Congregational Life (Page 3)
Board Report – July 3
The Trinity Board has been very involved in the past six months with matters related to the every day running of the Church. Although this is not normally the role of the Board, the present circumstances have altered our course somewhat. Until our Supply Minister arrived in mid February it became necessary for the Board to take on the Lead Minister’s duties which included supporting the staff and finding personnel to take on Sunday Services. The Personnel Team has worked…
Ministry Profile and Search Report
The Ministry Profile and Search Report put together by the Ministry Profile and Search Committee is now available. Please click on the link to view the report: Ministry Profile and Search Form Final
Ministry Profile and Search Team
The Trinity United Church Ministry Profile and Search Team was formed two weeks ago. Your members are Maxine Coffey, Sigrid-Ann Thors, Karine Poznanski, Richard Rolke, Bill Darnell, Kari McNair, Eric Elle and David Green. We are following The Ministry Profile and Search Team Handbook provided by the BC Conference of the United Church of Canada with the guidance of Allison Rennie as we move through the search and hiring process. We have held our first two meetings and we are…
Trinity Pays Tribute to Rev. Dr. Jeff Seaton
On Sunday, April 15, 2018, Rev. Dr. Jeff Seaton and the Trinity congregation held a special service to end their covenanted relationship of seven years. Supply Minister, Rev. Liz Bowyer conducted the worship service. Kamloops Okanagan Presbytery Minister, Allison Rennie narrated the Gospel of Luke story where Jesus appeared to his followers on the road to Emmaus. The congregation particularly appreciated the choir’s appropriate and beautiful anthem, By Our Love. Allison Rennie presided over the part of the service that…
Garage Sale
Update April 24: The garden soil for sale has now arrived and is available for purchase. Got too many treasures? Want treasures? The Men’s Group is hosting a garage sale on Saturday, April 21 between 9 am and noon. Location – Fellowship Hall, Trinity. Donations. Drop off donations no earlier than April 17. Friday morning April 20 will be set-up day (men’s set-up starting early, women’s set-up for books starting at 10 am). The church will be closed Friday afternoon…
Annual Report 2017
Before the Trinity United Church Annual Congregational meeting you will want to review: 2017 Annual Report Financial Statement 2017 2018 Budget and Income & Expenses
World Day of Prayer – Photos
Trinity United Church hosted the World Day of Prayer service on Friday, March 2, 2018. The service, written by the women of Suriname with the theme All God’s Creation Is Very Good! provided an opportunity for Christian people all over the world to learn about the country of Suriname (formerly Dutch Guyana) and to focus on how each of us can become more environmentally conscious.The service was attended by 173 people from a dozen different denominations and their generous offering amounted to…
Holy Week
Holy week is an important time in the Christian year. We start with Palm Sunday, the parade into Jerusalem. Then Good Friday we tell the story of the crucifixion of Jesus, both with readings and song, in what for some is the most moving service of the year. You are invited to leave in silence. Then the joy of Easter, starting with a sunrise service in the courtyard (7:30 am), breakfast at 8:00 am in the Hall, and the full…
Rev. Liz Bowyer
Hello, Trinity friends! I am very happy to accept your invitation to come and experience church life together for the season of Lent and into the season of Easter this year. Here is a little about my background: I am newly retired from full time ministry after having served in solo and team ministries in both rural and urban United Church congregations, starting first in the Kootenays, then the central heartlands of Alberta, and most recently in Vancouver. I discerned…
Winter Wonderland Dinner and Dance
Let’s face it! January is the most blah month of the year and it goes on forever! But this year, thanks to Audrey Lammle, January at Trinity had a touch of magic that resulted in smiling faces and dancing feet. It was the Winter Wonderland Dinner and Dance that took place on Saturday, January 27th in our church hall. It was indeed a winter wonderland night as folks crunched their way through fresh snow, shaking feathery snowflakes from their coats…
Advent & Christmas Services
Here is a listing of the upcoming special services. Dec 3, 2017: First Sunday of Advent – Hope Dec 10, 2017: Second Sunday of Advent – Peace; White Gift Sunday, with children collecting the gifts Dec. 16, 2017, Saturday at 2:30 PM, Blue Christmas Dec 17, 2017: Third Sunday of Advent – Joy; Cantata Sunday Dec 24, 2017: 10 AM – Fourth Sunday of Advent – Love Dec 24, 2017: 7 PM – All Ages Christmas Eve Service, with Communion…
June Board Report
The beginning of June the Board met for a time of reflection and discussion. Conversations were centred on where Trinity is at today and what direction we would like to see it take for the future. That was a huge task as you can imagine. However, the Board did come away from the weekend with some concrete goals for the future of this congregation. Over the summer further conversation will take place to turn these goals into achievable steps for…
Remits 1 – 4
Nora Sanders, the General Secretary for the United Church of Canada, announced the results of the Remits recently voted on by Presbyteries and Congregations. All four remits received the majority approval from both Presbyteries and Congregations. These changes to the church structure must now be ratified at the next General Council in July 2018 before becoming effective. The full letter from Nora Sanders is available online. These remits dealt with: Remit 1: Three Council Model; Remit 2: Elimination of Transfer and…
Jeff’s Graduation
This week, Don and I will travel to Durham, NC for the culmination of my Doctor of Ministry journey! If you’d like to participate in the pomp and ceremony from the comfort of your favourite chair, here’s a Duke video stream link to the livestream of the Divinity Baccalaureate Service at Duke Chapel, Saturday, May 13, 3:30 PM in the West!
