Mission Support Grant Applications NOW OPEN
Registration Now Open for the ARWRC Spring Meeting
Dear Friends,
With joy and anticipation, we, The Regional Executive and Staff, invite you to join us for the Antler River Watershed Regional Spring Meeting on May 30th and 31st, 2025, hosted at Grace United Church in Sarnia.
Our theme this year is “A Time of Renewal: Revitalize,” inspired by Romans 12:2 – “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds…”
In this spirit, we gather as a community to reconnect, refresh, and rekindle our shared sense of purpose and call. It will be a time to worship together, engage in meaningful dialogue, hear from our commissions and explore the ways we are being invited to revitalize our ministries and our spirits.
We are thrilled to welcome Gail Barker, a gifted motivational speaker and workshop leader, as our guest. Gail will guide us with wisdom, energy, and encouragement as we reflect on how we continue to be transformed in faith and practice.
Whether you are lay or clergy, long-time attendee or first-time participant, your presence is a vital part of this gathering. We look forward to being together in community, grounded in hope, and open to the Spirit’s renewing power.
With blessings and gratitude,
Rev. Cheryl Bolton
Antler River Watershed Regional Council President
SPRING MEETING 2025
A Time of Renewal: Revitalize
Friday, May 30th to Saturday, May 31st, 2025
Friday May 30th, 2025: 2:00pm-6:00pm Hybrid and 7:30pm In-Person Community Building
Saturday May 31st, 2025: 9:00am – 3:30pm Hybrid
Celebration of Ministry: Grace United Church, Sarnia Saturday May 31st at 4:00pm In-Person and Live streamed to YouTube
Grace United Church, Sarnia
990 Cathcart Blvd, Sarnia, ON N7S 2H2 (Google Map)
Registration for In-person attendance closes: May 14th, 2024 at midnight
Register Now for ARWRC Spring Meeting 2025
Federal Election Resources
Faith in action: the 2025 federal election and the United Church
This resource includes links to workshops and resources, and will be updated and re-posted weekly until the election.
As faith communities, and registered charities, we don’t promote or critique only one party. We address all of them, we focus on their social policies, and we expect accountability of all of them. Below are some suggested principles and resources to help people of faith engage the federal election process.
We are called to speak up for what we believe in, not only what we oppose.
We are called to name our values, including what our faith calls us to. We live in a polarized and often anxious world and country, and it’s easy to focus on what we oppose. Try to ask others, especially those you disagree with, to name their values and their hopes.
Respond rather than react, working with communal and individual spiritual and faith resources.
Encourage people to engage the whole process, and vote.
Watch out for dis/misinformation. We are all vulnerable to it, because it’s tailored to spark an instant emotional reaction and to reinforce what we already believe. Always check your sources, and think before you post or share. Ask others for their sources if big, polarizing, or unlikely claims or situations are being presented as real.
Be aware that targeted and vulnerable communities are often the target of dis/misinformation, and be aware of the spiritual and emotional impact of this targeting.
Put another way by our Mennonite family members:
“I commit to loving my neighbours in the following ways:
• Listen with curiosity and compassion
• Speak with authenticity and integrity
• Act for the good of my community, here at home and around the world”
Upcoming Workshops (click on the date for the link to information and registration)
Tuesday April 8, from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Eastern. Federal Election Forum. Craig Norris, Host of the Morning Edition on CBC will moderate. Although everyone is very welcome, we are asking people to register to keep track of numbers. In person (Waterloo, ON) and online. If you register, a link for the online streaming will be sent to you. Click here for the registration link
April 24th Egale- Vote with Pride:
Some key resources (click on each for the link to information)
Groups bringing justice concerns to the election process
United Church home page for election resources (scroll down to the bottom for resources- note that these will change as they’re being constantly updated.)
KAIROS Canada election resources on key issues and engaging your candidates well. (The United Church is a founding and active member of this ecumenical justice coalition.) Their resources include: Indigenous Rights; Ecological Justice; Gender Justice; Migrant Justice; Jubilee 2025
Citizens for Public Justice election resources and travelling/ online meetings (CPJ is a long-standing Christian social justice coalition.)
Mennonite Central Committee: Every Action Counts
Specific justice concerns: choose what you are called to prioritise!
Climate justice
Faith and the Common Good- Interfaith advocacy group
For the Love of Creation- Interfaith Advocacy
Nature Canada- Election 2025 Platform
Guaranteed Livable Income
United Church of Canada – Guaranteed Livable Income
Healthcare
Canadian Public Healthcare Association election focus issues
Recorded Webinar: Federal Election 2025: Protecting Medicare in Canada (March 28, 48 min)
Housing
Housing Canada: A Sovereign Plan to Protect Canadians and Build a Resilient Housing System. This resource includes an overview, and links to “Take action and email federal leaders,” and to “Download the full plan”
National Right to Housing Network- Questions for your federal candidates
Indigenous rights
KAIROS Canada election resources
2SLGBTQIA+ rights
Human rights of gender-diverse/ 2SLGBTQIA people (Momentum Canada)
Palestine and Israel justice and peace
Vote Palestine: A coalition that includes Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and secular groups
Ontario Election – Workshop and Relevant Issues
Ontario Election 2025:
More than Tariffs A panel discussion
Sunday Feb 23, 3:00-4:15 PM EST on Zoom
Information to help you faithfully discern your vote and continue advocacy after the Feb 27th election.
