What fun Kenn and I had sharing our extemporaneous answers to your questions on Sunday in our Q & A session. It was a good challenge for us to think quickly on our feet. We hope something of value came out of our mouths!
I heard from many of you that were present that you enjoyed it, too. And for sure (as some of you shared with me) how fun it was to see Kenn and I interacting together! We enjoyed it, too, and you never know what’ll be said!
My apologies for the problem broadcasting our service on Facebook Live. We’re not quite sure what the issue was, but you can now watch us at your leisure on YouTube.
Kenn and I were in Edmonton two weekends ago facilitating a retreat and the very last class for our ministerial students. It was so wonderful to hold our last session together in person. I want to give these students a well-deserved shout out.
Left to right: Jayme Blenkarn, Amanda Pope, Jim Boone, Jade Harms, Trish Barr-Mendis, Tamara Rossander
In Centers for Spiritual Living, in terms of ministerial training, our Centre along with the Edmonton Metro CSL have teamed together to create what is known as a Primary Teaching Centre. This means that our students go through 19 practical classes of ministerial education – teaching, speaking, counselling, writing, pastoral care, workshops, music, history of new thought, ethics, ceremonies, spiritual leadership and more, as one cohort of students all together for a three-year program. In the other type of program (called the Regional Campus model), the students take the same classes, but as individuals on their own unique schedule.
Our original cohort of 10 students started these classes together in the fall of 2019. It was slated to be a monthly class with every second class intended to be in person, while the others would be on Zoom. Then the pandemic hit. So it turned out that we ended up having only three of the 19 classes in person. Needless to say, it wasn’t what we expected; but we accommodated, were flexible and pivoted quickly to what turned out to be pretty much a Zoom-only format. That made having this very last class in person a very, very special one indeed.
Most likely, and pretty much for sure (someone told me never to say never) this was Kenn’s and my last class for ministerial training, and so it was somewhat bittersweet. We have taught four groups of ministerial students over the last 30 years, and I’m delighted to say that most of them are still active ministers working in the field of ministry, making a difference throughout Canada, Mexico and Kenya!
Because of the process at Centers for Spiritual Living, in terms of ministerial education, some of our students will complete all of their requirements to be licensed ministers by the end of next March, and other students will be a little further out from that. For Kenn and myself, and our co-instructors, Rev. Tim Peterson and Rev. Kathryn Cardinal from Edmonton, other than marking papers and assigning grades, our classes are finished.
I just wanted to give these students a well-deserved, big shout out – the pathway to ministry requires commitment, rigour, wisdom, tenacity and really finding and sticking with one’s passion, one’s calling and one’s spiritual practices. I so look forward to seeing them out in the field of ministry, continuing the teaching of the Science of Mind, each in their own individual ways.
Kudos to Tamara Rossander from White Rock, BC; Jim Boone from Seattle, Washington; Jade Harms from Kelowna, BC; Amanda Pope from Nanaimo, BC; Jayme Blenkarn from Edmonton, Alberta; Trish Barr-Mendis from Edmonton, Alberta; and Kat Wingerter from Bellingham, Washington (who was unable to attend).
Blessings,
Dr. Deborah
PS: I’m so looking forward to our virtual Town Hall meeting next Sunday at 2pm on Zoom. Join myself and your Board to talk about what’s up-and-coming. We’d love to hear what is on your heart and what you’d like to see at the Centre for Spiritual Living Kelowna. See more details on the event page.
Date: August 14, 2022 at 2pm
Meeting ID: 250 860 3500
Passcode: love
Here is yesterday’s talk by Drs. Deborah and Kenn Gordon, titled Everything you want to know about Science of Mind (but were afraid to ask). You can watch it and other past services on the CSLK YouTube channel.
MIND-FULL MOMENT
“Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.”
— Anthony J. D'Angelo
Copyright © 2022 Centre for Spiritual Living Kelowna. All rights reserved.
Comments