Nominations closed for 44th Moderator of The United Church of Canada on June 17. The United Church of Canada requires an election process for Moderator, so the nominee, the Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne, Kwisa’lakw, attended the election on July 23 ….. and the Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne, Kwisa’lakw, will be installed on August 7, 2022. Learn more about the nominee in this biographical statement.
For those unable to attend in person, the event will be livestreamed on othe UCC YouTube channel.
It has been such a privilege to serve the communities of faith and ministry personnel of Antler River Watershed, Horseshoe Falls and Western Ontario Waterways Regional Councils over the past three and a half years as we transitioned from conferences to the regional council governance and to the brand new Office of Vocation.
More than changes in staffing, more than a new executive and commissions, more than new policies or processes or software platforms, the change of the structure of The United Church of Canada is intended to make the church more nimble and responsive in the midst of the rapid changes that are happening within our society and the world. And I know that, in the midst of this change process, none of us felt very nimble! Yet together we put our minds and hearts into learning. And that was before the pandemic brought a cascade of more learning, stretching us in ways we never imagined possible!
It has been a joy to work alongside such disciples.
Thank you for all the ways you’ve stayed the course through the sometimes overwhelming waves of change that have washed over us. I know it hasn’t been easy. I’m very, very grateful to all of you. In particular, the Human Resources Commission and the LLWL Resource Team have worked hard to do the work that several presbyteries did in the past. We have an up-to-date list of dedicated Licensed Lay Worship Leaders. Search teams are being trained and are working to offer equitable access to positions of ministry leadership. Calls and appointments and new positions are flowing through Churchhub in ways that are really quite helpful now, with very few errors.
Many strong volunteers work as regional liaisons to support communities of faith in their search and selection process, ending with the celebration of covenanting services as new ministries begin. Facilitators of the United Fresh Start program continue to be available to support ministers in peer groups and offer modules of thought-provoking educational material related to congregational leadership to communities of faith. Together, these many, many volunteers, disciples of Christ willing to further the efforts of the regional council, the wider church, serve you. For their gracious care for communities of faith and ministry personnel, I am grateful. It has been a joy to work alongside such disciples.
I will continue to pray for your well-being, faithfulness and strength.
I am also grateful for the staff I’ve been a part of, people who are willing to support one another through thick and thin. They are gifted and they have a heart to serve the regional council through their various portfolios. Talking with one another and sharing our knowledge of the many communities of faith helps us serve you better. Thank you, Cheryl-Ann, for your visionary and caring leadership through the transition to regional councils and for the nurturing way you bring out the best in me and other staff.
With confidence, I welcome Micol Cottrell as the new Minister, Pastoral Relations, who began on August 1. I will work with Micol as he steps into the role, until August 23. Then I have the privilege to accompany my daughter to the World Council of Churches Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany. When I return, I look forward to caring for my year-old granddaughter several days a week.
As I move into retirement, I know I will miss these many connections; miss hearing about you and the lives of communities of faith and ministry personnel, but I will continue to pray for your well-being, faithfulness and strength. Your cards, kind emails, calls, presence at the retirement party at the regional office or by zoom and the gifts given by the Staff Committee on your behalf have meant more than you know.
My beautiful bowl overflows with gratitude and I feel surrounded by your prayers.
SAVE THE DATES: ANTIRACISM and the UNITED CHURCH – INTENSIVE WORKSHOP in 2023
Are you interested in furthering your engagement with anti-racism? Save the Dates for this two-session workshop: Tuesdays February 7, 2023 and March 7, 2023 @10:00-11:30 AM EST
Feb 7- Part 1: Antiracism Workshop with Selam Debs.
March 7- Part 2: Antiracism for the UCC with a UCC BIPOC theologian/racial justice educator. Facilitator TBA.
Selam Debs is a Black Ethiopian queer Anti-Racism Coach, Consultant & Trainer specializing in anti-Black racism, equity, inclusion and implicit bias awareness.
