What VU offers
We are a dynamic and active church that is about community, spirituality and social action. We believe everyone should find his or her own way to a spiritual life – whatever that may mean to you. So ask questions, challenge conventional beliefs, live the life that fills you up, and find your true passion. There is no right or wrong way, just each of us following our paths, supported by each other.
We are building our community on three actions
Get together • Get connected • Get active
Get together
It’s not just about church services; its about celebrating life and finding a family of friends who will support you. We offer a creative community with programs and projects from Teen glee to book clubs, nature hikes to 'Dream Team' and nursery for young children. We are growing and creating.
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Children and teens programming:
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Get connected
Spirituality is about connecting more deeply to the energy of life, in you, around you and beyond you. Through weekly Spirit Gatherings, armchair ministry, small group discussions on spirituality and faith, we offer ways to discover your own spiritual energy.
- Take time to ask yourself important life questions
- Discover your personal faith and spirituality in small groups
- Connect in weekly multi-generational spirit gatherings
- Explore ancient and modern wisdom
- Engage with keynote speakers as we discuss the world around us
- The Great Emergence – help redefine and recreate our evolving United Church
Get active
Giving back creates abundance that is just and fair to all. Visions United has a strong value and belief in paying it forward – whether you give of your money, your talents or your time, it all counts. We can help you find opportunities for generosity.
- Spread hope for a hurting world
- Support and fundraising for local grassroots services
- Fundraising and relief program around the world
- Green Team for the Environment to heal our planet
- Mission and Service – United Church programs worldwide
Programs
These are some of the programs we are having fun growing
- Nursery: Nursery care is provided during Spirit Gatherings in a colourful, safe and interactive environment. The wee ones are cared for by our Teen Leaders and is overseen by an adult co-ordinator. Parents are welcome and nursing chairs and pillows are available.
- Spirit Space: our creative Sunday morning program for children grades K-3 & 4-6. Children join in the first part of the Spirit Gathering with the whole community then head off to Dream Team for interactive programs that connect practical Spirituality with Faith exploration. We have a team of leaders who are open, creative and caring to support our children's evolution.
- Choir: This is a great group of people who gather on Thursday evenings 3 times/month with our Musical Director, Daphna. They sing a mix of new and less new music, laughing as much as singing! They offer regular musical leadership and inspiration in the Spirit Gatherings.
- Bell Choir: The Wesley Ringers are under the direction of our music director however we are looking for more interested persons to play the BELLS! Contact us if this interests you.
- UCW: The United Church Women is a strong group of dynamic women who get together to share faith & life. They meet one a month and often lead special projects in our community and world.
- Study Groups: We create study groups as interest in topics arises and pick times to match people's schedules. These small enrichment groups move between people's homes and vary in topic from Emerging Christianity to Bible Study, World Religions to Climate Change and Laughter Yoga. We enjoy exploring and stretching ourselves!
- Book Club: Another great group that meets once a month in different homes to explore books and share responses to interesting reads.
- Dancing: When possible we enjoy having group Dance session open to the community.
- Djembe Circle: This African Drum is very moving to play and hear. This group meets once a month to work on music and drumming patterns. The Djembes gather to jam before Spirit Gatherings on Sunday mornings.
- Conversation Cafe: The fair-trade coffee, tea and treats are out every Sunday morning from 9-10am in this cafe before our Spirit Gatherings. People are usually talking and munching up a storm and having a great time being together. We offer guten-free, milk-free, sugar-free, nut-free treats because we believe that everyone should be cared for.
Spirit Gatherings
We get together for a special whole community event once a week in our Spirit Gatherings. Traditionally this is called Worship Service, but for us, Spirit Gathering says it better because we work at including many generations, styles, languages – and we enjoy a lot of creativity!
9:00 a.m. | Conversation Café
- You will be welcomed at the door by a friendly face and invited to have a cup of coffee, punch or cider
- Take in the generosity table
- Young children can play in our tents, cozy up on the reading rug with a book, play in the puppet theatre, play dress-up
- There is a nursery for wee ones – right where you can see it, with rocking chairs and nursing pillows for parents.
10:00 a.m. | Spirit Gathering Begins
- We share opportunities for helping our world, we sing, pray, enjoy great music – harp, piano, guitar, penny whistles, flutes, banjos, djembes, bells, boom wackers, and more
- We draw wisdom from Biblical texts and modern sources.
- The children help us pray before they head out to Dream Team, our children’s program where they learn about and practice spiritual connection. Children and the adults follow the same themes each month so that families can learn and grow together.
- We have a weekly reflection in our Spirit Gatherings – sometimes a reflection, a drama or dialogue or slide presentation. We mix it up to keep it fresh and refer to all the great teachers.
- We enjoy some silence. We offer prayers and a blessing.
- We usually finish up about 11:00 a.m.
- At special times in the year we have communion, a symbolic meal of bread and grape juice to physically connect with the life and ministry of Jesus within us today.
- All are welcome to share in this regardless of age or status or affiliation. (If you want to know more about this, ask Rev. Shawn; she will be happy to tell you more.)
Q & As
We know that your first time at any church brings up some questions. Here is a quick look at what you can expect.
Who comes to VU?
Jesus welcomed everyone, whether they were poor, rich, or just getting by; ill or healthy; self-made or educated; popular or a loner; secure or full of doubts.
As part of the United Church of Canada, Visions United welcomes everyone the way Jesus did, regardless of age, race, class, gender, orientation, or physical ability. Whoever you are and wherever you are in your spiritual journey, even if you aren’t sure whether Jesus is the son of God, or simply a great teacher, you can feel comfortable at Visions United.
When do you have services?
Known as Spirit Gatherings, we come together each Sunday at the Visions United Church
- Our Conversation Café begins at 9:00 a.m.
- Our Spirit Gatherings begin at 10:00 a.m.
How do I get there?
Our Spirit Gatherings are located at 1270 Gorge Road, Stilesville
You can park out front where there is plenty of free parking. The building is partially accessible with a stair lift.
What should I wear?
This is a come as you are comfortable gathering. Some of us come in our Sunday best, others in casual weekend attire. Do whatever feels natural to you.
Have other questions?
If you have other questions, we would love to hear from you! Contact Us
Our People
We are blessed with a great bunch of people at Visions United! From our staff to our volunteer Leadership Team to our active volunteer corps, everyone works to give our members the best spiritual, fun and learning experiences we can deliver.
Our strong Leadership Team is actively engaged in making Visions United Church the preferred spot in north Moncton to get together, get connected and get active. This group is so into planning and implementing that it’s often difficult to end a meeting. Our team has the authority to get things that fall under its mandate done and so they’re always looking for fresh ideas. If you would like to start a new outreach program/children’s program or young mother’s group, just present an idea or plan to the Leadership Team and as long as it is in sync with the overall vision, they’re behind you all the way. That’s just how we roll!
- Chair: Claudia Schaerer
- Vice Chair: Joan Hawkes
- Treasurer: John Russell