NEWS AND UPDATES FROM FUNDY ST. LAWRENCE DAWNING WATERS (FSLDW)
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www.ucceast.ca
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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 – Wayne Barkhouse
Our condolences are extended to Rev. Catherine Stuart (Regional Minister for Children, Youth and Young Adults) and family, whose father, Wayne Barkhouse, passed away on October 10, 2025. The funeral was held earlier today. A link to the obituary can be found here.
Here from the Beginning
The exhibit “Here from the Beginning”: Celebrating the history of The United Church of Canada through the lens of Black People will be available beginning next week for viewing at the Regional Council Office, 21 Wright Street, Sackville, New Brunswick.
This important exhibition was prepared for the centennial of The United Church of Canada, and provides a more full understanding of the church’s history from the Black perspective, as another step in the church’s journey to be an intercultural and anti-racist church.
We hope that you will consider viewing this important exhibition while it is in our region, during the following times:
21 Wright Street, Sackville, New Brunswick
Monday through Friday; 9:00 am–3:00 pm daily
Decommissioning Service – Lake George United Church
On Sunday October 26 at 3pm, a Decommissioning Service is going to be held at Lake George United Church (642 Route 635), part of Prince William Pastoral Charge. The congregation of Living Waters (an amalgamation of Riverside and Lake George United Church) will continue to worship in a community hall, but they are letting go of their building.
Members of the Region are invited to join the congregation as they say goodbye to the building and give thanks for all of the worship and ministry that happened in this space over the generations.
Covenanting Service – St. Andrews United, Vernon Bridge, PEI
Come celebrate with us – as we mark a new ministry relationship with St. Andrews United Church, Nathan Zwicker and Fundy- St. Lawrence Dawning Waters Region. A covenanting service will be held on Wednesday, October 29th at 7:00 at St. Andrews in Vernon Bridge, PEI. We extend a heartfelt invitation to join us for this special occasion, as we celebrate faith, hope, and fellowship.
(Re)generate Presentations
(Re)generate is a leadership development program for ministers across the United Church created by our previous Moderator the Rt. Rev. Carmen Lansdowne. This program culminated in each of the participants completing a capstone project. This webinar series is an exciting opportunity to hear from 4 of the participants of this program; their experience and their capstone project. The Faith Formation and Leadership Development Committee of the Bermuda-Nova Scotia Region is pleased to present this two webinar series. This series is hosted by (Re)generate participants from the Eastern Regions of the United Church, one on October 22nd and one on October 29th. These sessions will start at 7pm (AST) and run for an hour with time at the end for questions and discussion. Registration is now open here. There is no registration fee for the series. The presenters for the two sessions are:
October 22nd –Rev. Penny Nelson, and Rev. Rick Gunn
October 29th – Rev. Katie Aven, and Rev. Michelle Johnson-Armstrong
Upon registration you will receive an automated email. A few days later you will receive a welcome email from the committee with the zoom link for the sessions. You will also receive a reminder email before each session.
Covenanting Service – Campbellton Pastoral Charge
A Covenanting Service between Rev. Limon Daka, The Campbellton Pastoral Charge and the Fundy St. Lawrence Dawning Waters Regional Council will be held at First United Church, 16 Aberdeen St. Campbellton, N.B. E2N 2J7 at 2 p.m. on Sunday, November 2, 2025. All are welcome. The guest speaker will be Rev. Dr. Wilson Gonese
May God richly bless this ministry between the Rev. Daka, the Campbellton Pastoral Charge and the Fundy St Lawrence Dawning Waters Region.
Covenanting Service – Dalhousie – New Mills Pastoral Charge
A Covenanting Service between Kimberly Inglis, Diaconal Candidate, The Dalhousie – New Mills Pastoral Charge and the Fundy St. Lawrence Dawning Waters Regional Council will be held at Bethel United Church, 23249 Route 134, Nash Creek N.B. E8B 1G8 at 2 p.m. on Sunday, November 16, 2025. All are welcome.
We pray that God will richly bless this ministry between Kimberly, the Dalhousie – New Mills Pastoral Charge and the Fundy St Lawrence Dawning Waters Region.
LLWL Annual Gathering at Tatamagouche November 6-8
For several years now Licensed Lay Worship Leaders from Bermuda-Nova Scotia and Fundy St. Lawrence Dawning Waters Regions have been gathering for a time of learning, fellowship, and spiritual renewal. It is also an opportunity for the licensing committees to meet with LLWLs.
This event is available to LLWLs from both regions, as well as those who are still in training and anyone wishing to explore the program. The Rev. Mary Taylor (also President of B-NS) returns as one of our instructors along with Kyle Grant who you might recognize as part of the Worship Team at our joint meeting this year.
The LLWL Gathering is returning to the Tatamagouche Centre for 2025. We have built flexibility into the program so you can register for as much or as little as you are able to attend. Please click here for the registration form.
Submitting this form will generate an automatic email response with the total payment due and instructions for payment. Please to do not contact the Centre to register or make reservations. If you have questions, contact Heather Donnelly.
Churches of Chignecto 100th Anniversary Worship Service & Gala
Was your Rural Church formerly a Part of Chignecto Presbytery?
A committee Called the Churches of Chignecto 100th Anniversary Gala, spearheaded by the Upper Sackville-Anderson Settlement Pastoral Charge with help from the Shediac 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.
Please consider joining us on Sunday, November 23, 2025 for a joint worship service (10:30 AM) and Gala Harvest Lunch (12 PM) at the East Botsford Recreation Center, 15 Trenholm Road, Murray Corner, N.B.
Lunch Tickets are $15.00/person and must be pre-purchased by November 17th so that the committee can supply adequate food. Dietary restrictions will be accommodated with advance notice.
