Category: New Vision Notes

Friday Dec 10 2021

1. Advent! And then Christmas! This Sunday is our third of four Advent Sundays: purging the old and bringing in the new. This Sunday brings us to Joy.
2. Helping each other out is part of our joy. Wesley Urban Ministries is foregoing its Christmas store again this year in favour of Christmas hampers. New Vision’s donation drive helps with Wesley’s Christmas wish list. You can find Wesley’s list here. We will set out our Wesley donation box at 24 Main W this Sunday. You can make a donation in cash anytime online.
3. Our annual Service of Remembrance and Hope will take place this coming Tuesday, December 14 at 7 pm. Like all our worship gatherings now, it will be hybrid – in-person and on Zoom. Here is the Zoom link. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89910290349. Our Service of Remembrance and Hope is a meaningful part of our Advent practice – especially, but not only, for us remembering our losses in the last year. Everyone can benefit.
4. Church Calendars for 2022 are now available as a fundraiser for New Vision.  Please order yours from Arlene Whatmough at 905-527-0383, and she will make arrangements for delivery.  $10. each and a nice gift to give.
5. New Vision’s Annual Christmas Appeal has begun. If you would like to receive Church Council Chair Dixon Challoner’s Christmas letter and learn more about this year’s New Vision appeal, let me know here and I will have it sent to you.
6. We will hold our Christmas Eve service this year in a hybrid in-person and online way at 7 pm.
7. We are worshipping in a hybrid way on Sundays — both in-person on our MacNab campus (24 Main W) and virtually on Zoom each Sunday morning live at 10:30 am. Under Step 3 rules we can have up to 25 people in-person at our worship gatherings. There is room for more of us if you’d like to come! If you feel ready to venture out to join in, we will be following all the prescribed protocols for Step 3, including hand-sanitizing, face-masks, 2 metre physical distancing, no congregational singing, and screening questions on arrival. You may be asked if you are double vaccinated but will not be asked for a vaccination passport. If you wish not to answer the question or indicate you have not been vaccinated, you will be invited to accept the use of an N95 mask since it will provide more safety for you and for others attending in person. Entrance will be through the entrance in the middle of the MacNab Street addition. If you have any symptoms of illness, please plan not to attend in person on Sunday morning: come virtually!
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. You can also call in to the gathering on the telephone toll free. 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.