PREREQUSITE: in preparation to engage on a deep level with themes of White supremacy culture, racism and antiracism, participants are asked to first complete the UCC’s current 4-session Racial Justice Workshops. Register for Fall 2022 Racial Justice Workshops at United-in-Learning.com
To apply for funding to take the Racial Justice Workshop go to:
Leaders Fund Grants | Antler River Watershed Regional Council (arwrcucc.ca)
Here is the Mission Support Grant application for 2023. The deadline for submitting an application is 12:01 am Tuesday September 6th, 2022. Completed application packages can be sent to Kathy Douglas at KDouglas@united-church.ca
Upon receiving your email, Kathy will let you know she has your application. If you have not heard from Kathy within 3 working days, please be in touch with her to ensure she received your email.
If you have any questions or concerns as you fill out the application, please don’t hesitate to be in touch with any of the staff members
We are pleased to provide four backgrounders for use in the upcoming provincial election.
Please use them to encourage civic discussion with neighbours and friends, raise questions with candidates, and inform your participation in community all-candidate events.
View Backgrounder PDF
During the past two years of pandemic response, many issues of equality, adequacy and human dignity were sidelined. Yet, the dire effects of the pandemic served to further expose and enlarge the gaps in our social safety net.
The backgrounders provided here speak to Affordable Housing, Income Security, Worker Justice and Long Term Care.
With your assistance ISARC plans to take the following actions:
The questions are being sent to party leaders and responses will be posted to the ISARC website by May 18
We ask those receiving this email to please direct the attached questions to the candidates in your local riding and then share the responses with ISARC.
Any responses received by ISARC will be posted to the ISARC website.
Together we make a difference, and an election is an important opportunity to bring public attention to matters that can be addressed if there is the political will to do so.
The Ontario Grant to Support Anti-Hate Security Measures for Faith-Based and Cultural Organizations is now accepting applications for 2022-23. Organizations that applied for the grant in 2021-22 can apply again for 2022-23.
The deadline to apply is August 31, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. EST.
As with the previous round of the program, the grant can go towards expenses such as security equipment or training to respond to hate-motivated incidents. Funds must be spent on eligible expenses by March 31, 2023.
Further information can be found on the website. For additional questions or help, please contact ServiceOntario. Call centres are open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding government and statutory holidays:
Toll-free: 1-855-216-3090
Toll-free TTY: 1-800-268-7095
Ontario Grant to Support Anti-Hate Security Measures for Faith-Based and Cultural Organizations
COVID POLICIES from the National Office of The United Church of Canada
With restrictions easing across the country, the United Church sought the advice of outside legal counsel for communities of faith. Excerpts from the legal opinion are provided below. Please note it is based on policies currently in place and the assessment of them as reasonable.
Assuming that the original rule issued by the Church or congregation concerning masking or proof of vaccination status was reasonable, there is nothing about the removal of the various provincial mandates that would make it improper or illegal to continue with a rule that required masking or proof of vaccination status. In fact, pursuant to relevant Occupational Health and Safety legislation,
employers have a duty to take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances to keep workers safe.
For at least some time, we suspect that there is a good argument that a continuation of restrictions, such as masking, (and possibly a vaccination policy, depending on its requirements) is reasonable.
Please note these considerations will depend on the actual vaccination policy that has been implemented, as it could vary. COVID-19 restrictions implemented by congregations and other measures, such as masking, are generally founded on obligations pursuant to relevant Occupational Health and Safety legislation. Accordingly, the Church (and its congregations) continue to be subject to their obligations pursuant to the relevant Occupational Health and Safety legislation in each applicable province…
Any vaccination policies that are currently in place will also have specific considerations, as they often require the disclosure of vaccination status.
These policies will need to be reasonably balanced. Any collection of vaccination status should only be done as part of a reasonable vaccination program that appropriately balances the rights to privacy and bodily integrity of its employee’s and congregant’s legitimate interests and obligations. To continue with a vaccination policy, the congregation would need to ultimately determine that it is reasonable in the circumstances. This will be a contextual analysis that balances the privacy interests of the employees and/or congregants with the actual policy.
Relying on applicable Occupational Health and Safety legislation requires that current measures be supported by current and up to date science in order to support that the policy makes the workplace “safe” and is a “reasonable precaution”, in the words of the Ontario statute vaccination policy requirements…
Depending on how the pandemic and scientific evidence continues to unfold, it may be more challenging to assert they are required though. Masking or other COVID-19 requirements follow a similar analysis. The congregation or Church should be considering whether such requirements are necessary to ensure a safe workplace.