For tickets or information please contact: Wendy LeBlanc Phone: 506-232-0975 or by email at awleblanc@rogers.com or Kyle Wells Phone: 506-871-6162 or by email at kylerdwells@gmail.com
Please note while this event is being spearheaded, and hosted by NB Churches this event is open to our NS friends who were in Chignecto Presbytery.
President’s Message, October 14, 2025
I trust that by this time everyone has had their fill of roast turkey and pumpkin pie……or at least a sufficient taste to hold you over until Christmas. I notice from various announcements that many communities are holding various fundraising dinners and events prior to Advent. It is a busy time of year, and our church is no exception.
I have been on the road a bit over the past two weeks and have had the opportunity to worship on back-to-back Sundays with St. John’s United in Moncton and Trinity United in Summerside. I find it both interesting and rewarding to be part of the various traditions and worship styles as I visit within the region. I just wish there were enough Sundays in a year to visit each Pastoral Charge during my term as President. I can attest to the fact that these two communities of faith are filled with spirit, vitality and individuals of steadfast faith who participate in an extensive list of community encouraging activities on a regular basis. I am sure that each of your own communities, in their unique way, similarly seek to serve the needs of the church and wider community in ways guided by the Holy Spirit. I thank you for the warm welcome extended to Randy and myself.
I am aware of at least four covenanting services which will be celebrated in the Region before Advent. You are encouraged to lend your support by attending these important covenants when one is being celebrated close to you. It is another way of connecting with our neighbouring pastoral charges, ministry personnel and new friends. Check your Weekly Announcements for details.
Your Regional Executive will be meeting face-to-face in Sackville on Oct 27 and 28 for our regular fall planning and business meeting. It will be a challenging and full agenda falling so closely on the heels of General Council 45 and as our awareness grows as to the magnitude of the changes affecting world geopolitics.
Despite the challenges and obstacles we may face on this journey together …..REMEMBER….
“Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)
Blessings to all,
Hugh
Growth Ideas 101: Inviting Inspection Perspective
How do others perceive your property and community of faith space? When our property and buildings are familiar, we take for granted all our own knowledge of which door to use, where washrooms, kitchen space, meeting rooms are, and what is expected. Too often we hear stories of a visitor who tried to attend but could not figure out even which door to enter, meeting locked door after locked door and no clear signage. Invite some people who do not attend your church to come have a tour, and share their observations, impressions and ask questions. Tell them you want them to inspect the space and lift up what is easy to understand, what is missing, what they are attracted to, what is a concern, distraction or turn off? Look at upkeep and tidiness, access, signage, how welcoming the spaces are. Consider all ages, abilities, those for whom English is not first language, inclusion. What needs to be cleaned up or cleaned out? Look at messaging on bulletin boards, information tables, bookshelves, what has become an unintended storage area? Are there areas to refresh? Are there safety concerns, like old and broken toys in a nursery or Sunday School space? Before you invite people from outside the church, have the congregation conduct your own inspection and perspective experience. Perhaps after a worship service, invite everyone to do their own inspection tour of all of your spaces, from arriving on property and through every part of the building. Equip them with paper and pens to share their observations. Invite them to pretend they are a toddler, a child, a teen, young adult, person with young family, older person, a person using a stroller, walker, wheelchair, a service animal, a non-English speaker, etc. As you look at the experience through the imagined lens of another, what improvements will you suggest? Address as much as you can and then invite people who don’t come to your church to come and share. Plan to do this in October or early November so you can be more visitor ready before the holiday season.
Contact your growth animator, Sharon Ballantyne at 506-306-0500 or by email at sballantyne@united-church.ca Everyone is reminded to also join our casual virtual drop in each Wednesday morning on Sharon’s zoom 9:45 Atlantic and 10:15 NL for thirty minutes. Contact Sharon if you need the link.
Annual Christmas Craft Market
First United’s Annual Christmas Craft Market will be held in our Memorial Hall (111 Lorne St., Truro) on Saturday, November 1st, from 10am – 2pm.
Admission is a free will donation.
There will be Quilts, Weaving, Sea Glass Art, Knitting, Personalized Mugs, Jewelry, Wreaths, Hooked items, Christmas items, Pantry Table, and much more!
Accepted payment: Cash, Debit and or VISA/Mastercard.
Proceeds to the ongoing work of the United Church Women
Women’s Retreat November 14-16 in Truro
Beginning with dinner on Friday evening, and wrapping up after brunch on Sunday morning, we will spend the weekend together praying, singing, meditating, socialization and sharing belly laughs, eating delicious food, gently moving our bodies, playing and creating, and sharing our stories with new and old friends.
All women of all faith traditions and belief systems welcome. Activities will be appropriate for all ages and physical abilities.
Cost: $125 per person. Registration fee includes all activities and meals. Concession rate available for those whom the cost is prohibitive. Registration limited to 50 women.
Our guest facilitator is Caelin Nadin, certified Somatic Practitioner, who uses breathing and other gentle techniques to help calm one’s nervous system in the midst of anxiety, grief, chronic pain, PTSD, and the general stress of being alive in our chaotic world.
To register or for more information, email admin@communityunitedchurch.org
The poster can be viewed here.
2026 Canadian Church Calendar
The United Church Bookstore is taking pre-orders for the 2026 church calendar. If you are interested in placing an order, please contact Leona at llaundry@united-church.ca or 709-399-0834.
The cost of the calendars are:
1-10 calendars $7.00 tax included
10 or more calendars $6.50 tax included
please note shipping costs will be an extra charge.
Help us Preserve the Oldest United Church Building in NB
Scotch Ridge United Church (originally Presbyterian) was built in 1826 and will be celebrating its 200th Anniversary in 2026. It is the oldest still functioning United church building in New Brunswick.
