1. Living Skies Regional Council News:
Regional Gathering Meetings - Save the Dates – October 28 and November 4
The Living Skies Regional Council Executive has set the dates for the fall virtual meetings. Members of the Living Skies Regional Council (community of faith lay delegates, ministry personnel and members at large) will gathering electronically on October 28 and November 4 from 6:30pm to 9pm each evening to discuss, discern and decide on the business for the Region Council. Please watch the Rambler for more information in the near future.
Background on Remit 1 and voting on it
Remit 1 proposes a simple but very important gender-inclusive change to the language describing who is eligible to be a minister. Please find here a short resource to help voting delegates and the wider church understand how the Remit works; what the proposed change is; why it makes a difference; and to access further resources. Living Skies Regional Council delegates will vote on the Remit on November 4
Celebration of Ministry
This past weekend, Living Skies Regional Council celebrated in a unique way with the 4 ministry personnel who achieved faith journey milestones. Rev. Hoeun Lee was admitted into The United Church of Canada and covenanted with the St. Paul’s United Community of Faith in Tisdale, Rev. Hyun Heo was admitted into The United Church of Canada and covenanted with the Grenfell United Community of Faith, and in collaboration with the National Indigenous Council, Deb Anderson-Pratt and Bruce Kakakaway were ordained. It was a grand celebration spread over three days. Much gratitude to the hosting congregations (including Wesley United in Regina for the ordination services), and to Annual Gathering Convenor, Rob Reed and Executive Minister, Shannon McCarthy for presiding at such lovely and faith-filled services. The link to the combined service will be provided as soon as it is available. In the meantime, you can read the bios of each of the people here:
National call to action: Create a universal basic income program
Poverty is a reality for too many Canadians. A universal basic income would help address the persistent inequities within our country. Please see full information from both the national church and perspectives from Saskatchewan here.
Some pandemic-related relief programs (such as CERB) are scheduled to wind up at the end of September. Moderator Richard Bott has written to elected officials encouraging them to seize the moment to roll out a guaranteed liveable income (or universal basic income) program in collaboration with the provinces, territories, and Indigenous leadership. A number of past Moderators have added their voices to the call: you can access all the videos here.
Here’s a guide for your letter to the federal government. Change it to add your own thoughts as you’re able!
Ministry Personnel gatherings
The fall has arrived and with it the need for support. Join your colleagues in ministry on Tuesdays, at 1:00pm for this optional conversation. Join weekly, bi-weekly, or whenever the Spirit moves you for an hour of connection and learning. Zoom Meeting: https://united-church.zoom.us/j/94637623120
2. Wider Church Information:
TODAY is Orange Shirt Day - September 30
On September 30, people all across Canada will wear orange shirts to remember and honour Indigenous children who were sent to residential schools right around this time of year. Indigenous Ministries and Justice at The United Church of Canada asks you to participate in Orange Shirt Day! Find out more about how you can mark Orange Shirt Day in your community of faith, home, school, or place of work.
UCRD: United Church Bookstore
Have you been to the United Church Bookstore lately? Lots 'n' lots of denominational materials, inspirational resources, powerful stories and a bunch of other living-faith-stuff that you didn't even know existed! https://ucrdstore.ca/ Or follow them on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/faith_in_our_books/
Let the (Choir) Music Ring Out (virtually!)
The folks at PRC - Practical Resources for Churches have created a great library of webinars & resources in support of innovative ministry. In particular, we'll highlight a few upcoming webinars about Christmas Worship in the coming days & weeks.
In the meantime though, check out some very cool & exciting stuff about Creating Virtual Choirs below:
https://www.prcli.org/on-demand-webinars/worship-2/
3. Upcoming Learning Opportunities - this week, summer and fall:
United in Learning online fall workshops announced
In the midst of COVID, it’s perhaps a relief to actually focus on something else. United in Learning is here to help us with that. From racial justice workshops to discerning calls to ministry, preaching to respecting boundaries, this fall’s line up has it all. Please have a look.
New Wine: Western Intercultural Gathering online this fall with Eric Law and Tony Snow
Fridays, September 25th, October 2nd & 9th, 2020.
