Photo Credits: Left (2): Samish Island Campground www.campsamish.org Right (1): Hills of Peace Campground www.hillsofpeace.ca Canada is suffering with lockdowns that are happening across the country. Covid-19 and the variant Omicron make human contact further down the road. What does this mean to you? Back to ZOOM church, family only gatherings, in some cases you are double masking and you may know someone who has the virus. When will this end? None of us knows. Where do you turn when you are feeling alone? Reach out to someone else. Call a church member, call a friend, chances are they are feeling isolated too! Mail a card, thinking about that person even if all you do is put their address on the envelope and sign your name. If you are computer savvy, you can be virtually in touch. If it helps, yell at God, he will listen! Pray about your situation and those who you wish you could help. We are still in the first month of 2022 and it might help for you to think about what you want to do in the coming year and plan for it. During Advent, we talked about the Hope that comes from the birth of Jesus Christ. There are events being planned and an opportunity to attend virtually. Look at the things coming up in the Weekly Wire. What appeals to you? Is this a time to start a class on line, both through the church or from your local learning centres? Plan to be at reunion this year. No promises from me that we will be able to gather at our camp grounds, but if the opportunity to gather happens, be ready! What can you think of that you might be able to bring to reunion for yourself and maybe for everyone? I have a project that I am gathering the supplies for. As I work on what I want to share, I think of who might be participating with me and I get a smile on my face! The time is now to plan for the future. The Virtual Visiting Fellowship group that Steve Thompson began will continue!
Gloria Stanton is hosting the Tuesday Morning VVF group. She will be sending out an invitation to join based on a list supplied by Steve Thompson. If you have not tried the VVF group but would like to, you can contact Gloria Stanton at [email protected]. She will be happy to send you the link along with the people who have attended in the past. Enjoy the fellowship! IHQ is piloting a new way of including more personalized info in our email communications. Beginning in 2022, we will roll out a new email journey to ensure seekers receive content that is relevant to them. This is a major departure from our current communications where all email subscribers generally receive the same content.
HELP US TEST THIS NEW APPROACH!
Thanks for your help! In this bright new year, our thoughts naturally turn to the future. Since becoming one of your Mission Centre Presidents, I find my heart is quite tender toward our congregations. I see the effort and devotion offered by our congregational leaders. I yearn for our communities to experience nurturing, hope, and growth! At the same time, a wise friend reminded me yesterday to appreciate what we already experience in fellowship, and the ways we are touched by the gifts of Spirit and community. In this new year, let us remember that all are called. Along with resolutions that focus on physical and economic well-being, please consider examining your discipleship. These questions may help:
Your pastor or Mission Centre Presidents would be more than happy to visit with you about your plan of spiritual response to God’s activity in your life. We can only grow and thrive together – the harvest is ready and all are called! When: Saturday, January 15, 1-3pm (Pacific), 2-4pm (Mountain), 3-5pm (Central).
Where: online To register send email to: [email protected] Happy New Year! 2022 has arrived with a world population that is striving to stay healthy. The world lost a great humanitarian over the Christmas season. Desmond Tutu lived a life of love for all. He promoted his objective as “a democratic and just society without racial divisions.” To Archbishop Tutu, forgiveness and reconciliation were the "only truly viable alternatives to revenge, retribution and reprisal". "Without forgiveness," he said, "there is no future”. Without forgiveness, there is no future. The beginning of the year 2022 is when people make resolutions. This year, forgive yourself and start the New Year with a renewed sense of self. The sacrament of the Lord’s supper is a time of preparation and should include reconciling with others, confessing our faults, and asking for and offering forgiveness. D & C Sec 163: 10a. Collectively and individually, you are loved with an everlasting love that delights in each faithful step taken. God yearns to draw you close so that wounds may be healed, emptiness filled, and hope strengthened. b. Do not turn away in pride, fear, or guilt from the One who seeks only the best for you and your loved ones. Come before your Eternal Creator with open minds and hearts and discover the blessings of the gospel anew. Be vulnerable to divine grace. Whenever we meet at the Lord’s table to partake in the Lord’s supper, we have the opportunity to begin anew. What a great gift from God! I have news that is both challenging and exciting. After 23 years working with World Accord, I have decided that it is time for me to retire from this work and pursue some other interests. The sector has been changing and I have come to believe that World Accord, our partners and the participants in the projects will benefit greatly from a change in leadership.
