Previous "Coffee Time" Links
Tuesday, October 11
No Coffee Time due to a funeral at Central
Tuesday, October 4
"Well, here we are fully into Autumn so it must be time to revive "Coffee and curious spiritual Conversations" in real life and real-time!
Susanna Suchak will facilitate, but this is a conversation so no homework, just bring your curiosity and be open and vulnerable to go deep.
We will convene on Tuesday mornings from 10 am to noon in the lower parlor (behind the Fellowship Hall) at Central United.
If you feel more comfortable wearing a mask, that's fine with us. Some won't and that's okay too.
We are trusting that all attendees will be up-to-date with vaccines.
Our topics for October 4th range from Tikkun Olam (are you curious now?) all the way to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (wear red in remembrance).
Let's gather and share conversation and fellowship. If you need transportation to get here, or health requires an online experience, let susanna know at susanna[DOT]suchak[AT]gmail.com. We'll problem-solve together. We welcome the chance to come together under one roof and renew friendships and make new ones.
Hope we see you there!
susanna
Tuesday, September 27
Fall is nearly here and Coffee and Curious Spirituality is returning while the leaves prepare to fall!
Susanna will facilitate the group beginning on Tuesday, September 27th in the Sanctuary of Central United Church at 10 am.
It will be an informal gathering to plan how we wish to structure the conversations
and introduce ourselves to one another again LIVE and in person! Whoot!
Hope to see you there!
Please let susanna know if you need more details or directions at [email protected].
We're on a break until Fall 2022!
Monday, June 27th
Join us Monday morning at 10:30am for our final Coffee & Curious Spirituality Discussion before we take a summer break!
This week, you are invited to view not one, but two videos. The first speaks about a Hospitality Mindset. Being "church" in the world.
https://youtu.be/DDammirnAcc
The second video will give you a smile and hopefully prepare you to bounce back this September when hopefully there will be a new energy in our church building! https://youtu.be/K7ailgfJQck
Go gently and stay curious!
Monday, June 20th
Join us Monday morning at 10:30am as we continue our discussion about Hospitality.
Hospitality (3) “Welcoming the unwelcome”
This week’s video is an Opra interview with Pema Chodron, who is a Buddhist nun. We are just going to be looking at just a part of the interview: from minute 10 to minute 18. If you want to watch the whole interview, that’s fine, but we will only be discussing that 8 min section.
Check out the video: https://crediblemind.com/videos/pema-choedroen-or-supersoul-sunday-or-oprah-winfrey-network
Here are a few “discussion starter” questions for us to ponder:
1. Where have you been delayed, or prevented from doing the next thing you have wanted/planned to do? Something like a delayed flight, appointment, task. Can you think of a specific experience which you would be willing to share?
2. Had you ever thought that the people around you, who were also caught in the same situation? How have they been just “just like you”?
3. Where do you have to go from time to time, where you do not like to go, either because the situation (or the people) are stressful or even boring?
4. In those situations, with those people, what is their world like? How did Pema suggest that an unwelcome situation could become interesting?
All are welcome to join in on the discussion!
Monday, June 13
Join us Monday morning at 10:30am as we continue our discussion about Hospitality.
Check out the video: https://youtu.be/Qm6LB4u7-cY
Questions to ponder: What strikes you as something
you could do next Sunday?
Was anything off-putting?
Which church would you want to go to?
All are welcome to join in on the discussion!
Monday, June 6
Welcome to the re-start of Coffee and Curious Spirituality! And, if this is your first meeting with us, a special welcome to you! You will find our discussions to be open and completely non-judgmental. All of us have found our discussions interesting and fruitful. So, whatever you would like to share, is welcome. And if it is your preference to just “watch and listen”, that’s fine too.
We use the “Google Meet” platform. Link to join: https://meet.google.com/pjg-zbez-nax
It’s like Zoom. If you don’t have access to “Google Meet” then, please email [email protected], and we will do our best to get you the help you need to connect.
We took a short break for a week or so, and our first June meeting will be on Monday, June 6, 10:30am for an hour or so.
As most of you already know, Coffee and Curious Spirituality has met for a couple of years under the leadership of Rev. Daryl Webber, interim minister at First United. Daryl has now moved on to his next interim position, so our group is in transition right now, as we figure out how to do it without Daryl. Daryl did a wonderful job facilitating our discussions, and we are very grateful for his leadership. Under Daryl’s leadership, a short video goes out to everyone the week before each meeting, and we plan to continue to do this.
We encourage you to watch the video. It helps start us all off on the theme of the meeting. As well, there is a possibility that we will be able to show the video at the beginning of each meeting—in a very low tech way. (We think we can put the video on one of our second devices, and then position it in front of our first device, and literally have the rest of you “watch” it in our group. We will try, anyway, and see if it works.)
Along with the video, we are going to send out a couple of “discussion starter” questions as well. You do not have to answer the questions—their purpose is just to help all of us reflect on the theme.
June 6th’s meeting’s theme is “Being welcomed”
The video link is: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1HJ6ewQDOC4
Here is the link to connect to the meeting: https://meet.google.com/pjg-zbez-nax
And here are a few "discussion starter" questions:
*Who do you remember as someone who particularly welcomed you on your first day of a (new) school, first day on a new job, or first time at church, or first time at some other gathering?
*What did they do to make you feel so welcomed?
*Do you recall any of your apprehensions as you walked into a new-to-you situation?
*How have you tried to welcome people who are new to your work place, neighbourhood, church, or other organization?
Some of you, who have come out to Coffee and Curious Spirituality for a long time, might be wondering who will be taking over Daryl’s leadership. For the month of June, Debbie (Alward), Susanna (Suchak) and Tom (Rev. Godfrey) will be sharing the facilitation of the group. Lori, the administrator at First United, will be continuing to help us with communicating (and we are all very grateful for her past and ongoing help) and to access “Google Meet.” Lori will be setting up the tech access each week, and then one of us will be facilitating.
We are all looking forward to reconnecting with each other, and with anyone who might want to try out our group. And, as well, you are all welcome to invite newcomers. See you next Monday, June 6, at 10:30 am!
Take good care,
Debbie, Susanna and Tom
Monday May 23 & 30
No Coffee Time
Monday, May 16th
There is the way life was, and the way life will be. The moment between the two has been called a "blessed warm fog". In slowing down it is thought, there is an invitation to discern as much as we are capable of. It is an invitation to wonder about what wholeness is emerging, what integration and diversity is bringing into our life, and what healing and fruitfulness is trying to come about in our person. We have been navigating a "transition" or what might be called a "blessed fog" these last few years together. In our Coffee and Curious Spirituality conversations would you say show us something emerging in our lives, our discipleship, our "religious" practice. What if the Coffee and Curious Spirituality group was a microcosm, or a model, for what might be happening in churches or faith communities across the country? What would you say is becoming clearer in our church and discipleship as you slow down and take time to observe your faith in light of this group? What is the sacred invitation we are discerning in this "blessed fog" of ours? Join us for this conversation and join us to mark an end to our journey with Daryl. The last half hour of the meet up will be recorded and posted to our websites. Thanks for the coffee and the curious conversations 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, folks! We saw our way through the Pandemic with each other and are soulfully satisfied!
Link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JZMfUHuTo4
Monday, May 9th
In our curious conversation this week we speak about the Spiritual journey through uncertainty. Those times of self doubt and fraudulent feelings take hold of us during times of transition and struggle. In this video we hear a TedTalk about navigating the transition of foggy months. Have you ever been called to slow down and hear the call forward from where you find yourself? What was that like for you? What fruit did those times grow in your life of discipleship or leadership or as a person? Join with your coffee and curious spirituality in the company of good friends!
Link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JZMfUHuTo4
Monday, May 2nd
Join us this week as we continue to consider the direction forward for our Coffee and Curious Spirituality group. We will spend some time with an exercise in "Asset Mapping" where we discover our vast network of relationships and the gifts that we offer to the church. It will be enlightening and a morning of self discovery! Bring your cup of coffee and your portion of Spiritual Curiosity!
Monday, April 25th
On April 25th, we’ll continue to consider the role of Small Groups in our congregations as a way of complimenting our Shared Ministries and Staff. We also consider the future of the small group we have found in the Coffee and Curious Spirituality Circle. How does this circle begin to think about
how we might engage with staff support to be catalysts for congregational relationships to deepen. How can we offer a place for connecting at deeper levels with ourselves, our world and one another. While we think about that larger direction question, we wonder about leadership development among us. We watch a video that asks, "who has taught you how to reflect?"
It is important to experience things, but most important to reflect on an experience. Is that the work of a leader? Here is a process to help small group leaders create space for communities to find time and process for guiding and deepening reflection.
This TedTalk about Reflective Practice is about 15 minutes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9OSBpiwofk
Monday, April 18th
No Coffee - Easter Monday
Monday, April 11
This week, we begin our conversations around the place of small groups in the church community. We think about our own group over the next month and its direction and its "why". It will be a good and imaginative conversation to have and easy for people to join in on who may have not been part of this coffee group over the past two years. Bring your cup of coffee and curiosity as always!. To begin I offer up this video as a place to organize our topic around. Speed past the introduction and put it on 1.5 speed. The video should last 20 minutes or so.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8S9v0EqgAJ8
Monday, April 4
This coming Monday April 4 at 10:30 am. We conclude our series on Affirming Church communities and the discussions about welcoming and inclusive communities. Last week we were so fortunate to have Rev. Emma Pipes join us. She was a member and candidate for ministry from First.
It was a special time and we had a couple of people from First come and greet her and take part in the conversation. The group conversation was uplifting and interesting and life giving! We learned more about a Creative God who is not committed to one way of being, and of course affirms the LGBTQ2+ community by bringing them into places to nurture their spirituality and sense of family. Thanks Emma! This week we pick up where Emma left off. We gather to tell stories about our own experiences of exclusion and belonging. We tell stories because we come to identify the deep need for Public, Intentional and Explicit communities who practice radical inclusion. As we encounter need, we embark on the journey of changed churches and discover what keeps people from feeling safe in a congregation. As always, bring your coffee, curiosity, and your story of
encountering a need for belonging in your life and the deep need for people to find communities of faith that practice radical inclusivity.
Here is an interesting video to help add to our conversation about stories of inclusion.
Members of the LGBTQ2S+ community discuss the intersection and layers of being a racialized person in their respective communities https://globalnews.ca/news/7665423/commentary-black-trans-women-support/
If you've not joined us before, or it has been a while you may want to risk showing up this week!
Monday, March 28
This week for our Coffee & Curious Spirituality time we continue to expand on what it means to be an inclusive people. Last week we recounted what it was like to live through "The Issue of Ordaining Gays and Lesbians" and what it was like for ministers to be present through that time. We thank Warren McDougall, Matthew Penny and John Brown for being our clergy guests and adding their wisdom and recollections. It was such a good conversation.
This week we welcome Rev. Emma Pipes who was a member at First and now serves in a joint Ministry between Caledon East UC and Knox UC near Brampton, Ontario! Emma, thankfully, is going to join us and help deepen our conversation about inclusivity through the lens of her process with Affirm United. Join her in a conversation about subversive Bible stories, the root "need" that drives every call for inclusion, and what "an ally session" of the Affirm process is like!
Come to say hi to First's candidate for ministry in 2018 and listen in on what she has been up to.
Rev Emma Pipes welcomes all!
Monday, March 21st
Join us as we continue to consider churches that have engaged in a process to become more inclusive through the Affirming Process. On the 21st we will have special guests who lived through the very divisive period of church history in the mid 80s and into the 90s around Human Sexuality, the Ordination of Gays and Lesbians, affirming the LGBTQ2 community and becoming safe communities for folks traditionally marginalized by religious communities. Come reflect with clergy around what it was like to be in congregations and to be part of the denomination during that decade or two. Consider together what it is like to look back on it now 38 years later. How far have we come? How have their communities moved to become inclusive and welcoming. Rev. Matthew Penny, Rev. Warren McDougall, Rev. John Brown bring a wealth of insight and history to the conversation. We are curious what you will bring to the conversation besides a coffee and your curiosity!
Monday, March 14th - No Coffee Time due to March Break
Monday, March 7th
On the heels of Black History month where we examined the system of racism, we began a conversation about the Affirming Process congregations
enter to practice inclusivity. In March we begin to look Congregations who are going deeper into becoming inclusive communities. These videos give a picture of the transformation congregations have undergone to become safe places for marginalized people.
There are three videos attached to this link, be sure to watch especially the one on Riverside United Church. Bring a coffee and be curious about Spirituality as it relates to an old issue that 35 years ago was once so divisive in our denomination.
https://www.trinitypg.ca/pages/affirming-ministry
Monday, February 28th
The Story of the Black settlement in Priceville on the Old Durham Road has all but disappeared as too with communities in Kingsville and other small towns in Southern Ontario. In this documentary the uncovering of the Cemetery in Priceville is an uncovering of many lives. This video is 50 minutes long but it is very good and great for your youth to watch. Speakers for the dead documentary by National Film Board https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sGitCFl8Jc
Mary Ann Shad is a Black woman who settled in Southern Ontario
and was very active in the Underground railroad, in journalism, teaching and activism. When her historic home in St. Catherines is destroyed long after
she is dead, her personal letters are discovered in the attic of the home.
