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What Are We Waiting For?

North Thompson Ecumenical Shared Ministry Posted on by

Advent Meditations and Conversations
with the Leaders of the
Anglican, Evangelical Lutheran, Presbyterian,
and United Churches

National leaders of the Anglican Church of Canada, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, Presbyterian Church in Canada and United Church of Canada have announced that throughout the month of December, they will be cooperating on an ecumenical Advent meditation series, reflecting on the four themes of hope, joy, peace, and love.

Each Monday during Advent, the church leaders will release an ecumenical Advent meditation in which they will focus on one of the four Advent themes and address challenges and opportunities facing the Canadian churches.

On each of the following Thursdays in Advent, participants can attend a live discussion at 7:00 PM EST (4:00 PM PST) on the theme and ask questions, via Zoom, with two of the leaders.  Registration is required to join the Zoom gatherings.  Attendees will be able to ask questions during the online conversation.

To receive the meeting link for each event and receive email reminders of each week’s upcoming events, visit Advent2022.ca for access to the registration form.

Schedule for the live online discussions

Thurs., Dec. 1:  Hope, “Signs of the Time”
Bob Faris in conversation with Susan Johnson about the church in the 21st century. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted many trends that all Canadian churches are experiencing. Churches face shrinking membership and a changed position in communities across the country.  Can we read the signs of our own times to understand where we are being called to be the church?

The conversation was recorded and can be viewed here.

Thurs., Dec. 8:  Peace, “Finding the Good Path”
Bob Faris in conversation with Carmen Lansdowne about truth telling and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. Three of the churches represented here ran Residential Schools. The recovery of hundreds of unmarked graves in Kamloops and in many other locations has once again has shocked all of us into hearing the truth that Indigenous people have been telling for decades. What is the path forward?

The conversation was recorded and can be viewed here.

Thurs., Dec. 15:  Joy, “God’s Love Includes Everyone”
Carmen Lansdowne in conversation with Bob Faris about the inclusion of all in the church. For decades, all churches have been engaged in discussion around the inclusion of 2SLGBTQI+ people. All four participating churches have taken steps towards greater inclusion, but the discernment continues. What does it mean to include everyone?

The conversation was recorded and can be viewed here.

Thurs., Dec. 22: Love, “The Cost of Discipleship”
Bob Faris in conversation with Linda Nicholls about the church’s public witness in a rapidly changing social and political context in Canada. At times, the church is called to take positions that are not in tune with popular opinion or with other church partners. When should the church take a prophetic stand, and are we willing to pay the price to witness to the gospel?

The conversation was recorded and can be viewed here.

Participating Church Leaders

New:  Links for Monday meditations (as they become known)

Monday, November 28th:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hc7vS4pA0xg
The slightly less than half-hour video has a brief introduction.  The meditation begins with prayer and the First Sunday of Advent’s gospel reading, Matthew 24: 36-44.  The four church leaders then engage in conversation on the week’s theme:  Hope, “Signs of the Time”.  The meditation concludes with the hymn, “Unexpected and Mysterious”, and a brief description of the remaining weeks.

Monday, December 5th:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeUN6DdeqNc
After a brief welcome and prayer, the Second Sunday of Advent’s gospel reading, Matthew 3: 1-12, is read.  In this Advent week of Peace and the theme “Finding a Good Path”, the church leaders reflect on truth telling and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.  The song, “The Giver”, concludes the session.

Monday, December 12th:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dghguMt6HJo
The gospel reading for the Third Sunday of Advent, Matthew 11: 2-11, is read after a brief welcome and prayer.  In this Advent week of Joy, they reflect on the steps taken toward greater inclusion of 2SLGBTQI+ people in all four participating churches.  The meditation concludes with the hymn, “Sing a New World Into Being”.

Monday, December 19th:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzGc0T8aYyw
Following a brief welcome and prayer, the gospel for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, Matthew 1: 18-25, is read.  During this Advent week of Love and with the theme of “The Cost of Discipleship”, they reflect on the church’s public witness in a rapidly changing social and political context in Canada.  The hymn, “O Come All Ye Faithful”, concludes the meditation.

For more information, check the following links:

 

 

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