A congregation of the United Church of Canada
FAITH UNITED PROGRAMME CALENDAR
FALL 2026
Becoming an Intercultural Church. 10
Children’s Programmes
Nursery
Our volunteers provide Sunday morning nursery supervision under the watchful eyes of our lead volunteer, Libby Robertson. The goal is to allow the children (0 – 3) to learn through experiences: sharing, exploring, and experimenting. The leaders guide the children as they discover the toys, small books, and play centers. Through stories and pictures, they learn of God’s love.
For infants, a change table, rocking chairs, and portable cribs are available to help both the parents/guardians and their babies feel at home.
Nursery care is provided during the Worship Service on all Sundays throughout the year and for special events as needed. A registration form is required. As well, we ask children to wear nametags and tags are put on their diaper bags.
Co-ordinator: Libby Robertson
Date & Time: Sundays during worship (10am to noon)
No preregistration required.
Joyful Noise
Joyful Noise is Faith United’s Children’s Programme for ages 3/JK to Grade 6. It runs each Sunday from the beginning of September until the end of June. Children spend a few minutes in the church service and then after a Time for Young and Young at Heart with our minister, they go out to Joyful Noise, where they are invited to learn about a story from the Bible through a variety of activities including games, music, arts and crafts, puppetry, storytelling and drama.
Our teachers volunteer their time, energies, talents, and ideas to Joyful Noise. The children are involved in many different activities throughout the year: bringing in food donations, planting in the church garden, preparing snacks for the church’s coffee time, and bringing in and making items for donation to local charities. Your child is welcome to join us on any Sunday. We’d be happy to have them come and participate in the fun!
Registration forms required for all children.
Co-ordinator: Marlene Hazlett
Date & Time: Sundays at 10:30 am beginning September 13th
No preregistration required.
Tots on Tuesday
This programme, for parents and preschoolers, is offered midweek. Its purpose is to provide an opportunity for story and song, simple crafts, snacks, music and fun.
It is a casual time for children to meet, learn and play together to spark and nurture their faith journey. Participating together, while celebrating God’s presence, parents and caregivers enjoy companionship as well as time for coffee and friendship.
Please invite your friends and neighbours to join in the fun.
Facilitator: Enid DeCoe
Date & Time: Tuesdays from 10:00-11:30 am beginning September 15th
No preregistration required.
Family Fun Night
Come join us for kid friendly suppers and activities for the whole family. There will be music and stories and all kinds of family-oriented activities.
There is fun for grandparents to babies and everyone in between. Come, let us make dinner for you while you have fun!
Facilitated by Faith Journey Resources members
The last Friday of each month, 5:00-7:00 pm beginning September 25th
No preregistration required.
Youth Programmes
Junior Youth Group
A welcoming space for youth in grades 6–8 to connect, have fun, and grow together in faith. Through games, discussion, and hands-on activities, our Junior Youth Group builds friendship, community, and belonging for every young person who walks through the door.
Facilitators: Teena Daize and Mark Hunter
Dates and Times: 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at 6:30 pm starting September 23rd
No preregistration required.
Senior Youth Group
The Senior Youth Group runs monthly for students in grades 9 to 12. Meetings, events, outings, volunteer opportunities, and community connections are the main goals of this program. Open to everyone!
Facilitators: Michelle Jovel and Suier Richardson
Dates: September 27, October 25,
November 22, December 13, January 24 and more to be announced.
Time: 6:30 to 8:30 pm (living room)
No preregistration required.
Adult Programmes
The Porch Light
An evening bible study where we dive deeper into the scripture passages that are read on Sunday. The first half of our gatherings will be spent reflecting on the scripture that was read during the previous Sunday. This will be an opportunity to share any questions, insights, or observations you had after worship, and to hear what stood out for others.
The second half of the gathering will focus on the upcoming scripture passage that will be read that Sunday. This will be your chance to help Ned write his sermon! 😉
Facilitator: Rev Ned Wells
Date & Time: Mondays from 6:30-8:00 pm beginning September 14th.
