Centre for Christian Studies

Integration 1 learning circle 2019
2019-09-16 - 2019-09-21 | Woodsworth House, 60 Maryland Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
The fall learning circle for students in the final year of their diaconal ministry program, focusing on theology, personal faith statements and official creeds, diaconal/vocational/ministry identity.

Ministry as Storytelling 2019
2019-10-16 - 2019-10-22
An education and worship learning circle on story, preaching, scripture as narrative, and the arts in worship and education.

Spiritual Practice 2019
2019-10-24 - 2019-10-30
A spiritual care learning circle on the history and diversity of Christian spiritual practices, private devotion and communal spirituality, discipleship, and companioning.

Cookies and Carols 2019
2019-12-10 16:00 - 18:00 (America/Winnipeg) | Woodsworth House, 60 Maryland Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Hark! The herald angels, aka those of us gathered, sing! This includes you. If you are in or around Winnipeg, join us at Woodsworth House on Tuesday, December 10 for our annual open house carol sing. There will be hot beverages and tasty snacks and a chance to hang out and sing some of your favourite Christmas hymns and carols.

We don’t have a hearth, but our hearts are warm and friendly.
Tuesday, December 10, 4 – 6 p.m.

Power and Privilege 2019 (online)
2020-01-14 - 2020-02-20
A social justice online learning circle on social location, individual and systemic power, social analysis, and the role of the prophet.
The course will involve video conferences twice weekly via Zoom, on Wednesdays and Fridays at 3pm Central time as well as asynchronous online discussions and activities throughout the week.
January 14 to February20, 2020
For more information visit, click here.

CCS Annual General Meeting 2020
2020-03-19 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
All friends of the Centre for Christian Studies are invited to join us online via videoconferencing for the AGM, 6pm-8pm Central time.
Please contact Cheryl at the office – office@ccsonline.ca – if you plan to attend so we can get a sense of who all will be there.
Zoom link for video – (this meeting has passed)
(If you need instructions or assistance using zoom, contact Scott at sdouglas@ccsonline.ca or 204.783.4490 ext 28)
Don’t have access to a computer or video capability? You can participate by phone.
Phone:
Meeting ID:
(Note: Long distance charges apply.)
Meeting Documents
Documents to download:

Agenda of the 2020 Annual General Meeting
Minutes of the 2019 Annual General Meeting
Annual Report 2019
Year Book 2019
Audited Financial Statements
2020 Nominations Table

Gatherings
Due to concerns about the spread of coronovirus, we’re not inviting people to come to Woodsworth House for the AGM or for pizza beforehand. Stay home and join us from there.

Using Zoom for Church Meetings
2020-04-07 11:00 - 12:30 | Online
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, churches and clergy are suddenly trying to figure out how to hold their faith communities together and get some of their work done remotely. For the past few years the Centre for Christian Studies has been using Zoom to stay connected with students and staff across Canada and the world. We’ll offer the best advice we can from our experience, with some suggestions about how Zoom can be used for church governance and meetings.

Pastoral Care in a Crisis workshop
2020-04-14 11:00 - 12:30 | Online
A free workshop discussing strategies and principles for offering pastoral care in a crisis (for example, a global pandemic).
Tuesday, April 14 at 11am Central Time (Winnipeg).
Facilitated by CCS Principal Michelle Owens and Development Coordinator Lori Stewart.
Donations are gratefully accepted.
Register at https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwvcuyrqzotecPk692Yk3C31fASzTEEWQ

Oppression and Resistance 2020
2020-04-15 - 2020-04-21
A social justice learning circle on systems of oppressions (racism, sexism, heterosexism, colonialism, etc.), models of change, and theologies of resistance (liberation theology, feminist theology, queer theology, etc.) NOTE: This learning circle has been moved to online.

Integration 3 learning circle 2020
2020-04-20
The spring learning circle for students in the final year of the their diaconal ministry program, focusing on preparation for active ministry. NOTE: This learning circle has been moved to online.

Using the Spiral for Pastoral Care workshop
2020-04-21 11:00 - 12:30 | Online
A free workshop exploring the Centre for Christian Studies’ Action-Reflection Spiral as a tool for pastoral care and faithful decision-making. Tuesday, April 21 at 11am Central Time (Winnipeg). Facilitated by CCS Principal Michelle Owens and Development Coordinator Lori Stewart. Donations are gratefully accepted. Register at https://zoom.us/meeting/register/uJIlduuvqzgpfSjDjkl7L8z5VbkBUroqJg

Ages and Stages 2020
2020-04-23 - 2020-04-29
An education and worship learning circle on ministry with various age groups, development theory, curriculum, youth ministry, children’s ministry, adult education, ministry with seniors, and intergenerational ministry. NOTE: This learning circle has been moved to online.

