The LeaderShift team has been very glad to provide immediate response to our United Church ministry personnel and leaders — offering training opportunities for hosting online worship and meetings during COVID-19 physical distancing measures. We’ve seen generosity of spirit and resources offered up across our Pacific Mountain Regional Council, PMR First Third Ministry and LeaderShift networks; it’s beautiful and encouraging. We are thankful to you. We are thankful to God.
Being in the doing
Everyone is doing a lot right now, taking care of congregants (of all ages), communities of faith, personal friends and family — LeaderShift staff included. Stress and uncertainty can get us going hard at life and tasks; it can be difficult to allow ourselves space and time to pause and rest for restoration and comfort. Here are three ways that LeaderShift invites you to be present -- attending to your own spiritual needs, and tapping into the power of our faith practices.
Morning Prayer
LeaderShift team member, (Rev) Rob Crosby-Shearer is one of the leaders of The Abbey Church plant in Victoria BC, member of the neo-monastic Emmaus Community, and Regional Minister to Church Plants for the Pacific Mountain Regional Council. The Emmaus Community has a practice morning prayer every day at 7:45am (weekends at 9am). Rob invites you in, virtually, when ever you are able or in need. The link to Emmaus Community Morning Prayer (Zoom)) is here (or you can use your phone and dial +1-778-907-2071, then enter Meeting ID: 188 930 420).
Sunday Afternoon Worship
The Abbey Church worships Sunday afternoons at 4pm. For those of us offering Sunday morning worship leadership in these new and strange times and ways -- and perhaps not connecting to your usual practices of spiritual and colleague's support -- you may find that tuning into The Abbey’s live stream provides space for your own spiritual nurture, a time of comfort, leaning into the Word and presence of God. The link to tune into 4pm Abbey Church Sunday worship (Facebook Live) is here.
Community for you - too
We also want to remind you about the two upcoming opportunities for reflection and study, offered by LeaderShift with Janice MacLean of the Prayer Bench, and Rev LeAnn Blackert of Wild Church. Janice is leading an intimate online gathering with ministry personnel from rural or remote areas, focusing on sustaining practices for your remote ministry experience. LeAnn is leading an online book study, going deep into “Christ of the Celts: The Healing of Creation” by J Phillip Newman. You can register for Nurturing the Soul of the Preacher here. You can register for Christ of the Celts Book Study here.
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
