Do you wish to engage others in your passion for the environment and take actions for climate change. Here is an invitation to Facilitate Climate Conversations with some helpful training. Check out this opportunity. For more information contact Kdouglas@united-church.ca
For the Love of Creation will be offering a Facilitator Training Session for the Faithful Climate Conversations
The Tri-Region Affirm Network has created a resource to help!
With gratitude for the work of Network member, Anne Moore, the tri-region Affirming Network is pleased to provide a resource to communities of faith that are discerning and/or have entered into the Affirming Ministries process.
Meant to augment the tools made available through Affirm United/S’Affirmer Ensemble, this resource is full of wisdom gleaned by United Church ministries across the country that are living into the call to be Public Intentional and Explicit about the ways communities of faith live the welcome as Affirming Ministries.
For more information on the Affirming Ministries process, or the work of the tri-region Affirming Network, please contact Thérèse Samuel (TSamuel@united-church.ca)
The Islington United Church Anti-Racism Working Group is pleased to present a free speaker series in January 2022 on Racism in the Church, designed to educate ourselves and help us take action on racism within our church, the community, and the wider Canadian context.
We hope you will join us. For more information and to register: islingtonunited.org
Horseshoe Falls Regional Council is having a Sunday Evenings Discussion Group focusing on Indigenous Justice and Reconciliation as a part of an Anti-Racism series. As the discussion group is online, geography is no longer a barrier to participate in events across The United Church of Canada. Horseshoe Falls President Robert Lawson has invited anyone from Antler River Watershed to join in. The discussions are twice a month on Sunday evenings from 7-830pm, starting on Sunday January 16th. For more information or to register for the event please follow the link below …
It’s time for our next anti-racism series. You are invited to register for our winter series, which focuses on Indigenous justice and reconciliation. We will explore the topic through music, a podcast, a documentary, a Hollywood film, a Canadian film, and three books.
Zoom Conversations are twice a month on Sunday nights, 7-8:30pm, beginning January 16th. You can order your books through the Hamilton Resource Centre (call 905-318-5289).If you are a part of Horseshoe Falls Region, the Region will cover the cost of one book. Contact Deborah Laforet for more information: deborah@stpaulsoakville.com.
Register here, where you will find the media we are exploring and the dates of each Zoom conversation. We look forward to having you join us.
Thank you for the care and attention you have given to an ever-evolving situation. It is difficult to face another round of uncertainty with the increase in Covid cases and the spread of the Omicron variant. Some communities of faith are re-examining their policies and re-considering their plans for Advent and Christmas.
As a starting point, check with your local health unit. Each health unit sets regulations based on transmission rates in their jurisdiction. Many health units have specific guidelines for worship including rules for singing, communion and masking of worship leaders.
To date, the provincial guidelines that came into effect on October 25th and were communicated in the October 26th regional council newsletter remain in effect:
Worship and Religious Rites
For worship and religious rites, communities of faith can either:
1) continue to welcome unvaccinated people provided that social distancing and capacity limits are followed OR
2) require proof of vaccination and lift social distancing and capacity limits.
Screening of attendees needs to continue.
The Medical Officer of Health has urged vulnerable people to avoid gatherings so please consider what on-line options might be provided for those who are not comfortable attending in-person worship.
Medical Care, Food, Medical Supplies
Proof of vaccination is not necessary. These are the only exemptions in the provincial legislation although some health units have reportedly also exempted AA and other 12 Step Program meetings. Please confirm with your local health unit.
Any Other Church Event, i.e. Meetings, U.C.W., etc.
These are indoor meetings and events and require proof of vaccination. Please make sure all attendees are screened in advance and provide proof of vaccination.
Tenants and Renters
Tenants covered by a lease are themselves responsible for complying with the legislation. The governing body may want to confirm with the tenant how they are complying with the legislation since as landlords they may have some liability risk.
One-off rentals may be the responsibility of the church. Churches should stipulate in any one-off rental contracts that the renter is responsible for complying with all COVID-restrictions then in place, including verifying vaccinations, as required.
Holding communities of faith and their ministry personnel in prayer as they face another round of decisions and remembering that, as Luke recounts the birth of Jesus, that was also a time of chaos and uncertainty. In this unsettled time, may you experience the wonder, hear the angel choir, and come upon Christ with us. God be with you.
