The Government of Canada has launched the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) 2021-2022 call for proposals (CFP) for community-based projects across Canada.The online application and applicant guide is available on the Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). For information, please consult the ESDC Funding Programs page. The deadline to submit applications will be December 21st, 2021, at 3:00 p.m. EST.
WHAT’S NEW FOR THE 2021-2022 CALL FOR PROPOSALS?
One application stream: Community-based projects are eligible to receive up to $25,000 in grant funding. New applicants and organizations that have not been funded in the past five years are encouraged to apply.
To simplify the application process and provide funds to communities more rapidly, organizations will need to complete and submit their application online. The deadline to submit is December 21st, 2021.
Organizations will be invited to apply for funding that supports the program’s national priorities:
1. Supporting healthy ageing
o Including addressing social isolation, including through supporting seniors’ digital literacy, addressing ageism, mental health and dementia, and by developing and delivering virtual programming for the above.
2. Preventing senior abuse
o Including helping seniors navigate access to government benefits and providing support to file their taxes, supporting financial empowerment of seniors, and measures to reduce crimes and harm against seniors.
3. Celebrating diversity and promoting inclusion
o Including promoting intergenerational mentoring and engagement, and serving members of the following vulnerable groups: Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, members of racialized and newcomer groups, members of LGBTQ2+ communities, low-income seniors and veterans.
4. Helping seniors to age in place
o Including providing practical supports to seniors to help them remain in their homes longer.
**Canada, Stand up for Palestinian Children’s Rights**
Join this International Day (Nov 29) of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
Light a candle for the Palestinian Children.
Join the UNJPPI campaign to support Palestinian children living under the Israeli military occupation.
https://www.unjppi.org/join-childrens-rights-campaign.html
Sign up through this link http://eepurl.com/htSZpb to receive information about the campaign and how to participate.
Last fall Parliamentary Petition e-2667 was presented to Parliament. It called on the Government of Canada “to ensure the human rights of Palestinian children are protected by instructing a Special Envoy to promote, monitor and report on the human rights situation of Palestinian children living in the occupied Palestinian Territory and Gaza”.
Early in 2021, the Executive and Commission members of the regional council together attended the four sessions of the United Church’s racial justice training. That experience informed the spring meeting where time was devoted to Indigenous justice and anti-racism. It also informed this fall meeting where the traditional Land Acknowledgement shifted from a formula into a reflection. The title became “Reconciliation Focus” and we considered the nearest First Nations to us, the name of an Indigenous leader who influenced us and our next step in this journey towards reconciliation. The names were formed into a word image:
Indigenous Leaders Who Have Influenced Us!
Just as prominent as the names of national leaders were the names of Indigenous leaders known to us personally, such as Geraldine Robertson, Grafton and Eileen Antone and Janice Rising. We give thanks for these elders among us.
We were pleased to have Elaine Jacobs introduce us to Walpole Island (Bkejwanong Territory) and Tarance Whiteye to introduce us to the ministry of the congregation at Moraviantown. Chief Denise Stonefish of the Eelŭnaapéewi Lahkéewiit (Delaware Nation at Moraviantown) also joined us to share with the regional council her people’s deep connection to the land where the village of Fairfield once was and their hopes to create an interpretation centre there to expand the story curated by the museum.
Karlene Brown-Palmer opened our sessions with the lighting of the flame and offered us words of wisdom and insight in worship. Her unshakeable faith and powerful messages inspire long after the service ends. Many, many thanks to all who framed our worship and sessions with music. Your extraordinary talents were a gift that lifted our hearts and our hopes inspiring us to “Keep Calm and Rock On”.
The fall meeting of the regional council had two main foci:
Business and accountability;
Proposals to General Council 44.
The regional council received one proposal for its own consideration concerning the role of former ministry personnel continuing to offer ministerial leadership in a community of faith where they no longer serve. This was passed and directs the regional council to develop an educational plan and to raise concerns with the Office of Vocation concerning ministry personnel who continue to do this.
Another six proposals for General Council 44 were presented. Author, Jim Evans, shared these were formed from concerns voiced at a gathering sponsored by UniFaith. One of the six was withdrawn as a commitment has already been made to what it was requesting (a review of the new structure). The regional council’s role was to determine if it agreed or did not agree with the proposals. The regional council elected to agree with all proposals, adding a further note to a few of them. The proposals can be found in the workbook here:
Many thanks to President Jane Van Patter and Agenda and Business Chair Kenji Marui for helping the regional council navigate its first experience of significant online debate.
Treasurer, Doug Cameron, gave an update on finances and outlined the principles that informed the preparation of the 2022 Budget which the regional council adopted. The way that the income earned on investments supports our priorities was highlighted.
Unfortunately, the time needed for business truncated the opportunities for small group time. Please consider drawing together neighbours to discuss the thought-provoking topics prepared by Christina Crawford: What did the spring meeting, with its focus on Indigenous justice and anti-racism, spark in you? Where is sacred space for you? How are you doing (at this point in the pandemic)? and, lastly, What are you taking home and how will you share it?
The Planning Team hopes you will take home a sense of being in community, dealing with complicated topics, being inspired in worship and learning more about the work of the regional council. Many thanks to the Covenant Commission, Human Resources Commission and Mission and Discipleship Commission for the video presentations of your work and the written accountability reports. The latter can be found in the workbook and the former will be posted on the regional council website and are below. Also below and to be posted on the website, a helpful video prepared by Stewardship and Gifts Officer, Dave Jagger, that we did not have time to share.
