POSTPONED Annual Gathering: Women of the United Church in Alberta and the Northwest Territories
2020-04-29 - 2020-05-02 | FCJ Centre, 219 19 Ave SW, Calgary, AB, T2S 0C8, Canada
Due to the safety protocols related to the COVID-19 Coronavirus, the Women of the United Church in the Chinook Winds and Northern Spirit regions have made the decision to postpone their Annual Gathering and AGM that were to be held April 30 to May 2. The FCJ Christian Life Centre in Calgary has been very helpful, and they have tentatively re-booked for September 10-12, 2020. Further information, will be posted as it is available.

Regional Councils Lay Leaders COVID weekly check in
2020-04-29 18:30 - 20:00, 2020-05-06 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Edmonton) | Alberta
Lay Leaders and Pastoral Charge Supervisors will gather Wednesdays at:
5:30 PM in BC; 6:30 PM in AB and NWT.
Some meetings will have specific resource people, in which case, ministry personnel are welcome to join. These gatherings cover the Northern Spirit, Living Skies, and Prairie to Pine Regional Councils.
Recurring link: https://united-church.zoom.us/j/978525442
Dial in if you have a limited or slow connection: 1-855-703-8985.
Meeting ID is in the link: 978 525 442

Affirming Leaders' Day for Alberta
2020-05-01 - 2020-05-03 | Zoom
PLEASE NOTE: this event will now take place online.
All welcome to this faith-based development and connection day for allied and LGBTQ2S+ folks. Our in person Affirming Leaders Day is cancelled, however, we are now hosting our conference online!
You are invited to join us on Zoom for a day of illuminating and artistic speakers, on topics of faith, LGBTQ2S+ inclusion and more!
VERY special guests announced soon…
Affirming Leaders Day is a faith-based development & connection day for allied and LGBTQ2S+ folks.
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When: Saturday, May 2, 2020 – 9:30am-4:15pm (session times TBA)
Where: On Zoom, you can watch/listen from your computer, tablet, or smart phone!
Ticket link available soon.

Ministry Personnel COVID check in
2020-05-05 13:30 - 15:00, 2020-05-12 13:30 - 15:00, 2020-05-19 13:30 - 15:00, 2020-05-26 13:30 - 15:00, 2020-06-02 13:30 - 15:00, 2020-06-09 13:30 - 15:00, 2020-06-16 13:30 - 15:00, 2020-06-23 13:30 - 15:00 and 1 more date | Alberta
Every Tuesday, 1:30 pm MDT (AB, SK and NWT); 12:30 pm PDT (BC).
Ministry Personnel currently serving Pastoral Charges and other ministry sites are encouraged to attend.
This will be a weekly check-in, scheduled until June 30, 2020.
The Meeting ID and link have been sent to all active Ministry Personnel.
Please contact the Regional Office if you have not received the email.
All regional COVID updates are here: https://northernspiritrc.ca/covid-19coronavirusnews/
All national church updates are here: https://www.united-church.ca/covid-19

Q&A RE: RE-OPENING OUR CHURCHES
2020-05-13 18:30 - 20:00 | Zoom, Canada
Pastoral Charge Supervisors, Board and Council members, and more. All welcome.
Topic: Questions and answers for eventually re-opening (or not) our churches. Please share this note with your board chair, ministry personnel or anyone who wants to be involved in the conversation.
5:30 PM in BC; 6:30 PM AB, SK, NWT.
Meeting link: https://united-church.zoom.us/j/92436034028
Tollfree 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.)

Sundays in June: Foundations of the Indigenous Church in the United Church
2020-06-08 14:00 - 16:00, 2020-06-14 14:00 - 16:00, 2020-06-21 14:00 - 16:00, 2020-06-28 14:00 - 16:00 | Zoom
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, please 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.

Edmonton area Being Good Relations Cluster gathering
2020-06-09 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom
You’re invited!
If you’re working on decolonization, truth-telling, and reconciliation in your community or congregation, you’re invited to a time of online conversation, support, and planning. People who are Witnesses within the Being Good Relations Network are of course also welcome. People of all backgrounds welcome; we expect to focus somewhat on the United Church community and our responsibilities within our Apology, UNDRIP, and the TRC Calls to Action. We will gather by geographic area:
Edmonton: This area covers the City of Edmonton, as well as St. Albert and Sherwood Park.
Hosted by Shelley Sabo from Grace United in Edmonton. Kathy Hamelin, Community Grandmother, Kohkom Kisewatisiwin Society, will be joining us.
Day: Tuesday, June 9, 2020
Time: 7 – 8:30 pm
Zoom link: https://united-church.zoom.us/j/92911469593
Need to phone in? 1-855 703 8985 (Canada Toll-free) and enter meeting ID 9291 1469 593

POSTPONED Second Annual Meeting of the Northern Spirit Regional Council
2020-06-11 - 2020-06-14 | Augustana Campus, U of Alberta, 4901 - 46 Avenue, Camrose, AB, T4V 2R3, Canada
Postponed to October 2020 and moved to an online meeting.
Our theme will be “Called to Be …”
All information about the meeting, including registration, docket, and full details, will be posted here:
https://northernspiritrc.ca/news/regional-council-meeting/

