Northern Spirit Regional Council

Northern Spirit annual meeting online
2022-10-15 09:00 - 16:00, 2022-10-14 09:00 - 16:00 (America/Edmonton) | Zoom
All welcome to Northern Spirit Regional Council’s online annual meeting, October 14-15 2022. Please click here for documents and the agenda. See connecting information below (the same link will be used on both Friday and Saturday.) Thank you to planning team Leslie Penny (convener); Helen Reed (Regional Council chair); Deborah Hoekstra, Sharon Adams (theme conversations and logo design); Shannon McCarthy (Executive Minister), Julie Graham (communications) and of course, the newly retired Kathy Jackson, admin coordinator.
Link:
https://united-church.zoom.us/j/82834593171?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 828 3459 3171
Password: [REDACTED]
Dial by your location
+1 778 907 2071 Canada
+1 438 809 7799 Canada
+1 587 328 1099 Canada
+1 647 374 4685 Canada
+1 647 558 0588 Canada
855 703 8985 Canada Toll-free

St. Andrew's College 3rd #NoGalaGala
2022-09-09 - 2022-12-09 | Alberta
Coming this fall! St. Andrew’s College third annual NoGalaGala, featuring Brenda Baker on Faith, Folk, and Feminism.
This is going to be an amazing event, filled with musical performances and thought-provoking conversations … not to be missed! Get more information and your $30 tickets here, for digital release on September 9.
As a registrant for this fundraiser, you will be able to access this content exclusively on YouTube for six months following the release of the event. You can choose to watch on your own, or organize an evening with family, friends and/or congregants.
Your support for the college is appreciated, as is your ongoing trust to help St. Andrew’s prepare disciples called to go out into the world boldly and humbly.

Healing Haunted Histories land and community gathering
2022-08-27 12:30 - 19:00 | Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, https://goo.gl/maps/WhBFLTsERkdFPRLm7, Saskatchewan, Canada
Decolonizing Ourselves: Healing Haunted Histories gathering
Muskeg Lake Cree Nation SK, 27 August 2022, 1:00PM- 5:00PM, followed by community meal, and optional overnight camping.
Come for a day on the land, exploring paths to decolonizing through landlines, songlines, and bloodlines. Elders and knowledge keepers Harry and Germaine Lafond; and authors, teachers and theologians Elaine Enns, and Ched Myers will guide us. Overnight camping the evening of Aug 27 available. Info and registration here. More details will be sent following registration.
Location: Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, maskêko sâkahikanihk, approximately 5 hours’ drive from Edmonton, 4 hours from Regina, 1.5 hours from Saskatoon.
Cost: $50, dinner included, camping extra. Overnight camping option for the evening of 27 August until noon August 28. Indigenous registrants are invited to come as our guests. The fee is also waived for anyone unwaged/ low wage.
A little work in advance: We invite you to get the book Healing Haunted Histories and read it. It can be ordered here: https://www.commonword.ca/ResourceView/82/23857
Click here for information on the organizers.

Ottewell United Garage(rummage) SALE
2022-07-09 08:00 - 17:00 | Alberta
Great selections. Indoors, so rain no problem. 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Anti-racism action planning for communities of faith workshops
2022-06-29 18:30 - 20:00, 2022-06-22 18:30 - 20:00, 2022-06-15 18:30 - 20:00, 2022-06-08 18:30 - 20:00 | Zoom
Anti-racism action planning for communities of faith weekly in June: register now!
Northern Spirit, Living Skies, and Prairie to Pine Regional Councils invite at least one lay member and one ministry personnel from up to 24 communities of faith within our bounds to this series. In four weekly sessions June 8, 15, 22, and 29, 6:30-8:00 PM Mountain Daylight, we’ll focus on the new book Wait- is this racist? We’ll also bring this work into the Canadian and United Church context with resource people and a focus on the United Church’s Anti Racism Action Plan.
Facilitation team: Russel Burns (National Indigenous Council), Jordan Cantwell (Living Skies), and Paul Douglas Walfall (Northern Spirit), with possibly more TBA. Thanks to Paul for the spark!
Please see the registration form for more details. You can order the book from United Church Resource Distribution; the Region will pay for it. As shipping can be expensive, consider doing a larger single order with others where possible.
Questions, including setting up your mini team? Please contact staff support Julie Graham and she can contact the facilitation team: jgraham@united-church.ca
Click here for the Facebook event. Please share all promotion freely.

