Beloved,

In June, Pacific Mountain Regional Council Executive Minister Treena Duncan welcomed United Church researcher Rev Janet Gear to one of the PMRC online Townhall sessions. Treena has gathered folks online, from across the Pacific Mountain regional council since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. What began as a way for United Church people to review and flush out important, logistical pandemic information through our UCC lens, the PMRC Townhall sessions grew to embody and make space for community, shared experience, prayer and reflection.

LeaderShift has a long relationship with Janet Gear and her research project The Theological Banquet - and you may have participated in one of Janet's sessions. We're pleased to share this recording of the PMRC's June 24, 2020 Townhall meeting for you and your networks - for the gift of hope and grounding it brings. Janet explores what we know, understand and feel about being United Church, and missing church, in these COVID-19 days.

We are still living a physically distant reality, bearing witness to racialized prejudice and murder, labouring for justice and transformation, yearning for ease and peace, and we hear how weary and isolating it feels at times. Janet's work and this recording calls us back to the table of grace, community and love. Articulating the ways United Church people live and experience God, Janet's conversation with Treena and those gathered online, reminds us how well we are connected, supported and ever-growing when we listen for, and respond to the Christ-call to be heart-open and present to one another, especially in our differences, especially when we're not gathering in person.

Gosh -- our work of birthing, raising, walking God's kin-dom isn't finished. What a gift to never be done in growing with God and our church! After a few weeks of intentional space and rest, LeaderShift is readying more ally workshop sessions with Angela Ma Brown, getting excited for Kootenay Faith Fest, and refining opportunities for personal and professional reflection for church leaders - for you. Maybe your rest time isn't quite finished yet - that's okay, keep still till it's time to rise. We'll write again soon.

Faithfully,
The LeaderShift Team

Tressa Brotsky - communications
Rob Crosby-Shearer - LeaderShift Church Plant Project
Allison Rennie - director
Rhian Walker - program staff
Brenda Wolff - administrative assistance