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- Jessie Pearl Jeanette Manuel (Taylor)
Condolences are extended to the family of Jessie Pearl Jeanette Manuel (Taylor) who passed away on Saturday, February 8, 2025. A copy of the obituary can be viewed here.
Forms Related to Retirees and Jubilarians
Please click here for a memo from Faith March-MacCuish, Executive Minister, with information regarding forms related to Retirees and Jubilarians.
Agenda Time Requests Deadline
The deadline to submit your request for agenda time is March 8. Please click here to submit your request.
Proposals Deadline
Dear Committee/Division/Teams and members of Regional Council: As the 2025, 45th General Council meetings get closer, we need to remind everyone that the deadline for proposals to get before the General Council is April 1st, 2025. If there were proposals that came before the region at our spring meeting in 2024, please note that they have been forwarded to the General Council. If you wish to have other proposals considered, the deadline for submission to the Region is February 26th, 2025. Individuals, communities of faith, networks, and clusters of the United Church may submit a proposal to their respective Regional Council for consideration. The Regional Councils will then take ownership of the proposal, with full ability to make revisions and changes, and either forward it to General Council with agreement or disagreement (providing rationale why the Regional Council is sending a proposal with which it disagrees) or by taking no action at this time.
In order to give the Regional Council Executive time to consider proposals, please ensure that all proposals are received by February 26th, 2024. The proposals will come to the March Executive meetings for your respective region. Proposal guidelines and templates for General Council are attached, and can also be found here: https://generalcouncil.ca/councils/gc45, click on business and then proposals.
Prayer for Peace from Regional President / Prière pour la paix de la présidente régionale
Hello/Bonjour,
We are living in troubling times, for which I offer this prayer:
Holy One,
We pray for peace in our world, where there is conflict and strife. Bring an end to violence and injustice. Inspire leaders to work towards the well-being of all people. May your love and compassion prevail, uniting nations in a common pursuit of peace. Let your kingdom of peace reign on earth as it is in heaven. We pray especially for a way forward in the difficulty our country is experiencing with our neighbours to our south. In the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, we pray. Amen.
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Nous vivons des moments difficiles, et je vous offre cette prière :
Saint,
Nous prions pour la paix dans notre monde, où il y a des conflits et des querelles. Mettez fin à la violence et à l’injustice. Inspirez les dirigeants pour qu’ils travaillent au bien-être de tous les peuples. Que ton amour et ta compassion prévalent, unissant les nations dans une quête commune de la paix. Que ton royaume de paix règne sur la terre comme au ciel. Nous prions tout particulièrement pour que notre pays puisse résoudre les difficultés rencontrées avec nos voisins du sud. Nous prions au nom de Jésus, le Prince de la paix. Amen.
FSLDW Regional Council Governance Evaluation Survey Deadline.
There are four surveys distributed as part of the Regional Council Governance Evaluation. Next week is the extended deadline for receiving the input from all those involved in a regional council committees or a member of the Executive.
The focus of the evaluation is ‘whether [and how] the Regional Council is living into its potential for enhancing call and ministry in building relationship with communities of faith and faith leaders’. The views of people serving on a Committee/Executive of the Fundy St. Lawrence Dawning Waters Regional Council is essential to this evaluation of the governance structure.
If you have questions, including wanting the survey in another format, please contact Seyi Adeyemo at sadeyemo@united-church.ca or 1 506 306 0494.
Thank you.
Wednesday, 2 p.m. Feb 19, 2025 Affirm Webinar Dementia and Spiritual Care: A Challenge that Affects Us All
Dementia and Spiritual Care: A Challenge That Affects Us All
With the leadership of Angela King together we will explore how dementia is more than diagnosis; it profoundly impacts those living with the condition, as well as their families, friends, and caregivers. By recognizing the far-reaching effects of dementia, we can cultivate compassion, bolster support systems, and raise awareness within our communities. Together, we can create an environment of awareness and assistance for all affected. In today’s presentation, Angela has been asked to address three typical scenarios where a diagnosis of dementia is at play and how dementia awareness, knowledge, skill, and empathy make the experience better for everyone involved.
About Angela
Angela King is a certified Spiritual Care Practitioner specializing in dementia care and education. She has worked in long-term and acute care settings across Canada during her career in spiritual care, and currently works at a hospital specializing in Geriatric Medicine in Saint John, NB. Angela is a certified Positive Approach to Care® Independent Trainer, Consultant, and Advanced Consultant, deeply invested in helping individuals experiencing brain change or living with dementia and their care partners protect the integrity of their relationships from the early stages until the end of life.
To register please click here.
Atlantic School of Theology Credit Course: Pilgrimage and Retreat Leadership
If you would like to participate in Rural Routes Through the Holy and receive a university-level course credit, you can do so by registering for a course at Atlantic School of Theology, entitled, “Pilgrimage and Retreat Leadership.” For more information, contact Prof. Rob Fennell at rob.fennell@astheology.ns.ca.
