Prairie to Pine Regional Council

Tri-Region Lay Leadership meeting
2020-05-13 19:30 - 21:00 (America/Winnipeg)
(NOTE: TRI-Region Lay leadership Wednesday evening meetings are now occasional only. Please watch the calendar.)

Wednesday May 13: Topic: Questions and answers for re-opening your churches. Please share this note with your board chair, ministry personnel or anyone who wants to be involved in the conversation. 5:30PM in BC; 6:30PM in SK/AB/NWT; 7:30PM in MB/NO. Meeting link: https://united-church.zoom.us/j/92436034028 ; Toll-free 1-855-703-8985 Meeting ID: 924 3603 4028 (Do not post this link on social media or your congregational website, please. Share it by email.)

Regional Council COVID-19 ministry personnel check-ins, April and May
2020-05-19 15:00 - 16:30
Ministry personnel only, please: Tuesdays at the time below, until further notice.
3:00 PM in MB and NW ON. https://united-church.zoom.us/j/5662855587
Prairie to Pine Regional Council will hold ministry personnel and lay leadership check-ins every week. Some may have specific information sessions as the situation evolves, but we’ll also take time for prayer and connecting with each other. Details are below. Please help spread the word.
Tech stuff: Use the meeting web links above. These will be updated as needed. Remember: you can use your land line or cell to call in, and using your computer/ phone video is optional. If your internet connection is as slow as molasses going uphill in Brandon in January, dial in. The meeting ID you’ll need is the number that’s in the respective web addresses below. Toll free number for everyone: 1-855-703-8985.

Regional Council COVID-19 ministry personnel check-ins, April and May
2020-05-26 15:00 - 16:30
Ministry personnel only, please: Tuesdays at the time below, until further notice.
Prairie to Pine: 3:00 PM in MB and NW ON. https://united-church.zoom.us/j/5662855587
Prairie to Pine Regional Council will hold ministry personnel and lay leadership check-ins every week. Some may have specific information sessions as the situation evolves, but we’ll also take time for prayer and connecting with each other. Details are below. Please help spread the word.
Tech stuff: Use the meeting web links above. These will be updated as needed. Remember: you can use your land line or cell to call in, and using your computer/ phone video is optional. If your internet connection is as slow as molasses going uphill in Brandon in January, dial in. The meeting ID you’ll need is the number that’s in the respective web addresses below. Toll free number for everyone: 1-855-703-8985.

POSTPONED 2020 Prairie to Pine Regional Meeting
2020-05-28 15:00 - 2020-05-30 15:30 | Steinbach, Manitoba
THE REGIONAL COUNCIL EXECUTIVE HAS CANCELLED THE IN-PERSON 2020 PRAIRIE TO PINE REGIONAL COUNCIL MEETING IN STEINBACH, MANITOBA, MAY 28-30.
A MEETING WILL BE HELD IN THE FALL INSTEAD. MORE DETAILS WILL BE POSTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Please see the regional meeting page for details.

Regional Council COVID-19 ministry personnel check-ins
2020-06-02 15:00 - 16:30, 2020-06-09 15:00 - 16:30, 2020-06-16 15:00 - 16:30

Indigenous Heritage Month Series: Foundations of the Indigenous United Church
2020-06-07 15:00 - 16:30, 2020-06-14 15:00 - 16:30, 2020-06-21 15:00 - 16:30, 2020-06-28 15:00 - 16:30 | Zoom, Canada
Every Sunday in June at 2:00 PM in AB and SK: come explore the foundations of the Indigenous Church in the United Church of Canada. These sessions are open to everyone to come and learn. For additional information or to register and get your meeting link, please register here or contact: right.relations@hillhurstunited.com
Sessions:
June 7 – Foundations: Indigenous Women’s Spirituality with Rev. Bernice Saulteaux
June 14 – Formation: Indigeneity in Christian Formation with the Very Reverend Stan McKay
June 21 – Indigenous People’s Day/Mission: The Indigenous Church, Mission and Call with Rev. John Snow Jr.
June 28 – Vision: The Caretakers Report and the Future Indigenous Church with Adrian Jacobs, Keeper of the Circle, Sandy Saulteaux Spiritual Centre.
Many thanks to these elders and knowledge keepers, and to the Right Relations Circle at Hillhurst United Church in Calgary, for offering us the space to learn together.

