1. Living Skies Regional Council News:
The work of the Pastoral Relations Committee - Pastoral Relations Ponderings Vol 17
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!
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.
Ministry & Personnel Committee 101
If you have a new ministry and personnel committee, or would just like a refresher of the roles and responsibilities for this most important task, please feel free to join Tracy Murton, Pastoral Relations Minister, for one of the following Zoom workshops: Wednesday, September 30, 7:00-8:30pm, OR Saturday, October 3, 10:00-11:30am. Email Bev Diebert to register bdiebert@united-church.ca. After registration, you will receive the Zoom link and the background materials. Deadline to register is September 28.
Services of celebration for ordinands and admittands
With joy and gratitude, Living Skies Regional Council invites you to join in celebrating the following milestones in these faith journeys:
25 September: Service of admission and covenanting for Rev. Hoeun Lee and the congregation of St Paul’s United Church, Tisdale at 7:30PM;
26 September: (note date) Service of admission and covenanting for Rev. Hyun Heo and the congregation of Grenfell United Church at 7:00PM;
27 September: Service of ordination for Deb Anderson-Pratt, in partnership with the Indigenous church; and Service of ordination for Bruce Kakakaway, in partnership with the Indigenous church at Regina: Wesley United Church at 3:00PM
To see short biographies of these honourees, please see the Regional Gathering page on the Living Skies Regional Council website. Here is a link.
Because of COVID, physical presence at these services is limited. But God’s presence is not. We ask for your thoughts and prayers during these important moments in the life and ministry of these folks. The services will be recorded and shared electronically as soon as possible after the liturgical events. Please watch the Regional Rambler newsletter for further information.
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
Season of Creation resources
September is a season of abundance that will help see us through the cold of winter. Whether we fish or hunt, farm or garden, what better time to honour the deep generosity of God and God’s creation in worship and reflection? In this liturgical Season of Creation, consider centering Creation and ecological justice in your community of faith’s life.
Worship resources from the United Church: September 27
Ecumenical options through KAIROS, the Canadian churches’ justice movement: For the Love of Creation is a faith-based initiative for climate justice, bringing together Canadian faith communities and organizations under a unified banner to mobilize Canada-wide education, reflection, action and advocacy for climate justice. Click here for more information: https://www.kairoscanada.org/what-we-do/ecological-justice/for-the-love-of-creation
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
2. Wider Church Information:
Online Licensed Lay Worship Leader Training - open now
Registration is open for Unit 1: LITURGY, with a START DATE of Monday, September 28, 2020 at 7PM.
Feeling called to Worship Leadership in your Faith Community? Consider trained Lay Leadership as an option; delivered in-home and online. The Course information and outline can be found at their page on the United in Learning website. This cross-Canada program is beginning its 5th year.
This is a program of Canadian Shield Region of The United Church of Canada, sponsored by the Faith and Mission Endowment Fund at The United Church of Canada Foundation and United in Learning.
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.
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.
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 .
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
Affirm United/ S’affirmer Ensemble Kitchen Sink open conversation series
Beginning Tuesday Sept 22 and continuing every second Tuesday.
September 22: Affirming Show & Tell, 4:30-6:00pm Mountain Daylight, 5:30-7:00PM Central
Find an item that is part of your Affirming story and be ready to share the item and why you chose it in 1-2 minutes. An Affirming story is any experience you have had that has helped you learn or define for yourself your identity, sense of community, or understanding of Two Spirit and LGBTQ+ justice. Full information on the series is here.
St. Andrew’s College Gala No Gala, online 29 September at 4:00PM in SK.
Please join Tannis Schmidt, St. Andrew’s College musician, and Principal Richard Manley-Tannis as they engage in a conversation with Tannis’ music. During this musical conversation, they will discuss leadership, hope, and sharing the Good News in a world seeking light. Click here for full details and to register.
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.
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: Oct. 30th/20
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.
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
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.
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!
Interfaith letter on an SK suicide prevention strategy
On World Suidide Prevention Day, September 10, Living Skies Regional Council signed on to an interfaith leaders' statement addressing suicide in SK and the need for a prevention strategy.
Please: read the media release; download the PDF of the full statement; and share in your community of faith and wider community as you can. The Facebook page "Walking with Our Angels" is the official presence for the vigil and fast mentioned in the release.
Pastoral letter on re-opening from the chair of the Regional Council
Living Skies Regional Council chair Rev Tricia Gerhard offers some further perspectives and updates on re-opening our buildings or returning to in-person worship or programs. Click here for the letter. A reminder that there’s an open gathering Wednesday September 9 to discuss this and other COVID-related news and concerns. See immediately below for gathering details:
Pastoral Charge Information Collection
With the work of the Regional Council back in full swing, the priority of contacting each pastoral charge will shift. Although, Admin Support Staff, Bev Diebert will continue to attempt to contact all Communities of Faith to update the Regional Council’s contact information, it will be between other tasks, rather than her main focus. If you have any questions, please contact Bev Diebert (bdiebert@united-church.ca ), Tracy Murton (tmurton@united-church.ca ) or Julie Graham (jgraham@united-church.ca )
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