News & Announcements
Keep up to date with news and events happening at Plymouth-Trinity! For upcoming church and community events, please see the Calendar.
National Indigenous Spiritual Gathering Concludes
Indigenous members of The United Church of Canada met on the territory of the Chippewas of Rama (Ontario) from August 8–11, to discern and decide upon the structure and priorities for the self-determining Indigenous church within the UCC.
The fourth National Indigenous Spiritual Gathering was hosted by the National Indigenous Council. Participants reached a consensus to create a new national Indigenous spiritual organization. See the full story here.
Statement on Quebec’s Bill 21
Statement by La Table des ministères en français of the United Church of Canada on Quebec’s Bill 21:
Since its creation in 1925 The United Church of Canada has developed from an inclusive perspective. We are also aware that our Quebec society lived through a period in which it sought to detach itself from significant religious control. Throughout the 1960s, the Quiet Revolution recognized the importance of a
secular state and government, as well as public services and institutions that serve civil society. The separation between state and religion (whatever religion it may be), is essential for us all and we support it unconditionally. After more than 50 years as a clearly secular state, we wonder why the Quebec government now fears the personal religious expression of individuals who represent the state.
Why would someone receiving services from our public institutions consider an employee wearing a religious symbol to be promoting their religion and therefore unable to carry out their duties in a professional manner?
We do not believe that the people of Quebec will suddenly adopt new religious views after seeing someone wearing religious symbols. We trust that Quebeckers can make their own decisions when it comes to their personal beliefs. In today’s open and democratic world, the sources of our inspiration and influence are diverse. It is precisely this open and democratic culture that we must maintain and nourish.
Exclusion takes many forms. We believe that a prohibition on wearing religious symbols for some employees of public institutions sows division instead of weaving a stronger social fabric. Some religious symbols are deeply rooted in the faith of a person and cannot simply be abandoned for eight hours of the day. Who leaves their values and principles at the door of their workplace each morning? As a people of faith, we do not, and we should not be asking others to do so. We must all carry out our duties with due respect, equally and to all.
Rather than excluding professionals who wear religious symbols, we should evaluate those who serve our public institutions on the basis of their ability to effectively carry out their duties. After all, who is to say that such an employee does not find inspiration for the work they do for others at the root of their faith? Our defensive actions prevent us from deepening this expression of our humanity.
Mutual enrichment through diversity, which we all share in and work towards, is a key commitment that is lived out within the United Church as well. The subtleties of our own statement on Bill 21 reflect the ongoing
conversations amongst our members and in our communities.
The United Church of Canada has Francophone roots in Quebec that go back to 1860; the oldest francoprotestant church in Quebec is a United Church situated in Belle-Rivière. It is as francophones, as Quebeckers and as protestants that we invite the Quebec government to celebrate its diversity within its common francophone culture. We ask the government to trust the people of Quebec to know the difference between a person living out their faith and the secular service provided by the state. The lessons from the Quiet Revolution have helped Quebec become a progressive society that is open to the world. Let us not adopt measures exclusion that impoverish this openness.
- Rosemary Lambie, Executive Minister, Nakonha:ka Region of the United Church of Canada
Éric Hébert-Daly, Responsible for Ministries in French, on behalf of La Table des ministères en français
Let this be the last inquiry
On June 3, we witnessed a historic event with the release of the final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
In a letter to The United Church of Canada, Moderator the Rt. Rev. Dr. Richard Bott and the Rev. Maggie Dieter, Executive Minister, Indigenous Ministries and Justice, urge non-Indigenous members and friends of the United Church to
+ read the final report of the Inquiry
+ advocate for the actions it demands of government
+ explore how each of us, individually and as communities of faith, will make the changes necessary to ensure the dignity and safety of Indigenous peoples in this country.
You will find the letter here.
What’s up for young people in the region?
What’s up for young people in the region?