Governing Bodies and Ministry Personnel Gathering-June 10, 2020
2020-06-10 19:30 - 21:00
This is another opportunity for members from governing bodies and Ministry Personnel from Prairie to Pine Regional Council to gather together in a ZOOM meeting to discuss any matters related to making decisions and developing plans for re-opening of buildings.
Meeting Link: https://united-church.zoom.us/j/93219486638?pwd=[REDACTED]
Joining by phone only:

Please dial 1-647-558-0588;
Meeting ID: 932 1948 6638
Password: [REDACTED]
press # when prompted for Participant ID

Western Intercultural chai and coffee check in
2020-06-23 13:30 - 15:00 | Zoom, Canada
Join the Western Intercultural Network with your tea, chai, coffee (or water) in hand. We’ll talk about how we’re all doing, and discuss the racism COVID is bringing to light as well as strategies for confronting it. We’ll also share updates on our fall gathering, now moving online for September and October.
Time: Jun 23, 2020 11:30 AM Pacific; 12:30 PM in AB, NWT, and SK; 1:30PM in MB and NW Ontario
https://united-church.zoom.us/j/97973729801

Congregational Finances Webinar
2020-06-24 18:00 - 20:00
Erik Mathiesen and Clyde Harris are back with another webinar on Congregational Finances tomorrow, June 24 at 7:00 p.m. EDT. This week they’ll talk about the Federal government’s $40K small business loan program. Initially excluded in April, the Canadian Emergency Business Account (CEBA) is now available to churches that meet the other eligibility criteria, notably generating revenue from rentals or the sale of goods and services as reported on their annual charitable return. This webinar will review the details of the program, as they apply to churches, and walk through the steps your church needs to follow to apply for it. Find out more.

Breaking the Gender Binary, One Word at a Time
2020-06-24 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom, Canada
Conversations about gender diversity and the power of language, 6:00PM in AB and SK, 7:00PM in MB and NW ON.
What is gender inclusive language and how does it have the power to embrace or exclude non-binary, Two Spirit, trans, agender, and gender queer people? Join us for a practical discussion about evolving language and personal perspectives on its importance. All welcome.
The Zoom link is here. Need to phone in? 1-855 703 8985 (Canada Toll-free) and enter meeting ID
940 3191 7505
Password: [REDACTED]
This gathering is especially recommended for Regional Council delegates who will be voting on Remit 1 this fall. In the fall of 2020, delegates to the regional annual meeting will be voting on a remit to make a small but important change to the Basis of Union. Current wording about eligibility for ministry uses “men and women”, and the wording would be changed to “all people”, to reflect a diversity of gender identities. (Further background is here.)

Prairie to Pine Ministry Personnel Zoom Connection
2020-08-25 15:00 - 17:00
As Ministry Personnel look to the fall and what ministry might look like for them in September, the Prairie to Pine Pastoral Relations Minister invites you to gather together for 90 minutes on Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. (Central time) with her and one another through ZOOM. The plan is for check –in with one another about what the summer has been like and where things are at in your context as some look to re-engaging some activities and/or worship this fall. What will a blended job description look like?
Here are the details for the ZOOM connection:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://united-church.zoom.us/j/94173665258?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 941 7366 5258
Password: [REDACTED]

One tap mobile
+16473744685,,92776672573# Canada
+16475580588,,92776672573# Canada

Dial by your location
* Please use local numbers when feasible to save costs for the church. *
+1 204 272 7920
1-855 703 8985 Canada Toll-free

Meeting ID: 941 7366 5258
Find your local number: https://united-church.zoom.us/u/aeDXOpXvGB

Join by Skype for Business
https://united-church.zoom.us/skype/94173665258

Ministry Personnel Support Gathering
2020-09-08 15:00 - 17:00, 2020-09-22 15:00 - 17:00, 2020-10-06 15:00 - 17:00, 2020-10-20 15:00 - 17:00, 2020-11-03 15:00 - 17:00, 2020-11-17 15:00 - 17:00
A decision was made by those gathered together on August 25th,2020 in the Ministry Personnel support gathering on ZOOM that such gatherings would be offered every second week. That means that the next opportunity to gather for check in and sharing will be Tuesday, September 08, 2020 using the links below. Subsequent gatherings will be held on September 22, October 6 & 20 and November 3 and 17th, 2020. Here is the Zoom link information.

Lay Leaders in Communities of Faith Check-in
2020-09-15 19:00 - 21:00
After the summer break we thought it important that there be an opportunity for lay leaders and Pastoral Charge Supervisors in Communities of Faith to gather together via ZOOM to check in, share news about protocols developed around re-opening of buildings ,re-engagement of activities and/or identify any questions that they might have related to COVID 19 matters related to worshiping communities at this point in our pandemic journey . People are invited to gather via ZOOM on Tuesday, September 15th, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. Please use the links below. The frequency of future meetings will be determined at that time. Here is the Zoom link information.

New Wine: Western Intercultural Gathering online
2020-09-25 11:00 - 14:00, 2020-10-02 11:00 - 14:00, 2020-10-09 11:00 - 14:00 | Zoom
New Wine: Western Intercultural Gathering online this fall with Eric Law and Tony Snow
We can’t gather in Calgary as planned, but we can come together online, even bigger than before! Join us for part 2 of last year’s cross-Canada gathering of people committed to the United Church’s intercultural vision. Rev. Dr. Eric Law and Tony Snow will be our lead resource people.