RURAL ROUTES THROUGH THE HOLY 2025, June 12-14, Sackville, NB: Life, Land, and Leadership: Loving With Your Feet
We’re so glad to have Rob Fennell and Shawna Lucas as our main theme presenters.
Our experience and honouring of the sacred can’t be contained within walls. Sometimes it calls for a journey. It can be a rural route through the holy, a route we take in with our senses and feel in our bodies, a route that shapes us in community with the storied land beneath our feet and those storied people, past and present, with whom we journey. It can begin right outside our door. Come listen to insights and stories from Camino Nova Scotia’s eleven years of facilitating local pilgrimage and imagine together what pilgrimage could look like on the land you call home.
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN (look for the early bird discount) here.
We’ll have those things Rural Routes participants have come to know and love: tasters (brief presentations), body prayer, worship, table talk, good food, a place for silence and various prayer practices, a Maker’s Market and book exchange. This year we also have post-event package that you can purchase if in person attendance isn’t possible for you.
We love our new website. We hope you’ll sign up there to receive news of this gathering and other resources and rural initiatives we’re seeding and connecting. For questions contact Catherine at ruralroutesatlantic@gmail.com
Stewardship Update – February 2025
Please click here to read the stewardship update for February.
khorus – Moncton’s Gay Men’s choir
Ministry Personnel Position
Beacon United Church, an affirming ministry in a single point charge in beautiful Yarmouth, NS, is seeking a full-time minister to lead us into the future. Beacon offers a well-maintained, accessible facility that acts as a community hub for up to 40 community groups. The congregation is vibrant and financially stable. Yarmouth is a historic sea-faring town that is experiencing growth in an area with a moderate climate. Please see our profile and the position description on ChurchHub.ca. Questions and expressions of interest can be emailed to sollowsd@gmail.com.
REMINDER: Annual Pastoral Charge Information Form 2025
The form is fillable online but can be printed and mailed or faxed if the individual designated to complete the form does not have internet access. Any paper copies may be mailed to the Regional Office at 21 Wright Street, Sackville, NB E4L 4P8 or faxed to 506-536-2900. Any questions you may have about the form can be directed to Seyi Adeyemo, FSLDW Communications and Office Administrator, at sadeyemo@united-church.ca or 1-506-306-0494.
Greetings Growth Seekers from Growth Animator Sharon
Are you regularly and intentionally asking “why” and “why not” questions, digging deeper for answers? Why or why not?
Does your community of faith demonstrate hope, resilience, joy, health, excellence and gratitude? Why or why not? Are you going beyond “all are welcome “statements to being bold disciples creating belonging for all? Why or why not? Does your community of faith reflect the diversity in your neighbourhoods? Why or why not? Do visitors come and stay? Why or why not? It is Black History Month. Are you intentionally increasing knowledge, action and commitment growing towards being an anti-racist denomination? Why or why not?
Franklyn James in PE wrote in a Jan. 29 national blog of the United Church: “Black History Month in Canada, particularly within The United Church of Canada, is a powerful reminder of our shared humanity. It’s a call to celebrate, reflect, and work towards a more inclusive future. Let’s celebrate this month as a commemoration of past achievements and a commitment to ongoing understanding, respect, and unity.
What great ideas are you bringing to life? Grab a team of people to share curiosity. Educate and energize your community of faith. Take action.
Let’s get growth animated together. Call Sharon at 506-306-0500 or by email at sballantyne@united-church.ca as together, we keep being bold, deep and daring!
Feb 13 Webinar: Coffee with Franklyn James
The Foundation is thrilled to invite you to another instalment in our “Coffee With” webinar series, Coffee With: Franklyn James! Rev. Franklyn James is a theologian, poet, educator, and passionate advocate for social justice. Originally from Kingston, Jamaica, he now serves as the minister at West River United Church in Cornwall, Prince Edward Island. With extensive experience as an author and educator, Franklyn has devoted his career to fostering holistic growth and empowerment. He also sits on our Scholarship Committee and chairs the Black Clergy Network.
In this webinar, we’ll catch up with Rev. Franklyn! Don’t miss the opportunity to learn more about his impactful work and his efforts to inspire and uplift through his writing and ministry, exploring themes of faith, community, justice, and resilience. Register here.
Funding Opportunity for Affirming Ministries
Grant Opportunity for Affirming Ministries
The Tegan and Sara Foundation is offering grants between $1,500 and $5,000 to 2SLGBTQ+ leaders and small nonprofits. Our goal is to fund the projects meeting needs of 2SLGBTQ+ people through a diversity of programs, geographies, approaches and communities. Grantees will join a cohort of 2SLGBTQ+ leaders and nonprofits across North America to support each other, and will also benefit from the institutional knowledge of the Tegan and Sara Foundation. For more information and to apply by February 21, 2025 deadline visit the foundation’s Community Grants page.