This is a great 27 minute video to watch.
http://activehistory.ca/2016/03/film-mary-ann-shadd-revisited-echoes-from-an-old-house/
Watching even a little of each video would give enough food for thought
and discussion during our Monday Coffee.
Monday, February 21st
No Coffee Time due to Family Day!
Monday, February 14th
We continue Black Heritage Month this week, by looking at the experience of Japanese Canadians during WWII. Though not specifically about Black Heritage we can see so many commonalities between the videos about Africville last week and the Fifth Estate documentary this week. What are the commonalities and challenges put before us as we look at stories of racism? Included too is a hymn that was written to capture something of the faithfulness of Spirit when all things around us seem so uncertain.
A Fifth Estate documentary on the political system and how it garnered power and used pre-existing racism sentiment as its motivating force. It is a good look at the history of the deportation and internment Camps used to isolate thousands of Canadian born citizens. Listen all these years later to the continuance of racist justification. (30 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggNYkFg6AjA
The Wife of Rev. Dr. Shimizu Hide Hydo speaks about her journey through the years of turmoil and Interment as a teacher and then a United Church member in Toronto. Scroll down to the video sign.(4.5 minutes)
https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/hide-hyodo-shimizu
Asian Heritage Month in the United Church of Canada video exploring cultural identity as an important aspect of "who has been an immigrant and has been born a citizen" (3 minutes) https://shiningwatersregionalcouncil.ca/asianheritagemonth/
A Song by David Kai mapping the movement of God in a Japanese United Church. (6 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQ9ilNYaAR8
Monday, February 7th
This week we honour the beginning of Black History month with some really great videos. We learn a bit about Uncle Tom (Josiah Henson) and his "Dawn Settlement" close by us in Dresden. Has anyone visited there? How about Africville in Halifax. Now the site of a park it was once home to a whole community of homeowners who were forced to move. Ever visited Africville? Now is your chance to discover a little about the Underground Railroad and a long established Black Community in Canada.
Join in with a cup of coffee!
Uncle Tom's Cabin Historic Site (10 minutes)
https://youtu.be/aO4fCdg-7Wg
Africville (A news clip from Halifax news about a Africville Heritage project (2.5 minutes)
https://globalnews.ca/video/rd/797111875744/?jwsource=cl
Stolen from Africville documentary (23 minutes- worth the watch for teens and adults)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gSrNH5_nk0
Monday, January 31st
One of the chief components of friendship and community building is INCLUSION. But what does that look like to those around us? How can we know that we are indeed being inclusive of others? As people who want to be viewed as "welcoming" and "friendly" let's delve into this topic on Monday, January 31st at Coffee and Curious Spirituality. And while you're at it, why not invite a friend and carry on the discussion over tea later in the week.
Here are the videos for this week:
“Don’t Put People in Boxes” https://youtu.be/zRwt25M5nGw
“The Labels We Carry” https://youtu.be/hNS_D-pw8y4
“Unlearning: Breaking Bias. Building Community” https://youtu.be/ioa6UvmMZPw
Monday, January 24th
This week is a little different from the regular, but this video offers an hour filled with great music, poetry and reflections on the work of Ministry. You will definitely want to taste the sweet music! Something for everyone. When we think about Ministry, we don't often think about partnering with United Church Regions, but here is an example of life that comes from such partnerships in the Toronto United Church Council! Have you ever thought of church life like this? Certainly not your average Sunday Morning!
UCC's 13th Annual Heart & Vision Awards Concert Premiered on October 18thOn October 18th, 2021, TUCC’s Heart & Vision Awards Concert premiered live on YouTube. Award recipients Ekua Asabea Blair and Lawrence Hill were honoured for their community and literary work, which addresses the roots and contemporary reality of systemic racism in Canada and offers us all an alternative vision of love and hope. We celebrated them with music from Jackie Richardson, Billy Newton-Davis, and Julie Michels, and a special appearance by Poet Laureate George Elliot Clarke. You can view the concert recording at: https://youtu.be/x7R1tMrF8PQ
Monday, January 17th
As we think about the values in the church, Pastoral Care is one that stands out in our heritage as Christians.
There is a program called "Stephen Ministry" that helps us learn and grow as a congregation to practice what we say we are...
we are a caring a community. What if the church was about empowering people in their caregiving?
Check out the videos here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5UQn1FbX-Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWymxTSmmD8
Monday, January 10th
This week: We think about some of the values in our Model of Ministry we call the Ministry of Helping People succeed. We have spoken of the "Highschool Guidance Counsellor" as an example of what that position might look like and the duties it might fulfill. When you watch this video can you name the values of the Guidance Counsellor program and can you imagine how these might get carried over into the church and community and different age groups? https://www.dpcdsb.org/programs-services/secondary/cooperative-education
The Ministry of Helping people succeed is ultimately about helping create a culture of volunteering in the church, and helping people learn and grow. What if we turned that job description around so it valued the power of building community and sharing wisdom as a gift for the volunteer? What if every stage of life including retirement was about finding happiness and the church had a major role in nurturing that fulfillment? As you watch this video wonder about the Ministry of Helping People Succeed. Does this video add a twist to the position? How do you respond as a church person/volunteer to this video? Are you retired or an Elder? https://www.ted.com/talks/chip_conley_becoming_a_modern_elder
Grab a cup of coffee and explore these videos on your own and then join in conversation with another cup! See you Monday at 10:30.
Monday, December 20th
Sir Kenneth Robinson offers this TedTalk about the current pattern of education as an industrial model, but suggests there needs to be a revolution in the way we cultivate passion in our students. I wonder what would happen if we replaced church and congregation with his word education or students. This video asks about what our passions are as a congregation in St. Thomas.
It is 17 minutes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFMZrEABdw4
This video is a good follow up to our conversations over the past number of weeks together. All are welcome!
Monday, December 13th
Story Table as Radical Hospitality 4 minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VD5NLfw8DVc
Story Telling- how to tell the Gospel 5 Minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyVYzV0-0eY
Story Telling the genealogy! 2 minutes
https://biblicalstorytellinglibrary.com/video/matthew-11-17-dennis-dewey/
Story Telling Mary's visit to Elizabeth and Zachariah 3 minutes
https://biblicalstorytellinglibrary.com/video/luke-1-39-57-theresa-eggleston/
Monday, December 6
We reflect together on "Hospitality and Welcome" in churches as a jumping off place for how we actually live out our values in specific ways and concrete ways in the church. What we practice is what we value, sometimes it is good to ask how we might experiment further to broaden the practice. How do you practice hospitality and welcome? Join us for a great conversation about action
https://www.clarion-journal.com/clarion_journal_of_spirit/2015/02/radical-hospitality-in-ordinary-churches-elizabeth-turman-bryant.html
Monday, November 29
Today we pick up on some of the conversation threads we've been sharing around shared values. We are thankful for the teachers who have built on our value of "faithfulness" and have helped us explore the breadth of faith. Also, we've been talking about dominant imagery in religious art and how that shapes our experience of church and God. we hear from Feminist Lois Wilson former Moderator of the United Church, and a community of black womanists all of whom speak about a faith that aligns with love and in turn aligns with justice work. These are a little heady, but Lois is funny, and the installation of Earth in a church really changes the way we think about art in the church! Bring a cup and join us.
Womanist perspectives
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjhtUGqFCWg
Feminist reflection from Lois Wilson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLYSKtJBcAc
Planet Earth Installation
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/WhctKKXHFXnRbjcBmNXSksKWwgSZVGXNHNKhNZlTftcgZJzGkqFGnptTHLsXtSBxWDmZZBG?compose=HrrBHnMhCqBFtSpQGCSbtXSFztKWMfMsBnDVswMLknDwfjdlgKWZsmvRNHNktbwqZmkdzhchPgdLFdLPTdBgsPJNVdZdZzsKBCgJVWtJpNdtLGQSD
Monday, November 22
We will continue to consider the core values of our lives and the life of the Congregations this Monday. Being helped to reflect on values through Green Renaissance videos and all of our videos has helped us articulate the aspects that provide a foundation and help inspire our formation as Christians. Review the lists of values (on our website) that Brene Brown and the Fundamentals of Transitional Ministry offer and choose what stands out for you as your top one and bring it with you to unpack in the group. We will be creating a wall of values for the congregations to explore as well!
You are welcome to explore more of the Green Renaissance videos and use them as your daily meditation and even at mealtime with your family.
Link to Brene Brown’s Value Exercise
http://jillcowie.snappages.com/blog/2019/08/21/brene-browns-value-exercise
Fundamentals of Transitional Ministry List
No Coffee Time due to a funeral at Central
Tuesday, October 4
"Well, here we are fully into Autumn so it must be time to revive "Coffee and curious spiritual Conversations" in real life and real-time!
Susanna Suchak will facilitate, but this is a conversation so no homework, just bring your curiosity and be open and vulnerable to go deep.
We will convene on Tuesday mornings from 10 am to noon in the lower parlor (behind the Fellowship Hall) at Central United.
If you feel more comfortable wearing a mask, that's fine with us. Some won't and that's okay too.
We are trusting that all attendees will be up-to-date with vaccines.
Our topics for October 4th range from Tikkun Olam (are you curious now?) all the way to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (wear red in remembrance).
Let's gather and share conversation and fellowship. If you need transportation to get here, or health requires an online experience, let susanna know at susanna[DOT]suchak[AT]gmail.com. We'll problem-solve together. We welcome the chance to come together under one roof and renew friendships and make new ones.
Hope we see you there!
susanna
Tuesday, September 27
Fall is nearly here and Coffee and Curious Spirituality is returning while the leaves prepare to fall!
Susanna will facilitate the group beginning on Tuesday, September 27th in the Sanctuary of Central United Church at 10 am.
It will be an informal gathering to plan how we wish to structure the conversations
and introduce ourselves to one another again LIVE and in person! Whoot!
Hope to see you there!
Please let susanna know if you need more details or directions at [email protected].
We're on a break until Fall 2022!
Monday, June 27th
Join us Monday morning at 10:30am for our final Coffee & Curious Spirituality Discussion before we take a summer break!
This week, you are invited to view not one, but two videos. The first speaks about a Hospitality Mindset. Being "church" in the world.
https://youtu.be/DDammirnAcc
The second video will give you a smile and hopefully prepare you to bounce back this September when hopefully there will be a new energy in our church building! https://youtu.be/K7ailgfJQck
Go gently and stay curious!
Monday, June 20th
Join us Monday morning at 10:30am as we continue our discussion about Hospitality.
Hospitality (3) “Welcoming the unwelcome”
This week’s video is an Opra interview with Pema Chodron, who is a Buddhist nun. We are just going to be looking at just a part of the interview: from minute 10 to minute 18. If you want to watch the whole interview, that’s fine, but we will only be discussing that 8 min section.
Check out the video: https://crediblemind.com/videos/pema-choedroen-or-supersoul-sunday-or-oprah-winfrey-network
Here are a few “discussion starter” questions for us to ponder:
1. Where have you been delayed, or prevented from doing the next thing you have wanted/planned to do? Something like a delayed flight, appointment, task. Can you think of a specific experience which you would be willing to share?
2. Had you ever thought that the people around you, who were also caught in the same situation? How have they been just “just like you”?
3. Where do you have to go from time to time, where you do not like to go, either because the situation (or the people) are stressful or even boring?
4. In those situations, with those people, what is their world like? How did Pema suggest that an unwelcome situation could become interesting?
All are welcome to join in on the discussion!
Monday, June 13
Join us Monday morning at 10:30am as we continue our discussion about Hospitality.
Check out the video: https://youtu.be/Qm6LB4u7-cY
Questions to ponder: What strikes you as something
you could do next Sunday?
Was anything off-putting?
Which church would you want to go to?
All are welcome to join in on the discussion!
Monday, June 6
Welcome to the re-start of Coffee and Curious Spirituality! And, if this is your first meeting with us, a special welcome to you! You will find our discussions to be open and completely non-judgmental. All of us have found our discussions interesting and fruitful. So, whatever you would like to share, is welcome. And if it is your preference to just “watch and listen”, that’s fine too.
We use the “Google Meet” platform. Link to join: https://meet.google.com/pjg-zbez-nax
It’s like Zoom. If you don’t have access to “Google Meet” then, please email [email protected], and we will do our best to get you the help you need to connect.
We took a short break for a week or so, and our first June meeting will be on Monday, June 6, 10:30am for an hour or so.
As most of you already know, Coffee and Curious Spirituality has met for a couple of years under the leadership of Rev. Daryl Webber, interim minister at First United. Daryl has now moved on to his next interim position, so our group is in transition right now, as we figure out how to do it without Daryl. Daryl did a wonderful job facilitating our discussions, and we are very grateful for his leadership. Under Daryl’s leadership, a short video goes out to everyone the week before each meeting, and we plan to continue to do this.
