Christian Education

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Contact us for more information for online meeting time and link. We'll be using "Zoom" (you can download the app to your computer or device in advance, here) - it even works well on smartphones!

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In the season of Lent, 2020, we looked at a series on the Historical Jesus, featuring the thought of late theologian, Marcus Borg (view a trailer here). Handouts for those sessions are below:
SESSION 1 HANDOUT (PDF) - March 1
SESSION 2 HANDOUT (PDF) - March 8
SESSION 3 HANDOUT (PDF) - March 15
SESSION 4 HANDOUT (PDF) - March 22

SESSION 5 HANDOUT (PDF) - March 29

SESSION 6 HANDOUT (PDF) - April 5

 

 

Through the Sundays of Easter, we looked at music in worship, following a series with Church of Scotland minister, composer, and author, John Bell. (view a trailer here).
 

SESSION 1 HANDOUT (PDF) - April 12
SESSION 2 HANDOUT (PDF) - April 19

SESSION 3 HANDOUT (PDF)  - April 26

SESSION 4 HANDOUT (PDF) - May 3

SESSION 5 HANDOUT (PDF) - May 10

SESSION 6 HANDOUT (PDF)  - May 17

SESSION 7 HANDOUT (PDF) - May 24
SESSIONS 8 + 9 HANDOUT (PDF) - May 31

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In "Ordinary Time," and the Sundays after Pentecost, 2020, we looked at the series, "Dream.Think.Be.Do." A trailer for the series can be found here. Christianity is a journey!

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SESSION 1 HANDOUT (PDF) 16-minute video - June 7

SESSION 2 HANDOUT (PDF) 18-minutes video - June 14

SESSION 3 HANDOUT (PDF) 16-minute video - June 21

SESSION 4+5 HANDOUT (PDF) 24-minute video & 23-minute video - June 28 (bonus words of wisdom here)

 

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In Fall, 2020, we have been reading the book "Dear Church" by Rev. Lenny Duncan.
Another resource to engage for White Christians seeking to move from privilege to partnership is Troubling the Waters.

KAIROS also has helpful resources here.

 

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In Winter/Spring 2021, we're looking at Science and Religion (preview of program here)

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SESSION 1 HANDOUT (PDF) - February 21

SESSION 2 HANDOUT (PDF) - February 28

SESSION 3 HANDOUT (PDF) - March 7

SESSION 4 HANDOUT (PDF) - March 14

SESSION 5 HANDOUT (PDF) - March 21
SESSION 6 HANDOUT (PDF) - March 28
SESSION 7 HANDOUT (PDF) - April 11

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Beginning in April, 2021, we are reading "The Book of Joy" by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu with Douglas Abrams.

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Session 1 Handout (PDF) - April 25

Session 2 Handout (PDF) - May 2

Session 3 Handout (PDF) - May 9

Session 4 Handout (PDF) - May 16

Session 5 Handout (PDF) - May 23

Session 6 Handout (PDF) - May 30

Session 7 Handout (PDF) - June 6

Session 8 Handout (PDF) - June 13

Session 9 Handout (PDF) - June 20

Session 10 Handout (PDF) - June 27

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Beginning September 12, 2021, we will be looking at a variety of resources to learn about our church and society's relationship with Indigenous neighbours. (Materials are read/viewed ahead of time, and we discuss on Sunday morning Zoom.)

Throughout the study, it may be helpful to refer to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 94 Calls to Action (PDF) (and a child-friendly version here)

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September 12 - What is the Doctrine of Discovery? (UCC resources)

September 19 - ELCIC's 2015 motion (other social statements here)

September 26 - Doctrine of Discovery: Stolen Lands, Strong Hearts (66 minute Anglican documentary film)

October 3 - My Auntie Survived Residential School (44 minute CBC documentary film)

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For a few weeks in October, 2021, we will look at Reformation history - if for no other reason than Pastor Tyler is fascinated by it and can talk at length about details around Martin Luther's life!
Have a look at the videos that are linked ahead of the Sunday morning zoom discussion.
October 17 - Luther's life in pictures (about 15 mins)

October 24 - Augsburg Confession (about 5 mins) & Luther and Canada (about 5 mins)

October 31 - Thesesdoor in Wittenberg (3 mins) & playlist of Reformation videos from MNO

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Starting in November, 2021, we'll be reading the Robin Wall Kimmerer book, "Braiding Sweetgrass." You can purchase a copy here, or look into borrowing it from your local library, or listen to the audio book.

