Category: New Vision Notes

Thur Aug 3 2023

1. GARAGE SALE Part 2 (Rain date), this Saturday 10 am to 4 pm Creamy Atlas Ice Cream Parlour on Mulberry St. beside the Mulberry Café. Sale conducted by New Vision United Church. All proceeds to support Nature Network, Refugees in Kenya helping LGBTQ refugees escaping persecution in Uganda. **Household item DONATIONS can be brought to Creamy Atlas ahead of time** You can bring donations to the Creamy Atlas Ice Cream Parlour today, tomorrow or Saturday morning. Check the Parlour link for times the Parlour is open.
2. Can you help with the sale from 12 noon to 4 pm? If you can, please contact Helen at 905 807-2319 or helen.bradleyrd@gmail.com
3. We’ll be celebrating communion this Sunday.
4. Arrangements have been made for worship leadership while I am on vacation Aug 7 – Sept 10. Emergency Pastoral Care contacts are Dan Peace and Al Jagt. For administrative matters please send email to officeadmin@newvisionunited.org.
5. Luke will be sending out the weekly New Vision Notes while I vacation.
6. The World Health Organization has declared that the COVID-19 pandemic has ended. We no longer ask people to mask to be part of our worship gathering; however, very much know that we remain mask friendly!
7. Join us on Sunday mornings 10:30 am week to week either in person at 24 Main St. W. or on Zoom by clicking here. The link is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/782292511.

I look forward to seeing you Sunday again, or for the first time –

Rev Ian

Thur July 27 2023

1. Many of us are aware of the severe challenges and dire circumstances for members of the LGBTQ+2S community in Uganda and Kenya at this moment. Through our Affirming ministry we have developed some personal relationships with some of them. Several fundraising initiatives are under way among us to provide aid to them and their network. Here is one coming up this Saturday:
2. GARAGE SALE Sat. July 29 8:00 AM – 12ish, Creamy Atlas Ice Cream Parlour Mulberry St. near James N. Sale conducted by New Vision United Church. All proceeds to support Nature Network, Refugees in Kenya helping LGBTQ refugees escaping persecution in Uganda. **Household item DONATIONS can be brought to Creamy Atlas ahead of time** You can bring donations to the Creamy Atlas Ice Cream Parlour today, tomorrow or Saturday morning.
3. The Threshold Partnership meeting three Sundays ago was informative and the discussion had was a good next step in the adjustment process.
4. We will meet again for 30-45 minutes this Sunday July 30 after worship for more information sharing and discussion.
5. The Hamilton Fringe Festival is on to the end of this week. The Fringe has been running Spark, its teen drama intensive, at New Vision since last Wednesday, July 19. The Spark troupe performs the fruits of the intensive this Saturday afternoon at 3 pm at the Fringe Club Outdoor Stage next to Theatre Aquarius. It’s free.
6. The World Health Organization has declared that the COVID-19 pandemic has ended. We no longer ask people to mask to be part of our worship gathering; however, very much know that we remain mask friendly!
7. New Vision Virtual Worship is experiential, participatory, image-rich and collective, just like worship in person at New Vision! Join us on Sunday mornings 10:30 am week to week on Zoom by clicking here. If you want to put the link someplace easy to find each week, here it is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/782292511.

I look forward to seeing you Sunday again, or for the first time –

Rev Ian

Thur July 6 2023

1. The Church Council invites you to an information and discussion session following worship this Sunday July 9th on adjustments to our mission and ministry. This is the next step in this adjustment process. It follows up on the consultation we did with Rev. Richard Bott in April and May.
2. Topics this Sunday include the Trustees’ approach to obtaining a revenue from our surplus space, report on the Called to be the Church stewardship campaign, and introduction to recommendations from Rev Bott’s consultation report. Meeting length 30 minutes to 45 minutes. Attendance either in person or in the Zoom room.
3. The 2023 Soutar Award winner, Heather Morgan, will join us on Sunday July 23 to be presented with the Soutar Award and to break open the Word with us.
4. The Soutar Award is an award Centenary, and now, New Vision, has awarded each year a Sanford Gold Medal has been awarded at Emmanuel College in Toronto since 1983. 2023 is the award’s 40^th anniversary.
5. The World Health Organization has determined that the COVID-19 pandemic has ended. We thus now no longer ask people to mask to be part of our worship gathering, however, very much know that we remain mask friendly!
6. New Vision Virtual Worship is experiential, participatory, image-rich and collective, just like worship in-person at New Vision! Join us either way on Sunday mornings 10:30 am. You can join week to week on Zoom by clicking here. If you want to put the link someplace easy to find each week, here it is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/782292511.