Brief presentations by five panel members on selected topics.
Panelists will respond to questions from the audience.
Advance registration required:
https://united-church.zoom.us/meeting/register/Pfy-0rDhQt-l-V5KqspFkw
For more information contact:
Thérèse Samuel tsamuel@united-church.ca and John Egger jegger@united-church.ca
Moderator:
Rev. Éric Hébert-Daly serves as the Executive Minister to ECO and EOO Regional Councils in Eastern Ontario. He was ordained in 2020. He served for 5 years as Responsible, Ministries in French, for 9 years as the National Executive Director of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. Éric spent 17 years working in federal political circles and 7 years as a registered lobbyist. He also brings a hope-filled passion for the church.
Panel Members
Charles Barrett is a retired economist, who was actively involved in policy dialogue in North America, and the Asia-Pacific region in international economic relations, human resources development and capacity building. He has broad research experience and has written extensively on Canadian and international policy issues. He is a member of Riverside United Church, Ottawa and Eastern Ontario Outaouais Regional Council.
The Rev. Dr. Jessica Hetherington is an ecotheologian and ordained minister in the United Church of Canada. Working at the intersection of ecology and theology for 20 years, she inspires people of faith to transform their actions in response to the climate crisis. She currently serves as commissioner on climate justice with the World Council of Churches and the World Communion of Reformed Churches. Sign up for her weekly newsletter: Faith. Climate Crisis. Action. (https://jessicahetherington.substack.com/).
Bryan Smith is a long-term member of the Oxford Coalition for Social Justice, an organization committed to work and advocacy on a wide range of social and environmental issues locally in the County of Oxford and across the planet. It stands in for the Ontario Health Coalition and stands up for public health. Bryan is a retired teacher, and is active in providing school lunches and community dinners, and promoting local foods, the avoidance of waste, community events, and public health.
Rev. Jeffrey Dale (they/he) is the Minister at College Street United Church in downtown Toronto. Jeffrey is a harm reduction advocate and community educator, working with harm reduction advocacy groups throughout the Province of Ontario to educate communities of faith and the wider society regarding the needs of people who use drugs.
Rev. Susan Eagle is the minister at Grace United Church in Barrie. She chairs both the Ecological and Social Justice Commission for Shining Waters Regional Council, and the Steering Committee of the provincial interfaith coalition, ISARC, which does policy analysis and advocacy for income security, homelessness and employment rights. She has worked with newcomer and low-income individuals and sole-support families as a community outreach worker, and served on London City Council for 13 years.
This workshop is presented by the Social Justice Network of Ontario Regional Councils (SJNORC) with representation from Eastern Ontario Outaouais, East Central Ontario, Shining Waters, Canadian Shield, Antler River Watershed, Horseshoe Falls, Western Ontario Waterways and Prairie to Pine Regional Councils of The United Church of Canada.
Engage, Pray, Vote.
Read More Here
Black History Month Event
Register here now: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/lu2FfRocTb6yqlx2FznABw
Effective Transitional Leadership Training Course
A Unique Learning Opportunity for Lay Leaders and Ministry Personnel in ARW, HF and WOW
The Effective Transitional Leadership (ETL) Training Course has been designed by the Interim Ministry Network to support the work of ministry personnel and lay leaders in congregations experiencing change and transitions.
This training will be held on the following dates:
- March 6, 13, 20 and 27th
- Time: 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM EDT via Zoom
- Instructor: Pegi Ridout
This is a fantastic opportunity you to enhance your leadership skills.
What are the intended outcomes of ETL?
- understanding change theory and how to apply it in transitional times
- feeling more competent in the role of a transitional leader and facilitator for the work of your congregation
- being equipped to manage both yourself and your congregation in the midst of conflict
- practicing transitional leadership, using tools designed to guide a congregation through a transition
- applying your learnings, using case studies and reflection on your experience/knowledge
- overall, being prepared and confident to assist a congregation towards health, effectiveness, and faithfulness to its purpose/mission
The cost for this training is $75 per person – a savings of 50% off the regular price.
Registration is limited to 24 people.
Attendance at all 4 sessions is expected.
Course material and the zoom link will be provided closer to the first meeting.
Registration Closes on February 24, 2025
Payment can be made by e-Transfer to hfrc@united-church.ca or by cheque mailed to Horseshoe Falls Regional Council – PO Box 100, Carlisle, Ontario L0R 1H0
Please respond using the link to the registration form by February 24, 2025:
Register Now:
ETL Training Registration Form
This is an opportunity you do not want to miss. We look forward to your participation!
For more information about the course ETL Description and ETL and IMN FAQ