Hybrid format – in person and on Zoom
No preregistration required.
Curve Lake Powwow
Come experience the Curve Lake 72nd Pow Wow on Saturday, September 19th. The celebration of ceremony, dance and song will feature handcrafted art, artisan vendors, traditional foods and more.
A carpool sign-up sheet is on the atrium table, or email office@faithunited.ca. Please confirm if you are willing to drive. We can only carpool if there are drivers.
We will gather in the parking lot starting at 9:30 pm and the anticipated leaving time is 10 am. If you are driving, please consider how long you wish to stay so passengers can go with someone who anticipates being there for a similar period.
If you are 60 or older or under 5, entry is free; 13-59 is $10.00 and 6-12 is $5.00 per day. Tickets can be procured at https://curvelakepowwow.com/ ahead of time.
Co-ordinator: Elizabeth Valliant
Date and Time: Saturday, September 19th – meet at the church at 9:30 am for a 10:00 am departure. Carpooling is being organized for this event.
Registration – please sign up on the list in the atrium.
Dipping Your Toes
We have had several people ask about joining the church through baptism, transfer of membership, or profession of faith. We’ve also noticed many new faces on Sunday.
We thought that having a gathering for people to get to know one another and the community would be a good way to “dip your toes in.”
There would be opportunities to learn about the United Church of Canada and Faith United.
Attending these gatherings is not a requirement for joining Faith United. There is also no obligation or pressure to join the church after attending these. And you don’t need to be new to the church to participate. All are welcome.
Facilitator: Rev Ned Wells
Monthly meetings in the evening – starting date TBD
Register with Rev. Ned Wells at minister@faithunited.ca
New Testament Women
This is a book study written by author, Donald Schmidt. He introduces us to a number of women from the New Testament and invites us to get to know them as they are presented apart from historic tradition. In doing so, we get to know some real people and hear the message the writers sought to give about them.
The study includes many women who played key leadership roles such as Mary of Magdala, Tabitha, and others. He also includes several women whose names have been lost but whose stories can teach us much about Jesus’s ministry and the role of women and men in the early church.
Facilitated by: Pat Long
Dates & Times: every other Monday at 1:00 pm starting on October 5th.
Registration required by September 18th
Book cost: $20.
Becoming an Intercultural Church
This course is offered through the United Church of Canada. We will participate as a group through Zoom. It will explore how churches can move beyond simple “inclusion” efforts or diversity initiatives and work towards genuine transformation.
The themes of each of week are:
Week #1: October 14, 2026 – Advent: Waiting in Changing Landscapes.
Week #2: October 21, 2026 – Christmas: Crumbs or Banquet? Confronting Racism as a Theological Wound.
Week #3: October 28, 2026 – Epiphany: Intercultural Theology and the Gift of the Other.
Week #4: November 4, 2026 – Lent: Missio Dei and Restraint from Mastery.
Week #5: November 18, 2026 – Easter: Reconciliation without Mastery.
Week #6: November 25, 2026 – Pentecost: Becoming an Intercultural Church.
Facilitator: Elizabeth Valliant
Presenter: Rev Dr Hyuk Cho
Times: Wednesday evenings 6:00-7:30 pm.
Registration required by October 4th
Cost – the group cost is $70. The cost per participant is dependent on the number registering.
Guest Speaker
Rev Dr Konnie Vissers
Rev. Dr. Konnie Vissers was ordained in 2015 in the Presbyterian Church in Canada.
She has spent the past two decades working with children, particularly those on the fringes of society in the United States, Guatemala, and Canada. She started The Children’s Garden Collective in 2022 and eventually renamed it Rooted: Centre for Theology and Eco-Justice, in the hopes of bridging the gaps in food security in our cities and teaching children about the benefits of sustainable gardening and Earth care in a theologically grounded manner.