I want you to know that World Accord’s board of directors has been diligently working with consultants to find the best replacement for me that will share our joint values and pick up our mission to Cultivate Communities That Thrive and really run with it. This process is being led by Farrah Ali-Khan – World Accord’s former program coordinator and our current president of the board of directors. I know World Accord will be left in good hands and trust that you will continue to support the cause of world accord under the leadership of the new Executive Director to the benefit of those in poor communities that we have been working so hard to help. Thank you for all your support and dedication to the poor over the years. I know the new executive director will be happy to have wonderful supporters from our church community going forward – supporters like you. If you have any questions or concerns, we will do our best to address them. Thanks again for all the support and encouragement the church has provided to World Accord while I was at the helm. Wishing you and yours the most wonderful Christmas overflowing with Joy, Hope, Love and Peace. David Barth Executive Director NOTE: For any in the church community (or good candidates you may know) here is the link for the job advertisement with our HR firm. The Canada West Mission Centre is aware of the passing of the following persons. Please click on the name to access the obituary (if available).
If you are aware of others not listed here or an available online obituary not linked here please contact [email protected] Please support in thought and prayer the family and friends of the following persons who passed away: 2023
2022
2021
2020
2019 This list was initiated following the 2019 Mission Conference. Members who passed away earlier than late August are not listed.
As we all look towards 2022 with hopefulness, we offer up this reflection and update from Lisa Neudorf. In the month of December my mind and thoughts begin looking forward past Christmas celebrations and thinking about what the new year will bring. As we approach 2022, foremost on my mind is what programming for Canada West Mission will look like. The word “gather” has been rolling around in my head and I am experiencing a yearning for us to gather in person. We have been fortunate to continue connecting and being part of a community where each of us feel accepted and loved for who we are. Our online community has expanded our borders, created connections and allowed new friendships which may not have otherwise occurred to grow from a distance. There is no doubt online gathering has been a blessing for us in difficult times and for those who simply have not been able to connect in person. That being said, we miss each other and it is my deep desire for us to live the best of both worlds by gathering both online and in person. I am pleased to announce in 2022, the CWM Camping and Retreat programming will be known as Gathering Ministries. To gather means to bring together and ministry is the humble service offered according to the model of Jesus, who calls every disciple for the world (Sharing in Community of Christ, p. 37). In my heart, I feel the swell of God’s love and emotion confirming this is the direction we are to go in. In my head, I sing the “As we gather may your spirit work within us, As we gather may we glorify your name, Knowing well that as our hearts begin to worship, We’ll be blessed because we came.” Community of Christ Sings, 2013, Hymn 73. JOY - Third week of Advent I live in a condo in the city. When I sit out on my balcony at night, I look for stars. I usually only see the brightest stars and there does not seem to be many, yet I know they are there. Ambient light interferes with how many I can see. When I am out on the farm, there is less ambient light and I see more of them. I always look for the brightest star and think about the wise men who followed a star to find the newborn King. Matthew 2 : 9-10 When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. The wise men left King Herod to continue following the star till it stopped over the place where Jesus lay. Would I notice a new star and followed that it across the horizon? If I knew that I would see the Messiah, would I step out in faith and follow where it leads? Look up at the sky tonight and remember the journey made by wise men to the manger that holds the Messiah, the King of the Jews. Advent represents this star by a candle that reflects the joy that comes through Jesus’ arrival, and through the salvation he has gifted us. Think about your faith journey and where it has taken you. May you be filled with JOY this advent season! Hymn 438 refrain - O star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright, westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light! LOVE - Second week of Advent As I prepared for the December communion service, I thought about the ultimate gift of LOVE that we all received. The baby born to Mary in Bethlehem! This week is the second week of Advent and our thoughts have focused on LOVE. As the second candle is lit HOPE and LOVE are offered up in the form of a child, Jesus. His birth, life and ultimately his death give us HOPE for eternal life. The teachings he shared taught us the importance of LOVING one another. We all do give gifts this time of year, but we can pass along Jesus’ gifts to others. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Material gifts are appreciated, but some gifts just feel right! The gift of time serving in a kitchen at reunion, time given to prepare for Sunday school classes, time volunteering in the hospital auxiliary, time preparing for a Rotary club book sale, time filling boxes for a food bank, time gleaning fields for the food bank, time visiting someone in a nursing home, time taking someone to an appointment, time making cards to send to strangers and friends, time to shovel a neighbour’s walk, time … you get the idea. Mark 12:30-31 you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” I have never given a gift as great as God gave us. Through Jesus Christ, we have been gifted with LOVE and Eternal life. May you be gifted with Hope, Love, Peace and Joy ! Join us for a worldwide Advent service at 4:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. CST on December 12, streamed on the Community of Christ Facebook page or YouTube channel in English, French, or Spanish.
