Pacific Mountain Region

Town Hall with Rev. Dr. Carmen Landsdowne, Nominee for UCC Moderator 44
2022-02-02 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Vancouver)
Come meet and chat with Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne in today’s Town Hall!
Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne has been nominated by Pacific Mountain Regional Council to General Council 44, to stand for the role of Moderator of The United Church of Canada. We are thrilled to spend time with Carmen at this town hall, and encourage all who can to join us!
Come celebrate this nomination, and Carmen’s exceptional leadership and vision – and enjoy time in Pacific Mountain community.
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Moderator Nominee Profile: Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne
Carmen Lansdowne is a member of the Heiltsuk First Nation, and a life-long member of The United Church of Canada (UCC). Baptized into the UCC in 1975, she waited until adulthood to make a profession of faith which came from a deep sense of personal spirituality and a calling to participate fully in the life and work of the church.
She attended the Vancouver School of Theology (VST) in the MDiv program from 2003-2007, and after successful completion of her internship Marengo Pastoral Charge (Alsask & Loverna, SK), she was ordained to further study in 2007. She completed coursework for a ThM degree at VST in 2008, then moved to Berkeley, CA where she commenced coursework for a PhD at the Graduate Theological Union. She completed the ThM in 2011 and the PhD in 2016.
In addition to her theological contributions as a writer and speaker, Carmen has served the church in a variety of roles. From 2006-2013 she served on the Executive and Central Committees of the World Council of Churches, as well as was an ex-officio corresponding member of the Executive, General Council. She continues to attend global theological and church gatherings by invitation. She has served on the Pension Board of The United Church of Canada, the Theology, Interchurch-Interfaith Committee, executive search committees for the General Council Office and the World Council of Churches, and various subcommittees of both the WCC and UCC. She served as one of six facilitators offering feedback from commissioners at General Council 43. She currently chairs the Indigenous Candidacy Board of the United Church and sits on the Keepers of the Vision of the Sandy Saulteaux Spiritual Centre. She also recently joined the Board of Directors of the Vancouver Foundation – Canada’s largest community foundation.
Carmen joined First United Church Community Ministry Society as Executive Director in February 2017. Under her leadership, she has effected an organizational turnaround resulting in increased capacity and stability. She has also shepherded to construction-phase a $65M redevelopment of First United’s property in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. The new purpose-built facility will triple First United’s programming and ministry space and add 103 nonmarket rental units of Indigenous housing (to be operated by Lu’ma Native Housing Society). Under Carmen’s leadership, First United has developed strong labour relations with its unionized staff, built a highly skilled and committed leadership team, increased revenues, and become a certified living wage employer. She worships at Lynn Valley United Church as she is able.
She continues to maintain academic interests through guest lectures and various writing projects and as a Christ Institute Fellow with the Westar Institute. Carmen guest preaches at different communities of faith several times a year, and remains committed to Indigenous way Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne The United Church of Canada 2 L’Église Unie du Canada of being, parenting and partnering. She lives in North Vancouver with her partner, two children, and their dog Cocoa.

Mental Health First Aid - For Young Adults in Leadership with Youth and Peers
2022-02-05 14:00 - 18:00 | Online
Day 1/2
With First Third Ministry and Leadershift
The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has deepened what was already a significant issue: declining mental well-being across the population. It is critical for those of us who work and volunteer with people to raise our level of awareness and capacity to be respond to those experiencing critical mental health challenges. You will be certified in the Mental Health First Aid course of the Mental Health Commission of Canada, with the bonus of taking the program with other people of faith and having space to connect this learning to our experience in Christian community. All are welcome to register.
The course leader Dr Julie Clayton is a certified MHFA teacher, a highly skilled counsellor, and holds a Master of Divinity and years of experience as a congregational pastor.
Participants will learn how to:

recognize signs that a young person may be experiencing a decline in their mental well-being or a mental health or substance use crisis
initiate conversations that encourage a young person to talk about a mental health or substance use problem
discuss professional and other supports that could help with recovery to improved mental well-being
assist in a mental health or substance use crisis situation
check in with one’s own mental well-being and take action as needed

Dates: Saturday February 5 and Saturday February 12, 2022. 2-6pm Pacific/3-7pm Mountain
Register at this link.

The Gathering Place – A Time for Ministry Personnel
2022-02-08 10:00 - 11:30 | Online
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.

