Being an Affirming Ministry
Current Activities
For the date, time and title of the next movie, check Upcoming Events. If you missed a movie and would like to see it, please contact the church office as all DVDs are in the library and are available to be signed out.
The Minutes for Affirm are presented during the Sunday morning service. Past presentations are posted on this web site as Blogs.
2022
Jan 16 – Expanded Minute for Affirm – The Residential School System – Part 2
Jan 20 – Movie Night Discussion – Indian Horse
Jan 23 – Minute for Affirm – The Holocaust – through the eyes of a child
Feb 13 – Expanded Minute for Affirm – Church Apologies and Native Spirituality
Feb 17 – Movie Night Discussion – Across the Line
Feb 20 – Minute for Affirm – Pink Shirt Day/Anti-bullying Day
March 13 – PIE Day auction
March 17 – Movie Night Discussion – Diggstown – Nina Francis
March 20 – Minute for Affirm – The Trans Atlantic Slave Trade and Current Slavery
March 27 – Expanded Minute for Affirm – The Truth and Reconciliation Commission
April 21 – Movie Night Discussion – White Cane Journeys
May 1 – Celebration of 6th Anniversary of Becoming an Affirming Ministry
May 15 – Expanded Minute for Affirm – Reconciliation – Part 1
May 19 – Movie Night Discussion – Closet Monster
May 22 – Minute for Affirm – World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
June 12 – Minute for Affirm – Elder Abuse
June 19 – Expanded Minute for Affirm – Reconciliation – Part 2
August 21 – Pride Week Celebration Service, Guest Speaker: The Honourable Brenda L. Murphy, ONB,Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick
August 27 – Participation in Pride Parade
Affirming Celebration
2021
Sept 26 – Expanded Minute for Affirm – Doctrine of Discovery and Terra Nullius
Oct 17 – Expanded Minute for Affirm – Treaties
Oct 20 – Movie Night Discussion – Breadwinner
Nov 7 – Expanded Minute for Affirm – Tolerance
Nov 14 – Expanded Minute for Affirm – The Indian Act
Nov 18 – Movie Night Discussion – Maudie
Dec 12 – Expanded Minute for Affirm – The Residential School System – Part 1
March 14 – PIE Day Celebration
April 25 – Celebration of 5th Anniversary of becoming an Affirming Ministry, Guest Speaker: Junior Kalala
August 28 – Participated in Stationary Pride Parade held at the Moncton Coliseum Parking Lot
August 29 – Pride Week Celebration Service, topic: Freedom
2020
Jan 5 – Minute for Affirm – Migration
Jan 16 – Movie Night – Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Feb 9 – Minute for Affirm – Valentine’s Day/Family
Feb 20 – Movie Night – Green Book
March – Movie Nights cancelled due to Covid-19
August 23 – Pride Week Celebration Service, Guest Speaker: Mitchell Goodine, Topic: Conversion Therapy
2019
January 17 – Movie Night – Life Is Beautiful
February 17 – Minute for Affirm – Viola Irene Desmond
February 21 – Movie Night – Invictus
March 21 – Movie Night – Water
April 25 – Movie Night – Carol
April 28 – Celebration of 3rd Anniversary of becoming an Affirming Ministry
May 16 – Movie Night – The Necessities of Life
May 26 – Minute for Affirm – Invisible Disabilities
June 27 – Movie Night – Smoke Signals
August 25 – Pride Week Celebration Service, Guest Speaker: Melanie LeBlanc Sturgeon, Secretary, River of Pride
August 31st – Participation in Pride Parade
September 29 – Minute for Affirm – Mental Health
October 17 – Movie Night – Before the Flood
November 21 – Movie Night – Elephant Man
November 24 – Minute for Affirm – Gender Based Violence
2018
January 14 – Minute for Affirm – Raoul Wallenberg
January 18 – Movie Night – Still Alice
February 11 – Minute for Affirm – Dementia
February 15 – Movie Night – Good Evening, Mr. Wallenberg
March 15 – Movie Night – Spotlight
March 25 – Minute for Affirm – Africville
April 19 – Movie Night – Freeheld
April 29 – Celebration of 2nd Anniversary of becoming an Affirming Ministry. Guest speakers: Justin Guignard, Michael Martin and Linda Vogels.
