Dear Friends,

And just like that, it's Fall again - back to "Back to School" business! I hope you are settling in and doing well, whether that means soaking up the last rays of summer sun or digging out your coziest sweaters from the closet.  

As we round the corner on the last days of September, we look ahead to Orange Shirt Day and what will be the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. I invite you to notice what is happening in your local communities – how are others reflecting and engaging with reconciliation at work, school, and in your neighborhood? (Pssst... if you're not sure what to do once you've got your Orange Shirt on, check out this blog post for some great ideas!)  

Here at First Third Ministry, we have been getting excited about the upcoming events this fall!

FaithQuest, a Confirmation Journey, begins THIS WEEKEND. FaithQuest is comprised of five Online Sessions and an in-person Confirmation Retreat in the New Year. Youth ages 13-17 can expect progressive, liberal, virtually friendly connections with videos, activities, and a workbook. We're exploring questions like: Who am I? Who is God? Who is Jesus? Who is the Spirit? Who are we? What are we called to do? Where do we go from here? The first free, online session is this Sunday, Sept. 26th at 6:30PM. Get your zoom link (and more details) NOW! 

And coming up in November... the Imagine Family Retreat at Camp Fircom! We are so excited to welcome families to join us Nov. 5-7 for a weekend of faith and (COVID-safe) fun on Gambier Island. We hope to see you there! 
​
Blessings, 
​
Lindsay Veenstra
First Third Ministry Animator

Dear Friends

I have been at a total loss of what to write to you! It feels truly like the turmoil and anxiety of this pandemic is escalating again and the response of faith communities and people in church leadership is to pivot…again! What do I say to that that hasn’t been said before or sounds too trite?  
The regional council First Third Ministry team sees you working so hard to ensure the young people and their families in your community of faith feels connected and supported and loved. We see your steadying faithfulness and commitment to the church. We pray that you take care of yourself, finding times amid this chaos for rest and renewal. We pray that you feel held and encouraged in the presence of Love.    

Take a look at what is being offered to support you and your loved ones during this fall season, details are below in this newsletter!

1. Leaders Gatherings
2. Postponements Due to Covid
3. Happening Now! 
4. Magazines for Faith@Home this Fall and Winter - Embracing Welcome; Be Love
5. Blessing of the Backpacks - resource
6. Creation Time - resources

And please let us know if you need resources or support, we are here to help you.   

Blessings, 
Pamela Evans 
Team Lead
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Note: The First Third Ministry office is closed until September 13th.

Dear Friends,

Moving into the fall, the First Third Ministry Regional Council staff are sharing some suggestions and guidance for you as you enter into in-person ministry with children, youth, and families in your community of faith. Balancing mission, pastoral care and duty of care can often be difficult, especially with the fourth wave of COVID-19 now in full swing, and flu season on the horizon. We hope these basic suggestions can be helpful to your ministry.

NOTE: This comprehensive guide “First Third Ministry In-Person Guidance for Fall 2021” prepared by the Chinook Winds Pacific Mountain Regional Councils First Third Ministry Staff will help you prepare for the CYF ministry programs you may offer. We encourage you to read the PDF and bring the practices into your planning for programs.

This information is also on the Leader Support & Education section of our website.

The Basics                                                                                    

• Stay home when you are sick
• Wear a mask
• Wash your hands
• Sanitize high use/high touch areas

These basic recommendations can greatly reduce the likelihood of transmission. It’s STRONGLY recommended that masks be worn in indoor/in-person ministry activities for children, youth, and young adults, as well as ministry leaders. Remember, that while being double vaccinated reduces the ricks of transmission and drastically reduces the likelihood of severe disease, masking can continue to prevent the spread. You can require masks be worn indoors for your ministry programs.

Mindful Use of Space

• Consider having your CYF ministry programs outdoors as much as possible
• If you have multiple entrances to your buildings, make use of them to help maintain distance between people
• Cleaning protocols should remain in place, specifically the sanitation of shared spaces and high touch areas (washrooms, light-switches, etc.)

While it’s antithetical to our view of Family, Children, Youth and Young Adult Ministry, having separate worship spaces for the unvaccinated (many under 12) and the vulnerable (our community elders) will be necessary to prevent the spread of COVID in our communities.

Other Considerations
We recommend

• No collective snacks
• Continuing hybrid and virtual worship when possible, and find ways to include children and families in virtual worship services

We hope that you find this basic guide useful. The situation with COVID-19 remains dynamic, and I greatly admired how our Communities of Faith have adapted to this new reality. Thank you for your continued faithfulness and vigilance.

Kind regards,

Chris Mah Poy
First Third Ministry Coordinator

Hello Leaders of First Third Ministry!

I bring you greetings from the First Third Ministry Team! I - and we all – are in absolute wonder of how you made so many sacrifices, learning and adapting to be Church in new ways at breakneck speed these past 18 months. The team’s aim over this COVID time was to support and empower you in your ministry and relationships with the families, youth and young adults in your settings. Moving into re-entry and summer months, the hope is that First Third Ministry can continue to assist you in worship and program planning, give you opportunities to connect with fellow ministry leaders, and create a space for ministry innovation and leadership develop.

You are warmly encouraged to be part of the series of Ministry Leadership Circles the First Third Ministry offers

• Re-Entry with First Third Ministry (full now, but make add your name to the fall sessions
• Leaders Online Gathering all summer (no maximum, register for the Zoom link here)

and to bring your young people to the wider Regional Council events opportunities for FUN and United Church identity building

• Camp Spirit
• Family Retreats
• Youth Retreat YOUTH TREK 
• Young Adult Retreat HOLY LISTENING

All are noted on the printable overview document too (note that as a PDF, all the links are live links to our different websites and events!):

• First Third Ministry Summer and Early Fall 2021 Overview PDF

You may also be interested in the summer Tech Tools and Testimony sessions being offered by LeaderShift, as a way in to what the hybrid/ in-person/ online/ integrated way of leading groups and worship might look like for you.

I have to admit that I’m approaching the summer months with mixed emotions. On the one hand, I am relieved and excited that restrictions are beginning to ease as more people get vaccines and our case numbers continue to trend in the right direction. On the other hand, I am feeling a combination of fatigue and caution, as so much of our shared COVID-19 experience has been filled with the anxieties of only being able to plan from one health update to the next. After leading and attending Zoom meetings that must be now stretching in to the triple digits, and seeing so many ministry leaders from coast to coast with such Zoom fatigue, my one true wish is that I could treat you all to a day at a spa! You deserve it.

Peace,
Chris Mah Poy
Coordinator