![]() To the Canadian Saints Arthur, one of you, just like you, called to serve Jesus Christ, grace and peace to all of you, not just for you, but flowing through you as a blessing to others, to all communities. As I write, at the start of this new year, I remember all of you fondly, thinking of times we’ve shared and picturing places you are and situations you face. My prayer, for you, at the start of this year, with all the joys and promises ahead, is that the Holy Spirit will do what I’ve always known it to do, meeting each of us and all of us and everyone mysteriously as needed. In the middle of exile, In a time of despair, May the Spirit of hope shine through So we see ways out of hopelessness with hope our beacon and our proclamation. In a time of joy and celebration, When all our needs seem met, May the Spirit illumine and remind us of those in need on the margins So we hear voices and understand the perspectives of others. May we lift up and care. Outside forces and our own weaknesses, Lead so many to see the church as irrelevant Or as an instrument of hate and harm, exclusion and injustice. But the mission of Jesus Christ remains. It’s not just some external promise of things that God will do, as if by magic in some future, decades away. YOU are a gift. YOU are to be a light to the world. YOU are to open the eyes of the blind, to release the prisoners. See through the fog of fear and hate. The mission of the church is not irrelevant, hateful or harmful. Your mission, this year, where you are, is to participate in Release from demonization, marginalization, poverty and all sorts of captivity. Everyone is invited in, To participate in this purposeful project. How it happens will be as diverse and varied as the two or three of you who gather to support each other, to dream and to plan. No person abandoned. All invited to participate. No matter if you live in uncertainty, decline of your community, or despair. May this be our mission, their liberation and our liberation. All at once. Apostle Art Smith Council of Twelve Canada, Caribbean, Mexico/Texas Fields January, 2023 I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you. - Philippians 1: 3-4 World Religion Day was initiated in 1950 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States and it is often celebrated on the third Sunday of January. The day has been marked by hosting discussions, conferences, and other events which foster understanding and communication between the followers of all religions. Its purpose is to call attention to the harmony of spiritual principles and the oneness of the world’s religions and to emphasize that world religion is the motivating force for world unity.
On Sunday, January 15, Woodfiled Congregation hosted an in-person gathering while a group in Barrie held an on-line event. Click the buttons below to view the recordings. The Council of Twelve Apostles report on World Hunger projects funded around the world. Funds were approved May 2021.
WORLD HUNGER PROJECTS Water Well Drilling Helps enable clean drinking water (drilling, installing faucet) for the community. Income will be generated from the sale of water. $10,500 USD, West Congo Kinshasa Mission Center Cultivation of Beans Helps establish a farming business with beans being the main crop. The income generated from the sale of the harvest will support families. $6,261 USD, Haut Katanga D.R. Congo Mission Center Saints Nursery & Primary School, Nigeria School remodeling helps provide education to less-privileged children and provides teaching support and employment in the area, which will help families and provide education opportunities. $6,400 USD, Nigeria Mission Center Purchase of a Tricycle for Transporting Rubber Trees and Other Products Adult-size tricycles enable poor farmers to take their crops to market. Income will be generated from the sale of crops, with better prices obtained and lower transportation costs, which generate more income for families. $2,700 USD, Ivory Coast & Togo Mission Center Cutting and Sewing Workshop Empowers women to set up their own businesses and generate income. It also helps children have access to education (cheaper school uniforms). $4,500 USD, West Congo Kinshasa Mission Center Making Bricks Assists with the making of bricks later sold for construction. Income is generated from the sales that support families. $3,382 USD, West Congo Kinshasa Mission Center Water Well Drilling Helps enable clean drinking water for the community. Income will be generated from the sale of water. $9,230 USD, Haut Katanga D.R. Congo Mission Center Nkulumani Community Domestic Water Support Helps purchase and implement a solar-powered irrigation system. Water supplied by the solar-powered pumps will enable farmers whose fields are far from the water source. This project will help improve access to continual food for families and provide increased income for the farmers/community. $8,350 USD, Zimbabwe Fort Ternan Congregation Sugarcane project Helps establish a farm with sugarcane being the main crop. The income generated from the sale of the harvest will support families. $4,130 USD, Kenya Mission Center PROJECTS FUNDED BY DONOR-ADVISED DOLLARS Nairobi Microfinance Project Microfinance: $3,000 USD was approved to test this model in the Kenya Mission Centre. $3,000 USD, Kenya Mission Center Microfinance Microfinance: $1,000 USD was approved to test a small loan project. $1,000 USD, Ivory Coast & Togo Mission Center Beyond the Walls – Toward the Peaceful One “I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I is coming [...] He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Roger Dodson will explore these words that John the Baptist speaks in the Gospel of Luke, as we consider our theme “Toward the Peaceful One” in preparation for World Conference 2023. Our choir premieres CCS 299 - We Call Out to You. Beyond the Walls – Toward the Peaceful One. We hope to see you there on Sunday, January 15, 2023, at 12:00 PM or 6:00 PM EST. ORDER OF WORSHIP Prelude: Rêverie from Poetic Tone Pictures (Op. 85, No. 6) by Antonín Dvořák Greetings: John Hamer – Toronto Centre Place Call to Worship: Raymond Ortiz – Odessa, Texas Opening Hymn: CCS 307 - Let There Be Peace on Earth Invocation: Sandra Byrne – Independence, Missouri Peace Lesson: Karen Smith – Ludington, Michigan Global Welcome: Leandro Palacios — Toronto Centre Place Hymn of Peace: CCS 318 - Peace of Jesus Lectionary: Jake Christensen – Chelsea, Michigan Sermon: Roger Dodson – Whitby, Ontario Meditation on the Message: Leandro Palacios Closing Hymn: CCS 299 - We Call Out to You Sending Forth: John Hamer Postlude: Gigue from 6 Piano Pieces (Op. 52, No. 3) by Antonín Dvořák All music performed by the Beyond the Walls Choir and Michael Karpowicz. COPYRIGHT INFORMATION: ONE LICENSE LICENSING PERMISSION: REPRINTED / PODCAST / STREAMED WITH PERMISSION UNDER ONE LICENSE A-739874. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Beyond the Walls is an online worship service offering live ministry from locations around the world. Our global congregation meets every Sunday at 12:00 pm EDT / 11:00 am CDT / 10:00 am MDT / 9:00 am PDT. All are welcome at this inclusive church service. SLIM (Sharing Love in Mission) - 1:45 p.m. Shone and Paula in charge. Contact Don Robb for Zoom details.