To start, The United Church of Canada has set up a survey (just nine questions!) to help better understand how we can support the participation of young people in the life of the church. You don’t need to answer any personal questions – just let us know how you want to Be the Church.
The survey is open to submissions until August 28, 2019. Click here to fill it out!
WHAT ELSE?
Young Adult Retreat (Regional Council): Join us Sept. 13-15 at the Camp d'action biblique in Richmond for a weekend of spiritual reflection, music, nature, campfire, arts and crafts, workshops and more! This weekend is about forming supportive community and self-care. Registration $60, go here for more info.
WAIT, YOU MEAN THERE’S MORE?
Youth Forum: November 1 to 3 at Union United Church in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue.
Contact regional youth Shanna Bernier for more information... Get in touch with the P-T secretary’s office for contact info.
The inaugural meeting of the Nakonha:ka region
Aujourd'hui Credo has published an overview of the May inaugural meeting of the Nakonha:ka region.
Here it is, en francais!
Children's church and the role of our community
Sherbrooke, August 2019
Dear Parents, Grandparents, guardians and friends of kids at P-T
Starting last May, our Education and Outreach Team helped organise a move to (almost) weekly children's church activities at Plymouth-Trinity United Church. Our goal is to provide a safe, educational, worshipful space for kids to be kids and also experience church. Georgia Barratt-Lamey has been hired to provide additional support and leadership, accompanied by parent volunteers.
Each week where children's church is offered, we will spend the majority of the service downstairs engaging in music, stories, prayer, crafting, games and free play with the children. And we will provide a healthy snack most Sundays. We will join the congregation upstairs during the celebration of Holy Communion, which the children are encouraged (but not required) to participate in. The program materials we are using largely come from the curriculum "The Whole People of God".
Our program is geared towards children aged 3 and up, and we will adapt as best we can to the ages in our group. We hope to be able to lead worship upstairs a few times during the year, as well as hold a few special events, like our Saturday Advent gathering (November 30th this year) and a spring Picnic!
We need help. Shanna and Georgia cannot be the only leaders for the children. For this weekly children’s church to continue we need other parents to help with supervision and ensure the safety of all the participants. Please add your name to sign-up sheet on the back table in the sanctuary. We may also reach out to the congregation for donations of supplies for projects or items to make our Children's church space more fun!
For little ones too small for Children's church, or on Sundays where we do not have programming, Hazel, Sarah & friends will still be taking care of the colouring table in the Sanctuary. We deeply appreciate her ongoing support and care for the children.
Thank you for your support and prayers; please, do not hesitate to contact any of us if you have a question or a remark.
For the Children’s ministry
Shanna Bernier, coordinator
Georgia Barratt-Lamey, part-time
Samuel Vauvert Dansokho, pastor
Moderator's message for Pentecost 2019
Moderator Richard Bott offers his Pentecostal message:
"As a denomination, The United Church of Canada believes that the Holy Spirit continues to move in the world. As we say in the New Creed, God “works in us, and others, by the Spirit.” Where we recognize movements in the world that bring healing, hope, life, and abundant life for all creation, there’s a pretty good chance that we’ve met the movement of the Holy Spirit."
You'll find the video here.
Keep in touch! Use Facebook, email... and check us out here regularly!
Plymouth-Trinity wants you... to keep in touch! Want to stay in the loop? Let us count the ways.
First, this website. The Calendar is updated weekly, and our News section features new content weekly, as well. Our Sunday Bulletins, which include at least a couple of pages of announcements and notices of upcoming events, can be found every Friday in the Bulletin section!
We have a Facebook page (find us at here , and you can tag us @PlymTrin.
Our email is PlymouthTrinityChurch@gmail.com, and the office secretary is at 819-346-6373.
Call for nominations
The General Council Nominations Committee has launched a call for nominations for several vacancies.
