NEWS AND UPDATES FROM FUNDY ST. LAWRENCE DAWNING WATERS (FSLDW)
Submission Request for Weekly Announcements
www.ucceast.ca
Staff Directory
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.
MINISTRY AND PERSONNEL COMMITTEES
Recognizing that the majority of Ministry and Personnel Committees do not meet over the summer, we did want to provide you with links to the United Church on-line resources that have been created to assist you in your work as M&P committees. Ministry and Personnel Committees are mandatory in all pastoral charges, and healthy functioning M&P Committees are an important part of maintaining healthy pastoral relationships. If you are a ministry personnel or regional representative receiving this announcement, could you please forward it to members of your pastoral charge’s Ministry and Personnel Committee.
There are a number of resources that we encourage you to read and use as you meet with ministry personnel and staff.
if you have questions or need assistance as a ministry and personnel committee, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Regional Ministers,
Job Posting: Regional Minister Pastoral Relations and Community of Faith Support- Deadline August 29
Fundy St. Lawrence Dawning Waters Regional Council is seeking an individual to fill the role of Regional Minister Pastoral Relations and Community of Faith Support on a permanent full-time basis (35 hours per week). Please see link below for the full job posting.
President’s Message
Click here to view the message of the FSLDW president.
A Multi-Congregational Commemorative Worship Service Honouring the Life and Ministry of Rev. Peter Gordon (1806-1809)
Greetings!
York Covehead Pastoral Charge, Mt. Stewart-Morell-St. Peter’s Bay Pastoral Charge, Kings United Pastoral Charge would like to extend an invitation to all to their Multi-Congregational Commemorative Worship Service honouring the life and ministry of Rev. Peter Gordon (1806-1809).
On Sunday, September 28th, all are welcome to attend a commemorative worship service honouring the Rev. Peter Gordon, the first resident Presbyterian Minister on PEI (1806-1809). Rev. Peter Gordon’s pastoral charge extended from West Covehead to Bay Fortune, and so, he was a historic predecessor of all our communities. The worship service begins at 2 p.m., followed by refreshments, cake, and ice-cream. Many thanks to our host church, Peter Gordon Memorial United Church, located in Morell, PEI (fully accessible).
Retreat in a Godly Play Way- Deadline August 29
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.
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.
The Villa Madonna Retreat House located at 115 Villa Madonna Rd.
Rothesay, New Brunswick
$150.00 (includes overnight accommodations, supper, breakfast, lunch and breaks)
For more information, click here!
Growth Ideas 101: Cups of Water Connection
Here is the link to the Growth Ideas from Sharon Ballantyne, the Growth Animator, for August 27, 2025.
Share your ideas with your growth animator at 506-306-0500 or by email at sballantyne@united-church.ca
Resources for Programs with Children and Youth Fall 2025
If you are looking for programming ideas for Children and Youth for the fall, this list is for you! It’s got a variety of programs for Sunday school and After school programs, as well as Confirmation and at home resources. There is a short Children’s Bible list as well as some other activities and newsletters to sign up for on the web. This list is by no means exhaustive, so if you have something that you love that you think others would love too, please send it along to be added, as this list is updated seasonally. Submissions to it or questions can be sent to cstuart@united-church.ca
Resources-for-Programming-with-Children-and-Youth-2025.pdf
Online Workshop with Carole Danby!!
On Saturday, September 6, 2025, join the Network of Biblical Storytellers Canada for a fantastic online workshop with Children’s Biblical Storyteller, Carole Danby!
Carole has been a Biblical Storyteller for 24 years and has worked with children and families for more than 35 years in her role with the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane, Australia. Recently retired, she is now spending more time writing resources for church leaders who work with children across Christian denomination.
Her legacy resource: ‘Getting to Know Jesus’ was launched in April 2021.
Carole will take us through an hour long workshop on how to share Bible stories with children in simple and engaging ways. For more information and to sign up through the Network’s online festival page, here. The single workshop is $35. Questions? Email Catherine Stuart
Put Wednesdays at 9:45 on Your Calendar for Virtual drop-in with Growth Animator Sharon
Join the weekly Wednesday morning Virtual Drop-in with Growth Animator Sharon
Mid-week virtual connection, sharing hearts of hope and whatever is on your mind
Come as you are with whatever curiosity and wondering, to connect with others across UCC-east
Casual thirty-minutes for anyone and everyone — lay people, clergy, staff, pastoral units, clusters.
drop in Wednesday mornings
9:45 Atlantic, 10:15 NL
Contact Sharon at sballantyne@united-church.ca for the link
North of Nowhere: Song of a Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner
The Justice, Mission and Outreach Committee, along with Women of First Light, co-sponsored a spring book launch tour by Marie Wilson to introduce Maritimers to North of Nowhere: Song of a Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner. With JMOC support, Marie was able to speak to large audiences in Halifax, Mahone Bay, Sydney, Antigonish, Pictou, Truro, Tatamagouche, Charlottetown, Fredericton, Sackville and Moncton. In some locations United Churches collaborated with community groups to support these events. Marie’s husband, Stephen Kakfwi, accompanied Marie for the first part of the tour. His book, Stoneface: A Defiant Dene, is a complementary read, the story of a residential school survivor. This successful book tour supported Maritimers in deepening our understanding of the importance of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the United Church apology and the urgent need to continue learning and acting in response to the 94 Calls to Action of the TRC.
JMOC is now urging follow-up to this tour by local United Churches. Consider organizing book studies, participating collectively in the Sept. 30th National Day of Reconciliation, developing relationships with Wananki communities (Mi’kmaq, Wolastoqey, Passamaquoddy), and other ways of enacting the United Church Apology. A useful resource may be this CBC National News interview, replayed this summer: You can find the resource here.
Get Ready to Stroll
Get Ready to Stroll
September 22 – October 13, 2025
Join us for a 21-day spiritual adventure exploring the theme of Shelter. Whether it’s a sturdy structure, a leafy branch, or a quiet pause, shelter invites us to rest, reflect, and renew.
Each day you’ll receive an email with a grounding photograph, a short reflection, and a simple practice to take with you as you stroll — outdoors or in spirit. You can walk, roll, sit at a window, or wander your neighborhood. What matters is the intention to notice.
Created by Janice Maclean (Canada) and Caroline Bindon (New Zealand), this year’s Stroll is shaped by two landscapes and two seasons — autumn in the north, spring in the south — inviting a global circle of companions to walk together in spirit.
Registration: $20 CAD. Learn more here.
Let’s Stroll together — pausing to find the many quiet, sacred places of shelter all around us.
Annual Clergy Retreat
The Association of United Church Clergy invites all clergy — active, retired on leave and candidates in any stream — to join our annual retreat. This year’s focus: navigating challenges and difficult conversations in times of change, with facilitator Natalie Aboodou. Also times of worship, fellowship, and sharing in a safe supportive environment. September 21-22, in Debert NS. Register here today!
Atlantic School of Discipleship, Fall-Winter 2025-2026
Enrollments are still being accepted for the Atlantic School of Discipleship @ AST. An opportunity for congregation members to learn with AST’s world class faculty in the comfort of your own community. Build your awareness of the basic features of the Christian life in our time: caring for one another; understanding conflict and change; what difference does Christian belief make; the gospel birth stories for today; the components of Christian friendship — and much more. A great way for any congregation tp provide quality adult Christian nurture.
Click here for details or contact discipleship@astheology.ns.ca
