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!

Who is My Neighbour? My Prayers and Actions for Orlando

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12: 31.

Dear Friends,

            As I have paused to pray about the horrific events in Orlando, these words from Mark’s Gospel came into my heart.  Because of these words, acts of hatred toward a specific group of people cause fear, doubt, and leave us with a sense of wondering when hatred and violence will ever come to an end.  When so many lives are senselessly and so violently taken, it shakes us to our core because we wonder if love will ever fully be understood.

            Times like these cause us to ask who is our neighbor, and respond with even more conviction that Jesus calls us to love everyone, regardless of age, race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, religion, or sexual identity.  All over the world, tributes of bright and beautiful colours seek to honour those affected and remind us that love is stronger than hate.  And so, we are left to ask, how do we continue to embrace inclusivity and work for justice so that our communities are safe places for all?

            I believe that one of the ways we can not only show solidarity, but be active in the pursuit of love and justice is through Affirm United—ensuring that our churches, presbyteries and conference are safe places where dialogue can happen and networking can continue to bring people together.  Prayer has a very important role in our lives, but sometimes, action is the best prayer we can utter.  And so, yes, continue to pray for the people and communities affected.  Continue to pray for the murderer and all those who resort to violence.  But also act…my friends, now more than ever, is the time for us to be courageous and remind people that our faith is based in love, not hate, in harmony, not dissidence, in believing that we work better together, rather than apart.  Yes, each of us knows that we are different, but let us continue to believe that it is in our differences that we find solidarity, and in faith in God that we find we are each made in God’s image. 

Blessings as we continue to work for love and justice,

Rev. Catherine Stuart

91 Years...So Much Ministry!

Today, on this the 91st Anniversary of The United Church of Canada, gathered at Trinity United Church in New Glasgow, NS, we gathered to say goodbye to and give thanks for the life of Nancy Fraser.  Nancy was a Diaconal Minister with over 50 years of service to her church and community. The Rev. Donna Tourneur said it best, when in her sermon, told of Nancy's Pioneer spirit that forged new territory for women in ministry--she took risks and followed her calling, which turns out, is a very United Church thing to do! Just as in 1925, at the Mutual Street Arena, when a new church with a bold new vision was born, Nancy's ministry and life were fine examples of courage, listening for God's voice, and serving both her church and her community with compassion.

It was an honour and a privilege, and although it is sad when we lose one of our faithful ministers, being at this funeral reminded me of two things: First, that we are privileged to serve among such fine, faithful, and dedicated colleagues, and second, that our church family goes well beyond the communities in which we gather each week.  I felt the Spirit's presence in the words of prayer offered, in scripture read, in reflections on Nancy's life and ministry, in the gentle keys of the piano played by her great-nephew, and in the power of the pipe organ and hymns sung.  There was nothing quite like the sight of the Women Alike Abreast a River Dragon Boat Team Honour Guard as the casket was gently taken out of the church...truly beautiful.  This United Church of ours is a wonderful thing, and for it's 91 years, for Nancy Fraser's ministry, and for the ministry that we share as colleagues and members of Christ's Body, I am grateful and in awe.

We Are Not Alone.  Thanks Be to God.

Camp...Youth Forum...Church...Oh the Possibilities!

Seeing some posts on Facebook today got me reflecting on some of the amazing things that are happening in our Conference, and even though I am not there, or won't be taking part in the activities, I think they need mention and holding up as places where amazing ministry happens in our church. I'm talking about the Camp Directors Training (happening as I write this), Camp Stuff (happening at Sherbrooke Lake Camp this coming weekend), and what will be the team who plans for the Youth Forum Events for this coming year, as they search for people to fill the positions on their planning team.

All three of these groups are made up of young adults and others who strongly believe in the ministry that happens, both at Camps across our Conference and at YF.  As many of you know, both camp and YF hold a special place in my heart and in the faith story that has brought me to where I am.  We are extremely fortunate as a church to have all of these people who are passionate about ministering to and with those who either might not find themselves in church, or to those who need reminding that they are not alone on their already growing faith journey.  

So I ask you to take a minute, wherever you are while reading this, and pray. Pray for the leaders, that they might be inspired to create their programs and grow together. Pray for the campers and participants across our conference who will take part in these amazing programs.  And pray for our church, that we will continue to see the value in all that they offer, because maybe these programs don't pay for our buildings right now, and maybe sending a child to camp or YF costs money that we might not always have.  But think of it as an investment in a person--a person who might be doing awesome things where they live and are in need of some courage and encouragement, a person who may be exploring a call to ministry, who may have ideas of how to build the Body of Christ beyond our buildings.  I know that I am truly grateful for those in the church who invested their money and time in me...

May the Spirit be with us all this night.  Thank you Camp and YF for all that you have given me and all that you give to our Church.

Love and Blessings,

Catherine

PS-IAC (Intermediates at Conference) is awesome too!! Just not in the posts I was seeing! 

https://www.facebook.com/MaritimeConferenceUCCan/

You Are Invited!

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Across our Maritime Conference,

Now that I feel as though my feet are back on the ground after a wonderful Annual Meeting, I am inviting you to join me on this journey.

This blog will serve as both memory to me, and a place where we can document together all that we will do over the course of our year.  It is my hope that we will be able to add pictures, stories, poems, and so much more so that our journey is documented and reflected upon as I gratefully serve as your president. 

It is my hope that this year will bring us closer together as we seek to continue to Gather Strength and Scatter Light across our Conference and beyond our Church!

Grateful for the journey and all who join me, 

Catherine