Requiring masking or sanitization are certainly less intrusive measures than requesting vaccination status, so can generally be more easily justified…
We would caution that the requirement to mask should apply equally to all employees and congregants, regardless of their vaccination status… The above noted conclusions could change as scientific evidence and public health guidance evolve. Having said that, the Church can currently proceed with reasonable restrictions. Without a detailed review of vaccination policies/practices in place, it is challenging to opine on whether specific vaccination related restrictions would remain reasonable. However, masking/sanitizing would be a reasonable restriction as of the date of this opinion.
Congregations are reminded to continue to ask people to stay home if unwell or if they have tested positive for COVID.
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
In the summer of 2018, Diane Blanchard accepted the invitation to serve as Minister, Pastoral Relations, for Antler River Watershed, Western Ontario Waterways and Horseshoe Falls Regional Councils starting on January 1, 2019.
As if the structural change was not enough to manage, the church also chose that date to implement a new search and selection system called ChurchHub. Diane shepherded congregations through the ChurchHub process in the early days and still resources them now. She trained Liaisons, new regional council partners with communities of faith that are in search.
Diane also resourced Human Resources Commissions to learn their new role and become confident in their work. While doing all of that, she proved a valuable teammate and advisor to her regional council colleagues.
Some of the strengths Diane brings to this role are her international experiences, long service in pastoral relationships, extensive Presbytery work and skills and training in therapy. We are grateful for the commitment she made to launching our regional councils!!!!
Diane recently communicated her desire to retire as of August 30, 2022. We will celebrate her leadership closer to her leave-taking. Keep checking newsletters for information.
Searching for our next Minister, Pastoral Relations
We hope to offer a one-month overlap with Diane for the person entering this role. To be able to do that and to honour 90 days notice to a community of faith if needed, we need to have this person in place by April 30, 2022.
The deadline for submissions is March 30, 2022. Anyone submitting an application is asked to be available for the interview dates of April 6 and 7. Thank you.
Antler River Watershed Regional Council Members Let Sunflower Seeds of Hope Abound in ARWRC
Sunflowers! The national flower of Ukraine.
When explorers returning home from North America brought sunflower seeds with them, the seeds were planted in the rich dark soil of Ukraine where they flourished. While other fats and oils used for cooking were forbidden by the Orthodox Church during Lent, the oil from sunflower seeds found its way into Ukrainian cooking and culture. Throughout Ukraine’s history the ubiquitous sunflower has been a symbol of peace.
Since late February the sunflower has become a global symbol of resistance and solidarity in support of Ukraine. It is rooted in a news story about a bold, brave and courageous Ukrainian woman who offered sunflower seeds to heavily armed Russian soldiers invading her country. “Take these seeds,” she said, “so that sunflowers grow when you die here.”
Sunflower seeds of hope … hope that good will triumph; hope that through the darkness beauty will grow. Death and resurrection.
On Ash Wednesday, on behalf of the Antler River Watershed Regional Council (ARWRC), I wrote a letter of support to the Ukrainian faith communities located within the region.
Here is an excerpt:
We watch with dismay and disbelief as Russia continues to invade Ukraine. Our hearts ache because of the violence, death, pain, destruction, and the displacement being visited upon Ukraine’s people, many of whom have family members and friends living in Canada.
In a time such as this, we pray that the Spirit of God’s love will provide strength for the people, political leaders and spiritual leaders of Ukraine. We pray for peace.
We are holding and encouraging you as we stand in solidarity with you. support
And now to the Sunflower Challenge!
During Lent, and beyond, I encourage all communities of faith to plant sunflower seeds of hope and to adorn your worship spaces with sunflowers … be they real ones, photographs or made of construction paper. My hope is that the ARWRC will become a field of sunflowers. It will become an expression of our “Voices United” in hope and in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and their loved ones around the world.
Beyond the sunflowers, please also check the UCC website for many more ways to help and show support for Ukraine and its people.
In Faith & Hope,
Rev. Jane Van Patter
President, Antler River Watershed Regional Council
Ahead of PIE Day 2022 (March 14th), a small group of friends of Horseshoe Falls and Shining Waters Regional Councils came together to talk about the ways Scripture has been used – and misused – to cause harm to 2SLGBTQIA+ people. We talked about ways the United Church perpetuated that harm. We talked about how far we have come as a denomination – and how far we have left to go. We celebrated the progress that has been made and we wondered what we might offer to help communities of faith engage in an important conversation on a day that has been set apart for acknowledging our call to be Public Intentional and Explicit in inclusion of 2SLGBTQIA+ kin.