We encourage you to watch the video. It helps start us all off on the theme of the meeting. As well, there is a possibility that we will be able to show the video at the beginning of each meeting—in a very low tech way. (We think we can put the video on one of our second devices, and then position it in front of our first device, and literally have the rest of you “watch” it in our group. We will try, anyway, and see if it works.)
Along with the video, we are going to send out a couple of “discussion starter” questions as well. You do not have to answer the questions—their purpose is just to help all of us reflect on the theme.
June 6th’s meeting’s theme is “Being welcomed”
The video link is: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1HJ6ewQDOC4
Here is the link to connect to the meeting: https://meet.google.com/pjg-zbez-nax
And here are a few "discussion starter" questions:
*Who do you remember as someone who particularly welcomed you on your first day of a (new) school, first day on a new job, or first time at church, or first time at some other gathering?
*What did they do to make you feel so welcomed?
*Do you recall any of your apprehensions as you walked into a new-to-you situation?
*How have you tried to welcome people who are new to your work place, neighbourhood, church, or other organization?
Some of you, who have come out to Coffee and Curious Spirituality for a long time, might be wondering who will be taking over Daryl’s leadership. For the month of June, Debbie (Alward), Susanna (Suchak) and Tom (Rev. Godfrey) will be sharing the facilitation of the group. Lori, the administrator at First United, will be continuing to help us with communicating (and we are all very grateful for her past and ongoing help) and to access “Google Meet.” Lori will be setting up the tech access each week, and then one of us will be facilitating.
We are all looking forward to reconnecting with each other, and with anyone who might want to try out our group. And, as well, you are all welcome to invite newcomers. See you next Monday, June 6, at 10:30 am!
Take good care,
Debbie, Susanna and Tom
Monday May 23 & 30
No Coffee Time
Monday, May 16th
There is the way life was, and the way life will be. The moment between the two has been called a "blessed warm fog". In slowing down it is thought, there is an invitation to discern as much as we are capable of. It is an invitation to wonder about what wholeness is emerging, what integration and diversity is bringing into our life, and what healing and fruitfulness is trying to come about in our person. We have been navigating a "transition" or what might be called a "blessed fog" these last few years together. In our Coffee and Curious Spirituality conversations would you say show us something emerging in our lives, our discipleship, our "religious" practice. What if the Coffee and Curious Spirituality group was a microcosm, or a model, for what might be happening in churches or faith communities across the country? What would you say is becoming clearer in our church and discipleship as you slow down and take time to observe your faith in light of this group? What is the sacred invitation we are discerning in this "blessed fog" of ours? Join us for this conversation and join us to mark an end to our journey with Daryl. The last half hour of the meet up will be recorded and posted to our websites. Thanks for the coffee and the curious conversations 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, folks! We saw our way through the Pandemic with each other and are soulfully satisfied!
Link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JZMfUHuTo4
Monday, May 9th
In our curious conversation this week we speak about the Spiritual journey through uncertainty. Those times of self doubt and fraudulent feelings take hold of us during times of transition and struggle. In this video we hear a TedTalk about navigating the transition of foggy months. Have you ever been called to slow down and hear the call forward from where you find yourself? What was that like for you? What fruit did those times grow in your life of discipleship or leadership or as a person? Join with your coffee and curious spirituality in the company of good friends!
Link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JZMfUHuTo4
Monday, May 2nd
Join us this week as we continue to consider the direction forward for our Coffee and Curious Spirituality group. We will spend some time with an exercise in "Asset Mapping" where we discover our vast network of relationships and the gifts that we offer to the church. It will be enlightening and a morning of self discovery! Bring your cup of coffee and your portion of Spiritual Curiosity!
Monday, April 25th
On April 25th, we’ll continue to consider the role of Small Groups in our congregations as a way of complimenting our Shared Ministries and Staff. We also consider the future of the small group we have found in the Coffee and Curious Spirituality Circle. How does this circle begin to think about
how we might engage with staff support to be catalysts for congregational relationships to deepen. How can we offer a place for connecting at deeper levels with ourselves, our world and one another. While we think about that larger direction question, we wonder about leadership development among us. We watch a video that asks, "who has taught you how to reflect?"
It is important to experience things, but most important to reflect on an experience. Is that the work of a leader? Here is a process to help small group leaders create space for communities to find time and process for guiding and deepening reflection.
This TedTalk about Reflective Practice is about 15 minutes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9OSBpiwofk
Monday, April 18th
No Coffee - Easter Monday
Monday, April 11
This week, we begin our conversations around the place of small groups in the church community. We think about our own group over the next month and its direction and its "why". It will be a good and imaginative conversation to have and easy for people to join in on who may have not been part of this coffee group over the past two years. Bring your cup of coffee and curiosity as always!. To begin I offer up this video as a place to organize our topic around. Speed past the introduction and put it on 1.5 speed. The video should last 20 minutes or so.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8S9v0EqgAJ8
Monday, April 4
This coming Monday April 4 at 10:30 am. We conclude our series on Affirming Church communities and the discussions about welcoming and inclusive communities. Last week we were so fortunate to have Rev. Emma Pipes join us. She was a member and candidate for ministry from First.
It was a special time and we had a couple of people from First come and greet her and take part in the conversation. The group conversation was uplifting and interesting and life giving! We learned more about a Creative God who is not committed to one way of being, and of course affirms the LGBTQ2+ community by bringing them into places to nurture their spirituality and sense of family. Thanks Emma! This week we pick up where Emma left off. We gather to tell stories about our own experiences of exclusion and belonging. We tell stories because we come to identify the deep need for Public, Intentional and Explicit communities who practice radical inclusion. As we encounter need, we embark on the journey of changed churches and discover what keeps people from feeling safe in a congregation. As always, bring your coffee, curiosity, and your story of
encountering a need for belonging in your life and the deep need for people to find communities of faith that practice radical inclusivity.
Here is an interesting video to help add to our conversation about stories of inclusion.
Members of the LGBTQ2S+ community discuss the intersection and layers of being a racialized person in their respective communities https://globalnews.ca/news/7665423/commentary-black-trans-women-support/
If you've not joined us before, or it has been a while you may want to risk showing up this week!
Monday, March 28
This week for our Coffee & Curious Spirituality time we continue to expand on what it means to be an inclusive people. Last week we recounted what it was like to live through "The Issue of Ordaining Gays and Lesbians" and what it was like for ministers to be present through that time. We thank Warren McDougall, Matthew Penny and John Brown for being our clergy guests and adding their wisdom and recollections. It was such a good conversation.
This week we welcome Rev. Emma Pipes who was a member at First and now serves in a joint Ministry between Caledon East UC and Knox UC near Brampton, Ontario! Emma, thankfully, is going to join us and help deepen our conversation about inclusivity through the lens of her process with Affirm United. Join her in a conversation about subversive Bible stories, the root "need" that drives every call for inclusion, and what "an ally session" of the Affirm process is like!
Come to say hi to First's candidate for ministry in 2018 and listen in on what she has been up to.
Rev Emma Pipes welcomes all!
Monday, March 21st
Join us as we continue to consider churches that have engaged in a process to become more inclusive through the Affirming Process. On the 21st we will have special guests who lived through the very divisive period of church history in the mid 80s and into the 90s around Human Sexuality, the Ordination of Gays and Lesbians, affirming the LGBTQ2 community and becoming safe communities for folks traditionally marginalized by religious communities. Come reflect with clergy around what it was like to be in congregations and to be part of the denomination during that decade or two. Consider together what it is like to look back on it now 38 years later. How far have we come? How have their communities moved to become inclusive and welcoming. Rev. Matthew Penny, Rev. Warren McDougall, Rev. John Brown bring a wealth of insight and history to the conversation. We are curious what you will bring to the conversation besides a coffee and your curiosity!
Monday, March 14th - No Coffee Time due to March Break
Monday, March 7th
On the heels of Black History month where we examined the system of racism, we began a conversation about the Affirming Process congregations
enter to practice inclusivity. In March we begin to look Congregations who are going deeper into becoming inclusive communities. These videos give a picture of the transformation congregations have undergone to become safe places for marginalized people.
There are three videos attached to this link, be sure to watch especially the one on Riverside United Church. Bring a coffee and be curious about Spirituality as it relates to an old issue that 35 years ago was once so divisive in our denomination.
https://www.trinitypg.ca/pages/affirming-ministry
Monday, February 28th
The Story of the Black settlement in Priceville on the Old Durham Road has all but disappeared as too with communities in Kingsville and other small towns in Southern Ontario. In this documentary the uncovering of the Cemetery in Priceville is an uncovering of many lives. This video is 50 minutes long but it is very good and great for your youth to watch. Speakers for the dead documentary by National Film Board https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sGitCFl8Jc
Mary Ann Shad is a Black woman who settled in Southern Ontario
and was very active in the Underground railroad, in journalism, teaching and activism. When her historic home in St. Catherines is destroyed long after
she is dead, her personal letters are discovered in the attic of the home.
This is a great 27 minute video to watch.
http://activehistory.ca/2016/03/film-mary-ann-shadd-revisited-echoes-from-an-old-house/
Watching even a little of each video would give enough food for thought
and discussion during our Monday Coffee.
Monday, February 21st
No Coffee Time due to Family Day!
Monday, February 14th
We continue Black Heritage Month this week, by looking at the experience of Japanese Canadians during WWII. Though not specifically about Black Heritage we can see so many commonalities between the videos about Africville last week and the Fifth Estate documentary this week. What are the commonalities and challenges put before us as we look at stories of racism? Included too is a hymn that was written to capture something of the faithfulness of Spirit when all things around us seem so uncertain.
A Fifth Estate documentary on the political system and how it garnered power and used pre-existing racism sentiment as its motivating force. It is a good look at the history of the deportation and internment Camps used to isolate thousands of Canadian born citizens. Listen all these years later to the continuance of racist justification. (30 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggNYkFg6AjA
The Wife of Rev. Dr. Shimizu Hide Hydo speaks about her journey through the years of turmoil and Interment as a teacher and then a United Church member in Toronto. Scroll down to the video sign.(4.5 minutes)
https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/hide-hyodo-shimizu
Asian Heritage Month in the United Church of Canada video exploring cultural identity as an important aspect of "who has been an immigrant and has been born a citizen" (3 minutes) https://shiningwatersregionalcouncil.ca/asianheritagemonth/
A Song by David Kai mapping the movement of God in a Japanese United Church. (6 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQ9ilNYaAR8
Monday, February 7th
This week we honour the beginning of Black History month with some really great videos. We learn a bit about Uncle Tom (Josiah Henson) and his "Dawn Settlement" close by us in Dresden. Has anyone visited there? How about Africville in Halifax. Now the site of a park it was once home to a whole community of homeowners who were forced to move. Ever visited Africville? Now is your chance to discover a little about the Underground Railroad and a long established Black Community in Canada.
Join in with a cup of coffee!
Uncle Tom's Cabin Historic Site (10 minutes)
https://youtu.be/aO4fCdg-7Wg
Africville (A news clip from Halifax news about a Africville Heritage project (2.5 minutes)
https://globalnews.ca/video/rd/797111875744/?jwsource=cl
Stolen from Africville documentary (23 minutes- worth the watch for teens and adults)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gSrNH5_nk0
Monday, January 31st
One of the chief components of friendship and community building is INCLUSION. But what does that look like to those around us? How can we know that we are indeed being inclusive of others? As people who want to be viewed as "welcoming" and "friendly" let's delve into this topic on Monday, January 31st at Coffee and Curious Spirituality. And while you're at it, why not invite a friend and carry on the discussion over tea later in the week.
Here are the videos for this week:
“Don’t Put People in Boxes” https://youtu.be/zRwt25M5nGw
“The Labels We Carry” https://youtu.be/hNS_D-pw8y4
“Unlearning: Breaking Bias. Building Community” https://youtu.be/ioa6UvmMZPw
Monday, January 24th
This week is a little different from the regular, but this video offers an hour filled with great music, poetry and reflections on the work of Ministry. You will definitely want to taste the sweet music! Something for everyone. When we think about Ministry, we don't often think about partnering with United Church Regions, but here is an example of life that comes from such partnerships in the Toronto United Church Council! Have you ever thought of church life like this? Certainly not your average Sunday Morning!
UCC's 13th Annual Heart & Vision Awards Concert Premiered on October 18thOn October 18th, 2021, TUCC’s Heart & Vision Awards Concert premiered live on YouTube. Award recipients Ekua Asabea Blair and Lawrence Hill were honoured for their community and literary work, which addresses the roots and contemporary reality of systemic racism in Canada and offers us all an alternative vision of love and hope. We celebrated them with music from Jackie Richardson, Billy Newton-Davis, and Julie Michels, and a special appearance by Poet Laureate George Elliot Clarke. You can view the concert recording at: https://youtu.be/x7R1tMrF8PQ
Monday, January 17th
As we think about the values in the church, Pastoral Care is one that stands out in our heritage as Christians.
There is a program called "Stephen Ministry" that helps us learn and grow as a congregation to practice what we say we are...
we are a caring a community. What if the church was about empowering people in their caregiving?
