A Moment with the CWM Mission Centre President (Part 5 in a Series)

Black Lives Matter
Indigenous Lives Matter
Lives of People of Colour Matter
 
Today, “We Share… a Sacred Story.”

“In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth…”
-Genesis 1:1 NRSV
“Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way…”
-Matthew 1:18
“I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents…”
-I Nephi 1:1
“Hearken, O ye people of my church…”
-Book of Doctrine and Covenants, section 1:1a
 
Our sacred story begins in four places at four different times in four different records of scripture. The first verse of Genesis begins the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) which ultimately tells the story of God’s people of the covenant over many centuries. The first chapter of Matthew begins the New Testament and the story of the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ followed by the records of the persons who first shared his teachings with the ancient world. The first verse of the Book of Nephi in the Book of Mormon becomes our entrance into a multi-faceted story of people following God’s direction through times of change, challenge, war, peace, and ultimately the ministry of Jesus in a land far removed from Jerusalem. And, finally, the opening verse of the Book of Doctrine and Covenants begins the nearly 200-year-old (and counting) prophetic journey of Community of Christ from its humble beginnings in upper New York state to a world-wide denomination present in over 60 countries.
 
“The sacred story is the all-encompassing saga of God’s redeeming action in the world. … The story of Community of Christ is part of a much larger sacred story that is rooted in Christian history, including the Hebrew tradition from which Christianity emerged.” (Sharing in Community of Christ, p. 17) In this sense “We Share” this long sacred history of religious faith with the rest of the larger Christian church. Further, “the story of the church is one of unusual faith, vision, and creativity in response to God’s call.” (p. 18) In this sense, we share a unique sacred story with people to show God’s continuing revelatory, and prophetic leadership in our movement.
 
“Do not fail to listen attentively to the telling of the sacred story, for the story of scripture and faith empowers and illuminates.”
-Book of Doctrine and Covenants, section 161:5
 
For more information about our story, please contact me or contact a congregation near you.

Extra Information: Be sure to let your voice be heard in an early stage of consultation about the future of Community of Christ in Canada. Check out Apostle Art Smith’s sermon from September 27 (fast-forward to 35:29), plus his related conversation with Seventy John Hamer of Toronto, Ontario, and respond to this questionnaire. Thank you for your interest.

I pray for you God’s blessings of joy, hope, love, and peace in these challenging times.

Steve Thompson
Canada West Mission Centre President
steve@communityofchrist.ca