Blessings,
Cheryl-Ann
Cheryl-Ann Stadelbauer-Sampa EXECUTIVE MINISTER, ANTLER RIVER WATERSHED, WESTERN ONTARIO WATERWAYS AND HORSESHOE FALLS REGIONAL COUNCILS
The Regional Council Office will be closed December 24th through to January 3rd. Staff will not be responding to email or phone messages during that time. However, should you have an urgent, emergency situation, you can call 1-833-236-0280, ext 2 and leave a message. This voicemailbox will be checked regularly over the Christmas break.
Please note that many of the regional council staff are on holiday during the month of December and the first week of January and we appreciate your patience in receiving a response.
We’re looking for amazing projects to fund through the second round of the My Main Street Community Activator program!
The program, funded by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, supports placemaking projects across southern Ontario in 2022, with reimbursements between $25,000 and $250,000.
Learn more by reviewing the application guide and apply by completing and submitting the application form. The deadline to apply is February 1, 2022.
We’ll also be hosting information sessions and events to encourage bold, ambitious projects that will drive economic activity and support the inclusion of equity seeking groups.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to placemaking@mymainstreet.ca. Or feel free to book some time with Cecile or Jared to discuss by phone.
The Government of Canada has launched the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) 2021-2022 call for proposals (CFP) for community-based projects across Canada.The online application and applicant guide is available on the Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). For information, please consult the ESDC Funding Programs page. The deadline to submit applications will be December 21st, 2021, at 3:00 p.m. EST.
WHAT’S NEW FOR THE 2021-2022 CALL FOR PROPOSALS?
One application stream: Community-based projects are eligible to receive up to $25,000 in grant funding. New applicants and organizations that have not been funded in the past five years are encouraged to apply.
To simplify the application process and provide funds to communities more rapidly, organizations will need to complete and submit their application online. The deadline to submit is December 21st, 2021.
Organizations will be invited to apply for funding that supports the program’s national priorities:
1. Supporting healthy ageing
o Including addressing social isolation, including through supporting seniors’ digital literacy, addressing ageism, mental health and dementia, and by developing and delivering virtual programming for the above.
2. Preventing senior abuse
o Including helping seniors navigate access to government benefits and providing support to file their taxes, supporting financial empowerment of seniors, and measures to reduce crimes and harm against seniors.
3. Celebrating diversity and promoting inclusion
o Including promoting intergenerational mentoring and engagement, and serving members of the following vulnerable groups: Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, members of racialized and newcomer groups, members of LGBTQ2+ communities, low-income seniors and veterans.
4. Helping seniors to age in place
o Including providing practical supports to seniors to help them remain in their homes longer.
Advent and Christmas Greetings from President Jane
Lists! Grocery lists. “Honey-do lists.” And, at this time of the year, Christmas lists. I wonder what’s on your Christmas list or that of your children, your grandchildren and other family and friends with whom you exchange Christmas gifts.
Two years ago, my theatre friends and I were sitting in the Grand Theater in London waiting for the Christmas show to begin. Barbara, who works for Canada Post was telling me about the letters that come into the post office where she works. In particular, she was talking about letters addressed to Santa, the North Pole, HOH OHO – Ho! Ho! Ho! The letters, in the form of Christmas lists, are sent by children living in hopeful anticipation of that great day coming.
As the grandmother of a pre-schooler, I was curious to know what was trending. What do children have on their Christmas lists these days? The answer Barbara gave was not the one what I was expecting. One of the letters received included two Christmas lists, presumably from siblings. On the one list there were 28 items listed. Every item listed began with “Santa, I want.” The other list identified 6 items. The message to Santa began, “Dear Santa, I would like any one of the 6 items listed. You choose.”
Trying to imagine Christmas morning in this unidentified household, my hunch is that the child who would like anything from among the six items listed, may have had a happier Christmas morning than the child who wanted all twenty- eight things listed.
What’s on your Christmas list?
In part, the lectionary appointed faith stories during Advent point to difficult times. They also encourage us to prepare ourselves, our hearts, our minds and to be ready for the good things yet to come. Fear not! Good news of great joy awaits you!
During these Advent days of waiting in hopeful anticipation of good news of great joy, we do so in a time of pandemic living; in a time of climate change as evidenced by floods and fires destroying the earth and claiming lives and property; in a time of racism and vigilante justice. In times such as this we are called to prepare, to be ready. Fear not!
