Tri-Region Regional Representatives Gathering
2026-03-26 14:00 (America/Toronto) | Online via Zoom
📢 Tri-Regional Regional Reps Gathering
We invite all regional representatives to join our gatherings.

🗓️ Thursday, March 26, 2026 at⏰ 2:00 PM
🎤 Guests:
Daniel Reid – Toronto United Church Council (TUCC);
Olas Ben-Wilson – GC Statistics, and
Laura Black – Minister, First Thirds Ministry & Faith Formation (ARW, HF, WOW)

🔗 Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 827 3791 1619; Password: [REDACTED]

Questions? – contact your Congregational Support Minister (ARWCSM, HFCSM, WOWCSM)

Regional Council Staff Meeting
2026-04-02 09:30 - 11:30, 2026-04-16 09:30 - 11:30, 2026-04-30 09:30 - 11:30, 2026-05-14 09:30 - 11:30, 2026-05-28 09:30 - 11:30 | Online via Zoom

Ministry and Personnel The Basics Workshop
2026-04-02 15:00 - 16:30 | Online via Zoom
‘The Basics’: Ministry & Personnel Committee WorkshopsOnline by Zoom, Upcoming dates:
November 4th, 7-8:30 PM
February 5th, 3-4:30 PM
April 2nd, 3-4:30 PMwith Micol Cottrell, Minister, Pastoral Relations
Ordered ministers and designated lay ministers while in paid accountable ministry positions are office holders within The United Church of Canada.
While there may be elements similar to employment,
the essential nature of the relationship is a covenant.
~ Statement on Ministry in The United Church of Canada (2012)
New members are often elected to the vital Ministry & Personnel Committee near the start of the year, although M&P Committee membership can change for many other reasons throughout the year.
The Basics will help a new member learn the essentials of this crucial role. More experienced members of M&P Committees are invited to take this workshop as a refresher with their team, and keep up with changing United Church practices and policies. This workshop is open to members from Western Ontario Waterways, Antler River Watershed and Horseshoe Falls Regional Councils!
Please Note: each member of your M&P Committee attending this workshop is required to register.
In your Confirmation Email, you will receive the Zoom link and material in preparation for the meeting to make the most of our time together. If you have questions about the content, please email Micol Cottrell, Minister, Pastoral Relations, at MCottrell@united-church.ca, or better yet, write down the questions to bring with you.

Register Now for The Basics M&P Workshop

Shared Shelves
2026-04-15 10:00 - 14:00 | Regional Councils Office, Hamilton

ARW UCW Annual Gathering
2026-04-18 09:00 - 15:00
Click here for more information!
Click here for registration form!

Prayerful Decision Making
2026-04-22 10:30 - 12:00 | Online via Zoom
Wednesday April 22 10:30 AM-12:00 Noon on Zoom
As Christians we pray, “Thy will be done.” But, how can we know what God’s will is?
For hundreds of years, principles and practices developed by Ignatius of Loyola have helped Christians discern what God is calling them to do and be. While we may never be 100% sure of what God wants, prayerful discernment can help us make choices that bring us as closer to the abundant life that Christ offers.
This workshop offers a basic introduction to time-tested Ignatian discernment methods. Grounded in Christian faith, spiritual discernment can help us make small and large decisions in our lives, and can even be adapted to use in groups such as church boards, working groups, families and more.
Facilitator: Rev. Thérèse Samuel, Minister, Right Relations and Social Justice. Thérèse previously completed the Jubilee Program in Spiritual Direction and is currently completing doctoral studies in Spiritual Direction. She sees value in spiritual discernment for all aspects of personal and church life, including our efforts to seek justice, love kindness and journey humbly with God.
Advance registration required:
https://united-church.zoom.us/meeting/register/PyGErHonSHOQTyWSHj3V3A
If you have accessibility needs for online participation, or if you have any questions, please contact Thérèse Samuel tsamuel@united-church.ca

Tri-Region Regional Representatives Gathering
2026-04-23 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-05-28 14:00 | Online via Zoom
📢 Tri-Regional Regional Reps Gathering
We invite all regional representatives to join our gatherings.