The result of our conversation is this resource – reflections on lectionary readings for March 13th , 2022 (the Sunday before PIE Day), a litany of persistence and resistance, and even a story for children’s time. We pray this offering will generate meaningful dialogue and creativity about the ways we embrace the wonderful diversity of all God’s people.
Use this resource. Share this resource. Add to this resource.
The Love Story of David and Jonathan, written by Deborah Laforet and narrated (and illustrated!) by the children of St. Paul’s United Church, Oakville, can be found here:
You are welcome to use the story for children’s time, in Sunday School, or for whatever purpose makes sense in your context.
Scripture Reflections/Sermon Starters for Sunday March 13th, 2022 By Jeffrey Dale
Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
God’s covenant of Abram comes with devotion and work. As we read through Genesis, we consider the ways in which we have been called in our covenant with God. For some it maybe through the ministry of preaching, pastoral care, education, justice and/or service, while for others it maybe through ensuring church buildings are maintained. We all are called by God in our ministry. In this week of PIE Day, there is a myriad of ways to consider God’s covenant with queer Christians, and the call that God gives to heterosexual Christians to respond to the queer covenant. Consider, as you are reading Genesis, how you are called to be public, intentional, and explicit. Consider how that PIE call feeds your desire to be present in relationships with queer folks throughout this church.
Psalm 27
The psalmist invites us into considering the ways in which God comforts and protects us. For many of us, we see church as a place in which we may seek sanctuary in a world in which being who you are is often not a lived reality. We still experience spaces in which transgender people consistently experience misgendering and erasure, and gay and lesbian people experience homophobia through words and actions, while bisexuals and asexual people experience a barrage of doubt and questions. If we consider what the psalmist writes in verse four as a focal point of this particular psalm, we can acknowledge, that the desire is for us to not only be loved and understood by God, but to also be integral in the living space of God’s house. Consider, if you will, the ways in which your church has been a house of dissent, consider the ways in which your worshiping community of faith continues to be inaccessible to queer people, and then consider the ways in which you can truly work together, as a community of believers, to build God’s house in your community.
Philippians 3: 17 – 21
We live in our bodies, and as Philippians informs us, there will come an experience in which what we know physically today will be manifested in a way that is now a holy mystery to us. Reading Philippians, consider the lives and experiences of Dominque Jackson, January Marie Lapuz, and Raymond Taavel, who experienced physical violence and death because of who they were and whom they loved. Our bodies are vessels on this earth, and we embody both our relationships with one another and our experiences of God. As such, we belong to God fully and wholly. As you read through the Philippians scripture, challenge yourself to consider how the queer experience is an embodiment of God’s presence here on earth.
Luke 13: 31 – 35
It has been a regular occurrence for queer people to experience brutality at the hands of the systems of power, whether they be police, religious, or political, and yet, queer people still continue to exist. Consider for a moment the movements that existed in the United Church of Canada’s history that desired erasure of queer voices in our church, such as the Community of Concern, and yet queer people continued to show up in spaces of spirituality and religion. We have a history in the United Church of Canada where queer existence was desired to be erased, regardless of the work and care that queer people, and often we do not talk about the experiences of the trauma and damage that occurred because of the organizing against queer people in the United Church of Canada? Why? We must wonder. This week, as you are reading this passage from Luke that is about Christ’s continued presence in direct response to adversity, research and ponder, question, the ways in which members, ministry personnel and lay, of the United Church of Canada have worked to erase queer people from this church’s life – and how other members, ministry personnel and lay, fought to ensure that did not happen.
Tri Regional UCW of Antler River Watershed, Horseshoe Falls and Western Ontario Waterways Regional Councils met on Saturday, February 12th, 2022. Enjoy the video of the event and stay connected.
Contact Kathy Douglas for information on future UCW events.
Since COVID struck, visits to Canadian food banks have climbed 20 percent. Already, over 33 percent of food bank users are children. In 2022, food prices are predicted to rise another 5 to 7 percent.
