Beyond the Walls – Unity in diversity What does the sacrament of Communion, the Adoration of the Magi, and our enduring principle Unity in Diversity have in common? Leandro Palacios will explore these themes in our first Beyond the Walls service of 2023 as we celebrate the Lord’s Supper with friends from around the world. As we commemorate Epiphany, our choir will premiere CCS 424 - “The First Noel”, a hymn that sings about the visit of the wise men to the Christ Child. Beyond the Walls – Unity in diversity. We hope to share this sacred moment with you on Sunday, January 8th, at 12:00 PM and 6:00 PM EST. SLIM (Sharing Love in Mission) - 1:45 p.m.communion service with Steve and Margie Lamoure.
Contact Don Robb for Zoom details. Other Online Ministries are available from many varied places for you to connect with. We are excited to launch two new certificate programs in a few weeks! The "Christian Ministries" certificate will be an online version of the former "MEADS" program with ongoing classes into the future. We are also introducting the "Discernment Facilitators Training" certificate online, starting together as a cohort for two years with a new discounted price for Community of Christ members!
Also, our Ministry and Priesthood training continues with "Ministry of the Disciple" class (taught by Apostle Janne Grover) and the once-a-year "Introduction to Pastors Ministry." "Discernment Facilitiators Training" Certifcate Update: The Center for Innovation in Ministry and Mission (CIMM) through Community of Christ Seminary is offering a two-year training program that prepares and equips experienced ministers with models and processes for group discernment facilitation. Facilitators will accompany congregations, leadership groups, and communities seeking direction about their future and desiring to deepen discernment. This training is entirely online (see website below for more information). Participants will receive a total of 7 CEUs (non-degree seeking) for the whole program. Class Begins: January 9, 2023 Cost: Community of Christ Members are now offered the discounted price: $50 per class ($350 total for entire program) More information and registration is available on our website at www.graceland.edu/CIMM Boldly Venture: Stage 3
January will begin the last stage of our journey to World Conference. We’ll continue to be spiritually formed, keep learning, and prepare to share in community. Learn more about this stage below and about previous stages online. FORMATION Join Us for Lent This year we have an extraordinary opportunity: Our journey to World Conference and Lent overlap. Daily themes for World Conference will provide a weekly focus during Lent. The Formation Ministries Team and the Center for Living Water are partnering to provide some fantastic opportunities for reflection and growth. Start by reading Katie Harmon-McLaughlin’s article, “Courage: A Faith That Matters.” Plan now to make space in your life for the weekly Lenten offerings, beginning 22 February. Details about each week will be found on this website soon. EDUCATION Review Legislation in Exploration Sessions New for 2023 World Conference is an opportunity to explore legislative proposals with others around the church through weekly Zoom gatherings. 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. Five sessions will be offered each week to accommodate time zones and busy schedules. Exploration Sessions will begin 9 January and continue through March. All are welcome. Registration is required and will open soon. Exploration Sessions
Read proposed legislation and see a summary of actions. COMMUNITY Words of Blessing Members and friends may offer words of courage and blessing to be shared at World Conference during the Communion service 23 April. No matter where you are, you’re invited to participate in the spirit of fellowship and worship that connects us in sacred community. INSTRUCTIONS
SEND BY POSTAL MAIL Karin Peter—Words of Blessing c/o World Conference Directors 1001 W. Walnut St. Independence MO, USA 64050 BY EMAIL Scan or take a photo of the completed blessings. Send to Karin Peter. Subject line: Words of Blessing UNITED IN PURPOSE Day of Prayer and Special Offering for World Conference On 22 January, join with those around the world as we uphold the 2023 World Conference in our prayers and through our offerings. Offerings received on this Sunday will help with the costs of Conference. The goal is to raise $100,000 USD. Those in the USA can participate by giving to World Conference 2023 through www.etithing.org, by placing a check or cash in the offering plate, or by sending a check 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. You can find a special Disciples’ Generous Response for 22 January on Herald House.eekly mailing. World Conference time is fast approaching and we have been asked about possible transportation arrangements. The following are some possible options:
Beyond the Walls – My Eyes Have Seen Your Salvation Fourth Sunday of Advent: Joy: During the four Sundays of Advent we are receiving ministry from women who have served as past, present, and future apostles in Community of Christ. On the First Sunday of Advent, we light the candle of Peace and hear from retired apostle Susan Oxley. The following Sundays we will hear from Linda Booth, past president of the Council of Twelve, from apostle Mareva Arnaud, and finally from apostle-designate Angela Ramirez. We hope to share this sacred moment with you on Sunday, December 18, at 12:00 PM and 6:00 PM EST. SLIM (Sharing Love in Mission) - 1:45 p.m. Please be prepared to share your thoughts on a time when you gave your love unconditionally to someone or saw love being given unconditionally to someone or yourself. A reminder that there will be a Christmas Eve Service December 24th starting with meditative Christmas music at 4:45 and celebration of Christmas at 5:00. No service December 25th.
Contact Don Robb for Zoom details. Other Online Ministries are available from many varied places for you to connect with. A new online certificate program on Discernment Facilitator Training is now open for enrollment through January 1. This program is for those who feel called to deepen their understanding, leadership, and facilitation of group discernment processes.
