Horseshoe Falls Regional Council is having a Sunday Evenings Discussion Group focusing on Indigenous Justice and Reconciliation as a part of an Anti-Racism series. As the discussion group is online, geography is no longer a barrier to participate in events across The United Church of Canada. Horseshoe Falls President Robert Lawson has invited all regions to join in. The discussions are twice a month on Sunday evenings from 7-830pm, starting on Sunday January 16th. For more information or to...
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Thank you for the care and attention you have given to an ever-evolving situation. It is difficult to face another round of uncertainty with the increase in Covid cases and the spread of the Omicron variant. Some communities of faith are re-examining their policies and re-considering their plans for Advent and Christmas. As a starting point, check with your local health unit. Each health unit sets regulations based on transmission rates in their jurisdiction. Many health units have specific...
photo courtesy of Dan Kiefer via Unsplash The Regional Council Office will be closed December 24th through to January 3rd. Staff will not be responding to email or phone messages during that time. However, should you have an urgent, emergency situation, you can call 1-833-236-0280, ext 2 and leave a message. This voicemailbox will be checked regularly over the Christmas break. Please note that many of the regional council staff are on holiday during the month of December and the first week of...
We’re looking for amazing projects to fund through the second round of the My Main Street Community Activator program! The program, funded by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, supports placemaking projects across southern Ontario in 2022, with reimbursements between $25,000 and $250,000. Learn more by reviewing the application guide and apply by completing and submitting the application form. The deadline to apply is February 1,...
The Government of Canada has launched the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) 2021-2022 call for proposals (CFP) for community-based projects across Canada. The online application and applicant guide is available on the Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). For information, please consult the ESDC Funding Programs page. The deadline to submit applications will be December 21st, 2021, at 3:00 p.m. EST. WHAT’S NEW FOR THE 2021-2022 CALL FOR PROPOSALS? One application...
Cave Springs Camp, Retreat and Conference Centre In October there was a special opening ceremony and ribbon cutting for the newly built, affordable community space open to all to gather, learn, grow, and reflect. https://youtu.be/HhuegG1HnAE Thanks to the support and hard work of the Board of Directors and very generous community donations, Cave Springs finally made this dream a reality! What is Cave Springs Camp? Cave Springs Camp is a United Church Camp, offering a unique summer camp...
This fall, the Tri-Region Affirm Network received a letter seeking endorsement of a statement of multi-faith solidarity for a Hindu priest who has been condemned for officiating a same-sex marriage ceremony. The Affirm Network has signed the letter and the individuals on the Network have committed to signing it. We, the members of the Affirm Network, are now asking leaders in communities of faith across our regions to consider signing to endorse a multi-faith statement of solidarity. Dear...
Good news! HORSESHOE FALLS REGIONAL COUNCIL, through the Mission & Discipleship Commission, is opening up a supplementary APPLICATION FOR MISSION SUPPORT GRANT. We did not disperse all funds and we would welcome applications. Please see application attached. Word file: Mission Support Application Form Supplementary 2022
Youth Forum at General Council 44 Delegate ApplicationApplication deadline December 15 Are you ready to lead the church into the future?! If so, why not apply to become a General Council 44 Youth Forum Delegate? And yes, SUMMER EMPLOYMENT is also part of Youth Forum at GC44! You will be paid for your participation, leadership, and dedication to General Council.General Council is the United Church of Canada's triennial business meeting where justice issues are discussed, visions are cast,...
Creating Conversation is a video series that features a variety of topics that youth and young adults are keenly interested in exploring further. These short videos have been created so that communities of faith may utilize them in their engagement with youth and young adult ministry. To access the videos, please go to: Creating Conversations - Shining Waters (shiningwatersregionalcouncil.ca) This project is sponsored by the United Church of Canada’s Vison Fund, and was supported by:...
The meeting opened with President, Robert Lawson, interplaying the theme with T.S. Eliot’s poem, “The Hollow Men”. This image was woven through both the Thursday evening and Saturday morning sessions. Wendy Lowden, Chair, Agenda, and Business, led worship on Thursday evening, building on the theme. Diane Matheson-Jimenez and Thérèse Samuel led community-building time in small groups naming bold and brave figures from the Bible, identifying actions considered to be brave and bold, and...
Are you looking for ways to be more engaged in your local community? Are you looking for ways to fund all the community work you’ve dreamed of? Look no further! All Antler River Watershed, Horseshoe Falls, and Western Ontario Waterways changemakers, innovators, and community animators are invited to a Zoom gathering to learn about the exciting new grant opportunity, My Main Street. The My Main Street Community Activator provides funding for placemaking projects that help strengthen the...
Be Bold, Be Brave. “What is the most important quality for a minister to have?” “That’s easy,” said the candidate for ordination, “bravery.” The chair of the interviewing committee was taken aback. “Bravery?” she asked. “Why is bravery important? What about faith? What about hope? What about love?” “Well,” said the candidate, “I think faith is a kind of bravery. I think hope is a kind of courage. And, I think love – real love – requires an incredible amount of fortitude. “I see,” said the...
Regional Staff wearing our orange to show Every Child Matters, and to remember the children who never made it home from Residential School.
Thank you to local community of faith leaders. When they accepted these roles, few expected to be coping with a global pandemic. The regional council offers advice but the decisions are made in the community of faith. All congregations are encouraged to applaud and support the efforts of leaders who have been navigating changing regulations, consulting with their local health unit and instituting protocols to keep the church available to others and to ensure the safety of all who access it....
Living into Right Relations (LIRR) This monthly bulletin offers a listing of events, actions and resources for people interested in right relations and supporting Indigenous initiatives. It is curated by Nancy Dykstra, a first generation Canadian of Dutch descent and a member of Parkminster United Church in Waterloo. Nancy was inspired by the Truth and Reconciliation Report of 2015 to become active in working toward right relations. National Day for Truth and Reconciliation - Thursday,...
Several communities of faith have inquired if the vaccine passport being instituted in Ontario applies to them. The legal advice the regional council has received to date is that communities of faith do not have grounds to request this information. Privacy legislation protects medical information and there has been no provincial action mandating such information be shared in a community of faith. In fact, worshiping communities have been specifically exempted from the vaccine passport. There...
RIGHT RELATIONS EVENTS 2021 The following Right Relations events are all being offered by Antler River Watershed, Horseshoe Falls, Western Ontario Waterways regions of the United Church of Canada. Please note that you are able to call into the Zoom meetings with a regular phone call if you do not have access to video calls. For more information contact Thérèse Samuel, Minister, Right Relations and Social Justice at TSamuel@united-church.ca. WORKING TOGETHER FOR RIGHT RELATIONS: Networking and...
