Attend a national gathering for peace, justice & human rights in Palestine Israel!
The United Network for Justice and Peace in Palestine/Israel (UNJPPI) is a country-wide network of people, many connected with the United Church of Canada, who are concerned about justice and peace in Palestine/Israel. We focus on advocacy, education to uphold human rights and justice in the region.
Every year, UNJPPI organizes a national gathering. Now that pandemic restrictions have eased up we are grateful for the opportunity to gather again for the first time since 2019 and would like to invite you to join!
We meet May 5-8, 2022 in London, Ontario. The gathering theme is “Responding to a Cry for Hope.”
UNJPPI’s May gathering is an opportunity to learn regardless of your previous knowledge or engagement with peace and justice in Israel and Palestine.It is a chance to hear from dynamic and diverse speakers, form connections with like minded advocates from across the country, gather strength and inspiration as we emerge from pandemic shut downs, form community over meals and music, engage in meaningful learning sessions and discussions, and envision how we carry the work for peace and justice forward.
UNJPPI is working to make this gathering a meaningful and memorable learning opportunity!
More information (program outline, speakers, logistics and registration) is available on the event website: www.unjppi.ca
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!
Youth Forum at General Council 44 Delegate Application Application deadline December 15
Are you ready to lead the church into the future?! If so, why not apply to become a General Council 44 Youth Forum Delegate?
And yes, SUMMER EMPLOYMENT is also part of Youth Forum at GC44!
You will be paid for your participation, leadership, and dedication to General Council.
General Council is the United Church of Canada’s triennial business meeting where justice issues are discussed, visions are cast, proposals are examined, decisions are made, and inspiring worship and community are offered. The voices of leaders ages 15-19 are needed to speak into this space. If you would like to have an impact on the direction of the church now and into the future, please apply here.
Youth Intern Application:
This application is for youth ages 15 – 19 to apply to the youth intern position. Each Regional Council will have 5 youth intern positions.
Please see the link to the application below for more information.
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!
President Jane invites you…When?
Friday, October 29 (evening) / Saturday, October 30 (morning and afternoon)
Celebration of Ministry Service
Guest Preacher: Rev. Michael Blair | Saturday, October 30, 2021, 7:00 pm
Please bring your own Communion elements. This service will be live-streamed from Byron United Church in London. It will also be available to use on Sunday morning.
Where? From the comfort of your home via Zoom link
Land Acknowledgements… As with the June meeting, please be prepared to acknowledge the Territory where you are, Treaty number/description, Indigenous authors, musicians, artists or something you’ve learned since last we met.
A Meeting Workbook/Agenda and the Zoom link will be forthcoming.
Meeting highlights include: …listening to Indigenous Voices from Walpole Island and Delaware First Nation, Moraviantown; acknowledging the Fairfield Museum land transfer; in memoriam/community of faith changes; honouring retirees; hearing from our Candidate for Commissioning; covenanting with the LLWLs, hearing about the camps; hearing reports from the three Commissions; UPRC presentation; Hope Council presentation; GC recommended Mission and Vision statement; 2022 Budget, GC 44 proposals, if any; Community building borne out of our time together in June and checking in with how you as a community of faith are doing; worship, theological/equity reflection…. All that and more!!!!
I hope you know that you and your community of faith are important members of the team ministry that I like to call Antler River Watershed Region United Church. It takes all of us to share our gifts to accomplish the mission of the church. Spirit God: be our breath, be our song. (MV 150)
Looking forward to seeing you at the ARWR Fall meeting! In the meantime, Keep Calm and Rock On!
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