Hello friends,
Somehow it is July. Time flies when you’re having fun, I suppose. As you may remember from my update in March, at the in person executive meeting last fall, I proposed a plan for me to travel the region in my year as president-elect. I am writing to give you the second update on my visits. Visits that will continue but less intensely into my two years as President. Please know the inbox is always open President-PacificMountain@united-church.ca
When I wrote the last update I was sitting in Naramata centre, halfway through travel in the Kootenays. From Naramata I travelled to Grandforks to visit with Grandforks UC. I had a lovely lunch with the church and met their Mayor. Then I travelled to Trail, I saw the building of Roseland UC which is being renovated, then spent time at Trail UC touring their incredible food bank ministry and talking with their board. This was followed by a tour of the Fruitvale thrift store and food bank which is a legacy of Fruitvale UC. The next day, I had tea at Nelson UC’s annual UCW St. Patrick’s Day tea party. On Sunday March 15th, I preached for Affirming Sunday at Castlegar UC then attended their AGM. That evening, we drove to New Denver to attend an event called Widespot, hosted by New Denver UC in the community hub they helped fund.
Returning closer to home, on March 22nd I visited and had lunch with Deer Lake UC in Burnaby. The following Sunday, March 29th I was with Pacific Spirit UC for Palm Sunday where I shared a reflection on my travel and hope. On April 12th, or Holy Humours Sunday, I preached at Canadian Memorial UC based on the opening line of the creed, “We are not Alone”.
On April 16th, I travelled to Prince George to begin about two weeks of travel through the North. It began with attending the Festival of Faith North, a LeaderShift event that brought together around 70 church leaders. I could do a whole reflection on that event and the incredible leadership that brought it together. The event ended with time with the congregation of Trinity UC Prince George. Then I travelled to Smithers, where I had tea with congregation members, then toured the building that Smithers UC is selling while worshiping in the Anglican church. Then I travelled to Hazelton where I spent a few days. I met with the community of Gitanmaax and the congregation of Mountainview UC, a church with incredible history and medical ministry. I was also able to travel to Anspayaxw to Kispiox, the home of Pierce Memorial UC and visit with Doreen Angus. Later, we travelled to Gitsegukla for lunch and a tour with Chief Ray Jones and other congregation members. Ray shared about the process that led to the Gyets Gitxsan Residential School Xwts’an (Totem pole), which I was honoured witness in person the next day. Then I continued on to Kitimat, after being toured around the Nass Valley through Kitsumkalum Tsimshian Territory. I spent the following morning at Haisla UC in conversation with incredible matriarchs. Then spent the afternoon in conversation over wonderful potluck food with First United Kitimat. The next day, Saturday, I was driven to First United Prince George to share in more great food and conversation. On Sunday, I joined worship at Knox UC in Terrace for “Camping Sunday” where I dutifully played a wolf in the kids retelling of the Good Shepherd Story.
I was home briefly, before heading to Vancouver Island on Thursday April 30th. I spent that first afternoon in conversation and Q&A from folks who gathered from Grace UC Coombs, St. Stephen’s UC Qualicum Beach and Knox UC Parksville. I spent Friday at Alberni Valley UC for their Reconciliation Group then meeting their council members. On Saturday, I was in conversation with folks who gathered from Weird Church, St. George’s UC Courtenay, Campbell River UC, and Comox UC. Finally, on Sunday I preached twice (as a lay person I have preached much more than I anticipated the past few months). First, I took the ferry and shared a reflection at Denman Island UC about the ways we express our care for our communities. Later, I shared at Weird Church as a part of their series on “unpacking church”.
Closer to home again, on May 10th, I spent Sunday with the Longhouse Council of Native Ministry where the Indigenous Ministries AGM will be hosted this fall. Fun fact, the Longhouse is actually the first church I ever visited when I moved to BC, because the summer before I started at UBC I did an internship for the national office working in part on the Guaranteed Living Income Campaign. So was connected to then minister, Barry Morris through the campaign. The following day, I visited the Pacific Mountain Region Archives which was such an incredible experience. I would recommend it to anyone. At the time, I had just finished the history of United Church Hospitals. So, we talked some about the history of missions, the coloniality of the church, the ways we are part of a story that has not ceased, and about 3-hour’s worth of more conversation. I left with a copy of the BC Conference history book which I am currently reading. The following Sunday, I visited Knox UC Vancouver, did the reading during the service then had lunch with the congregation. Then on Pentecost ,the next Sunday, I worshiped with St. Andrew’s Wesley UC and was interviewed about my travel thus far and reason for doing this work.
Then it was the AGM, which was incredible and hosted by the lovely Kamloops UC. Read a bit more about it here.
After the AGM, on Saturday June 27th I began my travel again this time returning to Vancouver Island, where I visited with members of 14 different congregations in three days. Saturday began with a warm invitation to the Intercultural barbeque at Broadview UC in Victoria. It was by far the most diversity in languages and cuisines I had ever experienced in a church setting. On Sunday, I joined worship at Central Saanich UC, where I preached on Jeremiah as a cautionary tale for prophecy without action. Followed by lunch and wonderful conversation and questions from members and friends who joined from St. Paul’s UC Sidney. A few hours later we were back to Broadview United for another conversation/Q&A. We were joined by Broadview UC, Duncan UC, Fairfield UC, Oak Bay UC, Esquimalt UC and James Bay UC members. On Monday, we were hosted at First United LadySmith for another wonderful conversation. Folks gathered from First United Ladysmith, Duncan UC, Cedar UC Nanaimo, Trinity UC Nanaimo, Sylvan UC Shawnigan, and Chemainus UC.
Finally, the last travel I did (and will do until September) was attending the Whitehorse Worship and Arts Festival, an ecumenical partnership between the local United, Evangelical Lutheran and Anglican Churches, hosted mostly at the incredible Whitehorse UC. Alongside the event, I got the tour the MacBride Museum and learn about the Indigenous stewardship and the impacts of the gold rush and European Settlement. On our last day in Whitehorse, we got a tour of “Camp Braeburn” which is also an ecumenical partnership.
If I had named every person that made this travel possible, the details of the events, conversations, or my learnings this would be even longer. My hope is not to document all of this to write it back on paper, but to ensure that the executive and I are reflecting back what is happening across the region. The people who have made this possible and the learnings I have done will shape my facilitation and support of the executive and the region.
Thank you. Thank you for letting me be a witness, I take that responsibility seriously.
I hope to see you soon.
Thea Sheridan-Jonah
Executive Council President
Pacific Mountain Region