🔗 Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 827 3791 1619; Password: [REDACTED]

Questions? – contact your Congregational Support Minister (ARWCSM, HFCSM, WOWCSM)

Towards 2035 Townhall Meeting
2026-04-29 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-05-06 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-05-12 13:30 - 15:00 | Online via Zoom
Towards 2035 Townhall Meeting
You may have seen the presentation at the Regional Councils fall meeting…you may have heard about it from a colleague or fellow congregation member…you may have seen the General Council resources for Communities of Faith…you may be asking yourself “What does this all mean?”
Please join me (Executive Minister Mark) for a time of conversation, and answering questions of what does Towards 2035 mean in your local context, and what resources are needed for us to be this group of:
resilient, inspired, diverse contextual communities of disciples
seeking to continue the story of Jesus
by embodying Christ’s presence in the world!
These sessions are open to clergy, lay reps, chairs of boards/council’s congregation members. Please register for a time at fits your schedule:
Wed April 29th 7-8:30pm
Wed May 6th 7-8:30 pm
Tues May 12th 1:30-3pm
Blessings,

Rev. Mark Laird
Executive Minister, Antler River Watershed, Horseshoe Falls, Western Ontario Waterways Regional Councils of The United Church of Canada
mlaird@united-church.ca

Liaisons Gathering
2026-05-26 19:00 | Online via Zoom
Liaisons Gatherings
A time for connection, mutual support, and information sharing.
We are meeting on Tuesday May 26th from 7-8:30PM on Zoom.
For more information contact Micol Cottrell at mcottrell@united-church.ca
Register now here: https://regionalcouncil789.formstack.com/forms/liaisons_gathering

Clergy Retreat - Rooted and Rising
2026-06-03 - 2026-06-05 | Five Oaks Education and Retreat Centre, 1 Bethel Road, Paris, Ontario, N3L 3E3, Canada

Ministry and Personnel The Basics Workshop
2026-06-04 15:00 - 16:30 | Online via Zoom
‘The Basics’: Ministry & Personnel Committee WorkshopsOnline by Zoom, Upcoming dates:
https://regionalcouncil789.formstack.com/forms/m_and_p_the_basics_workshop
with Micol Cottrell, Minister, Pastoral Relations
Ordered ministers and designated lay ministers while in paid accountable ministry positions are office holders within The United Church of Canada.
While there may be elements similar to employment,
the essential nature of the relationship is a covenant.
~ Statement on Ministry in The United Church of Canada (2012)
New members are often elected to the vital Ministry & Personnel Committee near the start of the year, although M&P Committee membership can change for many other reasons throughout the year.
The Basics will help a new member learn the essentials of this crucial role. More experienced members of M&P Committees are invited to take this workshop as a refresher with their team, and keep up with changing United Church practices and policies. This workshop is open to members from Western Ontario Waterways, Antler River Watershed and Horseshoe Falls Regional Councils!
Please Note: each member of your M&P Committee attending this workshop is required to register.
In your Confirmation Email, you will receive the Zoom link and material in preparation for the meeting to make the most of our time together. If you have questions about the content, please email Micol Cottrell, Minister, Pastoral Relations, at MCottrell@united-church.ca, or better yet, write down the questions to bring with you.

