Flourishing: 

Spend a day with the Moderator, engaging in reflection and energizing activities towards dream-oriented actions for our churches and communities.

Saturday, February 22, 2025, 9:00 am to 4:30 pm (local time).

9:00am -9:30am Registration and coffee/tea

9:30am – Welcome and Introductions

In person

Avondale United Church, 194 Avondale Ave., Stratford, ON N5A 6N4

All around the world – from universities to the United Nations, from corporations to community organizations – people are talking about flourishing. Rooted in belonging, flourishing means living with purpose and joy, and bringing bold collaborative solutions to our world’s challenges.

The Moderator, the Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne, wants to bring that conversation to The United Church of Canada. She invites us to connect to one another in hope, with a deep conviction by a belief that, despite all the challenges of church life in this day and age, we can move from despair to transformation – from languishing to flourishing.

Is your church flourishing?

(Perhaps that’s the wrong question.)

Is your church contributing to the flourishing of your community?

How might we truly be a flourishing church in the world? How might we live in deep spirituality, bold discipleship and daring justice, linked from coast to coast to coast in ministry that transforms us and the world around us?

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER: Flourishing Workshop

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Ask An Expert – Answer Session:

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Who are the experts? Well, it depends on the topic and staff availability.

Maybe you want to know more about the insurance partnership between the GCO and Communities of Faith. Or what you do when the local newspaper calls (or when you want to get a good story out). Or what the new government relations officer does. Or what the cost-of-living-adjustment is.

It’s kind of like a Pick-Your-Own-Adventure book. Here’s how it works:

1. You send us your questions here: https://forms.office.com/r/q7UM9spU9z

2. We find the expert who can answer them.

3. We all tune in on Wednesday September 18th, 7-8 p.m. by Zoom here: https://united-church.zoom.us/j/89972136949

4. As many questions will be answered as can be within the allotted time. Unanswered questions will carry over to the next session, or we’ll answer them on our Regional Council Facebook group.

5. Tough questions are okay. We’ll do our best to answer them, and if we can’t on the spot, we’ll follow up with the right information.

So, pick your adventure. Will it be insurance? Or grants? Climate justice? Governance? Media relations? Government relations? Global partnerships? Or something else?

You pick. Ask your question here: https://forms.office.com/r/q7UM9spU9z.  Join us on Wednesday September 18th at 7 p.m. to get an answer in real time. Don’t have a question right now? Listeners welcome!

This session will be facilitated by: Michelle Owens

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Details we know so far:

Time will be designated for each individual Regional Council to meet separately. Each Regional Council will be electing their GC45 Commissioners, President Elect and slate of Executive/Commission members.

Friday May 24: 2 PM start & Friday evening The Right Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne will speak

Saturday, May 25: All day. Includes Celebration of Ministries Service in the afternoon

Sunday, May 26: 9 AM to Noon: Includes Honouring of Retirees, Jubilands, In Memoriam, Community of Faith Life Cycle Changes

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STEWARDSHIP:

The Rev. Brenna Baker our Stewardship Support Staff writes in this blog post: “What if?” is a phrase you use not with fear, but with curiosity.

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The Western Ontario Waterways Fall Regional Council begins at 4:00pm on Thursday September 28th online. 📣📣📣

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Photo by: Jason Leung via Unsplash

Come and join our team!

We are hiring an Executive Minister : Antler River Watershed/Horseshoe Falls/Western Ontario Regional Councils

Click here for more details

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September, 2023

Dear ARW, HF and WOW Regional Councils,

We hope this message finds you well and having enjoyed a relaxing and restorative summer.

It is with mixed emotions that we announce the resignation of our Executive Minister,  Cheryl-Ann Stadelbauer-Sampa.

Cheryl-Ann is currently on a three- month sabbatical, but she will be leaving us in January to begin a two-year contract offered to her by General Secretary Michael Blair. There she will become one of the staff resourcing General Council 45 and her wealth of experience and knowledge will be drawn upon in helping the wider church in its review of the new structure. We will miss her wisdom and unwavering support and care, but we know just what a valuable resource she will be in her new position at the General Council Office.

The Executive Minister position is being held by the very capable Mark Laird (Past President of WOWRC) during her sabbatical. The position will be posted by the General Council Office shortly and we ask that you hold the Search Team in your prayers.

The Regional Councils will plan an appropriate way to recognize, celebrate, and honour the contribution of Cheryl-Ann and to wish her well in her future endeavours.

Blessings,

ARWRC President Cheryl Bolton

HFRC President Lennox Scarlett

WOWRC President Jennifer Irving

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Join Zoom Meeting:

https://united-church.zoom.us/j/89103473757

Meeting ID: 891 0347 3757

Join by phone: 1- 855-703-8985 Canada Toll-free

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Save these Dates for the:

Western Ontario Waterways Regional Council Fall Meeting

WOW Fall Regional Meetings will be on ZOOM:

We Are One – Living into Right Relations

Thursday September 28th: 4:00pm-5:30pm, 7:00pm-9:00pm
Friday September 29th: 4:00pm-5:30pm, 7:00pm-9:00pm
Saturday September 30th: 9:00am-12:00pm Honouring the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Sunday October 1st: World Wide Communion Regional Worship Service (transcript provided for use and hopefully live-streamed or recorded)

The agenda of our fall meeting will include discussion around the Evaluation of the Tri-Regional Governance and Staffing Model done by Bill Allen and Jenny Stephens, engagement with each of the Commissions and Remit 1 – Establishing an Autonomous National Indigenous Organization.

Those wishing to have items added to the fall meeting agenda are asked to contact President Jennifer at jennifer@ucstayner.ca

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CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS!

Our WOW Recruitment Committee (formerly nominations) has prepared this short Recruitment Video in the hopes of increasing awareness and understanding of the need for Volunteers in the Western Ontario Waterways Regional Council. We’d love to be able to present a full slate of volunteers at our Regional Council Spring Meeting May 26-27.

We need your help! We designed this video so that it could be easily shared in worship on one of the Sundays in April. If that isn’t possible in your community of faith, we wonder if you might share the link widely through your networks.

If you have any questions please contact Jennifer Irving (President-Elect) at jennifer@ucstayner.ca We appreciate your continued support!

Thank you!!!

Resources:

Western Ontario Waterways Regional Council Website: https://wowrcucc.ca/

WOW Spring Regional Council Meeting: https://wowrcucc.ca/events/regional-council-meeting/

Fill out Expression of Interest form: https://wowrcucc.ca/expression-of-interest/

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Western Ontario Waterways Regional Council Spring 2023 Meeting

May 26 – 27, 2023

Hybrid Meeting:
In-person and/or on-line

In-person at the:

Unifor Family Education Centre, 115 Shipley Ave, Port Elgin, ON N0H 2C5

Registration Opens:
Monday, March 20 at 9:00am

Registration Closes:
Monday, April 17 at 11:59pm

Zoom Link/Workbook launch:
Friday, May 19

Accommodation:
Unifor Family Education Centre
(Book accommodation when you register for the Spring Meeting)

Celebration of New Ministries Service:
Saturday, May 27, 2023 at 4pm – Unifor Family Education Centre, 115 Shipley Ave, Port Elgin, ON N0H 2C5

Celebrants: Stacey Mortson and Rev. Craig Bartlett

Click here to Register Now!

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• How to claim your mission
• Cultivate Generosity
• Create a Culture of Gratitude in your Community of Faith
• How to integrate stewardship into your spiritual growth programming.

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