Trauma-informed Pastoral Care in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
2020-04-28 11:00 - 12:30 | Online
A free workshop discussing strategies for offering pastoral care with an awareness of trauma and post-traumatic stress. Tuesday, April 28 at 11am Central Time (Winnipeg). Facilitated by CCS Principal Michelle Owens and Development Coordinator Lori Stewart. Donations are gratefully accepted. Register at https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUvdu2rrD0rHdJDnxvb7lZ_x2DuH53MnG7w

Relationships 2020 (online)
2020-05-12 - 2020-06-18
A spiritual care online learning circle on intimate and familial relationships, sexuality and gender, family systems, weddings, covenants, relationship break-ups, and the role of minister as support.
The course will involve video conferences twice weekly via Zoom, on Wednesdays and Fridays at 3pm Central time as well as asynchronous online discussions and activities throughout the week.
May 12 and June 18, 2020
For more information, click here.

Online Tea Party
2020-06-10 14:00 - 16:00 | Online
Have you ever been to a reception following a graduation ceremony, where you mill about drinking tea (or iced tea), chatting, congratulating the grads on their hard work, enjoying the community that is brought together by such events?
This year’s CCS graduates of the Diaconal Ministries program didn’t get a public ceremony as such, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a party!
Wednesday, June 10th, 2020
from 2pm to 4pm Central Daylight Time
You bring the tea, we’ll bring the “space”. Register to get the link and then log in through Zoom for the CCS Online Tea Party. There’ll be some large group formalities and a bunch of small breakout rooms where you can say congrats to each of the graduates, connect with friends you haven’t seen for awhile, and discover new people from the far-flung CCS community.
Register for the Online Tea Party

Integration 1 - fall 2020
2020-09-16 - 2020-09-23 | Online
The fall learning circle for Diaconal Ministry students in their final year.

Ministry as Listening 2020
2020-09-30 - 2020-10-07 | Online
A spiritual care learning circle. More info…

CCS Friday - Imagine Church Differently
2020-10-09 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
October 9: Imagine Church Differently: What is church when we can’t gather? An exploration of ecclesiology and the implications of what we believe about church, with guest, Noel Suministrado
CCS Fridays:
Online conversations to help us all to respond faithfully to emerging issues in local contexts. These workshops are open to anyone who might be interested. Each session will be on a Friday from 12:00 to 1:00 CT and in the form of a Zoom workshop. There will be a presentation that will be recorded for future viewing, plus opportunities to engage with the ideas in small groups.
Sessions are free but you must register.

Eco-Justice 2020
2020-10-21 - 2020-10-28 | Online
A social justice learning circle. More info…

CCS Sunday 2020
2020-11-01
Celebrate the work of the Centre for Christian Studies in your Sunday worship. Find resources. prayers, sermons, videos, etc.

CCS Friday - Queer Biblical Interpretation
2020-11-06 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
November 6: Queer Biblical Interpretation: seeing Scripture with new eyes.
CCS Fridays:
Online conversations to help us all to respond faithfully to emerging issues in local contexts. These workshops are open to anyone who might be interested. Each session will be on a Friday from 12:00 to 1:00 CT and in the form of a Zoom workshop. There will be a presentation that will be recorded for future viewing, plus opportunities to engage with the ideas in small groups.
Sessions are free but you must register.

CCS Friday - Apocalyptic Christmas
2020-12-04 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
December 4: Apocalyptic Christmas: A theological exploration of what the apocalypse might have to do with Christmas in a pandemic.
CCS Fridays:
Online conversations to help us all to respond faithfully to emerging issues in local contexts. These workshops are open to anyone who might be interested. Each session will be on a Friday from 12:00 to 1:00 CT and in the form of a Zoom workshop. There will be a presentation that will be recorded for future viewing, plus opportunities to engage with the ideas in small groups.
Sessions are free but you must register.

CCS Friday - Epiphanies
2021-01-08 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
January 8 – Epiphanies: In season of Epiphany we explore the nature of epiphanies in our lives, including spiritual practices for staying open to and journeying toward epiphany.
NOTE: For this session, you are invited to have some supplies for drawing/colouring on hand.
CCS Fridays:
Online conversations to help us all to respond faithfully to emerging issues in local contexts. These workshops are open to anyone who might be interested. Each session will be on a Friday from 12:00 to 1:00 CT and in the form of a Zoom workshop. There will be a presentation that will be recorded for future viewing, plus opportunities to engage with the ideas in small groups.
Sessions are free but you must register.

Worship 2021
2021-01-12 - 2021-02-18 | Online
An online education and worship learning circle. More info…

CCS Friday - Holding a Virtual AGM
2021-02-12 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
We’re moving into annual meeting season. Join us for an information-sharing and discussion session on best practices for holding a church annual meeting online using a platform like Zoom. We’ll bring what we know and you can bring what you know.
CCS Fridays:
Online conversations to help us all to respond faithfully to emerging issues in local contexts. These workshops are open to anyone who might be interested. Each session will be on a Friday from 12:00 to 1:00 CT and in the form of a Zoom workshop. There will be a presentation that will be recorded for future viewing, plus opportunities to engage with the ideas in small groups.
Sessions are free but you must register.