Check out the videos here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5UQn1FbX-Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWymxTSmmD8
Monday, January 10th
This week: We think about some of the values in our Model of Ministry we call the Ministry of Helping People succeed. We have spoken of the "Highschool Guidance Counsellor" as an example of what that position might look like and the duties it might fulfill. When you watch this video can you name the values of the Guidance Counsellor program and can you imagine how these might get carried over into the church and community and different age groups? https://www.dpcdsb.org/programs-services/secondary/cooperative-education
The Ministry of Helping people succeed is ultimately about helping create a culture of volunteering in the church, and helping people learn and grow. What if we turned that job description around so it valued the power of building community and sharing wisdom as a gift for the volunteer? What if every stage of life including retirement was about finding happiness and the church had a major role in nurturing that fulfillment? As you watch this video wonder about the Ministry of Helping People Succeed. Does this video add a twist to the position? How do you respond as a church person/volunteer to this video? Are you retired or an Elder? https://www.ted.com/talks/chip_conley_becoming_a_modern_elder
Grab a cup of coffee and explore these videos on your own and then join in conversation with another cup! See you Monday at 10:30.
Monday, December 20th
Sir Kenneth Robinson offers this TedTalk about the current pattern of education as an industrial model, but suggests there needs to be a revolution in the way we cultivate passion in our students. I wonder what would happen if we replaced church and congregation with his word education or students. This video asks about what our passions are as a congregation in St. Thomas.
It is 17 minutes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFMZrEABdw4
This video is a good follow up to our conversations over the past number of weeks together. All are welcome!
Monday, December 13th
Story Table as Radical Hospitality 4 minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VD5NLfw8DVc
Story Telling- how to tell the Gospel 5 Minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyVYzV0-0eY
Story Telling the genealogy! 2 minutes
https://biblicalstorytellinglibrary.com/video/matthew-11-17-dennis-dewey/
Story Telling Mary's visit to Elizabeth and Zachariah 3 minutes
https://biblicalstorytellinglibrary.com/video/luke-1-39-57-theresa-eggleston/
Monday, December 6
We reflect together on "Hospitality and Welcome" in churches as a jumping off place for how we actually live out our values in specific ways and concrete ways in the church. What we practice is what we value, sometimes it is good to ask how we might experiment further to broaden the practice. How do you practice hospitality and welcome? Join us for a great conversation about action
https://www.clarion-journal.com/clarion_journal_of_spirit/2015/02/radical-hospitality-in-ordinary-churches-elizabeth-turman-bryant.html
Monday, November 29
Today we pick up on some of the conversation threads we've been sharing around shared values. We are thankful for the teachers who have built on our value of "faithfulness" and have helped us explore the breadth of faith. Also, we've been talking about dominant imagery in religious art and how that shapes our experience of church and God. we hear from Feminist Lois Wilson former Moderator of the United Church, and a community of black womanists all of whom speak about a faith that aligns with love and in turn aligns with justice work. These are a little heady, but Lois is funny, and the installation of Earth in a church really changes the way we think about art in the church! Bring a cup and join us.
Womanist perspectives
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjhtUGqFCWg
Feminist reflection from Lois Wilson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLYSKtJBcAc
Planet Earth Installation
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/WhctKKXHFXnRbjcBmNXSksKWwgSZVGXNHNKhNZlTftcgZJzGkqFGnptTHLsXtSBxWDmZZBG?compose=HrrBHnMhCqBFtSpQGCSbtXSFztKWMfMsBnDVswMLknDwfjdlgKWZsmvRNHNktbwqZmkdzhchPgdLFdLPTdBgsPJNVdZdZzsKBCgJVWtJpNdtLGQSD
Monday, November 22
We will continue to consider the core values of our lives and the life of the Congregations this Monday. Being helped to reflect on values through Green Renaissance videos and all of our videos has helped us articulate the aspects that provide a foundation and help inspire our formation as Christians. Review the lists of values (on our website) that Brene Brown and the Fundamentals of Transitional Ministry offer and choose what stands out for you as your top one and bring it with you to unpack in the group. We will be creating a wall of values for the congregations to explore as well!
You are welcome to explore more of the Green Renaissance videos and use them as your daily meditation and even at mealtime with your family.
Link to Brene Brown’s Value Exercise
http://jillcowie.snappages.com/blog/2019/08/21/brene-browns-value-exercise
Fundamentals of Transitional Ministry List
Monday, November 15
We continue to explore Core Values. Today they get lived out in Spiritual Direction relationships and a conversation about owning your own rather than living out someone else's.
Listening for Spiritual Core values
https://neighboringmovement.org/discerning-your-calling-to-spiritual-direction/
Listening to and discovering a process of core values
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iu3J4wrbKI4&t=489s
I'd also recommend listening to more Green Renaissance videos. They are such a great way of meditating and praying over our lives!
I’m also including this link to Brene Brown’s Value Exercise. Check it out.
http://jillcowie.snappages.com/blog/2019/08/21/brene-browns-value-exercise
Monday, November 8
We continue considering the breadth of Values in the Christian journey.
Today we join Simon Sinek in his Ted Talk on Building values. Watch his 10 minute video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzCb1qPUbko
Also continue along with the Green Renaissance videos. They are a great sense of renewal and inspiring values we don't often associate immediately with congregational life
Who are you really? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKu06kdGiC0
What defines You? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iO-pfy5C-Q
How Much is Enough? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRXc0G3Njg8
Be Who you are. Stop Judging Yourself. Learn to Love Every Aspect of Your Being https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYkSqR4gpKY
Enjoy the Green Renaissance videos in your time of meditation. Bring a cup of your favorite java and join in on the conversation!
Monday, November 1
We continue to consider the values that give us energy and direction in our lives and in our world. These videos help us reflect on those elements that make up our lives.
It was said in our coffee group last week that these would be good little clips to watch as a before bed meditation. They are peaceful, somehow and grounding.
Enjoy these videos and join us this Monday at 10:30 for Coffee and Curious Spirituality!
Join in on Monday, or watch the videos on your own. This would be great watching with your 'tweens or people who struggle with Mental Health.
Doing what you love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sekzkcnHJm0
Itchy fingers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWqzZtOvQx0&list=RDCMUCcPPUszZ4-7yzZNgAAYwJjg&index=46
Shine on- a journey through grief. Never give up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSM9QvPBjAk&list=RDCMUCcPPUszZ4-7yzZNgAAYwJjg&index=48
The Perfect Child
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRVLlTB_DQM&list=RDCMUCcPPUszZ4-7yzZNgAAYwJjg&index=48
Monday, October 25
As we consider values in church and in life we get some short reflections on different people who find rootedness and groundedness in life and the world. Enjoy these reflections from Green Renaissance, and join in a conversation about embracing values that are so accessible and close to us. Bring a cup of java and be among friends!
All welcome.
Being real, and learning from Covid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAhXxfOhsmM
Life of creativity and integrity
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hp0KoXh6Rnc
Finding connection with the earth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqM8KHAxe3E
Monday, October 18
In our time together October 18 we will consider what the values we hold together as followers of Christ at First Central and New Vision. These are videos to help us think about and unearth our motivations and what is most authentic to us about being spiritual beings. Consider too the values that we have explored in previous conversations. What has staying power for you? Enjoy and join us!
The value of discernment and reflection
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZFnxH4IKNE
Presence Coaching; the value of presence, and the move from habit.
https://presencebasedcoaching.com/about/mission-values
Discerning the Spirits, a look at Jesuit values through St Ignatius. 33minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzYN2hMqLI4
Monday, October 11th
Thanksgiving Monday
Monday, October 4th
We skim the surface this week on Fake News/Disinformation and Misinformation in our Coffee and Curious Conversation.
The video resources add up to just under 1.5 hours, but will generate some good conversation about the role of media in our own lives and our children's lives. Join in on a lively conversation and hopefully some good java!
Vashi from CBC offers a brief conversation on fake news Misinformation and disinformation and where it appears. (7 minutes long)
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1601512003616
Documentary- Fake: Searching for Truth in the Age of Misinformation (57 minutes) Offers a very comprehensive overview of the ideas and issues that arise for our day when it comes to how we consume media.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMv4Mbdf9HA
Monday, September 27
This week our country wears orange shirts to honour Residential School survivors. In this week’s video we’ll listen to Justice Sinclair share about residential school survivors and how we start working toward reconciliation. Justice Sinclair chaired the TRC and brings deeper reflection on Orange Shirt Day. What does reconciliation mean?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVFGj-nCUdU
Monday, September 13 & 20
Welcome back to a new season of ‘Coffee & Curious Spirituality’.
A new title that seems to be more true to the content of our videos and conversations!
This week we are introduced to Brene Brown who has spent 2 decades learning and teaching about belonging and shame in the human journey. Here Brene and Marie Forleo discuss Brene's new book called Braving the Wilderness. A perfect fit for our Sunday Morning Gatherings theme of Wilderness and a precursor to our Book Study with Susanna Suchack, "Braving the Wilderness''.
Here is the 30 minute video. You will enjoy it! Do bring a cup of java!
https://www.marieforleo.com/2017/09/brene-brown/
Monday, July 5
AJ Levine, a Jewish Scholar of the "Christian" story, helps challenge the anti-semetic way that Christian readings sometimes/oftentimes take. Here is another required viewing for people who follow Christ these days. Join in on the conversation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yMgKaniceE
Monday, June 28
During our Coffee time we have been speaking about Storytelling as the root of our emerging worship focus once worship is "re-invigorated" after the Pandemic. What if Sunday morning gatherings were simple and based on Jesus' story among us? These three videos offer us some insight into the arts and into the power of story to shape us. What could we let go in "worship" and what new aspect could we embrace. Could we have simple meaningful Sunday morning gatherings based on fellowship and story? All are welcome to the conversation where we will be joined by Susanna Suchak who has been leading churches as an artist in residence.
Saddleback Church Creative Arts Church Conference
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vyvc2t_YCQE
Why do Churches need artists
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGkWDJ7iuhE
Why Imagination Matters
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xReYEKMg9IY
Monday, June 21
This week we’ll be reviewing some of our favourite Monday Coffee times in order to prepare for the Reflection during the worship service on July 18.
Monday, June 14
This week: Author Karen Armstrong and Bill Moyers (My other favorite interviewer other than Krista Tippet) discuss the Charter of Compassion and the practice of compassion as central to all Religions. "It is not good enough to practice Compassion by holding hands in church, it is something to be practiced all day and everyday, and that is something quite different". Enjoy this thoughtful dialogue about the rise of compassion in religious thought throughout all religions. The video is 45 minutes, and is filled with the thoughtfulness and probing of these two great thinkers.
https://vimeo.com/55371288
In a panel discussion on Christian and Muslin dialogue, we eavesdrop on a conversation about what it would be like to pray for each other among other topics. It is an easy to listen to and understand this conversation and is a good beginning place for the church to contemplate its relationships with our neighbours who have faced a great heart ache and traumatic episode in London last week.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFmMo9K4INg
It is always so apparent to me that we can be a church these days pretty easily, but to follow Christ requires surrendering much of our ego and learning a new responsiveness. These videos help the church learn a practice of compassion that allows the faithful to discern Christ's path, I think! Come with a cup of coffee!
Monday, June 7
We revisit this video in light of our conversation about Sunday morning gathering. As we explore Meditation and Mindfulness we are introduced to Ignatius of Loyola. This 20 minute documentary of an early founder of Meditation practice known as the Examin which is a simple way of praying over our day. It is a practice that helps us get in touch with God's presence in our lives each day which was the hallmark of Christian life for Ignatius. I think you'll find this 20 minute bio of him very rooted in human life, so influential in Christian Spiritual Formation, and you may understand why people came to love him so deeply.
Here’s the link to 20 minute Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lehPjhAky6E
Here is the actual practice of the Examin. Try it daily or just once before we meet on Monday! You may want to use your settings to reduce speed to .75% it will make the 5 minute video about 8 minutes. Its very good!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDQgjzJINdk
For Monday, May 31
Our church neighbours in Scarborough reflect on where their community has been, where they are and where they might imagine themselves to be, as well as who might offer imagination to lead that movement. As I watched this video I really thought that this could be a mirror image of our conversation as churches in St. Thomas. Watch and listen for Gretta Vosper's reflections in this video. While at the center of United Church controversy, this video just sounds like us!
Think about "where we are now and whose imagination is giving shape to our being church". Oh, don't forget to bring your coffee to the conversation on Monday! The chat is open to anyone who might drop in.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zaw_tOMhZPI
For Monday, May 24
We return to our wonderful Eugene Peterson (author/translator of the Message Version of Scripture) this week who reflects on the life of the church and the evolution of himself as a Pastor. This is a great video for our Pastoral Caregiving Teams, people who want to enhance their ability to be present with people and generally people who give leadership in the church. This is pretty much "required watching" for our church in these days!
You are invited you to come to coffee on Monday and share what stands out for you from Peterson.
