Imagine Church Differently
When we launched the project for evaluation and redesign of the Centre for Christian Studies program, we wanted to use the particular expertise of new Program Staff and to respond to the emerging needs of students, churches, and society. As things have evolved over the years since the current program was introduced, there has been less and less call on it by Anglicans.
There are a number of reasons for this: Continue reading “CCS Program Redesign – the Anglican Angle”
from 5:30-7:30 pm, at St. Luke’s Anglican Church (130 Nassau St N).
An opportunity to say farewell and express our appreciation to retiring principal Maylanne Maybee. More details will be forthcoming.
from 7-9 pm. Location TBA.
A welcoming event for new principal Michelle Owens. Again, watch the CCS website in August for more details.
As principal Maylanne Maybee prepares for retirement this summer, many people are wondering about what happens next for her. Here are the basics: Continue reading “Wishing Maylanne Well”
CCS alumni Allison Halstead, recently retired from ministry in Miami, Manitoba, reflects on trusting the signs – as she walked into retirement …and along the Hadrian’s Wall path in Northern England.
Leading up to retirement, well-wishers often asked about my plans. I had no plans. There was, however, a rock in my day-timer. Continue reading “Walking the Wall Trail”
After a year and half of reviewing and redesigning, the Centre for Christian Studies is excited to be unveiling the new shape of our educational program!
We are grateful to the nearly forty volunteers who helped discern a path, especially the members of the Program Review Coordinating team. We are also grateful to the Anglican Foundation, who provided funding for the program review and redesign process. Continue reading “The New Program Is Here, The New Program Is Here!”
Last Sunday the staff of the Centre for Christian Studies hosted a refreshment time for the Winnipeg Quaker meeting following their worship service. For the past number of years the Quakers have been renting space at at Woodsworth House for their meetings, but their ranks have now grown to the point where they need to relocate. They’ll be moving down the street to a housing co-op that has a large gathering space. CCS has appreciated having the Quaker community in our building, and were glad to have the opportunity to wish them well in their move.
CCS’s other tenant, Nathanial Kaplan, who rented an office in Woodsworth House for his Reiki practice, has also moved out. Best of luck, Nathanial.
If you or someone you know is looking to rent space – either office space or meeting space – feel free to contact the CCS office.
Happy National Aboriginal Day! Are there any events or opportunities for you to connect with Indigenous people and communities in your area today? Any ways to actively reflect on solidarity and decolonization? Or just to celebrate the contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis peoples make to our shared culture.
Maybe you’re staying in today. If so, here are some of our favourite videos from the Second Fridays series we ran at the Centre for Christian Studies a few years ago, where we invited indigenous and non-indigenous speakers to challenge and inspire us… Continue reading “Happy Aboriginal Day”
Congratulations to Kristin Woodburke (CCS grad 2014) and Josh Ward (CCS grad 2017), who received degrees from the University of Winnipeg’s United Centre for Theological Studies this weekend. Kristin received her Bachelor of Theology and Josh received a Master of Arts in Theology (Spiritual Disciplines and Ministry Practice). Josh was also awarded the Nisbet Memorial and Winchester Prize for the second highest standing in Theology.
The CCS Awards Working Group is inviting nominations for the 2018 Companion of the Centre Award. The Companion of the Centre Award was established in 2001 by the Central Council of the Centre. Through this award, CCS honours at the Annual Service of Celebration, except for exceptional circumstances, one or more persons:
Nominations are welcome from graduates, students, friends, volunteers and staff. (Download the form: PDF / RTF ). Nominations must be received by September 30, 2017.
This spring Centre for Christian Studies student Lynn McGrath traveled to Israel and Palestine as part of a “Come and See” trip organized by the United Church of Canada and BC Conference. (CCS diaconal ministry students are required to engage in a Global Perspectives experience as part of their program.) The trip was led by retired minister Rev. Marianna Harris, and while there, participants connected with UCC partners such as Sabeel, Wi’am, Defence for Children International and Ecumenical Accompaniers.
Here are Lynn’s reflections on the experience:
In April I joined eleven United Church people with curiosity and a sense of adventure for a tour of the Holy Land. I soon discovered I wasn’t just a tourist; I was a witness to the challenges that people of this land face in their daily lives. I had no prior perceptions of the Israeli or Palestinian people, but by the second day I discovered definite divisions between the two. Continue reading “I Was A Witness”
You may have noticed that the Centre for Christian Studies has a new logo popping up on our website and other places. A few months ago I presented a retrospective of CCS logos past, and now that our new logo is here it seems appropriate to continue the story. We’ve asked Del Sexsmith, chair of the Communications and Promotions Committee, to offer some thoughts on the nature of logos….
In the beginning was the Word… (John 1: 1)
We are all familiar with that text. All things start with the Word. We are marked by it.
And what does that have to do with our new logo? A little trivia first.
Logos is Greek for “word” and typos is Greek for “imprint.” Out of “logotype”, we have the abbreviation “logo”, the longer form of the word telling us that a logo is a graphic mark, emblem or symbol. We live with logos every day; they are synonymous with a corporate brand. In fact, we probably see a hundred or more logos every day without their truly registering with our conscious thoughts. Did you see the Apple logo when you turned on your laptop? The Windows logo on your desktop? Of course, you did. But you have already pushed this observation into the matrix of images that you accept as part of navigating your world. Continue reading “In the Beginning was the Logo – Continued”
UPDATE: The June Learning on Purpose course in Saskatoon has been cancelled due to low registration. Sorry for any inconvenience. The August Learning on Purpose is still a go, though, and there’s still time to apply!
Learning on Purpose: Changing Leadership for a Changing World is back! This summer our two-week leadership development course will be held in Winnipeg in August. The application for the August LoP is June 1st, so apply today.
For the past year-and-a-half nearly 40 volunteers across the country have been meeting by phone or in person in small task groups to look deeply at various aspects of the Centre for Christian Studies’ educational programming. The Program Review was endorsed by CCS’s Central Council, and the process for reviewing our curriculum – in light of the current social and global context, the needs of the church, the implications of communication technology, and the desire to make our programs more accessible to potential students – was designed in large part by Ann Naylor. Over the past year, the Program Review Coordinating Team – Marcie Gibson, Linda Ervin, and Lori Stewart – have shepherded the process along. Continue reading “Program Redesign”
If you’re a regular visitor to the CCS website, you might notice things looking a little different. We were due for a spruce up, and we’ve recently done some branding work with folks at Barefoot Creative. You’ve maybe noticed our new logo and our new tagline: “Imagine Church Differently.” Continue reading “New Look for CCS”
CCS student Meghan Witzel recently accompanied eleven youth from Waterloo Presbytery as a leader/chaplain on the “Two Countries One World” trip to Colombia. Meghan shares some of her reflections:…
I have always believed in relational ministry. I think when we connect with people, whether on faith-based mutual ground or not, we discover the Holy in each other.
“In true relationships, the only point is to be together. Once there is another point, the relationship withers under the heat of expectations and obligations.” – theologian Andrew Root.
Continue reading “The Only Point Is To Be Together”