Oh! For the Love of Quilts
2022-06-29 11:00 - 21:00 | St. David’s United Church, Leduc, 4614 - 48 St., Leduc, Alberta, T9E 5X7, Canada
Quilt Displays: 11 a.m. to 7p.m.
Trunk Show: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., featuring:
Joanne Flamand from Spools, and Kelly Dreger from Flatout Quilter
$10/person; $25/family
St. David’s United Church (4614-48 Street, Leduc) – use SE entrance
For more information call 780-919-6754

SSUC Garage Sale
2022-06-25 09:00 - 15:00 | Alberta
SSUC is holding their first garage sale since 2019! June 25th, 9 am to 3 pm. Masks are not required but encouraged. More information about donating items and more at ssucedmonton.com/garage-sale-2022

Grand Reopening at Spirit of Hope United Church, Edmonton
2022-06-18 13:00 - 16:00 | Spirit of Hope United Church, 7909 82 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB, Canada
After a year of renovation construction at Spirit of Hope United, we welcome you for our Grand Reopening: an afternoon of celebration, fellowship, fun and music. Our dedication service at 1 p.m. will be followed by an outdoor reception with activities for all and tours of our beautiful building! Gather again in our sanctuary at 3 p.m. for an organ concert by Music Director Warren Mack.

Spirit of Hope Celebrates First Affirmiversary
2022-06-12 10:30 - 23:30 | Spirit of Hope United Church, 7909 82 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Spirit of Hope United Church will celebrate our anniversary of choosing to be declared an affirming ministry (Affirmiversary). Please join us as we celebrate and renew our commitment to being welcoming and inclusive of everyone. As with all of our services, all are welcome. Come in person or tune in online via our YouTube channel. For more information, visit www.spiritofhope.ca

Pride Service and Picnic, Edmonton
2022-06-12 10:30 - 14:00 | Alberta
Garneau United Church in Edmonton invites you to don your rainbow colours and celebrate Pride Month!
On Sunday June 12, we will host our Pride Service. After service we invite you to stay for fun, games, lunch and fellowship! The church school kids are busy planning decor and activities so we hope you will join us. Worship starts at 10:30AM.

Northern Spirit Regional Council Celebration of Ministry Service
2022-06-05 13:00 - 14:30 | Spirit of Hope United Church, 7909 82 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Northern Spirit 2022 Celebration of Ministry Service Sunday June 5, 2022 at 1:00PM. The service will be held at Spirit of Hope United Church in Edmonton and will be live-streamed on their YouTube Channel. Click here for the YouTube link for the live service. All welcome; join us for this Pentecost celebration. We will be celebrating the ordination of Marlene Salmonson, and we will celebrate a number of retirements this year.
One of the prayers in the service will also include In Memoriam names. If you know of someone who should be included please let Kathy Jackson know: kjackson@united-church.ca

Pride Service and Picnic
2022-05-27 08:00 - 17:00 | Garneau United Church, 11148 84 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB, T6G 0V8, Canada
Garneau United Church invites you don your rainbow colours and celebrate Pride Month.
On Sunday June 12, we will host our Pride Service. After service we invite you to stay for fun, games, lunch and fellowship! The church school kids are busy planning decor and activities so we hope you will join us.

