NEWS AND UPDATES FROM FUNDY ST. LAWRENCE DAWNING WATERS (FSLDW)
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It’s Your Call – Podcast
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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: Matthew Jonathon Patey
Our condolences are extended to Rev. Faith March-MacCuish and family, whose brother-in-law, Matthew Jonathon Patey passed away on Saturday, August 30, 2025. A link to the updated obituary can be found here.
Salisbury United Church 175th Anniversary Service
175th Anniversary Service will be September 28th at 3:30PM. Church is located at 76 Smith Street. Guest speaker will be Rev. Michael Goodfellow of Hartland-Jacksonville Pastoral Charge. Reception to follow afterwards in the church basement.
The Institute for Health, Joy and Excellence Presents For Everyone Born: Clergy Symposium and Retreat 2025-October 20 to 24
The Institute for Health, Joy and Excellence presents For Everyone Born: Clergy Symposium and Retreat 2025, taking place from October 20 to 24, 2025, at Lion Max Simms Memorial Camp in Bishop’s Falls, NL.
What does it mean to proclaim “for everyone born a place at the table?” Join colleagues in ministry for a transformative gathering that explores this question through the lens of postcolonial theology. Framed by the powerful imagery and conviction of the hymn For Everyone Born, this two-part event offers both a rich educational symposium and a reflective spiritual retreat.
The Symposium (October 20-22) will provide a comprehensive survey of postcolonial theology, its core concepts, and their implications for the daily practice of ministry. Together, we will engage questions of voice, power, and presence in preaching, liturgy, sacraments, and congregational life. Together, we will explore how postcolonial theology challenges colonial legacies and opens the church to justice, joy, compassion, and peace.
Following the academic exploration, the Retreat (October 22-24) will offer spacious time for prayer, discernment, and renewal. Rooted in the guiding questions—Who are we? Who are our neighbours? What is God calling us to do?—this retreat will help participants ground postcolonial insights in personal and communal vocation. With scripture, silence, song, and story, we will listen for God’s call to be creators of justice and joy in our unique contexts.
Our symposium leader for 2025 is the Rev. Oliver Dingwell. Our leaders for the retreat will be Rev. Oliver Dingwell and Rev. Shepherd Munikwa.
Come and claim your place at the table. Come and prepare to extend that welcome to all.
Please click here to register by October 3, 2025 and find more information.
President’s Message
Click here to view the message of the FSLDW president.
Ukulele Church’s 6th Season!!
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
Growth Ideas 101: Great Greeting
Here is the link to the Growth Ideas from Sharon Ballantyne, the Growth Animator, for September 10, 2025.
Share your ideas with your growth animator at 506-306-0500 or by email at sballantyne@united-church.ca
Looking to live out your land acknowledgement?
A congregation in Hamilton, Ontario was inspired to learn how Indigenous ministry students at Sandy-Saulteaux Spiritual Centre in Manitoba are showing the broader church a path to reconciliation. The congregation decided to celebrate UCC’s 100th anniversary with a gift that supports these students and a hopeful future for our church. They challenge you to do the same!
Click here to learn more.
SENB Regional Youth Group
St. Paul’s United Church (Riverview, NB) is starting a regional youth group this fall. If you are between the ages of 12-30 and may be interested in participating, please click here to complete a brief survey by September 30th. The exact ages of the group will be determined based on interest. Please reach out to Olivia Finnamore (ofinnamore@gmail.com) or Isabelle Williams (isabelle.willixms@gmail.com) if you have questions.
St Paul & Leonard Cohen : Public Lecture and Con Ed Opportunity!
Join us for this six-part continuing education offering about St. Paul and Leonard Cohen. This series explores the surprising and profound resonances between the writings of the Apostle Paul and the lyrics of Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen. Drawing on theology, literature, and cultural criticism, participants will consider how these two enigmatic figures wrestle with themes of faith, failure, gender, rhetoric, mysticism, and legacy.
The first session, 𝗔𝗹𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲𝘀: 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗟𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝘂𝗹, is available as a public lecture on campus and will be accessible via zoom on 16 September, 2025, at 7:00pm. Please click here to sign up for the public lecture.
Please click here for more information about the remaining 5 sessions or contact Lydia at lydia.hood@astheology.ns.ca
Stewardship Update- September 2025
Please click here to read the stewardship update for September.
Free Season of Creation Planning Resource
Looking to try something different this fall? The Faith Formation and Leadership Development Committee has purchased rights for Bermuda-Nova Scotia Regional use of the All Ages Curriculum: “Creating a Culture”. Each week offers Prayers for Worship, Theme Suggestions, Printable Pew Activities, and alternating “Sunday School” or “Outreach Project” lesson plans for all ages. Join the theme for the season anytime before Thanksgiving and receive a discount code for 50% off of the Advent Package “Welcome to the Family.” Find more information, download the resource or request a resource intro session here.
