Pacific Mountain Region

The Gathering Place
2023-01-11 13:00 - 14:30 (America/Vancouver)
Join us online at The Gathering Place on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 1:00 PM PT/ 2:00 MT for 90 mins of gathering in community to check-in, pray, laugh, share sacred stories and maybe even sing a little.
This ministers-only series is open to all Ministry Personnel in the Pacific Mountain Regional Council and is hosted by members of the Ministry Personnel Support Team.
Register at this link.

The Art of Children and Youth Ministry
2023-01-12 - 2023-01-14
Ministry with those in the first third of life requires significant skill and creativity in order to be effective. If we imagine this ministry as a work of art, we lean toward practices that help us create meaningful programs and facilitate the building of relationships. This short intensive will explore practices of Children and Youth Ministry in a Christian context with a focus on faith formation, spiritual nurture, worship, spiritual practice, and community building. This course is intended for those already practicing the Art of Children and Youth Ministry, those brand new, or those wishing to refresh their skills.
Mary Nichol is the contact for further information, including about bursaries.

This Course is in person and synchronous via Zoom
Held from January 12-14 202
Registration is via VST: https://vst.edu/courses/the-art-of-children-youth-ministry/

Leaders Online Gathering Epiphany
2023-01-17 13:00 - 14:30, 2023-01-24 13:00 - 14:30, 2023-01-31 13:00 - 14:30, 2023-02-07 13:00 - 14:30, 2023-02-14 13:00 - 14:30
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.
Dates: Every Tuesday Afternoon – 1pm-2:15pm Pacific / 2-3:15pm Mountain
​Hosts: Rev. Mary Nichol and Chris Mah Poy, First Third Ministry Staff
Guest Speakers will join when able!
A one time first registration is required: REGISTER HERE!

From Decision-Making to Discernment
2023-01-18 09:30 - 11:00
A Year-Long Program for Church Boards and Ministry Personnel
With Susan Beaumont
Most congregations rely on rational decision making to guide their leadership choices. Liminal seasons invite us to shift out of rational decision-making mode and into a more discerning mindset. Discernment is an attentiveness to God that, over time, develops into a shared sense of God’s intention for us and our community now. This year long program will equip you and your board for deepened group discernment practices.
PARTICIPANTS IN THIS PROGRAM WILL:

Enter a three-way conversation engaging God, the soul of the leader, and the soul of the institution.
Challenge the default position of most congregations to resort immediately to group decision making.
Deepen their skills as group discernment facilitators.
Learn how to structure a group discernment process and where to locate discernment activity in the life of a congregation.
Develop a toolbox of practices for opening to God and listening to one another.

Click here for full details and to register.

Just Conversations
2023-01-19 10:30 - 11:30
Justice work in the church can often feel lonely and discouraging, working for change that doesn’t come easily, if it comes at all. Just Conversations is a monthly online gathering for anyone in PMRC wanting to connect with others involved with justice work around the region. It will be a chance to deepen your justice work in your faith, share stories about what is happening around the region and develop strategies for working together to support each other in “being the change.”
Just Conversations will take place on the third Thursday of every month, from 10am Pacific / 11am Mountain.

January 19, 2023 – First Meeting of the year!
Just Conversations is free and drop-in style
Open to ministry personnel and congregation members · Registration is required for the Zoom access. Register here.
Facilitated by the PMRC’s Ministry for Justice (contact Jane Dawson (jdawson@united-church.ca) for more information).

Lent & Holy Week Resource Roundtable
2023-01-20 09:30 - 10:30, 2023-01-25 17:00 - 18:00
Join colleagues to discuss ideas and strategies for making Lent and Holy Week meaningful for your congregation.
2 Online Sessions

Registration is Free!
Friday, January 20th, 2023 9:30am to 10:30am PT/10:30am to 11:30 MTN and
Wednesday, January 25th, 2023 at 5:00pm to 6:00pm PT/6:00pm to 7:00pm MTN
You are welcome – and invited – to attend to one or both sessions 🙂
Both sessions are Online by Zoom

Registration Open

Please register in advance for this meeting(s)
Both sessions are online only via zoom

After registering, you will receive an email containing information about joining the meeting.
Click HERE to REGISTER
We’re excited to be in this welcoming space sharing ideas and strategies for making Lent and Holy Week meaningful for your congregation!
Blessings,
Mary Nichol

Faithful Climate Conversations
2023-01-25 15:30 - 17:00, 2023-02-08 15:30 - 17:00
“Faithful Climate Conversations” is a free, online series offered by the PMRC Justice Network, and drawing from the multi-denominational, Canada-wide “For the Love of Creation” discussion resources. It will run in two series during early 2023. This series, in three parts, is offered January 25, February 1, and February 8, all from 3:30-5pm Pacific.

