Save the Date
Antler River Watershed Fall Regional Council Meeting:
Annual Community of Faith Profile
It is Time!
As it says in Ecclesiastes, “For everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven.” As we begin to move from summer into fall, congregations often begin to review finances, look at recruiting volunteers for various tasks and scheduling events and fundraisers. This is a busy and exciting time, but it may also raise questions such as “Is it still possible to do things the way we have always done it?”
Across our regional council we are hearing concerns about declining membership and finances. We are also hearing about congregations who have weathered the pandemic, but are now wondering how on-line worship, inflation and aging buildings costs will impact their future. Others ask “What will happen if the other point in our pastoral charge decides to close? What will happen to the UCC presence in this area if several communities of faith disband?” Where will our community of faith be in the next 5 years? And just as coloured leaves mark the beginning of autumn, these questions tell us that we are in a season of discernment.
The Community of Faith profile is one of the tools available to help congregations ask good questions. All communities of faith are now expected to complete their profile and update it annually. (The worksheets can be found on the regional council website in the congregational support toolkit 2.) But it is not enough to just collect information and talk about it. The real purpose is to help you plan the next steps, and start to make changes. Waiting until there is a crisis because the boiler has broken and there are no funds to repair it, or the operating deficit means bills can’t be paid, or a few people are burning themselves out trying to manage all the tasks is not helpful. Deciding to just wait and see what happens, takes away the opportunity to explore options and make choices. The reality is that any change, such as collaborative ministry, amalgamation, redevelopment or disbanding, takes time if you want to do it well. Waiting until next year only means you will have less energy and fewer resources to make those changes.
Talking to congregations, it is clear that some need money while others need volunteers. Some need assistance with administration and bookkeeping, while others could use tech support. Some are located in the heart of their community while others have watched the community move away. And yet, while there has been change and loss, this does not need to be a picture of scarcity. The good news is that we have an abundance of resources distributed across our communities of faith. This is why the Congregational Support Commission is asking communities of faith to consider what would be possible if we work together. For example, how might we share administration, bookkeeping, ministry personnel, governance, outreach and more to make things more efficient? How might we work with our neighbours to ensure that the ministries we care about continue? What can we do now so that this season of opportunity does not pass us by?
Now is the time for every community of faith to ask: What are our strengths and gifts, our challenges and needs, and our ministry priorities? Where is God calling us? And how can our ministry continue in new ways for another season? Then like a great potluck dinner the contributions of many will become a feast for all.
For more information about collaborative ministry, amalgamation, redevelopment or disbanding, please see the toolkits on the website or reach out to your Minister for Congregational Support. Lynne Allin Lallin@united-church.ca for ARW and HF and John Neff JNeff@united-church.ca for WOW.
Did you remember?
- To file your UCC statistics this year?
- Pay your national assessment?
- File your CRA Charity Return?
- Send a copy of your annual report to your Regional Council Congregational Support Minister?
- Update your ChurchHub account contact information?
- Update your ChurchHub account CoF Roles to included your Lay Rep, Board/Council Chair etc with current contact information?
- Complete your annual Self-Assessment? (see Congregational Support Toolkit 7)
- Complete your Community of Faith Profile? (see Congregational Support Toolkit 2)
Pease ensure that these tasks have been completed for your pastoral charge and community of faith.
Fishbowl – Cross Generational Discussion
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
Refugee Advisory Network
Refugee Advisory Network (Tri Regional RAN) Antler River Watershed, Horseshoe Falls, Western Ontario Waterways Regional Councils are offering support and resources to Communities of Faith in their ministry of refugee sponsorship. We want to celebrate and encourage the immense contributions and dedication our church communities have provided as safe havens for vulnerable refugees around the world. We want to help support this ministry by offering connection and resources. As rewarding as this work can be, we are also aware that it requires great energy and long hours of work. There is a steep learning curve and lots of struggles to overcome but a concrete opportunity to be Christ in the world.