Invitation: Seniors for Climate Action – DRAW THE LINE
Rev Dr Shepherd Munikwa – Minister for Justice Mission & Outreach – UCC East
Beloved friends,
In every generation, God calls forth witnesses to justice, compassion, and care for creation. Today, that calling rests upon us. The earth, our common home, groans under the weight of exploitation and neglect (Romans 8:22). Yet we are not without hope. For the Spirit still breathes renewal, and the wisdom of elders, seasoned by life, faith, and perseverance can shine as a prophetic light in this urgent hour.
Earlier this year, on Earth Day, we gathered in hope. Now, through our documentary Later is Too Late, we have sounded the alarm. And in September, we will stand together, elders drawing the line for life, dignity, and the flourishing of creation.
We invite you to join Seniors for Climate Action, for the historic DRAW THE LINE mobilization on September 20, 2025. This is the largest gathering of seniors in Canadian history for the sake of climate justice. This movement is not only about policy or politics; it is a sacred act of stewardship, rooted in the biblical call to “seek the welfare of the land” (Jeremiah 29:7) and to love our neighbors, including the generations yet unborn. Check the posters for actual date and time for your local gathering. Click here to view the Seniors for Climate Tantramar Facebook page.
Come, add your voice, your presence, your prayer, and your wisdom. Let us rise with courage, knowing that in Christ all things can be made new (Revelation 21:5). Together, we can bear witness that faith does not end with words but takes form in action, for the sake of our children, our grandchildren, and the future of all God’s creatures. You can view the poster here for more information.
Later is too late. The time is now. Join us.
A Day Away; Rest, Refresh, Connect
Join us this fall for a soul-nourishing day of connection, reflection, and inspiration in the beautiful and historic setting of St. Ann’s Church, on the edge of Sackville, New Brunswick.
This “day away” is a gentle and meaningful miniature of our longer three-day Rural Routes gathering. Whether you’ve joined us before or are just curious to dip your toes in, this is a wonderful opportunity to be part of the Rural Routes community.
The day will include:
Thoughtful speakers and creative workshops
A Reading and Discussion of led by Tom Urbaniak of You Are Loved ( A picture book remembering Alison Etter) Books will be available.
Space for quiet reflection and rich conversation
Morning refreshments and a shared lunch (included with registration)
Learn more and register here!
You Are Loved: a book inspired by Rev. Alison Etter
Rural Routes Through the Holy is honoured to welcome Tom Urbaniak to A Day Away, on October 18th, 2025. Tom will share readings from You Are Loved, a moving tribute to his late wife, Rev. Alison Etter.
Copies of You Are Loved will be available for purchase, with all royalties donated to the Rev. Alison Etter Memorial Fund at the Atlantic School of Theology, supporting those who carry forward Alison’s work and values, across all faith traditions.
You can read more by clicking here under the companion announcement Events/A Day Away: Rest, Refresh, Connect. You’re also welcome to email ruralroutesatlantic@gmail.com
While we hope many of you will register and spend the day those who would like to drop in just for Tom’s presentation (11 am – 12 am), without registering, are welcome too. We’d love to see you and we hope you spread the word.
Public Prayer Webinar
Let us pray. Sometimes those are intimidating words for lay persons. Join Janice MacLean of Prayer Bench to explore prayers for worship. Janice offers this description: “Prayer gathers us in, carries our joys and sorrows, and sends us into the world with blessing. In this three-session series, we explore the prayers that shape worship: gathering words, intercessions, blessings, and more -while learning the art of crafting them with care and leading them with confidence.” This program is presented by the Faith Formation and Leadership Development Committee of Bermuda Nova Scotia Region. Sessions will be held by Zoom on Mondays from 6:30-8:00 October 13, 20 and 27. Registration is $30.00 and can be paid to the Regional Office. Please register by October 10 2025.
Churches of Chignecto 100th Anniversary Worship Service & Gala
A committee Called the Churches of Chignecto 100th Anniversary Gala, spearheaded by the Upper Sackville-Anderson Settlement Pastoral Charge is the successful recipient of a Centennial Grant from the United Church of Canada Foundation, to help us close out our Centenary Year with an event to remember. We are currently in the planning phase for an event to be held sometime in November, which will bring together members past and present of the Churches that made up the more “rural” parts of Chignecto Presbytery in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. We are currently seeking a few eager members to serve on our committee, and for financial contributions to help supplement our grant. If you can help, please reach out to steering committee members: Wendy LeBlanc at awleblanc@rogers.com or Kyle Wells at kylerdwells@gmail.com. Details on the date will be shared when a date has been finalized by the committee.
Seeking Full Time Minister
