Experience a transformative week at Samish Island Reunion, where our guest ministers, Presiding Bishop Ron Harmon and Apostle Robin Linkhart, will lead us in exploring the theme "Heal the Earth: A Restoration Imperative." Through classes, worship, and engaging activities, we'll respond to the World Conference Resolution 1325 Climate Emergency with education, formation, and a call to action.
Discover the intersecting issues of justice and peace rooted in the climate crisis and find your place in the web of life with humility and urgency. Participate in workshops, evening campfires, games, and more. Your unique gifts and talents will enrich our community as we create cherished memories together. About our guest ministers Apostle Robin Linkhart is a member of the Council of Twelve assigned to the North Central USA Mission Field. She also serves on the International Leaders Council, Theology Formation Team, Ecumenical and Interfaith Ministries Team, and chairs the Latter-day Seekers Ministries Team. Ron Harmon serves as Presiding Bishop. His previous assignments include president of the Council of Twelve Apostles, Congregational Leadership Development, Spectacular and International Youth Forum, Urban Ministries, and president of the Kentucky-Indiana USA Mission Center. Join us for an unforgettable week of learning, worship, and community-building! When: July 20-27 Where: Samish Island, 11633 Scott Road, Bow, WA
0 Comments
A moment with your Mission Centre President by Shannon McAdam, Canada West Mission Centre Co-President In just 74 days we will begin our week of activities leading up to Mission Centre Conference! Where does the time go? In case you haven’t marked it on your calendar yet, here are some key days to note down:
As I look both backward and forward in my preparations, I am inspired and compelled by our theme Bright Hope. What does hope mean to you? I recall a quote from Krista Tippett: “Hope is a muscle” and just like any muscle, we have to exercise it to keep it healthy. “The hope that I see to be transformative and modeled in very wise people who have shifted something in their world,” says Tippett, “it's not wishful thinking. It's not assuming that things will turn out all right. It's an insistence, looking at the world straight on as it is and rejecting the idea that it has to be that way, and then throwing your light and your pragmatism as much as your spirit at it.” (Read the full article at: https://www.gq.com/story/krista-tippett-on-being-interview) How can we “throw our light” at our world and make it a better place? And by the way I think our world begins in our families, congregations, neighbourhoods, cities. Our mission centre spans many different lives and experiences, urban, rural, and everything in between. How can we equip and support one another to be light bearers in the world in our unique contexts? This is the work of our mission centre as I see it. So I ask that you consider how you can support this project of equipping one another to be light bearers:
I hope I get to see you in 74 days! Canada West Mission Centre Conference
Theme: Bright Hope September 27-29 Join us in person at Edmonton congregation or via Zoom Please find this week's article in our main blog page
Mark your calendars and register! Family Camp is just a month away. Join us from August 3 to 8 for fun and fellowship with friends, family, and our Guest Ministers, Matt and Margo Frizzell, from Chicago. Enjoy the beauty of Hills of Peace as we explore our theme, "Heal the Earth," together. The deadline for online registration is July 15.
Inquiries: [email protected] If you or a loved one wants to attend camp this summer but financial issues are a barrier, the Canada West Mission Centre offers a Subsidy Request Form for Camps and Retreats to help make your plans a reality. We are dedicated to providing support so that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy and benefit from our camp reunions and retreats.
