From My House to Yours: Merry Christmas!

Dear Friends,

I’ve been waiting all year to say, and finally can, Merry Christmas! Once again, this Holy time of year is upon us, a time that is filled with wonder, dreaming, and anticipation.  Some of the youngest among us know all too well how hard it is to wait, and I have to admit that I still find it hard to wait for the excitement of Christmas.

For me, Christmas is a time to take a deep breath in and to experience the best of what it is that makes us Church.  It’s a time when many of our congregations get to welcome people in from the cold, whether they are coming home, or are exploring church for the first time.  It’s a time of holding each other close, especially those in our churches and communities for whom Christmastime is difficult—grief-filled, lonely, full of unmet expectations.  And it’s a time of re-commitment—to remember why we are church, to experience Jesus—Emmanuel—being born in us and among us once again, and to promise anew to be God’s people, who try our best to walk in the light and spread it in the world, as difficult as that can be sometimes. 

It is my wish that this season will be a gift to you, a calling to continue to live the sparkle of the Lights of Advent—Hope, Peace, Joy and Love, for our Conference and for the world.  May you know, now and always, the love and compassion of the baby whom we celebrate, Jesus, the Christ. 

On behalf of myself, Scott and Ethan, may you have a Happy and Holy Christmas, and know that all things are possible for 2017.

In Wonder and Excitement,

Catherine 

Feeling Welcome in Shelburne: South Shore Presbytery

I know this is late, but I'm trying to tell myself that sometimes late is better than never.  Over the past few days, I've been thinking a lot about my visit to South Shore Presbytery on November 24th.  In many ways, my journey to Shelburne was a lot like my experience of Advent so far.

I began the day early in the morning, making my way across the bridge, greeted by the sunrise across the Northumberland Strait.  I knew that Shelburne would be a bit of a drive from Bedeque, so I decided that during my drive, I was going to try and notice small things that I might not have noticed before  when driving through familiar places.  I've also been trying to do this with Advent, taking time to notice things in the scripture and spiritual practices, such as lighting candles, that I might not have noticed before.  The first thing I noticed is that it took a lot longer to get to Shelburne than I had anticipated, mostly because construction was still happening! I think this is similar to my experience of Advent so far as well--some things seem to be taking longer to get to Christmas, but like children, I try to keep my excitement in check and wait for it to come!

After arriving in Shelburne, I was greeted by The Rev. Joanne McFadden at Trinity United Church, where she brought me in to have a lovely soup lunch provided by the women there.  The hospitality was amazing, and by the welcome I received, you'd never know that I was a stranger! I think one of the most humbling parts of being President so far has been the feeling that wherever I go, people have always been ready to welcome me...and through Advent, I've tried to notice how both hospitality and welcome are part of our practice as church.

Heading into the meeting, I was invited to address the court, and had a lovely question and answer time.  it was a gift to be asked questions about my time as president that enabled me to recall and remember all that has happened since May...and that's quite a bit! I also observed the rest of the their meeting, including some discussion of and voting on remits.

Barbara Rafuse addressing the court!

As with some of the other places I've visited, South Shore has it's share of challenges, but I've been deeply encouraged by the fact that people feel called to keep facing them, rather than giving up. Faith is strong and deeply held within their churches, and is a gift that I've seen in various ways as I've journeyed through this Advent season.

After the meeting ended, I experienced more hospitality, as some of us did the very Canadian thing of going to Tim Horton's for coffee, donuts, and of course, wonderful conversation! It was fantastic to hear of all of the wonderful things happening across the presbytery, and all that they celebrate in being church together.

My journey home was mostly in the dark, but my time on the South Shore reminded me that there are a whole lot of lights in this Conference that are working hard to keep shining, even though it might seem like a lot of things are trying to put them out. This journey through Advent has given me time to reflect on the courage it takes to be a light that shines, and so I am deeply grateful for my time in Shelburne and to South Shore's Chairperson, The Rev. Sharon Lohnes, for the welcome I received.

Love and Blessings!

