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.
Pastoral Relations Committee
- Approved the change in pastoral relations for Rev. Claudia K. Keller with the McKee’s-Rexton Pastoral Charge effective October 15, 2025.
• Approved the change in pastoral relations for Rev. Lloyd Bruce with the Sackville United Church effective November 3, 2025.
• Approved the change in pastoral relations for Rev. David Atwood with York-Covehead Pastoral Charge effective June 30, 2026.
Transgender Day of Remembrance
We will remember/nous nous rappellerons. We will remember/nous nous rappellerons.
November is a month of remembrance. Transgender Week of Awareness culminates in Transgender Day of Remembrance. The week takes place from November 13- 19. We will share a story of an historical Transgender or Non-Binary person or event each day in podcast and written formats. They will be posted to the Affirm United/S’affirmer Ensemble social media and website. (www.affirmunited.com)
On November 20 at 3 pm, you are invited to a service of remembrance online. The service will be pre-recorded, but we will have a time after the service for anyone who wishes to talk. The service is a time to remember the 331 people who died by violence or by their own hands. People who died for trying to be themselves in a world of hatred.
We will remember them/nous nous souviendrons d’eux
This November let us all remember those who have lost their lives by violence or suicide. Let us remember those from the past who never stopped being themselves. Let us remember and share their light.
Covenanting Service – Prince William Pastoral Charge
A Covenanting Service between Rev Beverley Sharpe DLM , the Prince William Pastoral Charge and the Fundy St. Lawrence Dawning Waters Regional Council will be held with the Living Waters Community of Faith worshiping in the Prince William Hall 6662 Route 102 Prince William NB E3K 6T7 at 2 p.m. on Sunday, November 16, 2025. All are welcome.
We pray that God will richly bless this ministry between Beverley, the Prince William Pastoral Charge and the Fundy St Lawrence Dawning Waters Region.
The Great Salisbury Online Auction
It’s that time of the year again for The Great Salisbury Online Auction. General items will be on the Facebook site from November 10th-12th. Baked goods, preserves, etc will be November 24th-26th. Just go to the scroll bar and type: The Great Salisbury Online Auction. We thank you for your help
Kirk-McColl Turns 240!
Kirk-McColl United Church is celebrating 240 years of ministry in St. Stephen! Join us for our anniversary service at 11 a.m. AST/ 10 a.m. EST, November 23rd for our celebration.
Our ministry began with Bible Studies in the home of Duncan McColl, who would be ordained by the Methodists and who would go on to have a profound influence on the history of St. Stephen and the surrounding communities. He served as a circuit preacher on both sides of the border, and founded an international committee for peace and public order between St. Stephen and Calais when the war of 1812 broke out. In 1941 Kirk and McColl United Churches joined, giving this church its current name of Kirk-McColl. A fire destroyed the magnificent old church building in 1980. Our new building was opened in 1982 and serves as a centre for church and community activities.
SAVE THE DATE – Initial NWNB Cluster Gathering November 28, 2025
Regional Council Reps, Church Board members, as well as current and retired ministry personnel residing in the NorthWest Zone are asked to save Friday November 28, 2025 in your schedules for an Initial Cluster Gathering in the Fredericton area. The sessions are planned to start at 10 am and end a 3 pm. Information shared will include Regional staffing and responsibilities, the role of the Regional Council Representative, current FSLDW Objectives and other information from Regional executive. Lunch will be provided. More information will be provided as plans are finalized.
Think of the former boundaries of the Woolastook Presbytery if you are wondering if this applies to you.
We hope yo see as many of you there as possible! Invitation will be send directly to attendees for whom we have email coordinates Other follow up will be by phone.
Growth Ideas 101: Check for Invisibility
Have you ever visited a community of faith and still been part of the “who is missing?” even when you are present. How often has a brave visitor risked and attended only to be treated as if they are invisible. You may have experienced this when you visit another church? Gone into a shop and been ignored by sales associates? Been at a function and no one engages, felt ignored in a restaurant when the server doesn’t come over? If we are not intentionally creating belonging for all, how can we say “all are welcome.” Look around and see who is being ignored. Showing up does not lead to being welcomed in, unless all those on the inside are focused on creating and building that community of belonging.
