Dear Canadians,
Ask virtually any adult in Canada who cycles; they’ll tell you. It’s largely about the “getting there,” not the “got there.” Not so much where and how quickly you arrive, but what you’ve learned and gained along the way. Rail trails! What incredible resources in so many regions across the country. From the Confederation Trail in PEI, to the Cowichan Valley Trail on Vancouver Island, they are blessings to all who use them. The benefits of using them are in the process: weight loss/strength gain, fresh air, exercise, witnessing new geographies…. And more: to feed and grow your curiosity (swerving off your planned route to explore a spur line), to enable your courage (like daring yourself to go off the trail and up that hill that you couldn’t last year or using those pedal-clips). To not be restricted, but to be open to new involvements, and to experience the joy and liberation in something you knew you were looking for.
That’s pretty much what the All Canada Church Summit in November will be: collaborating (the process) with others who want something more, then emerging from that time together to realize that you have fed your curiosity, your courage, your passion for new involvements. You realize you have been and will continue to be open to the Spirit’s leading.
This gathering of churches from across Canada, this nascent community, will be (our Core Commitments):
- Rooted in the Bible & Reformed Tradition
- Honouring Local Church Leadership
- Listening & Leading Together
- Creative & Engaged in Our Culture
- Open to Learning & Growing.
The Summit will feature (at least) workshops and workgroups, prayer and worship, and three keynote speakers: Shiao Chong (former editor of The Banner magazine), Melanie Humphreys (President of The King’s University, Edmonton, AB), and Paul Verhoef (chaplain at the University of Calgary, AB). You will be open to new involvements and will experience the joy and liberation in something you knew you were looking for.
Registration will open later in September. Consider joining us in Kitchener, ON; consider supporting this Summit (
Letter of Request for Support for Summit).
Blessings,
Peter Bulthuis
Registration is now live
here!