Register for the January-February series here

CONNECTION AND LEARNING
This series will be facilitated by Susan Draper and Janet Gray. Come for a chance to connect with others in our region and learn ways to create safe and respectful climate change conversations in your own community of faith.
If you’re interested in hosting such conversations for your church, this series will also be a great way to get to know the ‘For the Love of Creation’ resources! Included below is the Discussion Guide for each topic, offering a preview of the kind of conversation you and others may engage with together.
You are warmly welcome, we hope you’ll join us.
Registration is here: Faithful Climate Conversations Registration Form

All sessions are online only, via Zoom.
Free! Registration is required to receive the Zoom links.
The times listed are Pacific Time; please adjust if you’re participating from another time zone.
If interested, a second series, in four parts, will be offered March 9, 16, 23, 30, from 7-8:30pm Pacific, details here.

Godly Play Experience in Ministry
2023-01-26 08:30 - 15:30
This experience is designed for leaders in congregational ministry who would like to know more about Godly Play and how it can inform and support your ministry with people of all ages and in a variety of contexts.
​The day will cover all the content similar to an in-person introduction of Godly Play:
experience a full godly play session with debrief, what is Godly Play, children’s spirituality and how we support it, the Godly Play environment and getting started.
We use an action/reflection model with some leader presentations and a lot of of interaction. ​Content is live and pre-recorded.
Contact: Anne Clark – arbc52@gmail.com or Mary Nichol
Registration at this link.

​January 26, 2023
​8:30 am to 3:30 pm PT / 9:30am to 4:30pm MT
Cost: $50.00
Online

Navigating the Landscapes of Living Faith I
2023-01-31 11:30 - 13:00
a collegial conversation for Theological Banquet practitioners
with Janet Gear, and host Janice Young

Tuesdays: January 31, Feb 7, 14, 21, 2023
Online: 10:30AM – 12PM PACIFIC / 11:30AM – 1PM MOUNTAIN

Have you been leading through the lens of the Theological Banquet framework created by Rev Janet Gear? Then you know that there is an initial feast at the table of abundance as we name and celebrate theological diversity. And this is good. You also recognize the agitation of the Spirit at work in communities committed to the vitality that theological diversity brings. Where are the edges of inclusion that go beyond our denominational identity? How do we work into inclusion in a way that addresses the difficult exploration of theological clashes? What are you noticing? What do these realities and dynamics mean for your pastoral and strategic leadership? What have others learned from their experiences?
In this collegial gathering, we will prompt our conversation with topics from your own ministry context and from challenges and opportunities presented by the current moment. Janet will reflect with you on the theological landscape beneath your pastoral leadership.
This is a seminar style opportunity in which we will work with what you bring, as leaders familiar with the Theological Banquet. Participation is limited and prior experience with the Theological Banquet is required. Please register by January 15, 2023 to claim your seat at the table!
Details & registration here, space limited to 10.

Holy Ground - Retreat
2023-02-06 - 2023-02-08 | Loon Lake Retreat Centre, 14500 Silver Valley Rd, Maple Ridge, BC, Canada
Holy Ground: Seeding the Soil of Wild Church
WITH VICTORIA LOORZ FEBRUARY 6-8, 2023 ~ AT LOON LAKE RETREAT CENTRE
Join us as Victoria Loorz, early Wild Church planter, co-founder of the Wild Church Network and of Seminary of the Wild, offers us wisdom and insights into re-connecting with holiness in the sanctuary of the natural world. This 3-day retreat will offer an opportunity to experience Wild Church, share ideas and resources, and help equip and empower you to begin or deepen your own Wild Church gathering. The gathering is for those of you already offering leadership in land-based church experiences, and for those who want help getting started. LeaderShift is partnering with the Wild Church plants in Kamloops, Sorrento and the Okanagan to offer an interactive, experiential opportunity to learn more about this this growing movement of Wild Church.
Details and registration here.

Navigating the Landscapes of Living Faith II
2023-02-07 10:30 - 12:00

The Gathering Place
2023-02-08 13:00 - 14:30
The Gathering Place a time of online, Mini-Retreats for United Church Ministry Personnel (active or retired).
Happening once a 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.

1-2:30pm Pacific / 2-3:30pm Mountain
Register here.