CCS Friday - The Pandemic of Racism
2021-03-12 00:00 - 13:00 | Online
Join us for an online discussion of the ways in which the covid-19 pandemic exposes long-standing racial divisions and systemic injustices, and perhaps to imagine opportunities for change. Our special guest will be Kim Uyede-Kai.
CCS Fridays:
Online conversations to help us all to respond faithfully to emerging issues in local contexts. These workshops are open to anyone who might be interested. Each session will be on a Friday from 12:00 to 1:00 CT and in the form of a Zoom workshop. There will be a presentation that will be recorded for future viewing, plus opportunities to engage with the ideas in small groups.
Sessions are free but you must register.

CCS Annual General Meeting 2021
2021-03-25 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
Join us for our AGM. Thursday, March 25, 2021 at 6pm Central Time via Zoom.
Please register so we know who to expect.
Documents

2021 AGM Agenda
2020 AGM Minutes
2020 Audited Financial statements
Nominations Table 2021
2020 Annual Report 2020
2020 Year Book

Profiles in Diakonia
2021-04-10 10:00 - 13:00 | Online
Join us for a celebration of some of our diaconal heroes!
Profiles in Diakonia is open to anyone. Please register. (We especially encourage current Diaconal Ministry students to attend.) It will be held online on Zoom on April 10, 2021 from 10am to 1pm Central Time. (That’s 9am in Alberta, 8am in BC, 11am in Ontario, etc.)
The students in their Integration Year are nearing the end of their Diaconal Ministries program. As part of their final year of studies they each prepared a profiles of two diaconal ministers – one living and one dead. Through research and interviews the students learned the stories of these committed individuals who walked the path before them.
The first half of the Profiles in Diakonia event will provide the opportunity for our students to share these stories and reflect on their own journeys in relation to them.
The second half of the session will be a time of conversation with this year’s Companion of the Centre, Anne Manikel. (Anne will be honoured with the Companion of the Centre Award, and the Integration Year students will be graduating, at the Annual Service of Celebration on April 17.)
The agenda for the Profiles in Diakonia event is below. You can come for the whole thing or just for half. (Parts of the session will take place in breakout rooms, so if you arrive late and there aren’t many people around, that’s why.

Session Agenda
(Agenda times are CDT/Winnipeg time)
10:00 Worship Opening & Welcome – led by IY student Rebecca
10:10 Creative Journaling
10:20 Introductions (likely in small groups)
10:30 Overview of the morning, Explanation of the process of our “Historical and Living Diaconal Library” and Introductions to the characters and the students (Rebecca Pike, Alana Martin, Bri-anne Swan, Karlene Kimber)
10:45 Deceased Diaconal Minister / Deacon / Deaconess’ Perspectives – Students share profiles of diaconal heroes past
11:00 Live’n’kickin’ Diaconal Perspectives – Students share profiles of diaconal heroes still with us
11:15 On-the-cusp-of-graduation Diaconal Perspectives – Students share their own perspectives
11:30 Break
11:45 Introduction of the Companion: Anne Manikel
11:55 Companion Interview
12:25 Small Group Discussion
12:35 Q&A with the Companion
12:50 Evaluation & Announcements, Closing Song or Prayer
1:00 End

Living Scripture 2021
2021-04-14 - 2021-04-21 | Online
An intensive education and worship learning circle, offered online this year. More info…

Annual Service of Celebration 2021
2021-04-17 16:00 - 18:00 | Online
Join us for an online worship service as we celebrate our 2021 graduates of the Centre for Christian Studies and honour this year’s Companion of the Centre, Anne Manikel.
The service will take place Saturday, April 17th at 4pm Central
Please register to receive a link

Annual Service of Celebration 2021 Order of Service

Some things to bring:
We are delighted that you will be joining us this year for our Annual Service of Celebration online. Since we cannot be together in-person we have planned a worship experience that allows you, and everyone else attending, to participate using items you will likely have with you in your home.
Our idea is to help you feel like you’re not just sitting at a screen but that you can make the space you’re in feel holy and connected to everyone else at the service.
We will begin the service by preparing our worship space together – each of us starting with a bare table – so you will need:

A small table near you that will be your ‘Communion table’ like what you see at the front of most churches.
A tablecloth
A candle (and matches)
A Bible if you have one
A Basin / Bowl
A Hand Towel
An object that is important to, or represents, your spiritual story.
Communion elements:

Chalice/cup & juice/wine
Plate and bread (or substitute)
