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.
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].
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
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.
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!
“Queer identity may be discerned in relative isolation, but it comes to life in community.” Elizabeth M. Edman, Queer Virtue: What LGBTQ People Know About Life and Love and How It Can Revitalize Christianity
Join the Manitou Intentional Learning Community in a-three session study of the book Queer Virtue led by Peter Haddow, Canadian Shield Regional Council Affirm Team.
February 27th, March 6th and March 13th at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom.
Participants are cordially invited to make a donation (suggestion $10) by etransfer to [email protected].
Please note, the text is not available in Chapters stores. It can be purchased from Chapters online and from Amazon.ca. It is also available as an ebook. We recommend that you purchase the text promptly to be sure to get a copy on time.
More about the book:
Arguing from the heart of scripture, Edman reveals how queering Christianity—that is, disrupting simplistic ways of thinking about self and other—can illuminate contemporary Christian faith. Pushing well past the notion that “Christian love = tolerance,” Edman offers a bold alternative: he recognition that queer people can help Christians better understand their fundamental calling and the creation of sacred space where LGBTQ Christians are seen as gifts to the church.
‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ In Matthew 25:40, God call us to be of service to others and to end poverty in our communities. The Covid-19 pandemic and resulting lockdown meant that many Church programs stopped running… and many did not start up again. This could be a time to lament what we have lost but it is also an opportunity to start again and build even better projects. Join MILC on February 6th for a panel discussion about anti-poverty work in our communities. The panel presentations offer a chance to hear about Christian responsibility to work to end poverty, root causes of poverty in our communities and how Churches can get involved in practical projects. This panel of speakers will help participants bring new life to projects to address poverty in our communities.
Panel speakers:
Rev. Glen Eagle, United Church of Canada
Rev. Pam Cullen, London Community Chaplaincy
Rev. Michael Blair, General Secretary, United Church of Canada
