HF Online Clergy Gathering
2024-11-20 15:00 - 16:00, 2024-12-18 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Online via Zoom

WOW Online Clergy Gathering
2024-11-21 14:00 - 15:00, 2024-12-19 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Online via Zoom

Centering Prayer Workshop
2024-11-23 13:00 - 16:00 (America/Toronto)
Centering Prayer: Introductory Workshop
Saturday, November 23, 2024
1:00-4:00 pm
Harcourt Memorial United Church
87 Dean Ave. Guelph
Are you interested in learning more about a new way to pray?
Centering prayer is an ancient form of Christian prayer that moves beyond word, image and thought into silence. It has its roots in the wisdom sayings of Jesus and the writings of Christian contemplative masters such as Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross and Thomas Merton.
Presenter: The Rev. Kevin Steeper
Registration: office@harcourtcommunity.ca
Registration deadline: November 22, 2024

Engage Difference
2024-11-25 - 2024-11-29 | Five Oaks Education and Retreat Centre, 1 Bethel Road, Paris, Ontario, N3L 3E3, Canada
Deepening Understanding for Intercultural Ministry

November 25-29, 2024 at Five Oaks

More information and registration here: https://www.interculturalleadership.ca/engage-difference-nov-2024-5-oaks/

HF Human Resources Commission Meeting
2024-11-27 13:00, 2025-01-22 13:00 (America/Toronto)

HF Regional Council Executive Meeting
2024-11-27 16:00 (America/New_York)

Regional Council Staff Meeting
2024-11-28 09:30 - 11:30, 2025-01-09 09:30 - 11:30 (America/Toronto) | Online via Zoom

Fishbowl – Cross Generational Discussion
2024-11-28 18:30 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Online via Zoom
Regional Councils of ARW, HF and WOW in partnership with The Hub and Trinity UC Kitchener-
Thursday November 28th, 2024, 6:30-8:30 (all participants are asked to arrive at 6:40).
Background: Post-pandemic, 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 Elders 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:
8 Youth (teens to twenty-somethings) and 8 Elders (45+) from WOW, HF and ARW Regional Councils and facilitators 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 Elders listen.
Places will be switched, and the Elders will invite one another to share while the Youth listen.
For some questions, the order might be reversed, with Elders sharing first

After two rounds of sharing in separate groups, Youth and Elders 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/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=qLUYz3gmEUCTEhXw9xV1dPBWSFWIXSNPila5mgKiAchUM0NLV0kyWUtVM1JXUEcyOUw4QlVaRlVDUS4u
Application deadline November 18, 2024

For more information contact:
Thérèse Samuel tsamuel@united-church.ca
Kathy Douglas kdouglas@united-church.ca
Adam Cresswell – hubleadership@gmail.com
Aimee Belanger at youthevents@hubcommunity.ca

ARW Congregational Support Commission
2024-12-04 09:00 - 11:00, 2025-01-15 09:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York)

Ministry and Personnel The Basics Workshop
2024-12-05 14:00 - 16:00 (America/Toronto) | Online via Zoom
‘The Basics’: Ministry & Personnel Committee Workshops
Online by Zoom, Upcoming dates:
October 3rd, December 5th, February 6th, April 3rd
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.

Tri-Regional Council Executive Meeting
2024-12-06 11:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Online via Zoom

ARW Pastoral Relations Commission Meeting
2024-12-10 09:00, 2025-01-14 09:00 (America/Toronto)

HF Congregational Support Commission
2024-12-10 19:00, 2025-01-14 10:00 (America/New_York)

WOW Congregational Support Commission
2024-12-12 13:00, 2025-01-09 13:00 (America/New_York)

WOW Pastoral Relations Commission Meeting
2024-12-17 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-01-21 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Toronto)

ARW Online Clergy Gathering
2024-12-17 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Online via Zoom
Clergy Gathering: In this Advent season of waiting, watching and preparing, you are invited to come and join with colleagues in ministry for a time of conversation, community and information sharing.

Dec. 17, 2024 ARW online gathering 2-3 pm

Dec. 18, 2024 HF online gathering 3-4 pm

Dec. 19, 2024 WOW online gathering 2-3 pm

Christmas Office Closure
2024-12-24 - 2025-01-01

ARW Regional Council Executive Meeting
2025-01-08 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)

Ministry and Personnel Gathering
2025-01-09 14:00 - 15:30 (America/Toronto) | Online via Zoom
Ministry & Personnel Gatherings
A time for collegiality, learning, and conversation about issues facing M&P committees.
Participants must have completed M&P: The Basics on Zoom or through the recorded training.
Participants are required to agree with the confidentiality and group norms agreement as found below.
Situations discussed will only be talked about by broad themes without reference to individuals.
November 7th 2024, 2-3:30 PM
January 9th 2025, 2-3:30 PM
March 6th 2025, 2-3:30 PM
May 1st 2025, 2-3:30 PM
Worship, 30 minutes learning time, 30 minutes of conversation, Question and Answers, etc. ending with a time to make suggestions for future learning.
By registering you agree to the following
Confidentiality Agreement:
I agree to maintain and respect the confidentiality of all information that is shared by group participants. I will not share individual conversations or situations that are shared by other members of this group. I understand and agree that failure to maintain confidentiality will result in my being asked to leave this group.
Group Norms:
I will trust that God has gifted me with wisdom to share and with wisdom to gain from others.
When sharing I will attempt to put situations into broad questions and not provide details about individuals. I will strive not use the names of ministers, employees, or congregation members. For example, I will ask about a situation. If not sure how to ask a question, I can private message Micol Cottrell or the host and they will help frame the question in broad terms, or without context of the church, minister, and staff. Note: you can always contact Micol Cottrell MCottrell@united-church.ca with situations that you need to talk about and in that conversation can be more candid.
I will respect that what others share is confidential and will not share that information outside of the group. This allows for learning drawn from individual experiences.
I will appreciate that the questions people ask may not be about a situation that they are facing as an M&P Committee at this moment, rather a question for future learning.
I will respect that different M&P committees work differently depending on context.
I will be gentle with myself and with others trusting in God’s Spirit in leading us to learn together.
Register Now

ARW Discipleship & Justice Meeting
2025-01-14 10:00 (America/Toronto) | Online via Zoom

ARW Online Clergy Gathering
2025-01-21 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Online via Zoom
As we move deeper into this new year, you are invited to come for a time of conversation with colleagues in ministry and sharing of information about our various ministries.

ARWRC – January 21, 2-3pm
HFRC – January 22, 3-4pm
WOWRC – January 23, 2-3pm

Peace,
Kevin