I look forward to seeing you Sunday again, or for the first time –

Rev Ian

Fri June 30 2023

1. Canada Day weekend as a settler institution – I invite you to look for celebrations that mark the day with a recognition of the journey of truth and reconciliation with the first peoples of turtle island.
2. We will celebrate communion this Sunday.
3. The Church Council invites you to an information and discussion session following worship on Sunday July 9th on adjustments to our mission and ministry. This is the next step in this adjustment process. It follows up on the consultation we did with Rev. Richard Bott in April and May.
4. Topics next Sunday include the Trustees’ approach to obtaining a revenue on our surplus space, report on the Called to be the Church stewardship campaign, and introduction to recommendations from Rev Bott’s consultation report. Meeting length 30 minutes to 45 minutes. Attendance either in person or in the Zoom room.
5. Dr. Bob was noticed at the community consultation on encampments held at the Convention Centre on Tuesday evening posing a very helpful question to the City staff. Participants in the rally held before the consultation at the entrance to the convention centre convened at 24 Main W for a debriefing after the meeting. Those rallying were those living without housing in encampments and elsewhere and their supporters.
6. The 2023 Soutar Award winner, Heather Morgan, will join us on Sunday July 23 to be presented with the Soutar Award and to break open the Word with us.
7. The Soutar Award is an award Centenary, and now, New Vision, has awarded each year a Sanford Gold Medal has been awarded at Emmanuel College in Toronto since 1983. 2023 is the award’s 40^th anniversary.
8. New Vision Virtual Worship is experiential, participatory, image-rich and collective, just like worship in person at New Vision! Join us on Sunday mornings 10:30 am week to week during the Covid-19 emergency by clicking here. If you want to put the link someplace easy to find each week, here it is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/782292511. Please share it with others and invite them to a “different” kind of time on Zoom from the usual.
9. We continue our current in-person gathering approach: i) we will form the circle again in the lower hall, distancing the seats by a metre for the time being. ii) people may join the circle if they are willing to wear a mask.
10. The reason for the masks is that we will allow ourselves to sing, and masking reduces the distance air we expel travels with the increased effort singing.
11. You can also call in to the gathering on the telephone. Call 1 647 374 4685, then, when prompted, input the Meeting ID 782 292 511 followed by the # sign. Ignore the prompts for Participant ID and Password. You are in when the recorded voice says, “You are in the meeting.” If you can only connect by video on your computer with no audio, you can use the phone connection for audio and the computer connection for visual.

