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President’s Message
The August long weekend has passed and for some vacation is over and for others it has just begun. Visitors have come and gone and for others we still await reunions of all sorts with anticipation. The air is a bit cooler in the mornings, but the days are still warm and full of promise. Most of us pray for rain for our crops, gardens and flowers while some areas seem to have been favoured with at least some showers of blessing from the passing clouds.
This week our attention turns to Calgary and the 45th General Council. Our commissioners will travel to take up the work of guiding our United Church into its next century. We owe a debt of gratitude to all commissioners for this work. There have been online preparations in advance of the meetings and significant reading and video materials to review in advance of the in-person meetings. A hybrid model of in person and virtual attendance is being used this year.
There are a significant number of proposals to come before the court and of course this is the time when a new moderator will be selected for a three-year term. We are blessed to have several qualified candidates offering their skills, abilities and gifts.
The United Church of Canada will also offer an historic apology for ways in which the denomination has hurt and harmed 2S and LGBTQIA+ communities within and beyond the United Church. The apology will take place in the context of a special livestreamed worship service on Friday, August 8. The service will be held at Knox United Church, 506 4 St. SW, Calgary, Alberta at 9:00 am MT.
The service is open to anyone who would like to attend in person; it will also be available on Zoom, with interpretation in English and French. Register here . Online participants are invited to have a bowl of water and branches with them, for a blessing at the end.
There will be several ways for people to participate and gather.
Please follow the United Church via their website and social media for news from GC-45 ! I would ask that you keep all those participating in GC-45 in your thoughts and prayers this week and that the Spirit will be present and guide our church in the midst of all their discussions and decisions.
Blessings to all,
Hugh
Growth Ideas 101: Video Discussion Starter for Visions, Dreams, Imagining Church in 2035
What are your hopes for your community of faith, imagining the next decade? In an eleven-minute video, participants from the Moderator’s (re) generate program offer their hopes for the church in 2035. You can watch it here.
The video was shared at the June 28 virtual meeting of GC 45.
You might invite people to have a watch party and follow-up discussion in your own context. Share the video as a sermon message or with one of your teams, committees or small groups. Let’s talk about your fears and your hopes. I am happy to set up a zoom call 1:1 or with a group. We could have a phone call. You could send me a video clip or an email sharing your feedback. Contact your growth animator, Sharon Ballantyne at 506-306-0500 or by email at sballantyne@united-church.ca
General Council 45 — Hold all in Prayer, Tune in Virtually
August 7 to 11, 2025 is the hybrid offering of GC 45, Visions and Dreams, at the TELUS Convention Centre in Calgary AB. The plenary sessions will be livestreamed at the United Church YouTube channel
There are five candidates who are nominees for Moderator who will be elected by commissioners by August 9, and installed August 11.
The apology to 2SLGBTQIA+ will take place Friday August 8 in a special livestream worship service. Anyone can join via Zoom. Register here
Hold all in prayer.
Courage to Lead® Program–Tatamagouche Centre
We warmly welcome you to join us August 7-9, 2025 for an upcoming Courage to Lead® program at the Tatamagouche Centre.
Whatever personal or societal challenges we face, the resources we need to transform our lives and the world can always be found within us and between us – in the human heart and in community. When we fully embrace the genuine within ourselves and honour the inherent worth and dignity of every being, we unleash the power to build a better world. This retreat is modelled on the Circle of Trust® approach developed by Parker J. Palmer and the Center for Courage & Renewal. You can learn more about “Circles of Trust” or in Parker Palmer’s book, A Hidden Wholeness: The Journey Toward an Undivided Life.
For questions contact Tara Reynolds at: tandemtruthsconsulting@gmail.com or by phone at 802-917-4485.
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.
Pride Week Worship Service
Saint John Pride Week is coming up on August 8-17; and as part of the festivities, the Affirming Churches in the Saint John area will be joining together to hold a Pride Worship Service on Sunday August 17. Quispamsis United Church (372 Hampton Rd.) will be hosting the service this year, and everyone is invited to attend! The service starts at 10am, with a Zoom link available for anyone not able to make it in-person.
For more information, you can check out the Facebook event. Happy Pride!
