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 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: Reverend Eric W. Pace
Our condolences are extended to the family of Rev. Eric W. Pace, who passed away on January 13, 2026. The obituary can be viewed here.
Condolences: Donald Sterling Morrison MacAlpine
Our condolences are extended to the family of Rev. Dr. Susan MacAlpine-Gillis (BNS), whose father, Donald Sterling Morrison MacAlpine, passed away on January 10, 2026. The obituary can be viewed here.
Annual Pastoral Charge Information Form 2026
We are asking each pastoral charge to complete and submit the Annual Pastoral Charge Information Form as soon as possible after your 2026 annual meeting, noting the deadline is April 1st . As a reminder, if we do not have the information for your elected members, they will not be able to vote at the Regional Annual Meeting. If you have any issues with completing the form, please contact Shari Kaster, 506-306-0496.
Sacraments Elder Training & Licensing
As previously announced, the Pastoral Relations Committee of the region is enacting procedures for the licensing of Sacrament Elders. A sacraments elder is a full member of a community of faith who has been licensed by the regional council to administer the sacraments within their community of faith, which is without a settled or appointed member of the order of ministry or designated lay minister. When a congregation is in need, it may identify and invite those who have gifts and interests for becoming a sacraments elder. A Sacrament Elder completes a specific training program to fulfill this role and is licensed annually.
Governing bodies and potential Sacraments Elders are encouraged to review the Sacraments Elder handbook. Those pastoral charges, which have discerned a need for a Sacraments Elder are invited to enter conversation with potential members, and with that person’s permission, by motion of the governing body, recommend their licensing as Sacraments Elder by completing this form.
Completed forms should be emailed to lbruce@united-church.ca. Those recommended for licensing will be invited to a Sacraments Elder training event at the Regional Council office on Saturday March 28th, 2026, from 10:30AM to 3:30PM (lunch provided). The names of those who successfully complete the training will be assigned a mentor and presented to the Pastoral Relations Committee for licensing.
Quarterly Gatherings for M&P Committee Members
On January 6th over 35 members of local Ministry and Personnel Committees from across the FSLDW region gathered to connect with each other and share celebrations and challenges.
There was agreement among those gathered that they would like to gather again, and would like to have access to a list of others who are doing this work in the FSLDW region.
So, if you are a Chair of your local Ministry and Personnel Committee and would like to participate in the quarterly gatherings (the next one will be April 7), and/or have your name included in the list shared with other M&P Committee Chairs, email lbruce@united-church.ca with the following information:
Name:
Pastoral Charge:
Role: Chair or Member of M&P Committee
Phone:
Email Address:
Pastoral Relations Committee – January 2026
- Approved the call of Reverend Cornelius Petrus (Pierre) Momberg to the Portland Pastoral Charge effective April 15, 2026.
- Approved the appointment of Reverend Russell Daye to the Wilmot Pastoral Charge effective January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2027.
- Approved the revised Community of Faith profile for Faith Memorial United Church.
Growth Ideas 101: Intergenerational Conversations
Please click here to read the Growth Ideas from Sharon Ballantyne, Growth Animator, for January 21, 2026.
Share your ideas with your growth animator at 506-306-0500 or by email at sballantyne@united-church.ca.
The Manual, 2026
The Manual, 2026, can now be found under the Resources tab on the Regional website.
Please share – Breaking the Silence Guatemala Internships
The Maritimes-Guatemala Breaking the Silence Network, partner of the Justice, Mission and Outreach Committee, is pleased to announce our July-December 2026 Internship Program announcement, in collaboration with the Atlantic Council for International Cooperation. Please share this with any young person who may value this opportunity.
Save the Date for Rural Routes
Rural Routes Through the Holy will hold its 2026 gathering from June 11 – 13th. This year our rotation takes us to PEI, and we’ll come together at Central Queen’s United Church in Hunter River, PEI. More information will be rolling out in February, but we wanted you to have the dates so you can book accommodation early. You can always find us here.