Register Now for The Basics M&P Workshop

Kids Across the Regions 2026
2026-06-05 - 2026-06-06
Registration links:
Kids/youth:https://regionalcouncil789.formstack.com/forms/kids_across_the_regions_2026_child
Leaders: https://regionalcouncil789.formstack.com/forms/kids_across_the_regions_2026_leader

Strawberry Thanksgiving and Communion
2026-06-13 09:00 - 13:00
Learn about Spiritual Covenants and how your church can live into right relations by attending the all-ages Strawberry Thanksgiving and Communion.
Don’t miss this special all-ages community event, online or in-person at Six Nations Polytechnic in Ohsweken, Sat. June 13.
Click for Info and to Register Now

Great Lakes Collaborative Retreat
2026-08-23 - 2026-08-25 | Five Oaks Education and Retreat Centre, 1 Bethel Road, Paris, Ontario, N3L 3E3, Canada
Register Here for The Great Lakes Collaborative Retreat

Contacts:
Kathy Douglas kathymdouglas@hotmail.com
or
Lisa Hart lhart@wcucc.org

From the Shire to Stratford - A Youth Overnight Quest
2026-09-12 - 2026-09-13 | Avondale United Church, 194 Avondale Avenue, Stratford, Ontario, N5A6N4, Canada
From the Shire to Stratford – A Youth Overnight Quest
Dates: Saturday, September 12, 2026 (10:00 AM) – Sunday, September 13, 2026 (2:00 PM)
Location: Avondale United Church, Stratford

Step into the world of adventure, friendship, and discovery! From the Shire to Stratford is a unique overnight youth experience inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, featuring a live theatre performance at the renowned Avon Theatre alongside a variety of engaging and memorable activities.

Event Highlights
Participants will enjoy:

A professionally staged performance of The Hobbit
Boating on the Avon River (paddleboat or canoe)
Creative stained glass activity
Group games and faith discussions
All meals provided
Exploring downtown Stratford

About The Hobbit

Follow Bilbo Baggins, a quiet hobbit who is unexpectedly drawn into a daring quest across Middle-earth. Alongside a band of dwarves, he journeys to reclaim their homeland from a fearsome dragon. Encountering trolls, goblins, and a mysterious magic ring, Bilbo discovers courage he never knew he possessed. He proves that even the smallest person can play a vital role in a great adventure.

Themes We’ll Explore

Adventure & Courage
Friendship, Fellowship & Unity
Identity & Self-Discovery
Leadership & Responsibility
Home, Belonging & Purpose
Teamwork & Cooperation
The Hero’s Journey
And much more!

*Participants may benefit from reading the book or watching the film in advance.
Registration Details Are you a Youth (Grades 7+) or accompanying Youth Leader from WOW, ARW, or HF Region? Register today!

Step 1: Submit online registration form (one for each participant – youth and adults)
Step 2: Pay fee of $35 per participant (includes all meals, boating, and activities)
Step 3: Complete the boating waiver that will be emailed at a later date
The theatre ticket is generously covered by a grant from the Western Ontario Waterways Region of the United Church of Canada.
E-transfer Instructions
Send e-transfer to avondaleuc@wightman.ca
You will be asked to enter a security question and answer. Please set up as follows:
Question- What city is this event being hosted
Answer- Stratford
Enter in message section: youth event registration for (insert participant name)
Transportation
Transportation to and from the event must be arranged by each participant’s youth group or accompanying adult.
Join us for an unforgettable journey of imagination, community, and faith-filled adventure—where every participant has a chance to discover the hero within!

WOWRC Fall Meeting 2026 (Online only)
2026-10-15 - 2026-10-16 | Online by Zoom link
WOW – Thurs Oct 15th 6:30-9pm, Friday Oct 16th 6:30-9pm
TBD Celebration of Ministrey Sunday late afternoon on October 18th.

HFRC Fall Meeting 2026 (Online only)
2026-10-29 - 2026-10-30 | Online by Zoom link
HF – Thurs Oct 29th 6:30pm-9pm, Friday Oct 30th 6:30pm-9pm
TBD Celebration of Ministry Sunday Nov 1 late afternoon.

ARWRC Fall Meeting 2026 (Online only)
2026-11-13 - 2026-11-14 | Online by Zoom link
ARW – Friday Nov 13th 6:30pm-9pm, Saturday Nov 14th 9am-5pm
TBD Celebration of Ministry Service will occur during the 9am-5pm session on Saturday afternoon.