Hope to see you Sunday ~ again, or for the first time ~

Rev Ian

Thur Nov 18 2021

1. Thanks to everyone who participated and gave leadership in recognizing Trans Day of Remembrance this past Sunday. Trans Day of Remembrance occurs Nov 20 each year, so the actual day, Saturday, is still ahead of us this week.
2. We’ll be holding our Threshold Partner Commitment Renewal worship gathering this Sunday, Nov 21.
3. Here’s our description of Threshold Partnership.
4. Our Threshold Partnership practice calls us to renew our Threshold Partner affirmations and commitments once a year. We missed last year because of the pandemic.
5. Affirmation is the most important part of our Threshold Partnership. If you have come three or four Sundays, we want you to know we affirm you.
6. Thus we strive to invite newcomers to become a Threshold Partner after you have attended 3 or 4 of our worship gatherings
7. Ideally we keep track and ensure that everyone who is currently a Threshold Partner wants to continue as one for the upcoming year.
8. This year we will be sending out email notices to those who are Threshold Partners inviting them to renew their commitment for the upcoming year and to attend our worship gathering on November 21 to participate in our annual renewal of the Partnership.
9. We’ll try to connect in the days ahead directly with newcomers who have not yet been introduced in a personal way to our Threshold Partnership practice with an invitation to join. If we don’t get to you before Nov 21 we will be in touch. People can become Threshold Partners at any time during the year. As well, those who might have decided not to continue as a Threshold Partner in prior years can commit to being one again for the year ahead.
10. Advent is coming! And then Christmas! Next Sunday, Nov 28 is the first Sunday of Advent. We will be recognizing the International Day for People with Disabilities. The International Day for People with Disabilities occurs on December 3 of each year.
11. Church Calendars for 2022 are now available as a Fundraiser for New Vision.  Please order yours from Arlene Whatmough at 905-527-0383, and she will make arrangements for delivery.  $10. Each and a nice gift to give.
12. We are worshipping in a hybrid way — both in-person on our MacNab campus (24 Main W) and virtually on Zoom each Sunday morning live at 10:30 am. Under Step 3 rules we can have up to 25 people in-person at our worship gatherings. There is room for more of us if you’d like to come! If you feel ready to venture out to join in, we will be following all the prescribed protocols for Step 3, including hand-sanitizing, face-masks, 2 metre physical distancing, no congregational singing, and screening questions on arrival. You may be asked if you are double vaccinated but will not be asked for a vaccination passport. If you wish not to answer the question or indicate you have not been vaccinated, you will be invited to accept the use of an N95 mask since it will provide more safety for you and for others attending in person. Entrance will be through the Youth Centre entrance on MacNab Street. If you have any symptoms of illness, please plan not to attend in person on Sunday morning: come virtually!
13. With the new vaccine certificate protocol anyone with a green health card can print and have their vaccine certificate laminated for free at any branch of the Hamilton Public Library. For more info: https://www.hpl.ca/VaccineCertificates
14. 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.
15. You can also call in to the gathering on the telephone toll free. 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.

Hope to see you Sunday ~ again, or for the first time ~

Rev Ian

Thur Nov 4 2021

1. This Sunday will include our Armistice Day remembrances. We will also be celebrating communion.
2. Sunday Nov 14 we are recognizing Trans Day of Remembrance during our service with a special presentation. Trans Day of Remembrance occurs Nov 20 each year.
3. We’ll be holding our Threshold Partner Commitment Renewal worship gathering on Sunday Nov 21.
4. Here’s our description of Threshold Partnership.
5. The pandemic set us off course in our efforts to develop this unique way of naming and being a part of and growing together as the New Vision faith community.
6. We have been focused in the last 18 months on reaching out to people and sustaining connections against the stresses of social distancing and lock downs.  As we all know we experienced ups and downs in this.
7. Our Threshold Partnership practice calls us to renew our Threshold Partner affirmations and commitments once a year. We missed last year.
8. Ideally we keep track and ensure that everyone who is currently a Threshold Partner wants to continue as one for the upcoming year.
9. Affirmation is the most important part of our Threshold Partnership. If you have come three or four Sundays, we want you to know we affirm you.
10. Thus we strive to invite you to become a Threshold Partner after you have attended 3 or 4 of our worship gatherings
11. This year we will be sending out email notices to those who are Threshold Partners inviting them to renew their commitment for the upcoming year and to attend our worship gathering on November 21 to participate in our annual renewal of the Partnership.
12. We’ll try to connect in the days ahead directly with newcomers who have not yet been introduced in a personal way to our Threshold Partnership practice with an invitation to join.
13. 15 Days of Action…Stop the Sprawl is offering ideas to participate in the final days of the campaign through to November 9^th when City Council debates the Urban Boundary Expansion Proposals at their website here.
14. If you’d like to dance…Open Hearts Theatre https://www.openheartartstheatre.com  is holding a dance class in the lower hall on Wednesdays at 1:30 pm. This is for everyone. Entrance through the east alley door into the lower hall.
15. We are worshipping in a hybrid way — both in-person on our MacNab campus (24 Main W) and virtually on Zoom each Sunday morning live at 10:30 am. Under Step 3 rules we can have up to 25 people in-person at our worship gatherings. There is room for more of us if you’d like to come! If you feel ready to venture out to join in, we will be following all the prescribed protocols for Step 3, including hand-sanitizing, face-masks, 2 metre physical distancing, no congregational singing, and screening questions on arrival. You may be asked if you are double vaccinated but will not be asked for a vaccination passport. If you wish not to answer the question or indicate you have not been vaccinated, you will be invited to accept the use of an N95 mask since it will provide more safety for you and for others attending in person. Entrance will be through the Youth Centre entrance on MacNab Street. If you have any symptoms of illness, please plan not to attend in person on Sunday morning: come virtually!
16. With the new vaccine certificate protocol anyone with a green health card can print and have their vaccine certificate laminated for free at any branch of the Hamilton Public Library. For more info: https://www.hpl.ca/VaccineCertificates
17. 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.
18. You can also call in to the gathering on the telephone toll free. 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.