Here is the link:
https://outreachmagazine.com/features/4776-eugene-peterson-pastor-is-not-a-job-description.html
For Monday, May 17
Call out to Star Gazers, Birder Watchers and Backyard Bird Feeder warriors.
This Monday morning join us in some conversations around three videos. We begin with a little excerpt from Kate Humble's "Off the Beaten Path" TVO series on star gazing in Wales. Learn about protected dark skies and learn how to identify the North Pole. It is grand...
https://www.tvo.org/video/documentaries/ep-3-off-the-beaten-track-with-kate-humble
from time mark 19:40-14:55 (the video seems to count down)
Then on for some TVO Birding documentary with a hint of henpecking and humour on watching the bird watchers.
A twenty minute fun video that describes birder types!
https://www.tvo.org/video/watching-the-bird-watchers
And finally for those serious about backyard birding how to deal with your squirrels. Step One: Give them names.
Find out what the other steps are...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFZFjoX2cGg
And for the grand finale - a Katy Perry song for a squirrel. Any great Auntie or Uncle is going to want to impart this one to those children that look to them for wisdom and perspective on things.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RupUMJOEMO8
Join us for coffee and for something entirely different!
For Monday, May 10
Last week we deepened our awareness of the beauty, awe and sacredness of the Labyrinth and its mysterious way of showing us how we do and can walk in life.
This week we watch a video from Kate Humble in Wales from the series "Off the Beaten Track" Season 2, Episode 1, about the final journey of this life.
In Wales there is an eternal forest, a place people go to become part of the earth in their death. This is a gentle look at our relationship with the natural journey of nature's way through death into new life.
I think you will enjoy the funeral in the forest, and find beauty and awe in the midst of God's great geometry there.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sARASHnzNCQ
For Monday, May 3
This week we are invited into the spiritual practice of contemplation through the Labyrinth.
Our first video is about 6 minutes and an introduction to the labyrinth
https://www.graceglenellyn.org/praying-the-labyrinth.html
The second video is 20 minutes and is the actual building of the Labyrinth at Grace Church San Francisco. https://vimeo.com/154457944
It is a beautiful old practice of embodied prayer.
For Monday, April 26
This week we welcome a special guest Rev. Darrow Woods who has been trained in Spiritual Direction. He comes to share some of the practices and stories of Spiritual Direction and wonder with us happened to the ancient form of Spiritual Companioning. Bring your favorite cup of coffee and your conversation!
For Monday, April 19
We had drama last week telling the story of Spiritual Direction and this week we have music sharing the story of the Spirituality and story of Jesus on the moment of the cross. The Biblical Storytellers Conference wrapped up last week. From the closing day we are offered an opportunity to hear Steve Bell, a great Canadian Christian Musician. He tells the story of Jesus Spirituality and his love in "real time". Bell tells the story of a man who gave himself for a different response in life, that people may have life. watch the whole two hours of this conference wrap up, or just the part with Steve Bell located between 13:00-26:49.
Link for the Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-1BqNeARoU&t=2723s
For Monday, April 12
As part of our conversation about the Healing Church we take a look at the old practice of Spiritual Direction in this story telling video. We discover the ancient practice of Spiritual Direction and the practice that is ours today too! It is an easy watch, easy to follow, explores different religious forms of direction, and is probably the least intellectual but most evocative of our videos this year! In this video we wonder, "How do we connect with and find bodily expression in our Spiritual life.
I won't be able to make coffee and conversation this week as I have a funeral to attend to. However, share what stands out for you and how Spiritual Direction might be reclaimed in our church's ministry!
Link for the Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aI2F-dudWOU
For Monday, April 5
We wonder this week about Judas. Has he been misunderstood? Meet the Naked Archeologist again and this fun video about meeting Judas!
Join with coffee for conversation!
https://youtu.be/uL05yQj47sA
For Monday, March 29
We are wondering about what ever happened to the healing traditions in the Christian Church. This week we have two special guests. One of the authors of Healing from the Heart, Wayne Irwin and one of the founding members of the Lowville Prayer Center at Five Oaks will share with us their journey of healing practices in the United churches and other mainline denominations.
Join in with a coffee and to deepen our understanding and experience of healing as a church and individuals.
See you Monday at 10:30 am! All are welcome.
For Monday, March 22
During coffee time March 22 we are offered an opportunity to explore the tension between First Nations communities and a group of white folks who represent some of the stereotypical beliefs that are held by many of us- all the way from outright hatefulness to puzzled and curious. We go from watching Neanderthal Man video and Mars landing a couple of weeks ago to something that evokes again how God's creation really is inextricably one! Watch this TVO video from the series "First Contact" and join us for some coffee and conversation as we share what we saw in the video. IT is 45 minutes long, but if you only have time to watch the first 10 minutes it is worth it!
This is a must watch in our days of being church in a polarized and ever growing polarized world. While we won't be solving any problems on Monday we will certainly be given an opportunity to take an inventory and count the judgements we have accumulated.
https://www.tvo.org/video/documentaries/first-contact-episode-1
For Monday, March 15
For Coffee Time on Monday we will host the story tellers from Bridges out of Poverty- stories about scarcity, abundance, generosity and relationship. Join us. Especially if you've been involved in the Inn out of the Cold Project! All are welcome. Here is a preview of the storytellers....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDQl8p0qynk&feature=emb_title
For Monday, March 8
This week's video is a CBC documentary on Neanderthal Man. In these days when we send pictures back from Mars and places far away, we are looking way into our past as well to those ancestors of ours. It is wonderous, mysterious and imaginative. Do you think these insights add a new insight into religious thought today, or change our approach to Spiritual devotion?
Watch Neanderthal man doc here:
https://youtu.be/q86NfL_-GpU
While you are at it watch 10 minutes of the Landing of Perseverance from about 1:30:00 to 1:40:00 or so for the landing of the Rover on Mars Feb 18, 2021!
For Monday, March 1
For Coffee time and Thursday Night Group we continue to think about Ministry. A leading voice in thinking about Sustainable Ministry and Mission is Eric Law. Here is a lecture of his which is 2.5 hours long. If you're enthusiastic listen to it all, but for the purposes of our time together contemplate the first 35 minutes or so in the light of how church ministry may be sustained and enriched! It is really worth a watch as Board members, Treasurers, as well as small groups!
See you online Monday at 10:30am and Thursday at 7pm.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-K94KfwAlc&feature=emb_logo&ab_channel=EPAConferenceUMC
For Monday, February 22
As we continue to explore staffing ministry and expanding our concept of Ministry these videos on an artist in residence opens up the place of art as a means for spiritual growth as individuals and as a faith community and as a community exploring the broader community it finds itself in.
This is a four part series on Visual Artist Scott Erickson. We could speak about the broader spectrum of art to include music and dance and theatre and there are so many artists who help bring meaning and story to life. They inspire an expression of our own.
What would it be like to dedicate a year and some space to an artist in residence?
Let's watch these little episodes to imagine ministry in a creative way! Enjoy!
See you Monday with a cup of coffee!
Here’s the link to the video!
https://createvisualculture.wordpress.com/2015/03/17/a-summary-of-why-the-church-needs-art/
For Monday, February 15
Let's continue our discussion about Ministry in St. Thomas and the opportunity we have as the United Churches in town to redefine Ministry and staff so we can be expanded in our hearts and minds by the Spirit!
For Monday, February 8
We began a few weeks of conversation around the concept of "Ministry" of the church, which isn't about paid staff of the church. Our first short video is of a United Church Minister's call into paid accountable Ministry, but the other short videos expand our notion of ministry, and refine our notion of "Inclusivity" and "Welcome". The church has always been called to live beyond its traditional definitions and confines of its institutional life. Notice in these videos the rejuvenation that comes with such work together and a sense of purpose. Lets begin thinking about Ministry in St. Thomas and the opportunity we have as the United Churches in town to redefine Ministry and staff so we can be expanded in our hearts and minds by the Spirit!
The videos will take about 20 minutes to view collectively! Enjoy!
https://united-church.ca/leadership/entering-ministry
https://united-church.ca/community-and-faith/welcome-united-church-canada/partners-mission/canadian-partners-and-community
https://united-church.ca/community-and-faith/being-community/children-and-youth/programs-youth-and-young-adults
For Monday, February 1
This weeks video is on the subject of Quantum Physics! Everyone knows what that means! Snooze time maybe? Actually it is a video that helps us explain difficult topics that we are trying to understand and communicate. This video offers four steps at explaining difficult things.
I am hoping over the next couple of weeks to gather some thoughts about what Ministry is in the church and how we might describe it to someone who might confuse ministry with the Minister!
Join us for some personal musing on Quantum Physics and Ministry!
https://ca.video.search.yahoo.com/video/play;_ylt=AwrEzeJ_rxFgciMA.ESU7olQ;_ylu=c2VjA3NyBHNsawN2aWQEdnRpZAMEZ3BvcwMx?p=ted+talks+quantum+physics&vid=754d28dc1e9a3d1bad99623919a6e591&turl=https%3A%2F%2Ftse2.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOVP.8F5QzQQFqswkB2kHf32HYwHgFo%26pid%3DApi%26h%3D360%26w%3D480%26c%3D7%26rs%3D1&rurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DARWBdfWpDyc&tit=Quantum+Physics+for+7+Year+Olds+%7C+Dominic+Walliman+%7C+TEDxEastVan&c=0&h=360&w=480&l=936&sigr=wYVD2uiWuBst&sigt=XZy90F4_0wXA&sigi=bLWVNLSoiTJm&age=1464105590&fr2=p%3As%2Cv%3Av&fr=iphone&tt=b
For Monday, Janaury 25
Last week we listened to author of Gilead, Marilynne Robinson speak to us about how she understands the good life". She said, 1. Consider yourself to be a unique expression of what is humanly possible and ask "What gifts are you most thankful about who you are?" Marilynne also suggested the good life is in 2. Discovering your vocation. Following your passion is key to the good life, competition is a sign that you're probably not living the good life. Robinson says also that the Christian Life and the Christian community we live in is part of the good life in that it helps us 3. Develop a sympathetic imagination in an environment where grace is a cornerstone of how we perceive the world. We wondered what that triggered in us about how we live the good life!
This week we can continue on with the conversation. Colin Beaven is a writer and environmentalist and puts the theme of the "Good Life" in a different framework- if we were living in balance with earth, would this help us grasp something of the good life?
I invite you to watch the film that was made of Colin Beaven’s book, No Impact Man. It is 1.5 hours, but it is entertaining and insightful. I think Colin would say he learned to live a good life. Check it out!
Here is the link. See you Monday!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fW5_R-7BClY
For Monday, January 18
This week, I thought it would be good to listen to one of our leading authors Marilynne Robinson who wrote the trilogy Gilead, Lilah and Home. She is such a great theologian and imaginative writer. If you get a chance to explore her novels they are a great read, and offers great compassion for her characters. This is an interview between her and the Principal at Wheaton Theological College where she speaks to students about "call" and about what it means to live the "good life" and wonders about what it means to be part of the life to come. - the new heaven and earth! Can you pick out the ideas she suggests and see yourself in them! It is worth watching, and worth exploring other interviews and especially her public readings on Youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0PJOFA2-eU
Join us for coffee and bring your conversation!
Rev. Daryl
For Monday, January 11
Given the state of the States right now, I thought it would be interesting to watch an interview between Peter Mansbridge and Tony Blair in 2016. They discuss the polarization of people and the desperate need for the Center of the population to ask the question "what do we really believe". I found it good to watch 4 years ago and when I revisited it this week I found it interesting to note what rings true. These great leaders help us think about what it means to be a human civilization
Here is the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIpeu_hYSUY
For Monday, January 4
Ok, so this is almost 1 1/2 hours long but this is a must watch for everyone in the house! It is funny and a good tear jerker at times. It is the documentary of Irish folks who are 100 plus years. Some of them think they are not on God's register! Sit back and enjoy this warm, loving and good humoured documentary over the Christmas Break! You and yours will not be disappointed. What was your favorite part?. Lets share coffee on January 3, 2021....when we are all living into another year!
https://tubitv.com/movies/490081/older-than-ireland
For Monday, December 28
We explore a couple of videos that consider Jesus traditional and Archeological suggested birth places. It is all very interesting and a great way to look at Bethlehem today. Join us for coffee and conversation in Bethlehem and about town!
The First Video explores modern day Bethlehem and the project of a church in England to discover what it is like to live in Bethlehem today. This is 13 minutes and quite interesting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqopH_uYM3U
The second video looks at the places Jesus grew up and what it may have been like. This video is worth the 24 minutes it takes to watch!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ievIjI8LPFk
For Monday, December 21
For some generations Christmas wouldn't be complete without some seasonal favorite shows. Everyone loves Charlie Brown's Christmas. This year when Christmas is spent in small groups or by ourselves we may empathize with good ole Charlie Brown. Like him we may wonder what it would be like to join in on the festivities with the enthusiasm of Snoopy! Rewatch this classic story and bring some eggnog to Coffee Time on December 21 at 10:30am
Here's the video!
https://archive.org/details/ACharlieBrownChristmasTVMovie19651080pHD
For Monday, December 14
As we move through the Advent season and closer to Christmas we think of the Christmas Story.
