COVID-19 UPDATES

Community response to Coronavirus / COVID-19 has been extraordinary as communities of faith, ministry personnel and laypeople across the United Church of Canada adapt and create new ways of being church in the world. Here are links to news updates and resources that may be helpful.

MESSAGES TO MINISTRY PERSONNEL AND COMMUNITIES OF FAITH

• March 24, 2020: Request to Delay Funerals from Moderator Richard Bott
  March 23, 2020: Supporting Staff Through the Pandemic from Alan Hall, Executive Officer Ministry and Employment, General Council Office
• March 18, 2020: Press release regarding suspension of worship by United Church of Canada in Quebec
• March 18, 2020: Letter from Rosemary Lambie, Executive Minister of Conseil régional Nakonha:ka Regional Council
• March 17, 2020: Letter to Ministry Personnel and Church Leaders from Nora Sanders, General Secretary, UCC
• March 13, 2020: Letter from President of Conseil régional Nakonha:ka Regional Council, Rev. Linda Buchanan
• March 13, 2020: Letter from Moderator, Richard Bott

GUIDELINES FROM UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA

• Statement on COVID-19
• Emergency plan
• Employment and pastoral relationships in the event of suspension of worship/gatherings

RESOURCES FOR ONLINE WORSHIP

• Options for online worship
• Weekly online worship with Moderator, Richard Bott on Sundays at 
• Live recording of worship with Moderator, Richard Bott on Tuesdays at 7 pm
• Interactive map of online/streaming worship across Canada, including those within our Regional Council (add your worship service on the site)
• Information about licensing music for online services
• For those considering moving to online worship due to COVID-19 considerations, One License is offering two different gratis license options for streaming music online, valid through April 15, 2020.
• Live-streaming information from Buying United
• Online donations through CanadaHelps or Mission and Service

Please note that other alternatives may be possible in areas where internet service is not reliable; how about a conference call? Here are some tips for how that could work (note: this is not a promotion for a particular service provider)

RESOURCES FOR ONLINE MEETINGS

• Notes on using Zoom for online meetings (courtesy of Shining Waters Regional Council)
• Reduced rates on technologies like Zoom through Tech Soup Canada

RESOURCES FOR PASTORAL CARE AND SUPPORT

For families

• Talking to children about COVID-19
• Virtual tours and activities
• Online camp through GO Project
  • 11 am daily: Virtual Day Camp (Grades 1 – 6) 
  • 2 pm daily: Virtual Youth Drop In (Grades 7+)

For ministry personnel

• Daily online prayer space for ministry personnel with Moderator, Richard Bott at noon

Other

• Loss & Living: Grief 101 for COVID-19  – Wednesday evenings at 7 pm (starting March 25)
• Compassion, Gratitude and Peace (bilingual) – Wednesday evenings at 8 pm (March 25, April 1, April 8)

What other information would be helpful for you and your community of faith at this time? Contact us with your suggestions: jcoffin@united-church.ca

PROTECTING YOURSELF AND OTHERS
from Morneau Shepell, Employee and Family Assistance Plan (EFAP) provider for UCC:

• CoronaVirus: Tips to protect yourself and others
• COVID-19: How we can help

LifeWorks EFAP website

QUEBEC GOVERNMENT RESOURCES

• For latest information, consult the Quebec Government website
• If you think you may be experiencing symptoms, call the hotline: 1 877 644-4545.