Join us for a cross-Canada gathering of people living out the United Church’s intercultural vision. Rev. Dr. Eric Law and Tony Snow will be our lead resource people.
Cost: FREE. (Thank you for your support through Mission and Service!) These will be three-hour sessions, with presentations, reflection, song, and small group discussion. Tools for engaging with your ministry between sessions will be offered, and so will afternoon/ evening informal conversation groups.
Full information: https://bit.ly/2CqFRjt Sessions are free but registration is still required; please click here to register.
If you would like more information, please contact the Western Intercultural Ministry Network Executive through staff support Julie Graham, jgraham@united-church.ca
Stewardship of Creation: An Ecumenical Stewardship Webinar for the Season of Creation
Thursday, October 1, 2020 from 3 to 4:30pm
Join Rev Mitchell Anderson, Dr. Volker Greifenhagen, Bishop Chris Harper, and Tashia Toupin for an ecumenical webinar on the Stewardship of Creation. What do the Hebrew scriptures teach us about the interconnectedness of humanity and all creation? What we can learn from Canadian Indigenous spiritual tradition, Roman Catholic social teachings, United Church perspectives, and other sources of wisdom? Please register by emailing Nick Jesson at njesson@archregina.sk.ca
Advance notice: mark your calendars for a fall Stewardship series: "Gathering God's Harvest", Thurs. Oct 22 and 29, and Nov 5, 12, and 19.
Affirm United/ S’affirmer Ensemble Kitchen Sink open conversation series
Next: October 6 and continuing every second Tuesday. 4:30-6:00pm
You’re invited to join Affirm United as we gather online every other Tuesday night for a time of learning together in community. This is your chance to connect with people from across the country who share your passion for Two Spirit and LGBTQ+ justice. Join us this fall as we talk about everything and the kitchen sink – our topics might be a bit unpredictable but it will certainly be fun!
Wet'suwet'en Witness: Making the justice connections with Northern Ontario — Indigenous land rights, Indigenous women and the Environment
For all of us who feel called to live with respect in Creation, here is an invitation to hear from people who are doing so with all their strength. Our guests are people from Canada and Northern Ontario who are passionately caring for sacred land and people who defend it. (If you’ve never sat in on a conversation by Zoom, don’t worry. It’s easy.) Each event lasts one hour and is free of charge. Registration is required (see below for how to do that). And even if you are not from Northern Ontario... we're sure you will still find this interesting and full of application for your context.
October 14, 7:00 pm Wet'suwet'en Call for Justice; and has anything changed since Oka?
Speakers: Chief Adam Gagnon (Dsya’hyl) respected chief of the Likhts'amisyu, Wet’suwet’en Nation, and Donna Sinclair, author and journalist, North Bay.
October 21, 7:00 pm Environmental Justice, Racism and Northern Ontario
Speakers: Bruce McIvor, lawyer and historian, First Peoples Law Corporation, Vancouver, and Mary Laronde, consultant to Union of Ontario Indians and Councillor, Teme-Augama Anishnabai, Temagami.
