Sighs too deep for words

“We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labour pains until now, and not only the creation, but we ourselves…” 

“…that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.”  

Romans 8:22,26 

Dear One,

You’ve been too busy, or not busy enough with the things that most matter.  

You’ve been learning under pressure, but not the things you imagined you wanted to learn if given a break from the ordinary. 

You’re riding on a moment of deep possibility wondering if you’re surfing, upheld or about to crash. 

You see around you the naked yearning of people in your home, neighbourhood, community of faith, and world for real contact that helps comfort, and make sense and bring hope. 

How are you? Really? 

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In a variety of settings we are hearing about the challenge to our identity as ministers, leaders, and members of the gathered Body of Christ. The usual habits and activities we have relied on to confirm our identity in the faith are not available to us.  

In the coming weeks and into the fall, LeaderShift will be designing ways for these deep and true questions to be engaged. We are looking to extend opportunity for mutual learning, for shared theological conversation, for exploring the shifting nature of God’s call to us, and or equipping us for the life of service in leadership we desire.  

Here is a link that names many of these areas of concern – and some of you may see yourself in this article. As we plan for the coming months of program what might support you in this time? Message us (we’ll keep it private) on what you think might help your spiritual health and wellness for such a time as this. 

With thanks for the Spirit’s presence in all our ministries, 

Allison Rennie
LeaderShift Director

Faithful. Hopeful. Making time and holding space for the Spirit

The LeaderShift team has been very glad to provide immediate response to our United Church ministry personnel and leaders — offering training opportunities for hosting online worship and meetings during COVID-19 physical distancing measures. We’ve seen generosity of spirit and resources offered up across our Pacific Mountain Regional CouncilPMR First Third Ministry and LeaderShift networks; it’s beautiful and encouraging. We are thankful to you. We are thankful to God.

Being in the doing

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Everyone is doing a lot right now, taking care of congregants (of all ages), communities of faith, personal friends and family — LeaderShift staff included. Stress and uncertainty can get us going hard at life and tasks; it can be difficult to allow ourselves space and time to pause and rest for restoration and comfort. Here are three ways that LeaderShift invites you to be present -- attending to your own spiritual needs, and tapping into the power of our faith practices.

Morning Prayer

LeaderShift team member, (Rev) Rob Crosby-Shearer is one of the leaders of The Abbey Church plant in Victoria BC, member of the neo-monastic Emmaus Community, and Regional Minister to Church Plants for the Pacific Mountain Regional Council. The Emmaus Community has a practice morning prayer every day at 7:45am (weekends at 9am). Rob invites you in, virtually, when ever you are able or in need. The link to Emmaus Community Morning Prayer (Zoom)) is here (or you can use your phone and dial +1-778-907-2071, then enter Meeting ID: 188 930 420).

Sunday Afternoon Worship

The Abbey Church worships Sunday afternoons at 4pm. For those of us offering Sunday morning worship leadership in these new and strange times and ways -- and perhaps not connecting to your usual practices of spiritual and colleague's support -- you may find that tuning into The Abbey’s live stream provides space for your own spiritual nurture, a time of comfort, leaning into the Word and presence of God. The link to tune into 4pm Abbey Church Sunday worship (Facebook Live) is here.

Community for you - too

We also want to remind you about the two upcoming opportunities for reflection and study, offered by LeaderShift with Janice MacLean of the Prayer Bench, and Rev LeAnn Blackert of Wild Church. Janice is leading an intimate online gathering with ministry personnel from rural or remote areas, focusing on sustaining practices for your remote ministry experience. LeAnn is leading an online book study, going deep into “Christ of the Celts: The Healing of Creation” by J Phillip Newman. You can register for Nurturing the Soul of the Preacher here. You can register for Christ of the Celts Book Study here.

Faithfully,

The LeaderShift Team

Tressa Brotsky - communications
Rob Crosby-Shearer - LeaderShift Church Plant Project
Allison Rennie - director
Rhian Walker - program staff
Brenda Wolff - administrative assistance

March Matt Miofsky Let Go Events POSTPONED (COVID-19)

We’ve decided to postpone the “Matt Miofsky Let Go: Leaning into the Future without Fear” March 16th, and March 17-19 events in Vancouver and Calgary. Postponed - not cancelled - the new, confirmed date for the day long “Let Go” event in Vancouver is Monday November 16, 2020, with Matt winging his way to Calgary right after, for the 3 day “Let Go” conference that will now run November 17-19, 2020.

Details about the postponement (and what’s happening with your registration if you were registered for the March dates) are here in this newsletter email sent to all Vancouver participants. Chinook Winds participants received a separate email from their leadership team.

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