by Michele | Sep 12, 2023 | Affirming, Anti-Racism, Camps & Retreats, Children & Youth, Community, Funds & Grants, Global Community, Indigenous Justice, LGBTQIA+ and Two-Spirit people, Mission & Service, News, Pastoral Relations, Regional Council, Resources, Right Relations, Social Justice, Staff, Stewardship, The United Church of Canada, Volunteer
From the Desk of the Regional Council Presidents
September, 2023
Dear ARW, HF and WOW Regional Councils,
We hope this message finds you well and having enjoyed a relaxing and restorative summer.
It is with mixed emotions that we announce the resignation of our Executive Minister, Cheryl-Ann Stadelbauer-Sampa.
Cheryl-Ann is currently on a three- month sabbatical, but she will be leaving us in January to begin a two-year contract offered to her by General Secretary Michael Blair. There she will become one of the staff resourcing General Council 45 and her wealth of experience and knowledge will be drawn upon in helping the wider church in its review of the new structure. We will miss her wisdom and unwavering support and care, but we know just what a valuable resource she will be in her new position at the General Council Office.
The Executive Minister position is being held by the very capable Mark Laird (Past President of WOWRC) during her sabbatical. The position will be posted by the General Council Office shortly and we ask that you hold the Search Team in your prayers.
The Regional Councils will plan an appropriate way to recognize, celebrate, and honour the contribution of Cheryl-Ann and to wish her well in her future endeavours.
Blessings,
ARWRC President Cheryl Bolton
HFRC President Lennox Scarlett
WOWRC President Jennifer Irving
by Michele | Sep 11, 2023 | Affirming, Anti-Racism, Camps & Retreats, Children & Youth, Climate Change, Community, Events, Learning Opportunity, LGBTQIA+ and Two-Spirit people, News, Regional Council, Resources, Right Relations, Social Justice, Staff, Stewardship, The United Church of Canada, Volunteer
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://united-church.zoom.us/j/89103473757
Meeting ID: 891 0347 3757
Join by phone: 1- 855-703-8985 Canada Toll-free
by Michele | Aug 28, 2023 | 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
Antler River Watershed Fall Regional Council Meeting:
by Michele | Aug 10, 2023 | Climate Change, Community, Events, Global Community, Learning Opportunity, Resources, Social Justice, The United Church of Canada
Photo by Milada Vigerova via Unsplash
Support/Reflection/Prayer Gathering
Make connection with others who are experiencing climate grief
and/or struggling to discern way forward
….while using theological reflection and spiritual practice to ground and support this ‘Hard and Holy work’.
Dates/Times and Locations
Join us, as explore climate grief, acknowledging experiences, making connections with others, and as companions journeying forward.
We will include theological reflection and spiritual practice to ground and support this
‘hard and holy’ work.
Mount Elgin United Church (324105 Mt Elgin Rd, Mount Elgin, ON N0J 1N0)
Wednesday, September 27 @6:30-8:30 POSTPONED
Fairmont United Church, London (29 Tweedsmuir Ave, London, ON N5W 1K6)
Monday, October 23 @6:00-8:00
To register and for details:
Contact – Kathy Douglas, (she/her) Faith Formation Minister
Note: Registration is required as we will be serving food.
519-441-0656
kdouglas@united-church.ca
If your community of faith would like to host such a gathering, please contact Kdouglas@united-church.ca
———————————————————————————————————————
Antler River Watershed, Horseshoe Falls, Western Ontario Waterways Regional Councils
by Michele | Jul 25, 2023 | Affirming, Anti-Racism, Children & Youth, Community, Events, Global Community, Learning Opportunities, LGBTQIA+ and Two-Spirit people, News, Regional Council, Social Justice, The United Church of Canada
Youth and Non-Youth Fishbowl Gathering
Regional Councils of ARW, HF and WOW in partnership with The Hub and Trinity UC Kitchener-
Tuesday Sept 26, 2023, evening
Background: Post-COVID, Youth leaders struggle to put together groups. A message often heard from youth in the church is that what’s being offered doesn’t work for them. Being an intercultural church includes finding ways to bridge communication between different age groups/generations.
Goal– To offer a forum that brings together youth and non-youth in the church– a forum that allows the two groups to hear one another and be heard by one another, and to consider what might be the Spirit’s invitation to the church for youth ministry at this time.
FISHBOWL PROCESS:
Eight Youth (teens to twenty-somethings) and eight Non-Youth (40s-90+) from WOW, HF and ARW Regional Councils will gather via Zoom.
- Discussion questions will invite each to share and listen to experiences of their own youth faith formation, and hopes and challenges for youth ministry then and now.
- On each question, using the Zoom spotlight feature to focus on one group of eight:
- Youth will invite one another to share, while the Non-Youth listen.
- Places will be switched, and the Non-Youth will invite one another to share while the Youth listen.
- For some questions, the order might be reversed, with Non-Youth sharing first
- After several rounds of sharing in separate groups, Youth and Non-Youth will have an opportunity to reflect together as one group.
Each group will be invited to reflect on what they have heard and consider possible next steps.
Participants will be given questions for reflection and feedback, to be submitted in writing following the session.
This is a cross-cultural listening event, and a pilot project. This session will not focus on problem solving or planning. The focus of this event is to listen and learn about one another as a first step of re-visioning youth ministry in ARW, HF and WOW in this post-pandemic time.
An HONORARIUM of $105 is available for participants who are not otherwise paid for their time in this discussion.
To apply, complete the Application Form :
https://forms.office.com/r/3qf3JJtxt6
Application deadline Sept 12, 2023
For more information contact:
Thérèse Samuel tsamuel@united-church.ca
Kathy Douglas kdouglas@united-church.ca
Adam Cresswell – hubleadership@gmail.com
Bethany Herlihey- bethanyherlihey@gmail.com
by Michele | Jul 17, 2023 | Climate Change, Community, Learning Opportunities, Regional Council, Resources, Social Justice
Photo: Alina Grubnyak via UnSplash
Thanks to the clusters and networks that shared contact information at the Antler River Watershed spring meeting. If you’re part of a cluster and network that is open to others, please let us know details!
ARW Social and Ecological Justice Network
Contact: Carey Wagner
Essex County Lay and Ministry Personnel Meetings
3rd Tuesday of every other month at 7:00 p.m.
Glenwood United Church
Contact: Cathy Collins-Barker
Essex County Ministers
Monthly lunch meeting
Contact: Cathy Collins-Barker