In this week's video offering for Coffee and Conversation we take a look at Joseph the father of Jesus.
This 8 minute video offers some really interesting insights into this father. Joseph is portrayed as a father who really fits the birth of Jesus into his life and that birth draws out some strong characteristics of the man!
Enjoy the reflection of the video and of coffee time. See you Monday at 10:30!
Here’s the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lSArwNfBNg
Monday, December 7
We continue to explore the practice of forgiveness. In this TED Talk video with Sarah Montana we learn a bit more about the process of coming to embrace the work and release of forgiveness. When people say we should forgive there usually is no guidance along that road and we are left to "fake it until we make it". Yet forgiveness is such an important journey so many of us want to take. Montana offers some guideposts that have grown out of her own journey toward forgiveness.
Join us for coffee and conversation on Monday at 10:30. Bring a friend!
Here’s the video! https://youtu.be/mEK2pIiZ2I0
Monday, November 30
Postponed due to funeral
Monday, November 23
We continue our journey on meditation in order to get in touch with trauma and discover how to speak of anger in new ways.
Here are two videos: "How to deal with strong emotions”, a 22 minute video; and an 18 minute Meditation on anger and the beginning of forgiveness. These are both led by the contemporary Buddhist teacher and writer Thich Nhat Hanh. I think you will enjoy both or either one!
Join us for coffee and conversation about the ways we find release in the midst of a meditative way of life.
All are welcome. Bring a friend and a latte!
Video 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJX8WkKbPf8
Video 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_UZCuBuuoU
Monday, November 16
We have been discussing prayerfulness and mindfulness as Spiritual Practice. There are other forms of Spiritual Practice too, including Social Justice work. This short video is of a man who is engaged in Civil Disobedience and Social Justice work. It is a riveting story of one man who finds Spiritual Formation in his work especially with people on death row. When has your faith caused you to stretch your compassion? Join in on our conversation & coffee time on Monday at 10:30am.
Coffee Cheers!
Daryl
Here’s the video!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFHE36Z613I&feature=emb_logo&ab_channel=Inte
Monday, November 9
Rev. Daryl is on Study Leave this week but he has left this video for us to watch and discuss! Sounds like a fun one!
From Rev. Daryl: “I think you will enjoy this master pumpkin carver! Share it with the kids and everyone. It is interesting to be disorganized and give permission to let the creative process unfold from no firm plan!! It is worth the watch a couple of times even!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTWFZWgAjsg
Monday, November 2
Continuing our exploration of Meditation and Mindfulness we are introduced to Ignatius of Loyola. This 20 minute documentary of an early founder of Meditation practice known as the Examin which is a simple way of praying over our day. While not specifically related to trauma as we've been talking about for the last few weeks, it is a practice that helps us get in touch with God's presence in our lives each day which was the hallmark of Christian life for Ignatius. I think you'll find this 20 minute bio of him very rooted in human life, so influential in Christian Spiritual Formation, and you may understand why people came to love him so deeply.
Here’s the link to 20 minute Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lehPjhAky6E
Here is the actual practice of the Examin. Try it daily or just once before we meet on Monday! You may want to use your settings to reduce speed to .75% it will make the 5 minute video about 8 minutes. Its very good!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDQgjzJINdk
Monday, October 26
Last week we spoke about solitude as an opportunity to speak with our old trauma and find a closer measure of healing. In our conversation we spoke about the ancient Christian practices of solitude and meditation. There are many! One form of Spiritual meditation in Christian tradition is contemplation through art. This week's video is about the process of praying over and creating art. Anyone can use this as a way to deepen our awareness of the Divine.
Watch it early this week and share what you learned at coffee, or just share what you saw in the video.
Here is the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKiEpVfrJ7w
You may also take any picture and pray over it using the following exercise.
Here are a couple to go along with this week's scripture Matthew 22:34-46
We continue to explore Core Values. Today they get lived out in Spiritual Direction relationships and a conversation about owning your own rather than living out someone else's.
Listening for Spiritual Core values
https://neighboringmovement.org/discerning-your-calling-to-spiritual-direction/
Listening to and discovering a process of core values
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iu3J4wrbKI4&t=489s
I'd also recommend listening to more Green Renaissance videos. They are such a great way of meditating and praying over our lives!
I’m also including this link to Brene Brown’s Value Exercise. Check it out.
http://jillcowie.snappages.com/blog/2019/08/21/brene-browns-value-exercise
Monday, November 8
We continue considering the breadth of Values in the Christian journey.
Today we join Simon Sinek in his Ted Talk on Building values. Watch his 10 minute video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzCb1qPUbko
Also continue along with the Green Renaissance videos. They are a great sense of renewal and inspiring values we don't often associate immediately with congregational life
Who are you really? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKu06kdGiC0
What defines You? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iO-pfy5C-Q
How Much is Enough? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRXc0G3Njg8
Be Who you are. Stop Judging Yourself. Learn to Love Every Aspect of Your Being https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYkSqR4gpKY
Enjoy the Green Renaissance videos in your time of meditation. Bring a cup of your favorite java and join in on the conversation!
Monday, November 1
We continue to consider the values that give us energy and direction in our lives and in our world. These videos help us reflect on those elements that make up our lives.
It was said in our coffee group last week that these would be good little clips to watch as a before bed meditation. They are peaceful, somehow and grounding.
Enjoy these videos and join us this Monday at 10:30 for Coffee and Curious Spirituality!
Join in on Monday, or watch the videos on your own. This would be great watching with your 'tweens or people who struggle with Mental Health.
Doing what you love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sekzkcnHJm0
Itchy fingers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWqzZtOvQx0&list=RDCMUCcPPUszZ4-7yzZNgAAYwJjg&index=46
Shine on- a journey through grief. Never give up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSM9QvPBjAk&list=RDCMUCcPPUszZ4-7yzZNgAAYwJjg&index=48
The Perfect Child
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRVLlTB_DQM&list=RDCMUCcPPUszZ4-7yzZNgAAYwJjg&index=48
Monday, October 25
As we consider values in church and in life we get some short reflections on different people who find rootedness and groundedness in life and the world. Enjoy these reflections from Green Renaissance, and join in a conversation about embracing values that are so accessible and close to us. Bring a cup of java and be among friends!
All welcome.
Being real, and learning from Covid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAhXxfOhsmM
Life of creativity and integrity
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hp0KoXh6Rnc
Finding connection with the earth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqM8KHAxe3E
Monday, October 18
In our time together October 18 we will consider what the values we hold together as followers of Christ at First Central and New Vision. These are videos to help us think about and unearth our motivations and what is most authentic to us about being spiritual beings. Consider too the values that we have explored in previous conversations. What has staying power for you? Enjoy and join us!
The value of discernment and reflection
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZFnxH4IKNE
Presence Coaching; the value of presence, and the move from habit.
https://presencebasedcoaching.com/about/mission-values
Discerning the Spirits, a look at Jesuit values through St Ignatius. 33minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzYN2hMqLI4
Monday, October 11th
Thanksgiving Monday
Monday, October 4th
We skim the surface this week on Fake News/Disinformation and Misinformation in our Coffee and Curious Conversation.
The video resources add up to just under 1.5 hours, but will generate some good conversation about the role of media in our own lives and our children's lives. Join in on a lively conversation and hopefully some good java!
Vashi from CBC offers a brief conversation on fake news Misinformation and disinformation and where it appears. (7 minutes long)
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1601512003616
Documentary- Fake: Searching for Truth in the Age of Misinformation (57 minutes) Offers a very comprehensive overview of the ideas and issues that arise for our day when it comes to how we consume media.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMv4Mbdf9HA
Monday, September 27
This week our country wears orange shirts to honour Residential School survivors. In this week’s video we’ll listen to Justice Sinclair share about residential school survivors and how we start working toward reconciliation. Justice Sinclair chaired the TRC and brings deeper reflection on Orange Shirt Day. What does reconciliation mean?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVFGj-nCUdU
Monday, September 13 & 20
Welcome back to a new season of ‘Coffee & Curious Spirituality’.
A new title that seems to be more true to the content of our videos and conversations!
This week we are introduced to Brene Brown who has spent 2 decades learning and teaching about belonging and shame in the human journey. Here Brene and Marie Forleo discuss Brene's new book called Braving the Wilderness. A perfect fit for our Sunday Morning Gatherings theme of Wilderness and a precursor to our Book Study with Susanna Suchack, "Braving the Wilderness''.
Here is the 30 minute video. You will enjoy it! Do bring a cup of java!
https://www.marieforleo.com/2017/09/brene-brown/
Monday, July 5
AJ Levine, a Jewish Scholar of the "Christian" story, helps challenge the anti-semetic way that Christian readings sometimes/oftentimes take. Here is another required viewing for people who follow Christ these days. Join in on the conversation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yMgKaniceE
Monday, June 28
During our Coffee time we have been speaking about Storytelling as the root of our emerging worship focus once worship is "re-invigorated" after the Pandemic. What if Sunday morning gatherings were simple and based on Jesus' story among us? These three videos offer us some insight into the arts and into the power of story to shape us. What could we let go in "worship" and what new aspect could we embrace. Could we have simple meaningful Sunday morning gatherings based on fellowship and story? All are welcome to the conversation where we will be joined by Susanna Suchak who has been leading churches as an artist in residence.
Saddleback Church Creative Arts Church Conference
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vyvc2t_YCQE
Why do Churches need artists
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGkWDJ7iuhE
Why Imagination Matters
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xReYEKMg9IY
Monday, June 21
This week we’ll be reviewing some of our favourite Monday Coffee times in order to prepare for the Reflection during the worship service on July 18.
Monday, June 14
This week: Author Karen Armstrong and Bill Moyers (My other favorite interviewer other than Krista Tippet) discuss the Charter of Compassion and the practice of compassion as central to all Religions. "It is not good enough to practice Compassion by holding hands in church, it is something to be practiced all day and everyday, and that is something quite different". Enjoy this thoughtful dialogue about the rise of compassion in religious thought throughout all religions. The video is 45 minutes, and is filled with the thoughtfulness and probing of these two great thinkers.
https://vimeo.com/55371288
In a panel discussion on Christian and Muslin dialogue, we eavesdrop on a conversation about what it would be like to pray for each other among other topics. It is an easy to listen to and understand this conversation and is a good beginning place for the church to contemplate its relationships with our neighbours who have faced a great heart ache and traumatic episode in London last week.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFmMo9K4INg
It is always so apparent to me that we can be a church these days pretty easily, but to follow Christ requires surrendering much of our ego and learning a new responsiveness. These videos help the church learn a practice of compassion that allows the faithful to discern Christ's path, I think! Come with a cup of coffee!
Monday, June 7
We revisit this video in light of our conversation about Sunday morning gathering. As we explore Meditation and Mindfulness we are introduced to Ignatius of Loyola. This 20 minute documentary of an early founder of Meditation practice known as the Examin which is a simple way of praying over our day. It is a practice that helps us get in touch with God's presence in our lives each day which was the hallmark of Christian life for Ignatius. I think you'll find this 20 minute bio of him very rooted in human life, so influential in Christian Spiritual Formation, and you may understand why people came to love him so deeply.
Here’s the link to 20 minute Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lehPjhAky6E
Here is the actual practice of the Examin. Try it daily or just once before we meet on Monday! You may want to use your settings to reduce speed to .75% it will make the 5 minute video about 8 minutes. Its very good!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDQgjzJINdk
For Monday, May 31
Our church neighbours in Scarborough reflect on where their community has been, where they are and where they might imagine themselves to be, as well as who might offer imagination to lead that movement. As I watched this video I really thought that this could be a mirror image of our conversation as churches in St. Thomas. Watch and listen for Gretta Vosper's reflections in this video. While at the center of United Church controversy, this video just sounds like us!
Think about "where we are now and whose imagination is giving shape to our being church". Oh, don't forget to bring your coffee to the conversation on Monday! The chat is open to anyone who might drop in.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zaw_tOMhZPI
For Monday, May 24
We return to our wonderful Eugene Peterson (author/translator of the Message Version of Scripture) this week who reflects on the life of the church and the evolution of himself as a Pastor. This is a great video for our Pastoral Caregiving Teams, people who want to enhance their ability to be present with people and generally people who give leadership in the church. This is pretty much "required watching" for our church in these days!
You are invited you to come to coffee on Monday and share what stands out for you from Peterson.
Here is the link:
https://outreachmagazine.com/features/4776-eugene-peterson-pastor-is-not-a-job-description.html
For Monday, May 17
Call out to Star Gazers, Birder Watchers and Backyard Bird Feeder warriors.
This Monday morning join us in some conversations around three videos. We begin with a little excerpt from Kate Humble's "Off the Beaten Path" TVO series on star gazing in Wales. Learn about protected dark skies and learn how to identify the North Pole. It is grand...
https://www.tvo.org/video/documentaries/ep-3-off-the-beaten-track-with-kate-humble
from time mark 19:40-14:55 (the video seems to count down)
Then on for some TVO Birding documentary with a hint of henpecking and humour on watching the bird watchers.
