After 2+ years of dealing with COVID restrictions, having the regulations softened feels like such a relief as we gather in-person once again. However, COVID remains in our midst and case numbers continue to rise. Unfortunately, at our recent Retiree's Retreat held at Noronto Campground, a number of participants contracted COVID. This is not meant to point fingers or disgrace anyone but simply to remind us of the reality.
We strongly advise anyone who is not feeling well (even if it seems insignificant) or has been exposed to someone with COVID to test and follow all provincial guidelinesclosely as a minimum response. Responsible choices will help to protect our precious neighbours as we uphold the worth of all persons. Ontario Health measures and advicestates: "If you are sick, stay home to prevent transmission to others, except to seek testing or medical care if required. You should stay home until all of the following apply to you:
For 10 days after your symptoms started:
Please do all that you can to protect the most vulnerable among us and around us. ![]() Leslie “Les” Wicksey Leslie Wicksey, 65, of Independence, Missouri passed away September 30, 2022. He was born August 24, 1957 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada to Joseph and Winnifred Wicksey (now Tulloch). Les grew up in Toronto, where he attended George Brown College. He moved to the United States in 1989 when he married Darlene Stewart, having met her through the RLDS Church in Southeastern Michigan. He was a very proud and accomplished journeyman electrician. Les was a devoted member of Gudgell Park Community of Christ Church in Independence for almost 30 years, where he was also a member of their priesthood. Leslie was preceded in death by his father, and brothers Ron and Edgar Wicksey. Survivors include his mother; wife Darlene; son Stewart Joseph Wicksey; step sons Darrell, David, Daniel and Darek Heide; sisters Barbara Kernohan, Ethel Wicksey, and Kathy Meloche; brother Jeff Wicksey and eight step-grandchildren. A Memorial Service will be held at 10am, Wednesday, October 5, 2022, at Gudgell Park Community of Christ Church, 500 E. Gudgell Ave., Independence, Missouri 64055, for those who wish to remember and celebrate Les’s life. World Conference Delegates Representing CEM
If you would like to represent Canada East Mission at World Confernce April 22-29, 2023, please let Melissa Freer know asap. Nominations for delegates will be considered at CEM Conference October 22. Legislation Mission Centres have submitted legislative proposals for the consideration of the 2023 World Conference. Please contemplate ways that you can provide opportunities for delegates and all interested persons to learn more about the following resolutions through study and discussion. Resolutions have been included in the September/October Herald or may be accessed online. A-3 Amendment to Community of Christ Bylaws - Electronic Meetings A-3a Resolution to Amen the Bylaws to Authorize Conducting Conferences by Electronic Means A-4 Amendment to Community of Christ Bylaws--Organization of Additional Juridsdictional Units B-3 Process for Election of Graqceland University Board of Trustees D-2 World Church Budgeting and Audit Process G-1 The Climate Emergency G-2 Recommendation to move Doctrine and Covenants Section 116 to Historical Records G-3 Resolution on Racial Justice G-4 Baptism and Membership G-4a Baptism and Membership G-5 Universal Scripture Access G-6 A Resolution to Enhance Transparency, Openness, and Disclosure Concerning the First Presidency's Statement on Community of Christ's Position on Nonviolence Legislation Priorities The First Presidency have some concern that there may not be ample time at the conference to fully conclude our deliberations on all of the proposed items. Every mission centre is invited to submit their prioritized list indicating the relative importance of the resolutions by 1 February 2023. Further information about how you may provide your feedback will be forthcoming. World Conference Ministry Our worship services at World Conference 2023 will be a mix of in-person and pre-recorded ministries. This gives us the opportunity to have more participation from all fields of the Church. We hope that by pre-recording several elements of worship, we can engage people who do not have the opportunity to come to Independence. Here are few requests for which the help of the mission centers is requested: The deadline for our responses is December 1, 2022. Send the list and photos/videos to Karin Peter of the World Conference Worship Planning Team: [email protected]. A. Photos or short videos of the communion emblems being prepared. B. A list with suggested musicians, bands, soloists or choirs who could be pre-recorded locally or who will be at the conference. Pre-recorded (Video) locally or in person. Fill in the attached spreadsheet. C. A list of names of people who could offer brief testimonies of vision, action, service or generosity. Pre-recorded (video) locally or in person. Fill in the attached spreadsheet. D. A list of recommended people to offer prayers, Disciples Generous Response, welcomes and greetings, or