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. Shelagh McCulloch-Taylor
Our condolences are extended to the family of Rev. Shelagh McCulloch-Taylor who passed away on March 19, 2024. An obituary can be found here.
Condolences – Robert “Bob” Charles Stevenson
Our condolences are extended to FSLDW President Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Stevenson and family on the passing of her brother, Robert Stevenson. An obituary can be found here.
General Council Commissioners
The 45th General Council of The United Church of Canada will meet in-person August 7 to 12, 2025 in Calgary, AB. The 45th General Council begins its work as we celebrate our 100th anniversary as a denomination. We encourage you to prayerfully consider serving as a General Council commissioner, which provides you a unique opportunity to be part of the wider church and have an impact on the future of The United Church of Canada as we seek to discern where the Holy Spirit calls us into the next 100 years as a church. General Council Commissioners are voting members of the General Council meeting, and serve as commissioners for 3 years. More information about the role of a commissioner can be found here.
The Fundy St. Lawrence Dawning Waters Regional Council is eligible to elect fourteen (14) commissioners, and their alternates, along with the President of the Region at our 2024 annual regional meeting. A minimum of 1/3 of the commissioners must be ministry personnel, and a minimum of 1/3 of the commissioners must be lay personnel. Attention should be given to diversity of age, gender, racial and cultural identities, and sexual expressions.
The elections will happen in two phases at our annual meeting. The six (6) lay commissioner and six (6) Ministry personnel and the second phase will be the election of our one (1) Youth (15-18) and one (1) Young Adult (19-30) commissioners.
Nominations will close on May 10, 2024 at 11:59pm. There will be no nominations received from the floor for these commissioner positions. All nominees must be ministry personnel or lay members within the bounds of Fundy St. Lawrence Dawning Waters Regional Council. Each nomination needs to be moved and seconded by someone other than the Nominee (no self nominations, please), and the mover and seconder must be a member of a community of faith within the bounds of Fundy St. Lawrence Dawning Waters Regional Council. These nominations do not need to be passed through a governing body of a community of faith.
If you are interested in serving as a Commissioner to the 45th General Council, please fill out the form below. We encourage you to express your interest in serving, as well as how you feel you will be a representative of the diversity, mission, and values of Fundy St. Lawrence Dawning Waters Regional Council. Nominations will be accepted until May 10, 2024 at 11:59pm Atlantic.
If you are interested in serving as a Commissioner to the 45th General Council, please fill out the form here. If you have, any questions, please be in touch with the Nominations Committee Chair, Rev. Rose-Hannah Gaskin.
Annual Meeting Registration is Open
Registration is open for the annual meeting. Please read the memo sent from the Executive Minister. Visit the annual meeting webpage regularly for the latest updates and information on the upcoming meeting.
Proposals Deadline
The proposals templates can be found here. The deadline for proposals is April 26, 2024.
Kitchen Party at the Annual Meeting
I’m sure you have heard about all these talent shows made especially popular with the dawn of the “Reality Show” era… but did you know that the Fundy St. Lawrence Dawning Waters has the equivalent at our Regional AGM? That’s right… it is called the Kitchen Party and it will be co-hosted by Rachel Campbell and Catherine Ann Dickson. Held on Saturday night after all the business is done we get the opportunity to share our talents. So sign up to share your talent (when you register you will be asked about a talent for the Kitchen Party), attend to cheer everyone on and well basically have a blast. Don’t miss 2024 Kitchen Party at UPEI. Do we have talent? You tell us.
Youth @ Region 2024
Calling all Youth, between grades 6-12! Registration is now open for Youth @ Region!
Y@R is a place of community and a place of faith where United Church youth, between grade 6 and grade 12, meet from across New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and the Gaspe. It takes place during the Annual Meeting of Fundy St. Lawrence Dawning Waters Regional Council (FSLDW), which is a gathering of representatives who make decisions and set policies for the United Church of Canada. The group creates an inclusive, diverse and safe community for youth in the name of Christ. We provide a place for youth to explore their faith and to learn more about the United Church of Canada while sharing in music, worship and fun in a spirit-filled community.
We hope to see you there!
