So Many Topics, So Little Space
Quite often as I sit down to write this weekly blurb I have difficulty knowing what to talk with you about. This week there are three topics that need mentioning. I can really only do justice to them one at a time. I will discuss one today and discuss the other two in the next two weeks. Topic 1: June is “Pride Month.” There is too much to discuss in a paragraph. But rather than let the month slip away too far, please consult Harmony’s “Pride Month 2021 Activities” page. Pick a couple of activities that catch your interest and log on. And be sure to check out the “Resilient” t-shirt offer! I will come back to this topic in 2 weeks. Topic 2: Muslim family run down in apparent hate crime in London, Ontario. Check your local newspapers for coverage of this horrific story. I will come back to this story next week. Topic 3: Remains of 215 children found in unmarked and undocumented graves near the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. Here we go… Indigenous lives matter. Just before the weekend of May 29, Canadians were shocked to learn that the lives of 215 children did not matter at the time they died while attending an Indian Residential School in Kamloops, BC. The remains were found in unmarked graves on the grounds of the former school. For just one of many media stories about this tragedy see: Remains of 215 children found (story includes text and short videos from CTV News). The school was operated by the Catholic Church from 1890 to 1969. The discovery, while distressing to most Canadians, was sad confirmation to most First Nations persons of the family and community stories that had been shared among them over the past many decades. Stories that told of children taken away to residential schools but who never returned. Parents and other family members may not even have been told exactly what had happened to the children. As members and friends of Community of Christ, what are we to do in response to this news? It is as difficult a question for us as it is for most Canadians. This adds another layer of complexity to the processes of reconciliation which, at some level, have been under way since the conclusion of the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2015. As in most uncomfortable human situations, the first step is compassion, communication, and education, all of which can lead to greater understanding. Let me suggest these actions as reasonable options:
For a bit of inspiration, I further recommend to you the story and the recording of how the First Nations country and folk singer, Don Amero, approached his task of singing “O Canada” before the Jets-Canadiens hockey game on Wednesday, June 2 in Winnipeg. In addition to singing a “stunning, mournful anti-anthem” rendition of the song, he was flanked by an elder holding tobacco and an eagle feather, and a woman cradling a pair of baby moccasins. Powerful stuff! If a professional hockey team can enable a touching and meaningful recognition of this tragic event, surely we can afford at least a moment of silence at a church service this weekend (if you have not already had one). Reconciliation is one of those things that requires some large enabling actions on the part of national and First Nations governments. But the most meaningful part of reconciliation must occur “on the ground” between individuals and communities. I commend to you the challenge to find your way to contribute to this incredible national imperative. As always, I pray for you God’s blessings of joy, hope, love, and peace in these challenging times. Steve Thompson Canada West Mission Centre President [email protected] Twenty years ago the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints changed its name to Community of Christ.
To mark this anniversary, two podcasts from Project Zion offer a look at the past, the name-change decision, and what has grown out of that change.
Visit the Project Zion Podcast website to learn more. After careful consideration of global pandemic recovery trends and consultations with field leaders and health professionals, the Community of Christ First Presidency has decided to delay 2022 World Conference until 2023.
Upholding our Enduring Principles in light of the collective information we have at this given time, it was wise to delay the next World Conference until delegates from around the world can safely travel, enter the USA, meet together, and return without contributing to community spread of COVID-19 or its emerging variants. Read the full statement and Questions and Answers. Canada West Mission Centre has determined that in-person events will not be planned at least through the end of August of 2021.
To be clear, this decision means that for the second year in a row there will not be a Canada West Mission Centre reunion/family camp at Samish Island, and there will be no reunion/family camp or youth camps or retreats at Hills of Peace. Official notice of this decision has been provided to both the Samish Island Campground Association Board and the Hills of Peace Campground Board. In addition, it has been determined that Canada West will not be supporting delegations of youth attending “Graceland Spectacular” this summer, since SPEC 2021 has been cancelled. A number of factors were considered by the Mission Centre staff to arrive at this difficult decision:
The decision to cancel the programs through to the end of August leaves a “faint hope” opportunity that we might still be able to hold an in-person Mission Conference on Labour Day weekend. Discussions are underway about the Hills of Peace Men’s Retreat in September that are leaning towards a “virtual” event. Watch for further information about these events over the next few months. Plans for alternative ways to facilitate our retreats, camps, and reunions are still under discussion and we cannot make definite announcements at this time. Please watch for program announcements over the next few months in our news and updates and events calendar sections on our webpage and in the events calendar in the “Reggie” registration system. Thank you for your attention. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Steve Thompson Canada West Mission Centre President [email protected] Catchy title? What does this mean to you? A statement of fact? A question? A challenge?
