Dear members of Northern Spirit Regional Council, and all communities of faith and ministries:
May 29- June 1 Northern Spirit will meet at Riverbend United Church, Edmonton. We gather for community, worship, learning, discerning, and deciding on proposals and overall directions for our Regional Council. We thank Riverbend for their generous hosting and look forward to a time of community and lively conversation.
This is a long letter that gives an overview of our meeting. Please review it carefully, especially if you are a delegate or wish to attend online or in person as a visitor. All meeting details, documents, and the agenda will be posted to our meeting web page as they develop.
Who should attend?
Visitors are welcome and delegates are expected! Voting members are Regional Council delegates: ministry personnel and lay delegates from communities of faith, and other voting members as the court decides, according to The Manual and to relevant Regional policies. Visitors are most welcome, and, like delegates, must register. They can speak to the meeting, though they cannot vote.
Registration (deadline May 10 – early bird pricing in effect until April 20!)
Please register at this link. Your timely registration helps the planning committee immensely.
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Proposals to the Regional Council: Deadline May 1
Northern Spirit meets in person and online May 29-June 1. Voting on proposals will be part of this meeting. Proposals create policies and other commitments or decisions for the Regional
Council (the deadline for proposals coming directly to this summer’s General Council 45 is now past.)
All communities of faith and members of the Regional Council are invited to consider creating a proposal, but please have a careful look at what they are and how they should be written, using this template and guiding questions. The deadline to receive them is May 1.
Reports: Deadline May 1
This is a business meeting, so reports from governance and program committees are important background information for everyone. Networks and Clusters active in Northern Spirit are also encouraged to send in a report. Since the Region met online in October 2024, reports from November 2024 to May 2025 are encouraged. All reports, budget information, and other relevant documents will be shared on the Regional meeting page. Please send documents to Chloe at chburns@united-church.ca.
* Chairpeople and others presenting: we need any audio/ visual materials like videos and slides no later than May 16.
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Theme and theme resource person
Our theme presenter and facilitator is Rev. Dr. Jana L. Howson. She is a pastor, teacher, and geek. Raised in the United Church of Canada in northern Ontario, and currently serving in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in Illinois, she brings cross-border and cross denominational experience to her preaching and scholarly work. Her research focuses on how people make meaning and pursue understanding the world through their fandoms and what that might mean for how the church teaches about faith, justice, inclusion and race. What’s a “fandom”? She writes, “If you’ve ever met a Swiftie, or someone who’s an avid birdwatcher, or an Elks or Oilers fan, you know it. So how can we, as followers of Jesus, develop the same unmistakable enthusiasm about our faith?”
Our theme time, “Bold Disciples” will explore this question, looking at how real and relevant spiritual meaning making is happening within fan and geek communities, and how we might want to develop our own bold “Jesus Geeks”. We’ll also use our own areas of passion, or fandoms, to look at how we can expand our practices of discipleship and notice who might be missing or excluded from our faith communities. Participants will leave with practical ideas to bring back to their own communities and ministry contexts, and a new appreciation.”
Honoured guest
We will warmly welcome Rev Michael Blair, General Secretary of The United Church of Canada, representing the General Council (national church.) He will join us for the whole meeting and will preach at our Celebration of Ministries service.
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Public event Friday May 30
This meeting is part of our agenda, and is also public- open to all United Churches, allies, and community groups in the Edmonton area. We plan on livestreaming it. Please share this invitation!
From the Heart: understanding the impacts of AB’s anti-transgender laws
May 30, 7:00-9:00PM, Riverbend United Church and online
Join us for personal stories of the impacts of Bills 26, 28, and 29 on Albertan athletes, teachers, parents, children, and church members. Learn together how we can take action in support of gender-diverse people. Behind the headlines and debates, what is happening for transgender people in Alberta? This isn’t only a legal and legislative matter; it has lived impacts on people’s bodies, minds, hearts, and spirit. We thank our speakers, who are joining us to describe the impact on their lives. We invite you to come with an open mind and heart, and hear their stories, no matter your opinion on this legislation. Please see all details here. Updates will be posted to this link as we go.
June 1 Celebration of Ministries and 100th Anniversary service
Join us in person at Riverbend United Church, and online on YouTube, as we honour past and future with prayer, worship, and song. General Secretary Rev Michael Blair will offer the sermon. We anticipate that we will welcome people into the order of ministry in the United Church via admission from other denominations. For those attending the gathering in person: a community choir will be part of our service, so please consider whether you would like to join this.
The full order of service will also be sent in advance via the website and the Regional newsletter for your own use. More details will be shared here as they are finalized.
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On the threshold of our 100th birthday, as we consider our future together, we hope we will see you in person or online.
Blessings,
Leigh Sinclair: Chair of the Regional Council Executive
Carolyn Woodall: Chair of the Regional Meeting Planning Committee
Shannon McCarthy: Executive Minister, Northern Spirit Regional Council
