Leaders Online Gathering: First Third Ministry
2021-10-26 14:30 - 15:45 (America/Vancouver)
Hosted by Rev Mary Nichol, First Third Ministry Staff, for all those in leadership with Children, Youth, Families, Young Adults in a United Church setting – whether paid or volunteer in dedicated ministry with children and families, or a piece of your ministry.
New for this Fall – Guest Speakers once a month beginning in October

Faith Leaders For Such A Time As This
2021-11-03 10:00 - 11:30, 2021-11-10 10:00 - 11:30
Offered by LeaderShift
“Faith Leaders for Such a Time as This” is designed to invite participants into the Christian faith’s essential practices:
To attend to the life and faith of our community,
To listen for the Spirit within the challenges and opportunities of our context,
To honour the wisdom of our traditions.
Expect to start with story – exploring who we are, and where we are as leaders and as individuals – and expand from there. Beautiful, strong women leaders, Cheryl Bear and Kim Uyede-Kai, are facilitating this series. They bring to it deep experience in living into right relations, and experience across a diversity of communities. Previous Faith Leaders For Such a Time As This participants have been moved and encouraged in their call as leaders in this time, by the power of community and reflection in the intentional group setting.

October 13, 20, November 3, 10 (4 sessions. No gathering on October 27)
10-11:30am PT / 11am-12:30pm MT
Online via Zoom
Free. Space is limited to 18

November 3 Town Hall
2021-11-03 13:00 - 14:00
This November 3 Town Hall will have two parts:
– COVID program updates and assessments with Erik Mathieson (15 minutes)
– The remainder of the Town Hall will welcome PalNet guests and focus on the proposal that was passed at our last General Meeting regarding Palestine. “Cry from Bethlehem (The Kids Are Not Alright)”. Come hear about the PMRC proposal that was passed, about the “Canada, Stand Up for Palestinian Children’s Rights” campaign, and the national “Unsettling Goods” campaign and other resources for congregations.
Topic: PMRC Town Hall Meeting
Date: Nov 3, 2021
Time: 1pm Pacific / 2pm Mountain
Join Zoom Meeting
https://united-church.zoom.us/j/91732458792?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 917 3245 8792
Password: [REDACTED]

Planning for First Third - A Way Forward
2021-11-03 17:30 - 18:30, 2021-11-10 17:30 - 18:30
Offered by First Third Ministry
This cohort series for First Third Ministry will be facilitated by two of our First Third Ministry Regional Staff, Rev. Mary Nichol and Chris Mah Poy. The theme is “Planning for First Third – A Way Forward”. The goal is for the small group to hear and learn from each other, and support one another in their own context. The topic of re-opening is relevant and a part of the conversation but will vary depending on the provincial health guidelines and communities of faith decisions. We will journey together in groups of five.

Four Sessions: Wednesdays October 13, 20, November 3 and 10 (no gathering on October 27)
5:30pm-6:30pm PT / 6:30pm-7:30pm MT
Meeting Online, via Zoom
Free. Space is limited to 10 participants.

This event is an Online Event. The Zoom Link will be emailed to the address provided on your registration.
Participants are requested to commit to attending all 4 sessions.
Questions? Email Mary or Chris. We hope that you can join us.
REGISTER HERE

How to Lobby Your M.P. - Workshop
2021-11-05 13:00 - 14:00
Offered by the PMRC Justice Network!
This FREE online workshop with Libby Davies will give you hands-on tools for lobbying your federal Member of Parliament, to advocate for a Special Envoy appointment to Israel.

Register here!

Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories live under a military occupation. This means that Palestinian children are subjected to night raids, detentions, interrogation and imprisonment in contravention of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Canada, Stand Up for Palestinian Children’s Rights Campaign is asking the Canadian government to appoint a special envoy to investigate the treatment of Palestinian children by Israeli military authorities.
Visit the Justice Network’s Palestine page for more information.

Imagine Family Retreat at Camp Fircom
2021-11-05 13:00 - 2021-11-07 13:00 | Camp Fircom, Gambier Island, BC, Canada
A retreat for families of all makes and shapes across the Pacific Mountain Regional Council – on Gambier Island! REGISTER HERE!
Scroll down to get a sense of the roll of the weekend. Bursary funds are available if that helps you family be able to attend! Please don’t let the retreat fee keep you from participating.
Imagine Family Retreat at Camp Fircom

November 5-7, 2021
Program leadership is by Regional Council First Third Staff (not the Camp Fircom folks)

Retreat Draft Schedule
Friday, November 5

Head over on the water taxi to Gambier Island with your family!
Dinner will be in Family Bubbles (all meals will be this way!)
Gathering/Worship will happen COVID Protocol Style (CPS) with options for Later Evening Activities

Saturday, November 6

Early Morning Worship
Breakfast
Theme Exploration CPS
Lunch
Choose-your-Own Camp Activities – Swimming, Crafts, Archery, Hiking, Naps, Reading…
Dinner
Gathering/Worship with options for Later Evening Activities

Sunday, November 7

Breakfast
Clean Up of Spaces
Closing Celebration
Lunch
Heading Home!