Young Adult Supper Social
2023-02-12 18:00 - 20:00, 2023-03-12 18:00 - 20:00
This is time for young adults and a leader or two to gather, eat a great meal and share conversation about what is important to you. This is time for building friendships and connections with other United Church (or curious about the United Church) Young Adults, 18 years+.

The Young Adult Supper Socials are free for participants. They are located in New Westminster (right above a Skytrain station!) and the exact location will be shared with participants after registration.
Leader: Pamela Evans (and others)

Please register at https://firstthirdministry.campbrainregistration.com
Build your account ONCE at First Third’s new registration portal and then you can register for any of the events you are interested in!

Navigating the Landscapes of Living Faith III
2023-02-14 10:30 - 12:00

Just Conversations
2023-02-16 10:00 - 11:30
CANCELLED – See you next month!
Justice work in the church can often feel lonely and discouraging, working for change that doesn’t come easily, if it comes at all. Just Conversations is a monthly online gathering for anyone in PMRC wanting to connect with others involved with justice work around the region. It will be a chance to deepen your justice work in your faith, share stories about what is happening around the region and develop strategies for working together to support each other in “being the change.”
Just Conversations will take place on the third Thursday of every month, from 10am Pacific / 11am Mountain.

February 16, 2023
Just Conversations is free and drop-in style
Open to ministry personnel and congregation members · Registration is required for the Zoom access. Register here.
Facilitated by the PMRC’s Ministry for Justice (contact Jane Dawson (jdawson@united-church.ca) for more information).

Youth Council Meeting
2023-02-17 - 2023-02-19
In Oktoks, Alberta, at Oktoks United Church.

Office Closed for Family Day
2023-02-20

Navigating the Landscapes of Living Faith IV
2023-02-21 10:30 - 12:00
Cancelled for today.

Pacific Mountain Town Hall Gathering
2023-02-22 13:00 - 14:00
This week’s town hall has been cancelled.

World Day of Prayer
2023-03-04 08:00 - 17:00
Observed on the first Friday in March, World Day of Prayer is a global, ecumenical movement of Christian women joined together to observe a common day of prayer.
Worship resources and related material can be found here.

Pacific Mountain Town Hall Gathering
2023-03-08 13:00 - 14:00 | Online
The first Town Hall of Lent, with Acting Executive Minister Victoria Andrews, joined by Chinook Winds Indigenous Minister Rev. Tony Snow. Rev. Tony Snow is a member of the Stoney Nakoda First Nation. He grew up on Treaty No. 7 land at Morley, Alberta, where his father Dr. Rev. Chief John Snow Sr. attended the Morley Indian Residential School. As a Traditional Knowledge Keeper, minister and consultant, Tony has worked for decades in public engagement and government relations, bringing awareness and healing to communities of faith and Indigenous peoples, as a continuation of his father’s and grandfather’s work. Tony will be talking about the 40 Days of Reconciliation.
As always, worship, regional updates and opportunities for connection will be part of today’s Town Hall as well. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Topic: PMRC Townhall – Wed, March 8
Time: March 8, 2023 01:00 PM Pacific Time / 2:00 PM Mountain Time
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://united-church.zoom.us/j/84056169371?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 840 5616 9371
Password: [REDACTED]

Faithful Climate Conversations
2023-03-09 19:00 - 20:30
“Faithful Climate Conversations” is a free, online series offered by the PMRC Justice Network, and drawing from the multi-denominational, Canada-wide “For the Love of Creation” discussion resources. It will run in two series during early 2023. This series, in four parts, is offered March 9, 16, 23, & 30 all from 7-8:30pm.

Register for the March series here

CONNECTION AND LEARNING
This series of topic sessions will be facilitated by Debbie Hubbard and Peter Jones. Come for a chance to connect with others in our region and learn ways to create safe and respectful climate change conversations in your own community of faith.
If you’re interested in hosting such conversations for your church, this series will also be a great way to get to know the ‘For the Love of Creation’ resources! Included below is the Discussion Guide for each topic, offering a preview of the kind of conversation you and others may engage with together.
You are warmly welcome, we hope you’ll join us.
Registration is here: Faithful Climate Conversations Registration Form

All sessions are online only, via Zoom.
Free! Registration is required to receive the Zoom links.
The times listed are Pacific Time; please adjust if you’re participating from another time zone.

National Affirming / PIE Day
2023-03-14
PIE = Public. Intentional. Explicit. These are the standards we hold ourselves and our welcome to when we become affirming, welcoming, or inclusive communities. March 14 is a chance to serve some pie and roll out the PIE by celebrating the full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ and Two Spirit people in faith communities and beyond across Canada.
Worship resources and related material can be found here.