Participants can share worship responses in real time in a live chat. “The People Walk” is a communal opportunity for examination, reflection, and challenge as we consider the Advent journeys of Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, the Magi, and all of creation…and our call as we walk our own Advent journey. The church’s global diversity will be seen in reflections on "Hope" from Rashmirekha Mallick of India, "Love" from Humberto Rosario of the Dominican Republic, "Joy" from Nicolas Lethanh of New Caledonia, and "Peace" from Apostle Barbara Carter of the United States. The First Presidency will open and close the service, and President Steve Veazey will offer a moving Advent prayer. A worldwide choir will celebrate the season in song, and Organist-in-residence Jan Kraybill will play the prelude and postlude and unite us in singing our faith. The governing board of the Canadian Council of Churches has unanimously accepted Community of Christ’s application to become a sponsoring affiliate of Project Ploughshares. This project is the peace research institution of the council that works with churches, governments, and civil society, in Canada and abroad, to advance policies and actions to prevent war and armed violence and build peace.
According to the organization’s description, “the work of Project Ploughshares is rooted in the ethics of Christianity – namely: peace, reconciliation, and justice – but Project Ploughshares grounds its research in careful analyses of facts and presents its findings in reasoned, public-policy language.” The project was part of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), which included Community of Christ member Matthew Bolton. ICAN was the winner of the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize. The executive director of Project Ploughshares stated that Community of Christ’s historic focus on peace and the church’s peace-making values made it an especially welcome addition to the project’s sponsors. Evangelist John Nichols will serve as Community of Christ’s representative to Project Ploughshares. To find more about this project please visit ploughshares.ca HOPE - First week of Advent This is the first week of Advent and as we move toward the day set aside for the birth of Jesus Christ, we are filled with Hope! Hope this Christmas season is for good health! I am hopeful that we are learning to live with COVID, masks, social distancing and health passports. There is hope that, with vaccines, our health care workers will get some relief from their long days and hard work. Hope this Christmas season is for a healthier planet! I am hopeful that we are learning how to care for the earth, that we can reverse some of the damage that has been done and slow down climate change. There is hope that the world leaders will work together to reduce our carbon footprints. Hope this Christmas season is for a true awareness that every child matters! I am hopeful that we are learning to respect each person’s differences and that we are learning to look for our similarities. As we grow in knowledge of others and we turn to God to bless us with understanding of others, the new year will bring blessings to everyone. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 As “Giving Tuesday” fast approaches, we offer up this reflection on generosity from our Bishop of Canada, Dar Shepherdson. Watch your email the next few days for invitations to share generously! Tithing: God’s Grace in todays world When I was 8 years old, in our pre-baptismal class we were told that tithing was 10% of our income, this thinking has long been the traditional thinking within Christianity and one I accepted without question – and I meticulously recorded my dimes and quarters as income and faithfully gave 10%. A few years later the Church’s position on tithing had morphed from 10% of income to 10% of “increase”, again without much question I meticulously categorized my expenses as necessities or increase and paid my 10% accordingly. In looking back, it was interesting that most of the deep discussions we were having about tithing was not that the premise of giving had changed but “what constituted a necessary expense”. Little did I realize that even these accounting discussions were my early introduction to the discernment process and into what it meant for us to become a prophetic people. You have been given the principles of generosity, rightly interpreted for a new time. These principles call every disciple to tithe faithfully in accordance with means and capacity. —Doctrine and Covenants 162:7c The giving of our tithing from our generosity or capacity is not an end to our responsibility but the beginning of our becoming the embodiment of Jesus the Peaceful One in extending his Grace to a world in need through our generously giving. The tithing dollars we generously give should support all the jurisdictions of the Church equally – Local, Mission Centres, and Worldwide Mission, and it is our responsibility not only to use these funds wisely within our own congregations but to faithfully support others who are also bringing hope and peace in areas throughout the world where we cannot. In a recent Daily Bread article Michele McGrath introduced me to a book “A Bigger Table” where the author John Pavlovitz suggests there are two kinds of Christians: those who see sin and those who see suffering. When we begin to recognize and see suffering, our tithing truly becomes an act of generosity, an extension of God’s Grace – fulfilling God’s call to be a prophetic people. Giving Tuesday is a worldwide effort to support causes, programs, and organizations we love, and it’s taking place next week on Tuesday, November 30, 2021. This annual event benefits Worldwide Mission Tithes, and we hope you’ll pass these important messages along to your fellow congregants, friends, and loved ones.
