The announcements for this week include:

1. Archives Hours
2. Greenbelt Festival – August 23-26, 2013
3. Affirm United/S’Affirmer Ensemble (AU/SE)
4. Tatamagouche Centre: For the Death of Me program – Space & Bursaries still Available!
5. CALL FOR PAPERS - C.S. Lewis Symposium
6. Diana Butler Bass in Moncton – September 27-29
7. Church in Mission – 2013-2014 National Events
8. New Simplified Manual Webinars

1.  Archives Hours

The Archives will be closed from May 27-June 3. If you have any questions, please contact Sarah at 506-536-1334 ext. 7 or by email at archives@marconf.ca

2.  Greenbelt Festival – August 23-26, 2013

The United Church cohort to the Greenbelt Festival http://www.greenbelt.org.uk/ has been formed and has begun work in preparation for this exciting event! Approximately 100 ministry leaders from across the country are ready to go!

Through the General Council process, 9 leaders from Maritime Conference under the age of 40 have been selected to participate. In addition 5 ministry leaders over the age of 40 are receiving financial support from Conference to attend. We look forward to learning more from this great team of 14 people upon their return.

Unfortunately, one of the over-40 group has had to withdraw, which means there is still an opportunity for someone else to receive this financial support from Conference. If you are already going to Greenbelt, but missed the chance to apply for this support, please do so now! If you wanted to go, but could not manage the expense, here’s a chance to apply for $1000 in additional support.

Please indicate your interest by sending an email to Executive Secretary, David Hewitt.

3.  Affirm United/S’Affirmer Ensemble (AU/SE)

Affirm United/S’Affirmer Ensemble (AU/SE) is seeking a volunteer to  join the Affirming Ministries team to take on the task of contacting and maintaining a relationship with established Affirming Ministries as described in the attached Position Description. If you are interested in helping us in this way, please fill out the attached Expression of Interest Form.  If you would like to have more information please write to Annette Taylor, Co-chair of AU/SE at the address on the form. Thank you for your ongoing support of AU/SE.

Bruce Hutchinson, 204 Churchill Cr., Kingston ON  K7L 4N2

613-542-7645

4.  Tatamagouche Centre: For the Death of Me program – Space & Bursaries still Available!

 For the Death of Me

June 24-28, Mon 7 pm to Fri 1 pm

Part death acceptance – part life acceptance.
Fully integrate the story of your life, which necessarily includes your inevitable death, in your own terms. This intensive course will help you in developing the spiritual meaning of your own death.
Using various readings, reflection and sharing in a safe environment, you will learn about death and decide what is particularly meaningful for you.

Leadership: Rev. Linda Yates is the minister at St. John’s United Church, Halifax; a cancer survivor and an end-of-life spiritual care giver. Her doctoral work is on grief, loss and death awareness.

Early Bird Bursary for the first 12 who register.

Program Cost: $420 ($107.50 tuition + $312.50 meals/accommodations)

Please register at least 2 weeks in advance to secure your place in this program.

This program is generously supported by the New Horizons grant for seniors.

Program Details: https://www.tatacentre.ca/index.php/programs/details/1881

Please register in advance at www.tatacentre.ca or 1-800-218-2220

5.  CALL FOR PAPERS - C.S. Lewis Symposium

“Both sides of the wardrobe: CS Lewis, theological imagination, and everyday discipleship.”

A one-day symposium on the occasion of the 50^th anniversary of the death of C.S. Lewis will be held at Atlantic School of Theology, Halifax, NS, on Saturday, 23 November 2013.

Short papers and presentations in the range of 20-30 minutes are invited for consideration. Scholarly, ‘popular,’ and student papers are all welcome; topics should relate to the announced theme.

Please forward a one-paragraph description of your proposed paper to:

Dr. Rob Fennell, CS Lewis Symposium Convener

Deadline for proposals is 30 June 2013.

6.  Diana Butler Bass in Moncton – September 27-29, 2013

The Synod of the Atlantic Provinces presents Diana Butler Bass

Christianity after Religion: the 3Bs of Faith: Belief, Behaviour, and Belonging

September 27-29, 2013

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 77 Hildegard Street, Moncton, NB

For further information click on the poster.

 7.  Church in Mission – 2013-2014 National Events

Attached is a list of Church in Mission National Events 2013-2014 in the United Church of Canada.

