Manitou Intentional Learning Community

Deepening Diversity: Understanding Racism

Do you have questions about race and racism?

How do we respond to racism?

How do we have difficult conversations?

How will we make our spaces more racially just?

How do we welcome people of all racial identities?

In a series of engaging and interactive workshops

Explore these challenging questions

Explore power and privilege

Gather practical tools and strategies

Leadership

Beth Baskin, Program Coordinator, Social Analysis and Congregational Engagement, United Church of Canada

Carmen Ramirez, Intercultural Coordinator and anti-racism planner, United Church of Canada 

When: Saturday, April 6th, 2019   10am- 3pm

Where: St. Peter’s United Church

Cost: $20 or $50 for groups of 3 or more (includes lunch)

To register:

Contact Gillian Schell       gillian.schell @sympatico.ca

MILC hosted a book study on Forgiveness by Mark Sakamoto.

The word forgiveness has made headlines in recent days as people respond to the trial of the driver in the Bronco’s bus crash. It is a timely topic.

Winner of Canada Reads 2018, Mark Sakamoto’s memoir Forgiveness: A Gift from My Grandparents tells the story of his grandfather, a Canadian soldier who, during the Second World War, spent years as a prisoner of war in a Japanese camp, while at the same time his grandmother, a Japanese Canadian, was interned by the Canadian government.

But this story is far more than a moving family memoir. Described as both “devastating and uplifting” (Ottawa Review of Books, 2018), the book confronts many of our assumptions about Canadian multiculturalism, and challenges us to explore the nature of forgiveness from both a personal and national perspective. Sakamoto states: I sort of thought forgiveness was a transaction…but in fact forgiveness really is a way of life. It has nothing to do with the past, in many ways. It has everything to do with the future.”

The Manitou Intentional Learning Community hosted a tea and talk on Sunday, March 3rd from 2:00 to 4:00 at St. Peter’s United Church. Rev. Dawn Vaneyk lead the discussion and afternoon tea was served.  Donations to cover costs were accepted.

Clergy and lay worship leaders met Thursday, February 14, 2019 at St. Peter’s United Church for reflections and planning worship during the period of Lent.

Manitou Intentional Learning Community

The 2018 Annual General Meeting  was held November 14, 2019 at Grace United Church.

The evening involved a dinner and general membership meeting at 5:30 pm.  Reflections from our guest speakers and discussion began at 6:30pm.

We had the pleasure of being joined by

Rev. David Legrand talking on the theme of

“Speaking Truth to Power” and

Rev. Dawn Vaneyk discussing

“Leadership in Times of Chaos and Change”

On October 11th, 2018 at St. Peter’s United Church, Kathy Dahmer offered a workshop for clergy discussing Medical Assistance in Dying in Ministry.

On Saturday, September 22nd, St. Peter’s United Church hosted a panel discussion about upcoming changes to the structure of the United Church.

Topics included:

• General Council 43: Reports and reflections
• Our Church: New structure, new vision
• Recruiting and retaining volunteers
• Developing sustainable stewardship
• Creating connections, working together

World Labyrinth Day: A Global Celebration of the Labyrinth

Taking Steps for Peace took place Saturday, May 5, 2018 on World Labyrinth Day organized by MILC.

The day included a workshop at St. Peter’s United Church.  Participants learned to lead labyrinth walks with the indoor labyrinth available, from Amy Hallman Grout, Rev. Linda Saffrey, Rev. Dawn Vaneyk, Faye Moffatt.

The labyrinth walk took place at 1p.m. at the  outdoor labyrinth site at Lourdes Grotto, Van Horne St.