First, let me be clear that I have shamelessly stolen the title from a recent “Disciple’s Generous Response Moment” by Zac Harmon-McLaughlin. Zac’s point is essentially that many people have invested in him from the time he was a child, through his teen years, and into his young adulthood. Yes, some of that “investment” involved providing some financial assistance to ensure he could participate in some important and meaningful experiences which he now credits with changing his life in various ways. Mostly, however, that “investment” was in the form of others who cared about him, who mentored him, who encouraged him, who motivated him to learn and to understand many lessons of life in the context of many “communities of Christ” as well as specifically within the Community of Christ. I am using that title as a question: Who has invested in you to bring you to this point in your life? Who cared enough about you to ensure that you were exposed to good and meaningful experiences such as, for example, youth camps or SPEC or travel? Who has helped you find your way in life when life has been confusing? Perhaps it has been your parents or grandparents or other relatives. Perhaps it has been people from your congregation who wanted to do what they could to ensure you had a positive and meaningful experience at church or activities related to church. Or perhaps it was a teacher or a coach or a camp counselor or other friend who provided encouragement in just the right way at just the right time. I am using the title as a challenge: Who are you investing in? A child or teen who needs encouragement? A friend of any age who just needs a friendly listening ear and maybe a bit of good advice as they deal with one (or more) life’s challenges? Or maybe a family member that just needs to be reminded once in a while that they are loved? Are you “paying forward” investment in others that at some point in your life benefitted you? There are lots of questions here. Answers may not be obvious for some people. Perhaps you really have difficulty thinking of people who invested in you at some point in your life. Or perhaps you don’t feel you have the skills or opportunity to invest in others now. It is possible that life has been hard and just continues to be hard. At this point, let me reinforce one of the enduring principles of the church: all persons are of worth. All persons are of worth in the sight of God. All persons have worth, whether they recognize it or not, in their families, in their communities, in their schools, and/or in their workplaces – and in their congregations or whatever constitutes their church community. As persons of worth, we can be invested in. As persons of worth, we can invest in others. And that investment can be in the form of support, of friendship, of good advice, of a listening ear, of sharing important experiences – and, yes, sometimes of helping in some monetary way. Jesus challenged us with the two greatest commandments: This is the greatest and first commandment. “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” (Matthew 22:37-39) Invest in each other! As always, I pray for you God’s blessings of joy, hope, love, and peace in these challenging times. Steve Thompson Canada West Mission Centre President [email protected] The Canada West Mission Centre congratulates Margaret Ferguson, a member of the Prince Albert Congregation, on being named that city’s “2020 Citizen of the Year.”
According to the article in the Prince Albert Herald, Margaret attracted the honour through her volunteer work to help the homeless, cold, and hungry of the city. She has been producing quilts out of her home since 2012. More recently, particularly during the pandemic, production has expanded to masks, mittens, soup, treats, and jam, all donated to the Prince Albert organizations that work directly with those in need. The full story of Margaret’s work and her award are included in a local newspaper article available here: Margaret Ferguson chosen as 2020 Citizen of the Year. In the article, she acknowledges the assistance of many friends and neighbours who make this effort possible with donations of materials and with their own assistance in the work. The support of her church community is specifically mentioned a couple of times. Congratulations, Margaret! Your work in your community is a wonderful illustration of making Christ’s mission your mission in the recognition of the worth of all persons and extending the blessings of community. The SPEC leadership team made the difficult decision to cancel SPECTACULAR 2021. Earlier in the year we’d been cautiously hopeful that holding SPEC as usual might be an option. However, current data trends have made that seem unwise.