Hope to see you Sunday ~ again, or for the first time ~

Rev Ian

Thur Oct 21 2021

1. We’ll be holding our Threshold Partner Commitment Renewal worship gathering on Sunday Nov 21. The pandemic skewed our efforts to develop this unique way of naming and being a part of and growing together as the New Vision faith community. We focused instead in the last 18 months on reaching out to people and sustaining connections against the stresses of social distancing and lock downs. More next week on the Threshold Partnership and our plans leading up to November 21.
2. If you’d like to dance…Open Hearts Theatre is holding a dance class in our lower hall on Wednesdays at 1:30 pm. This is for everyone. Entrance through the east alley door into the lower hall.
3. We are worshipping in a hybrid way — both in-person on our MacNab campus (24 Main W) and virtually on Zoom each Sunday morning live at 10:30 am. Under Step 3 rules we can have up to 25 people in-person at our worship gatherings. There is room for more of us if you’d like to come! If you feel ready to venture out to join in, we will be following all the prescribed protocols for Step 3, including hand-sanitizing, face-masks, 2 metre physical distancing, no congregational singing, and screening questions on arrival. You may be asked if you are double vaccinated but will not be asked for a vaccination passport. If you wish not to answer the question or indicate you have not been vaccinated, you will be invited to accept the use of an N95 mask since it will provide more safety to you and others attending in person. Entrance will be through the Youth Centre entrance on MacNab Street. If you have any symptoms of illness, please plan not to attend in person on Sunday morning: come virtually!
4. With the new vaccine certificate protocol anyone with a green health card can print and have their vaccine certificate laminated for free at any branch of the Hamilton Public Library. For more info: https://www.hpl.ca/VaccineCertificates
5. 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.
6. You can also call in to the gathering on the telephone toll free. 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.

Hope to see you Sunday ~ again, or for the first time ~

Rev Ian

Fri Oct 15 2021

1. As we joyfully enter into our post-Thanksgiving season we begin to gather ourselves together for our annual Threshold Partnership Commitment Renewal Sunday. More on this in the next few weeks after our New Vision Church Council meeting this coming Tuesday evening.
2. We are worshipping both in-person on our MacNab campus (24 Main W) and virtually each Sunday morning live at 10:30 am. Under Step 3 rules we can have up to 25 people in-person at our worship gatherings. There is room for more of us if you’d like to come! If you feel ready to venture out to join in, we will be following all the prescribed protocols for Step 3, including hand-sanitizing, face-masks, 2 metre physical distancing, no congregational singing, and screening questions on arrival. Entrance will be through the Youth Centre entrance on MacNab Street. If you have any symptoms of illness, please plan not to attend in person on Sunday morning.
3. With the new vaccine certificate protocol anyone with a green health card can print and have their vaccine certificate laminated for free at any branch of the Hamilton Public Library. For more info: https://www.hpl.ca/VaccineCertificates
4. 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.
5. You can also call in to the gathering on the telephone toll free. 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.
6. The organ console has been moved from its centre stage perch onto its own cart, giving us more space on the stage for performers and speakers.

