Manitou Intentional Learning Community

1. Manitou Intentional Learning Community Annual Report Annual General Meeting Wednesday, November 14th 2012

2. Our logo Designed by Katie Pile from St. Andrew’s United Church, Sudbury Speaking of her design, Katie said: “Spirit was central to the design as symbolized by the cross, while the circle represents the community with its sense of wholeness and completeness. The scrolls emanating from the circle reflect the nature of the community reaching out beyond itself to inform and be informed. They also suggest strongly a sense of continuous movement.”

3. Why intentional? We are a community of adult learners, lay and clergy, motivated to learn things that will increase our spiritual well-being and effectiveness as members of our congregations and communities. We aim to discern what God is saying, develop leadership and transform individuals and communities. Our events focus on local, national and global concerns. Link, Learn, Lead.

4. Executive Team Members • Jane Baggs • Melody Duncanson-Hales • Natasha Gerolami • Dave Le Grand • Faye Moffatt • Gillian Schell • Erin Todd • Freda Wilson Thanks to all these hard-working team members for their dedication and leadership.

5. 2011 AGM, November 30th. Presentation by Rev. Dr. Ted Harrison “Singing the Lord’s Song in an Increasingly Strange Land” Re-Learning How to be the Church Food for Thought “We remember that Jesus’ first preaching revolved around the word change. “Repent” means “change” or “change your mind.” And yet the church’s resistance to change may be our most consistent and defining trait. . . How do we deal with the church’s apparent tendency to love the past more than we love the present or the future?” “The church has become a place to go rather than a people to be.” Phyllis Tickle

6. Gifts of the Small Churcha Learning Circle led by Rev. Erin Todd The book The participants Clergy from a number of communities throughout the Manitou Conference met regularly by teleconference to explore the ministry offered by small churches and to support and sustain each other in these ministries. Participants expressed a desire to maintain these connections.

7. Singing Faith Alive a Series of Workshops Led by Faye Moffatt • Faye provided a collaborative, hands-on experience in which both the non-musical and musically trained worshippers explored church music and hymns and thought about our Creator’s gift of the ministry of music—a gift that belongs to all of us. • Each “Reflection on Music,” the heart of each session, addressed a different aspect of music from science to ministry. “We cannot keep from singing”

8. Presentation to St. Andrew’s United Church, Sudbury“Happy are those who seek the Lord”

9. Happy Feet 2The message in the movie with Rev. Dawn Vaneyk • Mumble cannot sing like other penguins, but he can dance! • Mumble learns to embrace his “gift” and so do his family and community. • We all explored the meaning of “community” and “sacrifice” – and experienced first hand the penguin waddle.

10. Are you a pastoral visitor? Are you involved in hospital and nursing home visiting? Are you caring for or supporting someone experiencing major life transitions? The Manitou Intentional Learning Community and Emmanuel College invite you to Supporting those who Support Practical Wisdom and Guidance Reflections Conversations Small group sharing with Rev. Dr. Anne Simmonds Saturday, March 3rd 2012 St Peter’s United Church, York Street, Sudbury 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

11. Poverty Game The Poverty Game Saturday May 5th 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm St Andrew’s United Church 111 Larch St. Sudbury “My character Pamela did not receive what her allotment should have been at the beginning of the month and went to the social worker to advise her. I learned that apparently there had been a clerical error, but it couldn’t be rectified right away. After going back again at the appointed time, she told me that she hadn’t gotten back to my file because she had been on holiday in Hawaii. I remember that at that point I actually had to fight back tears. Poverty is indeed, a brutal game.” Kathy Brankley

12. Community Consultation • How can MILC help local churches? • What types of educational events do you want to see happening? • How can MILC help you and your congregations to LINK, LEARN and LEAD • Developing Partnerships • Working with Emmanuel College Continuing Education Department • Partnering with local churches • Partnering with Presbytery • Manitou Conference • Stephen Fetter, United in Learning

13. Listening and the Art of Pastoral CaringCreating a Caring Community in your Church With Rev. Catherine Somerville (Manitou Conference) Sister Costanza Romano (St. Joseph’s Villa) Allison Cline-Dean (Pioneer Manor) Madeleine Sauve (Warmhearts)

14. Upcoming Events 2013 • Pastoral Care Training – Part 2, January 26th with Rev. Catherine Somerville and others • Damned Nations by Dr. Samantha Nutt– book study with Sylvia Carscadden, February 17th • Ministry with Children and Youth in a 21st Century Context– with Amy Crawford, UCC Program Minister for Children and Youth, March 2nd. • Right Relations – with Susan Lindquist, Resource Relations Specialist, exploring the history of relationships with Aboriginal people and visioning ways to move forward, May 11th

15. Thanks • To all members of the executive team • To all MILC members who support and promote our community • To Roger Pile and Doug Hallman who are always there to deal with technical support • To Angela Chapeski for work on the website • To St Andrew’s United Church – our physical home and source of great support • To St Peter’s United Church and St Luke’s United Church for hosting and supporting our events in many ways