Western Ontario Waterways United Church of Canada

Day 23: On the darkest night of the longest year, we yearn for the light.

Day 22: After weeks of increasingly bland campfire meals, the Wisemen began to regret refusing to allow Hezekiah to bring his full complement of kitchen spices on the journey.

Merry Christmas! This is an invitation to share photographs of your Christmas Decorations, Nativity Scenes, Advent Candle Displays and nature walks with our Western Ontario Waterways Regional Council Facebook group! Let’s share our joy and celebrations and feel connected with each other this Christmas Season. Remember to credit your photographer! And feel free to share a little bit about what’s happening, if you’d like.

There are some spaces still available for next week's Winter Solstice outdoor event at Five Oaks in Paris.

Changes coming in health unit levels of COVID alert. Toronto and Peel are moved to lockdown. In those regions, only ten people in total allowed in a church for worship. This does not affect us in WOWR, I believe.

Some very creative folks at Trinity United Church in Listowel have come up with an amazing on-line fundraiser. It’s called the Nostalgic Noel sale and features... vintage and craft items of great quality for terrific prices. You can see the items by joining the Facebook group Trinity Treasures (link below) and all purchasing is done by etransfer with scheduled pick up times to ensure COVID safety. It would be a great way to find a one of a kind Christmas gift while supporting the ministry and outreach of Trinity Listowel. Please have a look at what is on offer and help us spread the word to folks for whom these items might bring Christmas joy in the strange times in which we are living. https://www.facebook.com/groups/247277883090673/?ref=share See more

Our Advent/Christmas Round Table will share ideas to adapt, use as presented, or collaborate on. I will keep a summary of the ideas for future use and to share.... Peace and blessings. We are not alone in Children and Youth Ministry. Let us SHARE (2 different time slots) Advent/Christmas Program/Project Round Table Questions and for FOR ZOOM LINK .Email Kathy Douglas [email protected] 519 441 0656 *Sharing: Advent and Christmas Program Ideas A round table inviting folks to share/listen in 2-5 minutes an idea/resource/program for Advent/Christmas. Tuesday Oct 27 @ 1-2:15pm OR Wednesday Oct 28@ 7-8:15pm

Indigenous justice webinar series starts tomorrow, hosted by our eastern neighbours in Canadian Shield Regional Council! October 14, 7:00 pm ET Wet'suwet'en Cal...l for Justice; and has anything changed since Oka? Speakers: Chief Adam Gagnon; respected chief name, Dsya'hyl of the Likhts'amisyu, Wet’suwet’en Nation, and Donna Sinclair, author and journalist, North Bay. Full info and to get the Zoom link: Visit Solidarity-Team-NorthBay.weebly.com to register or email if you have questions: [email protected] See more

The Ontario Government now requires employees to complete a COVID screening tool when entering a workplace.

Curtis Marwood, member of Antler River Watershed's Social Justice Network, has created a video resource so that we might better understand the plight of childre...n in occupied Palestinian territories. Please share widely! In the video, Curtis references an e-petition, which you will find linked in the comments below. See more

"We are each given particular gifts of the Spirit. For the sake of the world, God calls all followers of Jesus to Christian ministry. In the church, some are ca...lled to specific ministries of leadership...to embody God's love in the world." (Song of Faith) Gratitude for the leadership and ministry of Nora Sanders as General Secretary for the past 14 years.

Today, October 21, is International #PronounsDay. It seeks to make respecting, sharing, and education about personal pronouns commonplace. Using pronouns that a...lign with a person's self-determined identity is basic to human dignity, and it shows a commitment to creating welcoming spaces. More info: pronounsday.org and mypronouns.org #SpaceForChange #TogetherWeCan #InclusiveSpaces #AuthenticLives #Pronouns See more

Members of Western Ontario Waterways Regional Council, this year's Celebration of Ministry service is scheduled for Sunday October 18th at 10 a.m This service is open to all and can be found at https://youtu.be/_P2mzF8I6oc and on the regional council YouTube channel. Please share this link with your community of faith.

