2021 in Reflection
 If 2020 was a year of pause and pivoting, 2021 was a year of movement and making. There was a general feeling that changes in the world around us are creating the "new normal," but that this would not be normal. There was a feeling that it didn't make sense to wait anymore. We saw this play out in many different ways: - Courageous conversations: We have heard conversations around racial justice, equity, spiritual growth, climate crisis, and the future happening across the country, as we listen and discern together in new ways.
- Being community in new ways: We have seen that even though community and gathering might look different during these times, they’re still very, very possible. We have seen new communities of faith sprout that have no intention of being face-to-face. We have seen that being in deep, supportive relationship can happen in new ways.
- Getting outside the building: From outdoor living rooms, to community gardens, to Wild Church, to walking church, we have seen that the church is not a building and that the church is its people.
- Finding a new way: Many community ministries have found a way forward, from creating new revenue streams to developing new partnerships, to starting new experiments. In many cases, these experiments have enabled community ministries across the country to connect with even more people than before the pandemic and have resulted in new offerings that will help them remain resilient in the years ahead.
- Becoming a partner of choice: New and unexpected partners have continued to lean in this year. Communities of faith have formed new relationships with organizations that have common goals or had new conversations with existing partners that have deepened their reciprocity and mutuality or found that non-church funders are seeing the tremendous value and importance of communities of faith in their neighbourhoods. We have seen communities of faith receive Federal grants from Canada Summer Jobs (national) to New Horizons (national) to MyMainstreet grants (Ontario-based). The United Church of Canada even received a grant from the Federal government as an Ecosystem Builder for the social innovation and social finance funding!
Looking forward to seeing more creative ideas and positive energy in 2022!
[Image Credit: Scott Warman on Unsplash.com] |
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Idea DaysThe EDGE Team invites you to come out to Idea Days! Idea Days happen over Zoom once a month on a Monday in most months of 2022. They are a great opportunity to connect with others, hear about great ideas, and share your own.
 What’s your big idea? Come out and tell us about it!
Upcoming Idea Days are taking place online at 10:00 a.m. PST, 1:00 p.m. EST, and 2:00 p.m. AST on each of the following days: Please email edge@united-church.ca for more information about Idea Days.
[Image Credit: AbsolutVision on Unsplash.com] |
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2022 Winter CohortsDo you have an idea for a new or renewing ministry but are unsure how to get started? EDGE realizes that working with new and renewing ministries require new approaches, forms of leadership, and competencies, and provides facilitated cohort learning experiences to help you learn the skills you need.
Cohorts are groups of 6-8 congregational leaders that meet online using web video. An EDGE facilitator uses instruction, discernment, and reflection to create a “Ministry 101” course for creating new and renewing ministries. Cohorts are excellent places to connect with others learn, share resources, and receive and offer support.
Here are the cohorts we’ll be running this winter:
Leading Adaptively – Starts Wednesday, January 19, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. EST
Priest, researcher, and revitalist Clara King leads this three-session Zoom course where you’ll discover new ways to lead adaptively with skills you already have. You’ll encounter the core theory of adaptive leadership in a vibrant new way and come away with useable practices to reinvigorate your day-to-day leadership journey. Curiosity Cohort – Starts Thursday, January 20, 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. ESTCuriosity is the mindset change that we, as people of faith, are craving as we begin to reimagine what church can be outside of Sunday morning. This is for innovative leaders, curious communities of faith, and those willing to explore what might be possible. Theory of Change – Starts Monday, February 7, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ESTOur Theory of Change workshop will help attendees break their program down into its component parts, differentiating between things like “what you do” and “what you achieve.” A Theory of Change will provide a roadmap that outlines the steps by which you plan to achieve your goal, it is the story of how you believe your program’s change will unfold. A Theory of Change can aid in aligning your stakeholders to your larger mission and help them understand their role in achieving it. Sustainability Cohort – Available February 1Sustainability is vital. It is more important than money and short-term results. It is about thinking long-term, about all of the ongoing impact. Please email slevis@united-church.ca to be put on waitlist for cohorts.
[Image Credit: Chris Montgomery on Unsplash.com] |
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Cup of HopeBy the end of January, we all need a little pick-me-up to get us the through the rest of winter. Cup of Hope will be just that! 
From Monday, January 31, 2022 to Friday, February 4, 2022 plus Sunday, February 6, 2022
Online at 10:00 a.m. PST, 1:00 p.m. EST, and 2:00 p.m. AST each day.
Cost: $50/person and includes 3-month access to all recorded sessions
Join us for A Cup of Hope online conference brought to you by United Church Communities of Faith in Northern BC, with support from the ProVision Fund and the LeaderShift program of Pacific Mountain Region.
Even in the colder days of winter and another pandemic wave, we believe there is hope for the church and The United Church of Canada specifically. Not only do we believe it, but we see signs of it all around us. We've recruited a team of presenters who've been asking questions about hope and have some interesting insights to share about what a vibrant, viable, and vital community of faith looks like regardless of size, context, or amount of paid ministry time and staff.
We invite you to take a cup of hope from four streams of engagement:
- Thriving and Hopeful - Each morning a different look at what thriving looks like now and into the next decade.
- Hope in the Theory of Change - How to apply what you've heard and learned from the whole festival.
- Hopeful Decisions Matter - How to make healthy decisions that build up community.
- Hope in Ministry - Tools and stories for ministry: AFFIRM, pastoral care, First Third, and reconciliation. Join us on Sunday with guest preacher Moderator Richard Bott.
Registration opens soon through the Leadershift website. Don't forget your bio, headshot, and description! |
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Hopeful Economics unConferenceFrom Thursday, March 3, 2022 from 9:00 a.m. EST to Friday, March 4, 2022 6:00 p.m. EST
Hopeful economics is a way of looking at the world of the assets and abundance that it has and making that work for everyone. Join in, as people and partners from across the faith and social sectors dive into hopeful economics. An Unconference occurs when topics and discussions are informed by the people who show up! During this two-day unConference we will tackle the following together: - How to see the abundance and hope
- Active listening and translating what we are hearing and seeing
- How to build collaboration through our commonalities
- Leaning into the problem
- Connecting with others across North America and in your neighborhood
Pricing: $20 CDN per person We are so committed to new connections being formed that we guarantee your ticket price and will refund it if you do not connect with someone new! Special Offer: $100 Become a Community Innovation Hub member for a year and receive five tickets to attend the Hopeful unConference. For more information and to register, visit Canada Helps. |
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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. |
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