In today's newsletter...
• Indigenous Heritage Month events for June 2020
• Seeking Youth Animators for Rendez Vous 2020
• South Alberta Church leaders highlighted in new website
• Missed Naked Faith? Check it out!
• United Church's Emergency Loan Program available
• Online Worship Listings
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Calgary conversion therapy bylaw passes
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Thank you to the efforts of Affirming United Church congregations, other United Church people and Affirming Connections in your advocacy for a Calgary bylaw banning conversion therapy. The proposed bylaw passed on Monday, May 25.
Pam Rocker, Affirming Connections, collected a list of news articles where elected city councillors referred to your advocacy. A few are listed below:
• CBC Calgary
• Globe and Mail
• Global News
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Photo: Pre-COVID19 Advocacy at Calgary City Hall
by Affirming Communities of Faith
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Tony Snow, Coordinator for Indigenous Right Relations, Chinook Winds Region, will be hosting several programs during Indigenous Heritage Month. Please email Tony with any questions or to receive the Zoom sign in for specific sessions.
Indigenous Heritage Month Series
Every Sunday in June at 2 PM MST we explore the foundations of the Indigenous Church in the United Church of Canada. These sessions are open to everyone to come and learn:
- Indigenous Women's Spirituality with Rev. Bernice Saulteaux
- Indigeneity in Christian Formation with the Very Reverend Stan McKay
- The Indigenous Church, Mission and Call with Rev. John Snow Jr.
- The Caretakers Report and the Future Indigenous Church with Adrian Jacobs, Keeper of the Circle, Sandy Saulteaux Spiritual Centre.
Indigenous Heritage & Teachings - Clergy Session
Chinook Winds Clergy members are invited to this special session to learn, engage and explore the full history of the Indigenous Church, the Caretakers Report, the TRC Calls to Action and the Articles of UNDRIP. Friday, June 12 - 10 am - 12 noon.
Indigenous Awareness Week - Virtual Blanket Exercise
Everyone is invited to come explore the history of Treaty 7 and the United Church in Southern Alberta.
Sunday, June 17 - 7 PM. A sign up form will be available shortly.
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South Alberta church leaders highlighted in new website
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A new website by Vancouver Japanese United Church (VJUC) and the Pacific Mountain Regional Council Archives also highlights the stories of three South Alberta leaders:
Chinook Winds Region and South Alberta Japanese United Church have a special connection with the history of VJUC. Three individuals in particular have been featured on the site: Pastor Dr. George Takashima, Rev. Tad Mitsui and Rev. Hedy Bartling. Both George and Tad live in Lethbridge. Hedy died in the 1990s.
Because of the federal government’s policy of dispersal following the war, so many British Columbians of Japanese descent were scattered throughout the rest of Canada. One of the aims of this website is to reach out to Canadians whose roots trace back to the Vancouver congregation; we want to encourage viewers to learn about their past, help identify people in the images and share stories.
Visit the Enduring Faith website to explore historical photographs, documents and interviews about the story of this remarkable community of faith. Please share widely!
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Seeking Youth Animators for Rendez-Vous
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The Church in Mission Unit of The United Church of Canada is seeking three individuals to fill the role of Youth Animator in the Calgary/Chinook Winds area as part of the Canada Summer Program for 10 weeks, from June 15 to August 21, 2020. The United Church of Canada’s major youth event, Rendez-Vous 2020 will take place online on August 11-14th. Previously, it was to take place in Calgary.
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Due to limitations on travel and face to face gatherings the event will occur online offering youth, young adults, and their leaders opportunities to sing, worship, pray, learn, serve, and play together. Youth between the ages of 15 to 30, and living in the Calgary area, are eligible to apply for these positions. It is preferable that at least one applicant is Indigenous.
Deadline to apply: June 5. More details on jobs HERE.
The Chinook Winds newsletter will have information on registration for youth to attend the event when that is available. More info on Rendez Vous HERE.
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Missed Naked Faith? Check it out!
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If you missed last Friday’s live Naked Faith, the Youth and Young Adult Worship Service, please enjoy this recording. This year, Worship Lead Andrew Nicholson along with Joshua Carr and the Naked Faith band have been exploring Gary Chapman’s Five Love Languages. May’s theme, "Gifts", explores how we sometimes forget the deeper importance behind this love language.
The Naked Faith Band is made up of young people from congregations within Chinook Winds Region. Naked Faith is an alternative worship service aimed at Youth and Young Adults, featuring a powerful message and loud, energetic music. Naked Faith is based out of St. Andrew's Regional Youth and Young Adult Ministries. Follow Naked Faith on Instagram |
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News from Pastoral Relations
Licensed Lay Worship Leadership
The process for licensing and renewing licensing of Licensed Lay Worship Leaders within Chinook Winds Region is now on-line, through this link. You can now be licensed for up to three years.
Please out the form by Monday, June 29th 2020.
You will need:
- the date of completion of your program
- the date or prospective date of the completion of the mandatory Boundaries and Racial Justice courses
- the date of your most recent (within 5 years) police records check
- a letter of support from the governing body of your Community of Faith
It's Re-appointment Time!
Please check your records to see if your appointment will expire on June 30/July 1, 2020. If so,
- The Community of Faith and Ministry Personnel must both have up-to-date profiles on ChurchHub.
- The Ministry Personnel must have made the annual declaration (Police Records Check)
- The Ministry Personnel must have up-to-date mandatory courses (Racial Justice and Boundaries) or have proof of being signed up to take the course(s).
- Contact Pastoral Relations Minister Lee Spice with your intention to re-appoint, and she will send you a list of the next steps [which also triggers Lee's communication with the Office of Vocation]. Individual reminders to renew appointments are not being sent out.
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United Church Emergency Loan Program during COVID-19
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An emergency loan program is available for congregations through The United Church of Canada during the pandemic.
Communities of faith needing a cash flow top-up can apply for $10,000 in bridging loans after they have accessed available government programs.
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Vancouver School of Theology's
Summer School Offered Online
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July 6-17th
This is exciting!! Why? Because folks from coast to coast can attend Summer School without having to travel to Vancouver.
Choose from 11 courses – audit or take for credit.
The Early Bird deadline is May 15th.
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Details here: https://vst.edu/vst-summer-school/
Still have questions? Please email Margaret Trim
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Online Worship Offerings
in Chinook Winds Region
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How to submit news items to
Chinook Winds E-Newsletter
The Chinook Winds Newsletter is published every week. Deadline for submissions is the Monday or, following a long weekend, on the Tuesday
Your news or announcement can be included in the Chinook Winds E-News. For best promotion, it is advisable to submit material four weeks/one month in advance of your event's date or submission deadline. Events will be promoted for two newsletters and if you would like further promotion, please re-submit your item.
Please send the following information in the body of an email to Shelley Den Haan via SDenhaan@united-church.ca (Please note new email address):
• Your name and e-mail as the contact
• Short title
• 30-60 word description (Tip: Include a compelling reason why the reader should click to find out more.)
• The URL or website where readers can visit for more information (If you do not
have a URL or website, you can attach a pdf flyer or poster.)
• Date
• Location
Attach to the e-mail:
• An image (JPG or PNG) that represents your event, campaign, etc. Your social media artwork is helpful
(No image? That's fine. It will be placed in the "Other News" section.)
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