Retreat Fees
Registration fee includes all meals (starting Friday dinner and going to Sunday lunch), accommodation, program costs, and water taxi fees to and from Gambier Island and Horseshoe Bay.​

Adults – $130
Child/Youth (ages 4-18) – $105
​Child (3 and under) – Free​

There are bursaries available – please don’t let the cost be a reason to not attend. There are discount codes right in the registration for that you can apply yourself: 100, 75, 50, or 25% off.

Indigenous Veterans Day
2021-11-08
Indigenous Veterans Day is November 8. It’s the season of remembering, though the path of truth and reconciliation is one we walk year round.

The Gathering Place - A Time for Ministry Personnel
2021-11-09 10:00 - 11:30, 2021-12-14 10:00 - 11:30
The Gathering Place a time of online, Mini-Retreats for United Church Ministry Personnel. Happening 10-11:30am PT/ 11am-12:30pm MT on the 2nd Tuesday of each month via Zoom, Ministry Personnel are invited into 90 mins of being in community. You can expect practices with colleagues such as check-in, pray, laugh, share sacred stories and maybe even singing a little — together.

The Gathering Place is Free and Drop-In Style.
Registration is Required for the Zoom access. Register here.
Hosted by the PMRC’s Ministry Personal Support Team, contact Karen Millard or Marc Coulombe for more information.

Deepening Pastoral Practice Amidst Continuing Pandemic Realities with Dr Julie Clayton
2021-11-10 10:00 - 12:00, 2021-11-17 10:00 - 12:00, 2021-11-24 10:00 - 12:00
This four-week workshop equips participants with a framework to assess and evaluate where they currently find themselves in pastoral practice – and determine what is needed to address the ongoing traumatic waves that impact pandemic-ridden congregations.
Specific attention will be given to understanding the complex nature of family systems and how they impact an individual, a family unit, and the larger congregational community.
Participants will leave these sessions empowered to respond with deepening holistic healing strategies that are trauma-informed and trauma-oriented.
Facilitated by Dr Julie Clayton. Hosted by LeaderShift Director, Allison Rennie

Remembrance Day
2021-11-11

Young Adult Supper Social
2021-11-14 18:00 - 20:30
SUPPER SOCIAL
This is time for Lower Mainland young adults and a leader or two to gather IN PERSON with Regional Staff Pamela Evans, eat a great meal, and share conversation about what is important. All are warmly welcome! Vaccine passport required. Register here.
In-person in New Westminster (exact location will be shared after registration). Sunday, November 14 from 6-8:30pm.
Can’t make it? This event is also happening on Sunday, December 12, from 6-8:30pm.

Love and Justice and Beyond - Discussion
2021-11-16 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
From the Justice Ministry
This online gathering is open to anyone in PMRC who participated in the national Love and Justice Gathering (November 3-7, 2021), wants to know more about it, and/or is interested in connecting with others about the justice work happening in the Pacific Mountain Region and beyond. All are welcome!
This is the first in a series of online region-wide conversations to support and encourage each other in deep spirituality, bold discipleship and daring justice.
Register at this link, and then check your inbox for a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting
Hosted by: Pacific Mountain Regional Council Network, Jane Dawson, Minister of Justice

November 17 Town Hall - Discussion with Alan Hall Regarding Changes to the Employee Benefit Program
2021-11-17 13:00 - 14:00
Alan Hall is the United Church’s Executive Officer for Ministry and Employment and will be our guest speaker at a Joint Town Hall with Pacific Mountain and Chinook Winds Regional Councils.
Join Treena Duncan and Alan Hall for a respectful discussion and time of learning about the December 2021 changes to the Group Benefits Plans, for United Church of Canada employees. After months of consultation and consideration, the Optional Group Benefits is being ended, and the CORE plan has been redesigned. All United Church employees who work 14 or more hours qualify for the benefit program. Alan will give background on the changes and answer questions. You’ll also find Benefits information here.
Join PM and CW Regional Councils Town Hall meeting
Date: Nov 17, 2021
Time: 1pm Pacific / 2pm Mountain
Join Zoom Meeting
https://united-church.zoom.us/j/98658844109?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 986 5884 4109
Password: [REDACTED]

Town Hall With Guest Janice MacLean ~ Hope Matters
2021-11-24 13:00 - 14:00
Today’s town hall is a special gathering for Advent, and we’ll be joined by Janice MacLean of PrayerBench.ca (in addition to some brief COVID-19 updates). Janice will be introducing her Advent-themed resource called “Hope Matters ~ an Advent Retreat”. This is a resource that you can use to create in-person or online reflection times with, for your community of faith.