People across the church are invited to express their interest, or nominate others who have the gifts to serve well in these leadership roles. The Nominations Committee welcomes hearing from anyone, and particularly encourages those from groups which have been traditionally marginalized in our church, including (but not limited to) youth and young adults, Indigenous and racialized members, those active in francophone ministry, and people who identify as disabled.
You can find United Church job and volunteer opportunities here. Check back regularly!
Children at P-T
Join us at Plymouth-Trinity for a family-friendly worship experience. Many Sundays feature a carefully planned children's church program, intended for those 3 and up. We also have a children's corner in the sanctuary with craft supplies and helpful volunteers for younger children, and for all kids on the Sundays when there is no children's church. Check the calendar elsewhere on this website to find out the schedule!
Items and belongings
In order to reduce clutter and confusion in the building and to ensure your belongings are returned to you (or at least are safe) please label all items you bring to church.
Lost and found: Have you misplaced something in the church? A Lost & Found box can be found in the church hall, right next to the elevator.
Bicycle Path
A reminder to please make sure your car does not cross the yellow lines outlining the bike path in the church parking lot.
Next Sunday
September 01, 2019
12th after Pentecost
- Jeremiah 2:4-13
- Psalm 81:1, 10-16
- Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16
- Luke 14:1, 7-14
Worship:
10:30 AM
News & Events
Children's church and the role of our community
Sherbrooke, August 2019
Dear Parents, Grandparents, guardians and friends of kids at P-T
Starting last May, our Education and Outreach Team helped organise a move to (almost) weekly children's church activities at Plymouth-Trinity United Church. Our goal is to provide a safe, educational, worshipful space for kids to be kids and also experience church. Georgia Barratt-Lamey has been hired to provide additional support and leadership, accompanied by parent volunteers.
Each week where children's church is offered, we will spend the majority of the service downstairs engaging in music, stories, prayer, crafting, games and free play with the children. And we will provide a healthy snack most Sundays. We will join the congregation upstairs during the celebration of Holy Communion, which the children are encouraged (but not required) to participate in. The program materials we are using largely come from the curriculum "The Whole People of God".
Our program is geared towards children aged 3 and up, and we will adapt as best we can to the ages in our group. We hope to be able to lead worship upstairs a few times during the year, as well as hold a few special events, like our Saturday Advent gathering (November 30th this year) and a spring Picnic!
We need help. Shanna and Georgia cannot be the only leaders for the children. For this weekly children’s church to continue we need other parents to help with supervision and ensure the safety of all the participants. Please add your name to sign-up sheet on the back table in the sanctuary. We may also reach out to the congregation for donations of supplies for projects or items to make our Children's church space more fun!
For little ones too small for Children's church, or on Sundays where we do not have programming, Hazel, Sarah & friends will still be taking care of the colouring table in the Sanctuary. We deeply appreciate her ongoing support and care for the children.
Thank you for your support and prayers; please, do not hesitate to contact any of us if you have a question or a remark.
For the Children’s ministry
Shanna Bernier, coordinator
Georgia Barratt-Lamey, part-time
Samuel Vauvert Dansokho, pastor
Call for nominations
The General Council Nominations Committee has launched a call for nominations for several vacancies.
People across the church are invited to express their interest, or nominate others who have the gifts to serve well in these leadership roles. The Nominations Committee welcomes hearing from anyone, and particularly encourages those from groups which have been traditionally marginalized in our church, including (but not limited to) youth and young adults, Indigenous and racialized members, those active in francophone ministry, and people who identify as disabled.
You can find United Church job and volunteer opportunities here. Check back regularly!
Children at P-T
Join us at Plymouth-Trinity for a family-friendly worship experience. Many Sundays feature a carefully planned children's church program, intended for those 3 and up. We also have a children's corner in the sanctuary with craft supplies and helpful volunteers for younger children, and for all kids on the Sundays when there is no children's church. Check the calendar elsewhere on this website to find out the schedule!
Bicycle Path
A reminder to please make sure your car does not cross the yellow lines outlining the bike path in the church parking lot.