Common Ground: Visiting the Maine Conference of The United Church of Christ

Friends, in light of the last 24 hours, and even though I am on vacation, I thought it only right and prayerful to finish writing and share with you the following thoughts:

From October 20-23, David Hewitt and I had the honour and privilege of visiting our neighbours to the south at The Maine Conference of The United Church of Christ.  When we arrived, one of the first things we did was accept a dinner invitation from Rev. Deborah Blood, Conference Minister, who had visited our conference in May.  It was wonderful to see her again and reconnect, while also meeting Beth Campbell (Office Administrator), Rev. Bill Walsh (who chaired their annual meeting) and Rev. Chris Davies and her partner Erik.  Chris was the theme speaker for the weekend and is also a national staff person from The United Church of Christ, working as the Coordinator for Congregational Assessment, Support and Advancement.  It didn't take us too long to know that we have so much in common and are seeking to hear where God is calling us to be, as local, regional and national churches.

On Friday, we had the privilege of attending their retreat day, mostly led by Chris.  She mostly focused us on her findings of a survey sent out to under 40's, asking the question, "What does a transformative church look like in 10 years?" There was lots of information shared, summed up under three headings: 1. Christ Driven Connection, 2. God-Centered Action, and 3. Spirit-led Leadership. The report is based on research found at howwegather.org (the report itself is yet to be released, but I will share it when it is available) but what I was most struck by with this day-long conversation is that as a church, The United Church of Christ is trying to figure out how to be transformed by the Spirit, rather than conforming to the world in which they find themselves (Romans 12:2)...this was the theme verse for their whole conference.  For all it was a conversation of some grief and lament, it was also a conversation of hope and yearning for something different, as one by one, I heard the people in my table group personally committing to things that they are going to let go of, give thanks for, and allow to change both within themselves and in the communities in which they serve for the sake of the Gospel.

The Rev. Chris Davies leading the retreat day

 Friday evening was a bit relaxed, as we gathered to eat together at their banquet that remembered the lives of those who served in ministry, and celebrated the anniversaries of those who are currently serving (they celebrate all of them every five years, from five years and up!).  It was amazing to hear stories of their faithful ministry personnel and worship together while sharing a meal.

Saturday found us gathering at Husson University in Bangor for the business meeting and workshop gathering.  The Theme for the day, Transformed, Renewed, Alive! was framed around the verse from Romans mentioned above. We began with worship led by a Jazz trio, including a musical interpretation of the verse, and then moved into the business portion of the day.

Prayer leaves from worship!

The Jazz trio!

The work was presented, including a budget, nominating report and state of the Conference address by Rev. Blood, which was an honest and thoughtful reflection about how she sees the conference from her position--recognizing both the pain and the joy, the lament and the celebration, and also reminding the gathering that when you find yourself in the Maine Conference, you are never "from away," but are at home in the oneness we celebrate in God.  Comforting words for the two Canadians in the room!

Later in the day, we heard more from Chris, and had the opportunity to attend workshops--the two I found myself in included one entitled "Oh No, It's Jazz Sunday!" led by the trio who did worship, and the other entitled "Vibrant Worship, Sustaining Fellowship, Bold Service: Reports from The Small Church Story Project of 10 of Maine Conference’s Smaller Congregations" which was exactly that...stories of 10 small congregations within the conference who are continuing in ministry to their communities, without much formal ministry leadership, some without church buildings, some with only 10 members--but their determination to seek where the Spirit is calling them was indeed inspiring!

At the end of the day, David and I were invited to reflect on what we had experienced and I have to say that Deborah's words rang true--although we have many differences in the way we do things, and in the way we organize ourselves, the choice to be in Full Communion continues to call us to live out our oneness in Christ and our openness to the presence of the Spirit.  I didn't feel like I was from away until my accent reminded me! Our commitment to being Open and Affirming (What they call their Affirming ministries), to seeking justice, to working on climate change, are just some of the ways that we continue to say yes to following in the radical, transformational way that Jesus offers us, especially when the world would have us think that we are so different (as is the case with the political results...which were not in when we attended the conference).  As the Conference closed, we shared in Communion, which truly allowed me to reflect on how this relationship between our two churches is not only called to deepen, but must do so in action as we seek to live in this world as neighbours and kin.

Catherine, Deborah, and David

Sunday morning found us worshiping at Hammond Street Congregational Church of the UCC, which is an Open and Affirming ministry, and I have to say, they do it very well! People greeted us at the door, made sure we had name tags (as did many of the regular members), gave us a bulletin, sat with us and talked to us in friendly, welcoming ways.  We even sang happy birthday to David (and others) who were celebrating that day!