I look forward to seeing you Sunday again, or for the first time –

Rev Ian

Fri June 23 2023

1. Acclaimed Muskoka-based singer/songwriter Emma Cook closes out her current Ontario tour with a Hamilton matinee show (4 pm) at The Music Hall at New Vision United Church on June 25. Expect material from her latest album, Fight Left In Me, produced by Andrew Rasmussen (Carly Rae Jepsen, Wake Owl, Hannah Georgas). Cook has released five albums, reached the finals of the CBC Searchlight competition, and performed internationally. This show, in the venue’s intimate South West Lounge, is highly recommended. Tix here.
2. Emma Cook’s show is an entrepreneurial-based project between the Music Hall project and Emma. The two came together on a show-creating web platform called Side Door Access. This platform has the potential to increase accessibility for artists and for spaces not typically used by the organized music sector. Your support for this trial run will be appreciated by the Music Hall project. If you can’t come, but know anyone who enjoys shows by singer/songwriters, please pass this invitation along.
3. The Church Council invites you to an information and discussion session following worship on July 9th on adjustments to our mission and ministry. This is the next step in this adjustment process. It follows up on the consultation we did with Rev. Richard Bott in April and May.
4. The Church Council asked me to share with you their delight with the news they received this past week that two participants in New Vision have been appointed to positions in the national body of the United Church. Jen Hompoth is joining the Anti-Racism Common Table, and Rev. Miriam Spies has been appointed coordinator of worship for the 45^th General Council. At some point soon the Council will profile both the positions and what moved Jen and Miriam to accept these important roles. Thank you both!
5. The 2023 Soutar Award winner, Heather Morgan, will join us on Sunday July 23 to be presented with the Soutar Award and to break open the Word with us.
6. The Soutar Award is an award Centenary, and now, New Vision, has awarded each year a Sanford Gold Medal has been awarded at Emmanuel College in Toronto since 1983. 2023 is the award’s 40^th anniversary. How blessed we have been over the years to have annually recognized and annually heard from the Sanford medalist.
7. New Vision Virtual Worship is experiential, participatory, image-rich and collective, just like worship in person at New Vision! Join us on Sunday mornings 10:30 am week to week during the Covid-19 emergency by clicking here. If you want to put the link someplace easy to find each week, here it is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/782292511. Please share it with others and invite them to a “different” kind of time on Zoom from the usual.
8. June is also Wesley Urban Ministries’ Case for Kids month. Wesley has created a video to help promote Case for Kids, which raises funds for Wesley’s children youth and family programs.  This is the link to the video!.
9. We continue our current in-person gathering approach: i) we will form the circle again in the lower hall, distancing the seats by a metre for the time being. ii) people may join the circle if they are willing to wear a mask.
10. The reason for the masks is that we will allow ourselves to sing, and masking reduces the distance air we expel travels with the increased effort singing.
11. You can also call in to the gathering on the telephone. Call 1 647 374 4685, then, when prompted, input the Meeting ID 782 292 511 followed by the # sign. Ignore the prompts for Participant ID and Password. You are in when the recorded voice says, “You are in the meeting.” If you can only connect by video on your computer with no audio, you can use the phone connection for audio and the computer connection for visual.

