A Week in the Life

A Week in the Life

Principal Maylanne Maybee writes:

A lot goes on at CCS, inside and out, from one day to the next and one week to the next.

Last Tuesday the Program Committee met by conference call, with lots of conversation about short-term courses, a new six week course for those preparing for the Anglican diaconate, the Program Consultation that we had to postpone from this November, and finding a new convener. It was energizing and positive.

On Wednesday six Integrating Year students arrived for their Fall Learning Circle. I met with Ted to plan a November retreat we are co-leading for the Local Collaborative Ministry team of the Diocese of Rupert’s Land. The Finance Committee met in the afternoon, and Ann Naylor led us through a reflection on the values of CCS – how will they inform our financial decisions? At the end of the day, Adrian Jacobs, the new Keeper of the Circle at the Sandy Saulteaux Spiritual Centre came for a visit.

On Thursday morning, I talked with the co-chairs of Central Council by conference call to plan for the Central Council meeting, and led a class on Organizational Change for the Integrating Year students in the afternoon.

Friday was our first “Second Friday” lunch, with Dianne Baker and Louise Simbanduwe speaking about a Theology of Accompaniment and Solidarity. Their comments and the discussion that followed were at once challenging, convicting, and inspiring. Friday was also the day the house painters began their work, prepping the outside of the building and shouting to each other in Arabic.

In the middle of all that, we had our weekly Wednesday worship and staff meeting. It was Scott’s turn to lead… and rather than the expected singing and call to worship, Ted, Liz, and I discovered a note on the meeting room table, written on bright orange paper and inviting us to put on our jackets to go outside. We followed the bright orange notes – one attached to the historic plaque in front of CCS, asking us to reflect on words of J.S. Woodsworth, one attached to a tree stump along Dundurn Ave, asking us to reflect on what is “dead wood” in ourselves and the church, one just before a crosswalk at Wolseley, asking us to reflect on what it means to “take up the cross”.

It was a beautiful, late summer day in Winnipeg and wonderful to have an excuse to be outside.
What a great job this is! In the Anglican Book of Alternative Services, there’s a collect “For Educational Institutions”:

O Eternal God, bless all schools, colleges, and universities, that they may be lively centres for sound learning, new discovery, and the pursuit of wisdom.

We are truly blessed at CCS, which is indeed a lively place for learning, discovery, and wisdom. Thanks be to God, and Amen.