An Advent Retreat offered in partnership with Prayer Bench

    This Advent 2021, Chinook Winds Region is partnering with Janice MacLean of Prayer Bench to offer an Advent Retreat resource called Hope Matters! We’re delighted to partner with Janice again. Last Spring, many of you valued participating in the Prayer Bench’s Stroll for the Soul, spear-headed by the Chinook Winds’ Ministry Support Working Group.

          Here’s Janice MacLean, describing the Hope Matters Advent Retreat:
       “I’m pleased to partner with the Region in providing this Advent Resource. I, too, offer leadership in half-time ministry to a community of faith in Riverview NB, along with providing resources through the Prayer Bench.
      This is not the fall I imagined in the pastoral charge. My resilience is Covid-thin and my patience is often paper-thin. What helps my sense of “overwhelm” is feeling part of something bigger. I know this is a liminal time. Our world, institutions, and structures are changing. Old ways are crumbling and something new is arriving. It is a time of potent hope. Our commitment to spiritual practice can help change the world.
       This is why I wrote this Advent resource. It invites us to the balcony for a glimpse of goodness in the muddle. It reminds us it is “not just about us” by offering a practice to connect with “All in all” to release the energy of hope into the world God loves.”   

HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN HOPE MATTERS FOR ADVENT 2021

You can use the Advent Retreat resource for yourself and a friend or join with a group of people from your Community of Faith for a retreat, study or worship. It’s a resource that you can use throughout Advent or use at one time as a guide for a sunset-to-sunset retreat.

The eight-page Advent Email Retreat guide offers suggestions for creating a space for settling into your retreat, a reflection on the theme of Hope Matters, several  prompts to evoke reflection, art or  journalling, and a spiritual practice called, “Come, Let us Adore.”

Sign up for the Advent Retreat through Prayer Bench’s website HERE. This is a link that has been specifically licensed to Chinook Winds and Pacific Mountain Regional Councils. (Please respect that licensing and Prayer Bench’s copyright.)

After signing up, you receive a Confirmation Email with a downloadable PDF file of the “Hope Matters Email Retreat.”  Please email Janice if, for any reason, you don’t receive this email.

VIDEO INTRODUCTION TO HOPE MATTERS WITH JANICE MACLEAN ON NOVEMBER 24

As well, at our November 24th, 2021 Town Hall gave a beautiful introduction to the Advent Retreat. Please see the recording above!

ADDITIONAL GIFTS FROM THE NOVEMBER 24 TOWN HALL

• Janice’s handout from the November 24th Workshop
• You can receive a 25 per cent discount for any resource in The Prayer Bench Shop up until December 1, 2021. The Coupon Code is ENGAGE

TELL US ABOUT YOUR RETREAT!

if you’re using the resource for a group retreat or study, please take a photo of your group whether it’s online or in-person following COVID-19 protocols. As well, you may be inspired to take significant photos that reflect your retreat or write short reflections. Please send those to Shelley Den Haan, Chinook Winds Communications, and we’ll share them on Chinook Winds social media or the Chinook Winds newsletter.

Looking forward to a blessed Advent with you all!