Hammond Street Church

Gathering for worship

             

The Rev. Chris Davies preaching

We heard Chris preach one more time, which was an amazing reflection of how Jesus is calling us to ministry on the margins with those for whom finding and living hope is a daily struggle, and calling us to journey together because that is what we do best, especially when our hearts are aching. To say that my time in Maine was amazing and transformative would be an understatement. Thanks to Deborah and all of our colleagues there for their hospitality and feeling of welcome!

Chris and I after worship...definitely new friends!

Love and Blessings,
Catherine

PS-

I have to confess that most of this was written before the election results poured in last night.  Many of us, as well as many of our brothers and sisters in Maine are sorely disappointed, angered and sad because of what happened and what will unfold in the days and weeks to come.  But what called me to finish this reflection today was the deep connectedness I feel at my core and treasure from my time there.  We really are one in the Spirit, called to challenge racism, sexism, homophobia/trans-phobia, and anything else that seeks to divide rather than unite.  But we do so, recognizing our privilege, and as those who are seeking to understand a reality that deeply affects us, but one that is not our lived reality in quite the same way.  So let us join in solidarity with our Maine Conference friends as we seek a way forward that tries to bridge the hurt, anger, and fear the best way we know how--with love, compassion, and hope. Light and Love to all of you this day.

A Weekend to Celebrate!

This past weekend found me in two different places but were each filled with their own celebrations of being church together.  Friday, I went to Riverview's version of BE, the new ministry in Maritime Conference that has been gathering a variety of people together in venues other than traditional churches to celebrate common values and just be together.  The energy in the room was electric as we ate, sang, heard stories of faith, had conversation and prayed together.

            People gathering                       True Colours


             

Music Team

Guest speakers included Paul Tonner and Aidan Legault, both dynamic speakers who openly shared their stories of how faith impact their lives.

                 

I think what most deeply impacted me was our conversation in small groups, where I heard passionate people who are seeking new expressions of faith for both their already existing church communities and for their personal lives.  If you have not been to one of these yet, it will be Charlottetown's turn to host on November 4th, and then in the winter, there will other dates announced to continue this new and emerging ministry.


Sunday morning found me at Saint David's United in Rothsay, NB, as we gathered to celebrate their 156th Anniversary.

                                   Gathering for Worship

It was a music-filled service, with lots of laughter and a children's time that reminded us that God's passion bubbles up inside of us and calls us to continue to be the church together.  Following the service, we had a sandwich luncheon, and of course, cake! Thanks to the congregation for welcoming me and to Rev. Sean Handcock, Alicia Walls, and Christopher Lane for the invitation! It was too much fun.  Attending these anniversary services reminds me of all that we have to celebrate and the dedication that goes into the ministries that are found all across our conference.


                                                     Cake!!

Alicia Walls, myself, and The Rev. Sean Handcock!

Until next time,
Love and Blessings.

Love and Blessings to Bermuda!

Dear Bermuda Synod,

This letter finds me in a place of deep heartache in hearing of Hurricane Nicole’s landfall in your midst.  Seeing photos and video that depict destruction and hardship have been reminding me that life is indeed fragile and that mother nature is ever powerful and changing.  Through all of these challenges, know that you are being held in love and prayer by all of Maritime Conference. 

As an Island nation, I am well aware that this kind of weather is almost too familiar to you, but nonetheless devastating each time it hits.  However, I also know that you are a resilient and determined people, and that your compassion and care for each other is what will get you through this disaster as it has so many before it.  Your churches and people never cease to amaze me with their faith and strength, so as you assess the damage, I have great assurance that your love and courage are among those things that have not suffered because of this storm. 

With assurance that after storms, come opportunities for life and growth once more, know that God’s love surrounds you, as do the prayers and support of all of our communities here in Maritime Conference.

Love and Blessings,

The Rev. Catherine Stuart,

President

Love and Prayers for Sydney and Inverness-Guysborough

The following is my letter to Sydney and Inverness- Guysborough Presbyteries in response to the devastation of Hurricane Matthew:

Dear Sydney and Inverness-Guysborough Presbyteries,

As I write this letter, my heart is heavy to hear of all of the destruction that rain and wind has done to our beloved Island and parts of the Mainland of NS.  It has been shocking to see images of roads washed away and homes and buildings flooded.  Through all of this hardship, it is with love and the Spirit of hope that I and all of our Conference Staff hold you in prayer.