Hope to see you Sunday ~ virtually, or in-person ~

Rev Ian

Thur Oct 7 2021

1. Thanksgiving is but days away now. How quickly it has come.
2. We are worshipping live both in-person on our MacNab campus (24 Main W) and virtually each Sunday morning. Under Step 3 rules we can have up to 25 people in-person at our worship gatherings. There is room for more of us if you’d like to come! If you feel ready to venture out to join in, we will be following all the prescribed protocols for Step 3, including hand-sanitizing, face-masks, 2 metre physical distancing, no congregational singing, and screening questions on arrival. Entrance will be through the Youth Centre entrance on MacNab Street. If you have any symptoms of illness, please plan not to attend in person on Sunday morning.
3. With the new vaccine certificate protocol anyone with a green health card can print and have their vaccine certificate laminated for free at any branch of the Hamilton Public Library. For more info: https://www.hpl.ca/VaccineCertificates
4. Toronto United Church Council’s (TUCC) annual Heart & Vision Awards Concert recognizes individuals whose work advances social justice. In 2021, the awards will be presented to Ekua Asabea Blair and Lawrence Hill who, through their community and literary work, address the roots and contemporary reality of systemic racism in Canada, and offer us all an alternative vision of love and hope. Please join TUCC for a free online celebration at 7 pm on Monday, October 18 featuring the music of Jackie Richardson, Billy Newton-Davis and Julie Michels. Featuring a special appearance by Poet Laureate George Elliot Clarke. Register at https://heartandvision2021.cato receive the event link.
5. 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.
6. You can also call in to the gathering on the telephone toll free. 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.

Hope to see you Sunday ~ again, or for the first time ~

Happy Thanksgiving!

Rev Ian

Thur Sept 23 2021

1. From Wesley Urban Ministries: Wow! A big thank you for all your efforts raising funds and awareness for Case for Kids! We are thrilled that we were able to raise just over $90,000 through the Case for Kids Campaign. We can’t thank you enough for your support! New Vision’s team total was $1,650.00!
2. With the new vaccine passports anyone with a green health card can print and have their vaccine certificate laminated for free at any branch of the Hamilton Public Library. For more info: https://www.hpl.ca/VaccineCertificates
3. A week today, Sept 30, is Canada’s first Truth and Reconciliation Day. Every Child Matters, the Urban Indigenous Circle and Chinook Winds Regional Council of the United Church of Canada invite you to join a Zoom panel with ecumenical Indigenous clergy at 7 pm Mountain Time. This distinguished panel will discuss the history of residential schools, the impact of intergenerational trauma, the recovery of children’s bodies and the ongoing role of Indigenous ministry in the church’s dialogue about reconciliation today. You can register here: https://www.jotform.com/form/212565453975263
4. We will be marking Orange Shirt Day as part of our Creation Time worship this Sunday, Sept 26. If you have an Every Child Matters shirt, please come to worship wearing it. If you have anything orange, make it part of our worship on Sunday. Matthew Green flyers and lawn signs probably not, however.
5. Some news on the Music Hall at New Vision front. The organ console is being moved down from its place in the choir loft onto a purpose-built moveable cart that will sit on the main floor of the Hall. When the 1500 lb organ console came to Centenary new in 2004 it was designed to function in this sort of arrangement. The place where it has been will be made good and become part of the permanent stage in a flexible stage design. When done, I’ll share photos here.
6. After 13 years with a youth centre at 24 Main W, we are bidding adieu to The Space, which will be moving out November 1. We are closing in now on beginning the renovations to 24 Main W. in the weeks ahead. We will begin rearranging our own use of space in the building to accommodate the planned renovation work.
7. Broadview Magazine: It is time to renew your subscription to Broadview magazine (formerly United Church Observer) If you don’t already subscribe, now would be a good time to start! Annual subscriptions, or renewals are only $25. You may drop your subscription money off  in person at New Vision to Arlene Whatmough on Sunday mornings or leave it in the Mailbox at the MacNab Street entrance, in an envelope addressed to her attention. You can also renew or start your new subscription at broadview.org/subscription/.
8. We are now worshipping live both in-person on our MacNab campus (24 Main W) and virtually each Sunday morning. Under Step 3 rules we can have up to 25 people in-person at our worship gatherings. There is room for more of us if you’d like to come! If you feel ready to venture out to join in, we will be following all the prescribed protocols for Step 3, including hand-sanitizing, face-masks, 2 metre physical distancing, no congregational singing, and screening questions on arrival.
9. Is New Vision encouraging you to come to the in-person gathering? Encouraging you to continue to join in virtually? We are encouraging you to do either! If more than 25 show up for our in-person gathering, we have an overflow room set up with the zoom meeting digitally projected on a screen there.
10. We are also able to hold a social time after the worship gathering. We plan to have cookies and cold drinks again this Sunday.
11. Entrance will be through the Youth Centre entrance on MacNab Street. If you have any symptoms of illness, please plan not to attend in person on Sunday morning.
12. If you have not yet been vaccinated, or have yet to get your second vaccination, please consider doing so. Vaccination has clear health benefits for us all as part of the community. It will make attendance at in-person gatherings more safe for all in attendance.
13. 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.
14. You can also call in to the gathering on the telephone toll free. Call 1 855 703 8985, 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.

