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.
To view upcoming events at the the Centre for Christian Studies please click here.
Fundy St. Lawrence Dawning Waters (FSLDW) Committee Interest form.
Condolences – Rev. Jim Crooks
Condolences are extended to the family of Rev. Jim Crooks, who passed away last week. A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, November 17, 2024 on the stage of the Imperial Theatre in Saint John from 2 pm to 4 pm. An obituary will be posted once it is available.
PEI Fall Gathering
There will be a gathering for clergy and lay people on October 29th at Central Queen’s United in Hunter River. The event will run from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM with a soup and biscuit lunch (cost of $15). We are pleased to welcome Sharon Ballantyne, Growth Animator as our guest presenter for the morning session. In the afternoon we will have breakout interest groups on the following themes: More time with Sharon, ThenLetUsSing with Louise Elder, Outdoor Ministry with Larry Hale and Intergenerational Ministry with Catherine Ann Dickson. Due to space, the event is open to clergy and two lay people per pastoral charge. To register email Tara Ann Gourson at: bidefordpc@gmail.com. Deadline to register is October 17th.
Clergy Day for Rest and Renewal
A Clergy Day of Rest and Renewal will take place on Friday November 8th at Sackville UC from 9:30am-4:30pm. Cost is $25/person, including lunch. Only 20 spaces available! To register contact Natasha Pearen at 506-529-3527 or rev.natasha.nb@gmail.com by October 18th. A great opportunity to relax with colleagues before taking in the Moderator’s Flourishing Workshop in Moncton on Nov. 9th!
Click here for a poster of the event.
Covenanting Service
A covenanting service between Candidate Huanyun (Julia) Ye, the Moncton-Sackville Collaborative Ministry and the Fundy St. Lawrence Dawning Waters Regional Council will be held at Central United Church, 150 Queen St., Moncton, N.B. on Sunday, October 20th, 2024 at 2 p.m. This service will also recognize the covenant between the communities comprising the Collaborative which are Central United, Sackville United and Visions United. All are welcome.
May God richly bless this ministry between the newly formed Collaborative, Candidate Ye and our Region.
Covenanting Service
A covenanting service between Rev. Alicia Walls, St David’s United Church and the Fundy St. Lawrence Dawning Waters Regional Council will be held at St David’s United Church, 7 Gondola Point Rd, Rothesay, N.B. on Sunday, October 27th, 2024 at 3 p.m. A reception will follow. All are welcome.
May God richly bless this ministry between the Rev Walls, St David’s and the Region.
Discipleship Webinar Series lead by Rev. Dr. I Ross Bartlett
The Faith Formation and Leadership Development Committee of the Bermuda-Nova Scotia Region is pleased to announce a series of weekly Webinars lead by Rev. Bartlett starting on Monday October 21st at 7pm Atlantic through to November 11th; each session will be approximately 1 hour in length with some time following for general discussion afterward. The registration fee for the series will be $40. There is no text book for the series however Rev. Bartlett’s book “On Holy Ground – You and Your Faith Story” is a recommended companion/resource for the series; this book may be ordered at the time of registration for $10 plus $5 postage and handling or it is readily available, in several formats, from Amazon.ca. Register for this event by completing the form at: https://ucceast.ca/86920-discipleship-webinar-series.
Program Overview: For followers and disciples of Jesus Christ, recognizing and understanding the workings of God in our lives and the world is both gift and challenge. The gift of trusting that we are not alone and that this is God’s world and the challenge to see the work of God in creating and re-creating our lives, our communities, and all creation. But how do we do celebrate that presence and understand that work? In this four-part series, participants will be introduced to a number of ideas and practices designed to facilitate spiritual reflection on our experiences and events in the world around us. They will gain greater clarity on their spiritual journey to this point and develop a comfort in talking about their faith in gentle and inviting terms. The program will combine small group conversation, opportunities for personal reflection, as well as input, ideas and challenges to grow in our walk as followers of Jesus.
About the Instructor: After 35 years of congregational ministry, the Rev Dr Ross Bartlett was appointed United Church Formation Director at Atlantic School of Theology in 2018. He has been involved in lay education and retreat direction for more than 25 years as well as working with ministerial candidates. A spiritual director and certified life coach he is committed to helping individuals recognize the presence of the Divine in every life. Ross is the author of several books and is frequently sought out as a speaker, workshop leader, and preacher.
Register for this event at https://ucceast.ca/86920-discipleship-webinar-series
One Day’s Pay — Truth Then Reconciliation
We started as a small group of friends and colleagues, both settlers and newcomers, who wanted to do more than reflect on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – we wanted to act. We knew we were not alone in this. We have started the One Day’s Pay campaign to actively support Indigenous Non-profits across the land.
Please join us by donating one day’s pay or donating what you can to Women of First Light in eastern Canada to share native spirituality and traditional teachings. Their purpose is to heal their communities, families and society by remembering and returning to the the traditional ways of our ancestors.
https://www.womenoffirstlight.com/contact-8
Rural Routes Through the Holy: 2025 Save the Date
We think the word’s out by now but just in case it’s not, Rural Routes Through the Holy is an annual three-day gathering of those in rural congregations (lay and clergy) for worship, learning, conversation, the sharing of resources, ideas and lots of good food. It’s a time for rest, relationship and renewal. You can read more here. We’ll have lots more information available in November. If you have questions you can email ruralroutesatlantic@gmail.com.
Greetings Growth Seekers from Growth Animator Sharon
Deepen spirituality, strengthen invitation, offer radical hospitality and make the first minutes of worship count! Have you considered having refreshments available in the sanctuary, and making them available before, during and after worship? Some communities of faith are finding this a very welcoming, inclusive invitation of hospitality. One person said, “That hospitality helped me feel I might be able to fit, to belong here.” Research is showing that people are most likely to make a decision about their comfort in the first twelve minutes of worship. Focus on worship at the beginning. Announcements moved to the end of the service, help people remember announcements and be able to speak to others while it is fresh in their minds. In the book “Thriving Churches,” United Church ministers Loraine MacKenzie Shepherd and Tammy Allan, describe thriving churches, both urban and rural as: Visionary, vital, having positive energy, offering radical hospitality, willing to be changed, able to welcome and embrace new opportunities. This or other “thriving church” focused books might be a great read for individuals, leadership or book study discussions. Contact me if you want some book ideas, or perhaps you would like to do a spiritual health questionnaire with your community of faith? Ideas from people like Loraine MacKenzie Shepherd and Mitchell Anderson, might help your community of faith make new discoveries. 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.
Stewardship Update – October 2024
Please click here to read the Stewardship update for October.
Orchard Valley United Church Seeks a passionate Youth, Young Families & Senior Minister
Orchard Valley United Church in the beautiful Annapolis valley of Nova Scotia is looking for a Student or newly ordained/commissioned/recognized individual who falls in the UCC Salary Categories A or B. If you are a more seasoned Minister and wish to only work 30 hours per week then let us know. Our ideal individual will be passionate, enthusiastic and joyful about Youth, children and Young families. The position encompasses 55% to programming work. This will include a large focus on our younger generations but also some work with our seniors in supporting their needs. The position will spend 30% of their time with our current Minister for Pastoral Care mainly in our senior populations. Outreach will be another passion that our ideal candidate.
You can find our profile on Churchhub.ca. We look forward to hearing from you.
Minister Job Description
Profile Team Report
