HOPE As we enter the advent season, your Mission Centre President Team sends you greetings of Hope. We hope for a season not only of connection with loved ones and service to the community, but also rest and calm. In the midst of this season we hope you find tender moments to savour and times to rest. Yours in Christ, Gwyn, Kat, Becky and Shannon gwyn@communityofchrist.ca kat@communityofchrist.ca becky@communityofchrist.ca smcadam@communityofchrist.ca Written by Becky Middleton Canada West Mission Centre Co-President Nauvoo Experience From October 26 - November 14, 2013, I was privileged to volunteer at the Joseph Smith Historical Site in Nauvoo, Illinois. My first "official" assignment was to help carve Jack 'O' Lanterns for the town of Nauvoo's Pumpkin Walk - how fun is that! After some tutelage and practice with Lach MacKay I was ready to take my turns leading the guided tour of the historic sites which include: Nauvoo House, the Homestead cabin, the Mansion House, and the Red Brick Store. I really enjoyed sharing the history and stories surrounding Nauvoo and the early church with the many visitors who came to experience the Joseph Smith Historical Site. There were many insightful and interesting questions that people appreciated candid answers for. When I was not leading tours, I was able to help around the visitor center with decorating for Christmas and a few other tasks as well as visiting and getting to know my fellow volunteers. On my days "off " I visited the Latter-Day Saint sites and enjoyed interacting with the folks there too. I was very interested in the heritage of the era and the lovely old buildings. Many asked me interesting questions about my faith with the Community of Christ, being a woman with priesthood and a pastor in Canada. It was an enlightening time for many. I also visited the surrounding area either on foot or being chauffeured by some of the other wonderful volunteer/friends. These included the state park, present town of Nauvoo, Carthage jail and the Community of Christ congregation and campgrounds located at Nauvoo. My accommodation was a lovely heritage home overlooking the Mississippi river. Beautiful! All in all, it was a wonderful experience that I would love to do again and hope to! For additional information about becoming a volunteer, click on the button below or email lmackay@cofchrist.org A tour of Italy with the Historic Sites team is being planned for 2024! Yours in Christ, Gwyn, Kat, Becky and Shannon gwyn@communityofchrist.ca kat@communityofchrist.ca becky@communityofchrist.ca smcadam@communityofchrist.ca Written by Gwyn Beer Canada West Mission Centre Co-President Rolling Reunion - Last day on the bus! I want to thank you all for rolling along with us. We left Nauvoo and spent our last night in a hotel. Denyse loaded our luggage on to the bus for the last time and we headed down the road. Our goal was Iowa and then Missouri. We arrived in Lamoni, Iowa and our first stop was Liberty Hall, the home of Joseph Smith III and family. The house is a little outside of the town. Our group was divided into 5 smaller groups to be able to tour through the home. We also toured through the one room school house that has been moved onto the property. This was the school that the Smith children did attend but it was not that close when they went to the school! I loved seeing inside the home. It has been lovingly restored and many pieces were original to the home. "The Liberty Hall Story", built in 1881, was the home of Joseph Smith III till 1905. Joseph Smith said "Liberty Hall throbbed with life, teeming with the bustling activities of a large and growing family. Birth, death, and marriage occurred within its walls. Joys and sorrows succeeded each other as the day the night." "Liberty Hall is a premier restoration site listed on the Iowa and National Registers of historic homes that gives visitors a glimpse into a middle-class family, an era of late Midwestern Victorian culture, and the story of a significant religious movement in American History." Back on the bus, we went to Graceland University. Things have changes since I went to Graceland College. We were treated to lunch in the Commons dining room of the University. The food was very good! We had some free time to walk around the campus and then we returned to the bus. We were in for a treat that was NOT on our agenda! We were taken to the local Lamoni Community of Christ church. The Mite society of Lamoni, Iowa had put on a special display of quilts and quilt tops, some of which dated back to the Mite Society beginning in 1872! The Mite Society (Luke 21:2-4 for the story of the widow’s mite) contributed sewing of clothes and quilts for the needy in the community. They formally organized in 1883 and in 1983 were recognized for this long-term service association. Currently the Mites quilt every Thursday