I look forward to seeing you Sunday again, or for the first time –

Rev Ian

Thur June 8 2023

1. We are arrived in June, the month of Pride, the month of the Indigenous Day of Prayer, the month of New Vision’s anniversary. Father’s Day is kicking around in here somewhere as well.
2. June is also Wesley Urban Ministries’ Case for Kids month. Wesley has created a video to help promote Case for Kids, which raises funds for Wesley’s children youth and family programs.  This is the link to the video!.
3. The Indigenous Day of Prayer is the Sunday before National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21. We will take the opportunity on Sunday June 18 to celebrate and honour in prayer First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.
4. We had a rich Pride worship gathering last Sunday with participation from Sulah of the Nature Network in Kenya, and Ward 2 Councillor Cameron Kroetsch who spoke to us on our 9^th anniversary. The photo is of Councillor Kroetsch cutting our anniversary cake with New Vision Church Council Chair Dixon Challoner.
5. Coming up this week: Tottering Bi-Ped Theatre presents “Hearing ‘Portraits at an Exhibition’” in our Lower Hall as part of Hamilton Arts Week. FREE. Two performances: one on Thursday, June 15 at 2 pm, the other on Saturday June 17 at 8 pm. From Tottering Bi-Ped:  “Mimi Han and Trevor Copp have a challenge: you may listen to Classical music, but do you actually hear it? How many minutes at the Symphony pass before you are thinking about your to-do list at home, or wondering about dinner? We know this is incredible music, but what can we do to actually keep our heads into the sound? Drawing from their opposing experiences with Music, Mimi and Trevor conduct a series of experiments to provoke new ways of hearing. Working with Mussorgski’s ‘Portraits at an Exhibition,’ we will move, smell, see, and feel our way through the music to see if we can find a deeper experience of listening to music.”
6. Community Spotlight: Mental Health Services in Hamilton. Thursday, June 15th 2023 – 1:00 – 3:00 PM Christ’s Church Cathedral – 252 James St. North.  This is a free event open to the community. Though tickets are free registration is encouraged to anticipate numbers.  Please register here.  Following the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in demand for mental health programs and services, specifically in the Hamilton region. Please join us to learn from a panel of experts about Mental Health Services, the mental health environment and referral systems in Hamilton.
7. Join Indie Folk singer/songwriter Emma Cook in an intimate afternoon performance on Sunday, June 25 at 4 pm in the Southwest Lounge (in the MacNab addition). Tickets $12 or anything more you can afford. For tickets, follow this link. For more about Emma, follow this one.
8. Hamilton Fringe Festival is recruiting Volunteers! We’re so grateful for the lively energy and sense of community our volunteers bring to the table! With complete control over your schedule and various roles to choose from, everyone can find a way to become an important part of the Fringe family.  Sign-ups will be accepted on a rolling basis; but the sooner you sign up, the more likely you’ll get the shifts you want! Sign up now by filling out this form. Our team will contact you in the following weeks with more details! Please feel free to share any questions or concerns with Abigail at volunteers@hftco.ca.
9. We continue our current in-person gathering approach: i) we will form the circle again in the lower hall, distancing the seats by a metre for the time being. ii) people may join the circle if they are willing to wear a mask.
10. The reason for the masks is that we will allow ourselves to sing, and masking reduces the distance air we expel travels with the increased effort singing.
11. New Vision Virtual Worship is experiential, participatory, image-rich and collective, just like worship in person at New Vision! Join us on Sunday mornings 10:30 am week to week during the Covid-19 emergency by clicking here. If you want to put the link someplace easy to find each week, here it is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/782292511. Please share it with others and invite them to a “different” kind of time on Zoom from the usual.
12. You can also call in to the gathering on the telephone. Call 1 647 374 4685, then, when prompted, input the Meeting ID 782 292 511 followed by the # sign. Ignore the prompts for Participant ID and Password. You are in when the recorded voice says, “You are in the meeting.” If you can only connect by video on your computer with no audio, you can use the phone connection for audio and the computer connection for visual.

