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ENews # 10 - Summer

Hi Rural Folks Across Canada!
This is our tenth monthly eNews, which shares more information of rural ministry initiatives across Canada, mostly in the United Church of Canada.

Welcome to our new subscribers.

Past eNewsletters are archived at www.UCRMN.ca

Have a rural story you would like to share? You are welcome to submit your story to Connor at editor@UCRMN.ca. Please try to keep articles 300 to 500 words.

You may notice that articles in this edition of the ENews are a little shorter than usual. That's on purpose! In an effort to keep things shorter and to the point, we will now be sharing snippets of articles and stories in our newsletter but hosting the full versions on our website at ucrmn.ca. Please let us know what you think of the change by emailing info@ucrmn.ca.

How are you handling Church and Technology?

For many of the churches across Canada, COVID-19 has changed how we do “Church”. Technology has allowed many of us to meet online, using video and written content. We have realized, “We, the people, are the “Church” – not the building. Yet many of us are wondering, "What’s next”? In the last few months, workshops are overfilled with several hundred people interested.

Read on to see some of what is happening…

 
Studying How the Sacred Touches Our Lives
 
By Joyce Sasse
 
When colleagues and friends honoured me recently and helped me celebrate the granting of a Doctor of Divinity Degree from St. Andrew’s Theological College (University of Saskatchewan), others asked “What does a Doctor of Divinity University Degree mean?”

It’s not hard to name studies in Physics, Engineering, Medicine or even Literature to be a “Science”. We understand, as an example, a “Doctorate in Agricultural Science” is about very focused studies in Agriculture.

But what of “Theology” – defined as “the systematic study of the nature of the divine” … the study of “the spiritual”? The question is, what does this academic discipline mean? And how is it possible that people of various religious persuasions really can study spiritual matters together, even though they usually end up with a variety of different conclusions?


Furthermore, when a very astute newspaper reporter questioned my explanation that “Divinity” was one of the basic studies of the Sciences that are at the heart of University Education … I knew I had to try to find the words to explain what the recognition of my new status implied.

Please click here to read the rest of Joyce's article.

You can read more about Joyce's new book on the UCRMN website or download it by visiting the Circle-M website.

 

The Cup of Kindness Project:
An idea for congregations from Erin United Church


By Felicia Urbanski


This beautiful teacup and saucer, called “Pansies”, is the symbol of a special program for our congregation here at Erin United Church! Most of us already do more than we brag about to help others... all this important project does is put a name or a focus on our kindnesses.

For one week you can “fill your cup with kindness”.... 5 individual acts will do it....6 will make it overflow! It is not really a competition, but we think it will be fun! If you have a cup and saucer in your house, please use it to drop a little tab in when you complete each act of kindness.

On Sundays we will bring our cups to our Zoom service and take some of our time to reflect on our results. Eventually when the pandemic ends, we will have a giant tea party for all. Be kind and have fun!!
Remember to keep a smile on your face!


To continue reading this article please visit the UCRMN website.

Getting into Music: Music in Rural Communities


By Erin Pajunen Jones

This article is written by Erin Pajunen Jones, who lives on a farm just outside the small Saskatchewan community of Lucky Lake.  Last year, as the local minister created online resources for their congregation, he asked the Jones boys to participate, and they did. The Lord of the Dance starts at 21:21.

Catherine asked Erin to reflect on how it is for young people from rural communities to get into music as our resources may be less than urban areas.  Many of you may resonate with what she says.

--

Life in rural Saskatchewan has changed as its population has decreased, with the opportunity to learn and experience music being no exception.

Music surrounded my boys from before they were born and continued with enthusiasm as they grew.  Disappointment came when the community band folded (the school band program had been removed from the curriculum about fifteen years earlier) and their piano instructor quit teaching. Although they were not yet old enough to be in band, I had planned for the boys to be a part of the community program.  As preparation on their piano pieces for an annual music festival showed us, lessons at home with me were NOT an option. We hit a brick wall.

To continue reading this article please visit the UCRMN website.
A Beautiful Resource for Worship

Book Recommendation: Turning Over a New Leaf by Rev. Dr. Tim Beadle

Rev. Dr. Tim Beadle, a self-declared ‘citiot,’ spent the past fifteen years visiting rural ministries throughout Canada. The journey changed his life as he rediscovered the uniqueness of those who serve and pastor over ninety percent of our national landscape. Without an united voice for those who speak on behalf of rural pastors, this book declared it is time to turn over a new leaf in our appreciation of rural pastors and those gather in small faith communities beyond cityscapes across our country.

You can purchase a copy of Tim Beadle's new book here.

                                    

    Want to do your own Online Workshop?

               
** You supply the topic and the leadership
** UCRMN will supply the logistics, such as; advertising in our monthly ENews, Registration, Zoom platform and all the administration needed for a successful workshop.

 
    Email Connor at office@UCRMN.ca to talk about possibilities.


        Why a cost for the workshops?

UCRMN has been granted $5,000 from United Church of Canada Foundation to set up the Network. One of the goals is to make UCRMN self sufficient. The token costs will help with accountability. We are not expecting the $10 cost to cover actual expenses.


We are open to any ideas how we can make UCRMN self sufficient: Please Email info@UCRMN.ca with suggestions.

So Long For Now!
We hope you enjoyed this "work in process".
Any suggestions are most welcomed. Email editor@UCRMN.ca

Please forward this email to your Rural Ministry Colleagues and encourage them to subscribe from our webpage at www.UCRMN.ca


Who is UCRMN?
We are a Volunteer Network that is collecting and posting Rural Ministries initiatives in the United Church - across Canada - in one place;
www.UCRMN.ca


If you have an interest in finding out more, or to volunteer as a Board Member or in some other way, please email us at info@UCRMN.ca

Blessings on your ministry!    
Catherine, Eric, Donna, Felicia and Shelley
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