As this devastation took place on Thanksgiving Day, it is in the Spirit of gratitude that I see images and hear stories of so many friends and neighbours, church people and other community members reaching out to help those who were most affected.  It is reassuring to know that some things never change: your determination and good will toward helping those in need continue to strengthen communities and will lead to rebuilding once the waters completely recede.  Heartiness and persistence, along with courage and your feisty spirits will enable you to rise from this disaster, as you have many times before. 

Be assured that the Spirit continues to be in your midst, that as the Psalmist reminds us, you have been “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139), and that as you work together to come to terms with what has happened and move forward from it, that you do so with the love and support of all of our church communities within Maritime Conference. 

Love and Blessings for the days ahead,

The Rev. Catherine Stuart,

President

Where's the President? My version of Where's Waldo...only I hope I'm Easier to Find!

One of the great joys of this position is that, on any given day, I never know where I might end up, which means that you never know where you'll see me!  This past week was one of those where I attended three wonderful, but completely different, events, and each a very important part of the ministry we share here in Maritime Conference.

Last Wednesday, September 21st, I had the privilege of gathering with Chignecto Presbytery as they celebrated becoming an Affirming Presbytery.  It was a very meaningful celebration, complete with prayers, the receiving of certificates, singing, and of course, cake! It showed me once more that so many of us have taken seriously the ministry of inclusion, and acknowledged both from where the presbytery has come, while holding up the journey that continues as we strive toward right relations with all people.

                            Ruth Gamble and Catherine Gaw                                  

               

                                  The Affirm United Banner

                               

After my time with them, I took a short wander around the Mount Allison campus, more for the nostalgic part of me (as I'm a proud member of the Class of 2006!), and happened upon some fantastic chalk art outside of the Chapel, as part of Sackville's Pride celebrations.  It reminded me that for all we fall short of our goals sometimes, we are "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139) in the image of God, and that fact alone is enough to celebrate.  A poignant find for my day!

Then on Saturday, September 24th, I had the pleasure of attending the morning part of the PEI UCW Presbyterial Gathering at Camp Abby.  Guest Speaker for the day was The Rev. Janice MacLean, recently known for her online ministry presence called The Prayer Bench. https://prayerbench.ca/  Janice spoke about the place of Spiritual Memoir in our lives and how ordinary moments in our lives can become pivotal moments of spiritual growth and understanding.  Spiritual Memoir is often recorded through things like journals, jewelry, objects such as toys, quilts and many other seemingly ordinary things.  She led us through a practice by which we named a memory for which we were grateful, holding on to a gratitude cloth, and then singing "Three Things I Promise" (More Voices #176) as part of our worship.  It was a great gathering, bringing UCW members from across PEI together for a day of fellowship, education, worship, and yes, a delicious lunch!

Finally, on Tuesday of this week, you could find me at a gathering of Retired Ministers and some Widows of Retired Ministers here in PEI Presbytery.  Hosted by the Pensions Committee of Presbytery, and Winsloe United Church, the gathering included worship, and a time to hear about questions and concerns regarding many aspects of our church.  If I could, I'm going to ask you to hold our retirees, widows of retirees, and their families in our prayers, and in our collective memories because they are an important part of our church community and have much wisdom to offer us.  If you get the chance, listen to their stories and share in their laughter and tears...true movements of where the Spirit is in our midst.  I only apologize to them that I didn't take a picture of us together!

This has been an eventful week, and so until next time, keep your eyes peeled, as you never know where I might be spotted next!

Love and Blessings!

Let us Join our Hearts in Prayer...

Dear Friends,

Today, as I write this, the Sub-Executive of Toronto Conference is meeting to make some decisions that will affect a colleague, a congregation, and our church.  There are many opinions about what should happen, many thoughts about what the outcome will mean.  And while I won't express my opinion here, what I am inviting you to do is to join me, and my colleagues across the country, in a time of prayer, opening ourselves to the Spirit that binds us together in love, in hope, and in peace.

I'm sharing a link to a blog written by fellow colleague and President of Alberta-Northwest Conference, Paul Walfall, because I feel that his words are in the spirit of what I too am trying to express.

Know that is note is written in the spirit of gratitude for each of you this day, for our Conference, and for our United Church of Canada.

May the light of Christ burn brightly in our midst.  May it be so.  Amen.

http://albertanorthwestconference.ca/14464-tomorrow-in-toronto/

On the Road to Bathurst...Visiting Miramichi Presbytery!