The United Property Resource Corporation (UPRC) video and the video introducing the United Church’s new mission statement: Deep Spirituality, Bold Discipleship, Daring Justice will also be added. These latter videos may not be posted quite as quickly as we need to confirm access first.
General Secretary Michael Blair brought the words of our new statement to life for us with his message at the Celebration of Ministry Service on Saturday evening at Byron U.C. Many thanks to Byron and their minister, Greg Brawn, for all they did to make the regional council welcome and for the ways they supported and enriched the service. Congratulations to Karlene Kimber on being commissioned as a diaconal minister. Karlene is well known from her days as the Director of the Middlesex Presbytery Resource Centre. We are delighted for her and for the Belmont-Harrietsville-Mossley Pastoral Charge where she serves.
We look forward to gathering in the spring. We hope to have an in-person meeting then but that depends upon the public health guidelines at the time. We’ll keep you posted but, in the meantime, may you “Keep Calm and Rock On”!
The Celebration of Ministry live stream
is available to view on Youtube!
Antler River Watershed Regional Council invites everyone to join us for the livestream of the Celebration of Ministry service on
Saturday, October 30th at 7:00pm
Preacher, General Secretary, Michael Blair Candidate, Karlene Kimber
Communion will be celebrated on the livestream so please have the elements ready.
Many thanks to Byron U.C. and their Music Director and Minister for all they are doing to host this service.
If you cannot join the livestream, catch the service later (minus communion) on the regional council YouTube channel noted below!
This video series features a variety of topics that youth and young adults are keenly interested in exploring further. These short videos have been created so that communities of faith may utilize them in their engagement with youth and young adult ministry.
Creating Conversation is a video series that features a variety of topics that youth and young adults are keenly interested in exploring further. These short videos have been created so that communities of faith may utilize them in their engagement with youth and young adult ministry.
This project is sponsored by the United Church of Canada’s Vison Fund, and was supported by: Jen Auger and Norval United Church, Cynthia O’Connell, Antler River Watershed Regional Council, Western Ontario Waterways Regional Council, Horseshoe Falls Regional Council, Shining Waters Regional Council, Prairie to Pine Regional Council, Not The Ends Media.
For further inquires please contact:
Jeffrey Dale, Minister for Justice and Faith Formation – Email: jdale@united-church.ca
Kathy Douglas, Minister for Faith Formation – Email: kdouglas@united-church.ca
The following Right Relations events are all being offered by Antler River Watershed, Horseshoe Falls, Western Ontario Waterways regions of the United Church of Canada. Please note that you are able to call into the Zoom meetings with a regular phone call if you do not have access to video calls. For more information contact Thérèse Samuel, Minister, Right Relations and Social Justice at TSamuel@united-church.ca.
WORKING TOGETHER FOR RIGHT RELATIONS: Networking and Resources Workshop
Wednesday September 22, 2021
1:00-2:30pm
Interested in Indigenous justice and right relations? Whether you are just beginning or have been doing this work for years. Hear from networks and other organizations who offer education and programs in our regions. Share your work and/or interests and hear what others are doing.
Please register in advance for this session. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Register Here
NATIONAL DAY FOR TRUTH & RECONCILIATION
Orange Shirt Day – Thursday, September 30
Wear an orange shirt to remember and honour Indigenous children who were taken from their communities and families to residential schools. Take a picture to share on Facebook and Twitter (include the hashtags #OrangeShirtDay, #EveryChildMatters, and #UCCan), Challenge your friends and family to do the same.
If you buy an orange shirt, please seek out an organization that supports Indigenous initiatives & communities, such as Atlohsa Family Healing Services in London, ON.
Atlohsa Orange Shirts
Orange Shirt Retailers Authorized by Orange Shirt Day Society
CANDLELIGHT VIGIL
Join Indigenous Ministries and Justice Executive Minister Murray Pruden for a candlelight vigil at 7:00 p.m. EDT on the Indigenous Ministries Facebook page.
Four Tuesdays from 2:00-3:30 p.m. Become acquainted with the Calls to Action and consider a faith-filled response. These sessions will be opportunities for interactive learning. If needed, we will adjust the plan to respond to the movement of the Spirit. Oct. 12, Session 1:Introduction to the TRC Calls to Action Oct. 26, Session 2:What is the role of the church? Nov. 9, Session 3: What has been done? What can we do? Nov. 23, Session 4:Networking and Planning
Please register in advance for this series. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
REGISTER HERE
Celebrating the Fall Equinox Sponsored by Greening Sacred Spaces (London), Climate Action London Initiative
A spiritual journey around Victoria Park in London, led by Tracey Whiteye! Tuesday, September 21st, 2021 at 5:00pm
· Beginning and ending at Bandshell · All COVID protocols will be observed
TOGETHER IN SONG
All Saint’s Day – Monday, November 1st at 7:00pm Light a candle and remember all those who never got to go home. Indigenous and non-Indigenous, we join together with songs of hope and healing.
Please register in advance for this series. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. If you do not have video, you can still join the Zoom meeting with a regular phone call.
This Pride Month, The Right Rev. Dr. Kimberly Heath invites us to reflect on the United Church apology to 2S and LGBTQIA+ people—not as an ending, but as a beginning
As Pride Month begins this week, we offer resources for communities to reflect on the United Church’s Apology to 2S and LGBTQIA+ people and take action
The rally drawing attention to the crisis of violence against Indigenous women, girls, and members of the 2S and LGBTQIA+ community was held at Queen's Park in Toronto, with an opening event at the… continue reading
The bill has resulted in hearings denied for refugee claimants across Canada, who now face removal to countries where they may be at risk of persecution, violence, or imprisonment.
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