and sell the quilts with the proceeds contributing to community projects such as the library, medical center, walking trails and swimming pool. The Mites set up quilts throughout the chapel and were set up working on a quilt while we were there. There was a large collection of quilts from Liberty Hall and new quilts made by the local Mite Society members. They also advertised locally so community members could also come and see these beautiful quilts. Wow! What an end to our tour! We left Lamoni sent on our way by these amazing quilters! As the bus rolled along, we sang and shared and had our final devotion. The bus rolled to our final stop, the parking lot of the Temple in Independence, Missouri. “A Story to Tell: Women in Community of Christ” bus tour officially ended. Yours in Christ, Gwyn, Kat, Becky and Shannon gwyn@communityofchrist.ca kat@communityofchrist.ca becky@communityofchrist.ca smcadam@communityofchrist.ca Written by Gwyn Beer Canada West Mission Centre Co-President Rolling Reunion - Caring for a shared heritage! Last week Brenda Senga wrote about a wonderful time at the Kirtland Visitor Centre that included both a wonderful meal while gazing at the temple and a Communion Meal in the temple. Community of Christ owns Kirtland Temple but we are not the only ones caring for the sacred spaces that we hold in our history hearts! The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are also the caretakers of our sacred spaces. I had the pleasure of being conducted through some of these sacred spaces by Elder and Sister Barrow. They were my site guides twice. We went to Palmyra NY to tour the Smith Family home site where I first met Elder and Sister Barrow. They guided us through the Smith family home painting a picture of a young man in touch with God and a family that supported him. We were then given time to enter the Sacred Grove. We went on to the Grandin Print Shop where the first printing of the Book of Mormon was done. We stopped at the Hill Cumorah, some climbed the hill and others took time to stretch and then back on the bus. We returned to Kirtland and visited the temple and then toured the Joseph and Emma Smith home which is a block away from the temple with the cemetery in the middle. This was my second encounter with Elder and Sister Barrow! What a blessing for me! This couple had raised 4 sons and were now spending 18 months volunteering at the sacred sites from our combined heritage. They were away from their home and children and grandchildren but so positive about their experience volunteering. They Thanked Me for caring for the Kirtland temple and Nauvoo! Next stop: Nauvoo Illinois! The bus rolled up to the visitor’s centre in Nauvoo where we had the opportunity to stretch and go to the washroom. We were given a box lunch to take back on the bus and as we ate our box lunch, we drove the streets of Nauvoo. Seeing the Mansion house, the original small home of Joseph and Emma that was added on to for family and friends. The burial site of Joseph, Emma and Hyrum Smith and all the Stories that accompanied this place! We stopped and shopped at the Red Brick Store. Coming up next week... The last stop on the Rolling Reunion, thanks for getting on the bus with us! Yours in Christ, Gwyn, Kat, Becky and Shannon gwyn@communityofchrist.ca kat@communityofchrist.ca becky@communityofchrist.ca smcadam@communityofchrist.ca Written by Brenda Senga Rolling reunion Continued: A Joy! Full! Journey! It has been a long-time coming to travel the paths where the first steps of our faith movement began. To “hear the Stories”. As I joined with Gwyn & Linda and other 43 excited companions, it became an extraordinary journey, with the echoes and reverberations of the past marking each mile. The “surprises” and moments of blessing were innumerable. How many of you have ridden on a carousel? Lately, on our first day we stopped at the Coralville Mall in Iowa. Just inside the entrance was a beautiful, big and bright carousel. A private ride was awaiting our enjoyment. Oh what JOY. (I found it was much easier to get on my horse than get off!) It was delightful to sing and to dance 2 song books (plus many added songs), celebrating the lives and actions of the many women we were highlighting. On a sunny, warm day we indeed sang “Under the spreading chestnut tree!” and we were happy! And we danced at the Hancock Shaker Village. At every site and venue we were greeted with such hospitality and generosity. Dear folks with open hearts and hands- waiting outside, welcoming us in and waving us on our way. Each day there was time to listen and to share our stories while rolling along. As we wound our way through the countryside, there were times that creation was truly breathtaking and we rode in the gentleness of silent wonder. A moment; we gathered in the parlor of Liberty Hall (Home of the Smith family). The