We're continuing our discussion of church social enterprises with this remarkable story. Join a group of United Church community members as we explore the wor...k of the Rev. Barry Randolph, and ask our questions about how his approach could be adapted to our Canadian context. RSVP below to join the conversation. All are welcome to join us! Look forward to your insights.

Worship resources for communities of faith.

On Friday, October 23rd, a small interfaith delegation will visit Mi’kmaq community members in Saulnierville, NS who are exercising their treaty rights to fish.... In the face of the violence, vandalism, and tension that the Mi’kmaq people have experienced, the purpose of this visit is to show support and seek healing. Individuals and communities of faith are invited to share in this action by taking a moment for prayer at 1 pm (eastern time) on Friday afternoon. You might pause and light a candle and hold a bowl of water, or simply step outside for a moment and find a symbol of connection that speaks to you. Using words, song, silence or whatever form your prayers take, join hearts from afar in peace and friendship. #treatyrights #mikmaq #UCCan #WeAreAllTreatyPeople

A continuance of our investor activism as a denomination.

The Mission & Service team received a heart-warming call from a lovely supporter who dedicated their Thanksgiving Mission & Service gift to their personal suppo...rt workers. The donor wishes to remain anonymous but wanted us to know whose generosity they are honouring. Personal support and front line workers - We honour you. We are grateful for your compassionate care. Who are you going to honour through your Mission & Service Thanksgiving gift? united-church.ca/donate #uccan See more

In a very recent webinar, bringing together Children and Youth Ministry leadership from across our three regions, I heard gently the struggle of ‘not being seen..., heard and/or valued’. Most of these folks, some in paid positions and many as volunteers, feel they have given much energy in reaching out to children, youth and families of the church communities through emails, phone calls, video recordings, live stream productions, curriculum home deliveries, zoom calls etc, with minimal response back. With no, or limited physical contact, it is difficult to know if the efforts to offer Christian education in whatever form, is having any impact. I am depleted’, one long time Children and Family Minister sighed. These folks know the families they serve are hungry for connection, both spiritual and emotionally, but with COVID effects, it is a challenge to know if their ministry efforts offer sustenance. Talking to a camera rather than a group of kids, and releasing videos onto a websites, can feel like sending things out into a void. What can be done? A ‘notice’ and ‘reach out to thank and encourage’, goes a long way. In many ways, our Children and Youth leaders are the best equipped to pivot and adapt to the changes that just may become the new normal. Listening to the needs of families, offering immediate and concrete responses, and staying connected authentically are their ‘tools’ of the trade. It may only take one ‘Thank you and they will be replenished .ready to offer engaging and life changing connection and faith formation. Can you be the one to offer that?

Two faculty positions are open at Atlantic School of Theology (one in Bible, one in Pastoral Studies). Please help spread the word.

NEW! There is a new "Boundaries Refresher- Retiring with Grace" up on the United in Learning Website. November 12, 2020 or January 12, 2021.

Registration is now open for the Five Oaks livestream seminar presentation and meditation with John Philip Newell on Sunday, November 15, 2:30pm-3:30pm EST Complete details can be found on the Five Oaks website: http://fiveoaks.on.ca/program-sc//sacred-earth-sacred-soul

Thank you to everyone who is holding the congregation of Wesley U.C., Saugeen FN, in prayer following last week’s devastating fire. Many thanks to Tim Hackborn..., a member of the Indigenous Ministries and Justice unit of General Council, who is coordinating the wider church’s respone in consultation with the congregation and the elders. The building was owned and insured by the Band Council. Our fundraising is to assist the community of faith through this difficult time and to help with the replacement of items not covered by insurance. Your continuing care and support is appreciated. See more

Thanks for a wonderful regional council meeting!Thanks for a wonderful regional council meeting!

See you at the regional council meeting!See you at the regional council meeting!

Next week is our first ever virtual Regional Council Meeting!If you will be joining the meeting, you must register by Midnight, Friday, October 9.

'Honey from the Rock'