Worship Matters 2013
The Cutting Edge: Where Preaching, Music and Liturgy Collide

June 13–15, 2013

Grosvenor Park United Church & St. Andrew’s College; Saskatoon, SK

http://events.united-church.ca/worshipmatters

Worship Matters is a national symposium on worship open to all who support and participate in worship leadership. There will be engaging worship, moving liturgy, and powerful preaching from Jana Childers and Moderator Gary Paterson. Practical workshops are being provided in three streams: preaching, music, and liturgy. Cutting-edge keynote addresses by Jana Childers on “The Holy Spirit and Mojo in Preaching,” Jonny Baker on “Remixing Old and New Out of the Cupboard,” and Ruth Duck on “The Poetry of Grace: On Song and Spirituality”. Download a bulletin insert from the website.

How to register

• Choose the “Register Now” tab on website above.
• Registration fee: $275. Discount of 20% for groups of 5 or more.

Contact:   Alydia Smith 1-800-268-3781 ext. 4052

8.  New Simplified Manual Webinars

The latest version of the United Church Manual is now available online at http://www.united-church.ca/handbooks and for sale through UCRD.

This version of the Manual will be remarkably different from previous versions as a result of a General Council authorized effort to simplify the language and re-organize certain materials into separate handbooks, also now available in newly revised forms. Those who make frequent use of the Manual are strongly encouraged to take part in the webinar opportunity found below.

Introducing the New Simplified Manual

When:

June 10    7:00 pm PACIFIC TIME (10:00 pm Eastern time)

June 12   7:00 – 8:30 pm EASTERN TIME (4:00 pm Pacific time)

June 20    1:00 – 2:30 pm EASTERN TIME

Where:

This 1.5 hour webinar will be offered online by Internet and toll-free telephone conference call. All you need is a computer with an Internet connection, and a telephone.

Course Description:

Several years ago the General Council embarked on a journey to simplify procedures and make the church more “user-friendly.”

As a part of this process, the by-laws portion of The Manual has been re-written from top to bottom.

The new Manual comes into effect on August 1, and we’ve designed this webinar to let you know how we’ve responded to your feedback, and what differences you can expect to find. We’re exited about what’s coming, and we think you will be too.

Who should attend:

*            Presbytery and Conference leaders, who depend on The Manual to help us make wise decisions

*            Congregational leaders who use The Manual for personnel or property issues, and more

*            anyone who offered feedback in any of the many consultations that led to this revision

Leadership:

Cynthia Gunn, Legal Counsel, General Counsel Office

Wendy Cranston, Program Coordinator, Ministry Personnel Administration

Stephen Fetter, Program Coordinator, Continuing Education

For more information, and for online registration, click here:

www.united-in-learning.com/manual

The post Weekly Announcements – May 22, 2013 appeared first on Maritime Conference, United Church of Canada.

MARITIME CONFERENCE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 22, 2013

Philip Jones shows Award

Sackville, New Brunswick- The Maritime Conference Centre has been recognized with a prestigeous award from the Metal Building Contractors and Erectors Association.

The recently completed building in Sackville, New Brunswick won an Award of Excellence (Religious Category) at the association’s 44^th annual meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Alliance Building Contractors in Riverview, New Brunswick, provided design and building services for the United Church’s regional headquarters.

“This is an exciting first that the building was recognized nationally in the United States,”
said company Vice-President and General Manager Philip Jones. Though little hope was held out that a Canadian company would receive the award, Mr. Jones said the building is ‘completely unique.”  He cited design innovation, use of materials especially in the archives section of the building, and “green” values as reasons why the centre was recognized.

Mr. Jones praised the building committee and all parties involved for the exemplary job in planning and overseeing the project.  “They raised the bar because the project was well-conceived as a forward-looking design that will function well for years to come.”

The new building, located at 21 Wright Street, was completed at a cost of $3 million. It provides office space for nine staff members, meeting and worship space, and a generous archives facility.

David Hewitt, Executive Secretary of Maritime Conference, said: “It is very exciting and completely surprising for the Conference Centre to be recognized in this way. Praise to Phillip Jones and Alliance Building Contractors for turning the vision into reality and to the many volunteers who contributed to the planning and oversight of construction.”

Maritime Conference includes New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, the Gaspe coast of Quebec, and Bermuda, with more than 80,000 members who comprise 519 congregations.

-30-

For more information, contact Executive Secretary, David Hewitt at dhewitt@marconf.ca

506-536-1334 (voice), 506-536-2900 (fax), or 21 Wright Street, Sackville, NB, E4L 4P8.

The post News Release: Award of Excellence appeared first on Maritime Conference, United Church of Canada.

Here is information you may find useful as you prepare to travel to the Annual Meeting.

Weather: Here is a link to a weather forecast.  Sackville forecast.  Please remember that the Civic Centre has not had time to warm up.

