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CLC CANADA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, OCTOBER 17 - 20, 2019, WINNIPEG
BULLETIN #3


DEAR CLC COLLEAGUES,


IN THIS BULLETIN #3, YOU WILL FIND

1.A LETTER FROM OUR PRESIDENT ON HER SURPRISING AND BLESSED EXPERIENCE OF RAISING MONEY FOR THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY.

2.Q & A COLUMN FROM HOWARD R. ENGEL, OUR NATIONAL ASSEMBLY COORDINATOR.

3.A LINK TO THE EXPENSE CLAIM REPORT AND INFORMATION ON HOW TO SUBMIT THE EXPENSE CLAIM FORM WITH SUPPORTING RECEIPTS.
LOAVES AND FISHES: A LETTER FROM OUR PRESIDENT
Dear Brothers and Sisters of CLC Canada,

I know this 3rd National Assembly bulletin is usually about specific information for the Assembly, but, if you will bear with me, I wish to share a great CLC experience with you .
My community, Companions on the Way, are a motley crew of 5 senior citizens on pensions and fixed incomes. We have been meeting since 1995 and, like family, have had the grace to love and support each other through the many joys and sufferings of life in addition to our discerned and apostolic actions. (Presently our discerned mission is to lobby for affordable and safe housing for all on PEI and we would love to connect with other CLC’s who are doing the same but… I digress!)

Like so many other communities, we were quite concerned when we realized the amount of money that we needed to raise for our upcoming National Assembly. (5x 215=$1,075) . This was much more than ever needed before. Though we understood the reason why, we had no idea how to raise such an amount . We prayed from the beginning but by the end of April, we were far ‘behind the eight ball’! We knew we would send a delegate. Our experience is that whoever we send always brings back a renewed energy and experience of being part of something much greater than ourselves….ie the Trinity’s amazing and personal involvement with CLC, not just in our community but in CLC Regionally, Nationally and throughout the World.

God finally graced us with a plan which began as a dream of one of our members a few years ago . Julia and her husband own a small cottage on the shores of Eastern PEI that overlooks the water to a small, inviting deserted Island. Owned by the PEI government, Boughton Island is a natural conservation area with red stone and beaches, rich marshlands and bird sanctuaries. It was always Julia’s dream to walk the circumference of the Island and that sounded like a wonderful adventure to me. We decided to make Julia’s dream come true and raise money at the same time! Just last month we finally set a ‘tentative’ date out of our busy lives and asked our community to join in prayer for the success of our little pilgrimage. We all asked family members and friends to sponsor us with prayer and money.

On the day of the walk we were greeted with sunshine and the warmest day on PEI so far this year. In sync with the tide times, we set off with walking sticks, white sun-screened noses, ridiculous sunhats, water and sandwiches. The first mishap was when my crocks got me stuck in the bog. Losing my balance I fell into the murky, muddy slop. Thank goodness I had the ocean nearby to clean up and, at Julia’s suggestion came equipped with an extra pair of shoes and pants!. We had a good laugh and began our 6 hour amazing journey through God’s Creation.

When the day was over and all the monies from our sponsors were tallied, we had enough to send not only our delegate but an observer as well! (Talk about the loaves and fishes!) On our journey we held each of you in prayer…our brothers and sisters, beloved CLC friends and family. We prayed for our CLC members who are seriously ill or aging and cannot come to the National Assembly yet are so much a part of who we are….. and on whose shoulders we stand.

We asked God’s blessings on you and our National Assembly that you each might feel a desire in your heart to share, deepen and go forth in the CLC way of life if this is where you are called. I believe that our loving God is personally invested in CLC and in each one of you. I realize that many of you can’t go walking around a deserted island. Maybe you don’t have the time or means to raise money to send a delegate. As CLC we stand in solidarity with each other and with gifts to share. The National Assembly Solidarity Fund is available to each community. Our community would have availed itself of the fund had we not been able to raise the amount. There is no shame in asking. As CLC this is what we do for each other. We share our gifts, monetary or otherwise, inside and outside of CLC to help build God’s Kingdom. To apply, it is only a question of contacting myself and I will bring it to our Treasurer and EA. Otherwise, it is completely confidential. My email address is: michellemahoney54@gmail.com.

Lastly, there are some who wonder why they should pay toward the National Assembly costs when they are not able to send a delegate. We understand how you might feel this way and yet our hope is that by paying some of the amount (preferably all) you are supporting and sending your General Council whom you have elected and asked to represent you at the National and World level. This is no easy task. We cannot do this without your prayerful and monetary support.

Again, it is part of who we are and what it means to be CLC. Each of us, each local community, is an integral member of the Whole (World) Body of CL C. 'I thank you for taking the time to read this letter. Please lets continue to keep each other in prayer as we move toward this historical and blessed event!
MICHELLE AND JULIA'S ADVENTURE
HOW? WHERE? WHEN? WHY?
Q & A COLUMN
CLC Canada National Assembly (NA) Questions and Answers (Q. & A. )

Q. How much is the National Assembly fee for each CLC member?

A. This fee is levied on each member of a community, including Assembly delegates. This figure was arrived at by dividing total projected Assembly costs (over $38,000) with the total number of CLC Canada members (176). Thus, a community of four members would need to submit 4 x $215 or $860 as their National Assembly Registration Fee. 

How much is the National Assembly fee for a CLC member attending as an Observer?

A. The fee is $309.50 for accommodation and meals if staying at St. Benedict's. This fee is over and above the $215 you have contributed to send a delegate from your community.

Q. What is the difference between Observer status and Delegate status?

A. Observers take part in all Assembly activities; liturgies, the spiritual conversations, plenary sessions and recommendations. They do not take part in the final discernment/consensus.  Delegates are discerned, sent and supported by their communities. They have the responsibility to discern and come to a consensus about the fundamental priorities of the CLC national body for the next 5 years

Q. To whom should NA fee cheques be made out to?

A. The host region for the NA, “CLC Prairie Region”

Q. Where should NA fee cheques be sent?

A. CLC Prairie Region Treasurer, Christine Butterill:

Christine A. Butterill
1176 Parker Ave.
Winnipeg, MB, R3T 0T7
 
Please be sure to include your community name and your delegate’s name with your cheque, along with your e-mail address. Once Christine receives and deposits your cheque you will receive a receipt (not an income tax receipt) via e-mail.

Q. What is the deadline for submitting the NA fees?

A. July 1, 2019

Q. What is the deadline for submitting the online registration form for those attending the Assembly?

A. July 1, 2019. This date was selected partially to encourage attendees to book their flights sooner than later to take advantage of lower prices.

Q. Where can I find the NA Registration Form to complete it? 

A. Here are the directions:Click on the following link at the CLC Canada Website: "Events" https://www.christianlifecommunity.ca/wordpress/category/events/ and then click on National Assembly Bulletin #2.
  
Q. On the matter of regular annual CLC dues where is the annual CLC form for members to fill out to go with it? 

A. The membership form is accessible on the website on two places:
- There’s a DONATE button on top of every page of the CLC Canada Website. Clicking it will lead you to a page with a link to Canada Helps (with a reminder of the extra fees) AND a link to the membership form.
- If you click on “Resources”, The membership form is the first link after the “Formation/National/World” Click here links.

Q. How do I, as a delegate, claim my travel expenses for the National Assembly?  

A. Please complete the official NA Expense Claim form, using the link below, along with your receipts (whether for air travel, long distance driving, bus or train) and send them to:
Christine A. Butterill, Treasurer
CLC 18 th National Assembly, Winnipeg Oct 2019
& CLC Prairie Region
1176 Parker Ave.
Winnipeg, MB, R3T 0T7


Got a National Assembly question? We’ll find an answer! Send your questions to:

Howard R. Engel,
CLC Canada National Assembly Coordiator

Watch for your questions and our answers in the next Bulletin!
“Love shows itself more by deeds than by words.” – St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556)
That grace said and received with humility, without words we wouldn’t have many questions or answers or quotes, for that matter!
A.M.D.G., Howard R. Engel
HOW TO SUBMIT THE EXPENSE CLAIM REPORT
  1. CLICK THE LINK BELOW.
  2. PRINT THE EXPENSE CLAIM DOCUMENT.
  3. GATHER YOUR SUPPORTING RECEIPTS .
  4. SEND CLAIM AND DOCUMENTATION TO CHRISTINE BUTTERILL, WHOSE ADDRESS IS ABOVE.

THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY THEME : Discerning... Sharing….Listening…Deepening…Joyfully In Mission

THE GRACE : We desire a discerning communal heart that will continue to joyfully lead us in mission with many gifts to share.

SCRIPTURE : Matt 14: 13- 21 Feeding the Five Thousand