May 10 – Movie Night – Wonder
May 13 – Minute for Affirm – Invisible Disabilities
June 17 – Minute for Affirm – Indigenous Issues
August 19 – Pride Week Celebration Service
August 25 – Participation in Pride Parade
September 20 – Movie Night – WALL-E
October 18 – Movie Night – Hidden Figures
October 28 – Minute for Affirm – I am a Person
November 15 – Movie Night – Lion
November 18 – Minute for Affirm – Trans Day of Remembrance, November 20th
November 25 – Minute for Affirm – Gift Giving
2017
January 19 – Movie Night – Rain Man
January 22 – Minute for Affirm – Racism
February 19 – Minute for Affirm – Bullying
March 16 – Movie Night – Made in Dagenham
March 19 – Minute for Affirm – Singlism
April 20 – Movie Night – The Intern
April 23 – Celebration of 1st Anniversary of becoming an Affirming Ministry
– Guest Speaker: Dr. Susan Crouse, Salvus Clinic
May 11 – Movie Night – Us & them
– In partnership with the United Way of Greater Moncton and Southeastern NB
May 21 – Minute for Affirm – Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia
June 14 – Movie Night – We Were Children
August 20 – Pride Week Worship Service
August 27 – Participation in Pride Parade
2017 Pride Parade
September 10 – Minute for Affirm – Royce Mann
September 21 – Movie Night – Loving
October 15 – Minute for Affirm – Family
October 19 – Movie Night – 42: Jackie Robinson Story
November 16 – Movie Night – Transamerica
November 19 – Minute for Affirm – Children
December 7 – Movie Night – Zootopia
December 10 – Minute for Affirm – Human Rights
2016
January 21 – Movie Night – This Changes Everything
– in partnership with the Council of Canadians, Moncton Chapter
February 25 – Movie Night – The Butler
March 14 – Presentation re Affirming Process at PFLAG
March 31 – Movie Night – Milk
April 21 – Movie Night – Interstellar
April 28 – Celebration Service of recognition as an Affirming Ministry
May 19 – Movie Night – Lady in a Van
August 14 – Pride Week Worship Service
August 20 – Participation in Pride Parade, Rev. Jim MacDonald is Parade Marshall
Parade Marshal
September 22 – Movie Night – How to let Go of the World and Love all the Things Climate Can’t Change
– in partnership with the Council of Canadians, Moncton Chapter
October 2 – Minute for Affirm – Ageism
October 20 – Movie Night – The Danish Girl
November 13 – Minute for Affirm – Homelessness
November 17 – Movie Night – Concussion
December 4 – Minute for Affirm – Violence Against Women
A Brief History of Our Journey
Central United Church celebrated their declaration of becoming an Affirming ministry on Thursday April 28, 2016 at 7pm. The celebration was followed by a time of fellowship and refreshments.
Becoming Affirming
The activities that led up to the Celebration included:
Reflections on Sunday Morning:
February 2, 2014 Introduction to the Affirming Process
May 17, 2015 The Story of an Affirming Congregation – video
June 14 & 21, 2015 National Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report/United Church of Canada Apologies to Aboriginal People
Affirming Celebration
Presentations regarding the Affirming Process, with opportunities for questions
Feb 2014 UCW groups
April 12, 2015 Annual Meeting
Bible Study March 9, 16, 23, April 6 and 13, 2014
Using storytelling, film and bible study, an opportunity was provided to explore: what was involved in being a welcoming and open congregation; any related fears and concerns; related the hopes and possibilities.
Minutes for Affirm – Short, 5 minute presentations during the Sunday morning service:
2014
April 6 The needs of babies.
Sept 14 What do we see – vision needs?
Sept 28 The importance of a scent-free environment.
Oct 12 What helps us to hear more easily?
Nov 9 Getting around the church – mobility issues.
Affirming Celebration
2015
May 3 Interfaith Welcome
May 10 Mental Health
Guest Speakers
August 10, 2014 Bill Ryan
September 27, 2015 Ann, Edgar and Robert Bateman
October 18, 2015 Alton Stevenson
Movie Nights
2014 2015
Oct 16 Philomena Feb 12 Million Dollar Baby
Nov 20 Still Mine March 19 The Theory of Everything
April 30 Pride
June 3 Selma
Sept 24 I Am Sam
Oct 29 Chocolat
Pride Parade
Pride Parade
August 23, 2014
August 22, 2015
Pride Week Worship Service
August 23, 2015
Congregational Vote
On Sunday, December 6, 2015, the Central United Church congregation voted overwhelming in favor of applying to become an Affirming Ministry within The United Church of Canada.
Affirming Celebration