Registration: Registration for all programs: Intermediates, Youth Forum and Delegates takes place at the civic Centre beginning at 11am.

A Letter to Delegates from the Worship Committee about Baptism - Here is a letter to Delegate from the Rev. Kelly Burke, Chair of the Worship Committee. Letter to Read.

Maritime Conference Centre Open House: You are invited to stop in at the new Maritime Conference Centre any time on Thursday, May 23rd and from 1-4pm, the staff will be serving Sackville ginger snaps and lemonade!

Jubilarians and Retirees Banquet Tickets – They are now sold out.

Annual Reports: The Reports are on-line. Section 1:Annual Meeting Reports is available.  PLEASE DOWNLOAD IT AND SAVE to your devices so you can access offline. It will not be helpful if everyone tries to go on-line at once!  There will also be a print copy on every table.

Communication from the Annual Meeting: The official Twitter Team is in place.  See #marconf for highlights from the proceedings. We will also post updates on Facebook.  Make sure you like our Facebook Page to receive information.  Like us on Facebook.

Annual Meeting Report: Norma Mills, the Maritime Conference Newsletter Editor, will provide a brief written report of the highlights of the Annual Meeting at its conclusion. We anticipate having it shortly after the meeting. It will be posted on the Maritime Conference Web Site and available through the Wednesday announcements/newsletter. (Subscribe to the Wednesday announcements by contacting Marlene.)

 Eastlink TV: Eastlink TV will be recording for Eastlink Magazine and Podium on Friday and Saturday. Staff will also be taking pictures for use on Social Media. Please contact Janice MacLean if you if need to ensure your picture is not used publically.

The post Getting Ready for Maritime Conference appeared first on Maritime Conference, United Church of Canada.

Look, here is water!  What is to prevent me from being baptized? -  Acts 8:37

Dear Delegates:

During an Annual Meeting Planning gathering, we were discussing the theme of Thursday night’s service: Remembering Our Baptism.   The Rev Catherine Stuart approached me, as Chair of the Worship Team.  She had a ‘wondering question’ as Godly Play would put it.  Or, in keeping with this year’s theme, What if…?   Specifically, “What if there was an actual baptism as part of the service on Thursday night?  Could Ethan be baptized?”  Ethan is 8 months old, the son of the Rev. Catherine Stuart (nee Barkhouse) and the Rev. Scott Stuart.

Well, this began a whole lot of wondering, in terms of the theology, polity, pastoral sensibilities and lived practice of our denomination around the sacrament of Baptism.   Immediately the Executive Secretary David Hewitt was consulted, with the following conditions being stated:

1. United Church worship is experienced in a particular community.               Worship, marriages, baptisms, or funerals take place under the authority of       the local Pastoral Charge and with their agreement and permission. No United Church minister can conduct such services without this permission.

2. The local record books should contain the record of such activities.

3. A baptism should take place within the context of an ongoing faith community that takes “real” responsibility for the promises made.

Thus we began a conversation with the Rev. Catherine Smith, clergy at Sackville United Church, which serves as the ‘local pastoral charge’ in this instance.  She took care and time to ponder the request, and then took it to her Council.  On Sunday, May 19, 2013, the motion was passed “to record in the registers of Sackville United Church, the baptism of Ethan Stuart, into the community of the Maritime Conference at their Annual Meeting, on May 23rd, 2013, with the participation of members of Sackville United Church present for the sacrament.  [N.B. By presence, it was meant only that the Sackville United Church folks in attendance make the promises along with the Conference, no more than that.]

Requirement #3 made for especially deep and interesting thinking.  What does it mean to be an ‘ongoing faith community’, and does Maritime Conference apply?   Are we able, in real ways, to take responsibility for the promises made by the community at Baptism?   We concluded that Conference, by attending to this sacrament, is living ever more deeply into its identity.  We are doers of the Word, wrestling with questions of justice and faithfulness, mission and outreach, locally and globally.     But at the heart of it we are this: a worshipping community.  It is who we are.  It is what we do.    It is simply expected that sometime during our worship time together we will share bread and cup in the sacrament of Communion.  In this instance, we are gathering to also share in our other sacrament as we worship: that of Holy Baptism.

Central to all of this was the family involved.  This clergy couple had in fact delayed Ethan’s baptism while they examined their particular situation.  Indeed, where to have the sacrament? Catherine and Scott minister in two separate pastoral charges, with 6 preaching points between them.  Ethan is a beloved child of all of these congregations, not to mention the multiplicity of other charges that lay claim to him, such as Port Wallis UC, where Catherine was a student minister, or Grandparent’s home churches in Cape Breton and New Brunswick, where he also spends time.   And who would preside?  One of the parents?  A dear mentor or colleague?    The parents felt that what was most faithful was to set aside personalities and friendship attachments, and to have the local minister preside.  For this situation, the President of Maritime Conference, the Rev. Phillip Kennedy, can claim that role.  Again, the Rev. Catherine Smith was consulted, and she welcomed such an arrangement.

