Calling you to High River, Alberta

 

Hello Friends,

Greetings at this midpoint of the summer! I hope you are experiencing some deep Sabbath rest and renewal. 

This is a special invitation, for you who are doing ministry in a rural context.

Like many of us, you and your community of faith may be feeling uncertain about what the future holds for the church in general, and your congregations in particular. And, being the church in rural contexts brings it’s own unique joys, challenges, and rewards.

LeaderShift and Chinook Winds Region are excited to offer our first (annual? maybe!) Rural Ministry Conference with the theme, “Breaking In & Breaking Out!”

Where and how is the Holy Spirit breaking into our lives, like at that first Pentecost? And where and how is that same Spirit calling us to break out (of our buildings, our assumptions, our comfort, our ways of doing things) to be the church in our communities in a new way?

The Rev Jenny Carter will be our keynote speaker, and we’ve got a great lineup of workshop leaders ready and eager to share their learnings, helpful practices, and new skills that will enhance your practice of ministry in a rural context.

We’ll have two opportunities to learn in workshops together, along with keynote presentations, delicious meals, meaningful worship and music, and the warmth of being together. Then, we’ll celebrate together in worship on Sunday morning with High River United Church – including elements of worship that we will be creating over the course of our time together.

 Come and join others engaged in rural ministry, lay leaders and ministry personnel, to be inspired, encouraged, and equipped to offer ministry that responds to your context!

Hope to see you in High River!

Michelle

 

Three Excellent Events for You to Bookmark

 

Friends,

Sweet summer days are ahead, and I hope they’re filled with rest, restoration and deep joy for your body, mind and spirit.

But before you activate your ‘auto-reply’ and close up your computer, please do have a quick look at what LeaderSHIFT is offering this fall, and save the dates on your calendar!

What’s coming up…

Faithfully,

Michelle

Rural Ministry Conference
September 28-October 1, 2023
High River AB
Experience rural hospitality, inspiring theme sessions and relevant, practical workshops for today’s rural ministry contexts.Registration Opens June 30, 2023.

Evolving Faith Conference
October 13-15, 2023
Minneapolis, Minnesota USA

A group experience for ministry personnel to be encouraged, inspired and renewed. Registration fee subsidy, and a travel subsidy are included!

Featuring Sarah Bessey, Wil Gafney, Mihee Kim-Kort, Barbara Brown Taylor, Randy Woodley, Nadia Bolz-Weber, and our own Moderator, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne (and more!).

More conference info here: Evolving Faith: Evolving Faith 2023.

Please email me, Michelle, at leadershift@united-church.ca if you are interested in taking part.

Leading Through Conflict
October 27-28, 2023 
Calgary AB

A workshop for ministry personnel and lay leaders, to gain practices and learn traits to navigate conflict faithfully and successfully, with Susan Nienaber. Registration Opens June 30, 2023.

 

We've invited Jeff to meet you - next week!

 

If you're one of the lucky ones who has worked with Jeff MacDonald at Cup of Hope 2022, is part of our year long LeaderSHIFT course with him, or your paths crossed at another event, you'll know how compelling time spent with Jeff is (and I hope you'll come to this event too!). 

This is our next workshop - in JUST 6 days! Will you join us?

Next week, Jeff is leading an in-person, evening workshop in Victoria BC/ Lekwungen, with LeaderSHIFT. And knowing meeting in person doesn't work for everyone, we've planned this as a hybrid event.

Thursday May 25, 2023, In Person and Online. Details here: Better with Less

Better with Less: Thriving with part-time clergy

You are warmly invited to spend the evening of May 25th, 2023, learning from author, award-winning religion journalist, and part-time pastor in the United Church of Christ (in the US), Rev. G. Jeffrey MacDonald.

Jeff spent time researching and reflecting with colleagues, and congregations with part-time ministry personnel. He found that despite a narrative of decline, many congregations with part-time clergy found unexpected gifts and ways to thrive!

Jeff summed up his findings and included his own experience about the practices and postures that help communities of faith to embrace part-time ministry personnel, and to develop new and fruitful ministries in his book, Part Time is Plenty: Thriving without Full Time Clergy.

"Enough is as good as a feast"

- Mary Poppins

Come, be part of the shift as we consider how regarding part-time leadership as a problem to be eradicated truly impacts us - and how embracing part-time as a divine gift facilitates a higher level of lay engagement, responsibility, playfulness, and creativity!

The Better with Less workshop is for both lay and clergy leaders; as a those in a circle of colleagues, friends, and companions in the faithful work of leadership, I invite you to join Jeff, myself, and 17 others already registered, either at FirstMetropolitan United or on Zoom from anywhere to virtually participate at very same time. 

I am so excited to welcome you on May 25th!

Faithfully,

Michelle