Easter Monday - a day to savour the promise, and plan for learnings

Easter Monday – a day to savour the promise of new life arising.   

May this day be a deep breath of life for you.   

Breath in promise.

Breath out Love.

Breath in promise.

Breathe out Joy.  

As you turn toward the Easter season ahead we want to let you know of the LeaderShift offerings for learning, reflection and collegiality awaiting.  

In the coming weeks a number of ongoing opportunities are available to you. Our intention is to equip you for the practice of ministry you intend, to learn with colleagues about ministry practice, and to reflect theologically - in the ongoing COVID-19 physical distancing requirements. We know that these are skills, learning and reflection that will stay with you in your leadership beyond the challenges of these days.

Read on for the descriptions and registration links for your learning, living within the Mystery of Easter.

Faithfully,

Allison Rennie
LeaderShift Director

Registration is open now for the following online engagement sessions, in these 3 categories:

1. Moving Ministry Online: You have an intention to move some parts of your ministry experience online?  

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• You want to participate in a Zoom gathering? 

• You want to lead worship live online – from home?   

• You want to lead worship live online – from an empty sanctuary?    

• You want to host small group gatherings online?    

• You want to create pre-recorded worship experiences?    

2. Q & A: You are offering online ministry already and have questions?  Join a Q & A.

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• Q & A  for those learning to livestream worship   

• Q & A about online security  

• Q & A about using Zoom for meetings    

3. Learning Circles: You want to learn with colleagues beyond the technical issues.

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• What are we learning about planning and preparation for online ministry? 

• What are we learning about pastoral care via phone and video screen? 

• What are we learning about worship in a time of physical distance?:

  • With Rev Rob Crosby-Shearer

  • With Rev Karen Verveda

  • With Rev Beth Hayward

This Week. These Hours. Pray them –

Many of us from the Pacific Mountain Region were transformed during our trip to Inhabit last year.   

There we heard so many stories about 'coming alongside what God is doing in the neighbourhood'.

This article picks up similar calls to incarnation, to being rooted in place, and not merely re-creating Church an merely another attractional, or consumer choice.

This is important to recall when it comes to who we live into our present situation as a church in physical isolation. For, as the article notes, what we do now will shape our future as the post-pandemic Church.  

If we now move to create virtual church, if we merely produce more polished product, more disembodied 'virtual' communities-of-consumption, do we risk missing the point of being the blessed, counter-cultural and incarnational (and, I would add, this Holy Week 'cruciform') community of Christ?  

This writer warns us about leaning too heavily on our newly found technologies - lest we create patterns where we become 'passive consumers' of product and program instead of seeking God's reign by incarnating more deeply into each other's lives and the life of the world.  

I spoke yesterday to a clergy friend, who told me that when their former congregation decided to livestream, they talked about doing a media-blackout for those who lived anywhere within driving distance. "Only those who absolutely can't attend should watch from home", was their posture.

I'm not sure we need to be so hard line as all that, not even when this is all 'over' (I'm not sure things will ever be the same - but that's another article!). But I do think we need this challenge - and we need it now - to sharpen our ways of being Church. We need to  be conscious of we prayerfully adapt to the current situation.   

Even as we use technology to keep us connected, and even to offer word, sacrament and pastoral care -  what we will put in place now to challenge the potential for disembodiment and consumerism? How are we setting a foundation to be a distributed, connective, collaborative and high-participation Church?

What a beautiful challenge for us to discern at this time of crisis.

May we deepen our connections as we move into the Story of this Holy Week together.

- Rob  
--

(The Rev.) Rob Crosby-Shearer
LeaderShift Church Planting Project Regional Minister
The Emmaus Community and the Abbey Church
www.emmauscommunity.ca / www.abbeychurch.ca 
text / confidential voicemail 778 977 7562

New Topics Added to Online Engagement Sessions

We sent out this email today, and are happy to highlight the details here too.

Last week my family watched Groundhog Day, and despite the dated sexism, heteronormative trappings and some violence (which gave us a lot to talk about too), having the context of this movie to describe our current reality has brought silliness, film analysis (Godly Play questions are fabulous for dissecting a movie!) and a growth-mindset to our days ... how does Phil Connors become released from February 2nd? Eventually, by shedding ego, embracing the gifts of his reality and leaning into LOVE. Woah.

This Newsletter is important and quick - make a cuppa, and find comfort, inspiration and tools for supporting you in these most unusual, yet very real, ministry days.

1. Nurturing the Soul of the Preacher
2. Relationship and Ministry with Youth and Children During COVID-19
3. Zoom and Beyond - **NEW TOPICS** and More Online Engagement Sessions Added
4. Deepening, Harvesting - How We Are Being Shaped by This Global Experience

Faithfully,
Tressa Brotsky - communications

and the LeaderShift Team
Allison Rennie - director
Rhian Walker - program staff
Brenda Wolff - administrative assistance
Rob Crosby-Shearer - LeaderShift Church Plant Project

1. Nurturing the Soul of the Preacher 

The LeaderShift team really wants you to know about and consider choosing to be part of the 6 week program with Janice MacLean called Nurturing the Soul of the Preacher. We created this session, plus Christ of the Celts Book Study and Stewardship Buzz, in the month before COVID-19 -- and the relevance of each in these physical distancing days is apt. These sessions begin after Easter, and will connect you to others in nourishing, grounded ways. They are $25 each. Registration details are here.

2. Relationship and Ministry with Youth and Children during COVID-19

The Regional Council staff team (Pamela, Sarah, Robin, and Mary) responsible for Youth and Young Adult Ministry and the First Third Ministry Network, powered to get pmrfirstthirdresources.ca online in the days immediately following the first wave of announcements limiting group gatherings.This website is updated frequently, and specifically provides excellent, vetted links to a wealth of ideas, resources, and encouragement for continuing ministry with children and youth, and their families during COVID-19 distancing.

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3. Zoom and Beyond

LeaderShift and the PMR First Third Ministry Network worked in partnership to get a slate of online training and conversation sessions happening for church leaders, board members, choir directors, youth group leaders, study group leaders, church members ... everyone! ... and more than 250 people have access these sessions. There are more available - including one called Worship Options in a Time of Physical Distancing. and Making Your Instagram Count: Meaningful Posts for Faith Communities.  

4. Deepening, Harvesting - How We Are Being Shaped by This Global Experience

We are continuing to develop opportunities for learning in order to help equip us for this time –  

LeaderShift has offered some technical learning sessions, some ‘how to’ workshops on online tools for ministry right now. Based on need, we will continue to offer these again after Easter. And we have offered some opportunity for thinking about how to deepen existing online ministry offerings.  

In addition, we are aware that this is a tremendous moment for us to pay attention to the deeper theological and spiritual realities. Our practice of ministry is being shaped, and will be shaped, by this global experience. In light of this, we are working on some opportunities for theological engagement, and for deepening capacity in the practice of ministry including trauma-oriented pastoral care.   

We want to encourage the harvest of learning happening now. LeaderShift wants to be part of the adaptive leadership called for in order to help us discover an emerging shape of life in the body of Christ for our time. Courageous. Christian. Called. Hopeful. Stay tuned.

- Allison Rennie, LeaderShift Director