Hope to see you Sunday ~ again, or for the first time ~

Rev Ian

Thur Aug 12 2021

1. We are going to say an ice-cream-treat hello to our neighbours and each other on our Holton campus on Saturday, August 14 from 1-3 pm. We’ll have an ice-cream truck, and free ice cream treats for everyone thanks to our property redevelopment partner friends. We’ll set up our New Vision booth to connect again and share with whomever drops by.  I hope  to  see  you  there!
2. We’re calling it “A Summer State of Mind”. Ward 3 Councillor Nrinder Nann plans to drop by and would be delighted to get to know you in person. As you will recall, Nrinder was our 7^th anniversary speaker and spoke movingly to us on the theme of community development work that starts from ‘seeing no stranger.’
3. We will be following pandemic Step 3 rules: 2 metre physical distancing from others outside of your household if you are without a mask outside. Only as many people as can be accommodated at 2 metre distancing will be allowed in the parking lot at the same time. (We don’t foresee this being a problem, but you never know!)
4. This Sunday coming brings us to the threshold of my summer vacation. Watch this space during my time away for worship leadership info during my absence.  For pastoral emergencies please reach out to Erin Poole, Dan Peace, or Linda Waugh.
5. We are now worshipping live both in-person on our MacNab campus (24 Main W) and virtually each Sunday morning. Under Step 3 rules we can have up to 25 people in-person at our worship gatherings. We have been averaging about 15 people a Sunday in the last few weeks – there is room for more of us! Martine has joined us at the piano in the lower hall. If you feel ready to venture out to join in, we will be following all the prescribed protocols for Step 3, including hand-sanitizing, face-masks, 2 metre physical distancing, no congregational singing, and screening questions on arrival.
6. Is New Vision encouraging you to come to the in-person gathering? Encouraging you to continue to join in virtually? We are encouraging you to do either! If more than 25 show up for our in-person gathering, we have an overflow room set up with the zoom meeting digitally projected on a screen there.
7. We are also able to hold a social time after the worship gathering. We plan to have cookies and cold drinks again this Sunday.
8. Entrance will be through the Youth Centre entrance on MacNab Street. If you have any symptoms of illness, please plan not to attend in person on Sunday morning.
9. If you have not yet been vaccinated, or have yet to get your second vaccination, please consider doing so. Vaccination has clear health benefits for us all as part of the community. It will make attendance at in-person gatherings more safe for all in attendance.
10. 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.
11. You can also call in to the gathering on the telephone toll free. Call 1 855 703 8985, 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.

Hope to see you Sunday ~ again, or for the first time ~

Rev Ian