This past weekend, on September 10th, I packed a small snack and got in my car for the drive to Bathurst...specifically, First United Church in Bathurst, for the fall meeting of Miramichi Presbytery. It had been a while since I was that far north, but I had a beautiful sunny, fall day for the drive.  When I arrived, I was welcomed by Chairperson Marion Green, and settled in to hear committee reports, outlining all of the wonderful ministry that is happening in this part of our Conference (and all money that is needed to make it happen!).  I was particularly impressed to find out that this Presbytery has already welcomed one Syrian family and are hoping to welcome another one soon!

Chairperson Marion Green, and 

Secretary The Rev. Charlene Maguire MacKnight

Following the morning session, members of the congregation at First United provided us with homemade hamburger soup and a variety of sandwiches, along with tea and coffee.  It never ceases to amaze me at how well our United Church people can cook! I don't think I've been to a meeting or gathering yet that left me hungry!

At 1pm, we gathered for worship, along with some members of the wider church community.  I had the privilege of leading in worship with the musician at First United, the talented Martha Vickers.  We shared in communion, a sacred time that continued to remind me that we are "fearfully, wonderfully made" (Psalm 139) in the Image of God who calls us and loves us beyond anything we can imagine.

  

Leading Worship

The meeting continued with discussions and votes on Remits.  This was rather lively, as people were engaged and interested in the topics that will affect our church in the future.

                                        Working on Remits!

Like many of our presbyteries, Miramichi has some challenges, but I quickly discovered that they have much to celebrate as well. I found dedicated ministry personnel and lay people, who love their churches and want to reach further into their communities so that all feel welcome and loved.  I found a group of people for whom getting together can be a challenge, geographically speaking, but when they are together, are fed by the experience and use that time to be re-fueled so that they can continue on the journey.

Thanks to Miriamichi and First United, Bathurst, for a wonderful visit! I hope that you are able to continue to see where God is calling you and that you feel the love and support of the Conference as you seek to love your communities across Northern New Brunswick and the Gaspé coast of Quebec.

               First United Church, Bathurst, NB   

   

                                             

Kyle Grant and I! I never go far without meeting someone from YF!

Love and Blessings!
 

Visiting our Neighbours...The 170th Assembly of the Convention of Atlantic Baptist Churches!

Whew! The end of summer came and went so quickly that I am now just getting to reflect on my time spent with our friends at the Baptist Convention.  First, I need to acknowledge that one of the big decisions facing them was a name change, bringing them in sync with Baptists all across this country, so they are now known as Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada!

The gathering, entitled "Oasis: Refreshment for the Journey" took place from August 25th-28th at Crandall University in Moncton.  From the first moment I stepped on campus, I was welcomed and made to feel at home.

                                                       
                                              Ready to start!

Although there were activities taking place from Thursday afternoon until Sunday morning, my time began on Thursday evening until Friday evening, as I had other commitments looking for my attention.  I attended the first Rally (what they call their large gathering), which included music provided by a band from Moncton called "Slane Hill"and talks given by Dr. Peter Reid (Executive Minister) and Rev. Sam Chase that both focused on seeing where God is already at work in our neighborhoods.  Dr. Reid asked the question, "Who in our neighbourhoods is God calling us to see differently?" He encouraged us to tell stories of how our congregations are encountering the world--a very important reminder that we need to celebrate all of our congregations and the ministry we are doing, whether large endeavors or small.  Rev. Chase encouraged us to think about how well we know ourselves so that we can better focus on hearing God calling us.  He passionately told us that, "It's not good enough to do better versions of old things, but we need to do new things."  Both of these speakers inspired me to think about the way we see our place in the community and how we interact with the world outside of our buildings and ministries.  A timely topic, for sure.

Friday morning, found me accepting an invitation to the President's breakfast, which was a gathering of all of the ecumenical guests and others who serve within different areas of the Baptist Church. The President, Al MacIsaac, or "Big Al," as he was affectionately known, welcomed us to this event. It was here that I met The Rev. Christopher Ketch of the Anglican Diocese of Fredericton, and The Rev. Sandy Sutherland of the Presbyterian Church in Canada.  We quickly found out that we held much in common, and were able to discuss many joys and challenges that our denominations face.

