Yellowknife United Church Announcements for the Week of June 29, 2025

[Margaret]

Here are the Announcements for the week of June 29, 2025.

Please remember that all church services between now and August 31 will begin at 10 a.m.

UPCOMING EVENTS:
June 29 - Worship Service led by Karen Wilford

July 6 - Worship Service led by Suzanne Ngo Likaa

July 13 - Worship Service led by Marie Wilson

📌 THANKS to our helpers for Sunday, June 29:
Opening host:  Karen Wilford
Greeter:   Janice Brown-Daly     
Reader:    Terrilyn Hayden   
Closing host:  Lorne Gushue

📌 RED BINS - Help is needed to collect from the Co-op for the month of August and into the fall.  If you are able to help, please let Terrilyn (terrily...@theedge.ca) know or speak to her after church.

📌 The United Church of Canada's Apology to 2S and LGBTQIA+ Communities
On Friday, August 8, The United Church of Canada will offer a somber and historic apology to 2S and LGBTQIA+ communities. We invite you to join us in person at Knox United Church in Calgary (9:00 a.m. MT) or via the livestream.

The United Church of Canada was the first denomination in Canada to affirm the full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ persons into the life of the church. While the 1988 decision was significant, there are still many painful stories of exclusion from before 1988, and that continue into the present.

By formally apologizing, the United Church reaffirms its commitment to radical hospitality and full inclusion of 2S and LGBTQIA+ people in all aspects of church life, including leadership, worship, and governance, strengthening the church’s witness to justice and love in action.

The road has not been smooth, and the church has not always accepted 2S and LGBTQIA+ people. The living apology is one way to acknowledge the many shortcomings and the harm the church has caused, while also continuing to build toward a world of radical love and affirming people of all identities.

📌 Union did not end in 1925. In 1930, the Wesleyan Methodist Church of Bermuda became a part of the United Church of Canada. There are currently three congregations. Once part of the Maritime Conference, since the UCC restructured a few years ago, they are part of the Bermuda Nova Scotia Regional Council. In 1968 the Evangelical United Brethren joined and the UCC is also in full communion with the United Church of Christ U.S.A. A founding member of the Canadian Council of Churches, UCC is one of 24 members and several affiliates “seeking unity amid its own unparalleled diversity.” UCC is one of 352 members of the World Council of Churches who work together globally for unity, justice and peace.

📌 NOTE FROM STEWARDSHIP:  Very often the focus of Stewardship is around the church’s finances and peoples’ offerings.  Today I would like to talk about another facet of stewardship.  Yellowknife United Church has a congregation blessed with an abundance of talents.  We have people who preach (and not just the minister), people who lead worship, singers, cooks, crafters, and artisans.  The list could go on and on.  These individuals share their time and their talents in service to God.  That is what stewardship is all about; offering back our gifts, our loves, and our lives, to God’s care, for the good of our world.

📌 Yellowknife United Church will be sponsoring two community Christmas Bazaars on November 15 and December 6, 2025.  If you are interested in booking a table for this event or know someone who is, please email Marg Henderson (ma...@theedge.ca) for more information.

📌 Mission & Service:   Healing with Horses.  Whether walking beside a horse, brushing its coat, or sitting in circle, each person found space for healing.

When participants gather for the Healing with Horses program in Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory, something remarkable happens.  People open up. They share, listen, and connect with each other, with the land, and with the gentle strength of the horses guiding their healing journey.  Supported by your Mission and Service gifts, the program blends equine therapy with connecting culturally and wholistically to Anishinaabe ways of knowing and being. It draws on traditional knowledge, the Medicine Wheel, and the importance of relationships to support emotional, spiritual, and cultural healing. For many, these sessions are a way to work through the impacts of intergenerational trauma and journey the path toward self-discovery and confidence.  Over the winter months, participants rode through the snowy bush, sketched horses outdoors, and learned to set boundaries and practice self-compassion. Whether walking beside a horse, brushing its coat, or sitting in circle, each person found space for healing.  Participants shared that they felt calmer, more confident, and more connected. Some shared that they found it difficult to share their feelings before, but through the safety of the circle, they discovered the strength to speak and be heard.  Children learned about emotional regulation. Adults reconnected with their inner strength. Each gathering offered time to reflect, grow, and support one another. The horses, especially Cash and Willow, brought a calm and honest presence that helped participants see themselves more clearly.  There is already growing interest in expanding the program to reach more people throughout the year. Plans are underway for a barn or indoor structure that would allow healing to continue in all seasons.

Thank you for supporting the Healing Fund through Mission and Service. With your generosity, programs like Healing with Horses can continue to grow and offer life-changing opportunities for healing, connection, and cultural reconnection.