A twenty minute fun video that describes birder types!
https://www.tvo.org/video/watching-the-bird-watchers
And finally for those serious about backyard birding how to deal with your squirrels. Step One: Give them names.
Find out what the other steps are...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFZFjoX2cGg
And for the grand finale - a Katy Perry song for a squirrel. Any great Auntie or Uncle is going to want to impart this one to those children that look to them for wisdom and perspective on things.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RupUMJOEMO8
Join us for coffee and for something entirely different!
For Monday, May 10
Last week we deepened our awareness of the beauty, awe and sacredness of the Labyrinth and its mysterious way of showing us how we do and can walk in life.
This week we watch a video from Kate Humble in Wales from the series "Off the Beaten Track" Season 2, Episode 1, about the final journey of this life.
In Wales there is an eternal forest, a place people go to become part of the earth in their death. This is a gentle look at our relationship with the natural journey of nature's way through death into new life.
I think you will enjoy the funeral in the forest, and find beauty and awe in the midst of God's great geometry there.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sARASHnzNCQ
For Monday, May 3
This week we are invited into the spiritual practice of contemplation through the Labyrinth.
Our first video is about 6 minutes and an introduction to the labyrinth
https://www.graceglenellyn.org/praying-the-labyrinth.html
The second video is 20 minutes and is the actual building of the Labyrinth at Grace Church San Francisco. https://vimeo.com/154457944
It is a beautiful old practice of embodied prayer.
For Monday, April 26
This week we welcome a special guest Rev. Darrow Woods who has been trained in Spiritual Direction. He comes to share some of the practices and stories of Spiritual Direction and wonder with us happened to the ancient form of Spiritual Companioning. Bring your favorite cup of coffee and your conversation!
For Monday, April 19
We had drama last week telling the story of Spiritual Direction and this week we have music sharing the story of the Spirituality and story of Jesus on the moment of the cross. The Biblical Storytellers Conference wrapped up last week. From the closing day we are offered an opportunity to hear Steve Bell, a great Canadian Christian Musician. He tells the story of Jesus Spirituality and his love in "real time". Bell tells the story of a man who gave himself for a different response in life, that people may have life. watch the whole two hours of this conference wrap up, or just the part with Steve Bell located between 13:00-26:49.
Link for the Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-1BqNeARoU&t=2723s
For Monday, April 12
As part of our conversation about the Healing Church we take a look at the old practice of Spiritual Direction in this story telling video. We discover the ancient practice of Spiritual Direction and the practice that is ours today too! It is an easy watch, easy to follow, explores different religious forms of direction, and is probably the least intellectual but most evocative of our videos this year! In this video we wonder, "How do we connect with and find bodily expression in our Spiritual life.
I won't be able to make coffee and conversation this week as I have a funeral to attend to. However, share what stands out for you and how Spiritual Direction might be reclaimed in our church's ministry!
Link for the Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aI2F-dudWOU
For Monday, April 5
We wonder this week about Judas. Has he been misunderstood? Meet the Naked Archeologist again and this fun video about meeting Judas!
Join with coffee for conversation!
https://youtu.be/uL05yQj47sA
For Monday, March 29
We are wondering about what ever happened to the healing traditions in the Christian Church. This week we have two special guests. One of the authors of Healing from the Heart, Wayne Irwin and one of the founding members of the Lowville Prayer Center at Five Oaks will share with us their journey of healing practices in the United churches and other mainline denominations.
Join in with a coffee and to deepen our understanding and experience of healing as a church and individuals.
See you Monday at 10:30 am! All are welcome.
For Monday, March 22
During coffee time March 22 we are offered an opportunity to explore the tension between First Nations communities and a group of white folks who represent some of the stereotypical beliefs that are held by many of us- all the way from outright hatefulness to puzzled and curious. We go from watching Neanderthal Man video and Mars landing a couple of weeks ago to something that evokes again how God's creation really is inextricably one! Watch this TVO video from the series "First Contact" and join us for some coffee and conversation as we share what we saw in the video. IT is 45 minutes long, but if you only have time to watch the first 10 minutes it is worth it!
This is a must watch in our days of being church in a polarized and ever growing polarized world. While we won't be solving any problems on Monday we will certainly be given an opportunity to take an inventory and count the judgements we have accumulated.
https://www.tvo.org/video/documentaries/first-contact-episode-1
For Monday, March 15
For Coffee Time on Monday we will host the story tellers from Bridges out of Poverty- stories about scarcity, abundance, generosity and relationship. Join us. Especially if you've been involved in the Inn out of the Cold Project! All are welcome. Here is a preview of the storytellers....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDQl8p0qynk&feature=emb_title
For Monday, March 8
This week's video is a CBC documentary on Neanderthal Man. In these days when we send pictures back from Mars and places far away, we are looking way into our past as well to those ancestors of ours. It is wonderous, mysterious and imaginative. Do you think these insights add a new insight into religious thought today, or change our approach to Spiritual devotion?
Watch Neanderthal man doc here:
https://youtu.be/q86NfL_-GpU
While you are at it watch 10 minutes of the Landing of Perseverance from about 1:30:00 to 1:40:00 or so for the landing of the Rover on Mars Feb 18, 2021!
For Monday, March 1
For Coffee time and Thursday Night Group we continue to think about Ministry. A leading voice in thinking about Sustainable Ministry and Mission is Eric Law. Here is a lecture of his which is 2.5 hours long. If you're enthusiastic listen to it all, but for the purposes of our time together contemplate the first 35 minutes or so in the light of how church ministry may be sustained and enriched! It is really worth a watch as Board members, Treasurers, as well as small groups!
See you online Monday at 10:30am and Thursday at 7pm.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-K94KfwAlc&feature=emb_logo&ab_channel=EPAConferenceUMC
For Monday, February 22
As we continue to explore staffing ministry and expanding our concept of Ministry these videos on an artist in residence opens up the place of art as a means for spiritual growth as individuals and as a faith community and as a community exploring the broader community it finds itself in.
This is a four part series on Visual Artist Scott Erickson. We could speak about the broader spectrum of art to include music and dance and theatre and there are so many artists who help bring meaning and story to life. They inspire an expression of our own.
What would it be like to dedicate a year and some space to an artist in residence?
Let's watch these little episodes to imagine ministry in a creative way! Enjoy!
See you Monday with a cup of coffee!
Here’s the link to the video!
https://createvisualculture.wordpress.com/2015/03/17/a-summary-of-why-the-church-needs-art/
For Monday, February 15
Let's continue our discussion about Ministry in St. Thomas and the opportunity we have as the United Churches in town to redefine Ministry and staff so we can be expanded in our hearts and minds by the Spirit!
For Monday, February 8
We began a few weeks of conversation around the concept of "Ministry" of the church, which isn't about paid staff of the church. Our first short video is of a United Church Minister's call into paid accountable Ministry, but the other short videos expand our notion of ministry, and refine our notion of "Inclusivity" and "Welcome". The church has always been called to live beyond its traditional definitions and confines of its institutional life. Notice in these videos the rejuvenation that comes with such work together and a sense of purpose. Lets begin thinking about Ministry in St. Thomas and the opportunity we have as the United Churches in town to redefine Ministry and staff so we can be expanded in our hearts and minds by the Spirit!
The videos will take about 20 minutes to view collectively! Enjoy!
https://united-church.ca/leadership/entering-ministry
https://united-church.ca/community-and-faith/welcome-united-church-canada/partners-mission/canadian-partners-and-community
https://united-church.ca/community-and-faith/being-community/children-and-youth/programs-youth-and-young-adults
For Monday, February 1
This weeks video is on the subject of Quantum Physics! Everyone knows what that means! Snooze time maybe? Actually it is a video that helps us explain difficult topics that we are trying to understand and communicate. This video offers four steps at explaining difficult things.
I am hoping over the next couple of weeks to gather some thoughts about what Ministry is in the church and how we might describe it to someone who might confuse ministry with the Minister!
Join us for some personal musing on Quantum Physics and Ministry!
https://ca.video.search.yahoo.com/video/play;_ylt=AwrEzeJ_rxFgciMA.ESU7olQ;_ylu=c2VjA3NyBHNsawN2aWQEdnRpZAMEZ3BvcwMx?p=ted+talks+quantum+physics&vid=754d28dc1e9a3d1bad99623919a6e591&turl=https%3A%2F%2Ftse2.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOVP.8F5QzQQFqswkB2kHf32HYwHgFo%26pid%3DApi%26h%3D360%26w%3D480%26c%3D7%26rs%3D1&rurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DARWBdfWpDyc&tit=Quantum+Physics+for+7+Year+Olds+%7C+Dominic+Walliman+%7C+TEDxEastVan&c=0&h=360&w=480&l=936&sigr=wYVD2uiWuBst&sigt=XZy90F4_0wXA&sigi=bLWVNLSoiTJm&age=1464105590&fr2=p%3As%2Cv%3Av&fr=iphone&tt=b
For Monday, Janaury 25
Last week we listened to author of Gilead, Marilynne Robinson speak to us about how she understands the good life". She said, 1. Consider yourself to be a unique expression of what is humanly possible and ask "What gifts are you most thankful about who you are?" Marilynne also suggested the good life is in 2. Discovering your vocation. Following your passion is key to the good life, competition is a sign that you're probably not living the good life. Robinson says also that the Christian Life and the Christian community we live in is part of the good life in that it helps us 3. Develop a sympathetic imagination in an environment where grace is a cornerstone of how we perceive the world. We wondered what that triggered in us about how we live the good life!
This week we can continue on with the conversation. Colin Beaven is a writer and environmentalist and puts the theme of the "Good Life" in a different framework- if we were living in balance with earth, would this help us grasp something of the good life?
I invite you to watch the film that was made of Colin Beaven’s book, No Impact Man. It is 1.5 hours, but it is entertaining and insightful. I think Colin would say he learned to live a good life. Check it out!
Here is the link. See you Monday!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fW5_R-7BClY
For Monday, January 18
This week, I thought it would be good to listen to one of our leading authors Marilynne Robinson who wrote the trilogy Gilead, Lilah and Home. She is such a great theologian and imaginative writer. If you get a chance to explore her novels they are a great read, and offers great compassion for her characters. This is an interview between her and the Principal at Wheaton Theological College where she speaks to students about "call" and about what it means to live the "good life" and wonders about what it means to be part of the life to come. - the new heaven and earth! Can you pick out the ideas she suggests and see yourself in them! It is worth watching, and worth exploring other interviews and especially her public readings on Youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0PJOFA2-eU
Join us for coffee and bring your conversation!
Rev. Daryl
For Monday, January 11
Given the state of the States right now, I thought it would be interesting to watch an interview between Peter Mansbridge and Tony Blair in 2016. They discuss the polarization of people and the desperate need for the Center of the population to ask the question "what do we really believe". I found it good to watch 4 years ago and when I revisited it this week I found it interesting to note what rings true. These great leaders help us think about what it means to be a human civilization
Here is the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIpeu_hYSUY
For Monday, January 4
Ok, so this is almost 1 1/2 hours long but this is a must watch for everyone in the house! It is funny and a good tear jerker at times. It is the documentary of Irish folks who are 100 plus years. Some of them think they are not on God's register! Sit back and enjoy this warm, loving and good humoured documentary over the Christmas Break! You and yours will not be disappointed. What was your favorite part?. Lets share coffee on January 3, 2021....when we are all living into another year!
https://tubitv.com/movies/490081/older-than-ireland
For Monday, December 28
We explore a couple of videos that consider Jesus traditional and Archeological suggested birth places. It is all very interesting and a great way to look at Bethlehem today. Join us for coffee and conversation in Bethlehem and about town!
The First Video explores modern day Bethlehem and the project of a church in England to discover what it is like to live in Bethlehem today. This is 13 minutes and quite interesting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqopH_uYM3U
The second video looks at the places Jesus grew up and what it may have been like. This video is worth the 24 minutes it takes to watch!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ievIjI8LPFk
For Monday, December 21
For some generations Christmas wouldn't be complete without some seasonal favorite shows. Everyone loves Charlie Brown's Christmas. This year when Christmas is spent in small groups or by ourselves we may empathize with good ole Charlie Brown. Like him we may wonder what it would be like to join in on the festivities with the enthusiasm of Snoopy! Rewatch this classic story and bring some eggnog to Coffee Time on December 21 at 10:30am
Here's the video!
https://archive.org/details/ACharlieBrownChristmasTVMovie19651080pHD
For Monday, December 14
As we move through the Advent season and closer to Christmas we think of the Christmas Story.
In this week's video offering for Coffee and Conversation we take a look at Joseph the father of Jesus.
This 8 minute video offers some really interesting insights into this father. Joseph is portrayed as a father who really fits the birth of Jesus into his life and that birth draws out some strong characteristics of the man!
Enjoy the reflection of the video and of coffee time. See you Monday at 10:30!