A generous matching contribution of $250,000 has been pledged this year. When $25 is contributed to Worldwide Mission Tithes, it becomes $50! Any donation helps! HOW TO PARTICIPATE
129-335 Elmira Rd. N., Guelph, ON N1K 1S5. NOTE: If donating by mail cheque or e-transfer, email Heather Huffman or call 888-411-7537 ext. 23 at Community of Christ Canada Headquarters to ensure your gift is included in Giving Tuesday totals.
The purpose of the Finance Committee is to ensure that Harmony is operating in a financially sustainable manner in accordance with its mission. Harmony currently has no paid staff, so the Board of Directors is a working board. Likewise, the Finance Committee is a working committee tasked with:
To accomplish this, the Finance Committee meets regularly (currently, one hour per month via Zoom) and may communicate and take on specific actions and responsibilities between meetings. It is expected that Finance Committee members attend at least 75% of meetings and advise the Treasurer in advance when they are unable to attend. We collaborate and archive files via Google Docs. If you have a heart for the LGBTQ2+ community within Community of Christ and are interested in serving on the Finance Committee, we are looking for YOU! Click the button below to read the full position description and application details. All are welcome!
Community of Christ Chilliwack is having a Nativity display on Saturday, November 27 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Add to your holiday spirit with a walk through a display of Nativity sets. From the large to the small, on a table, on a wall, please join us with masks on and socially distanced. Your QR code will be required to enter the building. This is free but if you would like to make a donation, funds will go to the Chilliwack Supportive Housing Society, receipts will be sent out for donations over $10.00, an envelope will be available. When: Saturday, November 20th at 9am PST/ 10am MST/ 11am CST/ Noon EST
Where: On Zoom (more details and schedule below) All Voices Conference Apostle Art Smith invites you to gather for a Canada-wide Zoom conference to envision together the path ahead. Please share your vision and voice with us. In this second conference, we will share what we’ve been hearing and learning from the many diverse and passionate individuals who share Community of Christ identity across Canada. We will once again break into groups to build on what we’ve learned and to consider the opportunities and challenges past the lockdowns. Finally, we will present the Celebrate Mission program, a new way to amplify your voice. To learn more visit the All Voices-Testimony Tapestry website. Discerning Across Canada People's passion for mission finds expression in a diversity of ways across Canada. As voices have been shared in our conferences, discussion groups, and testimonies, we have been listening. Some themes are already emerging. We will share these results and invite everyone to ponder what other voices need to be heard. Celebrate Mission We will introduce the #celebrateMission program. You are living out Christ’s mission in unique and exciting ways. As a church family, we want to be able to hear the good news and celebrate with you. When you celebrate mission, your voice resonates across Canada and inspires others. Envision the Path Ahead As we glimpse the future after the lockdowns, we will envision the path ahead together. Is your congregation going back to in-person meetings? Will your online events continue? Do you plan on a hybrid experience where remote participants can still join with those gathering physically? We will share ideas and best practices in breakout discussions. Click on the buttons below to know how to join the conference and view schedule. Last night, a friend of mine wryly commented that we’ve been hearing warnings in the West this year, with pandemic restrictions to start us off and then the heat dome, drought, massive wildfires, and now unprecedented rainfall and flooding. This weekend we have watched roads and train tracks in BC wash away, and we have all heard stories of families stranded, homes lost, and movement of people and goods brought to a standstill. If you are affected by these events, please reach out to us at the Mission Centre! We are here for you. As people of faith, we react to these events not just with fear and pragmatism, but also with the spiritual vision of our hearts. We believe in the Sacredness of Creation, so we groan along with creation when the balance gets upset. We believe that God cares deeply about the condition of all creatures, and so we care as well. It is becoming clear that our lifestyles affect this loss of balance with creation. How do we respond? To paraphrase Thomas Merton, when we care passionately about an issue, our first responsibility is not to preach on street corners and try to change other people’s minds. He says, “Just take the time to become what you profess to be. Then you will know what to do.” Our inner work reveals the natural outflow of our heart’s commitments. As we enter this season anchored around giving, let us remember our hearts’ pull toward the Sacredness of Creation. Let us listen to our hearts and to the still, small voice that teaches us how to walk lightly on the earth. Let us not walk in fear, but have reason for the hope that is within us. Kat |
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
|