pump organ was played as our accompaniment for singing “The Old, Old Path”. I was taken to a little Church in Arborfield, Saskatchewan where as a child and teen I played the little pump organ for every worship and other occasions. What JOY for that moment! My ability at taking pictures is “limited”, I like this one. (see photo above) I took it from the Kirtland visitor center (where the evening meal had been set for us), looking through the window to the Kirtland Temple, where we later shared in the Holy Meal of Communion. I, (we), have many more stories to tell, more songs to sing. It was a deepening, authentic and sustaining experience. A celebration, a renewal, a recommitment to purpose. Dare to receive the generous Love yet to be. Dare to offer that Love. Trust in the Mystery and the moments of Blessings therein. Now in this moment. Now in this day… Yours in Christ, Gwyn, Kat, Becky and Shannon gwyn@communityofchrist.ca kat@communityofchrist.ca becky@communityofchrist.ca smcadam@communityofchrist.ca Written by Linda Phelps Rolling Reunion – What can I say, we didn’t really know what to expect but it sounded interesting - well it was fabulous! Way more than what I was expecting. Spending time with and getting to know my Canadian counter-partners Gwyn Beer and Brenda Senga, was a blessing too. I had never in my 76 years gone on a bus tour, that I can remember, but this one will stay with me forever. The preparation that Barbara Walden and Peter Smith did was totally absorbing. Our wonderful bus driver Denyse, kept us safe on the roads, giving us her wonderful smile and help all the time. Seeing these interesting places that the church has to offer in the company of others was amazing as well as the understanding of our history that was brought forward for us. I took so many pictures along the way that I will be able to relive this trip forever. Getting to know new people for me, is always fascinating but this was about the people on the tour as well as the fascinating church places and learning about those of history that brought us into our gatherings. A comfortable ride, good company, historically learning new things - what more could we ask for. Yours in Christ, Gwyn, Kat, Becky and Shannon gwyn@communityofchrist.ca kat@communityofchrist.ca becky@communityofchrist.ca smcadam@communityofchrist.ca Written by Gwyn Beer Canada West Mission Centre Co-President Rolling Reunion continued…The Plano Stone Church The bus tour stopped at 2 of our Community of Christ congregations. Our first congregation was in Plano, Illinois. The Plano Stone Church was constructed in 1862 and served as the church headquarters till 1881 when the headquarters moved with Joseph Smith to Lamoni Iowa. Plano Stone Church was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1990. It was dark as the bus rolled up to the block that the church and fellowship hall occupied. We were the guests of the Mission and Plano congregations for dinner in the separate Roger’s Hall. We were able to visit with the congregation. They had a meal ready for us (we were late!). Then we went across the pathway lit by phone flashlights to the church. My pictures do not do the building justice. A true piece of our History! What a beautiful building! The pews and pulpit were made from native lumber by church members and are still in use today. We had a wonderful worship service in the Plano Stone church and when we left the building, we again used phone flashlights to light the way to the bus. On Sunday October 8, we travelled in the bus to the Community of Christ church in Johnson City, New York. Denyse, our bus driver, did an amazing job of getting us to the church on the narrow city streets. We were met on the sidewalk by 2 church members. One of the church members was dressed in a suffragette costume (part of which her grandmother wore to a protest march). The Community of Christ church is a wonderful building. It is 2 stories with the chapel above the activity and classroom floor. The chapel has a beautiful high ceiling with amazing wooden beams. The service theme was “Stories to Tell, Stories to Hear”. We were told the story of the building of this church. Done by the hands of the church members including the women. The box on the pulpit was the story I most enjoyed. That box is a PIE box, it holds 4 pies. The women baked and sold pies to finance the building of the church. We were welcomed and had a wonderful worship service with them. After we went downstairs to tables with flowers set for a meal. We shared the meal and visited but soon had to leave as we were on our way to the Hale Home and Farm (owned and maintained by the LSD church). We got back on the bus and had a class on the drive. The class was “Emma’s Years in Harmony (and the Hale Family). Rolling Reunion continues... Yours in Christ, Gwyn, Kat, Becky and Shannon