Here’s the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lSArwNfBNg
Monday, December 7
We continue to explore the practice of forgiveness. In this TED Talk video with Sarah Montana we learn a bit more about the process of coming to embrace the work and release of forgiveness. When people say we should forgive there usually is no guidance along that road and we are left to "fake it until we make it". Yet forgiveness is such an important journey so many of us want to take. Montana offers some guideposts that have grown out of her own journey toward forgiveness.
Join us for coffee and conversation on Monday at 10:30. Bring a friend!
Here’s the video! https://youtu.be/mEK2pIiZ2I0
Monday, November 30
Postponed due to funeral
Monday, November 23
We continue our journey on meditation in order to get in touch with trauma and discover how to speak of anger in new ways.
Here are two videos: "How to deal with strong emotions”, a 22 minute video; and an 18 minute Meditation on anger and the beginning of forgiveness. These are both led by the contemporary Buddhist teacher and writer Thich Nhat Hanh. I think you will enjoy both or either one!
Join us for coffee and conversation about the ways we find release in the midst of a meditative way of life.
All are welcome. Bring a friend and a latte!
Video 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJX8WkKbPf8
Video 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_UZCuBuuoU
Monday, November 16
We have been discussing prayerfulness and mindfulness as Spiritual Practice. There are other forms of Spiritual Practice too, including Social Justice work. This short video is of a man who is engaged in Civil Disobedience and Social Justice work. It is a riveting story of one man who finds Spiritual Formation in his work especially with people on death row. When has your faith caused you to stretch your compassion? Join in on our conversation & coffee time on Monday at 10:30am.
Coffee Cheers!
Daryl
Here’s the video!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFHE36Z613I&feature=emb_logo&ab_channel=Inte
Monday, November 9
Rev. Daryl is on Study Leave this week but he has left this video for us to watch and discuss! Sounds like a fun one!
From Rev. Daryl: “I think you will enjoy this master pumpkin carver! Share it with the kids and everyone. It is interesting to be disorganized and give permission to let the creative process unfold from no firm plan!! It is worth the watch a couple of times even!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTWFZWgAjsg
Monday, November 2
Continuing our exploration of Meditation and Mindfulness we are introduced to Ignatius of Loyola. This 20 minute documentary of an early founder of Meditation practice known as the Examin which is a simple way of praying over our day. While not specifically related to trauma as we've been talking about for the last few weeks, it is a practice that helps us get in touch with God's presence in our lives each day which was the hallmark of Christian life for Ignatius. I think you'll find this 20 minute bio of him very rooted in human life, so influential in Christian Spiritual Formation, and you may understand why people came to love him so deeply.
Here’s the link to 20 minute Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lehPjhAky6E
Here is the actual practice of the Examin. Try it daily or just once before we meet on Monday! You may want to use your settings to reduce speed to .75% it will make the 5 minute video about 8 minutes. Its very good!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDQgjzJINdk
Monday, October 26
Last week we spoke about solitude as an opportunity to speak with our old trauma and find a closer measure of healing. In our conversation we spoke about the ancient Christian practices of solitude and meditation. There are many! One form of Spiritual meditation in Christian tradition is contemplation through art. This week's video is about the process of praying over and creating art. Anyone can use this as a way to deepen our awareness of the Divine.
Watch it early this week and share what you learned at coffee, or just share what you saw in the video.
Here is the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKiEpVfrJ7w
You may also take any picture and pray over it using the following exercise.
Here are a couple to go along with this week's scripture Matthew 22:34-46
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INSTRUCTIONS FOR VISIO DIVINA
Visio divina is a form of divine seeing in which we prayerfully invite God to speak to our hearts as we look at an image. As you gaze at an image, you will be offered some questions for silent reflection, some of which may speak to you, while others you may choose to ignore. At the end of the visio divina, you will be invited to share a word or phrase to express your experience of the image.
As you gaze at the image, notice your breath and your body.
Read Matthew 22:34-46 slowly a couple of times.
Simply be present to the image and allow it to speak to your heart, without any particular agenda. It might speak to you in words or wordlessly.
How do you feel looking at the image?
If you had to describe the image in a sentence or two silently to yourself, what would you say?
If you were in the image, where would you place yourself ?
Do you get a glimpse of the sacred from this image? Is God speaking in the image about the scripture?
In silence, sit with what you have received.
If you choose, share aloud a word or phrase to express your experience of the image at coffee time.
Visio divina is a form of divine seeing in which we prayerfully invite God to speak to our hearts as we look at an image. As you gaze at an image, you will be offered some questions for silent reflection, some of which may speak to you, while others you may choose to ignore. At the end of the visio divina, you will be invited to share a word or phrase to express your experience of the image.
As you gaze at the image, notice your breath and your body.
Read Matthew 22:34-46 slowly a couple of times.
Simply be present to the image and allow it to speak to your heart, without any particular agenda. It might speak to you in words or wordlessly.
How do you feel looking at the image?
If you had to describe the image in a sentence or two silently to yourself, what would you say?
If you were in the image, where would you place yourself ?
Do you get a glimpse of the sacred from this image? Is God speaking in the image about the scripture?
In silence, sit with what you have received.
If you choose, share aloud a word or phrase to express your experience of the image at coffee time.
Monday, October 19
This week we will listen to a 10 minute meditation by Stephen Batchelor – who has written about the gift of solitude and the epidemic of loneliness - to help us ground ourselves in who were are, what we notice and how we belong to the world. Batchelor offers a way to have compassion upon ourselves.
Do this meditation over the next few days and share any insights you have. It is a good way to continue the conversation we have been having about "trauma" in the body.
Here's the Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fB_yl-vnyiw&t=3s
Monday, October 12
No Coffee Time due to Thanksgiving Holiday
Monday, October 5
We'll listen to an audio interview between Krista Tippet (Onbeing.com) and author and therapist Resmaa Menakem. It is an hour long but listen for as long as you are able. It is very worthwhile!
Here is the introduction that Krista offers.
"The best laws and diversity training have not gotten us anywhere near where we want to go. Therapist and trauma specialist Resmaa Menakem is working with old wisdom and very new science about our bodies and nervous systems, and all we condense into the word “race.” Krista sat down with him in Minneapolis, where they both live and work, before the pandemic lockdown began. In this heartbreaking moment, after the killing of George Floyd and the history it carries, Resmaa Menakem’s practices offer us the beginning to change at a cellular level."
Watch the video here: https://onbeing.org/programs/resmaa-menakem-notice-the-rage-notice-the-silence/
Monday, September 28
Last week we fell in love with Eugene Peterson, author of The Message. So now we find out about what Eugene 's life as a Pastor and as a person in a congregation meant to him. In this video he speaks about the gift of a congregation being the gift to be yourself.
Watch the video here: https://matthewzcapps.com/2016/09/02/eugene-peterson-and-the-pastoral-imagination/
Monday, September 21
The video this week documents the friendship between Bono (of the band U2) and Eugene Peterson (author of contemporary-language Bible translation The Message) revolving around their common interest in the Psalms.
Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-l40S5e90KY
Monday, September, 14
We will reflect on a great little video about Canadian Astronaut Chris Hadfield. It would be something enjoyable to view with children and teens as parents and grandparents. We will speak about what stood out for us and our children if we watched with them.
Hadfield video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo62S0ulqhA
Monday, September 7
No Coffee Time due to Labour Day Holiday
Monday, August 31
Rev. Daryl is on holidays so no video, just pop in for a chat!
Monday, August 24
Rev. Daryl is on holidays so no video, just pop in for a chat!
Monday, August 17
We'll be discussing the video of Jann Arden's interview at Hillhurst United Church (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtBW9NDqt6k).
(The interview starts at about the 16:30 point of the video)
Monday, August 10
Rev. Daryl & Lori are on holidays so no Coffee Time
Monday, August 3
No Coffee Time due to the Civic Holiday
Monday, July, 27
Rev. Daryl is on holidays so no video, just pop in for a chat!
Monday, July 20
Monday morning coffee and conversation will focus on Netflix show Queer Eye Season 5 episode 1 titled "Preaching out loud". A Gay Lutherean preacher wrestles with coming to confidence and purpose as a Minister and one of the members of the Queer eye wrestles with stepping back in the church that almost killed him. If you can watch the Netflix episode do that. If not, watch the clips. Let's wonder together about the welcoming church and what difference church makes! Be aware that there is some mature language, but the content is brilliant!
On Netflix search - Queer Eye - Season 5 Episode 1 or
1st clip: https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/popculture/localish-this-openly-gay-pastor-shares-his-story/vp-BB15Qi3I
2nd clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cer8x93bVcA
3nd clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zocPLUlDHxI&list=FLeOucOiAjCxpQLbV3Q9gQdQ&index=27
Monday, July 13
If you have never heard of Father Richard Rhor here is a chance to meet one of our current Spiritual Leaders in our culture. He speaks to us about the second half of life and how it offers an opportunity to enter life anew from the point of view of "maturity" which he says all of us need some help reaching for! This humourous and gentle video is an hour long, but I think even the first ten minutes of his conversation will offer much to reflect on personally and collectively as we move to our second half of life. The lecture will be a good introduction to one of our leading Spiritual Leaders in the church as well! Enjoy! What stands out for you?
Here's the link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YngpUoh2AxU
Monday, July 6
We will take a look at a video called Reserve 107. Here is the link. https://www.reserve107thefilm.com/
What might happen if living into the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission meant having to revisit land ownership? A small community in Saskatchewan enters into the dialogue with the First Nations inhabitants that predated the establishment of their town. Heartbreaking, delicate and courageous, the dialogue helps offer a way to conversation and deeper community. What part do you think the church plays as news of a land claim emerges?
Monday, June 29
Preview the TedTalk by Josie Lewis who speaks about grief and the work of flow to heal. Anyone who has experienced loss, or works/lives with others who have experienced loss might find this valuable.
Here's the link: https://www.josielewis.com/creativeflow
Monday, June 22
We will explore a great 45 minute documentary called Stay Woke. It offers a history and the passion of the #BlackLivesMatter movement. It was made in 2016 and wrestles with many of the exact storylines that current protests are highlighting. Plan to join in by previewing the documentary and sharing, "What stands out for you?". I found the piece around the rebirth but separation from the 1960's leadership perspective very fascinating. Everything evolves, even with a 100plus year civil rights movement! It feels like we cannot be the church without being part of this conversation.
Here is the link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIoYtKOqxeU
Monday, June 15
Send in your favorite short, funny video to share Monday morning over coffee. Just for a change of pace.
Monday, June 8
This week we look at a comedian's view of "why" we do things. It is a five minute clip sure to entertain and bring us around to a conversation about our Christian life in the world.
Here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ytFB8TrkTo
Monday, June 1
This week we'll preview this short (3 minute) and humourous video on Church as a way into our conversation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLQfhxDld7E
Monday, May 25
We will focus on a 15 minute video about discovering ways of connecting with others on their spiritual journey who may have no background in the church. It is a very interesting video about a project which expanded church beyond traditional Sunday morning gatherings. I think you will enjoy and connect with it! The link is here: https://www.salisbury.anglican.org/ministry/lay-ministry/commissioned-lay-pioneer
Monday, May 18
We will share a TedTalk about Sacred Spaces. It is 15 minutes long and very good! I think it will be a great conversation! Watch the Talk here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K77a6TxE118
Monday, May 11
You are invited to preview a 10 minute video of my friend and colleague who is the host of Bedford House. He runs a program called Bridges out of Poverty and shares what he has learned about the conversation between the economic classes. It is a great way into a conversation about Christian Ministry. We are called to learn to value people across the economic sphere. If Jesus asked us to love those who are marginalized, I wonder how might we begin to enter into those relationships? Is there a way of learning responsiveness and letting people teach us about their lives who are economically disadvantaged. Join us for the “wonder” questions of our Christian formation!
Here is the link: https://www.united-church.ca/blogs/round-table/working-myself-out-job
Monday, May 4
No video, just pop in for a chat!
Monday, April 27
We have a change of pace this week. I am becoming more aware of Equine (Horse) Therapy and its use in Psychotherapy and also in Christian Ministry. Check out the two videos below. It is about 20 minutes worth of watching!
The first is a news clip about a woman who has faced trauma and with horses learns to test her limits of trust.
The second clip is a United Church Mission & Service clip of a program with horses and survivors of Residential School.
If you or someone you know works with Horses have them join in on the conversation! I'm thinking about "Ministry" and how diverse it can be to do the work of God's caring! It models safe and welcoming space for people who are stuck in their life journey to move forward!
Video #1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dhRv6qiXek
Video #2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWJhDh2ZoDM&list=PLQDu-SgFb3RhYlxVfQOxbo1DjO9ezW-sR&index=14&t=0s
Monday, April 20
This week we are invited to watch an interview with Matthew Fox, whose faith grew from the 60's and the Post War era. He is one of our early Creation Spirituality thinkers, a Mystic and Liberation Theologian. The journey of faith and belief in people's lives is rich and so interesting. Watch the 30 minute video and join in the conversation by answering "what stands out for you" Here is the link:
https://therealnews.com/stories/original-sin-and-the-war-on-liberation-theology-rai-with-matthew-fox-4-8