By: Debra Donohue Creating Connection Director for Western Canada I hope everyone had a great Canada Day weekend. I spent this past weekend in Victoria. Though their church building has been sold, the congregation still gets together and experiences community with each other. My weekend began with a picnic dinner at Butchart Gardens with my sister Dana’s family. Butchart Gardens has free live music in the amphitheatre Tuesday through Friday throughout the summer. The four-piece string quartet, called Medusa, played music from around the world and shared great stories. I can think of a few fiddlers in our midst who would have loved it! On Saturday, the Victoria congregation gathered at Sally Glasier’s home in Mill Bay for a ‘white elephant’ gift exchange, lunch, and visiting. The white elephant gift exchange is usually played at Victoria’s annual Christmas party. Each person brought a wrapped gift of something gently used or new. The rule is not to go out and purchase something new but rather to find something in your home that you’re not using. In this game, people have the opportunity to ‘steal’ a gift someone else has already chosen and opened. There were lots of full-belly laughs and squeals of disappointment (all in fun) as some of the gifts made their way around the room several times. Sally’s house was packed, and 7 people were under 25 years old. Kelly Duff, you may remember, used to host Creating Connection’s online book club. Kelly had some great ideas for a new Creating Connection group she is interested in hosting in the coming months. Quilting, knitting, and crochet are at the top of her list. We’ll be sure to let you know when Kelly starts up her new group. Just a reminder that you can find Creating Connection events at the links below on our Meetup pages. We have both in-person and online groups: Or reach out to me, Debra Donohue, at [email protected], and I’ll be happy to help you. P.S. I just have to share this video of my nephew James Donohue setting off his homemade air/water pressure rocket. It’s very short; you can see it here. Attention campers and families! There is only 1 week left to take advantage of our Early Bird Pricing! You get $25 off if you register and fully pay your fees by July 1st. Bringing a friend? Use code FRIEND25 to get $25 off the fees for both you and your friend.
If you love to live life #Unfiltered, join us Aug 10-16 for everything you love about camp: friends, food, Nailed It HOP Edition, campfire, and more. Don’t miss out on what is sure to be one of the best weeks of your summer! Instagram: cwm_youthcamp Email: [email protected] A moment with your Mission Centre President by Becky Middleton, Canada West Mission Centre Co-President It is with sadness we acknowledge the cancellation of Kid's Camp for yet another year. The camping program has been, and may continue to be, the connection our young people have to each other and the Community of Christ. My grandchildren have all loved going to family camp and subsequently Junior (Kid's) and youth camp. Relationships made at camp between the youth have continued through social media connections, Spectacular, Mission Conference etc. Relationships made with God and learning about the Community of Christ at camp continue for a lifetime.
Yes, there is work involved too, but most importantly camp is FUN! It starts with Family Camp. PLEASE consider bringing, sending, paying for your children, grandchildren, adoptive family etc. and come to camp! We need you to step up. Now, more than ever, we need to support our Hills of Peace campground and the camping program! Bring your family, July 20 - 27, to the beautiful Samish Island campground for a week of fun in the sun! Activities include: games, crafts, music, worship services, relaxing, classes, guest speakers/ministers, horseshoes, volleyball, canoeing, baseball, evening campfires. We will explore the theme "Heal the Earth: A Restoration Imperative" with our guest ministers Apostle Robin Linkhart and Bishop Ron Harmon.
Camp Directors: Chris Phelps (Canada West Mission Centre) and Lisa Stecher (Inland West Mission Centre) We are sorry to announce that due to low enrollment, and lack of staff, this year’s Hills of Peace Kids Camp has been cancelled. We hope to see you next year!
