THE MISSION OF BEFRIENDING Workshop
Deepening Community in a Lonely World
- Friday, March 20 - evening (The Connectors ONLY)
- Saturday, March 21 – morning (open to anyone)
LOCATION: St. John’s Halifax, 2187 Larry Uteck Blvd., (West) Bedford.
TIME:
Friday - 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday - 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (A light breakfast is provided.)
In a time when social media promises connection yet so often leaves us feeling isolated, we find ourselves living through what many describe as a loneliness epidemic. The Church, however, is uniquely placed to respond with compassion, presence, and hope.
Rev. Dr. Andrew Richardson, Vocation Minister (Atlantic) for The United Church of Canada, from Summerside, PE, will lead us in a thoughtful and engaging exploration of the Church’s crucial mission of “befriending.”
Through three inspiring talks—
- Befriending God
- Befriending Each Other
- Befriending the World
—we will reflect on how Christian communities can offer genuine relationships and meaningful connection both within the church family and in the wider world.
This workshop is free, but REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.
Travel and accommodation costs are not covered by the Diocese. WATCH for a discount rate for a nearby hotel. Details will be shared by Feb. 1st.
This event is sponsored by the Diocese, through The Connectors REUNION group.
Got questions? E-mail missiondirector@nspeidiocese.ca or text/call 902-789-4840.
BIO:
Rev. Dr. Andrew Richardson works for the General Council of the United Church of Canada as Vocational Minister for the three Atlantic Regions where he has responsibility for the oversight of clergy and ministry students. As part of the General Council’s operation plan, he is the lead on collaborative ministry and mentoring. Andrew also teaches the Ministry of Supervision Course.
Before accepting the position of Vocational Minister in 2019, Andrew was a congregational minister for 31 years with communities of faith across the Maritimes, including 14 years as minister at Trinity Summerside, Prince Edward Island. He is a graduate of Dalhousie University, the Atlantic School of Theology and was ordained in 1988. He received his doctorate from Columbia Theological Seminary (Atlanta) in 2007.
Andrew has been actively involved in the wider community; Andrew is a popular instructor at University of PEI’s Seniors College and has taught courses at Atlantic School of Theology, Vancouver School of Theology and Crandall University. Most recently he was adjunct faculty at Queen’s College where he taught Missional Theology.
As a volunteer he has been involved at all levels of the church including serving as Chair of the Boundaries Commission, which designed the regional council boundaries.
Andrew has a keen interest in community mobilization and collaborative leadership and has been the chair of the Community Safety and Crime Prevention Committee for the city of Summerside, a member of the Premier’s action committee on Family Violence, the Premier’s Advisory Committee on Immigration and Refugees, the City of Summerside Planning Advisory Committee, the City of Summerside Housing Strategy Task Force and served two terms on the Board of Regents at Mount Allison University, as well as chair of the largest school district in New Brunswick. For thirteen years Andrew and his wife Janet owned and operated a coffee shop called Deja Brew.
Andrew lives in Summerside, PEI and is married to Janet Surette, who has recently retired from the school system. Janet and Andrew have three grown children, Alexander, Olivia and Noah, and a standard poodle Margot.