For Scott and Catherine, Conference Annual meeting is where they have grown up in the faith.  They are grateful that Sackville United is playing a role in this sacrament, for Catherine and Scott met at Mount Allison during their undergraduate years, worshipped at Sackville United, were active with the Youth Group, and attended chapel at Mt A.  They both experienced their calls to ministry through this time.

Their reality, is that there are, and will continue to be,  a vast array of congregations that will be helping to raise Ethan in the Christian faith.  What has emerged is that all of these places are represented by Maritime Conference.  Yes, we meet less than weekly.  But In his eight months of lived existence Ethan has been at 5 meetings of Conference Committees.  He is being prayed for, and educated by, witness to and participant in, the working and worshipping community of Maritime Conference.

This is the place, and you are the people that are playing a role in this child’s faith life.   We are a wide and varied lot, covering a rather large terrain that does indeed push the boundaries of what it means to describe a worshipping community.

No, we have never done this before.

Yes, it is a new thing.

But it has been examined prayerfully, carefully, lengthily, and rigorously.  We are the church, so conversations have been robust and testy and, thanks be to God, full of love.

When the Baptism liturgy turns to the questions, it is you, the Delegates of Maritime Conference, along with the members of Sackville United Church who are present, who will be asked if,  by the grace of God, we commit ourselves to support and nurture Ethan within a community which worships God, resists evil and seeks justice.

If you are uncertain you are welcome (as we always are at such a time) to refrain from voicing a vow.  However, if you are able, we welcome you to speak your ‘yes’ to be, in some measure, a continued part of God’s ongoing activity in Ethan’s life of faith.  Together we will bear holy witness to the grace of Christ that has already been poured out in abundance upon Ethan, and indeed, upon us all.

In the Name of the One who said ”I am doing a new thing,’ I give thanks for your attention to this, to your prayerful consideration, and to seeing you all on the floor of Annual Meeting!

On behalf of the Worship Team of Annual Meeting Planning,

Grace and Peace, The Rev. Kelly Burke, Chair

The post A Letter to Delegates re Baptism at the Annual Meeting appeared first on Maritime Conference, United Church of Canada.

Contacts:
Ms. Sonya Osmond, Corresponding Secretary, 487 Lakeview Ave., Middle Sackville, NS B4E 3B6, 902-865-5096 (after 5:30 p.m.)

JNAC Knox Sackville 2013
Pastoral Charge Website

The post PASTORAL CHARGE: SACKVILLE: KNOX appeared first on Maritime Conference, United Church of Canada.

Come and join in a day of sharing, learning new ideas and building connections with other youth leaders in the United Church.

 WHEN: June 8^th, 10 AM – 3:30 PM

WHERE: Orchard Valley United Church (old New Minas United Church Building) 130 Cornwallis Ave, New Minas (Highway 101, exit 11, left at first set of lights, turn right at Swiss Chalet)

FOR WHO: For youth leaders, clergy or lay, who have a youth group / relationships with youth in  the congregation or would like to.

WHAT SHOULD I BRING? Bring something to add to the pot luck lunch.

Bring an “Idea to share”. This could be a short, video you made with your YG or you find great for discussion, an activity that we can try out, a song, a spiritual practice etc….

RSVP to Shannon MacLean shannon.maclean@woodlawnunited.ca

PS Shannon will be driving a van from HRM to New Minas for the event in case anyone wants to car pool!

The post Youth Leader Network Event: Nova Scotia Chapter appeared first on Maritime Conference, United Church of Canada.

Contacts:
Rev. Austin Jagoe, 1803 Bridge St., Bathurst, NB E2A 5X5, 506-548-8864
Ms. Ann McCosh, 122 Williston Dr., Miramichi, NB E1V 5W4, 506-773-7896

Blackville & Douglastown Joint Needs Assessments 2013 (Shared Ministry)

The post PASTORAL CHARGE: BLACKVILLE and PASTORAL CHARGE: DOUGLASTOWN appeared first on Maritime Conference, United Church of Canada.

