Author Archive: hawkeye

Mission & Service Update

Wearing the colours of  Mission and Service of The United Church of Canada- Pam Harrison, Glenna Lightfoot, Lila Briggs and Joan Hawkes presented current information on several projects supported by your generosity. Visions United Church has set a goal of $22,000.00.

The Doors are back in town…

Visions is proud to be displaying these doors outside the church now that the warmer weather has returned. Join us for Sunday service at 10. Come early for 9am "Conversation Cafe" and talk about what ever is on your mind.

All are welcome!

 

Pancakes.. until next year

Thank you to everyone who came out in support of the Annual Stilesville Pancake Brunches.  We had some great weather and lots of people came out to enjoy the Maple Sugar Camps and Visions Pancakes.  Thanks as well to those who honoured the parking signs, as this helped a lot to ensure the safety of all those who came to Stilesville to enjoy the spring activities.  We hope to see everyone out again next year.

 

Ten Commandments to Avoid Extinction

God’s Word for Humanity today  (Click image to watch YouTube video)

  1. Stop thinking of me (God) as anything less than Reality with a personality
  2. Stop thinking of ‘divine revelation’ and ‘God’s word’ apart from evidence
  3. Stop thinking of Genesis, or your creation story, apart from Big History
  4. Stop thinking of theology apart from ecology.
  5. Stop defining ‘progress’ in short-term, human centred ways.
  6. Stop allowing the free or subsidized polluting of the commons.
  7. Stop using renewable resources faster than they can be replenished.
  8. Stop using non-renewable resources in ways that harm or rob future generations.
  9. Stop exploring for coal, oil and natural gas-keep most of it in the ground.
  10. Stop making excuses for the inexcusable gap between rich and poor.

Taking a Break

Our CLT Chairperson, Claudia recently relocated for a short term project to Bangladesh, and has sent some pictures. "I am part of a team of 14 consultants hired to update the country’s 20 year Forestry Master Plan. My main area of focus is climate change vulnerability – how are forests expected to be impacted by the effects of climate change, and what can be done to reduce the vulnerability of forest-dependent communities to the effects of climate change. Other consultants will be contributing to these topics, just as I will be contributing to other areas of the plan"

Images from Claudia’s Trip

Welcome Rev Dr. Shawn Redden

The Covenanting Service was held on Sunday, March 6 at 3:00pm for Rev. Dr. Shawn Redden. Members of Visions United, Presbytery and family and friends were on hand to welcome Shawn to the Visions family.

Rev. Shawn was co-minister at St. Paul’s United Church in Riverview from 2000 to 2010. For the past five years, Rev. Shawn had been co-minister at St. Paul’s United Church in Sussex. Rev. Shawn also ministered at Trinity United Church in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia (1995 to 2000) and Barrington Pastoral Charge in Barrington, Nova Scotia (1992-1995).

Some of her many strengths include being great with children and youth, being very familiar with Godly Play (Rev. Shawn is one of the key persons to introduce Godly Play to our Presbytery), training and leading lay leaders, and being respectful of others and where they are on their faith journey. She is able to explain a concept so that others understand. Rev. Shawn’s ability to name a vision and to bring others to it, will be of great value to Visions United as we work on a strategic plan to help guide us on our journey

Welcome Shawn!

Coats of Care

Coats Of Care

Five coats were presented to Reconnect, Moncton YMCA

Five coats were presented to Reconnect, Moncton YMCA.  The COATS of CARE is a special project to support homeless people during the long cold winter. We have placed 5 coats in the following cities with a reserve of 12 coats at Visions United Church (Moncton):

Location City
Sydney United Church Sydney, NS
Brunswick Street Mission Halifax, NS
Wilmet United Church Fredericton, NB
Reconnect YMCA Moncton, NB
Ramiro House Saint John, NB
Trinity United Church Summerside, PE
Bedford MacDonald House, Salvation Army Charlottetown, PE

The hooded coats are water-resistant, self-heating and transform into sleeping bags. The two large pockets act as storage, and can be worn as an over-the-shoulder bag when not in use. The coat is constructed of up- cycled automotive insulation, fabric from Carhartt, and other materials provided by generous donors.

The coats are made by homeless women in Detroit, USA as part of the EMPOWERMENTPLAN project. This project began in 2011 and to date they have produced over 9,000 coats. 28 women and their children (approximately 75) now have income security which is life changing.

The campaign resulted in 86 generous donations totalling over $11,000.00. Approximately 34% of the donations came from Visions United which represents roughly $3,700.00

This is a pilot project for the winter 2015-2016.  We will be requesting feedback from these organizations about these coats and reviewing the results in the spring to determine future action.  Stay tuned more for exciting news about this project.