As we thought about the SPEC experience—the way we live, eat, learn, play, and worship together—our ability to guarantee a safe, virus-free environment would be nearly impossible. If even one individual tested positive, that has the potential to shut down the entire event. We are heartbroken about not being able to gather again this summer and will deeply miss the opportunity to form sacred community together. We ache alongside all our campers and staff at what feels like another huge loss in a year of losses that just keep piling up. Questions about some kind of online experience for 2021 and allowing current seniors an additional year of eligibility in 2022 are still under discussion and more information will be shared when it is available. Even though there are tears in our eyes, we are confident this is the most responsible choice at this time. This past Sunday, May 23, was celebrated as Pentecost in the Christian calendar. You may know that Pentecost, as a Christian event, originates with the story in Acts 2 of the gift of the Holy Spirit to Christ’s followers in the form of wind and of fire and of speaking in tongues (people speaking in foreign languages but being understood by all those around them). The event gains further emphasis from the sermon of the apostle Peter addressed to the large crowd that had gathered, apparently numbering in the thousands, following which about 3,000 persons believed what they heard and were reportedly baptized. This mass conversion is sometimes recognized as the actual beginning of the Christian Church.
As both an event and a word, “Pentecost” has some fascinating history behind it. Much of it that is directly related to its Christian significance is easily found from many sources. For example, the word “Pentecost” literally means “fifty” or “fifty days.” It marks fifty days since Easter. (Actually, it is seven weeks since Easter, so technically only 49 days – but that may be quibbling.) I found an article titled, What is Pentecost and Where Did it Come From? that explains the Jewish heritage of the day in a clear and concise a manner. I encourage you to read the article. Among other interesting facts is that, although it was also known as “Pentecost” in the Jewish tradition, it also had an alternate name of the Festival of Weeks: seven weeks of seven days (a “week of weeks”) since the feast of the Passover. As you will recall, it was the celebration of Passover that had brought people into Jerusalem in the week before Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. The Festival of Weeks had brought people into Jerusalem from many nations of the known world – thus the opportunity for the miracle or gift of “speaking in tongues” that was a manifestation of the Holy Spirit for Christ’s followers. On Sunday, the Beyond the Walls online service from the Toronto congregation took on a very interesting challenge to mark Pentecost. The planners set out to have 50 languages spoken during the service, taking that cue from Pentecost’s meaning of “fifty” as well as the cacophony of languages reported in Acts 2. They fell slightly short with “only” about 40 languages represented in the service. It was still quite remarkable. A person speaking each language read a portion of scripture related to Christ’s ministry. The screen showed the language – often in its own script rather than the Arabic-based script of English writing – as the person read the few verses of scripture, along with its translation into English, French, and Spanish. If you have not seen the service, it can be found here: Testify in 50 Languages. The story of Pentecost in Acts 2 is a representation of the impact of faith in the public square. Peter had to assure those watching that the people speaking in strange languages were not drunk. (It was apparently too early in the morning for that!) Then, having defended the language (and sobriety) of his friends, Peter preached the good news of Jesus Christ to the assembled crowd and, according to the record, convinced a good portion of these unbelievers to believe and to respond by being baptized. The lesson for us is to not be ashamed when some element of our faith becomes visible to those around us, and that to then confidently share what that faith is all about may have more positive influence on those people than we might expect. It is a call to courageously share our faith more often. As always, I pray for you God’s blessings of joy, hope, love, and peace in these challenging times. Steve Thompson Canada West Mission Centre President [email protected] A Moment with the Mission Centre President–All Voices Canada and Samish Fundraiser Concert5/19/2021
The first event of the “All Voices Canada” conference occurred on Saturday, May 15. It brought together over 140 people from across Canada to share with each other what Community of Christ means to them. We heard recorded “testimonies” from seven people in response to two questions:
Then everyone was invited to discuss their own responses in break-out sessions of smaller numbers of participants. These sessions enabled people from Canada East and Canada West mission centres to gain understanding and appreciation of what the church means to each of them from all areas of the country. The next day, on Sunday morning, the Beyond the Walls online church service, originating from the Toronto congregation, provided the opportunity for seven more testimonies to be shared. A recording of this service is available here: Beyond the Walls May 16. You may note a majority of voices from Canada West in this service. The reverse was the situation for the Saturday conference. A recording of the Saturday conference is not available. About 40 testimonies have been received in writing and many of them have been recorded. You can watch for those recorded testimonies (including those shared at the Saturday conference and the Sunday service) to be posted to the website: www.AllVoices.ca. As of today (May 18) the recordings have not yet been