Centre for Christian Studies Online Open House
2022-04-30 14:00 - 15:30 | Zoom, Canada
Join us live on Zoom to get to know the Centre for Christian Studies community. It’s a chance to meet current program staff and students, learn about our programs, bursaries, and registration process, ask questions and meet new friends. Whether you’re considering the diaconate, diaconal ministry, or continuing education, there are options for you with CCS. There will even be a mini tour of Woodsworth House. It’ll be fun! To register and get the link go here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEvdu-prDgtE9LnabYpcBBaaJmMwldjHByW
For more information, call Lori Stewart at (204) 783-4490 ext 22 or email lstewart@ccsonline.ca

Women of the United Church of Canada: Annual General Meeting
2022-04-22 10:00 - 16:00, 2022-04-21 10:00 - 16:00 | Alberta
Thursday-Friday, April 21-22, 2022, 10 am-Noon and 1-4 pm (MDT) (both days)
The Annual General Meeting of the Women of the United Church: Chinook Winds and Northern Spirit, will be held via Zoom on Thursday and Friday April 21 and 22, 2022. The sessions on both days will be from 10:00 am to Noon and 1:00 to 4:00 pm (MDT). The theme is, Getting to Know You: All God’s People. The guest speaker who will address the topic of Process of Sponsoring a Refugee, will be Claire McMordie, Barrister and Solicitor; Counsel, West End Legal Centre; and a member of Scarboro United Church, Calgary.
Information and registration forms are being distributed by Susan Oleskiw, se.oles@telus.net.

Irma Spring Supper and Auction
2022-04-06 17:30 - 21:30 | Irma United Church, 5017 51 Ave, Irma, AB, Canada
Supper 5:30 Silent Auction 5 to 8 Live Auction 7 til done . There will be a 15 min recess at 8:00 and the silent auction will be closed at 8:15. Items are new or homemade. Great charity auction and fellowship helps our financial situation.
This will help from our fire last year!

Ottewell United Church Online Auction
2022-03-21 10:00 - 2022-04-03 10:00 | Ottewell United Church, 6611-93A Ave, Edmonton, AB, Canada
This is an important fundraising event with the proceeds to be used for updating our audio-visual equipment and other special building projects.

Refugee support and sponsorship get together
2022-03-17 18:30 - 20:00 | Zoom
17 March 2022, 6:30 PM Mountain Daylight/ Central Standard (SK)
This has been a strange and difficult two years for refugee support and advocacy. Come out for support, conversation, and updates. We will be joined by Khwaka Kukubo, General Council Refugee Program Advisor, so bring your questions! Whether you’re new to this or have been involved for years please join us. Sponsored by the Living Skies Refugee Task Group. Invited: Northern Spirit, Living Skies, and Prairie to Pine Regional Councils, and further afield if you wish. All welcome. Register here (this gives you the link and reminders automatically).

CCS Friday - Becoming an Anti-Racist Church
2022-03-04 11:00 - 12:00 | Zoom, Canada
Join an online conversation to explore more about what it might mean to become an anti-racist church. How does an organization continue the process of institutional change to become a more intentionally anti-racist one? Together, we’ll explore a continuum for becoming an anti-racism organization as well as the United Church’s national anti-racism action plan. The conversation will be facilitated by Adele Halliday, who is the Anti-Racism and Equity Lead staff at the United Church’s General Council Office.
An experienced anti-racism educator, workshop leader, and award-winning writer, Adele has been involved in anti-racism work with churches in Canada and beyond for many years. She is currently staff resource to the United Church’s Anti-Racism Common Table. She holds a Master of Education as well as a Master of Theological Studies, and is currently studying towards a Doctor of Education. Adele lives in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
CCS Fridays:
Online conversations to help us all to respond faithfully to emerging issues in local contexts. These workshops are open to anyone who might be interested. Each session will be on a Friday from 12:00 to 1:00 Central (Winnipeg time) and in the form of a Zoom workshop. 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.
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEkcuihqzspHtTmzSydBr3p3D-HMsqeODZi

