by Michele | Mar 4, 2024 | Affirming, Anti-Racism, Children & Youth, Climate Change, Community, Events, Funds & Grants, Global Community, Indigenous Justice, Learning Opportunities, LGBTQIA+ and Two-Spirit people, Mission & Service, News, Pastoral Relations, Regional Council, Resources, Right Relations, Social Justice, Staff, Stewardship, The United Church of Canada, UCW, Volunteer
Spring 2024 Tri-Regional Council Meeting
When: Friday, May 24th to Sunday, May 26th, 2024
Where: Unifor Family Education Centre, Port Elgin
Theme: Life Together
Speaker: The Right Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne, UCC Moderator In-Person
Registration:
Registration information you need to know (including accommodation costs)
If you need assistance or are unable to complete the online registration form contact: Michele Petick at MPetick@United-Church.ca
- Childcare available Free of Charge
- Kids and Youth Programming
- Kids and Youth accommodation/meals Free of Charge
Registration Deadline: April 15th, 2024
After April 15th, only Zoom registration available
A G E N D A
Friday, May 24th: 2 PM start. Friday evening The Right Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne will speak.
Saturday, May 25th: All day. Includes Celebration of Ministries Service in the afternoon.
Sunday, May 26th: 9 AM to Noon: Includes Worship with Honouring of Retirees, Jubilands, In Memoriam, Community of Faith Life Cycle Changes
Note: Time will be designated for each individual Regional Council to meet separately. Each Regional Council will be electing their GC45 Commissioners, President Elect and slate of Executive/Commission members.
Would you like to serve on the Executive or a Commission or become the next President of the Regional Council?
If you would be willing to let your name stand as a nominee for Executive or one of our three Commissions, please complete the Expression of Interest Form by May 1, 2024.
If you would be willing to let your name stand as a nominee for President-Elect, please complete the President-Elect Nomination Form by May 1, 2024.
New for this meeting …
We will be posting Workbook materials on the website, as they become available. A complete Workbook will be made available one week prior to the meeting. So, check back often for updates.
Save the morning! Stewardship Workshop
10am – Noon on Friday morning May 24th (before the start of the Tri-Regional meeting)
You can do hard things: How to Preach on Stewardship
A workshop for ministry personnel and those who lead worship in their communities of faith.
Led by Rev. Brenna Baker, Community of Faith Stewardship Support Staff
Registration and more information coming soon. Contact Brenna at bbaker@united-church.ca with questions.
by Michele | Feb 27, 2024 | Affirming, Anti-Racism, Climate Change, Community, Events, Global Community, Indigenous Justice, Learning Opportunities, LGBTQIA+ and Two-Spirit people, News, Regional Council, Resources, Right Relations, Social Justice, The United Church of Canada
For the remit vote, we are glad to hear that many of you are having conversations about the remit at your congregational meetings. Please also make sure your congregations understand that this is not something the congregation can vote on.
The remit vote must be made by the pastoral charge governing body (Board or Council) and cannot be delegated to the congregation. The Board/Council members should vote according to their own discernment. That being said, it is great for the congregation to share their thoughts before the Board/Council votes on it.
Your Pastoral Charge vote must be sent to General Council by March 31, 2024.
For links to the remit information and for educational materials go to
https://hfrcucc.ca/remit-1-establishing-an-autonomous-national-indigenous-organization/
https://wowrcucc.ca/remit-1-establishing-an-autonomous-national-indigenous-organization/
https://arwrcucc.ca/remit-1-establishing-an-autonomous-national-indigenous-organization/
For more information contact:
Minister, Right Relations and Social Justice: Thérèse Samuel tsamuel@united-church.ca
Minister, Social Justice: John Egger jegger@united-church.ca
by Michele | Feb 5, 2024 | Community, News, Regional Council, Staff, The United Church of Canada
Epiphany Greetings!
We believe that God is calling the United Church to Deep Spirituality, Bold Discipleship and Daring Justice. Hearing this, our vision for the next 5-10 years is: Called by God, as disciples of Jesus, The United Church of Canada seeks to be a bold, connected, evolving church of diverse, courageous, hope-filled communities united in deep spirituality, inspiring worship, and daring justice.
One way the United Church is putting this into action is by working to Strengthen Invitation. This is about seeing existing ministries grow, and supporting new communities of faith. To support this, a new Growth Team was formed. We have 3 streams of work.
- Renew: We are coming alongside existing communities of faith. We want to help you attract and welcome neighbours, knit them into your congregation’s life, share in the Spirit’s transforming work in their lives, and send them to share in God’s work in the world.
- Create: We are seeding and strengthening new communities of faith. Often these will look and feel quite different from what many of us are used to. Imagine what possibilities there are for migrant communities, youth and young adults, Indigenous people, French-speakers, 2SLGBTQ+ persons, and people with disabilities? What about new forms of rural faith communities? How about online ones? God is calling people together in new ways. How can we join in?
- Invite: We are helping United Church people to talk with others about our faith, and invite them to explore the Christian life together with us. How do we share the story of Jesus today? What does a post-Christian, post-colonial, humble and joyful evangelism look like?
An animator brings things to life. God is the Life-giver! I am, at best, a sub-animator. I’ll be looking and listening for glowing embers, sparks of heat and energy, signposts that God is working away. I’ll be seeing how I might blow some helpful air to help them burn a bit brighter: having supportive conversations, sharing in prayer, giving encouragement, exploring questions, making connections, offering resources.
Six Growth Animators are serving across the country. I am focusing on our 3 regional councils in southwest Ontario (Antler River Watershed, Horseshoe Falls, Western Ontario Waterways). I will be working closely with your regional ministers and commissions. And maybe I’ll get to work with you and your congregation!
I was with Hope Springs United Church until the end of December. It’s a recent amalgamation of Alma, Bethany and Elora United Churches. I continue to be based in Elora, while connecting online and in-person with people throughout our area.
Do you have ideas? Questions? Want to talk with me about your congregation? I have so much to figure out. Still, I’m already glad to listen and learn with you. What might we hear together?
Together in Christ,
Greg Smith-Young (he/him)
Growth Animator | Southwest Ontario
gsmith-young@united-church.ca
