Perspectives
Greetings from Growth Animator, Rev. Tori Mullin
Peace and a very happy new year! My name is Rev. Tori Mullin, and I am the new Growth Animator for Eastern Ontario and Quebec, this includes the Regional Councils of Eastern Central Ontario, Eastern Ontario Outaouais, and Nakonha:ka. Our Growth Animators are focused...
Christmas message from Marc Grenon
As President of the Regional Council, I extend warm Christmas greetings to all. In this season of hope and reflection, let us remember the profound words of Matthew 1:23: "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel (which...
REM Reflections: Transforming ministries to meet spiritual needs (bilingue)
Based on readings from Isaiah 40:1-11 and Mark 1:1-8 Préparez le chemin pour le Seigneur… À chaque année on a l’occasion d’entendre Jean crier dans le désert… préparez le chemin! Rendez les sentiers droits! Et Ésaïe qui nous parle d’abaisser les montagnes et de lever...
REM Reflections: What we can learn from rural ministry
A few weeks ago, I came to Ayer’s Cliff with two members of the Partner Council of the United Church… these are people who come from outside the church and offer their perspective on the church and our ways of doing things. This Regional Council, which covers most of...
REM Reflections: Wandering in the desert
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be the response to the Word that you hope to hear from us O God. And we humbly ask for your corrective whispers in our ears so that we might adjust the trajectory of our journey in a way that aligns with your...
News from the First Third Ministries Leadership Team: Children’s spaces in our churches
What comes first; children in church or a space to welcome them in church? How do we create appropriate spaces in our sanctuaries, in our worship, in congregational life in general? What makes a space truly welcoming for children? These are some of the questions that...
This season in the Our Harbour (OH) garden – by Natacha Sanson
(shared by Natacha Sanson, St. Lambert United Church) A crew of gardeners started off in the spring by transplanting a huge “old growth” peony from the Mercille side of the church to a flower bed near the entrance on the Notre Dame side. The sheer joy of noticing,...
Generativity – Reflections by Dr. Jamie Crooks
As shared at Lennoxville United Church – June 18, 2023 May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable to thee, Lord. Amen. Today’s reading from the 18th chapter of Genesis is both strange and powerful. Strange – because it is one of those...
REM Reflections: Bridging the Gap
Matthew 9:35-10:8 The harvest is plenty, but the labourers few. Since I began to fulfill my responsibilities as the Regional Executive Minister in January, I’ve become particularly worked up about the future of the church. We all know the stories: a church closes...
STATEMENT: Homophobia and Transphobia Have No Place in Our Society
As a Christian church with biblical roots and a liberative theology, we speak out against the growth of intolerance and hatred that is being expressed in Québec, in Canada and internationally. We will not be silent. We are deeply troubled by extremist laws that were...