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 – Alice Elaine Burns
Our condolences are extended to the family of Alice Burns, widow of Rev. Carman Burns, who passed away on April 20, 2024. An obituary can be found here.
General Council Commissioners
The deadline for nominations for General Council 45 Commissioners is May 10. The original announcement can be read here. More information about the role of a commissioner can be found here. 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.
Hello from President Elizabeth Stevenson
On Sunday afternoon April 28 I had the delight to celebrate in the Covenanting Service with God and between The Rev. Jacob Shaw, Mountain View Pastoral Charge, Moncton, NB, and the wider United Church as represented by the FSLDW Region.
Please click here to read the full Hello from FSLDW President Elizabeth.
Greetings Growth Seekers from Growth Animator Sharon
What specifically are you hoping a Growth Animator will be able to support or resource with you and your community of faith, pastoral charge, cluster or other ministries, that your current ministry and lay leadership is not able to do? Your Annual General Meeting is fast approaching in your region. I plan to be at your AGM in-person and I want to connect with your delegates. If you are not a delegate, but are reading this, remind your ministry personnel and lay delegates to seek me out at the AGM. Before your AGM, have some conversations with your governing body, teams or committees, outreach ministries, your congregation, your local community partners
• Describe who you are and why you are. What is the story you celebrate? Who do you want to be in 3, 5, 10 years?
• Describe your neighbours and neighbourhood. How does the leadership speak about your neighbours and neighbourhood? How does your congregation speak about your neighbours and your neighbourhood?
• What groups and individuals currently use your building apart from your congregation?
• How do people on leadership and within the congregation speak about these groups and your connection to them?
• Are you currently working with other UCCan congregations, ecumenical partners, the regional council(regional pastoral relations minister or regional committees), your Stewardship staff (Roger Janes), CYAYA staff (Catherine Stuart), JMO staff (Shepherd Munikwa), UPRC/Kindred Works or any other such group?
• How are you strengthening invitation welcoming all to belong?
• Describe the ways you are living into deep spirituality, bold discipleship and daring justice. How are you growing or hoping to grow?
Bring your stories, your dreams, your ideas and questions to your AGM. Come find me and let’s begin or continue conversations. 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
Getting Started: Becoming an Affirming Ministry
Our April 18th webinar, led by Kim Curlett, is now available on the FSLDW Website under Resources or Affirm. Here is the link: https://ucceast.ca/84652-fsldw-affirm-getting-started-becoming-an-affirming-congregation
Our Affirm Committee will offer a workshop at the Annual Meeting, sharing some insights from the experiences of those who have been in, or are working through, the Affirming process.
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.
It’s Time to Support the PEI Basic Income Project
You could help Coalition Canadian in your capacity as a faith group leader. Last November we published the PEI Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI) report. This report has changed the landscape for guaranteed basic income advocacy. It has addressed key issues on how to implement a GBI. This has led to many serious conversations with senior policy people and politicians. It has led, for example, to a window opening between a federal and a (PEI) provincial Minister for an early stage ‘working group’ to be established to discuss data, administrative, and tax issues. This is huge step for GBI. Policy Options/IRPP has published an article about the work.
In a few weeks we will be sending a letter to a small number of MPs who will be involved in the election platform planning process for each Federal political party, asking them to put the PEI GBI demonstration project on their party’s platform. Your support is important. It will indicate to the MPs the breadth of support from people and organizations who understand how a GBI could affect the lives of people.
Please read and sign the letter. If you can, please share with your colleagues in the faith community.
Here is the link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScvgQbs_WEYhjV9Nr60UKzsZfVhK03hv997bdp3YszgmZLPhQ/viewform
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.
Learning Opportunity!
This program is suitable for ministry leaders, admin staff, lay leaders, and students (in any program) … come learn with us!
What’s next for you and your organization? Are you trying to solve a problem, run an effective meeting, guide a special project, or help a group make decisions to advance from “A to B”? Do you need some further coaching and encouragement to help you move things forward?
Join Dr. Shawn Jolemore for a practical, three-part webinar series (May 9, 16, and 23) designed to explore the challenges of leadership, organization, and facilitation of “strategic convenings”. Shawn will offer real-world personal and professional insights while exploring tools, mindsets, and methodologies that will help you deepen your collaborations and achieve meaningful results. [IF YOU MISS A SESSION, IT WILL BE RECORDED FOR YOU.]