If you have any questions please email the directors at [email protected] Directors: Amanda Senga, Deborah Mason, Marsha Kliotis By: Kat Goheen, Canada West Mission Centre Co-President Another learning from my Camino:
I planned my last 100 kilometers of walking so that I could arrive in Santiago de Compostela on April 22, doubling up on earlier days to leave only 20 kilometers to walk on the last day. My goal was to arrive in time for Pilgrim’s Mass in the Cathedral without being overly exhausted. That last night my friends told me, over paella, that the big mass of the day was at noon, which I didn’t know! I left well before dawn so that I could arrive in Santiago in time to stow my pack at the post office and get a seat at mass. It was incredibly rushed, but worked out, along with meeting my dear Welsh friend! After mass, we queued up and got our Compostela certificates and ate a late lunch…and then, the rush settled. I had arrived. Nowhere left to walk – my next trip was a bus to Portugal, and a plane home. My friends, who were devout Catholics, felt an extra glow about passing these landmarks. But for me, it was overshadowed with grief. While my feet were more than ready to come home, I had enjoyed the journey and was sad to see it end! My new Spanish friend gushed to me, “Kat, the Camino is life!” I replied, “Yes, but the Camino is over, and life continues…” With a direct look he spoke to my heart: “Your Camino is only beginning.” I don’t know who needs to hear this. Maybe a job contract is ending, an illness is closing in, a church building is being sold, a camp is being cancelled. What kind of ending is this? What kind of beginning? The love we hold is not lost, and it can be a training ground for deeper relationships and wisdom to emerge. Let us learn from our experiences and claim the depth of soul they bring! Please join us for the Canada West Mission Conference 2024, taking place from September 27 to 29. The Edmonton congregation will be hosting this year, and you are warmly welcome to join us either in person or online via Zoom. Our theme this year is "Bright Hope."
Important deadlines coming up: August 1st: Congregational reports due August 15th: New Business motions due Send questions and submissions to: [email protected] Register now for a summer adventure at Hills of Peace Kid's Camp! We invite all kids entering grades 3 - 7 to join us June 30 to July 5 for a week of fun activities including campfires, arts & crafts, dance, cooking classes, movie nights, and more. Our camping team is dedicated to ensuring every camper has a fantastic and safe time. We can't wait to see you and share this exciting adventure! The sign-up period is closing soon. Register today to secure your spot! From Sun, Jun 30, 2024, 3:00 PM MDT To Fri, Jul 5, 2024, 11:00 AM MDT Hills of Peace Campground North West 2-38-6-West 4 Cadogan, Alberta, Canada One of the challenges of Community of Christ seminary is, not everyone who would like to take seminary qualifies, as it is a Masters Degree program. In response to the need for programs that do not require undergraduate degrees, Graceland University now offers other courses of interest to members, through the CIMM program. Recent CIMM sessions focused on Discerning, the Trinity and the Mission Prayer.
Upcoming Online Classes through CIMM: The Center for Innovation in Ministry and Mission (CIMM) through the Graceland University/Community of Christ Seminary has opened the following classes for enrollment: Summer B Session (July 1 through August 25):
Most classes include non-degree continuing credits. The popular "CIMM Sessions", free ZOOM sessions, will resume after the summer break on Wednesday nights starting September 4. By Becky Middleton, Canada West Mission Centre Co-President It has been my joy and privilege to share in a few happenings over the last few days that have reinforced the idea that We Are One.
I took a van load of friends/neighbour ladies to a choir concert put on by the Provost Lutheran Choir. The choir however was made up of people from several different denominations from the communities of Provost, AB, and Macklin, SK. It was held in St. Norbert's Catholic Church - Rosenheim. The church is now an historic site hosting only a couple of special events throughout the year and the district of Rosenheim is just out in the lovely countryside between towns. Sunday- the Senlac Community of Christ congregation met with the Macklin/Provost United Church congregations at the United church in Macklin where I provided the service for that day. This has happened several times now and all of us are enjoying our worship together and getting to know each other better. Sandwiched in between these events, we were able to take in the wonderful celebration of life service for Linda Klughart, our beloved Seventy from SK, who passed away in January. This was accomplished through the wonderful collaboration of technology and ministry from across Canada and the USA. Thank you to all involved! It certainly reinforced to me the idea that not only are we 'One Canada', but with the inclusion of 'all voices'... we are 'creating connections' as one world in God's desire for us to come together in unity and love. By Debra Donohue Creating Connection Director Canada West This past weekend we held “What is Enough? Making Space for What Matters” at Samish Island Campground and Retreat Centre. This is the second time we’ve combined the Nurturing Spirit team and the Nurturing Justice team to create a space that can both acknowledge the tough stuff, like making changes and bringing awareness to challenging topics, while offering nurturing practices to help process these topics in a loving and healing way. At this retreat we offer both 2 and 3-night packages for those who can attend longer. And really, who doesn’t want to spend more time at Samish!
