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. Denis Matheson
Our condolences are extended to the family of Rev. Denis Matheson who passed away on April 13, 2024. An obituary can be found here.
Proposals Deadline – This Friday
The proposals templates can be found here. The deadline for proposals is April 26, 2024.
Annual Meeting Registration
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.
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
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.
Executive Minutes
The minutes from the January 31, 2024 meeting were approved at the April 17, 2024 Executive meeting and are now available on the FSLDW website.
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
Communities of Faith Annual Reports – Reminder
A reminder to all Communities of Faith who have yet to send in their Annual Reports. Please email to your Regional Council as soon as they are available using the following email:
Fundy St. Lawrence Dawning Waters Regional Council: Info4RC14@united-church.ca
If you are unable to submit by email please mail one copy of your report to:
Fundy St. Lawrence Dawning Waters Regional Council
21 Wright Street
Sackville, NB E4L 4P8
If you have already submitted your Annual Report, there is no need to resend.
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).
Greetings Growth Seekers from Growth Animator Sharon
Who did you notice this week? Who noticed you? Who were you able to call by name? Who called you by name? Being seen, being acknowledged, known and remembered helps us build community. Do you notice the name tags worn by employees when you are going about your daily lives? Being called by our name is gift we can receive and gift we can give. Perhaps there are people you regularly see but don’t know their names. Notice after you find out their name the difference it makes in brightening your day and someone else’s day! Talk directly to a person. If a child, someone using a wheelchair, someone sitting down, meet them at eye level so they don’t have to always be looking up. Building relationships can start with learning each other’s name. How can you add to the knowledge, a kind question? Offer a complement or acknowledgement of appreciation? Keep building beloved community! In your community of faith, are people wearing name tags? Beyond name tags, how does your community of faith intentionally create community that invites and welcomes everyone to know they are needed, valued, belong, able to be themselves, to be comfortable, and to be safe? 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
Covenanting Service
A covenanting service between Rev. Jacob Shaw, Mountain View United Church and the Fundy St. Lawrence Dawning Waters Regional Council will be held at Mountain View United Church, 85 MacBeath Ave., Moncton, N.B. on Sunday, April 28, 2023 at 2 p.m. All are welcome.
May God bless this ministry between Rev. Shaw and this Community of Faith.
Reimagining Communities: the Potential of a Basic Income in NB
Communities are facing many challenges; everything from the stresses of precarious work, job loss from AI, disruptions from climate disasters and pandemics, sky rocketing economic inequality, inflation and lack of affordability for basic needs, global disruptions due to conflicts, and rising food insecurity.
It is apparent that the Canadian social safety net is no longer working. Community residents are looking for help that preserves their dignity and provides adequate support for themselves and their families.
Many have called for Basic Income, an income floor for all to ensure better health outcomes, adequate housing, nutrition, increased educational attainment and child development, as well as, ensuring positive psychological well-being.
How can we reimagine a new way forward?
· What is, and isn’t, Basic Income?
· Why is it important?
· How do we move forward?
Friday, May 3
Panel Discussion 1:00 – 2:15 pm
Reception 2:15 – 3:00 pm
Wilmot United Church, 473 King Street, Fredericton
Available livestream at https://www.youtube.com/@WilmotUnitedChurch
For more information and to register, click here.
Gibson Memorial United Church (Fredericton) 150th Anniversary
On May 5th, Gibson Memorial United Church will be celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the congregation in Fredericton, NB. Former members and friends welcome.
Thurs., May 9th, 2:45pm A Privileged Opportunity! Learn from Mi’kmaq elder, Gerald Gloade, at the Mi’kmawey Debert Interpretive Trail near Truro
You’re invited to join highly respected Mi’kmaq Elder Gerald Gloade as he shares his deep spiritual and ecological knowledge, at the trailhead of the Mi”kmawey Debert Interpretive Trail, 20 minutes west of Truro. This special opportunity has been arranged for Thursday, May 9th, 2:45pm, enabling delegates to the Bermuda-Nova Scotia Region Annual Meeting in Bible Hill to participate. However all United Church people from both Regions are very welcome to attend! We need to know how many are coming and provide you with detailed information, so please register with Kathryn Anderson <kathrynande@gmail.com>.
Spring Program STROLL Starts Soon
Whether you’re based in Canada or Aotearoa New Zealand or in any other part of the world, whether you’re a seasoned Stroller or have never Strolled with us before, you’re invited to join us this May. We Stroll independently but are linked together in a connection that spans the globe. This year we’re bringing all Strollers together in one Stroll experience and hosting it May 19 – June 8, 2024.
We live in changing and challenging times. Stroll provides a spaciousness and restfulnesss and invites us to take pause and reflect, to get outdoors or look outdoors and enjoy the work of our Creator God. The theme of Stroll this year is “Seasons of Change.”
During Stroll you receive a daily email over three weeks with a reflection and invitation to action and response. While written with the wider intent to encourage Strollers to get outdoors for a walk, jog or cycle, eyes open to the world around us and our Creator God, Stroll is inclusive of those who are less mobile. Strollers might prefer to Stroll by sitting on their porch or beside a window.
For those who enjoy interacting with other Strollers, we have an optional extra Stroll Facebook group where anyone who is Strolling can share their thoughts or photos of their Stroll. Details on how to join the group will be included in the registration email.
You can buy an Individual Stroll subscription at Prayer Bench. Visit: https://prayerbench.ca/product/stroll-individual-2/
A GROUP subscriptions is only offered through Kereru Publishing this year. Gather three or more friends together for a shared subscription.
Stroll is a collaborative program written by Janice of Prayer Bench and Caroline at Kereru Publishing, New Zealand.
Berwick Camp 2024
Berwick Camp will be holding its 152nd encampment this summer from July 26 to August 4. This year we will be welcoming our United Church Moderator, the Right Rev Dr Carmen Lansdowne, as Minister in Residence. She will be conducting the service on Sundays at 10am, and Monday to Friday evenings at 7pm. We’d love to welcome members of congregations from all over the Maritimes and beyond to spend some time with us this year. If your church is in the Berwick area, we would love to have the whole congregation celebrate Sunday services under the hemlocks with us. Have further to travel? We are hoping that churches from outside of the area will pool for transportation for a day visit, and stay for the evening service. Or, come and experience the whole week! Registration is now open. More information can be found on our website (https://www.berwickcamp.org), including the link for registration and the daily schedule (with more details on events to come as we get closer). So come check it out!
We are sending along here a promotional video giving a bit of a snapshot of what Berwick is all about. If you are able to show this at your churches on camping Sunday (or any time!), please do! Many churches have campers that attend that would be happy to answer questions about the camp experience.
Link to video: https://youtu.be/aDoCbTSbSK8
Hope to see you there!
Orchard Valley Pastoral Charge is Seeking Additional Ministry Personnel
Orchard Valley United Church is actively searching for a Part Time (30 hours/week) Minister to support our Youth, Young Families and Seniors.
Orchard Valley is located in the beautiful Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia. We are a family oriented, multigenerational Affirming congregation that wants to grow and thrive. We are looking for someone that can bring their compassion, energy and imagination to our congregation. We have a dedicated congregation that supports various activities and our committees of the church. We strive to be innovative and want to build our relationship with our community. If you feel that call to try something new in a newly renovated building housing an eager faith community then we want to hear from you!
The profile and position details available on ChurchHub. For more information contact jemcdonald56@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 Burnett-Cole, The Rev. J Ivan Gregan and the ASTE2024 community.
Have questions, have answers, join us – Tatamagouche Centre, June 17-20, 2024; ASTE2024