posted. However, if you scroll down to the “Testimony Tapestry” area of that page, you will find the invitation for you to write your own contribution and forward it to Apostle Art Smith. I invite and urge you to take advantage of this opportunity to include your story in this growing “Testimony Tapestry.” A second major online event also occurred on Saturday. This was a fundraiser organized to benefit the Samish Island Campground as it makes its way through a second year of hosting no church or community events and therefore realizing no rental income. The event featured sharing by people with long histories with Samish and what the campground has meant to them. This included church members as well as representatives of organizations who have rented the grounds for their events for many years. The sharing of these individuals was interspersed with professional musical entertainment from church members and from other artists who responded to the invitations of friends to perform for the benefit of the Samish Campground. The stated goal of the event was to raise $30,000 for the campground. The two co-hosts for the event (Alexis Beer from Canada West Mission Centre and Sean Langdon from Greater Pacific Northwest Mission Center) did a marvelous and entertaining job. Besides enthusiastically introducing the program participants and musicians, they regularly reminded all viewers/listeners of the purpose of the event and provided invitations to donate and instructions on how to donate – plus tactful and entertaining requests to donate MORE! By the end of the evening, they announced that the total raised had exceeded $50,000! Congratulations to everyone involved in this very successful event! There are too many individuals to name here. By categories they include the organizers and planners who did their work for the last few months, Alexis and Sean for their skillful hosting work, the people who provided the supportive testimonies of what Samish means to them, the behind-the-scenes people who made sure the program and videos all ran on schedule and that donation updates could be provided throughout the evening, all the artists who contributed so generously of their musical talents, and, finally, all of those who generously financially supported this event. Thank you to all! Both of these events are examples of “community in action.” All Voices Canada brought members and friends of Community of Christ together to discuss what is important to them about the church in Canada. The Samish Campground fundraiser brought together a diverse set of people from western Canada (mainly BC) and the U.S. Northwest – all friends of the campground regardless of their connection to the church – who recognize the importance of a place of spiritual and social significance to them and to so many others. Well done, everybody! Well done! As always, I pray for you God’s blessings of joy, hope, love, and peace in these challenging times. Steve Thompson Canada West Mission Centre President [email protected] Dr. Waugh’s candor, expertise, and friendly demeanor enables him to speak the harsh truths of climate disruption. As a long-time elder in Community of Christ, his scholastic studies and teaching rest on a lasting appreciation of sacred space, an understanding of the sacredness of creation, and a deep respect for the Enduring Principles of the church. He brings to the conversations a firm conviction that people of faith must go beyond stewardship to mutuality. Join follow-up conversations on these dates:
Invite your friends to join as well. All sessions are free and participation in previous webinars and conversations is not necessary to join in this opportunity. Please note that you only need to register once for the entire series. To register please click on the button above. For more information about the series please visit the Climate Change Colloquy website.
Apostle Art Smith invites you to add your voice to a Canada-wide Zoom conference, sharing the things we love about Community of Christ and our hopes for the future as we look forward to a time past the lockdowns. Please join us on Saturday, May 15, 2021 for a conversation with your church family. Hear testimonies from the rich tapestry of voices who experience Community of Christ in Canada. Join topical break-out rooms to chat about all the interesting ways individuals experience the church and further its mission. Add your voice to the tapestry! Plan to participate in this time of intentional reflection and discernment. Enjoy the community, collaboration, and cross-Canada friendship. WHAT: All Voices Canada-wide Conference WHERE: On Zoom HOW: Go to https://www.communityofchrist.ca/all-voices.htmland click on the button that says "Zoom Meeting". WHEN: Saturday, May 15, 9 AM-Noon BC/ 10 AM-1 PM AB-SK/ 11 AM-2 PM MB. Watch the video below to get a sneak peek of some of the messages from across this country forming our most amazing Testimony Tapestry! In the Virtual Visiting Fellowship groups this week we are discussing two scriptures involving talking God out of punishing the people. In Genesis 18:20-33, Abraham talks God out of destroying the city of Sodom even if there are only five “righteous” people living in the city full of otherwise sinful people. And in Exodus 32:7-14 Moses argues with God about God’s intention to punish the people for their misbehavior while Moses was on the mountain to get direction from God. The links given above will take you to the stories in the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible. In Exodus 32:14 God “changed his mind” and did not punish the people. In the King James version the verse says, “And the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.” Most modern translations use some variation on the NRSV wording, so it may be a more accurate expression of the original language. However, the KJV presents an interesting concept. How can God “repent” of anything? And how could God possibly think of “evil” to do to his people?