My prayer this Advent season is that our Christmas lists include the gifts of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. My prayer is that these gifts, the gifts of Christmas, will be given generously and received graciously by all people that on earth do dwell.
To each of you the members, friends, and communities of faith within the Antler River Watershed Region, may the Advent season and the celebration of Christmas fill your hearts with joy and wonder sustaining you in the year ahead.
In Faith & Hope,
Rev. Jane Van Patter
President, Antler River Watershed Regional Council
**Canada, Stand up for Palestinian Children’s Rights**
Join this International Day (Nov 29) of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
Light a candle for the Palestinian Children.
Join the UNJPPI campaign to support Palestinian children living under the Israeli military occupation.
https://www.unjppi.org/join-childrens-rights-campaign.html
Sign up through this link http://eepurl.com/htSZpb to receive information about the campaign and how to participate.
Last fall Parliamentary Petition e-2667 was presented to Parliament. It called on the Government of Canada “to ensure the human rights of Palestinian children are protected by instructing a Special Envoy to promote, monitor and report on the human rights situation of Palestinian children living in the occupied Palestinian Territory and Gaza”.
This fall, the Tri-Region Affirm Network received a letter seeking endorsement of a statement of multi-faith solidarity for a Hindu priest who has been condemned for officiating a same-sex marriage ceremony. The Affirm Network has signed the letter and the individuals on the Network have committed to signing it. We, the members of the Affirm Network, are now asking leaders in communities of faith across our regions to consider signing to endorse a multi-faith statement of solidarity.
Excerpts of the letter that started it:
Dear friends,
This is Nikhil Mandalaparthy from Sadhana: Coalition of Progressive Hindus and Hindus for Human Rights.I’m writing today because we at Sadhana are calling on religious leaders and representatives of faith-based organizations to endorse a multi-faith statement of solidarity with Sri Ranganathan Kurrukal, a Hindu priest based in Toronto, Canada. …
Recently, Kurrukal conducted a marriage ceremony for a same-sex couple. This has led to a severe backlash from his family and conservative members of the community. Kurrukal has received multiple death threats by text, phone, and social media. Toronto Hindu organizations have pushed him out and he is facing exclusion from a local association of Hindu priests. …
We hope you will add your voice to condemn this backlash against a religious leader who sought to honor and celebrate the love between two LGBTQ+ community members. We must resist homophobia and transphobia wherever they manifest and commit to uplifting inclusive religious leadership in all of our communities.
Thérèse shares the Social Justice position with the Minister, Social Justice, serving the Discipleship and Justice Commissions and social justice ministries in the region. She also supports Indigenous and Non-Indigenous churches in the region in the work of building right relations.
Serves in: Antler River Watershed, Western Ontario Waterways and Horseshoe Falls Regional Councils
Location: Teleworks from home and spends time in the regional councils.
Role: Thérèse encourages and connects communities of faith in their work and supports Indigenous ministries in their relationship with the region and promotes and supports racial justice and social justice ministries.
Contact Thérèse about: Affirming Ministries, Anti-Racism; Intercultural Ministry; Right Relations; Indigenous Ministries, Social Justice Ministries and resource to the Discipleship & Justice Commission.
Diane Matheson-Jimenez
Minister, Social Justice for Antler River Watershed, Western Ontario Waterways and Horseshoe Falls Regional Councils
An Ontario Certified Teacher, Diane has long been passionate about empowering people of all ages to engage in meaningful justice work. She serves the Mission & Discipleship Commissions, as well as working with and building social justice networks in the regions.
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!
This video series features a variety of topics that youth and young adults are keenly interested in exploring further. These short videos have been created so that communities of faith may utilize them in their engagement with youth and young adult ministry.
Creating Conversation is a video series that features a variety of topics that youth and young adults are keenly interested in exploring further. These short videos have been created so that communities of faith may utilize them in their engagement with youth and young adult ministry.
This project is sponsored by the United Church of Canada’s Vison Fund, and was supported by: Jen Auger and Norval United Church, Cynthia O’Connell, Antler River Watershed Regional Council, Western Ontario Waterways Regional Council, Horseshoe Falls Regional Council, Shining Waters Regional Council, Prairie to Pine Regional Council, Not The Ends Media.
For further inquires please contact:
Jeffrey Dale, Minister for Justice and Faith Formation – Email: jdale@united-church.ca
Kathy Douglas, Minister for Faith Formation – Email: kdouglas@united-church.ca
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