Champions’ Group Meeting Update

At the end of March, the leaders of the task groups for Harcourt’s four vison priorities met. Steve Pierce (Partnerships and Community Hub), Andre Auger (Spiritual Growth), Merrill Pierce and Pamela Girardi (Supporting Manna), Dan Ganesh (Worship), and I, Kathy Magee (Council Liaison), along with Kate Ballagh-Steeper and Kent Hoeg, spent a Spirit and information filled evening discussing the progress and interconnections of their task groups.

1. Worship
   Dan identified that the diversity of the Worship task group and their variety of perspectives makes for rich and wide-ranging discussion.
   They clarified their vision and mission:

• Vision: to imagine and to hope through the development of experiential worship model for Harcourt that embraces change, adaptability and technology, under an umbrella of spiritual enrichment, stewardship and sustainability.  
• Mission: the how, the what, the why will involve proposing a list of ideas, concepts and experiences for worship activities to the Harcourt Community over the next 3-5 years while adhering to Harcourt’s overall purpose and core values.
  The group recognizes the importance of adaptability and compassion for the impact of cultural change. Communication with the congregation in a variety of ways is seen as essential.
  
  2. Spiritual Growth Andre outlined the next near steps from the Spiritual Growth team (the Spiritual Life Committee). The theme of Thin Times and Places continues to guide their focus.
• Congregational gathering is planned for September 23, 2023 at Crieff Hills. It will be joint with Manna and involve a variety of activities, ending with a bon fire.
• Monthly articles, Food for the Journey, in the Harcourt Herald
• Lenten meditation series
• Holy Saturday vigil on Zoom
• Five-week Prayer Circle series at Wellington Park Retirement Residence in May
• Holy Listening Sunday mornings – in-depth bible study and creation of community
• Andre will be working with Pamela to guide spiritual practice development for Manna
• Hosting Listening Heart in September – training program for those who wish to be Prayer Guides for the Week of Guided Prayer
• Exploration of The Hub – an existing digital ministry for 20–30-year-olds
• Available to committees and teams to assist in exploring Thins Times/Places and deepen awareness of Spirit in their work
  
  3. Supporting Manna
• New members of Manna are expressing interest in participating in the leadership roles. New families are coming to Manna every week. Some are racialized and come from a variety of backgrounds
• To enhance the welcome to Manna, work is being done on the Manna website to more accurately describe what it offers
• The shift to chairs and flexible seating in the sanctuary will greatly facilitate Manna’s use of space – toys (and storage space for them) for the very young still need to be added
• Expanding the focus to include adult seekers, as well as families
• Andre (from Spiritual Life Committee) will be working with Manna to explore spiritual practices
• Many social justice issues are in the works: a) in keeping with the focus on the Watershed, plans are to make use of City of Guelph project to increase the tree canopy b) a workshop on April 16th c) partnering with Kairos on Earth Evening event d) clean up that may link with City of Guelph Clean and Green program e) pride celebrations f) Gardening Sunday in the Harcourt Garden g) anti-oppression training - with plans to include the whole Harcourt community in community care. Pamela will be participating in a Pastoral Care course in May and June. Peter Gill will facilitate a Manna Men’s group
• Shared services with Music and Message will continue to provide opportunities for joining together
  
  4. Partnerships and Community Hub
• In working toward the larger goal of broadening Harcourt’s community connections and ability to respond to community needs, the current focus of the task groups is the “nuts and bolts”.
• Issues of costs, expenses, building maintenance and property management under consideration
• Rental agreements, community use policies and guidelines are being organized
• Building and Operational Management Group will be developed to oversee the building, with the focus initially on rentals. This will require specific staff. Kate is working on funding application to UCC to cover costs during start up and transition. The grant request received Council endorsement on April 12th.
• Staff to include a) building manager to be responsible for rental requests and building maintenance b) building host to represent Harcourt when renters are in the building and welcome, greet, develop relationships with renters, and secure the building
• Open House for the Community on May 16th to familiarize potential partners with our goals and potential as a Community Hub. Much work has been done on improving Harcourt’s appearance, inside and out.
• A sense of expanded community is gaining traction
• Steve’s leadership is key, as he facilitates 6 different task groups whose member participation helps integrate a sense of community
• Working on policy around alcohol use in Harcourt
• Communication is essential. It is important to let congregation know what is being proposed. There has been additional information shared over the past week and there will be an Information Session on Zoom on May 1st.
• A congregational meeting will be held on May 7th
  
  5. Integrating our efforts and supporting each other
• Worship adaptability
• Compassion for cultural change
• Congregational gathering in September
• Joint anti-oppression training and social justice activities
• Recognition and appreciation for interconnectedness of each focus.  We will support each other and engage in positive communication to the Harcourt communities of faith as we move forward
  
  6. Next Near Steps 
  Each month, a champion/task group will be submitting an article to the Harcourt Herald outlining their process and progress. Watch for these important next Near Steps updates as we continue to focus on sharing the advancement of the priorities you, the Harcourt Communities of the Faithful, have identified. The Spiritual Growth task group will be in the May Herald, June will be Partnerships and Community Hub, September will be Worship, and October will feature Supporting Manna

 
We, the Harcourt community of faith, are blessed to have these people sharing their faith, energy, expertise and love of Harcourt as we make our way, one experimental step at a time, to a future that is hopeful and meaningful, as God’s people in our time and place.