Photography - The Art of Sacred Seeing
2022-02-05 14:00 - 15:00 | Zoom
WayPoint Centre for Spiritual Growth is an initiative of the Leadershift Church Planting Project (Pacific Mountain Region) and is an emerging ministry of Eagle Ridge United Church, Coquitlam, BC.
This presentation is on using photography as a way to enhance and to share our gifts of sacred seeing. All of the natural world provides a glimpse of the sacredness that transcends all, but that also permeates all. When we learn to see, rather than just look, the sacred story emerges.
Photography with any kind of camera, from the simplest cell phone to more complex photographic equipment, can capture the sacred story by allowing us to focus on the sparks of grace that reside in the mundane. When we learn how to employ sacred seeing, our photography becomes the art of sacred seeing.
Facilitator: Mary Beth Wallace
Mary Beth Wallace is a resident of Toronto and a member of Islington United Church and of Saint Georges-on-the-Hill Anglican Church. She is an avid amateur photographer who believes that when we encounter nature with our whole being we catch a glimpse of the sacred. As we develop our sacred seeing skills, we can capture these glimpses as a sacred story to be cherished and shared through photography.
Cost: $25
Registration closes Tuesday, February 2. Zoom link will be sent out once registration closes.

Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil Service
2021-11-20 14:00 - 15:00 | Alberta
You are invited to join Affirming Ministries for the Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil Service on November 20th from 2:00-3:00PM. Join us in-person at Robertson-Wesley United Church or watch online through the Facebook Event Page.
Transgender Day of Remembrance was founded in 1999 and has been observed annually on November 20 as a day to raise public awareness of hate crimes against transgender people. It publicly mourns and honours the lives of those lost and gives our allies a chance to step forward with us and stand in vigil, memorializing those of us who’ve died by transphobic violence.
This service will feature candle lighting, viewing of names, songs and prayers. This event does not fall under the Restrictions Exemption Program. Proof of Vaccination is not required to attend. Confidential sign in for close contacts, masks and social distancing are required.
For more information about the event, please visit this link: https://fb.me/e/1Y6H4QBTV

Centre for Christian Studies Friday: Unanswered Questions about 9/11
2021-11-05 11:00 - 12:00 | Zoom
The next CCS Friday will be an online discussion of Ray McGinnis’ recent book, Unanswered Questions about 9/11 (with a study guide for churches). Join in as Ray, guest, author, and CCS grad, shares what he learned about the families of those killed in the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre on Sept. 11, 2001, and their attempts to get answers from their government.
CCS Fridays are Online conversations once a month to help us all to respond faithfully to emerging issues in local contexts. These workshops are open to anyone who might be interested. Each session will be on a Friday from 12:00 to 1:00 CT in the form of a Zoom workshop. There will be a presentation that will be recorded for future viewing, plus opportunities to engage with the ideas in small groups.
These sessions are free, but you must register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0scOyvqzMtHdDn9rFw92whQ4Z2NqonzKg2
The last CCS Friday of the year will be on December 10 with Natalie Wiggs-Stevenson discussing her book Transgressive Devotion: Theology as Performance Art and theological methodologies

Western Intercultural Network conversation and AGM
2021-11-02 12:30 - 14:30 | Zoom
Encountering the Intercultural Iceberg: the Clergy Collar! Speakers Rev Lee Spice, Rev Piotr (Peter) Strzelecki VDM, and resource people from the WIMN executive, followed by conversation and a short AGM for the Network.