Leaders Online Gathering - Epiphany 2022
2022-02-08 10:00 - 11:45 | Online
​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.
February 8 / February 15 / February 22 / March 1

What's Next? Conversations
2022-02-09 10:30 - 11:45, 2022-02-16 10:30 - 11:45 | Online
Offered by Leadershift
Every Wednesday morning Randy Boyd (Rural Connect) and Mike Latta (VP of Cross Tracks Audio/Visual) host a drop-in conversation around the topic of digital ministry.
These conversations began in spring 2021 as an opportunity to talk about challenges and learnings in a ‘hybrid model’ time, and have evolved to become a community of church leaders eager to share and troubleshoot with one another.
If you are interested in attending, please email Randy (rboyd@tbaytel.net) and you’ll receive a reminder, along with the link, each week.
The format for these Conversations is primarily the questions you bring each week. If you have any question about technology and ministry, from the purely technical to the more theoretical, please come and ask your questions. All are very welcome!

Wednesdays, Beginning January 12, 2022
10:30-11:45am Pacific / 11:30am – 12:45pm Mountain

Godly Play (Children’s Church Curriculum) Core Training
2022-02-12 08:30 - 12:30
First Third Ministry Offering
There are lots of things that you can learn from a lecture but Godly Play is learned from the inside out. You will experience Godly Play as both leader and learner.
You will have the opportunity to analyze and tell stories from the
various genres with peers in a collegial, non-judgmental setting.
You will experience both the storyteller and doorperson roles; learn how to establish a Godly Play environment and strengthen your classroom management skills.
You will deepen your understanding of the spirituality of children.
All learning will take place in a prayerful and playful atmosphere
with creative and experienced Godly Play trainers. Participants who successfully complete this training will receive a Certificate of Accreditation from Godly Play Canada.
Held online via Zoom, over four days: January 29, February 12, March 12 & April 9th.
Details and registration available here. Registration closes January 18th.

Mental Health First Aid: For Young Adults in Leadership with Youth and Peers
2022-02-12 14:00 - 18:00 | Online
Day 2/2
With First Third Ministry and Leadershift
The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has deepened what was already a significant issue: declining mental well-being across the population. It is critical for those of us who work and volunteer with people to raise our level of awareness and capacity to be respond to those experiencing critical mental health challenges. You will be certified in the Mental Health First Aid course of the Mental Health Commission of Canada, with the bonus of taking the program with other people of faith and having space to connect this learning to our experience in Christian community. All are welcome to register.
The course leader Dr Julie Clayton is a certified MHFA teacher, a highly skilled counsellor, and holds a Master of Divinity and years of experience as a congregational pastor.
Participants will learn how to:

recognize signs that a young person may be experiencing a decline in their mental well-being or a mental health or substance use crisis
initiate conversations that encourage a young person to talk about a mental health or substance use problem
discuss professional and other supports that could help with recovery to improved mental well-being
assist in a mental health or substance use crisis situation
check in with one’s own mental well-being and take action as needed

Dates: Saturday February 5 and Saturday February 12, 2022. 2-6pm Pacific/3-7pm Mountain
Register at this link.

Leaders Online Gathering - Epiphany 2022
2022-02-15 10:00 - 11:45 | Online
​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.
February 15 / February 22 / March 1

Town Hall with Vicki Nelson: We Ride at Dawn
2022-02-16 13:00 - 14:30 | Online
Today, join Treena Duncan, Blair Odney and our Stewardship Animator, Vicki Nelson!

We Ride At Dawn: How to Journey with your congregation to grow generosity, deepen gratitude and build community.
It is 2022 and there are apps, tips, tools and tricks for nearly everything. Stewardship, however, is about building relationships. About practicing our faith as a community (even when we aren’t physically together). It is about how we see ourselves, and how we experience and share the life-shaping value of our communities of faith.
Is our congregation made up of consumers or disciples? Do we share ourselves with our community of faith with a grateful heart or a grudge? Do we feel good about inviting people to be generous or uncomfortable talking about money? Perhaps we are all these things at different times…
Stewardship is a journey. Spend some time with friends all along the path. Vicki Nelson, the Stewardship Animator for Western Canada, will help get our compasses all pointed in the same direction as we gain skills and confidence in talking about faithful generosity. Plus, she may even share some tips and tricks…it is 2022 after all.
PMRC Town Hall Meeting

Feb 16, 2022
1pm Pacific / 2pm Mountain

Join Zoom Meeting
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Book Study - Adventures in Faith and Family
2022-02-17 09:30 - 10:30, 2022-02-24 09:30 - 10:30 | Online
Adventures in Faith and Family – Book Study
First Third is excited to offer a book study for leaders of Rev. Susan Lukey’s new book, Adventures in Faith and Family. This book offers practical, faithful and spirit-filled wisdom for families. We will explore topics of raising children in our faith, family spiritual practices, grief and faith for the future. This book study series will be online. The author will join the end of each session with a Q& A and will join the last session.