Katie Harmon-McLaughlin will instruct this series. Each class is $100 ($700 for the entire certificate). Each class includes non-degree CEU credit. The first class for this 2-year series will begin on January 9 through the Center for Innovation in Ministry and Mission (CIMM) through the Community of Christ Seminary. For more information or to enroll, visit the CIMM website at www.graceland.edu/CIMM. Syllabus for the classes will be posted soon. Courses and Schedule January 9 – March 4, 2023
This certificate includes six 8-week online courses with one scheduled live session per course during the first year. Live online sessions are offered as follows for year one:
During each course, there will be required readings, group discussions, and one praxis assignment. Year two includes peer-supported practicum groups that meet every other month for one year. Both the six courses and the practicum year are required for certification. A position is currently open for an administrative and bookkeeping person to provide support for the Canadian Church Office as well as the Mission Centres and any of the Project initiatives that form part of the Church’s mission.
Interested persons may submit a resume by December 31 to Heather or Dar. At 3:30 this afternoon, we were at $202,176 (without matching funds) AND... the Presiding Bishopric is announcing that another family has added an additional $75,000 in matching funds bringing the total to $325,000 in matching funds!! There's Still Time to Make Your Contribution Today
DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT Your contirbution will be matched. For example, a $25 contribution to Worldwide Mission Tithes becomes $50. Any donation to helps! HOW TO PARTICIPATE In Canada, contributors can give on Facebook and PayPal, as well as by e-transfer and mail (Community of Christ, 355 Elmira Rd. N., Unit 129; Guelph, ON N1K 1S5). The church receives 100 percent of a contribution when gifts are placed through these methods. Contributions also can be made through Canada Helps. If donating by cheque or e-transfer, email Heather Huffman or call 888-411-7537 Ext. 23 at Community of Christ Canada Headquarters to ensure gifts are included in Giving Tuesday totals. Everyone,
At our recent CEM conference, the body adopted a resolution with specific requirements for a committee to consider Articles 2 and 3 of CEM conference bylaws. The motion stated, “that the committee is to consist of one member of the CEM Presidential Team and one member from each CEM congregation”. As we have been unsuccessful in attaining a committee with one member from every congregation as clearly defined in the motion, the Presidency team in consultation with our Apostle Art Smith and Parliamentarian Darrel Kennedy, have deemed the motion unimplementable. At this point there are two options—as the motion has failed, we could let the matter drop so that we can concentrate on other priorities, or the presidency team could strike an ad-hoc committee to accomplish the consultation and dialogue about the current CEM Conference Bylaws that the motion hoped to achieve. Moving Forward The presidency team has opted to take the latter approach and engage the representatives who have already been identified for a committee in discussions with their congregation to ensure the intent of the motion is honoured. To avoid disproportionate representation, as half of the congregations did not identify a representative, an ad-hoc committee constituted by the Mission Centre Presidency team would be comprised to ensure age and gender diversity, persons who would have ex-officio status, persons from emerging or new expressions congregations, persons from small, medium and large congregations, persons from southwest, central, eastern, Niagara, GTA and northern Ontario. We would entrust this committee to fulfill the mandate to explore the bylaws, engage members in dialogue, collate the feedback from the congregational discussions, and ultimately reach a recommendation for consideration at our next conference. Where possible those committee members would be drawn from the names already submitted but in a manner of representation that reflects the diversity of the mission center. Engaging All Who Wish To We feel it is important that all membership who choose, have opportunity to participate in this process. We are incredibly grateful to the persons who have offered to participate as a representative and hope that, whether your role is focused on the congregational dialogue feedback process or in the ad-hoc committee, you feel you have had voice in this process. We want to affirm that all individuals whose names were forwarded to represent a congregation, will still be involved in the dialogue and feedback within their congregation on the specific topic of member or delegate conferences. Some of you will further be asked to be part of the smaller ad-hoc committee constituted to represent the diversity within the mission center, have further dialogue and develop consensus statements from the feedback to disseminate back to the congregations. Ultimately we hope this process fosters dialogue that culminates in a recommendation regarding the type of conference that reflects the will of the body. We know each of us have life challenges, time constraints and priorities and we do not want to prolong this process but also do not want to move forward too quickly. We hope you are willing to journey with us as we navigate this important issue. Moving forward on this matter of concern regarding our conference organization, may we encourage all to follow the guide to good dialogue to ensure the discussion process is equitable. To that end, where no representative has been forwarded, we will do our best to ensure opportunity for dialogue and feedback. If your congregation did not identify a representative but you would like to provide feedback, please email us at [email protected]. Guide to Good Dialogue ▪ Suspend the urge to decide "right now" ▪ Listen carefully for points of agreement ▪ Speak respectfully, using care in your language ▪ Speak for yourself. Offer your perspective concisely ▪ Respect confidentiality ▪ "More" perspectives are better than "few" ▪ Expect a better outcome than if you had not had the dialogue; trust the process ▪ Turn cell phones off or put them on silent Respectfully, Mission Centre Presidency Team Vonda DenBoer, Mary Jean Belrose, Dawn Dawson |
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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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