Weddings and baptisms
Sunset United Church is available for weddings! See our Wedding Policy
Have your child baptized into a community of love. Baptism is a Sacrament
Contact
Sunset United Church
177 Sunset Drive [map]
Regina, SK, S4S 6Y7
306-586-3613 | Marci (office staff)
Ministers: Russell | Kathy
Office Hours:
9:00am-3:00pm Tuesday/Thursday; 9:00am-1:00pm Wednesday/Friday
Problems, questions or comments?
email the web committee
Author and Publisher Access
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Russell's Blog
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Slam Poet Video "TouchScreen" |
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Written by Russell Mitchell-Walker
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Sunday, 05 February 2012 12:51 |
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This video of Marshall Soulforce Jones called Touchscreen is an interesting commentary on technology and social interaction (or lack thereof). http://youtu.be/GAx845QaOck "From the Garden of Eden to the branches of MacIntosh, apple picking has always come at a great cost.' What do you think?
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Last Updated on Sunday, 05 February 2012 12:52 |
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Written by Russell Mitchell-Walker
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Saturday, 21 January 2012 11:27 |
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This past week, I spent one morning at the Truth and Reconciliation hearings at the First Nations University. These hearings are for people to share their residential school experience and work toward healing. It is important that there are non-aboriginal people present to witness and respectfully listen to what can be a difficult, courageous and painful sharing. One of the speakers was from Gordons First Nation and he went to residential day school across the street from where he lived. He did not want to go but was forced by the government agent and the nun. He was very close with his father who was his hero, but as he was taken and looked back to see his father going back to work, he said his hero died that day. He did not learn until he was 45 years old that the reason his father did nothing, was that they told him if his father wanted his son to go to a different school he had to give up his status as an Indian. He wasn't willing or able to do that. The speaker shared at one point, looking at the banner promoting the Truth and Reconciliation hearings, and the slogan, "For the child taken, For the parent left behind." He said the slogan should really read for the parent lost. He lost his father that day, who he thought his father was, and the healing came in knowing the truth 35 years later - he found his father again. This is very important, painful, and healing work that our government is doing, and we as a church who contributed to that pain, need to listen, learn, grow and be open to how we can be together in community. That is our work as we seek to live out our apology to First Nations congregations and those who attended and were affected by the Residential Schools system.
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Musical Christian Education |
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Written by Russell Mitchell-Walker
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Monday, 09 January 2012 11:41 |
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Yesterday we had our first rehearsal for the next Lumsden Beach Camp Musical Fundraiser. The musical this year is Cool in the Furnace, about Daniel's three friends Shadrach, Meshach and Abednigo who get thrown into the fiery furnace for refusing to bow and worship the king's statue. This is the eighth year of these musicals and Cool in the Furnace was the first one we did 7 years ago. During our White Gift Musical, I was wearing a child's soldier breastplate for one part and 11 year old Nathan was giggling in that moment (trying not to laugh out loud!) as he noticed that I was wearing what he wore when he was a guard in Cool in the Furnace when he was 5 years old!! He has been in all of the musicals and remembers the stories of each one. I have had conversations with parents and grandparents who notice how much the children take in of the story and learn about the message of God and God's people through participating in the musical. It is truly Christian Education. And it is accomplished in a very fun way that is also wonderfully multi-generational. We have had casts that included ages 2-80! It is truly a wonderful opportunity, not to be missed. So if you can participate, please join us. You won't regret it!
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Written by Russell Mitchell-Walker
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Monday, 12 December 2011 10:13 |
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This past Sunday a parent told me about a question her 8 year old son had. He was saying somthing like, 'I'm confused whose birth are we celebrating, it is Jesus or God's?' Now that is a very good question and I can understand his confusion as there is much theology in the church that equates Jesus with God, that Jesus is God. However, doctrine clearly states that we understand Jesus to be fully human and fully divine. Jesus never identifies himself as God in the way we might understand God. He may say that I and the 'Father' (God) are one, but that is not the same as being God in the traditional sense. My understanding of God is not traditional. I believe that Jesus was giving us a message that we are all divine, that God, the Divine is in each one of us. I think Jesus was more in touch with that divinty within and was encouraging all around him to be the same. When we are fully in touch with ourselves, our humanity, present to those around us and all that is important, love, compassion, justice, hope, joy, and peace, then we are tapping into that divine presence, God in and with us. It is not easy, as there are so many distractions that take us away from being present. That is what Jesus was teaching about. That is what his challenges to the powers of the time was about. 'Don't be so caught up in the rules and the laws of the time that you miss caring for others, that you missing loving your neighbour as yourself.' For us today it may be 'Don't be so caught up in making money and being successful, or haveing the next greatest thing, that you miss what is important in life, lovling others as yourself'. This is the message of the Christmas Story. Of the Christ, the Divine, breaking into our lives in unexpected ways and places. That we are all called to be fully who we are, loving ourselves that we can love others. When we do this, God is with us and in us, the Divine breaks through and wonderful things can and will happen. That is what I believe. That is the Christmas message of the Birth for me.
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Written by Russell Mitchell-Walker
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Monday, 07 November 2011 11:21 |
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This past Sunday, we had a multi-generational service which was planned by a team of adults, children and youth. A few weeks ago, I was asked by an older child in grade 6, who is part of our Explorer group, whether she and two others from the group could play a piece that they are learning for band at school. Now these three just started playing thier instruments (2 clarinets and a trumpet) in September! I welcomed their excitement about offering something for the worship service and said, "yes, of course!". Now I think there were a few adults who were a little anxious about this musical contribution given that they are just learning. However, they practiced together and we rehearsed a few times before the service. I debuted my first attempt at conducting, and it all went very well. When these opportunities come up it can be too easy for us to say no, and succumb to thoughts that it won't be 'good enough'. However, I am reminded of the gospel story of Jesus, telling the disciples and the people to "let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for it is to such as these that belongs the kingdom of God." I believe we had a little taste of the Kingdom on Sunday, that Shalom Community that Jesus was talking about. Whenever we encourage those in our midst to offer their gifts and welcome their offering of those gifts, we honour them and build them up. It is not about offering perfection, but offering what we have to God. This is good stewardship. So as we embark on our stewardship campaign this year, may we all consider what gifts we have to offer to the church, to God, and do so with the enthusiam and excitement of these children who gave us a real gift this past Sunday.
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Located in Regina, SK.
We are an 