Join the Western Intercultural Ministry Network as we explore the cultural iceberg –specifically, the clergy collar. What values, histories, stories, power dynamics lie below the surface and the water lines of our lives when we see the clergy collar? Let’s talk Intercollartural Ministry together! (Scroll down for a fuller introduction.)
All welcome- all identities and all people on the intercultural learning journey. Click here to see the mandate and terms of reference for our network.
Our network crosses many time zones. Here’s our timing: 11:30AM – 1:30PM (PDT), BC
12:30PM – 2:30PM (MDT/ CST)- AB and SK
1:30PM – 3:30PM (CDT), MB and parts of NW Ontario
2:30PM – 4:30PM (EDT) ON and QC
Zoom link here.
Meeting ID: 961 7898 5162
Password: [REDACTED]
+1 647 558 0588 Canada
+1 778 907 2071 Canada
+1 438 809 7799 Canada
+1 587 328 1099 Canada
+1 647 374 4685 Canada
855 703 8985 Canada Toll-free
Intro to our topic: In intercultural work, we often refer to the cultural iceberg. With icebergs, only the top of the iceberg is visible on top of the ocean, while under the waterline the iceberg may be vast, deep and wide. Often, the most important parts of ourselves may be hidden beneath the waterline, and encountering those can bring us into richer and more respectful relationship with each other. Sometimes, icebergs that look far away from each other on the surface can bump into each other under the water – sometimes gently, sometimes causing damage.
For our coffee and chai conversation this month, we are going to explore the cultural iceberg that we call the clergy collar. On the surface, it might seem like a small thing, a symbol of office that some clergy intentionally wear and others do not. Some church members and people in the general public are comforted by it, others are puzzled by it, others are traumatized by it. Some clergy are comfortable wearing it, and others are not. All of our responses to this visible symbol of office are informed by our values, our histories, our stories, our power in society – those often unseen things that exist beneath the water lines of our lives. Let’s get together for meaningful conversation, and explore who we are as an intercultural community, through the lens of the cultural iceberg we call the clergy collar. Here’s one suggested reading, which may reflect the views of many in the church. And we’ll explore more views together.

No Easy Jesus: Affirming theology and practice in our contexts
2021-10-27 19:00 - 21:00 | Zoom
.An evening exploring 2SLGBTQIA+ affirming theology and practices in our contexts, organized by the Northern Spirit Affirming Task Group.
This event is our annual meeting education space and all delegates are invited, along with all the people of the Regional Council. Come and learn together while we help the Regional Council in its Affirming journey.

Zoom link
Meeting ID: 981 1019 6816
Password: [REDACTED]
Dial by your location
+1 778 907 2071 Canada
+1 438 809 7799 Canada
+1 587 328 1099 Canada
+1 647 374 4685 Canada
+1 647 558 0588 Canada
855 703 8985 Canada Toll-free

PRIDE 2021
2021-06-01 - 2021-06-30 | Alberta
Join in on the Pride month celebrations!
Many Pride societies are offering online or distanced events in communities large and small. Support from your community of faith makes a difference, especially since so many Christian communities remain non-affirming. Are there creative ways you can offer that support? Your church signage, rainbows on your church property, letters of support to local and social media, fundraising, offering a drive by dessert, and much more: all are good ways to be public, intentional, and explicit about support for Two Spirit and LGBTQIA+ people. Let your creativity go wild!
June 6 is Pride Sunday in the United Church, and June shares a whole month of Pride alongside Indigenous History Month. Below you’ll find some resources to help!
Pride Worship Services, Events and Resources:
Pride Social Media Post
Pride Information Poster
Pride Resources (Services, Hymns, Pamphlets, Videos, Etc.)
Pride 2021 Events List
Happy Pride to you all!

Affirming Leaders Day 2021
2021-05-22 10:00 - 16:30 | Alberta
Join from anywhere in the world for Affirming Leaders Day! A faith-based development & connection day for allied and LGBTQ2S+ folks! Featuring Civil Rights Activist Rev. James Lawson, Queer Singer/Songwriter Semler, and Pop Culture Critic/Scholar/Author Anthony Oliveira!
Peace and Protest: Creating Change with Love and Intention
We explore the ways that our faith calls us to bring justice, love, peace, and hope into the world. This year we reflect on the ways in which our communities have been strained and constrained by the pandemic and the increasing polarization of an “us vs. them” mentality. How do we resist the urge to “other” others, while still standing our ground and working for justice?
Tickets are $15-$30 (Provides access to ALL of the sessions)
Get 25% off using the promo code: NORTHERNSPIRIT
Get your tickets HERE