If you have any questions, please email cstuart@united-church.ca
Register here
Facilitators Needed
We are looking for facilitators for Y@R (youth at regions). If you are looking for a fun weekend and love spending time with our youth, message Lisa Folkins for more information. lisa.folkins@gmail.com
Chaplains Needed
We are looking for a couple of chaplains to assist with our Y@R (youth at regions) event happening at our annual meeting. If you can help us out in anyway, please email Lisa Folkins at lisa.folkins@gmail.com
Annual Meeting Draft Agenda
The annual meeting draft agenda can now be found on the Annual Meeting webpage. As information for the meeting becomes available it will be posted on this page.
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 the Region. 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 allow for printing of meeting materials, please submit nominations by May 17, 2024 at midnight. Nominations can also come from the floor of the meeting at which time nominations will close at the close of the Friday night session. Nominations are open to all members of the 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. If you have any questions, please contact Nominations Chair, Rose-Hannah Gaskin.
Elected Members to Regional Council 2024
Please use the below link to complete the elected members form to Regional Council for 2024, 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
Younger Ministry Personnel Spring Retreat
Once again, the younger ministry personnel (under 50-ish) of Bermuda-Nova Scotia Region and Fundy St. Lawrence Dawning Waters Region are organizing a time of retreat.
Please join our spring retreat as we come together to be together. This retreat is designed to be a time of rest and reflection for all those 50ish and under in the Atlantic Region, and will include a special worship to laugh and to cry as we remember and lament our dear friend and colleague, Alison Etter. Please join us at 1 pm on April 4, at the Tatamagouche Centre, for this special 24-hour retreat.
The spring retreat will be held at the Tatamagouche Centre on April 4th and 5th, at a cost of $170 per person. This cost includes all food and accommodations. There is a reduced rate of $150 per person for those who are interested in sharing a room.
More details will be shared closer to the date, but registration is now open.
Visit the UCC Regions East website here to register today!
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact Daniel MacDonald
Intergenerational Worship Education Series
The Faith Formation and Leadership Development Committee of Bermuda-Nova Scotia Region invites you to participate in a 4 week program exploring Intergenerational Worship. Designed for lay persons who provide worship leadership within their own congregations, the sessions will be offered via Zoom on Tuesday evenings at 6:30 April 9-30 inclusive. Join presenters Rev. Catherine Stuart, Regional Minister for Children, Youth and Young Adults; Paige Fraser, Families Ministries Leader at Bedford United Church. Rev. Dr. Karen MacLeod-Wilkie of South Shore Pastoral Charge in Prince Edward Island and Rev. Rick Gunn, minister of St. Luke’s United Church, Upper Tantallon NS. There is a cost of $25.00. Click here to register for the series.
From Struggling to Thriving: How to Revitalize Canada’s Medicare System
Join Moderator Carmen Lansdowne and respected health journalist André Picard. As a keynote event in the Moderator’s Flourishing initiative, Picard will reflect on which changes would transform medicare from a “sickness care” system to a “health care” system.
April 11, 6:30 p.m., Canadian Museum of Immigration @ Pier 21, 1055 Marginal Rd., Halifax, NS. Registration and tickets available on Eventbrite.
Is Your Church Flourishing?
Moderator Carmen Lansdowne and Cameron Fraser, Director of Growth for The United Church of Canada, will conduct a free workshop for congregations with a view to dreaming great ideas into reality. Spend the day reflecting and engaging in energizing activities towards dream-oriented actions for our churches and communities (Flourishing Project)
Open to everyone. Invite your friends, too.
April 13, 9:30-4 p.m., Bedford United Church, 1200 Bedford Hwy, Bedford, NS. Free registration.
UCW Annual Meeting Registration Deadline Approaching
The Maritime UCW Annual Meeting “Pass on Beauty – Spiritual Practices for These Days ” April 26-28 at St James United Antigonish is fast approaching. Registration Deadline is March 26th, 2024. Registration can be found on the UCW ministries webpage.
