it daily in terms of food bank usage and visually as we go about our daily activities. The following video and article from Global News confirms statistically that poverty is indeed an intolerable reality. It is specific to Nova Scotia, but has implications for all Atlantic Canada. It challenges the current political response and calls for policy and action that will deal with the pain and hurt that poverty brings. In short it points to the need for a consistent, reliable source of income for all, that is a Guaranteed Livable Income. Please read and listen and call on the powers that be for action that matters.
Hal and Karen Llewellyn (Volunteer GLI Coordinators for Bermuda-Nova Scotia region)
How Nova Scotia’s affordability crisis was years in the making
While the COVID-19 pandemic may have been a driving factor in Nova Scotia’s affordability crisis, experts say the issue has been years in the making.
Read in Global News
Music Director Opportunity
St George & St Andrew United Church, Annapolis Royal, NS, is seeking a part-time Music Director/Organist/Choir Director. Duties include playing at regular Sunday services, for special services as required, and conducting a weekly rehearsal of forthcoming choral anthems and other music.
We have a two-manual baroque-style (with Swell) tracker-action instrument by Orgues Létourneau (Opus 28, 1991) and a Yamaha digital grand piano (CLP-695GP). The church boasts a strong music programme, with choral anthems as a regular part of every service, and many other musical events take place in our sanctuary due to its excellent acoustics.
For further information and details please email: andrea.boulding@gmail.com.
Rural Routes Through the Holy 2024: Registration now open
Registration is now open for RRTH 2024. Join us for our fourth annual gathering, June 13 – 15th at Orchard Valley United Church, New Minas NS.
Beautiful to Behold; Broken Open Church is our theme this year and along with the theme times (with Rev. Dr. Catherine Smith) and Rural Café conversations. We’ll have workshops on Spiritual Memoir, Collaborative Ministry and Acadian Experience to choose from. There’ll also be ‘tasters’ 30-minute presentations by those excited about ministries they’re involved in. There’ll be worship, a separate room full of prayer practice ideas and the quiet to engage them, food and this year, a Maker’s Market where local artisans and you who come can offer the work of your hands for sale. See the schedule. Read about the theme, how Rural Routes began and more by visiting here and hovering over the Rural Ministries for the drop-down menu. For questions email ruralroutesatlantic@gmail.com
Bridges to Hope: Connecting Spirituality and Imagination
ASTE 2024 invites you to a time of deepening spirituality. Daily we experience spiritual angst and despair arising from; climate collapse, wars, illness, personal and/or global discord. Presenters from Celtic and Indigenous perspectives will explore the potential of our innate ability for imagination and spirituality to lead us out of despair and into hope. This is an opportunity to explore the topic Bridges of Hope: Connecting Spirituality and Imagination in depth in a safe and supportive environment under the guidance of The Rev. Dr. Teresa Burnette-Cole, The Rev. J Ivan Gregan and the ASTE2024 community.
Have questions, have answers, join us – Tatamagouche Centre, June 17-20, 2024; ASTE2024