We can do more to support our friends and neighbours living in Canada. That’s why on February 21―as many provinces celebrate Family Day― we are hoping you will encourage those in your network to support families by giving the gift of a meal through our Mission & Service partners. A gift of just $25 will provide a family of four with a warm, nutritious meal.
You can support the appeal by sharing social media posts and announcements l and this Mission & Service story.
Whether you are celebrating Family Day, Heritage Day, or just another day, please join us in making February 21 a day of generosity. A day to show that we as a whole United Church really care about our neighbours.
We can do more to support our friends and neighbours living in Canada. Support families by giving the gift of a meal through our Mission & Service partners. A gift of just $25 will provide a family of four with a warm, nutritious meal. $50 will support a family with two meals. $175 will ensure a family can eat a good, healthy meal every day of the week. Make a gift today!
In October of 2021, The United Church of Canada General Council 43 Annual Meeting adopted a Call and Vision for the whole church. This video highlights this new Call, explores the connection to these words in our faith statements, and invites reflection and commitment.
On January 24, 2022, The United Church of Canada launched its Korea Peace Appeal Ten Thousand Signature Campaign declaring, “70 years is enough. It’s time to end the Korean War.”
In 2018, the United Church’s 43rd General Council declared that we believe God is calling us tojoin with partners to work for peace, justice and reunification in the Korean peninsula. The 43rd General Council urged the church to address the suffering of the Korean people, which continues since the Korean War has not ended, some seven decades after it was begun. The Korea Peace Appeal is an opportunity for the United Church to renew our commitment to partnership in God’s mission in Korea.
The UCC has taken up the invitation — and challenge — from Korean partners to add Ten Thousand Signatures to the Korean Peace Appeal by July 2022.
Join the call to begin reaching out and organizing so we can reach that goal
Please promote and share this event:
UCC Korea Peace Appeal 10,000 Signatures Campaign Organizing Session February 24, 2022 at 2 pm ET ( 3:30 NT, 3:00 AT, 1 pm CT, Noon MT, 11 am PT) Led by Moderator Richard Bott and Rev. Dr. Kyongja (Kay) Cho.
Come learn about this Korea Peace Appeal 10,000 Signatures Campaign.
Offer your time, talent and passion for Peace.
Gather resources and ideas to help promote this campaign among family, friends, your community of faith and networks. Strategize on how to recruit and support more Korea Peace Appeal champions.
100 Champions (individuals or communities of faith) collecting 100 signatures will reach a 10,000 signature mark.
Long walks to the dining hall… Gracefully launching yourself down the rolling hills… Desperately trying to shake that catchy worship tune… Running into the arms of people you haven’t seen in years…or ever…or yesterday!
…Sounds awe-inspiring, fairytale- esque, a utopian dream!
But hold up!!! This is not a drill! YAT Forum (Young Adults Together) is coming to a Pearce Williams Christian Center near you (actually its located in Iona Station)!! Never been to adult overnight camp? Desperate for arts and crafts? Need space to connect with the divine, nature or yourself!? For those who are 19+, come be Re-United in worship, fellowship and the quietness of creation from April 29th- May 1, 2022. All recent covid guidelines will be followed during the weekend.
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.
On August 12, 10 people were handed removal orders after being identified at a protest in Calgary, the first time Canada’s federal immigration enforcement has targeted people at a protest. The United… continue reading
On September 23, Grassy Narrows youth, leaders and community members will travel 1,700 km to Toronto—and they are asking thousands of us to show up. The community has been devastated by mercury… continue reading
As last remaining Christian village in West Bank surrounded by Israeli settlements and undergoing harassment and terror from settler incursions, Latin Parish priest pleads for help; says children are… continue reading
Speakers present included participants in the original Apology and The Very Rev. Dr. Stan McKay; participants gathered to remember, witness, and recommit to the words of the Apology with presence and… continue reading
An exciting week ahead for 500 youth meeting at Collective 2026, as former CFL player J.R. LaRose offers keynote address; Moderator, General Secretary, and international guests will also participate
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It has been such a privilege to serve the communities of faith and ministry personnel of Antler River Watershed, Horseshoe Falls and Western Ontario Waterways Regional Councils over the past three and a half years as we transitioned from conferences to the regional council governance and to the brand new Office of Vocation.