November 7 - Skywoman Falling & Council of Pecans (pp.ix-21; audio tracks 1-4)

Wednesday, November 17 - Gift of Strawberries, Offering, Asters and Goldenrod (pp.22-47; audio tracks 5-7)

Wednesday, November 24 - Learning the Grammar of Animacy, Maple Sugar Moon (pp.48-71; audio tracks 8-10)

Wednesday, December 1 - Witch Hazel (pp.72-81; audio track 11)

Wednesday, December 8 - A Mother's Work (pp.82-97; audio track 12)

Wednesday, December 15 - The Consolation of Water Lilies (pp.98-104; audio track 13)

Wednesday, December 22 - Allegiance to Gratitude (pp.105-117; audio track 14)

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Sunday, January 9 - Epiphany in the Beans (pp.121-127; audio tracks 15-16)

Sunday, January 16 - The Three Sisters (pp.128-140; audio track 17)

Sunday, January 23 - Wisgaak Gokpenagen: A Black Ash Basket (pp.141-155; audio track 18)

Sunday, January 30 - Mishkos Kenomagwen: The Teachings of Grass (pp.156-166; audio track 19)

 

Sunday, February 6 - Maple Nation: A Citizenship Guide (pp.167-174; audio track 20)

Sunday, February 13 - The Honourable Harvest (pp.175-201; audio tracks 21-22)

Sunday, February 20 - In the Footsteps of Nanabozho: Becoming Indigenous to Place (pp.205-215; audio tracks 23-24)

Sunday, February 27 - The Sound of Silverbells (pp.216-222; audio track 25)

 

Sunday, March 6 - Sitting in a Circle (pp.223-240; audio track 26)

Sunday, March 13 - Burning a Cascade Head (pp.241-253; audio track 27)

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Wednesday, May 4 - Putting Down Roots (pp.254-267; audio track 28)

Wednesday, May 11 - Umbilicaria: The Belly Button of the World (pp.268-276; audio track 29)

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Wednesday, May 25 - Old Growth Children (pp.277-292; audio track 30)

Wednesday, June 1 - Witness to the Rain (pp.293-300; audio track 31)

Wednesday, June 8 - Windigo Footprints (pp.301-309; audio tracks 32-33)

Wednesday, June 15 - The Sacred and the Superfund (pp.310-340; audio tracks 34-35)
Wednesday, June 22 - People of Corn, People of Light & Collateral Damage (pp.341-359; audio tracks 36-37)

Wednesday, June 29 - Shkitagen: People of the Seventh Fire (pp.360-373; audio track 38) Pastor Tyler reads an excerpt here

Wednesday, July 6 - Defeating Windigo & Returning the Gift (pp.373-384; audio tracks 39-40)

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A couple of articles with summaries of Braiding Sweetgrass, and videos, are available here and here

 

And, we may draw on this resource for discussion questions as we read together!

 

 

Green Burials and Digital Assets - an online presentation by Richard Rosin (February 3, 2022)

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In Fall, 2022, we'll be looking at what it means to be a welcoming and inclusive congregation,

moving towards joining the Reconciling In Christ roster.

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September 28 - overview of process  (helpful video here)

October 5 - overview of process (pt II)
October 12 - looking at welcoming statements

October 19 - one congregation's story of becoming RIC

October 26 - RIC and welcome as Reformation

November 2 - welcome and inclusion at Gloria Dei (conversation & ideas)

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some helpful supplemental videos can be viewed here

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Starting in January, 2023, we'll be having some conversation about other faiths, with a focus on what they believe about the planet.
This is an introductory treatment (more in-depth may be done at a later date where we would welcome members of other traditions and faiths to speak about their values and beliefs, personally) and this study is meant to open up conversation.
We will use this study guide reflecting on this poster (inspired by this poster, and sourced from this website); some of our conversation may also draw upon these videos created by Pastor Tyler.