Dates: Thursdays – February 17, February 24, March 3, March 10, March 17, March 24.
Time: 9:30am-10:30am PST / 10:30am-11:30am MTN
Age: 18+
Online, via Zoom. We’ll email the link a few days before the event starts. Be sure to check your email!
This is a free event.

Details & registration here

Just Conversations
2022-02-17 10:00 - 11:00 | Online
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, beginning on January 20th, 2022, from 10am Pacific / 11am Mountain.

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).

Young Adult Supper Social - Old Spaghetti Factory
2022-02-20 19:00 - 20:30
What is on your heart and mind? How is your spirit? What was the last thing you watched on a screen that left you thinking about things in a different way? What do you yearn for? 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. a Gathering of Young Adults, 18 years+, in the Lower Mainland
It is a free event. We buy dinner, you buy your drink.

The Young Adults Supper Social is time for young adults and a leader or two to gather IN PERSON, eat a great meal and share conversation about what is important.

DATE: Sunday, February 20th – 7PM to 8:30PM
AGES: +18 years
LOCATION: The Old Spaghetti Factory – New Westminster. 50 – 8th Street. New Westminster, V3M 3N8
LEADERSHIP: Pamela Evans
COST: It is a free event

The event needs PROOF OF VACCINATION. Register at this link.

Office Closed for Family Day
2022-02-21

Leaders Online Gathering - Epiphany 2022
2022-02-22 10:00 - 11:45 | Online
​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.
February 22 / March 1

From Decision-Making to Discernment
2022-02-23 09:30 - 10:30 | Online
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.

Indigenous Pink Shirt Day 2022 - Traditional Teachings of Community Wellbeing
2022-02-23 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
On Feb 23 we observe Indigenous Pink Shirt Day. This is an opportunity to talk about community wellness, lateral violence and healing as we examine the impacts of bullying and violence within and against our communities.
Co-Sponsored by the Urban Indigenous Circle, Chinook Winds Region and Pacific Mountain Region.

Feb 23, 2022
6pm Pacific / 7pm Mountain
Held online via Zoom

Register at this link, and Zoom sign-in details will come after registration.

Finding Our Way to Easter
2022-03-01 09:00 - 10:30, 2022-03-08 09:00 - 09:30 | Online
With Leadershift
A gift of contemplative worship for congregational leaders of all kinds.

Beloved:
You have been pouring out
in the faithful work of encouraging, guiding, supporting the community of faith.
You’ve been learning, inventing, advocating,
listening, talking, talking,
talking to make a path in and through the pandemic, the fires, the floods, the aloneness, the togetherness, the cold, the heat…the everything.
And now it is the cusp of Lent,
again, and yet
again a new set of circumstances.

come as you are, exactly as you are,
to Song and to Prayer
designed to nourish us
as we find our way to
the great Mystery of Easter.

9am Pacific / 10am Mountain
Each Tuesday morning of Lent
March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, April 5, 12 2022

Details & registration at this link

Leaders Online Gathering - Epiphany 2022
2022-03-01 10:00 - 11:45 | Online
​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.
March 1

Leaders Online Gatherings
2022-03-01 10:00 - 11:45, 2022-03-08 10:00 - 11:45
United Church leaders and ministers wanting support and collegial connections, regarding children & family ministries are welcome to this weekly, online gathering! Details are here. Register at this link!
​Gatherings in the Season of Lent, 2022Tuesdays, 10-11:45am PT / 11am – 12:45pm MT
March 1 – guest: Jane Dawson, PMR Regional Minister for Justice
March 8
March 15
March 22
April 5
No Gatherings on March 29, April 12, April 19.Starting April 26, our gathering time moves to the afternoon: 1:30-2:45pm Pacific / 2:30-3:45pm Mountain

No Town Hall Today
2022-03-02 13:00 - 14:00
There will be no Town Hall today.
The next Town Hall will be held Wednesday, March 16th, 2022. In the meantime, all old Town Halls can be found here.