The Revs Christopher Ketch, Catherine Stuart, Sandy Sutherland

Then came the business portion of the weekend, known as "Family Business" which to my surprise, was only allotted Friday morning and a small part of Friday afternoon, if necessary.  This included the typical welcoming of guests, reading of minutes, presenting of reports, and the ever popular passing of the budget! It also included motions to change the name of the gathering in Atlantic Canada, and some changes to their Regulations Concerning Ministry.  Let's just say that by the end of the meeting, I had come to appreciate that the word "Amendment" is universal! I greatly appreciated their attention to prayer time throughout the meeting, even the time given to turn to our neighbour and pray with them.

                                            The Business Table!

Much like our own Conference, later in the afternoon, there was a choice of seminars to attend, giving us smaller groups and different topics to engage.  I chose to attend the Kairos Blanket Exercise, hosted by members of the Mennonite Central Committee and Aboriginal Community.  Even with so much time that has passed since taking part, I am still at a loss for words with respect to how this exercise opened my eyes and my heart to the experience of our Aboriginal brothers and sisters.  My encouragement to you is to take part in this exercise if you have the chance...you certainly will not regret it!

After supper, we attended the second Rally, also including worship and music by Slane Hill, which included a familiar to me piece, "My Lighthouse" by Rend Collective! We heard a keynote address by Dr. Anna Robbins, Associate Professor of Theology, Culture &Ethics at Acadia Divinity College. Wow! What an inspiring message! She reminded us that "Christian Discipleship can look like a lot of different things, only limited by our imagination!" and that it is our faith that is going to get us through the storms of change because they are not going to ever calm down.

                     

      Dr. Anna Robbins                Slane Hill sings My Lighthouse!          

This gathering was a mixture of business, but most importantly, it was a time to refresh and renew ourselves for the work of ministry.  However, the main focus was on that, with business as a small part of the necessary work.  We heard stories of what was going on in many of the congregations across the Atlantic Provinces (they include Newfoundland and Labrador as well!) It included 755 people, 511 of whom were delegates, 135 non-delegates (like myself!), 8 nursery age children, 52 older children, and 49 youth! I made many connections, and was reminded that, even though our theological expression might be different, in many ways, we have the same passion and love for God and the ministry that calls us to serve.

It was indeed a blessing to spend time at Oasis 2016!

Thank you

Dear Friends,

It's not often that I'll use this blog as such a personal place, but I felt that I needed to say thank you to all of you for your love, care, and concern for me over this past week, as my family and I gathered in Glace Bay to say goodbye to my grandmother.  The personal messages and sense that I was being held in prayer gave me great strength and reminded me once more of why our Conference is such a special place.  So thank you, friends, for the faith that we share, and for the ministry that enables us to live it out.

Love and Blessings,
Catherine

Charlottetown Pride!

On Saturday, July 30th, Ethan and I had too much fun joining with some friends from West River United Church (Cornwall), the York-Covehead Pastoral Charge and Trinity-Clifton Pastoral Charge (Charlottetown) in the Pride Parade that went through downtown Charlottetown.  Trinity-Clifton is the first pastoral charge in PEI Presbytery to become an Affirming Ministry, so it was a great celebration.  The presence of the Spirit was felt for me most deeply in hearing so many voices shouting "Happy Pride!" especially from many of the children, including Ethan!

 

Happy Pride!

It really was a celebration of diversity and family, and was also great to see so many community organizations and government groups coming together for such an occasion.  There is still much work to be done in terms of advocacy and inclusion here on PEI, but if this parade was any indication, we are off to a great start! If you get a chance to, please join in your local pride celebrations to show your support and solidarity, because it's always a good reminder that the Gospel message is to Love our neighbour as ourselves.  Love is Love!

Until next time, Happy Summer!

(Special thanks to friends who shared pictures with me!)

A Rainbow Rose, given out at the parade!  

                                                  
                                                        Members of Trinity-Clifton!

Road Trip to Ottawa: Affirm United/S'affirmer Ensemble

On Friday of last week (July 22), Executive Secretary David Hewitt and I packed up a rental car and headed to Ottawa for the national gathering of Affirm United/ S'affirmer Ensemble.  Along with Affirm Committee member Tony Burnett, the three of us officially represented Maritime Conference as an Affirming ministry at the conference.  David and I drove, with the help of the Hans Solo voice of David's GPS! Being told to "Listen to the Wookie" was a hilarious way of following directions!

Beginning on Friday evening and continuing to Sunday afternoon, we were welcomed to Glebe-St. James United Church in Ottawa. Friday night, we heard two choirs sing, Moderator, The Rt. Rev. Jordan Cantwell welcomed us, and we saw a play entitled "Trans-Script" by Faith and Arts Ottawa.

