For E-news June 24,2021

Where have you seen the Holy Spirit at work this week?   If you’re struggling to answer that question keep your eyes open for the rest of the week for God on the move.   Because God is moving!   I have seen evidence of the Holy Spirit moving in so many people this week as I have met with and made requests of people to take on short term projects and support of our ministry.    Thank you to everyone who has helped in the office, who have picked up the mantle to get some loose ends created by Eric’s leaving tied off, and to those committee members who I have met with who are eager to get to work and those who have been working hard behind the scenes.   You all have been a blessing to me this week!  Last Saturday I kicked off the wedding season by celebrating the wedding of Kate Ritche and Scott Mansfield.   This was the first of 3 weddings this summer.

Last Sunday we marked Indigenous Peoples’ Sunday of prayer. This week Laura Hunter, the region’s minister for justice, mission and outreach sent out a message to all our congregations about potential demonstrations that will take place throughout the region on June 27th and beyond.  These demonstrations by indigenous people and their allies are in response to the 215 children’s bodies revealed in in Kamloops and will involve people standing outside of churches who were involved in the residential school system.  With the discovery of another gravesite this time of 751 today children announced the grief and pain is mounting among first nations communities.  (See below for the body of Laura’s email)

As I continue to re-integrate into the congregation and with Eric leaving there is a lot of coordinating happening in my days.  This means that I need your help when it comes to pastoral care and support.  First off you can connect with people who you haven’t seen in a while, invite them back into regularly attending services (we will still have online zoom as an option).  In addition, I need you to reach out when you need support – going for surgery or are sick, feeling overwhelmed, have concerns about our church, or ideas you wish to work on – please contact me because for the next little while I will not be actively seeking you out.   However, I will always make time and I want to be a support for you.  Reach out through the office, my cell 506-259-7602 or email michellenarmstrong@hotmail.com.

Let us pray

Loving God,

In joy and sorrow you hold us

You invite us to accept the love you freely offer

You call us to let your spirit touch us, change us, guide us.

This week with the joys and the sorrows that come,

We call out to you, in your love answer.   

This we pray in Christ’s name.

Amen.

 

 

1) Worship Announcements: 

-This week: Downtown United starts for the summer.   Join us as we gather together to ground ourselves in God’s word.   Join Zoom Meeting  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86854718551    Meeting ID: 868 5471 8551 Passcode: 165090

-Where do we worship this summer?  Worship between June 27th -July 25th will be hosted at St. Paul’s.  Worship will start at 10:30am and be available in person and via Zoom   Services will be hosted by Wilmot between August 1-August 29th.  

-Do you know power-point?  We are looking for people to put together the Power-Point for Sunday Worship.   Can you commit to putting together 1 Sunday service for July 3-July 25th.  Service material will be provided in Word document by Tuesday evening and slides would need to be completed by Saturday @5pm.   Template for worship would be provided and would just need to be adjusted as needed.  If you can commit to one Sunday please contact Rev. Michelle @ michellenarmstrong@hotmail.com or 506-259-7602

-Downtown United readers/presiders.   As part of our coming together we want to make sure each congregation is represented in leadership on Sundays.   St. Paul’s is responsible for providing lay leadership for the Sundays Ellen is preaching.  Roger Miller is making calls to coordinate this, however if you feel called to participate, please reach out to him at roger_miller@rogers.com or 506-461-8295

2) Ministry and Personnel Announcements

-Applications being accepted If anyone is interested or knows someone who might be interested in applying for the position of Office Administrator at St Paul’s United, please contact the Chair of Ministry and Personnel, Ann Krause at 454-3299 by June 30, 2021.

-Interim Church Office Hours:  We are running a reduced schedule of hours: Monday to Thursday inclusive from 10 am -2 pm.  Thank you to the volunteers who are helping out.  Note Thursday, July 1st is a holiday so the office will be closed.

