October’s Announcements from London Conference

Learning Grants All forms of ministry prosper from continuous education, and that’s precisely why London Conference budgets every year to provide learning grants to suitable applicants. If you’ve been considering a learning opportunity, now would be an excellent time to apply. Contact Tanya Cameron at: To start the consideration process

CONNECTION * WORSHIP * YOUTH A United Church National Youth Gathering * October 26 th to 28 th, 2012 A chance to connect, create, and worship together. Gather with other young people from across the United Church, for an awesome weekend retreat. We will spend time exploring what worship means to you. How does worship connect with your faith? For more information contact: ail.com Registration:

DMC Day - Identifying Your Treasure Saturday October 20, 2012 – 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Hosted by the Division of Mission of Mission in Canada Guest Speaker: President of London Conference Rev. Paul Browning Located at Riverside United Church, London The Division of Mission in Canada invites each presbytery to send 3 representatives to DMC Day. Please contact Betsy for more information at: x5

The evening includes Cocktails, Dinner, Live Entertainment, and Dancing - all for only $50.00 per ticket. are sponsoring a Christmas Wassail on Saturday, December 1st, at the Ramada Inn, London.

The 9th R. Alex Sim Rural Ministry 2012 Mission- Shaped And Rural? The 2012 Rural Ministry Symposium is being held at Jackson’s Point (north of Toronto) from October 22nd to 24th, 2012 at the Jackson’s Point Conference Centre of the Salvation Army, on the shores of Lake Simcoe. This location offers comfortable accommodation, as well as excellent conference, worship and leisure facilities, together with 156 acres of open fields and mixed forests to roam and enjoy. The London Conference Rural Life Committee is willing to subside students or lay folks (or others who do not have Continuing Education Funding) for the cost of accommodations ($ each). To apply - reply (by September 21st) to For more information, check out:

WHERE YOUTH WORSHIP CHRISTMAS SERVICE Saturday, December 22 nd, 7:00 p.m. Wesley-Knox United Church London, Ontario More information online at WHERE YOUTH PLAN WORSHIP (Formerly known as November Rally) November 1 st - 4 th, 2012 Lambton United Church Centre Forest Ontario Information and registration online at

Introducing Conference Staff Executive Secretary ext. 1 * Cheryl-Ann Stadelbauer-Sampa ♦ Interpretation of The Manual ♦ Support for Conference, Presbyteries & Congregations in administrative & financial matters ♦ Staff Support to Conference Executive, Division of Communications and Public Relations, Division of Finance and Administration and Annual Meeting ♦ Supervisor of Conference Staff & Operations. "Cheryl-Ann welcomes opportunities for creative collaboration with others in envisioning how to be the church in our time."

Saturday, October 27 th Dunlop United Church, 757 Rosedale Avenue, Sarnia Registration Form at: Additional Information: Pat Whitton

Show Our True Colours London Conference Has arranged for the purchase of flags with our new United Church Crest. If you’d like to order one for your church, please contact London Conference office without delay.

Items currently needed by most food banks Most Needed Items: Peanut Butter Canned Fruit Canned Meats Canned Pasta Pasta Sauce Coffee Cleaning Products And, of course …

Introducing Conference Staff Congregational Futures Development Minister ext. 4 * a Judith Gilliland MEd MDiv Exploring and/or engaging in new possibilities to effect transformative and radical change for growing ministry in their context; Developing and offering resources and workshops related to new church development, strategic envisioning, organizational structures, change management, alternative models of ministry, Providing leadership and resources for staff development and redevelopment of ministry; Animating individuals, committees, Presbyteries and Congregations around the ongoing call of the Gospel and to the witness of faith as they move into the future; and, Providing consultation and coaching related to Joint Needs Assessment, Interim Ministry and Pastoral Care & Oversight "Judith is a ‘transformational ‘duracell bunny’: tireless in pursuit of creative and innovative ways, with God’s help, to support those affected by their changing environment to experience new life, growth and fulfillment. Resource Person to Presbyteries & Congregations:

This position requires use of , attention to details and recording minutes of meetings. Most work is home based where some office space is required for a desk, computer, and file cabinet. Phone line & internet is supplied. The estimated work load is 20 hours per $15.00/hr. For a detailed job description, contact Susan Bedggood: Presbytery Secretary Needed

Saturdays for Sermons: Preaching the Seasons This event is an opportunity to renew one’s preaching by focusing on preaching from Advent to Easter using ‘sermon preps, labs, and rehab’. Mornings will be devoted to biblical texts for the upcoming weeks in the ecumenical lectionary and discussing important emphases for the liturgical season. Afternoons will be devoted to preaching and feedback. With Dr. Paul Wilson Saturdays: November 24, 2012, January 12, 2013 and February 16, 2013, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm St. David’s United Church, 190 Springbank Ave Woodstock, N4S 7R1 The workshop fee is $ and includes lunch. Deadline for registration is November 16, % discount for two or more from a congregation and students half price. For further information contact Betsy Anderson or On line information and registration: or contact :The Oxford Presbytery Registrar, David Duncan, 469 Nova Scotia Court, WOODSTOCK -

Detailed Information & Registration available at:

Hand in Hand: Equipping Congregations for Pastoral Care A Five Oaks program focused on education for lay visitation and pastoral care teams. Monday October 29, 2012 Early Bird workshop starts at 4:00 PM Dinner at 5:30 PM Evening workshop starts at 6:30 On the road by 9:00 PM Cost: $30.00 or $25.00 if 3 or more from a congregation - includes supper. Register online at or or Phone: ‐3212 Evening Workshop Understanding Grief and Loss In this workshop we will explore the many facets and expressions of grief, and how we can pastorally respond to others during times of loss and mourning. Through theological reflection, prayer and conversation we will address some of the issues that face pastoral visitors as they walk with those who are grieving. Leadership: Elaine Graham serves in ministry as the Pastoral Support Minister for London Conference.

Sisters In Spirit Vigils October 4 th, 2012 There are vigils and marches are happening in three communities within London Conference boundaries: Thursday October 4 th London at the Atlohsa Community Meeting Room at 2PM ( Richmond Street, London, Ontario N6A 3C2) ; Sarnia at St Clair United Church at 6:30PM (978 Tashmoo Ave, Sarnia, Ontario, N7T 7H5 Aamjiwnaang First Nation); Windsor at Dieppe Gardens, Riverfront Windsor at 6PM (78 Riverside Drive West, Windsor, Ontario, N9A 5K4)

Would you like to donate a prayer shawl? If so, Elaine Graham, Minister of Pastoral Support, London Conference would love to hear from you? Does your church have a Prayer Shawl Ministry ?

Hand in Hand: Equipping Congregations for Pastoral Care A Five Oaks program focused on education for lay visitation and pastoral care teams. Monday October 29, 2012 Early Bird workshop starts at 4:00 PM Dinner at 5:30 PM Evening workshop starts at 6:30 On the road by 9:00 PM Cost: $30.00 or $25.00 if 3 or more from a congregation - includes supper. Register online at or or Phone: ‐3212 Early Bird Workshop Taking Care: Exploring the Importance of Self-Care During this workshop we will explore the features that make for ‘good’ self-care and address some of the challenges that arise when we neglect to look after ourselves. This workshop will be facilitated by members of the Hand in Hand planning team including Robin McGauley, Jennifer Budd, Elaine Graham, Lorna MacQueen & Bob Thompson

Planning to host some truly Spread the word throughout the conference with a powerpoint slide