These two stories are examples of significant bargaining with God. In our own lives the extent of bargaining with God in a stereotypical sense involves trying to make a deal with God as in, “Dear God, If you will get me out of this mess (that I know I have created), I will go to church every Sunday from now on.” Or maybe it’s “heal my disease,” or “help my family reconcile,” or any other of life’s major challenges. Seldom do such deals work out as well as the two situations in the Old Testament did. In the Gospel of Matthew, we find Jesus giving this advice: “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” (Matthew 4:7) This is the more likely example we should be following. No matter the situations in which we find ourselves, it is expected that we will reach out to God in prayer and supplication to seek his special blessings of wisdom and relief. We may feel God’s direction and inspiration as we find our way to healing (or even if the answer to our prayer is not what we expected or requested). Mostly, it is reasonable to believe that God knows what blessings we require before we ask. We do not need to follow the example of Moses or Abraham in bargaining with God. We need to follow Jesus’ advice to not “tempt” God, but rather to simply seek God’s blessings. As always, I pray for you God’s blessings of joy, hope, love, and peace in these challenging times. Steve Thompson Canada West Mission Centre President [email protected] Community. Nature. Spirituality. Creativity. Family. Friends. Samish Island Campground holds a special place in our hearts. We long for the chance to be together, basking in our love for each other and that sacred place. Join this special fundraising concert on May 15 at 7:30 PDT on Zoom! To make sure Samish survives until we can gather there again, let’s give back. We need at least $30,000 to get through the summer season - much more, depending on how long COVID-19 restrictions last. WHAT: Fundraising Concert WHEN: Saturday, May 15, 2021, 7:30 pm PDT WHERE: On Zoom HOW: RSVP here https://forms.gle/GqzXgGwzQQXtBhxT6 or click on the button below to join the event when the time comes. (Please do not share the Zoom link publicly in order to preserve security of the meeting.) DONATE through the following links:
If you prefer to send donations by mail, please use the following information:
Community of Christ c/o Dave Skoor 12303 32nd Ave SE Everett, WA 98208
Community of Christ c/o Sam Smalldon 1185 Strathcona Drive SW Calgary Alberta, T3H4S1 or send e-Transfer to [email protected] WHY: We need to raise $30,000 or more to keep Samish Island campground running. Be entertained, celebrate and give back to the place we love! Questions? Email [email protected] We hope to see you there! #SaveSamish Adult Weekly Lessons ongoing Sunday evenings! May 2, 9 and 16. These classes are intended to create an environment similar to a Sunday morning adult Sunday school class. We have a diverse participation across Canada West Mission Centre. It is interesting because the materials have been prepared by the church. It is enjoyable because those teaching/facilitating have prepared each session to appeal to participants as much as possible. All are encouraged to participate, there is no fee. Join these weekly lessons during the following times:
Instructor:
Pre-registration required for Zoom links. No registration fee.
For more information please contact Lisa Neudorf [email protected] Spring seems to have finally come to Edmonton. As I write I am sitting at my kitchen table and looking at my sun-filled back yard. We have put our deck furniture out which adds to the impression (illusion?) of warmer weather. It is 16 degrees (Celsius, of course) and quite pleasant. But we have been teased by warmer weather a few times in the last month and then forced to endure another few stretches of cooler weather including sub-zero overnight low temperatures. I have described Edmonton’s weather because I know that the weather is vastly different in other parts of this province, let alone in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, or Manitoba. In my twice-weekly “Virtual Visiting Fellowship” meetings, I have been reminded since some time back in March that things are warmer and greener and more “blooming” in BC, but also that rogue snowstorms have happened in southern Alberta and in neighbouring Saskatchewan - storms which never touched Edmonton. Is this not like so many other things in our lives? Our perspective on many things are affected by the angle from which we view them. The poem of The Blind Men and the Elephant has each man touching different parts of the elephant and each of them concluding that “elephants are like… (different things).” Similarly, our family up-bringing and childhood-through-adolescence experiences affect how we see the world as adults. The generation of which we are a member may affect how we view government and politics, social issues, music, the media, and technology (to name just a few issues). And each of our individual perspectives results in different views on religious faith and belief – also often formed by the generation of which we are a member or by our unique experiences as children, youth, and young adults, or, perhaps, by our educational and even vocational choices. And yet, somehow, most of the time, it all works. Somehow, we find ways to get along: Men/women LGBTQ/straight Young/old/somewhere-in-between Left/middle/right Traditional/progressive/I-don’t-really-care Spiritual/religious/both/neither The scriptures are full of conflict and eventual reconciliation with the help of the Spirit of God. A recent inspired message to the church provided this guidance: Listen together to one another, without judgment or predisposition. Do not assume that the answers to matters of conflict have yet been perceived. There is much labor to be done. Reason together in love, and the Spirit of truth will prevail. --Doctrine and Covenants, Section 162: 5c And there is the key. Whatever may tend to have us see things from different angles and points of view, whatever may threaten to divide us, if we will only “listen together to one another, without judgement and predisposition” we have hope within the faith and fellowship of Jesus Christ to come to a peaceful understanding. Not necessarily agreement! But at least understanding. Are we moving toward Jesus, the peaceful One? If you have any comment or question about this weekly message, please do not hesitate to contact me using the email address provided below. As always, I pray for you God’s blessings of joy, hope, love, and peace in these challenging times. Steve Thompson Canada West Mission Centre President [email protected] Join us on an illuminating journey to discover the ways history, culture and belief systems influence how we relate to one another today.