October 28, 7:00 pm Violence Against Indigenous Women and Girls
Speaker: Hilda Anderson-Pyrz, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Liaison Unit Manager, Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak
Visit https://solidarity-team-northbay.weebly.com/ to register or email if you have questions: solidarityteamnorthbay@gmail.com
Mapping Our Lives – Exploring a Map of Human Experience – A Free Flow Wellness Retreat to be held at First United Church, (223 Third Ave. NE) Swift Current, SK S9H 2G6 Registration Deadline: October 30, 2020
Thursday, Nov. 5 (5:30pm supper) – Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020 (12:30pm)
In this retreat we will be exploring a typical looking map that substitutes the names of cities, rivers and seas for concepts, feelings and everyday human experiences. We will find beautiful regions and desolate ones: Climb mountains of work, survive the dessert of despair, and be cradled by the Bay of Wisdom. Through an exploration of this map, and creative processes to fire the imagination, we will be invited to discover where we are in life presently, where we want to go, and map out our route for getting there. Come and join us for this unique adventure as we explore a map of human experience that has something for everyone. Leadership: Marg Janick-Grayston; Expressive Arts, Reiki and Quantum Touch practitioner, Spiritual Mentor, Retreat Leader, and Business Owner of Free Flow Wellness Number of Participants: 5 – 12; To Hold a Spot/Register: Send a $75 cheque along with any necessary dietary needs to: First United Church, 223 – 3rd Ave. N.E., Swift Current, Sk. (Includes Thursday supper, and Friday lunch and supper, as well as materials) (Accommodation, breakfasts, and Saturday lunch are the responsibility of each participant) Facilitation Donation: Suggested Range $110-$150 (Paid directly to Marg Janick-Grayston during the retreat. This amount is over and above the Registration fee listed above). Cancelation Policy: Full Refund up until Oct. 30th or if leadership cancels the event. For more info, see https://www.freeflowwellness.ca/retreats or Email Linda Stumpf at lgstumpf1@hotmail.com or call her at 306-629-3948.
Expressing Wonder Conference
You are invited to participate in the fall on-line conference, Seeing the World with Eyes Wide Open. October 2-4, 2020. Sponsored by Southminster-Steinhauer United Church – Spiritual Seekers United in Community, Edmonton and Saskatoon.
Theme Presenters: Ali Akbar, CEO for the Saskatoon Open Door Society. A refugee and immigrant himself, he is passionate about social justice and overcoming social inequity. Ernie Louttit, a member of the Saskatoon Police, is a Missanabie Cree. Award winning author, he blows the lid off of taboo topics around policing and racism. Mitch Babin will share his art. On hand will be Nancy Steeves and Christopher New as well as Gretta Vosper and Scott Kearns with their spiritual message and music leadership.
Cost is $75 per viewing device. For all the information, the conference schedule and registration form, follow the link https://ssucedmonton.com/expressing-wonder-2020
CCS Fridays
Join the Centre for Christian Studies for CCS Fridays—online conversations to help us all to respond faithfully to emerging issues in local contexts. These workshops are open to anyone who might be interested. Each session will be on a Friday from 12:00 to 1:00 CT and in the form of a Zoom workshop. There will be a presentation that will be recorded for future viewing, plus opportunities to engage with the ideas in small groups.
The first CCS Friday is on the topic: “Imagine Church Differently: What is church when we can’t gather?” It will be an exploration of ecclesiology and the implications of what we believe about church.
When: October 9, 2020 12:00 noon Central Daylight Time (US and Canada)
Please register in advance for this meeting (no fee, donations gratefully accepted), and join us to imagine church differently:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0vduqqpj0vG9KtgSetX4QvcitOMRI4GKXO After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Coming up: Join the Centre for Christian Studies for conversation about “Queer Biblical Interpretation: seeing Scripture with new eyes”. When: November 6, 2020 12:00 noon Central ST(US and Canada)
Queen’s House re-opening
After such a long time of silence…Queen’s House is gradually re-opening their doors to the public, and like everyone else they are trying to find ways to move forward into the coming year. Their programming formats have significantly changed – while occasional programs will be offered in-person at the retreat centre, following all safety protocols, much of their programming will be offered through Zoom. To see Queen’s House programming, please see their Our Programs page .
4. Reminders:
Put your community event on our website
You can still promote your local event through our website. Regular worship should be registered with the national church’s map and listings, but everything from bible study to a workshop to drive up pie or bannock fundraisers can be shared on our Communities of Faith events calendar through our community form. The event needs to be a United Church event open to the public. Give it a try!
The work of the Pastoral Relations Committee - Pastoral Relations Ponderings Vol 17
New video for the Season of Creation: The Weight of a Grain of Wheat
The Weight of a Grain of Wheat is a Korean song by Soon-Gwan Hong. Now, during the Season of Creation, we have a made in SK version! It’s translated by Yoonjoo Shin and produced by Hoeun Lee. They invite you to enjoy and share this meeting of Korea and Canada as we honour the abundance of God’s gifts: https://youtu.be/k1r8ISOodXY
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