In Harmony 

Saturday was met by worship and a plenary discussion entitled "Words 101" led by Rev. Cindy Bourgeois, the first known trans-gendered  person to be Ordained in The United Church of Canada. This covered the idea that language is fluid and definitions of words and how we understand them changes with culture, always returning us back to John's Gospel...In the beginning was the Word. It set the tone for the rest of the conference for me, as it challenged me to think about the words I use, and the words we use to describe ourselves, our communities, and others.

Communion Table at Glebe-St. James

Rev. Cindy Bourgeois: Words 101 

Following a break, there were workshops to choose from, so I attended a workshop that focused on beginning the journey of becoming an Affirming Ministry.  This gave me resources that can help congregations begin this journey and enabled David and I to make connections with leadership in Toronto Conference as they continue on their journey toward becoming an Affirming Ministry. Exciting times!  

Continuing after lunch, we had another plenary session entitled "LGBTQI Rights are Human Rights" led by Rachel Clark who works with Amnesty International.  This session gave us a better understanding of not only where we've come from as a country, but how far we have to go to ensure that all of us share the same rights.  It also gave us an idea of how other countries are doing and helped us to understand many LGBTQI issues around the world both from legal and political standpoints.  

Rachel Clark

Two more workshop sessions followed later into the afternoon.  For me, these included a workshop focusing on the work of the Student Christian Movement that spoke about the work they are doing internationally with regards to gender and sexuality, and another workshop that brought participants up to speed on what is happening with the Living Apology, as mandated by the 42nd General Council in Corner Brook.  Both of these were informative and helped me to reflect on issues from around the globe and here at home.  During the Living Apology workshop, we gave some deep thought to what apologizing is like and what makes an effective apology, which is always important when engaging others about personal and sensitive issues.  We also reflected on what that looks like when a church apologizes.  

Saturday night took on a little different, more personal tone for me, as I visited with the family (who have adopted me as one of their own over the years) who were kind enough to host me.  I had the privilege of visiting with one of our retired ministers who is living in Ottawa, and who is the Minister Emeritus at Knox United Church in Glace Bay, NS, which is also my home congregation.  The Rev. Ray Purchase and I had a wonderful visit, along with his daughter Elayne.  Spending time with Ray is always a gift, as his stories about ministry and pictures of the past provide glimpses and insights from where our church has come and what ministry was like.  If any of you have the opportunity to spend time with our retired clergy, do it...the wisdom and joy is immeasurable.  

Rev. Ray Purchase and I 

Elayne Bonnell (Ray's daughter) and I 

Sunday morning, we worshiped with the wonderful folk of Glebe-St. James United, hearing from our Moderator, The Rt. Rev. Jordan Cantwell, who took us through an insightful and challenging understanding of the work of Reconciliation.  As many of us know, it's not just enough to say that we are sorry and that we are going to change things, but that we must live this out and work hard to shift paradigms in order to make our communities the safe and welcoming spaces that God intends them to be.  We also shared in communion, which included Healing Pathway prayer for those who wanted it, finally closing our time together with a drum blessing from Julie Paradis.  This was meaningful for me because she invited people from the congregation to take part, which I did...I can still feel the vibrations from the drum and the sound of her voice as she sang.  Prayerful and powerful are the words that can best describe the experience!

 

     The Rt. Rev. Jordan Cantwell                     Drum Circle

Overall, being able to represent Maritime Conference at Affirm United/ S'affirmer Ensemble was an amazing experience.  We have come a long way in terms of how we understand ourselves to be an inclusive and welcoming conference, yet, as with most things, we have so much to learn. Intentionally being part of this aspect of our United Church keeps our covenant in the forefront of our ministry and reminds us that we are not alone on this journey.  It was a gift and an honour to see this work unfold so that it can continue here in the Maritimes.  My thanks is extended to the members of our Affirm Committee and to all in our Conference who are pushing boundaries and understandings of what it means to be welcoming and inclusive so that all are reminded of God's image found in them and in the world in which we live.  

Love and Blessings.

                                      Tony, Catherine and David!

We Gathered to Say Thank You

Last night, on one of the points of my own pastoral charge here in PEI, we gathered at Cape Traverse United Church for one last service of worship and decommissioning.  Over the past couple of years, the Bedeque Pastoral Charge, of which Cape Traverse was one point, has been engaged in a visioning process that led to amalgamation of the three congregations (Borden, Bedeque and Cape Traverse) on January 1st of this year.  