Our special online version introduces you to 5 of the world’s religions: Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, and First Nations through meaningful conversations and an opportunity to hear from a faith guide who will discuss the practices, rituals and beliefs that shape their faith, and answer your questions. Additional optional sessions offer opportunities to discuss what you are learning with other attendees and with our presenter Dr. Brian Carwana. Whether you attend for personal interest or professional development, a new understanding of the world’s religions will help you better understand your new neighbour, your children’s friends, your colleagues at work, even the evening news. Most importantly it will help you understand yourself, and the factors that shape your own beliefs. The program is taught from a non-sectarian perspective and is open to all. We would love to have you join us. Click on the button above to register. Visit the Encounter World Religions Centre website for more information. Have a question? Please email Brian Carwana at [email protected] Are we moving toward Jesus,
the peaceful One? The 2021 guiding question is the same as the question suggested for 2020: Are we moving toward Jesus, the peaceful One? President Steve Veazey encourages the church to continue considering and meditating on the question in this video: 2021 Guiding Question. The question was first posed by President Veazey in his closing sermon for the 2019 World Conference. The question was presented in early 2020 with a video recording of those comments: 2020 Guiding Question. The question puts the responsibility for our relationship with Jesus directly with each of us. I feel that there is a call to movement presented for us. A call to change. A call to do better. We are often presented with the challenge to “follow Jesus.” This is a good challenge and you could certainly do worse than finding ways to follow Jesus. You follow and you do what he says to do. You follow and you try to live the way he tells you to live. You follow and you watch and learn as you hear him speak through the words of scripture. If you are diligent in following Jesus in your personal prayer and meditation life, perhaps you will hear Jesus’ still small voice speak to you to encourage you to continue following him. For me, the call to “move toward Jesus” is not quite the same as “following” him. To move towards Jesus might involve overcoming some obstacles to get closer to him. To move towards Jesus might mean getting further away from some less positive influences in our lives. To move towards Jesus might require that we set our compass accordingly and find our way despite the twists and turns of life and those temptations that will distract us from our goal. Interestingly, the question suggests “moving toward” – it does not assume that we will actually closely approach him or suggest that our movement will necessarily end. We are just challenged to move toward him. And then there are those last three words: “the peaceful One.” Inherent in those words is the challenge for us to move towards peace in our own lives. For many people this may be as great a challenge as thinking about moving towards Jesus. They also echo the challenge of the peace-related motions on non-violence passed by the 2019 World Conference and the words point us towards preparation for further discussion of peace and non-violence at the next World Conference, now postponed to 2023. The church has created a series of resources built around this challenge. They include a series of articles in the “Herald” (the church magazine), supporting videos and online discussion sessions, and some Project Zion Podcasts. If you are interested, you can find a comprehensive list of links to these resources here: Guiding Question Page of Resources I challenge you to consider studying the question and considering your own personal response through this year. I will try to come back to this question regularly through the rest of this year, just to check in and see how you are doing. If you have any comment or question about this weekly message, please do not hesitate to contact me using the email address provided below. As always, I pray for you God’s blessings of joy, hope, love, and peace in these challenging times. Steve Thompson Canada West Mission Centre President [email protected] Black Lives Matter
Indigenous Lives Matter Lives of People of Colour Matter The world has been a challenging thing to make sense of over the past year. So many things and events have caused turmoil, confusion, consternation, debate (both civil and not-so-civil), and even violence. We are now into at least month number 14 of the COVID-19 pandemic. Besides the physical health implications and the social restrictions of the pandemic, we have experienced debate over various conspiracy theories that question the reality of the pandemic. The presidential election in the United States provided many flashpoints of political and social division that resonated for many people here in Canada – on both ends of the political spectrum. And, not the least but just the last I will mention in this list, is the renewed racial upheaval that originated in the U.S. but spilled over into Canada and