When: Fridays on September 25, October 2, and October 9, 2020.
Cost: FREE. Thank you to the Regional Councils who support our network through their budgets, and to the people of the United Church of Canada, who support this ministry through your Mission and Service givings.
Full information: https://bit.ly/2CqFRjt
Sessions are free but registration is still required; please click here.
Click here for our Facebook event.

The sessions will begin at 9:00 AM Pacific; 10:00AM in AB; 11:00AM in MB and NW Ontario; noon in ON and QC; 1:00PM in the Maritimes and 1:30 in NL.
These will be three hour sessions, with presentations and small group discussion. Tools for talking with your ministry or others between sessions will be offered.
Our lead resource people
Rev. Dr. Eric H. F. Law is the founder and executive director of the Kaleidoscope Institute, which provides resources to equip church leaders to create diverse and sustainable communities. He has been a consultant and trainer for over 25 years, working with the Roman Catholic, Episcopal, United Methodist, Presbyterian, American Baptist, United Church of Christ and Lutheran churches in the United States, Canada, Asia, Australia and Europe. He is the author of over 10 books including Finding Intimacy in a World of Fear, Holy Currencies, Drawing on Holy Currencies, The Wolf Shall Dwell with the Lamb (also available in Spanish), and Inclusion: Making Room for Grace.
He is an Episcopal priest, a composer of church music, a photographer and a playwright. He writes a weekly blog called The Sustainist: Spirituality for Sustainable Communities in a Networked World. http://ehflaw.typepad.come/blog/
Tony Snow is a member of Treaty #7 from the Stoney Nakoda First Nation in Morley. He is a direct descendent of Treaty signers from his Nation, and his father, the late Rev. Dr. Chief John Snow Sr., was the first ordained Indigenous minister in the United Church in Alberta. Tony Snow is an Indigenous theologian, scholar, and writer, with expertise in Indigenous governance, management, and consultation. He was raised with both Christian and Indigenous traditional teachings and is currently studying ministry in both. Tony is the Indigenous Lead for the Chinook Winds Region of the United Church and the Indigenous Lead for Hillhurst United Church in Calgary.

Lay Leaders and Lay Pastoral Charge Supervisors Gathering
2020-10-27 19:00 - 21:00
The next gathering for Lay Leaders from all Communities of Faith or lay Pastoral Charge Supervisors will be held on October 27 at 7:00 p.m. The focus will be on discussion of Advent and Christmas planning and any emergent matters related to COVID 19 protocols. Here is the Zoom link for the meeting.

Prairie to Pine Church in the Wild for November 1
2020-11-01 15:00 - 17:00
Prairie to Pine Church in the Wild
for November 1
An outdoor worship and learning experience in the spirit of Wild Church
We encourage you to use this outdoor worship service anytime this month to experience the natural beauty and wonder around you! This month, worship will focus on All Saints.

Or join us on Sunday, November 1, at 3 p.m. in one of two locations.Member
At Roseisle Cemetery. From Carman go west on MB-245 W for 26 km. At Rd 39 W turn left, pass the town of Roseisle and continue for 1 km. The cemetery will be on the right.
In the old St. James Anglican Church cemetery across from Polo Park. The entrance is on Tylehurst.
Members of the cemetery board in each location will join us to talk about some of the saints buried in these cemeteries.
All ages welcome! Church in the Wild always happens outdoors so come prepared for the weather! Bring a lawn chair if you prefer to sit. Contact Karen Tjaden (204-745-683) or Lori Stewart (204-832-5310) for more information!
We are also planning to hold Church in the Wild on Sat Dec 12 at a location near Winnipeg with guests from Manitoba Royal Astronomical Society to help us explore the night sky as we “behold that star”.

Ministry Personnel Support Gathering
2020-12-01 15:00 - 17:00
The next opportunity to gather for check in and sharing will be Tuesday, December 1, 2020 using the links below. Subsequent gatherings will be held every two weeks on Tuesday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. Here is the Zoom link information.

Apocalyptic Christmas
2020-12-04 12:00 - 13:00
A theological exploration of what the apocalypse might have to do with Christmas in a pandemic.
Join us for this lunch-time Zoom workshop with guest Nancy Sanders. We’ll discuss the biblical and theological traditions of apocalypse, their connection to the Christmas story, and their relevance for the particularly weird season we’re heading into.
There will be a presentation that will be recorded for future viewing, plus opportunities to engage with the ideas in small groups.
Sessions are free but you must register.
To register: visit the page at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIucuuoqD4jGt0HsTtLveiBhfd4_xQ4_uq4
and find the “register” link.
Centre for Christian Studies is sponsoring this event.
Upcoming dates in 2021: January 8, February 12, and March 12.