Board Report for May 2017
The Board members attended an information session at Kelowna’s First United Church in April. This was to further understand upcoming changes to The United Church’s “Basis of Union” (the document that was drawn up when the United Church of Canada was founded in 1925). Several remits authorized by delegates to the 42nd General Council last summer must be considered and voted on by each Pastoral Charge. The Board will be offering information sessions regarding this following Sunday Worship May 21,…
Holy Week Services
A rich variety of worship services are planned for the week leading up to and including Easter at Trinity. Here is the summary: Palm Sunday, April 9 at 10:00 am (palm procession from upper parking lot – 9:45am); Maundy Thursday, April 13 at 5:30 pm (Communion & footwashing); Good Friday Tenebrae Service April 14 at 10 am (the story of the crucifixion in readings and song); Easter April 16 Sunrise Service at 7:30 am (in the courtyard), Breakfast at 8am in hall, Easter Service at 10am.
2016 Annual Report
At the AGM of Trinity Vernon, on March 19, 2017, the congregation will receive the 2016 Annual Report.
Jeff’s Thesis
A number of people have requested a link to the thesis written for Jeff Seaton’s Doctor of Ministry degree. You can read or download “Who’s Minding the Story? The United Church of Canada Meets A Secular Age.” This link takes you to his thesis in Duke Divinity library. The Abstract gives an overview.
Board Report January 2017
On January 22, members of your board met to discuss a number of issues important to the congregation. Primarily, the board adopted an investment policy statement for the funds generated by the Camp Hurlburt sale. With the hard work of your trustees, that policy will be enacted and the sale funds invested for the betterment of our mission, vision and values. Considerable time was also spent discussing chapter one of Fishing Tips by John Pentland, minister at Hillhurst United in…
Christmas Services
Trinity United Church Christmas Services Blue Christmas Saturday, December 17, 2016 – 2:30 p.m. Fourth Sunday of Advent Sunday, December 18, 2016 – 10:00 a.m. Family Christmas Eve Service Saturday, December 24, 2016 – 7:00 p.m. Candlelight & Communion Saturday, December 24, 2016 – 10:00 p.m. Christmas Day Sunday, December 25, 2016 – 10:00 a.m.
Ever Evolving Youth Energy!
I was fortunate enough to attend the Evolve youth conference Nov 11-14 with three amazing youth. Accompanying me was Katherine Taylor, Cassidy Delaney and Devin Crossley-Deere who is a close friend of Cassidy’s. The youth represented our community so well and really allowed themselves to settle in and absorb all that was offered at the conference, I was very proud to be the leader connected to them. The theme of the weekend was evolve.just.chill. with an emphasis on meditative practices,…
Congratulations Rev. Dr. Jeff
Dear Jeff On behalf of the board and the entire congregation, I would like to congratulate you on earning a Doctor of Ministry from Duke University. Considerable work has gone into this achievement, and you should be very proud of yourself, just as we are of you. Through your recent adventure in education, you have developed new skills and experiences, and the congregation looks forward to having them unfold before us. Once again, congratulations. Blessings Richard Rolke, Board chairperson Trinity United…
October Board Meeting
A report from Richard Rolke, chair of the Trinity Board. Members of your board met Oct. 30 and we discussed a number of items. Among them was ongoing work on a building report and development of a five-year capital expenditure budget. Also, we received an update from Jeff on his activities. His return to work after the sabbatical has been going smoothly, and his thesis has been totally approved. Considerable time was also spent discussing the Hurlburt sale revenue and development…
Thanksgiving Dinner
On Sunday, October 2nd, a feast of turkey and trimmings was offered to members of the congregation. Men’s Group took the lead, but with plenty of help from others.
April Board Report
Members of your board met April 17 and I would like to provide you with a brief update of our activities at that session. Rev. Jeff Seaton provided us further details on his sabbatical from May 29 until the end of September and those details were provided to the congregation last Sunday. A report was also received from the pastoral care and outreach liaison, Val Holowach, and the board has asked that the refugee committee provided the congregation with an update…
Sabbatical
A message from Board chair Richard Rolke: It will catch some of you by surprise, as it did me, but we have an important passage in Trinity’s history to acknowledge. It has been five years since Jeff joined us as our minister. Through his leadership, our congregation has tackled some significant issues and looked positively towards the future, while he has also led us on an evolving and fulfilling faith journey. On behalf of the board and congregation, I would…
Refugee Team Update
Our experience over the last six months has taken many twists and turns. When we started on this journey, we were seeing refugees fleeing Syria in the most desperate circumstances. We knew that Canada would be accepting 25,000 refugees in a short time frame. We assumed that there would be a great need for sponsors for these families. However, a different process was used for the government assisted refugees and sponsoring groups like us were pretty much left out in…
Governing “Just Right”
Dear members of the Trinity family, One of the important conversations we had at our Annual Meeting a few weeks ago was about our governance model and our decision-making processes. As I heard that conversation, and from what I have heard in follow up one-on-one conversations, there is a curiosity about how “open” or how “rigid” our governance model is. This article does the best job I’ve seen at explaining approaches to this question. Using the labels the author sets…