|
Hi <<First Name>> !
Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! Boisterous Boxing Day! Super St. Stephen's Day! All of us at the Centre for Christian Studies wish you a peaceful and joyful holiday.
As is our custom for the December edition of Common Threads, we've expanded the Principal's message to include the whole staff, reflecting this year on a decoration or ornament that has some meaning for us. Enjoy! -- Scott
P.S. Scroll down for more CCS news and upcoming events.
|
|
|
From the Principal's Desk Staff's Christmas Trees?
|
|
|
Alan
When the staff decided to write something about their unique Christmas tree decoration, this snowman doll came to my mind. Actually, this is the only decoration I can talk about. You may already know that I come from Vancouver and am renting an apartment in Winnipeg. By the time you read this, I will have already gone back to my home in Vancouver for Christmas. I didn’t set up a Christmas tree or do any decoration of it in Winnipeg. But then, how come I have this snowman doll with me here? It was a surprise! Or an accident! When I unpacked in September I discovered this doll in one of the boxes. It was made by my youngest daughter years ago. No, she didn’t put it in to surprise me; when told, she was equally amazed by it. This snowman has travelled far to be with me, from a warmer winter climate to a harsher one!
The fact that this snowman is in my Winnipeg apartment reminds me of the journey of life that is often unexpected and unplanned, much like my role as principal at CCS. Ask me six months ago, I would not have anticipated it coming. Surprise is a good word to describe the nature of life; it is also true to the ministry we are called to do. We often say the world has changed. That’s true; but so have we. Maybe this season we should consider how best to embrace change as a gift of life, and how we navigate unfamiliar territories and ideas with courage, grace, and gratitude. Merry Christmas!
|
|
|
Cheryl
I gave birth to my only child, a son, on a frosty December evening, 27 years ago. A maternity nurse made these tiny Christmas stockings and gave them to all the moms and babes on her ward each December. Every December, when I go through my box of Christmas things and find the stocking, I am flooded with memories of my son as a child. He was always filled to overflowing with joy, curiosity and wonder and I couldn’t help but feel the same when I was with him, and now, when I see this gift. My wish is that you might also experience joy, curiosity and wonder at this time of year. Merry Christmas!
|
|
|
Alcris
I am in Curazao this Christmas. This is meaningful for me because it is the first time I have been with my family here in 9 years. Last night we made this recyclable Christmas tree from strips of brown paper and corks. The model is from my sister-in-law Veronica. When her mom was a single mother of six she made a similar one with crepe paper because she couldn't afford to buy a tree or any decorations. Veronica and her siblings were very upset because they wanted a real tree, one like everybody else. Now with this tree she is closing the circle, because she now can understand her mother's unique and inexpensive tree. So she is honoring her memory with this one!
|
|
|
Lori
My first Christmas living in Jamaica it dawned on me how white the people and angels are in Christmas decorations. At that time Christmas trees and decorations were not part of a traditional Jamaican Christmas, which focused more on the religious celebration, family and food. But there were a few angels around. I noticed that at church and in the stores, the ones topping Christmas trees were always white – imported for white expats. It didn’t seem right to me to have white angels in Jamaica, where the majority of the population was black, so I began looking for black Christmas angels. I love this handmade Jamaican one with the vibrant clothing and dreadlocks going everywhere. It’s not nearly so “perfect” as angel decorations tend to be. Now that I am part of an ethnically diverse church, I guess it’s time to start looking for angels representing other ethnic backgrounds too.
|
|
|
Marcie
The decoration that I have chosen this year is not mine, but it feels like it is in solidarity with me. This little sloth seems happy, if not a little nervous, hanging on for dear life to a branch that’s perhaps a little small. Looking out to the world, it might not realize that it is not the branch holding them up, but a sturdy string. That string enables them to be guest on this strange larger tree, in community with whales and angels, moose and Mary, light and living spruce. I, too, am guest on this land of the Ohlone and Muwekma peoples, guest in the home of Sheryl and Kelly, guest in the United States. Guests are not without obligation or responsibility, but there is a grace that transcends the negotiation, and a graciousness at work holding it all together.
By the time you are reading this, I will be back in my home, with family and familiarity, at least for a fortnight. Between now and then, there are miles to go and empires’ authorities to report to, but thankfully no stopover in a stable to give birth. May you, too, experience the grace and the guest in this Christmas season. Blessings.
|
|
|
Janet
A treemendous part of Christmas for us is hanging with friends and loved ones. This little cockatoo was a gift from Winnipeg friends who have since flown the coop to Australia. It is an impeckable reminder of relationship in so many ways: the fun and joy of sharing food such as fettucini elfredo and feeling the Spirit of Christmas from our head to our mistletoes. Our Christmas Cockatoo reminds us of the importance of connection even (or especially) when things are not in peppermint condition and we know we are a workshop in progress. Relationships at Christmas can stretch us to branch out and offer us myrrh grace than we might deserve. Our Christmas Cockatoo reminds us not to firget those relationships that need to be spruced up. Perhaps most significantly, it is a reminder of those loved ones who are no longer present with us and, therefore, of the apparrot opportunities we still have to love and care while we can (without feather ado).
|
|
|
Scott
These decorations actually belong to my parents, carved by my dad sometime in the 70s. You can always tell when my brother’s been over to visit because something in the nativity set's gone awry. Maybe a sheep has moved into the manger and the baby Jesus has gone into hiding? Maybe an angel’s sheet-music has become a magi’s hat. Maybe Joseph’s staff has been replaced by a tiny “Go Jesus” pennant. (I may have participated in some creative re-staging at times as well but I will not cop to it here. It’s all Andrew’s doing.) Halloween and April Fool’s Day often get associated with mischief, but it seems to me that the Christmas story, with its inverted mountains and valleys and its kings in stables, bumps the mischief up to a cosmic level. I wish you a mischievous Christmas. …And Go Jesus.
|
|
|
Merry Christmas
from Alan, Lori, Cheryl, Janet, Scott, Alcris, and Marcie!
|
|
On the Web...