Greetings Growth Seekers from Growth Animator Sharon
How is it with you this Holy Week? Are you feeling as you are coming out of a wilderness, still in its midst, seeking Easter celebrations? Recall the urgency Jesus shared as he lovingly served the disciples, washing their feet on Maundy Thursday, sharing the last supper with his friends in the upper room. In the intimacy, a loving act offered. What small things can you do as acts of great love as you journey this holy week? For yourself? Another? In the preparations of your sacred spaces? In your neighbourhood around you? Attend to your own inner sanctuary of your heart, to family, your COF and stretch yourself to reach the sacred space outside your building, with welcome, with invitation, with urgency, the sharing of the Good News of Easter? Perhaps make a large invitation that you put in the door or window of each entrance, a sandwich board sign, put up flyers of invitation in public spaces where such is permitted, phone someone and invite them, make some Easter cards and if you did Palm crosses and have extra distribute them in a card. Get some Easter eggs and make small snack bag ziplocks and distribute outside your doors with a word of encouragement to passers-by. Consider a Easter bonnet invitation and take a photo of all. Have an Easter theme dessert auction or cup cake decorating activity. Fill plastic Easter eggs with a message of hope, an invitation to worship, and a treat and leave one with staff at all the places you have to visit this week. Spread the message of love to all you see. 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.
Annual Declaration of Criminal Records
Dear colleagues in ministry,
You’ve made it through another intense Advent and Christmas season! We know, and appreciate, how much you have put into your ministry as you enter this season of Epiphany. Of course, there are always more tasks and ministry waiting for you in 2024.
The Annual Declaration is one of those required administrative tasks that Ministry Personnel are asked to prioritize each year.
The Annual Declaration is a mandatory process, where Ministry Personnel declare whether or not they’ve been charged with a criminal offense in the past year. This is a simple process that must be done through ChurchHub, by logging in to your account at churchhub.ca.
As per the Police Records Checks policy, if the Annual Declaration is done by the deadline, you will not be asked to obtain a new formal level 1 and level 2 Police Records Check.
Please remember that even if you were late in completing the form for 2023, it still needs to be done on schedule this year.
If you have any questions about this process, please contact your Vocational Minister Andrew Richardson (ARichardson@united-church.ca ). Need help accessing ChurchHub? Please contact ministry@united-church.ca
Don’t delay, complete your form today!
Palestinian Land Exercise
On February 17th, individuals from across our three regions gathered at the Dalhousie Campus in Truro for Facilitator training in the Palestinian Land Exercise. Modelled on the Kairos Blanket Exercise, this education tool will help participants understand the historic conflict between Palestinians and the State of Israel. It is an experiential tool that will put you into the shoes of those who experienced it.
The first version… the UNJPPI version of the Palestine Land Exercise began in 2015 under the title “Just Work in Progress” by Doug Rigby. It was renamed and rewritten in 2018 by the Mennonite Central Committee to include personal stories based on the work of Mennonites on the ground in Palestine. This version, the version we are working with, was then edited and updated by the Halifax Just Peace Group.
During our day – After an introduction, participants and trainers got into character before beginning.
The participants each took on a role as a participant but also practices their role as a facilitator as the teams prepared to take the exercise back to their communities. The time ‘on the ground’ was followed by a debrief session. Each presentation of the exercise will be followed with this opportunity to talk about the experience.
We were then fortunate to hear Linda, Doug and Magi speak. Each shared information about the situation in the Middle East and helped those gathered to integrate the days learning.
If you are interested in having the Palestinian Land Exercise come to you, please contact a member of the Just Peace for Palestine and Israel Working Group, part of the Justice, Mission and Outreach Committee of your region.
Nova Scotia Pastoral Charge Seeking New Minister
Windsor United Church is actively searching for a Minister to lead us in meaningful worship.
Windsor United is a unique, growing, family-oriented church located in the Annapolis Valley area of Nova Scotia. We are a vibrant multi-generational congregation with a strong foundation of over 100 years of ministry. There exists a very active support system within the church that enables the various committees to meet their commitments, thus assisting the ministerial staff with their responsibilities.
The profile and position details available on ChurchHub. For more information contact WUC_searchteam@outlook.com
Choir Gowns
Beacon United Church in Yarmouth has 15 choir gowns (blue with yellow/gold scarf) to give to a congregation or organization that can use them. Please email Janet Sollows at janetsollows@gmail.com for more information.