Konnie’s PhD research considered how congregations can use gardening as a spiritual practice to bolster resilience in children who face eco-anxiety. Konnie also teaches as a Sessional Professor at Knox College—University of Toronto and Vancouver School of Theology in the areas of human development, psycho-spiritual care, ministry, and eco-theology.
Facilitator: Rev Ned Wells
Tentative dates:
Preaching: Sunday, October 4th
Q&A Session: Wednesday, October 7th
Creative Programmes
Wartime Radio Show
War Time Radio is a theatrical production written by Brian Stevens about a live to air radio show going out to the men and women overseas. The time is 1944 and the setting is right here in central Ontario.
The cast for the show can be as big or as small as the number of people who want to participate. Most roles are read, although there are a few that may be memorized, and there is lots of music included in the production providing singers with the opportunity to contribute their talents.
As in any show, War Time Radio also needs backstage support including props, costumes, makeup, ticket sales, advertising, etc. The rehearsals will culminate in performances on October 24th.
Facilitators: Gail Minacs and Diana Chappell
First meeting: September 16th at 6:30-8:30 pm for performers and production team
Show Date: October 24th
Register by September 13th
Knitters
Have you ever thought about how much you like to knit or how much you’d like to learn how to knit? Well, this is your opportunity.
We can knit for the bazaar or mitten tree, make prayer shawls, or any other project that interests you. It would also be an opportunity to knit for yourself and your family. We can learn new stitches and help each other with our knitting challenges. Everyone is invited, including men!
Co-ordinator: Donna Bignell
Day and Time: Tuesdays at 9:30 am beginning September 8th
No preregistration required.
Quilters
Our quilters also meet on Tuesday mornings to work on various quilting projects such as full-size quilts, baby quilts, and lap quilts.
Come join us if you are interested in a quilt or in learning how to quilt. We will be glad to help you get started.
Co-ordinator:Gail Scott
Day and Time: Tuesdays at 9:30 am beginning September 8th
No preregistration required.
Crafters
Join us on Thursdays from 10 to 2. No experience or talent required. We help each other to make new decor using found objects, glue guns, sparkly things or forest treasures. No cost. Snacks provided. All profits from the sale of our creations go to the church. Join us for giggles and glue. Everyone welcome.
Co-ordinator: Kathleen Pearce
Day and Time: Thursdays from 10:00 am-2:00 pm
No preregistration required.
Choir
The choir is more than just what you see on Sunday mornings. We get together Thursday evenings to learn about singing, to develop our vocal abilities, to learn new skills such as sight singing, and, most importantly, to have fun! There is no requirement to know how to read music. All you need is the desire to enjoy music.
Joining the choir does not mean that you need to commit to every Thursday and every Sunday. Participate as often as you are able. Everyone is welcome to be part of this enriching experience.
We are always looking for additional voices for special events such as Christmas, Easter, concerts, etc. So if a short term program fits your schedule and you like to sing, this opportunity is for you.
Music Facilitator: Kristine Dandavino
Day and Time: Thursdays at 7 pm beginning September 17th
No preregistration required.
Other Opportunities
Men’s Gathering, a social time with coffee and conversation is on Thursday mornings at 9:30 am.
United Church Women (UCW) meet on the third Wednesday of the month starting on September 16th at 1:00-3:00 pm.
Euchre meets every other Monday afternoon at 1:00 pm beginning September 14th (no euchre on September 28th)
Gardening and Property Care Join us on Tuesdays from 9:00 am to noon for a morning of weeding, cutting grass, taking care of the trails, or just watering and chatting.
Mark your calendars
Monthly food drive on the first Tuesday of each month (9:00 am to 1:00 pm)
September 20 – Welcome Back Sunday
November 1 – Pumpkin Parade
November 7 – UCW bazaar
November 12 – Shopping Bus Trip
November 29 – Advent Event
December 6 – Christmas Concert at 2:00 pm
Coming in 2027
Watch for the Winter/Spring Programme Calendar coming in the new year with another selection of special programmes, such as a women’s retreat, and maybe a men’s retreat as well, with lots of other great opportunities for learning and community.