other parts of the world. Perhaps the most significant incident of that racial upheaval in the last year was the death of George Floyd as he was being taken into police custody in Minneapolis. The trial of the police officer involved has just concluded this week with a guilty verdict on three different charges of murder. The positive public response to that verdict is in stark contrast to the demonstrations in response to his death that often devolved into violence in the streets of many American cities. For this week I have brought back the banner at the top of this letter that I had used for these messages through most of last year and into the first few weeks of this year. This is a reminder that, regardless of that verdict, there is still much work to be done by all of us on the racial reconciliation front. Over the last year I have been disturbed by the stories told by Black persons, Indigenous persons, and other Persons of Colour, of the discrimination that they face regularly, if not daily, in just going about the normal activities of a life in Canada. This should be disturbing to all of us and all of us should be evaluating our own actions and reactions when in any kind of interactions with persons who have a different appearance than us. I feel it is also important to say that I have been equally disturbed by the threatening disrespect that has been experienced by members of police organizations across North America. This has been in response to the high-profile situations of interactions – often violent and sometimes fatal – between the police and persons of colour. There are undoubtedly aspects of police work and police culture that need review and reform. Meanwhile, those responsible for the negative interactions are a small proportion of the total police community. Most police officers want to do the right thing for all members of the communities they serve. Just as all of us as “civilians” need to do better in our interracial interactions, we need to support our police as they strive to do better too. The curse of systemic racism that exists in many of society’s structures, systems, and organizations cannot be eradicated overnight. It is up to all of us to recognize it when we see it and to do what we can to work for positive reform. The last year, indeed, has been a challenging time in the world. Historically, the world often has only gotten better when it has come through such challenging times. Typically, the world has gotten better when its citizens have insisted that their leaders do better and then demonstrate by example the changes they wish to have happen. May we all work towards, and look forward to, our future better world. In closing let me add that I am sensitive that some readers may not be happy to have worldly or political situations highlighted in a Community of Christ newsletter or blog. I believe that the teachings of Jesus as recorded in scripture insist that we: bring good news to the poor, proclaim release to the captives, and let the oppressed go free. (see Luke 4: 18, 19). To me, these characteristics describe the experiences and life situations of many persons in the Black, Indigenous, and other Persons of Colour communities. Surely, we are called to help remedy them. I will leave it at that lest I get into a much longer sermon. Please contact me if you have concerns or questions. As always, I pray for you God’s blessings of joy, hope, love, and peace in these challenging times. Steve Thompson Canada West Mission Centre President [email protected] Climate disruption has not only created hurricanes, tsunamis and floods that hit the headlines around the world, but continue to impact human populations in a variety of ways. Long droughts have prompted migrations of villages and tribes, while rising sea levels necessitate the permanent evacuation of communities from low elevation islands to higher ground. Dr. Richard Waugh of Wisconsin University explores the human impact of climate change and climate disruption from low-level islands to the Andes; from Bangladesh to Louisiana. In his research and travels, Dr. Waugh has witnessed climate-caused difficulties in various cultures around the world. Prior to retiring as Professor Emeritus in 2020, Dr. Waugh taught classes on climate change, social geography and human impact, and led an annual extended field trip to key geographic locations with his students. He brings personal experience as well as professional insight to the conversation. Dr. Waugh is also a long-time elder in Community of Christ, and did his doctoral thesis on geography and sacred space. He has served as a pastor and as a counselor to leadership in the former district and mission center. His articles have been published in The Herald and in the JWHS Journal. Join further discussions about Dr. Waugh’s topic on the following dates:
Invite your friends to join as well. All sessions are free and participation in previous webinars and conversations is not necessary to join in this opportunity. Please note that you only need to register once for the entire series. To register please click on the button above. For more information about the series please visit the Climate Change Colloquy website.
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