(click a title to read the whole article)
|
|
Alan Lai goes to YouTube to introduce himself and CCS.
|
|
|
Alcris's instructions for a traditional Venezuelan holiday dish.
|
|
|
It was a low-key affair, but we appreciate everyone who stopped by for a chat and some hot apple cider.
|
|
|
December's edition of Broadview Magazine has an article on CCS graduate Bri-anne Swan and her spiritual accompaniment of death-row inmate Ramiro Gonzales.
|
|
|
Alcris Limongi and Selam Debs will be faciltating a 2-session workshop in February and March.
|
|
|
Our December CCS Friday presentation featured Bishop Geoff Woodcroft of the Anglican Diocese of Rupert's Land reflecting on last summer's Lambeth Conference.
|
|
|
Prayers
- For the family and friends of Elizabeth Crispin (grad of 1968) who died last month.
- For the family and friends of Doris Grierson (grad of 1958) who died last month.
- Congratulations to Christina Crawford (grad of 2020) who has earned a Bachelor of Theological Studies in Diaconal Ministry from St. Stephen's College.
|
|
UPCOMING EVENTS
December 28th Tea in Victoria
Principal Alan Lai will be in Victoria on December 28th, and Beth Walker and Megumi Saunders are organizing an informal "drop in" tea event at Megumi's home on Wednesday, December 28th, from 2:00-4:00 pm to get to know Alan better. If you would like to attend, please RSVP to Megumi at saunders.megumi@gmail.com.
|
|
|
Join us on Friday, January 20, 2023 at noon (Winnipeg time) for an online discussion of the Universal or Cosmic Christ. Our special guest, Min-Goo Kang, will tell his own story of finding his path to God through the lens of Taoism. Embracing his roots and heritage in this way opened up space to claim his place in Christianity without leaving his culture behind. In this workshop we will have time to explore the importance of our cultural roots and how they influence our practice of faith. We will discuss how the idea of a Cosmic Christ bridges culture and faith.
Min-Goo Kang is a United Church minister from Victoria, BC.
CCS Friday events are free. Please register to receive a zoom link.
|
|
|
Join us on Friday, February 10, 2023 at noon (Winnipeg time) for an online discussion of personal finances for people of faith, and the impacts of tithing for the donor and for the church. Our special guest is Glenn Morison.
CCS Fridays events are free. Please register to receive a zoom link.
|
|
Glenn Morison is on a short list of people who have worked both as a prison chaplain and as a stock broker. He is an ordained United Church Minister who has worshipped with the Quaker Meeting in Winnipeg for the last 11 years. This two-session workshop will focus on things he wished he knew about money earlier in his ministry career, including savings, pensions, investments, and budgeting. Session one will focus on theological approaches to personal finances. Session two, a month or so later, will focus on ways to make and improve your financial stability.
- Session 1 will be February 24, 2023, 12:00-1:30pm CST
- Session 2 will be May 5, 2023, 12:00-1:30pm CST
These workshops will be especially beneficial to ministry students and new ministers, but are useful for people in any stage of ministry. For more information, email Scott at sdouglas@ccsonline.ca or click [HERE] to register.
|
|
|
Upcoming Learning Circles
|
|
|
Learning on Purpose 2023
CCS's two-week Learning on Purpose course will be offered in Winnipeg, June 19-30, 2023. The tuition cost is $1700. (Bursary support is available.) Great for anyone who wants to discern their purpose and deepen their skills for faithful action and reflection.
|
|
Opportunities
- Good Samaritan Mountainview Village assisted living and care home in Kelowna, BC is looking for a chaplain. (Sharilynn Upsdell retired from this position in June and would be happy to speak to anyone about it.) Click for more information
|
|
There is still time to support a student with a year-end gift!
|
|
 I’m writing you today to ask you to send a special gift NOW to help a new student who is feeling overwhelmed and uncertain.
Ally just started at CCS and is finding it’s a steep learning curve. It’s been 11 years since he was in school and he’s worried his dyslexia will make it difficult to do the work. He finds being at CCS is challenging as he steps out of a place of comfort to try new things.
If a student like Ally doesn’t receive the help he needs, he could become overwhelmed and discouraged, even drop out. I don’t want that to happen, and neither do you.
Your gift will make possible many supportive moments in the first year of a student’s life:
- An encouraging phone conversation with Janet or Alcris.
- Help with sorting out a field placement dilemma.
- A referral for testing to accommodate learning differences.
And it will sustain all of the work of the Centre for Christian Studies.
Please send your gift by midnight, December 31 to make sure a student like Ally gets the support he needs when he’s feeling overwhelmed and uncertain in the new semester at CCS.
|
|
|
|
Common Threads