Ash Wednesday Service
2022-03-02 19:00 - 20:30
O God—you have formed us out of the dust of the earth.
May these ashes be to us a sign of our mortality and penitence, and a reminder of your grace.
This evening we mark the beginning of the Lenten season by telling the story of God, entering into our mortality, and stepping into communal repentance.

Thursday, March 3rd
Located at St. Andrew’s-Wesley Church, 1022 Nelson St, Vancouver, BC
7 pm to 8:30 pm Pacific Time

Book Study – Adventures in Faith and Family
2022-03-03 09:30 - 10:30 | Online
First Third is excited to offer a book study for leaders of Rev. Susan Lukey’s new book, Adventures in Faith and Family. This book offers practical, faithful and spirit-filled wisdom for families. We will explore topics of raising children in our faith, family spiritual practices, grief and faith for the future. This book study series will be online. The author will join the end of each session with a Q& A and will join the last session.

Dates: Thursdays – March 3, March 10, March 17, March 24.
Time: 9:30am-10:30am PST / 10:30am-11:30am MTN
Age: 18+
Online, via Zoom. We’ll email the link a few days before the event starts. Be sure to check your email!
This is a free event.

Gatherings for Retired Ministry Personnel - postponed
2022-03-03 13:30 - 15:00 | Online
“The gathering of Retired Ministry Personnel scheduled for March 3 has been postponed due to the recent passing of Rev. Don Robertson’s wife, Sandy. A new date will be announced in the future. Please join us in holding the Robertson family in prayer through this time.”
Gathering of Retired Ministry Personnel

postponed

Mental Health First Aid - For Ministers, Staff, Church Volunteers in Contact with the Public
2022-03-08 09:00 - 13:00 | Online
First day of Offering 1.
This course will be a great option for you if you are in direct contact with the public in your volunteer or paid work in the community of faith – you maybe an administrator, a custodian, choir leader, greeter, member of the pastoral care support team. Also an excellent course for you if there are friends or family members in your circle who you would like to know how to assist more effectively.
Your participation is completed in three parts. Part One: A self-directed module that you complete online in your own time. Part Two: Online group session one. Part Three: Online group session two.
Dates (note: two offerings):

Offering 1: March 8 and March 9, 2022. 9am-1pm Pacific/ 10am-2pm Mountain. With Dr Julie Clayton, hosted by Allison Rennie from LeaderShift

Offering 2: March 12, 2022, 9am-1pm Pacific/ 10am-2pm Mountain, and March 13, 2022, 1-5pm Pacific/2-6pm Mountain. With Dr Julie Clayton, hosted by Allison Rennie from LeaderShift

Pricing: $150
Details and Registration Link here.

The Gathering Place for Ministry Personnel
2022-03-08 10:00 - 11:30
Tuesday March 8, 2022
10-11:30am Pacific / 11am-12:30pm Mountain
Online, via Zoom

Registration is required each month to receive the Zoom link.
It is not a recurring link.
Register here.

Online, Mini-Retreats With Colleagues
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.
The Gathering Place is Free and Drop-In Style. It’s hosted by the PMRC’s Ministry Personal Support Team, contact Karen Millard or Marc Coulombe for more information.

Indigenous Lenten Series - Wisdom of the Elders: Teachings from the Indian Ecumenical Conference
2022-03-08 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
Sponsored by the Urban Indigenous Circle, Chinook Winds Region and Pacific Mountain Region
This year we examine Lent through the lens of our Indigenous Elders. 50 years ago the Elders of the Indian Ecumenical Conference gathered from across Turtle Island, including many from the US, Central America and beyond. During this time, Traditional Spiritual Leaders, Wisdom Keepers, Elders, Indigenous Clergy and our ecumenical partners in the United Church of Canada, Anglican Church of Canada, Catholic Church and others attended to understand and demystify traditional Indigenous spiritual practices. The sharing of these Elders and Knowledge Keepers helped shape Indigenous advocacy, outreach and visions for reconciliation. We delve into their teachings to understand their vision for our current time.
Everyone is welcome.
Facilitators

John Snow, Indigenous Minister, Pacific Mountain Region, The United Church of Canada
Tony Snow, Indigenous Minister, Chinook Winds Region, The United Church of Canada

Tuesdays: March 8, 15, 22, 29, April 5, 12.
Taking place at 6 pm Pacific / 7 pm Mountain
Register at this link, Zoom details to follow.
