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.
Young Clergy Retreat Postponed
Because of the potential for bad weather here in the Maritimes over the next few days, the planning group for the Young Clergy Retreat has decided to postpone until Thursday May 23 and Friday May 24. The retreat will still be at the Tatamagouche Centre (as they graciously allowed us to postpone without penalty).
For those who had already registered, you will not have to re-register.
For those who did not register for the retreat because of a conflict, or were unable to do so in time, a new registration link is available below:
https://ucceast.ca/83320-younger-ministry-personnel-retreat-spring-2024
We are sorry for the inconvenience this may cause some. Please let me know if you have any questions.
General Council Commissioners (Updated)
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 person who will be installed as President at the 2025 Annual Meeting (President Elect, elected at the 2024 Spring 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.
Proposals Deadline
The proposals templates can be found here. The deadline for proposals is April 26, 2024.
Pastoral Charge Information Form 2024
The 2024 Pastoral Charge Information Form is now live. The completion of this form is important to the region in order to have current contact information for staff and committees as we attempt to provide you with current communications relevant to your Local Board, Council or Committee. If you do not have some of these officers in your community simply mark that section as N/A (non-applicable). It is essential that each Pastoral Charge completes and submits this form.
If you have had your annual congregational meeting and have elected your governing body for 2024, please click on the link above to complete. If you have not had your annual meeting, and have the same people serving in the governing body, we kindly ask you to still fill out the information form. The form should be completed and submitted immediately after your annual meeting or by April 30th at the latest, with information current at that time. The form can then be updated following your 2024 annual meeting with any new information.
Thank you for your attention to this important request. In the past the response to this request has been low and a complete response from all charges is critical.
You are reminded that electronic copies of your annual report can now be uploaded to your Church Hub site, as well as emailed to the Regional office (info4RC14@united-church.ca).
Facilitators Needed
We are looking for facilitators for Y@R (Youth @ Region). 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 @ Region) event happening at our annual meeting. If you can help us out in anyway, please email Lisa Folkins at lisa.folkins@gmail.com
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 for the full program. 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.
Becoming an Affirming Congregation – First Steps
Our FSLDW Affirm Committee offers something on first steps every year. If you’ve begun the conversation “officially” or if you are one person wanted to get the conversation started, this is a good place to join others who have questions and experiences to offer.
This Zoom gathering will be on April 18th 7:00-8:30, with guest Kim Curlett, United Church minister and our Atlantic representative for Affirm United. Click here for the registration link for the meeting.
Hello from FSLDW President Elizabeth
I hope you experienced a life giving Easter celebration, with glimpses of the Risen One wherever you lingered… and lots of chocolate.
Today I introduce you to another face of UCC ministry – that of Spiritual Care. Meet Rev. Kelly Hudson-Lewis, trained Clinical Spiritual Care Practitioner, and Manager of the Spiritual Care Department for the Saint John area of Horizon health.
Please click here to read the full Hello from FSLDW President Elizabeth.
Greetings Growth Seekers from Growth Animator Sharon
Are you growing weary with focus on decline and fears? Celebrate some wins instead of wearying worries. Be intentional to focus on lifting up successes and meaningful connections with people. Keep making spiritual growth your intentional priority individually and collectively. Stay committed to loving God through loving people. How are all the ways you loved people today? This week? We know loneliness is a mental health crisis. Strike up conversations at your local coffee shop, favourite restaurant, lobby of your apartment building, with someone out for a walk in the neighbourhood, an employee where you work or are getting goods or services. What stories did you hear? How did it make you feel? Imagine every team or committee meeting, each gathering celebrating how we are loving people and how we can do it even better? Open meetings with spiritual focus and sharing. A few stories shared won’t alone transform your church, but is part of your transforming! How can we offer renewed community, friendships, relationship building opportunities? Who in our wider neighbourhoods can help us connect with more people to love and more neighbourhoods to improve? Talk to other places of worship, points of interest and potential community partners and see how you might help each other. Promote each other’s activities and keep drawing the circle wider. 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
The Palestinian Land Exercise
Fashioned after the Kairos Blanket Exercise, the Palestinian Land Exercise will walk you through the changes to and history of the land called Palestine. FSLDW now has a team who have been trained to facilitate the event! If your church or community group is interested in hosting an event, or if you would like some more information, you can contact the team at PLEMoncton@gmail.com.
Searching for a full-time Lead Minister, Bedford Pastoral Charge, NS
This is a full time, Lead Ministerial position responsible for encouraging the ongoing development, growth and evolution of Bedford United Church’s vision and values. The incoming minister will have an opportunity to help shape the future of the church’s spiritual offerings, its community and social justice impacts, and its interdenominational relationships. Bedford United Church is an inclusive, and affirming community of faith, currently involved in a multi-year initiative exploring options for long term sustainability and renewal.
The Lead Minister is responsible to provide leadership and support to the Ministerial Team and their programs. The ministerial team currently consists of a part time Minister of Congregational Care and two part time Congregational Designated Ministry positions: the Family Ministry Leader and the Music Ministries Lead. Along with members of the ministry team, additional church personnel and dedicated volunteers, the Lead Minister will ensure the delivery of regular services, music, pastoral care, among other offerings.
Please see ChurchHub for additional details on the Lead Minister Position Description. As well, we invite anyone to visit our website to view our Community of Faith Profile. Any questions can be directed to: searchteam@bedfordunited.com.
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.
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 Burnett-Cole, The Rev. J Ivan Gregan and the ASTE2024 community.
Have questions, have answers, join us – Tatamagouche Centre, June 17-20, 2024; ASTE2024