The Sessions We began the weekend really looking at what nurtures our spirit and questioning what is enough and what is too much for each of us individually. We discussed sustainable practices like composting, recycling, upcycling, and buying better quality product that will last longer so we’ll have less waste. The group shared tips on repairing furniture, appliances, darning socks and using the ‘visible mending’ technique to mend clothing creatively without discarding it. We explored the concept of What is Enough to retire on and what kind of lifestyle could be ‘enough’ for us. Isabelle Hachette from World Accord had just returned from a visit to Nepal, and she shared success stories in the RENEW program. Our discussions included how embracing a new idea often requires a profound change, which can be sparked by either beautiful or tragic experiences. We talked about the Climate Crisis and used the old stories of Stone Soup and Loaves and Fishes to explore sharing in community as a way to use less. Stories are a wonderful way to help us open up to both new ideas and old ones that can still work in for us in today’s world. We delved into systemic racism and acknowledged how one race can never fully understand another’s experience of racism. To balance these intense discussions, we engaged in playful and creative activities such as playing games, writing poetry, sculpting with playdough, and coloring. We ventured into the forest for Forest Bathing and practiced the deep relaxation technique of Yoga Nidra. We also tried simple practices like breathing, rocking, shaking, tapping and sounding to help our nervous system slow down, rest, and relax. Our goal was not to judge what is enough for anyone, but to help each of us explore what is enough for ourselves and recognize what might not be enough for others. My brother, David Donohue did a weekend of service at Samish. He painted, mowed the lawn, pressure washed, chopped wood, helped us with tech, and much more. To find out how you can do a weekend of service at Samish Island during one of our retreats, and at no charge, contact [email protected] Our next Nurturing Spirit retreat is the Nurturing Silence retreat at Samish Island, Washington. The theme is ‘Deepening into Silence’ Go to www.NurturingSpirit.CreatingConnection.ca to reserve your spot. More information will be coming soon. A Moment with your Mission Centre President by Becky Middleton Canada West Mission Centre Co-President What a great weekend and rewarding experience to be at HOP work camp this past weekend- May 31-June 2!
The weekend started on Friday May 31 for some by attending Lauren Levitt's (Senlac Congregation) graduation exercises from Lakeland College in Lloydminster. Others went straight to the Hills of Peace to get started. Saturday was a lovely day weatherwise and the three page list of jobs as well as some not listed were able to be completed by late afternoon. There is no picture of the workers because- well, we were all working! It was the largest turn out for numbers (20 plus) we've had in a while and many willing workers got things done so efficiently. In addition to work though, we had great food, even greater fellowship, and generally a good time! You should have been there! LOL You can be there this summer, by coming to Family Camp August 3-8, or volunteering or registering for Kid's camp June 30- July 5, or Youth camp Aug. 10 - 15, or the Men's retreat Sept 13-15. The possibilities before us offer great potential for MORE FUN, FELLOWSHIP, FOOD ETC. Come be a part of it!! You will love it and we will love to have you there. We are excited to share that we surpassed our goal and raised $35,138.00 during Hills of Peace Month! Your donations will cover the campground’s insurance premium and help us continue serving the Canada West Mission Centre. Please be sure to read the attached letter from Dorothy Ungstad, Chair of Hills of Peace Campground, to learn more. Thank you! ![]()
Young adults, ages 18 (HS Grad) through 35, are invited to spend a weekend enjoying the beauty of Samish Island and building our community. We will explore, imagine, and dream what “discipleship” can look like in the 21st century!