gwyn@communityofchrist.ca kat@communityofchrist.ca becky@communityofchrist.ca smcadam@communityofchrist.ca Written by Gwyn Beer Canada West Mission Centre Co-President Community of Christ Historic Bus Tour Rolling Reunion - this is the name that Dennis Carr gave the group on the bus. This began back in November 2022. I got a note from Brenda Senga about a tour being offered by the Community of Christ Historical Society. The title intrigued me; “A Story to Tell: Women in Community of Christ History”. A Historic sites bus tour Oct 2-12, 2023. Tour Highlights: Church Historic Sites and Stories, Women’s History in the USA, Glorious Fall Foliage and more! Thanks to Brenda, Linda Phelps and I joined other members of Community of Christ on the rollin’ reunion bus! Our hosts were Barbara Walden and Peter Smith with our Windstar bus driver Denise! We drove approximately 3,249 MILES on that bus! Our rollin’ home had screens for movies, seat belts, AC, an overhead storage bin space, footrests and you could plug in your device and charge it. Yes, there was a toilet too!. We held devotions and classes on the bus and every morning you move three seats ahead/behind so you got a different view and talked with new people. The bus started in Independence, Missouri and we went into Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, New York, Indiana and Massachusetts. We had people from all over North America; British Columbia, Saskatchewan, California, Kansas, Florida, Missouri, Maryland, Iowa, North Carolina, Texas, Oregon, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Washington. When I was in my mid-teens, our family made a trip cross Canada and into the states. My dad’s sister Florence lived in Missouri. On the way to visiting family, we stopped in Kirtland Ohio to visit the temple. This was over 50 years ago. Kirtland Temple is a very special place to me. My dad got to sit where his priesthood call allowed him to. When I stepped into the lower sanctuary, it all came back to me and I felt my dad there with me. Next week the sharing will continue…on the rollin’ reunion bus! Yours in Christ, Gwyn, Kat, Becky and Shannon gwyn@communityofchrist.ca kat@communityofchrist.ca becky@communityofchrist.ca smcadam@communityofchrist.ca Written by Kat Goheen Canada West Mission Centre Co-President I’m writing this during a peaceful moment on Thanksgiving Day. In this moment I’m feeling grateful for Shannon, Gwyn, and Becky – to be on this great team. I’m feeling grateful for our pastors and financial officers who give us the stability to grow and dream. I’m loving our staff, Sandra and Debra, and our advisory council and prayer partners. I’m so glad to learn about the possibilities for using social media in our organization from Parker. I’m full of thanks that Lisa stepped in to manage our online registrations this past year. I’m so appreciative of Steve and Bob for stepping into our Historian and Recorder roles. I love the energy that our Seventies are bringing to their role. I’m appreciating our leadership from the World Church level through Art, and through our bishop, Dar. It’s people--relationships--that make this church so amazing, along with our message of inclusion and transformation through Jesus Christ. I heard tell of an informal question arising from Mission Conference asking what the Mission Centre actually does to benefit us. As a congregational leader I have asked this question myself, usually at budget time! As I shared with the saints in Calgary in our Friday night conference gathering, the Mission Centre isn’t a specific space with an office and copier anymore. It reminds me more of Jesus in his time – a merry band of followers who wander (at least on zoom!) and serve. Maybe we’re more like Paul: less wandering and more supporting ourselves by our labours! What do we get from our Mission Centre? Hopefully you are receiving leadership that relieves burdens on local leaders. Communication that connects us to the broader church. Support for congregations in transition. Continual examination of issues that concern our church in Canada overall. The day-to-day administration making sure our important events are marked and priesthood calls processed. Sustained support for the enhancement of our camping program. One thing that I am truly grateful for is that I no longer ask the question of what the Mission Centre is doing for me or my local folks, because I’m busy doing it. The Mission Centre is just people, the way the church is, and you and I are so fortunate to be among them! Please trust that your leadership wants to create meaningful experiences for you and has a mandate of streamlining our budget to the benefit of local groups. Please also trust that you have a voice, and that your hands and feet and hearts are most welcome in the mission of Jesus Christ in western Canada. We are better together. Thanksgiving