Embracing the Spirit: Idea Days, exploring disability and more ♥

What Story Are We In?   It’s important to ask ourselves in what Biblical story we’re living generally as we are able to listen and to discern differently with these stories in mind. Maybe you’ll answer differently for yourself than you would for your community of faith. Maybe you feel like, personally, you have long been living one Biblical narrative, but that your community of faith has just been living for just as long in: The wilderness, wandering and waiting for a sign on what God’s plan holds next. The scarcity, waiting, and uncertainty of Lent. The grief of Easter Sunday, when an empty tomb signified that plans that people were holding onto weren’t going to happen as they thought. The road to Emmaus, where tough decisions about the call from Jesus must be made as we decide what we’re holding onto, why, and what we need to let go. What do you think of when you hear these stories? Do you see them differently than how they’ve been presented here? How do we as individuals or communities of faith start living a new story, or even decide which one we want to live? Let’s get curious during Advent, the time when “the people of darkness have seen a great light,” about where that light is coming from and what new and exciting story it holds for all of us! Watch an EDGEy Conversation on this topic for more thoughts. [Photo Credit: KaLisa Veer on Unsplash.com] Idea Days! Idea Days are a chance to share and discuss your idea (and hear about others!). Come to be a collaborator or to share your idea with a group of champions. If you are interested in applying for an Innovation Grant, this is a great time to get potential partners or feedback.   Register below for the next Idea Days:   Monday, January 10 at 1pm EST Monday, February 21 at 1pm EST Monday, March 28 at 1pm EST [Photo Credit: AbsolutVision on Unsplash.com] Disability on the Margins   Community in Mission’s recent Engage! Love and Justice Gathering Workshop was a great success! The four-day online event, held on the Whova platform, was a wonderful time of connection and celebration of what the United Church does to make the world a more loving place. It was always a time of learning. For example, Rev. Gail Christy, Sarah Levis (Coordinator of UCC’s Community Innovation Hub) and Rev. Stephanie McClellan did a workshop called “Disability on the Margins. Come Join Us!” The three women, all with disabilities, told their stories and discussed social attitudes toward disability. Even when people don’t realize they hold them, or they hold social attitudes with no ill intent, they put up barriers that keep people with disabilities from fully participating in community life—including church community life. Other workshop highlights include: The Presence Project with Greg Smith-Young COP 26 - Climate Action Now Being in Courageous Community Youth Involvement in Anti-Racism Email Sarah at slevis@united-church.ca for access to the recording of these workshops. Embracing the Spirit is a learning network and innovation fund. It offers funding and support for innovation ideas hatched out of faith communities and communities in ministry. Some of the stories and best practices that are happening throughout The United Church of Canada are shared in this newsletter. If you have an idea that you want to launch, reach out and tell us about it! Proposal deadlines are quarterly, and due on the 15th of the month: January, April, July and October. Find out more.  Share Tweet Forward to a friend Sign up for the Embracing the Spirit newsletter! Facebook Twitter Website Email Instagram YouTube LinkedIn Donate to The United Church of Canada and help fund life changing work around the world!

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