Samish Island Campground 11633 Scott Road, Bow, WA Written by Stephen Thompson Canada West Mission Centre Historian Historian’s Corner, Vol. 2, No. 3 Having completed the series on “The Making of the Presidents of the Church,” I will return to emphasizing historical material that is more directly related to the Canada West Mission Centre. Today, I am returning to my cache of “District Leader” newsletters from Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. In the first column, in which I highlighted this newsletter, I said that the earliest edition I had was from January 1961. I have just discovered I have issues from at least December 1959, and through 1960. The following is a summary of just some of the very interesting material contained in them. To me, the newsletters are amazing productions for their day. Each one is 20 to 24 pages, typed, single-spaced, no pictures, undoubtedly copied using a Gestetner (or similar technology of the day), then assembled, stapled, and mailed out to who-knows-how-many members across at least the three provinces. Some people were regular “columnists” and wrote monthly columns ranging from a few paragraphs in length to as much as four pages. There are entries of varying lengths from congregational “reporters” – any given congregation is not represented in all months, but most months. In January 1960 there is a longer article by Leora Lester on “Word of Wisdom Given by Revelation.” There is a longer article by Elder S.R. (Stan) Walker (from the Edmonton Branch) on the topic of “Preparation for Zion,” which is well-researched with scriptural sources as well as contemporary references to non-RLDS thinkers and leaders. Thomas A. Johnstone, also from Edmonton, provided a short sermon on the topic, “Behold the Man,” in which he makes the case that Jesus’ life is an exemplary life for all of us because he shared with us from his humanity (as opposed to his divinity) and therefore could identify with all our human strengths and weaknesses. Mrs. M.L. Cornish wrote a column titled, “Let’s Help Finish the Auditorium.” In one paragraph she observed: “It’s easy for us away up here to say, ‘Well, why don’t they get the Auditorium finished?’ But as Brother Renfroe said at one of our reunions, “’They’ have gone home. So if there is something more to be done, just you do it.” (Aside: Reminds me (Steve) of President Veazey telling us at the last World Conference that WE are the strategic plan for the future of the church!) There is much more content that I cannot begin to summarize. Moving on to the April 1960 edition, we find a “Directory Page” of that year’s local leadership. I thought it would be interesting to share this listing. Many of these names will be remembered by members throughout the Canada West Mission Centre. Alberta District: Missionary: R.E. Ashenhurst (Calgary) President: D.K Larmour (Edmonton) Secretary: Gladys Larmour (Edmonton) Treasurer: A.C. Johnstone (Edmonton) Non-Resident Pastor: K.W. Anholt (Edmonton) Religious Education: S.R. Walker (Fort Saskatchewan) Women’s Leader: Jean Walrath (Edmonton) Evangelist: Wm. Osler (Edmonton) Zion’s League: R.L. Jenkins (Edmonton) Young Adults: Donald Saul (Edmonton) Bishop’s Agent: C.O. Diaper (Calgary). Saskatchewan District: Missionary: K.E. Harvey (Regina) President: T.R. Bowerman (Prince Albert) Secretary: Elaine Olson (Porcupine Plain) Treasurer: Dennis Wells (Saskatoon) Religious Education: Walter Postnikoff (Saskatoon) Women’s Leader: Eleanor Mountenay (Saskatoon??) Evangelist: Orval Fisher (Saskatoon) Young Adults: Arthur Bergeson (Regina) Bishop’s Agent: E.A. Baker (Saskatoon). Pastors: Calgary Branch: E.B. McLean Edmonton Branch: N.E. Olson Grassland (Alberta) Mission: Orval Jenkins Ribstone Branch: A.H. Gregory Artland (Senlac) Branch: Myron Cornish Paddockwood: Earl Beckham Prince Albert: G.R. Bowerman Regina Branch: J.D Williams Saskatoon Branch: G.A. Gendron Weyburn Branch: L.N. Jensen Winnipeg Branch: G.M. McDonald Fort William (Ontario) Branch: Anson Miller The next column will be in mid-June-ish. Check here each week for new material. And check the archive for past columns. Thanks for reading!
|
![]() Categories
All
Archives
July 2024
|
Quick links
|
External links
|
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 |
Site powered by Weebly. Managed by Community of Christ
|