Bideford’s first organized congregation was Bible Christian in 1871 (an offshoot of Methodism) and it was part of the Egmont Bay circuit formed in 1873. Prior to this, Bideford was part of the Summerside Circuit, and then in 1875 Bideford was transferred to the West Cape Circuit. A church was built at Fifteen Point and officially opened on November 10, 1878. Bideford and Northam churches were dropped by the Bible Christians in 1876, thus ending the official relationship of the Bible Christian connection in this area. The Bideford circuit was established in 1878 and the property was purchased from the Bible Christians. A new church was built in 1888 and dedicated in 1890.

Egmont Methodist Circuit Quarterly Official Board minutes, July 31, 1876

The history of Methodism in this area officially began with the formation of the Egmont Bay Circuit in the year 1873. Preaching appointments of this Circuit included Victoria West, Wellington, Bideford, Miscouche, Fifteen Point, Sheep River, Lot 16 and Enmore River.

The manse was originally built in 1878 by Thomas H. Pope. Six years later he sold his home to the local Methodist church for use as its parsonage. Lucy Maud Montgomery, the well-known Canadian author, was only 19 when she came to board here with the Reverend and Mrs. Estey during her first teaching position in 1894‑95 at Bideford.

The Bideford Methodist Circuit became part of The United Church of Canada in 1925.

There was an early Presbyterian church at Lot 14. Its records were destroyed by fire circa 1879. A church had been built circa 1800 and a second building was built in 1857.

Inverness Presbyterian Church was built in 1912.

A Presbyterian church was built in Tyne Valley in 1884 and formed a congregation with Victoria West and Freeland till 1925

The vote for union to create the United Church of Canada in 1925 was not favourable for most and those favouring union in Lot 14 joined Richmond Bay West Pastoral Charge in 1925.

Bideford-Conway United church is an amalgmation of the churches at Bideford and Conway on January 1, 1989. The Conway United Church building was built in 1912 as Inverness Presbyterian Church. The building was moved to Conway in 1935. The church was closed in 1988.

Inverness Presbyterian Church membership roll, 1914-1917

There was an early Presbyterian church at Lot 14. Its records were destroyed by fire circa 1879. A church had been built circa 1800 and a second building was built in 1857. The vote for union to create the United Church of Canada in 1925 was not favourable for most and those favouring union in Lot 14 joined Richmond Bay West Pastoral Charge in 1925.

The Richmond Bay East church was closed in 1933. Inverness was dropped as a preaching point in 1935 and United Church members in Conway were given this building to worship in. Lot 14 United Church became part of Bideford Pastoral Charge on 1 July 1952.

In 1960, the Richmond Bay Pastoral Charge was amalgamated with Bideford Pastoral Charge. The church in Lot 16 was closed and the new pastoral charge contained the preaching points of Bidford, Conway, Tyne Valley, and Lot 14.

Lot 14 United Church was built in 1928 on land bought from Robert Yeo who later donated land for a cemetery. The church opened on 1 September 1929 and became part of Bideford Pastoral Charge on 1 July 1952.

The Tyne Valley United Church building was built in the early 1900s and was used as a Baptist church before becoming a United Church in 1925. A Presbyterian church was built in Tyne Valley in 1884 and formed a congregation with Victoria West and Freeland till 1925 when Tyne Valley went back to being part of Lot 14 United Church.

Bideford United Church WMS Minutes, December 5, 1925

For a listing of Bideford Pastoral Charge records held at the Maritime Conference Archives, click on the link below:

Bideford Pastoral Charge Records Listing

The post Bideford Pastoral Charge appeared first on Maritime Conference, United Church of Canada.

The post 2013 Conference Annual Meeting Evaluation appeared first on Maritime Conference, United Church of Canada.

Maritime Conference Centre Open House

You are invited to stop in at the new Maritime Conference Centre any time on Thursday, May 23rd and from 1-4pm, the staff will be serving Sackville ginger snaps and lemonade!

Annual Reports

The Reports are on-line. 2013 -88th Annual Meeting Reports.

If you are coming to the Annual Meeting the link to Section 1:Annual Meeting Reports will be available tomorrow.  You can download it and bring it on your devices. There will also be a print copy on every table.

Communication from the Annual Meeting

The official Twitter Team is in place.  See #marconf for highlights from the proceedings.

We will also post updates on Facebook.  Make sure you like our Facebook Page to receive information.  Like us on Facebook.

Annual Meeting Report

Norma Mills, the Maritime Conference Newsletter Editor, will provide a brief written report of the highlights of the Annual Meeting at its conclusion. We anticipate having it shortly after the meeting. It will be posted on the Maritime Conference Web Site and available through the Wednesday announcements/newsletter. (Subscribe to the Wednesday announcements by contacting Marlene.)

The post Getting Ready for the Annual Meeting appeared first on Maritime Conference, United Church of Canada.