Okay, something seems to be amiss. For whatever reason, my interest in attending worship has hit an all-time low. I've gone to services, but there's no spark there, nothing that inspires me or draws me into that sacred space. I've even been a lay leader, something that often inspires me, and came out of it feeling very meh about the whole experience even though the minister and some of the congregation complimented me. Changing churches (i.e. going to a UCCan instead of my UU fellowship) doesn't seem to do anything either.

A technical glitch has caused some members of the United Church's health and dental plans to drop off the coverage list for Green Shield.

Green Shield is aware of the problem, as well as Ministry and Employment unit: thanks to the members who called us right away to alert us to this error.

Have you been to Picton Ontario recently? One of the only landmarks I remember was a large red brick church right on the main street of the town. The church is gone now.

WHAT is a “church”? What are the barest ESSENTIALS of a “church”? Is a/the “church” necessary to faith, to creed or to society?

Our understanding of “church” is always in a process of negotiation, it seems, and what was “church” 50 or 100 years ago is not what church is today. We talk about the “early church” as if it was special but WHY was it special? But every generation has brought about changes…

I’ve been excited by recent conversations with friends and colleagues about how we see Spirit moving powerfully throughout The United Church of Canada these days. (Pentecost seemed to come early this year!) In her book The Great Emergence: How Christianity Is Changing and Why, Phyllis Tickle suggests that the best way to describe “the emerging church” is with the word “conversation.”

Do you have any feedback to share about the United Church's 2009-2011 Living for the Earth: Choosing Creation over Empire mission theme? What did you think about the concept? The resources that were produced?

How about ideas for 2013-2015, after we've completed the current "Are We Healthy?" theme? We're looking to hear from lots of people and know what you're interested in and passionate about!

I came across this ad for one of our local radio stations. Part of the job description looks like this:

I wonder how that would look at part of the job description on a Joint Needs Assessment?

Our church treasurer is diligent about recovering GST (50%) and now the Ontario provincial portion of the HST (82%). The first cheque arrived this week for the last half of 2010 and it totalled $3300. Our usual GST recovery alone is about $1500 every six months, so the increase was great to see. we do PST recovery every three years, but we pay a commission to an accountant for that, so our return is reduced. This is a great systrem. It's the equivalent, for us, of an extra Sunday offering every six months!

A few random thoughts that have been on my mind lately, about the nature and pirpose of the Church.  Is it supposed to be a community or a cult?

There are those within the organization whose major concern is purity, in doctrine, in worship, or in life.  For them, the church is mad up of people who agree, (Like-minded folks is a phrase I hear now and again).  For the them church stands apart, distinctive in its lifestyle, unified in its thinking.