Ongoing learning is central to what happens at EfM, where a large part of the process is designed to allow participants to engage in small-group, in-depth conversation groups as together they address the questions of how their lives are shaped and guided by their Christian faith.
By Rev. Canon Val Kenyon
New Year’s resolutions, we’ve all made them, and we have all broken them.
While these kinds of experiences may leave us skeptical about the value of resolutions at New Year’s or at any other time, I think that at the core of these resolutions, is a tenacious desire to be ever evolving, ever learning both as human beings and as disciples of Jesus.
This desire is a very positive Spirit-inspired one, one that deserves to be nurtured and supported. Ongoing learning, of course, is central to what happens at EfM, where a large part of the process is designed to allow participants to engage in small-group, in-depth conversation groups as together they address the questions of how their lives are shaped and guided by their Christian faith. The timelessness of Scripture is often experienced by group members and faith moves from the realm of theory into practice.
But what is it that keeps participants coming back to this particular learning experience?
Let's hear some of the participants' reflections:
l’m learning to find God in the ordinary and I’m finding this deepens my understanding of all of life...
I think it makes me a better Christian because my faith has become more personal...
I have learned that context is important and I can now apply that understanding to all parts of my life; it really helps me better understand my past actions as well...
Every week is something new as we learn to think more about the Bible and the stories in it...
EfM challenges us to look at the Bible and Christianity differently as our preconceptions are challenged...
Living my faith is an all-week endeavour. I volunteer my time for lots of different things, but EfM… I do that for me...
Learning takes time, and so I keep coming back to give myself the time I need to think and to reflect...
The more I read the Bible, the more I’m realizing that its message is timeless, filled with universal metaphors...
So, happy new year! My prayer for us all is that wherever we are, whatever resolutions we may or may not have made in previous years, we will continue to open ourselves to the many learning experiences all around us.
To hear more about Education for Ministry within the Diocese of Huron, and how you can be involved, please just reach out to Libi Clifford, the Diocese of Huron EfM Coordinator or myself Val Kenyon at valeriekenyon@diohuron.org.
Rev. Dr. Canon Val Kenyon is EFM Animator in Huron.
Photo: Congratulations to three of 2021 EfM graduates - Terri Ellison, Gary Rose, and Tim Howes. All smiles at a recent graduation service held at St. Jude’s early in November to mark all the effort and energy to complete four years of Education for Ministry. Well done!