I look forward to seeing you Sunday again, or for the first time –

Rev Ian

Thur June 1 2023

1. In the Key of ARRR!: This Saturday June 3rd at 7:30pm, A La Mode Choir (this is Martine’s choir that did the gospel concert back in the fall) will be presenting a concert upstairs in the Music Hall! Prepare to set sail at our choral concert filled with treasures! Sea Shanties, folk songs, moving ballads, and of course some laughs will delight the senses and inspire the adventurer in you! Tickets are $30 and you can buy them at the door.
2. We will celebrate Pride month with the rest of the United Church this Sunday, June 4. We are pleased to have Ward 2 Councillor Cameron Kroetsch join us and speak to us that day. Councillor Kroetsch accepted our invitation to be our anniversary speaker on some Sunday during our anniversary month of June. Sunday June 4 it is! We look forward to his presence.
3. June is Wesley Urban Ministries’ Case for Kids month. The annual walk takes place on Sunday June 4 in the early afternoon. Wesley has created a video to help promote Case for Kids, which raises funds for Wesley’s children youth and family programs.  This is the link to the video!.
4. Tottering Bi-Ped Theatre presents “Hearing ‘Portraits at an Exhibition’” in our Lower Hall during Hamilton Arts Week June 8-17. FREE. Two performances: one on Thursday, June 15 at 2 pm, the other on Saturday June 17 at 8 pm. From Tottering Bi-Ped:  “Mimi Han and Trevor Copp have a challenge: you may listen to Classical music, but do you actually hear it? How many minutes at the Symphony pass before you are thinking about your to-do list at home, or wondering about dinner? We know this is incredible music, but what can we do to actually keep our heads into the sound? Drawing from their opposing experiences with Music, Mimi and Trevor conduct a series of experiments to provoke new ways of hearing. Working with Mussorgski’s ‘Portraits at an Exhibition,’ we will move, smell, see, and feel our way through the music to see if we can find a deeper experience of listening to music.”
5. Community Spotlight: Mental Health Services in Hamilton. Thursday, June 15th 2023 – 1:00 – 3:00 PM Christ’s Church Cathedral – 252 James St. North.  This is a free event open to the community. Tickets are free but registration is encouraged to anticipate numbers.  Please register here.  Following the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in demand for mental health programs and services, specifically in the Hamilton region.. Please join us to learn from a panel of experts about Mental Health Services, the mental health environment and referral systems in Hamilton.
6. Hamilton Fringe Festival is recruiting Volunteers! We’re so grateful for the lively energy and sense of community our volunteers bring to the table! With complete control over your schedule and various roles to choose from, everyone can find a way to become an important part of the Fringe family.  Sign-ups will be accepted on a rolling basis; but the sooner you sign up, the more likely you’ll get the shifts you want! Sign up now by filling out this form. Our team will contact you in the following weeks with more details! Please feel free to share any questions or concerns with Abigail at volunteers@hftco.ca.
7. We continue our current in-person gathering approach: i) we will form the circle again in the lower hall, distancing the seats by a metre for the time being. ii) people may join the circle if they are willing to wear a mask.
8. The reason for the masks is that we will allow ourselves to sing, and masking reduces the distance air we expel travels with the increased effort singing.
9. New Vision Virtual Worship is experiential, participatory, image-rich and collective, just like worship in person at New Vision! Join us on Sunday mornings 10:30 am week to week during the Covid-19 emergency by clicking here. If you want to put the link someplace easy to find each week, here it is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/782292511. Please share it with others and invite them to a “different” kind of time on Zoom from the usual.
10. You can also call in to the gathering on the telephone. Call 1 647 374 4685, then, when prompted, input the Meeting ID 782 292 511 followed by the # sign. Ignore the prompts for Participant ID and Password. You are in when the recorded voice says, “You are in the meeting.” If you can only connect by video on your computer with no audio, you can use the phone connection for audio and the computer connection for visual.

I look forward to seeing you Sunday again, or for the first time –

Rev Ian

Thur May 18 2023

1. Christ is risen!
2. Christ is risen indeed!
3. This Sunday is the concluding Sunday of the season of Easter — the Day of Pentecost! It is also our Asian Heritage Month focus Sunday with leadership from Jen, Joda, Joey and Jie. If James gets involved, it’s a 5J thing.
4. In the Key of ARRR!: On Saturday June 3rd at 7:30pm, A La Mode Choir (this is Martine’s choir that did the gospel concert back in the fall) will be presenting a concert upstairs in the Music Hall. Prepare to set sail at our choral concert filled with treasures! Sea Shanties, folk songs, moving ballads, and of course some laughs will delight the senses and inspire the adventurer in you! Tickets are $30 and will be available after service this coming Sunday.
5. We would love to have some volunteers from New Vision to sell baked goods and bottled water during intermission at the concert.  If you are interested in this, please speak to Martine!  Thank you for your support!
6. We will celebrate Pride month with the rest of the United Church on the first Sunday of June, June 4. We are pleased to have Ward 2 Councillor Cameron Kroetsch join us and speak to us that day. Councillor Kroetsch accepted our invitation to speak on some Sunday during our anniversary month of June. Sunday June 4 was most convenient for him. We look forward to his participation!
7. June is Wesley Urban Ministries’ Case for Kids month. The annual walk takes place on Sunday June 4 in the early afternoon. Wesley has created a video to help promote Case for Kids, which raises funds for Wesley’s children youth and family programs.  This is the link to the video!
8. From the Al Zahra family on our celebration with them of their first year in Canada on May 7: “Thank you very much Karen and everyone who contributed to this wonderful ceremony and to my sponsors and the church and the Church of America and also thank you for the delicious food you are very good people and I hope that you and my family will send many thanks to the church and my sponsors and the Church of America and everyone who contributed to this wonderful ceremony  It’s a beautiful day. Marwan”
9. Please take a moment to learn about Affirm United’s United Against Hate Campaign in support of Drag and 2SLGBTQ+ communities at this link. The link gives you an opportunity to sign a petition.
10. We continue our current in-person gathering approach: i) we will form the circle again in the lower hall, distancing the seats by a metre for the time being. ii) people may join the circle if they are willing to wear a mask.
11. The reason for the masks is that we will allow ourselves to sing, and masking reduces the distance air we expel travels with the increased effort singing.
12. New Vision Virtual Worship is experiential, participatory, image-rich and collective, just like worship in person at New Vision! Join us on Sunday mornings 10:30 am week to week during the Covid-19 emergency by clicking here. If you want to put the link someplace easy to find each week, here it is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/782292511. Please share it with others and invite them to a “different” kind of time on Zoom from the usual.
13. You can also call in to the gathering on the telephone. Call 1 647 374 4685, then, when prompted, input the Meeting ID 782 292 511 followed by the # sign. Ignore the prompts for Participant ID and Password. You are in when the recorded voice says, “You are in the meeting.” If you can only connect by video on your computer with no audio, you can use the phone connection for audio and the computer connection for visual.
14. Christ is risen indeed!

