Spirituality and Self-Care

Why is it important to practice self-care? How do we live out our spiritual lives at work?

Join MCEC for a virtual time of learning and sharing.
June 2 2021
12:00 - 3:30 pm (EDT)

April Yamasaki will speak on A Spirituality of Self-Care

How are we to understand self-care? Is it:
   a.   part of our me-first, consumer-driven culture,
   b.   a practical antidote to stress and burnout,
   c.   a faithful response to God's call in our lives?

This session offers a Christ-centred framework for understanding and practicing healthy self-care.

Randell Neudorf will guide us through an exercise of Imagination, Prayer and Joining the Story

Engaging with scripture can become a dynamic time of prayer when we allow our imaginations to join in. Using the spiritual practice of Gospel Contemplation, participants will have the chance to reflect on scripture as the “film director” (set the scene), “the actor” (choose a role) and finally by “breaking the 4th wall” (praying into the story as yourself). Don’t worry if you have stage fright, this movie will only play out in your own imagination.

WORKSHOPS

     Session 1

• Self-Care and the Work of Ministry
  April Yamasaki builds on "A Spirituality of Self-Care" with time for questions and comments, and a closer look at self-care as part of the work of ministry.
• Digging Deeper into Creativity and Prayer
  Randell Neudorf will introduce people to his “Visual Guide to Prayer Walking.” This resource uses a series of drawings to teach that anything & anywhere could spark a time of prayer. Randell will also be available to answer questions and debrief people’s experiences of the imaginative spiritual practice led in the large group session.
• Keeping your church connected and involved
  Tobi Thiessen from Canadian Mennonite will present this workshop. Since 1998, church administrators across Mennonite Church Canada have managed the Canadian Mennonite subscription list for people in their congregations. Admins also send in calendar announcements and notices of births, baptisms, marriages and deaths. These contributions are vital. They help our nationwide church family get to know one another and stay connected. And, they form part of the historic record in the life of the church. In this breakout room, we will discuss our new online portal for subscription management and answer your questions about how to keep the church up-to-date on your congregation.
  
  Session 2
  
  
• Courageous Imagination
  Mollee Moua, MCEC's Courageous Imagination Project Coordinator, will take you along on a journey of imagining what the church can be. 
• Virtual Church
  How has your congregation been meeting in the past year? Share your experiences of church with each other and get new ideas. Lisa Williams, MCEC's Director of Communications, will facilitate conversation.
• Open Room
  Do you have questions that are not addressed in other sessions, or would you just like to chat? The main zoom room will provide this opportunity. French translation will be available in this session.

Breaks will be given throughout the event.

 GUEST SPEAKERS

Randell Neudorf is an artist, musician, and (believe it or not) an urban monk. After 10 years of pastoring a little Mennonite church plant called The Commons, he is now on staff with GOHOP (Greater Ontario House of Prayer). GOHOP is a new monastic ministry based in Hamilton, Ontario and part of the world wide movement of 24-7 Prayer. Randell believes that creativity and prayer go hand in hand. He loves combining new and ancient spiritual practices in ways that make prayer dynamic, participatory, safe and sometimes even a little fun. You can learn more about all Randell’s creative and ministry pursuits at: www.randellneudorf.com 

April Yamasaki served as lead pastor of Emmanuel Mennonite Church in Abbotsford, B.C. for twenty-five years, then sensed a new call from God to re-focus her ministry on her writing and speaking. She currently serves as resident author of Valley CrossWay Church, is a frequent guest speaker in other churches and settings, and writes online and in print publications. Her biggest self-care challenge is staying grounded in the midst of life and ministry, the on-going pandemic, and her husband's health challenges.

WORKSHOP SPEAKER

Tobi Thiessen, Publisher, has been with Canadian Mennonite since 2017. She is responsible for the overall strategy and operations of the magazine as we adapt to the digital age. Tobi was born in Saskatoon and lived in Lethbridge for a year but has spent most of her life in Toronto. She and her husband have three young adult sons and are actively involved at Toronto United Mennonite Church.