Helpful Links
- Private Refugee Sponsorship Network ( PRSN ) https://refugeesponsornet.ca/
- South London Community Centre https://london.ca/living-london/parks-facilities/community-centres/south-london-community-centre
- Wesley Urban Ministries, Hamilton https://wesley.ca/
- SECC, South Essex community Council. https://www.secc.on.ca/
- Citizens for Public Justice https://cpj.ca/
- Canadian Council for Refugees https://ccrweb.ca/en
- Refugee Sponsorship Network https://refugeesponsornet.ca/
- Refugee Sponsorship Training Program (helpful for getting started but not so much help in problem solving once refugees are here) https://www.rstp.ca/en/
If you have questions, stories and/or needs the Refugee Advisory Network can address, please reach out to the staff support persons. Kdouglas@united-church.ca or JEgger@united-church.ca
Refugee Advisory Network ( RAN )
Introduction
The Tri Regional Refugee Advisory Network (RAN) met on June 13, 2023 for the first time. Would anyone wish to be part of a steering team for the ongoing work of Tri Regional RAN to help with continued connecting, supporting and providing resources? Contact staff Jegger@united-church.ca and/or Kdouglas@united-church.ca with interest.
Ongoing meetings of Tri Regional RAN would include check in and updates, resource sharing and mutual support. We hope to create a data base of Communities of Faith who are involved in refugee sponsorships as well.
Let us, “Talk to each other/learn from each other” (B Sheffield)
Hopes and Goals
Specific hopes that a Tri Regional Refugee Advisory Network could address:
Burn out for those doing the work of refugee sponsorship. Help with being asked ‘all the time’ to take more sponsorships. Very difficult to say ‘no’ and/or to say ‘yes’. How can we bring the needs of Refugee Sponsorship and a broader understanding and more equitable treatment of all those needing settlement to our church more effectively? The church needs to articulate and speak for better consideration to all parts of the refugee experience. Support and advocacy could be the key goals of this group.
John Egger
Minister, Social Justice
Phone: 226-407-4309
Email: JEgger@United-Church.ca
John was raised in Calgary. He has a Ph.D. in New Testament studies from Emmanuel College at the University of Toronto. His dissertation was on Paul’s use of the Hagar/Sarah motif in his letter to the Galatians and how it has been spun in the history of interpretation. This was a kind of case study into how biblical texts have been (i.e., can be) misread in the history of the church and the dangers thereof.
Serves in: Antler River Watershed, Western Ontario Waterways and Horseshoe Falls Regional Councils
Location: Teleworks from home and spends time in the regional council.
Role: John encourages and connects communities of faith in their work and promotes social justice ministries.
Contact John about: Social Justice Ministries and resource to the Discipleship & Justice Commission.
Kathy Douglas
FAITH FORMATION
Phone: 226-407-4308
Cell: 519-441-0656
Email: KDouglas@united-church.ca
Kathy works with children, youth and young adults, supporting them in various programs and faith-forming events. Many youth are nurtured into leadership roles. Kathy also works with camps and United Church Women groups.
Serves in: Antler River Watershed, Western Ontario Waterways and Horseshoe Falls Regional Councils
Location: Teleworks from home and spends time in the regional council.
Role: Kathy encourages and connects communities of faith with matters of faith and justice and the regional council in youth and young adult ministry and matters of faith formation..
Contact Kathy about: Camping & Campus Chaplaincy Ministries; Faith Formation- Children, Youth, Young Adult and Adult Christian Education; Social and Eco-Justice Ministries; Mission & Support Grants, Support to Pastoral Care Teams and Music Ministry Leadership: United Church Women (UCW) and resource to the Discipleship & Justice Commission.
Resources
Private Refugee Sponsorship Network (PRSN) https://refugeesponsornet.ca/ is responding to the need to connect and share experiences and resources among private groups doing refugee sponsorships in Ontario. This provincial network of 500 sponsorship groups, operates with no public funding and offers many programs and workshops that help. PRSN offer concrete help for sponsorships in the post settlement period… addressing basic needs (housing and literacy) to skills/social supports for refugees and their sponsors. Perhaps one of the most effective offering PRSN offers is a “Since you Asked” section in their newsletter. Check out their website, ask to receive their newsletter and receive invites to their webinars. https://refugeesponsornet.ca/connections/
Some settlement agencies and organizations that are also helpful:
- South London Community Centre https://london.ca/living-london/parks-facilities/community-centres/south-london-community-centre
- Wesley Urban Ministries, Hamilton https://wesley.ca/
- SECC, South Essex community Council. https://www.secc.on.ca/
- Citizens for Public Justice https://cpj.ca/
- Canadian Council for Refugees https://ccrweb.ca/en
- Refugee Sponsorship Network https://refugeesponsornet.ca/
- Refugee Sponsorship Training Program (helpful for getting started but not so much help in problem solving once refugees are here) https://www.rstp.ca/en/
Mission Support Grants 2024
Photo by Unseen via Unsplash
Now accepting applications:
