Dearest Sister in Christ and People of prayer,
Greetings to you in this season of harvest and thanksgiving. My name is Jennifer Goddard-Sheppard and I’ll be in the role of WICC president for the next two years. Here’s a little about me and how I came to be here now.
Twenty years ago, while a student at the Vancouver School of Theology I was invited to speak at the World Day of Prayer (WDP) service at the Presbyterian church in Richmond BC. I said “YES”. The theme was “In faith, women shape the future”. At the time, I was taking a UBC Art Education Textiles course and created an art piece for the event and my course (see image).
As a woman of faith shaping the future, here I am 20 years later saying “YES” to the Presidency of the WICC Board after twenty years of Ordination in the United Church of Canada, serving a number of congregations in the lower mainland of BC.
I was born in Montreal, Quebec and grew up in Saint John, New Brunswick. I was baptized at St. James United in Montreal and attended St. Mark’s United in Saint John. I churched around in my teens and twenties. I graduated from Saint John High School (Canada’s oldest public high school), Saint Mary’s University, Dalhousie University, Acadia University and the Vancouver School of Theology.
I have held elected representative positions every year from grade seven all the way to my third master’s degree. That’s a lot of leadership and a wide variety of roles. I bring this experience to the WICC board presidency role, along with my education and employment experience, my faith, prayer practice and life of active service.
“The spirit of the Lord is upon me” and I have been a sunbeam for Jesus since my childhood when I heard the hymn and said “YES” to Jesus.
I’ve been saying YES to God/Jesus/Spirit ever since. Choosing to follow where the spirit leads. As a Girl Guide, I learned to “Be prepared”.” Vita Vitalis/ A life worthwhile” was my High School motto. I am equipped and doing my best to co-create my vita vitalis.
I am the mother of three and the grandmother of two. I live in the West End of Vancouver on the unceded, ancestral and territorial lands of the Coast Salish Peoples. I am bi-racial and bi-coastal having resided in six Canadian provinces and Bermuda. I’ve moved a lot for education, employment, family and my vita vitalis!
Here I am, saying “YES” to serving WICC. I said “YES” to Board membership in 2020. I joined the Marketing and Communication Team and the WDP Team and learned all about the WICC way of prayer and action. I said ”YES” to Pres-Elect in Oct 2022. On the way to the Presidency, I have said ”YES” to many WICC things, like prayers and worship, WDP video participation and Grant Application Review team, Festival days, Fellowship of the Least Coin (FLC) ingathering, Co-Treasurer and more. All the work grounded in the unity of Christ, informed prayer and prayerful action!
I have practiced meditation for over 35 years. This prayer practice of 20 minutes twice a day is the spiritual discipline that grounds me in God and gives me the energy and guidance I need to carry on. I think of WDP as WE DAILY PRAY and invite all of us to a life of daily prayer. Prayer IS an action!
For the duration of my presidency over the next two years, I plan to pray always, carry the candle, dance with the spirit, discuss, discern, decide and help to direct the way forward with faith. I’ve got a bunch of other ideas as well but will save them for another time.
Your prayers, WIC Councils, WDP services, FLC groups, donations, input, and ideas, are all necessary and appreciated.
Deepest thanks and blessings to Cathy Reid in her role as WICC Board president. Her grounded and gracious ways have paved the way for me to follow. I give thanks for her leadership, good guidance, dedicated and devoted approach to the WICC work. And I give thanks that we were able to meet in person! Thanks and blessings for her love and service.”
Onward we go with God being our guide! May we increase the depth and breadth of the WICC way of prayer and action in our world!
Amen.
Your sister in Christ,
Rev Jen