to read the scriptures. Pre-recorded (video) locally or in person. Fill in the attached spreadsheet. Accommodations Delegates and guests are advised to secure bookings for accommodations asap. The NFL Draft will take place in Kansas City April 27-29 and is expected to attract a huge crowd, possibly making competition for accommodations in Indpendence challenging! Beyond the Walls – A Spiritual Home Apostles Lachlan Mackay and Art Smith join us this Sunday to bless our communion emblems and to officiate Raymond Ortiz' confirmation. Raymond, from Odessa, TX, is a spiritual seeker who has been a member of the Beyond the Walls community for years. We invite you to celebrate with us the beginning of a new chapter in his life as a member of Community of Christ. Ministry of music this week includes Mike Karpowicz playing the auditorium organ; our violin, cello, and piano trio at Toronto Centre Place; and a new work of the Beyond the Walls Choir: Make Me a Servant. John Hamer will be joining us live from Leicester, England. Let us gather in this special hour of worship and celebration with friends from around the world. Beyond the Walls - A Spiritual Home. We hope to see you there on Sunday, October 2, at 12:00 PM or 6:00 PM EDT. ORDER OF WORSHIP Prelude: "Bolero" from 4 Spanish Pieces by Tomás Bretón Greetings: John Hamer — Leicester, England Call to Worship: Matt Metcalf — Ventura, California, USA Hymn CCS 227 - Come Now, You Hungry Invocation: Sue Raynes — Eugene, Oregon Global Welcome: Leandro Palacios — Toronto Centre Place Invitation to Communion: Leandro Palacios Blessing on the Bread: Lachlan Mackay — Nauvoo, Illinois Blessing on the Wine: Art Smith — Independence, Missouri Lectionary: Tammy Radice — Salt Lake City, Utah Sermon: Ron Raynes — Eugene, Oregon Hymn CCS 597 - Make Me a Servant (premiere) Introduction to Confirmation: Lachlan Mackay Sacrament of Confirmation: Art Smith Hymn CCS 504 - In This New Moment Sending Forth: John Hamer Postlude: Prelude from Prelude and Fugue in C Major by Johann Gottfried Walther 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. All are welcome at this inclusive church service. SLIM (Sharing Love in Mission) - 1:45 - Presider Susan Flight. Bring a rhythm instrument to accompany a new song. A recorded message from Presiding Evangelist Jane Gardner. Contact Don Robb for Zoom details.
Other Online Ministries are available from many varied places for you to connect with. Click the above link to review the proposal to amend CEM By-Laws which will be presented at our annual CEM Conference on October 22.
Delegates, Members, Friends,
Our annual CEM Conference is set for October 22 & 23 where we will meet on-line once again. Our first choice would have us gather together physically. However, finding a location was incredibly difficult due to the fall-out of the pandemic. So, we invite you to join the Conference from the comfort of home. All are welcome to share together as we “Courageously Respond” to the leadings of the Holy Spirit. Life on the other side of the pandemic is calling us to fearlessly move forward in mission. What You Can Expect The agenda will include Zoom breakout rooms where you can hear from those who have responded to missional needs in bold ways right across the country. More information will follow about these "Mission in Action" sessions. The Conference webpage at cemconference.ca will be updated soon with the complete schedule as well as links to familiarize you with the Conference experience. Saturday Conference activities commence at 10 am with "Mission in Action" break-out groups followed by lunch and comfort breaks. The business session begins at 1 pm. On Saturday evening join a fun on-line experience for all ages starting at 7 pm. On Sunday, we partner with Beyond the Walls for a CEM worship service beginning at 12 noon. Apostle Arthur Smith will be our speaker. Legislation We are obligated to meet annually in order to:
Registration/Pre-legislative Sessions/Tech Training Register for the Conference by clicking the button below. Pastors have already received their congregational packages for delegate selection from the CEM office. Delegates are required to register and have their own individual device to vote (cell phone, computer or tablet). In advance of the Conference, training sessions will take place to familiarize delegates with our voting platform, Poll Everywhere. Pre-legislative discussions will be held prior to the Conference to review information, motions, and budgets. NOTE: This is everyone's opportunity to ask questions, express opinions and engage in dialogue in order to streamline our business meeting. Please come prepared to participate and hear various perspectives. Nomination of World Conference Delegates One of the important pieces of business before us will be the election of delegates for World Conference to be held April 22-29, 2023 in Independence, Missouri. Melissa is compiling a list of those who would like to be such a delegate, in preparation for our business meeting. Please contact Melissa if you plan to attend and represent Canada East Mission as a delegate. Additional names may be nominated during the meeting. Please obtain permission from any individual you wish to nominate, prior to the business meeting. We look forward to working together on the business of Canada East Mission as we courageously respond to the presence and promptings of the Holy Spirit. Vonda DenBoer, Dawn Dawson Mary Jean Belrose CEM Mission Centre President Team Wednesday, September 28