And so last night, we gathered to give thanks for the ministry that took place there for over 125 years. We were blessed to have a full choir, former organist, a soloist who grew up in Cape Traverse, greetings from former ministers and one of our former minsters, The Rev. Gloria Churchill (also a Past-President of Conference), present for our time together, as well as Chair Roland Easter and other members of PEI Presbytery.  

As President of Conference, and as the minister who is blessed to serve this fantastic charge, I was honored to take part in this night to reflect upon all of the ministry that has happened there and to give thanks for the community that continues to hear the call of the Spirit, even though it might be leading them in unknown and unfamiliar ways.   It was wonderful to hear stories of memories past, and to reflect on my own memories there, even if they were more recent.  They, along with the rest of the Bedeque Pastoral Charge, are just one fine example of people here in Maritime Conference who have been and continue to be courageous people who seek to live out the Gospel, not only in their churches but in their communities and in the wider world. 

Again, as with many of my encounters thus far in this role, my heart is filled with gratitude for their willingness to hear where The Spirit is calling them to be, and for their love and encouragement for me, not only as their minister and friend, but as your president.  It is not an easy task to say goodbye to your spiritual home, but they did so with dignity and love, compassion and grace. 

Love and blessings to all of our pastoral charges as you too seek to hear where you are being called. May you, like Cape Traverse, be able to gather and give thanks for the ministry that you have given to your communities, and for the ministry that is yet to be lived out.  

Love and Blessings.

   

The light shining through the windows of 

Cape Traverse United Church.

To Inverness-Guysborough and Beyond!

This blog is a little over-due, but none less important as I continue to reflect on our ministry as Maritime Conference.  This past weekend, I had the honour of preaching at St. Mark's United Church in Port Hawkesbury on the occasion of their 50th Anniversary.  It was a grand celebration, including highland dancers (my favourite!) who both processed us in and danced during the service, some people who were youth when the church opened reading scripture, music by the choir, ringing of the bell that had been raised, and a delicious turkey dinner banquet following the service.  Many ministers who served the congregation were present, along with many past and current members alike.  It was a great pleasure to lead in worship with Nan Corrigan, who took great care in planning this year long celebration, which included concerts, cemetery services, and service that welcomed couples who were married in the church to renew their wedding vows! All of these serve as markers and reminders of the many ways that the church has served the community over the years and paves the way for ministry in the years to come.

         


St. Mark's Sanctuary and Ethan, Nan Corrigan DM and myself after the service!

Further along in the week, I visited the Inverness-Guysborough Presbytery meeting, where again, I received a warm welcome and delicious roast beef dinner.  The meeting was held at St. Matthew's United in Inverness, which also gave me an appreciation of how geographically spread out we are! Being from Cape Breton myself, I quickly felt at home at the sound of the lilt when people spoke and at the sight of the mountains in the background.  Highlights of the meeting included the installation of Roberta Phillips as the new Chair person, hearing the work of their committees, and learning that they are engaged in an educational process which will hopefully lead them into the Affirming Process.

                           Out-going Chair, Nan Corrigan and In-coming Chair, Roberta Phillips

At the end of the meeting, I had the privilege of being their theological reflector (which I have to say, is a fantastic way to bring everything together!), at which time I reflected upon the word courage...they as a presbytery are showing great courage as they continue to discern what it means to be United Church in their communities and how they can continue to live into being safe places where people can gather and explore their faith.  They may be a smaller presbytery in terms of numbers, but their ministry is by no means small, working toward being intentional about inclusivity and truly living out Jesus' call to love our neighbours.



<----St. Matthew's United Church, Inverness

Being back in Cape Breton was indeed a treat and seeing how alive and vibrant the Church continues to be both at St. Mark's and Inverness-Guysborough Presbytery as a whole will continue to inspire me in the year ahead.  I hope it inspires you to reflect upon the ways in which you can continue to be courageous in your community, wherever it might be, and however big or small it might be, because together, we have the potential to continue to show love to our world, one church, one community at a time.

Until next time, thanks Inverness-Guysborough, for inviting me home!*

Ethan and I took the opportunity to stay in Glace Bay during our trip...Thanks Mom and Dad!

*My Disclaimer: While Sydney Presbytery is technically home, being in Cape Breton is always wonderful!