I look forward to seeing you Sunday again, or for the first time –

Rev Ian

Thur May 18 2023

1. Christ is risen!
2. Christ is risen indeed!
3. May is Asian Heritage Month. We’ll mark it every Sunday of May, with leadership from within our Asian circle of members and participants. We’ll have our Sunday May 28 worship gathering focussed on the themes of the Month. This year’s pan-Canadian theme, “Continuing a Legacy of Greatness,” emphasizes the rich, diverse, and historic pathways that have laid the foundation for Asian communities in Canada to thrive.
4. SAVE THE DATE: On Saturday June 3rd at 7:30pm, A La Mode Choir (this is Martine’s choir that did the gospel concert back in the fall) will be presenting a concert upstairs in the Music Hall. Prepare to set sail at our choral concert filled with treasures! Sea Shanties, folk songs, moving ballads, and of course some laughs will delight the senses and inspire the adventurer in you! Tickets are $30 and will be available after services throughout May.
5. We would love to have some volunteers from New Vision to sell baked goods and bottled water during intermission at the concert.  If you are interested in this, please speak to Martine!  Thank you for your support!
6. We will celebrate Pride month with the rest of the United Church on the first Sunday of June. We are pleased to have Ward 2 Councillor Cameron Kroetsch join us and speak to us that day. Councillor Kroetsch accepted our invitation to speak on some Sunday during our anniversary month of June. Sunday June 4 was most convenient for him. We look forward to his participation!
7. Please take a moment to learn about Affirm United’s United Against Hate Campaign in support of Drag and 2SLGBTQ+ communities at this link. The link gives you an opportunity to sign a petition.
8. June is Wesley Urban Ministries’ Case for Kids month. The annual walk takes place on Sunday June 4 in the early afternoon. Wesley has created a video to help promote Case for Kids, which raises funds for Wesley’s children youth and family programs.  This is the link to the video!
9. We continue our current in-person gathering approach: i) we will form the circle again in the lower hall, distancing the seats by a metre for the time being. ii) people may join the circle if they are willing to wear a mask.
10. The reason for the masks is that we will allow ourselves to sing, and masking reduces the distance air we expel travels with the increased effort singing.
11. New Vision Virtual Worship is experiential, participatory, image-rich and collective, just like worship in person at New Vision! Join us on Sunday mornings 10:30 am week to week during the Covid-19 emergency by clicking here. If you want to put the link someplace easy to find each week, here it is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/782292511. Please share it with others and invite them to a “different” kind of time on Zoom from the usual.
12. You can also call in to the gathering on the telephone. Call 1 647 374 4685, then, when prompted, input the Meeting ID 782 292 511 followed by the # sign. Ignore the prompts for Participant ID and Password. You are in when the recorded voice says, “You are in the meeting.” If you can only connect by video on your computer with no audio, you can use the phone connection for audio and the computer connection for visual.
13. Christ has risen indeed!

I look forward to seeing you Sunday again, or for the first time –

Rev Ian