blessings of grace! Yours in Christ, Gwyn, Kat, Becky and Shannon gwyn@communityofchrist.ca kat@communityofchrist.ca becky@communityofchrist.ca smcadam@communityofchrist.ca Written by Shannon McAdam Canada West Mission Centre Co-President 2023 Mission Centre Conference Recap Thank you to everyone who was able to join us for this year’s mission centre conference either online or from one of our in-person sites! All four of us on the Mission Centre President team were warmly hosted by the congregations we were in: Becky in Edmonton, Kat in Calgary, Gwyn in Chilliwack, and myself, Shannon, in Regina. It was so good to see many of you “in the flesh” and to share meals and conversation. Our business meeting went very smoothly and quickly! Many thanks to all those who attended our pre-legislative sessions on Sunday and Wednesday before conference to ask your great questions. Also thanks to Dar for the financial update and Q&A session provided Saturday morning. We did have some discussion as to whether we should move our mission centre conference to another time of year so we have more financial information for our decision-making. A highlight of the morning was a call-to-action video from Caitlin about our camping programs. Thank you to those who have already raised their hand to say they wish to support this important ministry with their time and talents. In the afternoon we heard from a few folks who had attended Community of Christ World Conference about their experiences, and also heard an update from Art Smith about the Canada Church. The highlights of our business meeting included:
We passed our 2024 budget with no amendments. You can view all the details by downloading the program in our Conference Hub website here. I highly recommend you take some time to review the full program as you will find not only our business meeting and financial information, but also reports from congregations, from our Mission Centre staff, and about the programs like the Seventies Project that your donations are supporting. And of course we had wonderful experiences of worship and fun. Each morning an Evangelist led us in spiritual practices before starting our day. Kat hosted a rousing virtual campfire with song leaders from all over the mission centre. Chilliwack hosted our Sunday morning communion service where our Apostle Art Smith offered a stirring message. We look forward to doing it all again next year! Yours in Christ, Gwyn, Kat, Becky and Shannon gwyn@communityofchrist.ca kat@communityofchrist.ca becky@communityofchrist.ca smcadam@communityofchrist.ca Greetings from Becky (Rebecca) Middleton!
As the newest member of your Mission Centre Presidency team, I would like to introduce myself. For any of you who don't know me, I am a Beer from BC on my mother's side, a Levitt from Alberta on my father's side, and a Middleton from Saskatchewan on the married side! I have been the pastor of the Senlac congregation for more years than I remember and I am familiar with many of the congregations across the mission centre. I have been involved with the Bridge of Hope campaign in the past as well as with World Accord and the projects in Honduras, working alongside my husband Doug. I have currently been on the advisory team for family camp at Hills of Peace as well as being involved in all aspects of staffing at HOP in the past. I am humbled to be asked to join the Mission Centre Presidency Team and I hope to be an asset for the team and lend my support in any way I can. We look to move forward with succession planning so that each one involved with mission centre administration may be mentored and introduced to the needs of the mission centre in a way that is not overwhelming, but instead is an enjoyable experience. Thank you to the team for asking me to be involved and thanks to you all who have entrusted me with this position. Please feel free to reach out to me as one of the Mission Centre Presidency team with any thoughts or concerns you have. I will try my best not to disappoint you! Faithfully yours, Becky Middleton Written by Gwyn Beer Canada West Mission Centre Co-President Please welcome Rebecca (Becky) Middleton to the Canada West Mission Centre presidency! Some may wonder why we are adding a fourth person to the team. Succession Planning is why. When I agreed to be part of the volunteer mission centre team I was asked to commit to 2 years. Well, 2 years is over and I am just starting to understand the needs of all of you! I am not going anywhere this year but retirement is calling me. With succession planning, I can leave and in a few years might step back into the team. Becky will be adding her thoughts and ideas on what our mission centre needs. She will be learning alongside us. As we continue the journey, Becky will learn some of the pieces that we have learned. I am sure she will discover things we