Some pages of comparisons between the religious traditions and Lutheranism are available here.

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We will gather Wednesday mornings on Zoom (see our e-news for sign-in link) - the format will be

conversational, and questions are encouraged!

 

January 11 - introduction (are there other traditions among us?)
and Judaism (study guide p.9, video clip)

January 18 - Islam (study guide p.8, video clip)

January 25 - Buddhism (study guide p. 6, video clip)

February 1 - Unitarianism (study guide p.11, video clip)

February 8 - Bahá'i (study guide p.5, video clip)

BONUS: Taoism (study guide p.11, video clip)
Sikhism (study guide p.10, video clip)
 

Recommended resource (if you can find a copy!): Honoring Our Neighbor's Faith

(comparison pages are scanned from this book)

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In March, 2023 - through the weeks of Lent - we took a look at this ELCIC Study on Diaconal Ministers.

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In May, 2023, we are looking at what the Bible says about welcome and inclusion
in a study we're calling "Opening Our Bibles, Opening Our Hearts"

A pdf-file with the study is available here

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We will gather Wednesday mornings on Zoom (see our e-news for sign-in link) - the format will be

conversational, and questions are encouraged!

 

May 3 - Romans 12:9-21 (and this video)
May 10 - Deuteronomy 10:12-22 (and this video)

May 17 - Psalm 121 (and this video)

May 24 - Matthew 15:21-28 (and this video)

May 31 - Matthew 25:34-45 (and this video)

BONUS: a poem for 21st Century Christian community

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September-December, 2023, we've watched the series "First Contact"

and have had discussion about how we are open and welcoming of

our Indigenous neighbours, seeking respect and understanding.

A pdf-file with notes on our study is available here

The first video session is available here

A preview of the series is available here

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January-February, 2024
A Bible Study to Overcome Racism and Xenophobia

As a RIC parish, we're mindful of our commitment to anti-racism, as well as
days in late-January for Remembering Victims of the Holocaust and Victims of Islamophobia.
In the weeks after Epiphany, we are looking at these texts and reflections
(which draw from this resource from World Council of Churches)

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February-March, 2024

A Bible Study from MNO Synod called
Questioning Privilege, Working Towards a Day Without Racism

We follow the weekly reflections through the season of Lent!
Download the resource here.

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April-June, 2024
A Book Study where we'll read and discuss

A Year of Biblical Womanhood by Rachel Held Evans

mp3-files to listen to the audio-book can be downloaded here

we may reference this discussion guide as we go.

These are the dates we'll discuss these sections of the books (so read/listen to section in advance)...

April 24 - chapters: Intro, October - pp.xiii-20 (tracks 1-2, approx. 65 mins)

May 1 - November pp.21- 46 (track 3, approx. 50 mins)

May 8 - December pp.47-73 (track 4, approx. 54 mins)

May 15 - January pp.74-98 (track 5, approx. 50 mins)

May 22 - February, March pp.99-145 (tracks 6-7, approx. 90 mins)

May 29 - April pp.146-173 (track 8, approx. 55 mins)

June 5 - May, June pp.174-223 (tracks 9-10, approx. 92 mins)

June 12 - break (pastor at study conference)

June 19 - July, August pp.224-281 (tracks 11-12, approx. 106 mins)

June 26 - September pp.282-308 (track 13, approx 57 mins)

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CHILDREN'S PROGRAM
 

Some online video Sunday School lessons available in a playlist here.

Some resources for downloading and using at home available here.
A Palm Sunday resource available here.
A video about Palm Sunday and Maundy Thursday, here.
A video about Good Friday and Easter, here.

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See our Sunday Services page for weekly "youth bulletin" and "Sunday School" resources!

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While not Christian education, per se, this link will take you to some learning opportunities from the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, which certainly have overlapping values with our faith!

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