3) Fundscript

-Message from the Fundscrip Team – Yay! Summer has arrived! Maybe you will be travelling . . . Fundscrip has gasoline cards you can use along the way. Perhaps you’re going to a cottage . . .  purchase Fundscrip cards for groceries and other supplies to take with you. Having a “staycation”? Doing things around the house and yard? Use Fundscrip cards for hardware stores or garden centres. We’ll be looking for your Fundscrip orders on or by Sunday, July 18. Now is a good time to stock up on cards for all your summer needs because Fundscrip is taking a break, too.  We’ll have an order in July but there will be no orders in August. Don’t worry . . . we’ll be back in September and hope you will, too! If you need an order form, pick one up at the office or in the Narthex on Sunday. You can also print one here:  http://www.stpaulsunited.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/POF_46258_NB_20210107105919197.pdf   Remember: Shopping is fundraising for St. Paul’s!  Enjoy your summer, stay safe!

4) Brown Bag Lunches

Lunch bag program continues to feed some of the most hungry in our city.   We are out of Protein items.  We need items that people can eat on the go – pull top cans – of meats, fish or  hearty soups.  If you can help please bring Sunday or drop off at the church during office hours. 

5) Regional Announcements:

– Beyond Words: Anti-racism Film Series – June 20 –August 1, 2021.  It’s not too late to join  the Faith and Justice network for the 5 remaining films and frank discussions about racism using the films as jumping off points. We are offering multiple levels of engagement, covering a spectrum of learning needs and styles. To join https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfCesrIRdVWVf_a8HkODPmcm–aQ63sNkJ8Ays-KSb5lFfSfA/viewform  and Check out the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/UCCanBeyondWords

 

-Demonstrations by indigenous peoples and allies – June 27th and beyond. First nations communities and their allies are seeking to hold demonstrations in response to the graves found of the 215 children in Kamloops.  They will be calling on people to stand quietly in front of churches whose denomination have had roles in running residential schools – namely Catholic, Anglican, and United – with symbols such as orange crosses and maple leaves.  There is no way to know how widespread this action will be.  At the moment it is planned particularly for central New Brunswick and particularly Catholic churches, but it is possible it may spread more widely.  You can initiate this same action at your own church if you feel moved to do so.  Our denomination was not directly involved in the schools in the east, but we certainly were complicit in other schools across the country.

 What should you do if your church is chosen as one of the sites for a peaceful demonstration?

  1. Spread the message in your Community of Faith that this is an invitation to listen – a call to the Church and to Canadians in general.
  2. Perhaps create a response plan with one or two wise leaders in your Community of Faith.  
  3. Be prepared to receive expressions of blame and anger without defensiveness. Resist any urges to try to explain your denomination’s role.  This is a time to humbly accompany people with compassion and understanding for the pain and sorrow. 
  4. Learn the history of the Indian Day Schools and Residential Schools that Indigenous people in your area were forced to attend.
  5. Review the history of the churches’ and government’s role in running schools in your area. 
  6. Recommit to the “Calls to Action” from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and particularly those that are directly addressed to the churches.

 Other possible actions:

  • -Wear orange as a sign of solidarity.
  • -Ask if you can join or support the demonstration in some way (and be gracious if the answer is “no”, or “not now”).
  • -Ask if there are actions that would signify a meaningful response. Receive any responses respectfully.
  • -This is an emotional time for many and it is natural feel an urge to shed tears, however we respectfully ask that if you are participating as a settler-ally in a demonstration or discussion, try to save your tears for private mourning, as they can draw attention away from the message that people are trying to convey.
  • -Communities of Faith may want to make a statement on their websites indicating that they fully understand the reasons for these actions and are willing to keep listening, and that they re-commit to the Calls to Action.

 Note that this is a vulnerable time and that there will be actions for healing needed for years to come.  This is much more than a news item.  Take all opportunities to learn more and understand. Go gently and respectfully.

  •                                             -Laura Hunter