Rev. Desire Tiriwepi joined MILC for Advent to provide insights from the African Methodist Church.
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Medical Assistance in Dying: Continuing the Conversation
This workshop will provide information and insights about medical assistance in dying (MAID). Workshop participants will explore how to care for people on their journey and those in their circle of support while knowing that each person will have different experiences of anticipatory grief complicated at times by a moral/spiritual burden. It will be a safe space to ask difficult questions.There will be an opportunity to wrestle with theology and faith, ethics and fear.
Wednesday, November 29th, 2023, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. via Zoom
Presented by Rev. Kathy Dahmer who works at Health Sciences North (HSN) in Sudbury as a Psychotherapist in the role of chaplain.
More about Rev. Kathy Dahmer:
Rev Kathy Dahmer lives in Whitefish and works at HSN as a Registered Psychotherapist in the role of Chaplain. She works with patients and families as they navigate MAID and attends the deaths to provide care; first to patient, then to family. Kathy has extensive experience in providing supportive care in palliation from her many years of work at Hospice. In private practice Kathy specializes in Emotion Focused Therapy, which is an experiential therapy rooted in attachment science. Kathy suggests that often the questions from our heads are coming from a need within our heart, and listens deeply for the language of the heart. These experiences lived and learned contribute to her understanding pastoral care as the greatest reflection of incarnation. Kathy is passionate about mentoring and modelling pastoral care as a non-anxious presence, able to journey into the deepest of valleys unafraid.
Advent Study 2023: Do you hear what I hear? Insights from the African Methodist Church
After serving in the United Methodist Church in Zimbabwe and the United Methodist English Church in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rev. Desire Tiriwepi joined St. Paul’s United Church in Thunder Bay in 2022. Please join the Manitou Intentional Learning Community to hear Rev. Desire share insights on Advent and Christmas according to the United Methodist Church in Africa and his experience of establishing Intercultural Worship Services at St. Paul’s United in Thunder Bay.
Rev. Desire holds a BA (Hons) and an MA in Religious Studies and Theology from the University of Zimbabwe, and recently earned a Master of Divinity from Drew University, New Jersey, USA.
Monday, December 4th, 2023 @ 6:30 pm Eastern Time
Via Zoom
MILC Annual General Meeting 2023
The Manitou Intentional Learning Community invites you to our Annual General Meeting, followed by:
Bold Discipleship in Practice
Wednesday, November 15th, 2023
Hybrid meeting: in person at St Peter’s United Church, Sudbury and online via Zoom
6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
(A brief business meeting followed by presentations and discussion)
Guest Speakers
Tracy Davis, DLM, Supporting End of Life Journeys
Torrin Maag, Master’s Student, Atlantic School of Theology, Lessons from Young Adults: Discipleship in the 21st Century
Diane Matheson-Jimenez, Spirituality as Bold Discipleship
Advent in October 2023
October, the time when all good worship leaders start planning for Advent and Christmas!
This workshop will provide opportunities for reflection and discussion of some of the Advent and Christmas lectionary readings and of ways in which we might frame the Advent message in these challenging times. There will be opportunities for group wide and small group work.
Our workshop facilitator will be Rev. Stewart Walker, who currently serves the St. Joseph Island Pastoral Charge. Stewart is an ordained minister with a passion for preaching and biblical study. He has led these sessions for MILC for the past few years, bringing worship leaders together to share their insights into the lectionary readings for the Advent and Christmas seasons.
Please join us for this workshop via Zoom on Saturday, October 28th from 9:30 am to noon.
For more information, please contact Gillian Schell at [email protected].
Participants are invited to make a donation (suggestions $10) to support the work of the Manitou Intentional Learning Community. Please make an etranfer to [email protected].
Town Hall Watch Party
An in person event to engage with Canadian Shield Regional Council online town hall exploring the remit to remove structural barriers to developing and sustaining an autonomous Indigenous Church. Post presentation discussion, light refreshments and fellowship.
Please note, supper is not provided- please bring your own

SEPTEMBER 19
DOORS OPEN 5:30 PM
ONLINE TOWN HALL 6:00 PM
ST. PETER’S UNITED CHURCH,
203 YORK STREET, SUDBURY
Open to all who are interested in learning more about the remit vote, both for your own community of faith’s vote, or our regional response
Journeying Towards Reconciliation
A learning and networking gathering for United Churches across Greater Sudbury

Are you passionate about engaging in Indigenous justice initiatives in your congregation?
Do you want concrete, helpful resources?
Are you looking for connection and relationships to support you?
Join us for a simple dinner, conversation and exploration.
Wednesday, May 24th, 2023 @ 5:30pm
St. Peter’s United Church, 203 York Street, Sudbury
Hosted by the Manitou Intentional Learning Community
Labyrinth Day Resource
Labyrinth Day 2023, May 6, 1:00pm – Join the worldwide Rolling Wave of Peace – Self Guided Walk Instructions
Introduction: Welcome! For this year’s event, we are playing with the theme of waves as get ready to join the ‘rolling wave of peace’ around the world that is World Labyrinth Day. If you are doing this as a walking meditation on your own or at your local labyrinth, we invite you to carry a glass of water as you walk. Waves will be created in your glass as you walk, and you may contemplate the movement as we seek to wash the world in peace with our intention, one person at a time. When you get to the centre, you may pour your water into a collective receptacle if walking with others, or wait until the end of the walk to water some plants with it. While we walk we could also remember that we ourselves are mostly water, and that we constantly create vibrations in ourselves throughout our daily activities that extend beyond our bodies. Let us remember to send out positive energy to the rest of the world, our home, and make that home a better place.
A Gaelic Blessing
Deep peace of the running wave to you
Deep peace of the flowing air to you
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you
Deep peace of the shining stars to you
Deep peace of the gentle night to you
Moon and stars pour their healing light on you Deep peace of Christ the light of the world to you Deep peace of Christ to you
Song – “The Peace of the Earth”, based on a Guatemalan song, “La Paz de la Tierra”
The peace of the earth be with you, the peace of the heavens too; the peace of the rivers be with you, the peace of the oceans too.
Deep peace falling over you;
God’s peace growing in you. (Repeat)
Walk as One at 1:00 – everyone walks at 1:00pm in their own time zone Water the ground with peaceful water from everyone
Song – “Go Now in Peace”
Go now in peace;
go now in peace.
May the love of God surround you everywhere,
everywhere you may go.
World Labyrinth Day 2023

Saturday, May 6, 2023 at 12:45 pm
Lourdes Grotto, 271 Van Horne St., Sudbury
Join the event hosted by MILC. We are meeting at the top of the hill at the labyrinth where there will be readings and songs, and then a “Walk as One at 1:00” with friends around the world. Refreshments will be served afterwards. Rain or shine!
Listening for the Spirit

Manitou Intentional Learning Community Presents
LISTENING FOR THE SPIRIT : Reflections on Lent and Easter scripture from an Indigenous perspective
with guest speaker
THE RT. REV. DR. CARMEN LANSDOWNE, Moderator, The United Church of Canada
Join us 29 March 2023 @ 6:30 pm on Zoom
Registration Fee — by Donation