FSLDW Weekly Announcements – July 16, 2025

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: Betty Barrett

Our condolences are extended to the family of Jennifer Taylor, Executive Assistant to the Executive Minister, whose mother, Betty Barrett, passed away on Saturday, June 28, 2025. The obituary is now available and can be viewed here.

Condolences: Alexander Stephen MacLean

Our condolences are extended to the family of Rev. Sandy MacLean, whose son, Alexander Stephen MacLean, passed away on June 24, 2025. The obituary can be viewed here.

Invitation to Peace & Friendship Gathering Tatamagouche Centre- Next step in our long journey of Reconciliation

Grounded in the Peace and Friendship Treaties of the 1700s between the British Crown, these Treaty-based gatherings emphasize Treaty education and responsibility, relationship building, land Rematriation and ceremony. Let’s celebrate our next powerful step in our Calls to Truth and Reconciliation built on decades of deep journeying together. The poster can be viewed here.

Click here for more information.

President’s Message

It has been six weeks since I was installed as President of the FSLDW Region. Where does the time go? I had made some wonderful plans to participate in various 100th Anniversary celebrations across our Region, to attend the National Celebration in St John’s on June 8, and began preparing to attend GC 45 in Calgary in early August. I also hoped to be able to worship with many of you in your home churches on a Sunday morning as a “summer visitor”.

Alas, none of these great plans came to be. As many of you already know I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer shortly after our Celebration of Ministries and began chemotherapy shortly there after on June 24.

I was able to chair the June 17 Regional Council Executive Meeting and am grateful to all who have assisted me —in fulfilling the duties of the office of President thus far. I am currently scheduled for 12 chemotherapy courses over the course of 24 weeks which will take me into the fall season.

I am both hopeful and optimistic that detection was early and therapy was instituted promptly. I want to thank those who have taken time to reach out with words of prayer, encouragement, good news stories and support.

I am reminded daily of the words of Proverbs 3: 5-6 ” Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”

I hope each of you have a happy, restful and rejuvenating summer taking time to do something restorative for yourself that you may have been putting off for some time.

Blessings and peace,

Hugh

Growth Ideas 101: For Love of Reading

How might a love of reading be a ministry opportunity through your community of faith? This July one community of faith is supporting a community partnership with their local literacy association and is supporting 37 children who are getting tutoring. How about reading buddies in your local school? At your local library? Offering reading support to newcomers looking for English opportunities? helping shut-ins, taking library books to them? Reading to residents living in seniors homes? Offering a story time outside? Hosting an author to do a reading and to share about their work? Hosting a book sale? Setting up that tiny library? Hosting book or article talks? Checking out new children’s books read-a-loud online to get ideas for books, planning a fall book ideas event to share book recommends to plan for holiday gifts of books, providing historical moments others can read about your local area, setting up a book corner, … your own creative ideas …Perhaps you can pair “literacy and lunch” or “books and cooks”? Share your ideas with me.

Contact your growth animator, Sharon Ballantyne at 506-306-0500 or by email at sballantyne@united-church.ca

Wednesday Watch Party

Wednesday Watch Party
July 23, 2025
Bethany United Church – Fellowship Hall
Two showings: 1pm or 7pm

1946: The Mistranslation That Shifted Culture
Watch the trailer here.

More information regarding RSVPing will be found by visiting the link to our website page.

Linnea Good Ukelele Workshop and Concert

Linnea Good is being hosted at Hampton UC in Hampton NB (24 Robb Court) August 9th & 10th. There will be a ukelele workshop in the afternoon; followed by a cookout 5-6:30pm; and then a concert at 7pm with all proceeds in support of Hampton Helping Hands for Displaced Ukrainians. Linnea will also join us for Sunday worship at 10:15am Sunday August 10th. Come out and join in the fun.

Bedford United Church is looking for a Music Director

Bedford United Church is searching for a Director of Music. This is a 20 hour per week position which includes UCC Pension and Benefits. BUC is a vibrant and inclusive community of faith that enjoys a wide variety of musical offerings!

All inquiries and expressions of interest can be sent to Searchteam@bedfordunited.com.

The position description can be viewed on the Bedford United Church website.

St Paul and Leonard Cohen: Public Lecture and Con Ed Opportunity

Until All Are Fed

Dear Friends in Christ,

I greet you in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, our Bread of Life.
I invite you to open your hearts to a ministry that reflects the very heartbeat of Jesus: feeding the hungry. The Canadian Foodgrains Bank has launched a powerful and deeply biblical initiative under the theme “Until All Are Fed.” This theme isn’t just a slogan, it is a call. It is Jesus’ theological mandate. Take a look and get involved!

Please click here for more information.

Retreat in a Godly Play Way

This retreat is meant to create a space for Godly Play® practitioners,
Christian formation leaders, parents/guardians and anyone who is curious or desiring a time away, to live in a Godly Play® way for 24hrs.
The Villa Madonna Retreat Centre provides a wonderful space to be with God who is not just here or there but everywhere. It is hoped that Godly Play@ practitioners will reconnect with one another along with expanding the circle to include those from various walks of life who are interested in the Spirituality of the Child, Christian formation of all ages and/or desire to experience Godly Play®. In rekindling the stories of our faith we hope to reimagine how we can share these together and with all of the
People of God we encounter daily.

When:
Friday, September 12 beginning with supper at 5:00pm to Saturday, September 13 3:30pm (Registration and check-in to rooms begins at 3:30pm). For those who are unable to join for supper, our retreat gathering opening session is at 6:00pm.

Where:
The Villa Madonna Retreat House located at 115 Villa Madonna Rd.
Rothesay, New Brunswick

Cost:
$150.00 (includes overnight accommodations, supper, breakfast, lunch and breaks)

Registration Deadline: Friday August 29, 2025

Click here to register.

For more information, click here!

The Theological Banquet – Rev. Janet Gear

At the 2025 Regional Meeting, Janet Gear offered a language and lens for talking effectively and compassionately about the various ways our faith is lived out in our churches. Her accessible Theological Banquet workshop series is available for use across the church. Watching the videos, engaging in discussion, and using the accompanying booklet with your community of faith, council or cluster fosters language, identity, and understanding in navigating differences and setting faith-based directions together.

The Theological Banquet – LeaderShift contact Michelle Slater