Read more from Janice, about Hope Matters, on the Chinook Winds website.
Add your email here to receive the Hope Matters download

November 24 Town Hall
1pm Pacific / 2pm Mountain
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://united-church.zoom.us/j/98231867711?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 982 3186 7711
Password: [REDACTED]
Find your local number: https://united-church.zoom.us/u/addG5s2evk

Deepening Pastoral Practice Amidst Continuing Pandemic Realities with Dr Julie Clayton
2021-11-30 10:00 - 12:00 | Online

Office Closed for Regional Staff Retreat
2021-12-01, 2021-12-02

Young Adult Supper Social
2021-12-12 18:00 - 20:30
SUPPER SOCIAL
This is time for Lower Mainland young adults and a leader or two to gather IN PERSON with Regional Staff Pamela Evans, eat a great meal, and share conversation about what is important. All are warmly welcome! Vaccine passport required. Register here.
In-person in New Westminster (exact location will be shared after registration). Sunday, December 12, from 6-8:30pm.

Office Closed for Holidays
2021-12-24 - 2022-01-03

Leaders Online Gathering
2022-01-04 10:00 - 11:45, 2022-01-11 10:00 - 11:45, 2022-01-18 10:00 - 11:45
​Gatherings in the Season of Epiphany, 2022
Hosted by Rev Mary Nichol, First Third Ministry Staff, for all those in leadership with Children, Youth, Families, Young Adults in a United Church setting – whether paid or volunteer in dedicated ministry with children and families, or a piece of your ministry.
Held Tuesdays, 10-11:45am PT / 11am – 12:45pm MT. Register at this link.
January 4 / January 11 / January 18 / January 25​ / February 1 / February 8 / February 15 / February 22 / March 1

Youth Forum Application Deadline - for General Council 44
2022-01-10
Youth Forum for General Council 44 will be online in 2022. What you might not know, and what First Third Ministry Network is excited to announce is that Youth Forum Delegates will get a unique opportunity to do a paid internship as part of their participation in Youth Forum.
Hold the phone; what’s General Council and what’s Youth Forum? I’m glad you asked! General Council is the triennial (every three years) national business meeting of The United Church of Canada (UCC). In our system of governance, The United Church of Canada consists of formal gatherings called “courts” where decisions are made via a democratic process. General Council is the national equivalent to our Regional Gatherings; the national “court” where representatives of the UCC from across the country gather to discuss and advocate for issues like Reconciliation, Affirming Ministry, Climate Justice and more; where visions for new and innovative ministry are presented and where proposals are examined and adopted by the national church.
Youth Forum is a part of the General Council where United Church youth from across the country get to gather in leadership and worship to advocate for the needs of youth in the church and promote youth leadership in all aspects of church life.
Click here for more information!

Spiritual Conversations: Pastoral Ministry with Children, Youth and Families
2022-01-13 - 2022-01-15 | Vancouver School of Theology, 6015 Walter Gage Road, Vancouver, BC, Canada
A Continuing Education Certificate Course through the Vancouver School of Theology
Vancouver School of Theology and First Third Ministries Partnership ​ with ​Rev. Mary Nichol and Cathy Cryder
In ministry with children, youth, and their family we create space for spiritual conversations. Families seek support from ministers and congregational leaders on how to talk about God, death, and other existential questions such as, “Who am I?” and “What am I meant to be doing in my life?” with the children and youth in their lives.
This short course is intended to deepen our understanding of the importance of listening to children and youth. We will discuss ways to support families in their conversations regarding death, life and meaning. We will explore power, posture, and intention in supporting young people in their spiritual journey. ​This course will examine ways to partner with families and caregivers to support them in their spiritual nurture of their children.
For adult leaders, available either in-person at the Vancouver School of Theology or online via Zoom. Course outline and details available here. Register at this link.

The Gathering Place – A Time for Ministry Personnel
2022-01-18 10:00 - 11:30
The Gathering Place a time of online, Mini-Retreats for United Church Ministry Personnel. Happening this month from 10-11:30am PT/ 11am-12:30pm MT on January 18th, 2022 via Zoom, Ministry Personnel are invited into 90 mins of being in community. You can expect practices with colleagues such as check-in, pray, laugh, share sacred stories and maybe even singing a little — together.

The Gathering Place is Free and Drop-In Style.
Registration is Required for the Zoom access. Register here.
Hosted by the PMRC’s Ministry Personal Support Team, contact Karen Millard or Marc Coulombe for more information.