7 p.m. via Zoom Things never asked, talked about or considered regarding loss Katherine A. Weir, LGB Counsellor (www.itjusthappens.ca) presents a 6-part series addressing issues surrounding death and bereavement. Each week a topic specific to grief is addressed through a 30-minute presentation and 1 hour ask-me-anything question period. Tune to any or all these knowledge-rich presentations, as listed below: Sept. 28 - After death: Crazy experiences • What things happen • What things are said • Staying true to your story Oct. 26 - Being a support system for the bereaved • Types of death • Good and not good supports • Tips for helping Nov. 24 - Holidays and bereavement • How to make it through the holidays • Coping strategies • Changes through time Jan 25 - Post-loss: The first year and anniversaries • The first year • Anniversaries • Staying true to you Feb. 22 - Why we fear death • Religion and its influences • Fear of the future • How this affects the living Mar. 22 - Listener’s choice • Topic to be chosen by listeners/participants • Participants from presentations 1-3 are asked to send in suggested topics • In presentation 4, the topic for presentation 6 will be announced. Katherine A. Weir, M.A., is a 30-year bereaved survivor. After the loss of her son in 1993, she’s devoted much of her life to finding out more about death, loss, grief and bereavement. Between research, critical analysis, searching for support systems and volunteering to help others who are also bereaved, she has amassed the talents and skills to help those who are in need of someone to listen and help in the healing of grief. Learn more about Katherine’s journey at www.itjusthappens.ca Presented by AWAKENING SPIRITUALITY, an online gathering for spiritual seekers to openly explore various spiritual topics, share knowledge, experience, understandings and even question in a safe, non-judgmental space. The focus is on dialogue and guidance rather than dogma or restricted thinking. www.awakeningspirituality.ca www.facebook.com/awakeningspirituality.ca/ youtu.be/dlJXcyCxybE Register for the series or for one or more sessions. About the Series In each video, President Veazey offers insights on opportunities and challenges before the church. Reflection questions are included for discussions about what is most important in each area of the church. Watch for further videos coming soon. The Holy Spirit is stirring fresh expressions of gospel community amid massive cultural changes and human need. These messages grew from talks with the World Church Leadership Council and others about opportunities and challenges before the Community of Christ. President Steve Veazey continues The Way Forward video series with “Poverty Traps” and “God’s Kind of Justice.” The churchwide discussion of nonviolence, initiated by World Conference Resolution 1319, is related to pursuing God’s vision of holistic salvation and peace for people, groups, societies, and the planet.
Due to not enough registrations,Thanksgiving Retreat will be postponed until October 2023.
Wishing everyone a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving. We look forward to welcoming everyone back next year. Stacey Brookshaw Beyond the Walls – A Word of Hope The Canada East Mission Centre President Team brings a word of hope addressing the challenges our church communities are facing today and opening our eyes to the many opportunities ahead of us as we continue onward towards building God’s Commonwealth on Earth. The Beyond the Walls Choir will premiere “Be Still.” Let us gather in this special hour of worship, reflection, music, and meditation with friends from around the world. Beyond the Walls - A Word of Hope. We hope to see you there on Sunday, September 25, at 12:00 PM or 6:00 PM EDT. ORDER OF WORSHIP Prelude: III. Sarabande, VI. Loure, & I. Allemande from French Suite No 5 in G Major (BWV 816) by Johann Sebastian Bach. Carol Smith, piano Greetings: John Hamer — Toronto Centre Place Hymn CCS 278 - There's a Church within Us Global Welcome: Leandro Palacios — Toronto Centre Place Hymn CCS 156 - Be Still Sermon: Canada East Mission Centre President Team: Mary Jean Belrose, Dawn Dawson, Vonda DenBoer Meditation: Leandro Palacios Hymn CCS 552 - We Are Companions on the Journey Sending Forth: John Hamer Postlude: Fugue from Finale et Fuga Septimi Toni by Franz Xaver Anton Murschhauser 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. All are welcome at this inclusive church service. SLIM (Sharing Love in Mission) - 1:45 - Daryl and Angela McDonald are coordinating our worship and Donald Robb will share thoughts on "A Word of Hope". Contact Don Robb for Zoom details.
Other Online Ministries are available from many varied places for you to connect with. |
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