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What do May flowers bring?
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News and Views from the Centre for Christian Studies

May 26, 2018

Hi <<First Name>> !  
I had images of the April showers of busy-ness leading to the May flowers of relative quietude, but that's not exactly what happened. What did flower are shoots and blossoms of diaconal ministry's presence across the country. What's been flowering for you? We'd love to know.
Kimiko
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from the principal's desk. . .

Making space

Although I didn’t get up extra early on Saturday to watch the royal wedding, there were parts of it (like the fashions!) that definitely caught my eye over the long weekend. It was wonderful to hear people talking about Rev. Curry’s sermon!

One of the things that caught my eye was a mention of which charities the Duke and Duchess of Sussex promoted for donations in lieu of wedding gifts. One is a charity in Mumbai that educates girls and women on menstruation and distributes supplies, hoping to reduce absenteeism at school and work.

It reminds me of a dramatic mural I saw last year in a church in Magdala, right on the shoreline of the Sea of Galilee. The church (Duc in Altum) is filled with murals and mosaics focused on women in scriptural stories, including the women in the crowd who reached out for healing.

Another discussion I saw online seemed to fit right into this theme: an acknowledgement of how painful IUD insertion/removal can be, and an encouragement to ask for pain relief. Nicole Cliffe tweeted “GENERALLY speaking, if you find a medical procedure for which the majority of patients are women really painful, bad/mediocre providers will say something dismissive like "I'm not sure why this is so difficult for you" and then when you poll your friends you discover it's a lie.”

Two thousand years after a woman reached out for healing; menstrual bleeding, birth control and health care for people with wombs and uteruses still can be a crisis that is painful, diminishing and costly – all around the world.

At the Centre for Christian Studies we continue to practice theological reflection in the places where scripture and personal and political connect. Rooted in our history - when graduates worked overseas as medical missionaries providing women’s reproductive health care – we continue to name the times when pain cries out to be relieved. And if we are not the ones reaching out – maybe we can be the ones in the crowd making space for someone else’s hand to connect to Christ.


 

On the CCS Website...

(click a title to read the whole article)
 

Building a More Diverse Community

Using her own family story as a centre-piece, CCS Communications Coordinator, Kimiko Karpoff, reflects on Ethnic and Intercultural ministries in a new compilation on the recent history of the United Church, BC Conference. Read an excerpt here.
 

Six reasons to learn at CCS

The power of building community, learning to really listen and understanding power and privilege are only a few of the courses being offered. With the 2017-2018 school year coming to a close, CCS program staff are turning their attention to the upcoming year and six new theme learning circles! There are both in person and on-line courses. Check it out.
 

Got Privilege?

Karen Orlandi attended the White Privilege Conference Global and learned that the answer is yes. Read about what she learned here.

 

Convergence, divergence and baptism: Reflections on the diaconate

CCS staff Lori Stewart and David Lappano recently attended the International Anglican-Roman Catholic-Ukrainian Catholic Conference on the Diaconate. Check out Lori's significant moments here, and the themes that caught David's attention here.

It's a Communications Coordinator!

Welcome Kimiko!

The Central Council of the Centre for Christian Studies is pleased to announce that Kimiko Karpoff will be permanently joining the staff of the Centre as Communications and Recruitment Coordinator, beginning June 1st.

Kimiko is a graduate of the Centre, and a diaconal minister in New Westminster, British Columbia. Her evocative photography, deft design work and engaging writing have already enlivened our communications work over the last year. Kimiko brings a diaconal multi-vocational skill set to the work and ministry of communications, a commitment to the community ethos of the Centre and connections to Anglican and United Church faith communities. We are delighted to be adding Kimiko to our team!

P.S. She’s pretty happy too!

CCS Community

(click a title or link to read more)

Westend Commons celebrates 3 years!

A new vision for their church and community came to fruition after a lot of work. St. Matthews Anglican Church and Westend Commons celebrate 3 years of their new venture. Rev. Gwen McAllister, a CCS grad, reflects on giving up power and privilege.
 

Provincial gov't funds therapeutic community in Victoria

Last fall Don Evans, executive director of Our Place and a CCS student, went to Portugal and Italy where he visited therapeutic communities for people addicted to drugs. With the government approving funding, Our Place now hopes to open their own community in Victoria. 

 

Get gardening tips and support 1JustCity and St. Matthews Maryland ministries.

Saturday, June 23, 10 - 4
Get details here.

 

Ministry Vacancy
Stony Plain United Church is searching for a Part-time minister.
For a copy of the JNA please email 
js@stonyplain.com
Stony Plain is approximately 20 km from Edmonton
Stony Plain is a two point charge – Mewassin and Stony Plain, both are country communities

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