Dear Friends,

I hope you have found some rest and renewal after the demands of Holy Week and Easter – and that the Risen One will continue to meet you in surprising ways and places this Eastertide!

And, I hope you can give some thought and prayer to joining in the Guatemala Pilgrimage this August 2-12, 2024.

In our Executive Minister Treena Duncan’s Holy Week message, she wrote, “Despite facing generations of trauma and scarcity, the people of Guatemala demonstrate unwavering faith and hope, pouring out their love and devotion into the world. Witnessing their dedication reminds me of the inseparable connection between faith and hope: when we nurture faith, we nurture hope; when we nurture hope, we nurture faith. There is resurrection going on.”

Our intention is that this pilgrimage of ministry leaders, will indeed nurture our faith and our hope – and that we will see, and be, signs of resurrection.  

Guatemala: a tour for ministry leaders
August 2-12, 2024

I know it’s expensive – and I believe it is really, really worth it. I’ve sourced a few options for financial assistance, with links below.

We’ve set the registration deadline at April 30, so we can make a decision on whether the trip is a go – and if it is, we’ll continue to accept more participants, so spread the word!

• You can register directly with World Pilgrim Global Education, here: World Pilgrim Global Education Incorporated » Application Form

Lots more information is on the event webpage, here: Guatemala: A Your For Ministry Leaders in the Time of Lent — LeaderSHIFT UCCan, including a recorded Zoom information session with our guides in Guatemala, as well as the itinerary.

I hope you can join us – it would be really meaningful to be on this journey with you (and don’t worry about the heat, it’s quite cool in the highlands where we’ll be going)!

Deep blessings,

Michelle

Sources of funding:

 
For Diaconal Ministers, through Diakonia of the United Church of Canada:  2023editedKaufmanFundBrochure (ducc.ca)
 
For Youth/Young Adult Ministry leaders, through the national church:    vision-fund_con-ed-bursary_application-form_2024.docx (live.com)
 
For clergy, through VST:H.R. MacMillan Fund application - Vancouver School of Theology (vst.edu)
 
For lay and ministry personnel leaders in Pacific Mountain Region:Pacific Mountain Congregational Learning Fund — LeaderSHIFT UCCan
 
For lay and ministry personnel leaders in Chinook Winds: there is some leadership funding available, contact me!

- Michelle