Other Online Ministries are available from many varied places for you to connect with. ![]() Passed away at Cambridge Memorial Hospital on Friday, January 6, 2023, at the age of 92. Adored father of Patricia Pallister (Rick) of London, Barbara Manel (Jerry, 2020) of St. George, William "Bill Jr." of Cambridge, and Todd (Cathy) of Guelph. Special "Pa" to his cherished grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Predeceased by his parents, William (1972), Lillian (1980), brother Robert Thomas (1942), brother Donald (2018), son-in-law Jerry Manel (2020) and beloved wife Marilyn (2014). Bill will also be sadly missed by sisters Yvonne "Bonnie" (Roger Thorne) of Tara and Ruth (Robert Pearson) of Meaford. Cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Corbett Funeral Home, 95 Dundas St. N., Cambridge, on Thursday, January 26, 2023, at 1 p.m. with visitation being held one hour prior. An interment at Port Bruce Cemetery, Kincardine, will follow in the spring. As expressions of sympathy, donations may be made to World Accord (www.worldaccord.org). We have been asked to assist the First Presidency in deciding the priority of all the resolutions for World Conference to be held April 22-28, 2023. The concern is that we may not have ample time to consider all the legislation that has been proposed. A simple survey has been created for everyone to add their input, NOT just delegates. Please submit your input by the January 31. ![]() Sunday, January 29, 5 pm ET Have you ever initiated a conversation and then found yourself engaged with someone who is aggressively challenging your ideas? It happens in politics, theology, parenting, and yes, climate conversations. Our guest presenter in January is Nan Sargeant, an Elder in Community of Christ and a schoolteacher who has had training and experience with such conversations. She will share with us the techniques she has learned for turning a confrontation into a collaboration. This webinar provides practical suggestions that you can use for not only conversations about weird climate, but also for a variety of controversial topics in a world divided by ideologies, politics, and religious differences as well as climate. This experience will provide opportunity for participants to consolidate the guidelines from Katherine Hayhoe on initiating conversations, and Nan’s suggestions for handling divisive interactions. Come prepared to share your experiences of weird climate, conversations about climate, and questions. If you are unable to attend this webinar in person, be sure to check out the recording which will be posted on our website during the week following the webinar. If you registered for a past webinar or conversation, you do not need to register again.
Open to people of all faiths and traditions New for 2023 World Conference is an opportunity to explore legislative proposals with others around the church through weekly Zoom Events. A single resolution will be the focus each week during the Exploration Sessions series. Participants will share perspectives and listen to others in a facilitated session. All are welcome!
REGISTER Registration is required. Click the links below to register for each event. Please review the registration instructions before registering for a session. Weekly Focus
WEEKLY SCHEDULE Five sessions will be offered each week.
LEGISLATION Read proposed legislation and see a summary of actions. Save the date! Spread the word!
Coming back to Camp Noronto this summer... Noronto Children's Camp for Ages 7-11 Years Sunday, 22 January, 2023 will be a day of prayer and special offering for the 2023 World Conference. The goal is to raise $100,000 USD.
Those in the USA can participate in the special offering by giving to World Conference 2023 through www.etithing.org using the special tile. Other options are by writing a check with World Conference in the Memo line and placing it in the offering plate or sending it to International Headquarters, Attn: Presiding Bishopric, 1001 W. Walnut St., Independence, MO, USA, 64050. In Canada, contributors can give by e-transfer or mail to Community of Christ, 355 Elmira Rd. N., Unit 129; Guelph, ON, N1K 1S5. An option for a congregational gift would be to announce that the loose funds received in the offering on Sunday, 22 January be designated for the 2023 World Conference. Please use purpose code 920 for any loose contributions or contributions designated for the 2023 World Conference. A special Disciples’ Generous Response for 22 January can be found at Herald House. Thank you for upholding this special offering in your congregation. If you have questions, please let us know. Onward to 2023! Your friends in the Presiding Bishopric |
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community of christ
355 Elmira Road North, Unit 129
Guelph, ON N1K 1S5 Canada Canada West Mission: 877-411-2632 Canada East Mission: 888-411-7537 |
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