Being Good Relations North East Cluster gathering
2020-06-11 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom
You’re invited!
If you’re working on decolonization, truth-telling, and reconciliation in your community or congregation, you’re invited to a time of online conversation, support, and planning. People who are Witnesses within the Being Good Relations Network are of course also welcome. People of all backgrounds welcome; we expect to focus somewhat on the United Church community and our responsibilities within our Apology, UNDRIP, and the TRC Calls to Action.
North East: This area covers (east of Hwy 2 and north of Hwy 13) Ardrossan, Athabasca, Bonnyville, Camrose, Cold Lake, Daysland, Lamont, Fort McMurray, Fort Saskatchewan, Goodfish Lake, Hardisty, Killam, Leduc, Lloydminister, Morinville, Saddle Lake, Sedgewick, St.Paul, Sturgeon Valley, Tofield, Two Hills, Vegreville, Vermillion, Viking, Wainwright, Wetaskiwin and all points in between.
Hosted by Cecile Fausak in Athabasca, with hopes to be joined by Arthur Steinhauer of Saddle Lake Cree Nation.
Day: Thursday, June 11, 2020
Time: 7:00-8:30 pm in AB
Zoom link: https://united-church.zoom.us/j/97468052899

Regional Worship Service on June 14
2020-06-14 10:00 - 12:00 | Alberta
We are not alone, we live in God’s world!
These words are a gift and a challenge to us. As we celebrate that we are surrounded by the love of our Creator and that it is through our relationships and community that God’s love is manifested, we are also invited to see how we too can reveal God’s love. This Sunday, our congregation, Grace United Church in Edmonton, is using the magic of technology to provide a regional worship service. Folks from northern Alberta and the northeast tip of BC, comprising our Northern Spirit Region, share their leadership to explore how in these strange and challenging times God is calling us to be seeds of hope. May this coming together of community remind us that surely God in this place in ways we didn’t expect. Help us notice!
Blessings, Anna and Chelsea
Worship Service: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HCiCWJzuPGZBdxPLHDQw1MU–Ju4UVNn/view?usp=sharing
Worship Bulletin: https://northernspiritrc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Regional-Worship-Bulletin.pdf

Being Good Relations North West Cluster gathering
2020-06-15 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom
You’re invited!
If you’re working on decolonization, truth-telling, and reconciliation in your community or congregation, you’re invited to a time of online conversation, support, and planning. People who are Witnesses within the Being Good Relations Network are of course also welcome. People of all backgrounds welcome; we expect to focus somewhat on the United Church community and our responsibilities within our Apology, UNDRIP, and the TRC Calls to Action.
North West: This area covers (west of Hwy 2 and north of Hwy 13) Barrhead, Busby, Dawson Creek, Devon, Drayton Valley, Edson, Fort St. John, Fort Nelson, Grande Prairie, Grande Cache, Hay River, High Prairie, Hinton, Jasper, Onoway, Peace River, Pickardville, Slave Lake, Spruce Grove, Stony Plain, Swan Hills, Telfordville, Valleyview, Wembley, Westlock, Whitecourt, Yellowknife and all points in between. Hosted by Grace Hussey in Grande Prairie, with resource person and KAIROS Blanket Exercise co-ordinator Ian Hopfe of Bigstone Cree Nation.
Day: Monday, June 15, 2020
Time: 7:00-8:30 pm in AB
Zoom link: https://united-church.zoom.us/j/93220667155

Treaty Walk – a Journey for Common Ground video and conversation
2020-06-18 19:00 - 20:30 | Mill Woods United Church, 15 Grand Meadow Cres, Edmonton, AB, T6L 1A1, Canada
On Thursday evening June 18 at 7 pm, Mill Woods United Church is hosting a Zoom discussion of a new video, which focuses on Indigenous and non-Indigenous people learning to live together on common ground. We hope that watching the video and joining the discussion will help prepare us for the Indigenous Day of Prayer on Sunday June 21.
Click here to register for the Zoom meeting on June 18. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about how to join the meeting.
Click here to watch the 47-minute video Treaty Walk – a Journey for Common Ground. It documents a 15-day walk from Edmonton to Calgary of a group of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Albertans and others in the summer of 2019. The video is a sequel to one called Treaty Talk, which was screened at Mill Woods United in February: www.treatytalk.com

Western Intercultural chai and coffee check in
2020-06-23 12:30 - 14:00 | Zoom
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

Breaking the Gender Binary One Word at a Time
2020-06-24 18:00 - 19:30 | Zoom
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.)

God is in This Place: Knowing God Through our Senses
2020-07-06 - 2020-07-10 | Alberta
An online seven-day set of faith-based activities, stories and songs for children, families and grandparents to do throughout the summer. There are five days each focused on one of the senses plus a night time and and a rainy day. Children are invited to pick some activities, stories and songs each day and reflect on what their experience teaches them about God.
From July 6-10 families can check in with Rondy Kyle and Denise Davis-Taylor, live on zoom.
For links to each day go to the St Paul’s United Church Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/St-Pauls-United-Church-Edmonton-181774785249257

Zambia Online Conference: Mending the World
2020-09-16 09:00 - 12:00, 2020-09-17 09:00 - 12:00 | Alberta
Please join this opportunity to hear from United Church partners in Zambia.
The conference will be held over two sessions, September 16 & 17, 2020, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon (MDT), 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (PDT).
To join, use this link: https://united-church.zoom.us/j/7425682258. Meeting ID: 742 568 2258. Or dial by location: (Please use local numbers when feasible to save costs for the church) +1 587 328 1099 (Canada-Alberta). 1 855 703 8985 (Canada Toll-Free).

New Wine: Western Intercultural Gathering
2020-09-25 10:00 - 13:00 | 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.