haven’t! Becky and I are first cousins. Becky’s mom Mable and my dad Alfred were sister and brother. Even knowing her all my life, I am sure to find out so much more about her and how capable she is. Succession planning has begun in the mission centre. From the beginning of the new volunteer team, we have been mentored by Steve Thompson, Art Smith and Dar Shepherdson in the ways and means to navigate within the church. Lisa Neudorf mentored showing me how to work with REGGIE. Andy McArthur and Briana McKenna worked with Jean Cravy to help with succession in the camp director field for Canada West. More plans are coming to assist the Mission Centre to meet the needs of the members. As we approach Mission Conference, consider whether you can extend mentorship in some areas or whether you would like to be mentored in some of the areas of the church that you are interested in volunteering for. Yours in Christ, Gwyn, Kat, and Shannon gwyn@communityofchrist.ca kat@communityofchrist.ca smcadam@communityofchrist.ca Mission Conference is coming next weekend. Whether you’re at a host site or in your living room, I hope you’re able to join our gathering. This year we are going to share in a campfire as our Saturday night activity. Campfires are so wonderful; I remember spreading blankets out on the ground that all overlap each other, seeing sparks fly up into the canopy of stars, laughing so hard, then singing beautiful harmonies together. We can’t capture all of this magic inside and online, but I imagine that we can all find a friend or two, tune in online and create our own ‘campfires’ with a collection of candles and by lowering the lights. I’m excited to hear new campfire songs and familiar songs with different verses or motions. I look forward to settling into a contemplative space at the end of the night as we listen to some of our Wise Ones. We’ll have a good time resting in the Spirit together. So if you’re excited to lead a song or skit from wherever-you-will-be on September 23, please contact me at kat@communityofchrist.ca. You can plan ahead, you can be spontaneous, just come and make some memories! Yours in Christ, Gwyn, Kat, and Shannon gwyn@communityofchrist.ca kat@communityofchrist.ca smcadam@communityofchrist.ca When our hearts are true but our way is unclear, courage is what sustains us! Join us at our Mission Centre Conference, September 22-24, as we share courage to act and build. We welcome you to join online or to gather at satellite sites of Chilliwack, Calgary, Edmonton, and Regina. For the first time, you can vote based on membership, not on being elected as a delegate. So come, share in the life of our church in Western Canada so that we may build our vision of God’s peace among us and build our courage to act as we build toward that vision. Yours in Christ, Gwyn, Kat, and Shannon gwyn@communityofchrist.ca kat@communityofchrist.ca smcadam@communityofchrist.ca This week we bring you a few highlights from Youth Camp at Samish Island. Lots of fun was had! Yours in Christ, Gwyn, Kat, and Shannon gwyn@communityofchrist.ca kat@communityofchrist.ca smcadam@communityofchrist.ca We are busily planning Mission Centre Conference with the theme "Courage to Act" and are hoping you will join us. Remember that you don't have to be a delegate to have a say in our business meeting! All members in Canada West can have voice and vote in our conference. Registration is open now. Visit www.cwm.events to register and learn more! Yours in Christ, Gwyn, Kat, and Shannon gwyn@communityofchrist.ca kat@communityofchrist.ca smcadam@communityofchrist.ca Here are a few snaps from family camp this week at Hills of Peace! Where is God's Spirit leading you next? Toward these cookies decorated by the kids?! Yours in Christ, Gwyn, Kat, and Shannon gwyn@communityofchrist.ca kat@communityofchrist.ca smcadam@communityofchrist.ca Hope to see you soon at Hills of Peace for Family Camp! Enjoy these snaps from last year and next week watch for new memories being made! Yours in Christ, Gwyn, Kat, and Shannon gwyn@communityofchrist.ca kat@communityofchrist.ca smcadam@communityofchrist.ca Greetings from our combined Canada West and Inland West family camp at Samish Island Retreat Centre! Lots of joy and smiles this week! Yours in Christ, Gwyn, Kat, and Shannon gwyn@communityofchrist.ca kat@communityofchrist.ca smcadam@communityofchrist.ca This summer as our Mission Centre President team travels and attends events we will be sharing postcards of what we are up to. This week's postcard comes from Shannon: Summer greetings! Last week in Vancouver for Sunday morning we took a walk by the Coquitlam river. It was beautiful and some furry friends joined us! Yours in Christ, Gwyn, Kat, and Shannon gwyn@communityofchrist.ca kat@communityofchrist.ca smcadam@communityofchrist.ca |
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