Author: admin

Summer Day Camp 2016

Dear downtown Hamilton family:

New Vision United Church is hosting Surf Shack Summer Day Camp for children ages 5-11 the week of July 25-29, 2016. The camp runs from 8:30 am to noon Monday to Friday. We’ll be holding it in the vast meeting room on our fully accessible second floor at 24 Main St. W. There is no cost for the camp. The freewill donation to the camp’s mission logo2project is pay-as-you-may.

At New Vision United Church’s Surf Shack, your camper will discover an interactive and energizing experience that will give them an opportunity to ride the waves with God. During summer day camp at Surf Shack: Catch the Wave of God’s Amazing Love, campers become surfers and explore how to share God’s love and experience God’s awesome presence in their lives and the world around them.

After a high-energy Opening Assembly at the Surf Shack, surfers make their way to the Story Deck to catch Bible waves. Interactive lessons where water is a basic part of the Bible story are highlighted by Wave Words to help surfers recognize where God is inviting them to participate in God’s ongoing creation.

The students will expand on what they’ve discovered by participating in a variety of activities: making their own art projects at the Craft Hut, singing new music at Tidal Tunes, participating in recreational activities at the Recreation Station, exploring science activities at Discovery Dunes, and enjoying tasty Shack Snacks. Along the way, the Surfers will hear about our Victory Garden mission project and have an opportunity to give time or a donation and enjoy being active!

Surf’s up! To register, download, print, and fill out this registration form:

Surf Shack Registration Form

Good Friday Stations of the Cross Walk

A social justice faith walk in downtown Hamilton

Good Friday Stations of the Cross Walk

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“Break the Silence– Name the Gap”
Click here to view or download the event poster as a pdf
meet at 2:00 pm at New Vision United Church (former Centenary Church) 24 Main St. West, at MacNab

Winding through the downtown core, we will stop at various points for reflect on the gap between the rich and the poor, the powerful and the vulnerable. The walk ends with soup and rolls at Christ Church Cathedral, 252 James Street North

Sponsored by the Ecumenical Stations of the Cross Committee of Hamilton

 

Council Chair Helen Bradley addresses Hamilton Presbytery

Helen at Presbytery
New Vision Council Chair Helen Bradley address Hamilton Presbytery at Marshall Memorial United Church

By Helen Bradley

February 2, 2016

It’s my pleasure to present an update on New Vision United and our progress as a new birth congregation. With the support of Presbytery and the Conference, General Council’s Mission through Finance has provided financial backing of our investment in developing new ministry with a line of credit to help meet New Vision’s goal of being a new self-sustaining congregation in Hamilton’s urban core.

Requests for Proposals for the redevelopment of the former St. Giles site were issued, and we have identified a developer whose prospective plans mesh with our goals for the property while maintaining elements of heritage significance. They are currently conducting due diligence into the feasibility of their project.

Behind me you see evidence of two significant developments in our church life. Our New Vision logo features a cross without borders and flames or leaves which symbolize the diversity of beloved community. Our marketing group spearheaded the logo development and is working on our branding and communication strategy.

The Affirm United sign is displayed in celebration of New Vision being recognized as an affirming ministry, which the congregation unanimously supported. I would like to share with you Our Affirmation of Inclusion: “We affirm the inclusion of people of every ability, income level, age, gender, race, family type, gender identity and sexual orientation in the membership, ministry, leadership and life of this congregation. We celebrate the gifts and graces of all people.” This past Sunday we shared a joyful celebration with representatives from Affirm United and Rev. Joan Robertson, our guest speaker.

To underpin our goal of reaching out to the Urban Core, we held a study called “Ninety Percent of Life: Deepening Understanding”, to cultivate a sense of renewed mission for the New Vision community.  The study was supported by an Investment in Mission and Ministry grant through Hamilton Conference. We are working collaboratively with Evelyn Myrie of Empower Strategy Group, formerly of the Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion, to form linkages with diverse community groups.

Rev. Sloan is undertaking a pilgrimage during his sabbatical leave commencing soon, through a program designed by the Centre for Progressive Renewal, to explore new church initiatives and report back to us by various means, including blogs and You Tube. While Rev. Sloan is away, we will have the support of Rev. Christine Jerrett, our Missional Consultant with EDGE, in building awareness and understanding of these new church expressions. She will work with us to build capacity to go out into the neighbourhood and listen to neighbours, discerning ways we can share with them in God’s vision.  Rev. Michelle Hogman has kindly agreed to be our Pastoral Supervisor, and Rev. Lynn Godfrey will provide pastoral support.

On Sunday we sang “My love colours outside the lines” during our affirming service. It’s fair to say that at New Vision we are “colouring outside the lines”, with the final picture evolving on our journey.

Wesley’s Christmas Store at Holton Site

christmas-store-tree-230x300 Wesley Urban Ministries 2015 Christmas Store is located at New Vision’s Holton Street site. Dates/times are as follows:

Tues. Nov. 24 to Fri. Nov. 27 (daily, 10 am to 4 pm)
Tues. Dec. 1 to Fri. Dec. 4 (daily 10 am to 4 pm)

closed Saturday, Sunday and Monday

Here’s the link to the event information on Wesley’s site. There are links to the event poster, registration information (for shoppers) and information on how to donate gifts.

Donna Robinson funeral

Bulletin from Donna Robinson's Funeral Service
Bulletin from Donna Robinson’s
Funeral Service

Donna’s brother Chris has kindly given us an electronic version of the bulletin from her funeral service that was held Saturday October 3 2015 at the First Christian Reformed Church in Hamilton. Click the graphic to open (jpg).

If you would like an audio file of the eulogy, please email officeadmin@newvisionunited.org with your email address.

90% of Life

iceberg graphic

So much of who we are is below the surface
As a church we go deep to open ourselves
to fuller and fuller awareness of Jesus’ beloved community

Three New Vision Tuesday Evenings:
November 10
November 17
November 24
7-9 pm
St. Giles Site Parlour
$10/person for the three sessions and materials or pay as you may. Register at officeadmin@newvisionunited.org
or on the flipchart in the worship space

Flowers for Easter 2015

pixie_lilyEaster Sunday is April 5 and Palm Sunday is March 29. We’ll be ordering Pixie Lilies again this year at $8 per pot and your choice of yellow or orange. Please place your order on or before Sunday March 22. The order form is linked here as a PDF and will also be in the bulletin.

If you know of a person who cannot get out to the Easter service(s) and would appreciate receiving a pot of lilies, please provide the name and address to Bev in the office.

Also, please sign up to deliver flowers on or before Easter Sunday.

(Just fyi– these are hardy lilies and can be planted in your garden for perennial enjoyment)