Invite your community of faith to really explore their typical rhythms and patterns of behaviours? When do you find yourself engaged with the “regulars,”? Observe behaviours before, during and after worship and other gatherings. Too often we discover “holy huddle” experiences where there are distinctive “insiders” and “outsiders practices, even though that “lived reality” is not what is desired. Are there parts of your building, tasks, or unwritten rules about who can do this or that? Who might be “in the kitchen”, “how things are done in their particular ways?” Perhaps you can draw the circle wide and invite others to join in, teaching others what is needed, and being open to shaking things up and doing things differently, inviting new ideas and opportunities. The holiday season often has extended opportunities for socialization and connection. Be sure to connect and share your family of faith invitations to connect. Carry those reminder invitations to share, take part in what is happening in neighbourhoods, or if it is all too quiet, start a thing. Need some ideas. Let’s talk about how to shine some new lights on opportunities, for all to belong.
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.
Does your Community of Faith need a loan or have money they wish to invest?
Are you looking to invest some of your Community of Faiths funds are do you need a loan? Then why don’t you reach out to the Financial Services of Maritime Conference of the United Church of Canada to see what they can offer you. Interest rates for investments are managed on an annual basis and loan arrangements can be an opportunity for your Community of Faith to further some work they wish to do. If you are looking for more information you can find it at the following link: https://ucceast.ca/financial-services. The Treasurer is Ann Thompson, and the Chair is Jack Logan. Their information can be found at the link mentioned above.
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.
Association of United Church Clergy – November Community Gathering
In November our thoughts often turn to peace, and on Thursday November 13th our aUCC Community Pillar is providing clergy with an opportunity to visit a place of peace. We will meet at “The Thinkers Lodge National Historic Site” (249 Water Street in Pugwash) for 10:00 a.m., and following our tour we will move to the vestry at Wesley St. Matthew’s United Church (14 Church Street in Pugwash) to catch up, to share in a brown bag lunch, and to reflect on our tour, until we depart at 3:00 p.m.. And what is “The Thinkers Lodge National Historic Site”? It is a place which stands as a reminder of the important role that science and dialogue play in advancing peace and security worldwide. Following the release of the “Russell-Einstein Manifesto” in 1955, Bertrand Russell and Joseph Roblat held the first “Pugwash Conference” in 1957 at The Thinkers Lodge which was then owned by Cyrus Eaton. In the ensuing years many more conferences held at the Thinkers Lodge established the Pugwash Peace Movement, and the second Nobel Peace Prize ever awarded in Canada was jointly conferred on the Pugwash Conferences and lead organizer, Joseph Rotblat, in 1995. His medal remains on display at The Thinkers Lodge.
Please register by emailing either co-chair of the aUCC Community Pillar (Connie at therevconnie@gmail.com or Jamie at jamie_mclellan1982@hotmail.com) no later than Friday November 7th. We look forward to seeing you in Pugwash!
Atlantic School of Theology in PEI
Atlantic School of Theology’s Recruitment Coordinator, Lydia Hood, is heading to Prince Edward Island for two special events.
If you’re exploring ministry, theological education or spiritual leadership, come meet us.
— P.E.I. DATES —
Charlottetown Stop
Thursday, November 20
St. Paul’s Anglican Church
6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Summerside Stop
Friday, November 21
Trinity United Church
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Can’t make an event? Lydia Hood is also available for one-on-one visits or to drop by your church or community group! Just reach out to her in advance to connect. Email Lydia: lydia.hood@astheology.ns.ca
Pay-What-You-Can Pageant Available
No need to purchase an expensive script this year! This easily adaptable pageant will work for a variety of congregational sizes and age ranges. Free to download as a convenient PDF script, you can print and share with your Worship or Sunday School team, reading through the whole script, including options for adapting to your Faith Community’s needs. My only request is that you let me know you are using the script (and a few quick stats) through this form. “Welcome to the Family Christmas Pageant!” pairs with the themed resources I’m offering for the Advent & Christmas Season. The free worship planning chart is now available to download!
St. Andrew’s United Church, Truro, is turning 150!
For 150 years, St. Andrew’s has been serving God’s mission in our community.
We’ve worshipped in different locations and buildings, and even as different denominations — but one thing has never changed: our ministry of faith, justice, love, and hope.
Join us for our 150th Anniversary Celebration
– “On the Corner of History & Hope” –
Saturday, November 16th
Worship at 11:00 a.m., with a Cold Potluck to follow
St. Andrew’s United Church, 55 King Street, Truro, NS
Come for a joyful service featuring dramatic monologues that share the stories of the people who have made us who we are today, along with inspiring music and celebration.
All are welcome! Come celebrate our story and help shape the next chapter!
Please click here to view a poster for the event.
