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As a follow up to the official announcement of Sam Smalldon’s appointment to Associate Bishop of Canada we want to share Sam’s bio. Some may not know Sam and this will introduce him to you. Many of us know Sam well and it’s still a very interesting read! We thank Sam for his dedication in stepping into this role. He is a blessing to Dar for being able to concentrate on his recovery and indeed to us all!  Samuel (Sam) Smalldon currently lives in Calgary, Alberta. He grew up in St. Thomas, in southwestern Ontario, where he enjoyed attending church youth camps and reunions. He moved west to Alberta shortly after graduating from Graceland in 1978 with an undergraduate business degree and a psychology minor. Sam considers himself a lifelong learner. He continued his education with an MBA in 1991 (NWMSU), a CPA, CMA (Alberta) professional accountant designation in 2002, an MS in Data Science and Analytics in 2022 (Graceland), and is currently enrolled in a graduate PhD program (Capella) studying strategy and innovation in social enterprises.
Sam has been in seniors housing for the past 15 years as chief administrative officer and president for two non-profit housing management boards in rural Central Alberta. Before this, he was part of executive management in chief financial officer roles for post-secondary, healthcare and municipal organizations in the public not-for-profit sectors across Alberta and Saskatchewan. Sam has been involved in leadership and financial management, overseeing many capital projects, working for large and small operations, and with various organizational models. Volunteering has always been part of who Sam is. He learned early to consistently work hard, not worry about having enough, and always be open to new ways to share and give back. He is currently a High Priest and Bishop within the Community of Christ, where he has been in leadership roles for local congregations in Calgary and Edmonton, campgrounds, as mission centre financial officer for western Canada and has been involved with both Canada and World church boards. Sam volunteers with Graceland University; he first served as president of the Alumni Board and is currently a member of the Board of Trustees, where he is an officer and committee chair for several committees. Sam also serves as a volunteer director for SkillPath, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Graceland. Sam and his wife, Shauna, have four adult children and three grandsons. They enjoy two grand puppies and two grand cats as part of their family. Sam tries to care for his well-being by enjoying various recreational activities, including road and mountain bicycle riding, road and dual motorcycle riding, pickup hockey games, and canoeing. Nothing he does for recreation is serious; it’s just about fun and getting a workout. As an accountant, he knows balance is more than just about numbers.
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 Canada East Mission is hiring lifeguards for the 2024 summer for youth camps and reunions. We are looking to hire a Waterfront Lifeguard Director and Lifeguards to meet the needs of each camp. Dates:
Click below for the attached position descriptions with further details. Please send a resume and a cover letter for the position you are applying for including which camps you are interested in working at. Direct any questions to Melissa Freer. All applicants will be contacted for an interview. We will be accepting applications until April 1, 2024. 
 World Accord is inviting applications for Board Director positions, offering an initial three-year term to qualified candidates from across Canada. The organization seeks to embody diversity, equity, and inclusion within its governance board. With over 40 years of engagement in international development projects, World Accord's efforts span across Central America, Asia, and Africa, focusing on sustainable agriculture, climate adaptation, gender equality, and the empowerment of women and girls. Board Directors are expected to commit to the organization's vision, participate actively in meetings, contribute to committee work, and engage in respectful communication and collaboration with staff and other board members. The role involves governance, strategic planning, oversight of programs abroad, and understanding partner relationships. Directors should be prepared to attend two weekend board meetings annually, with additional meetings as required, and engage in committee work and organizational events. Prospective Board Directors should have expertise in areas such as policy and governance, human resources, community engagement, strategic planning, finance, marketing, social media, fundraising, agriculture, risk management, international development, gender equity, climate change, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Fluency in Spanish or French, and previous NGO Board experience, are advantageous but not mandatory. Candidates interested in joining World Accord's mission are encouraged to submit their resume and two professional references to [email protected]. 
 The Canadian Council of Churches invites individuals and communities to offer prayers for peace in Ukraine to commemorate the second anniversary of the start of this war. This prayer has been prepared by drawing on prayers from the Ukrainian Catholic and Ukrainian Orthodox spiritual traditions. Three versions of differing lengths are provided, suitable for use in a variety of worship contexts.
The Canadian Council of Churches recognizes Community of Christ as an observer church invited to participate in the work of the Council and being in agreement with the Basis of its Constitution.
Find out more at https://councilofchurches.ca/ Written by Gwyn Beer Canada West Mission Centre Co-President  Put the dates on your calendar for the events you would like to attend!
Attendance will benefit you and everyone else at the campgrounds! The value we have in our campgrounds is beyond our measure and comprehension. Both Hills of Peace and Samish Island bring us nature at its best! Along with nature, we gather and enjoy each other in a way that does not happen with a Sunday morning worship. We eat together, do chores together, sing together, pray together and say good night only to sleep and then say good morning! For the youth camps, we are looking for volunteers! Camps happen when we have campers and counsellors. Consider helping out at a camp. Family and youth camps will be an experience in sharing and caring with old friends and new friends! Join us at Hills of Peace and Samish Island!  Special Conference:
Get ready for an exciting and transformative event at Spring Conference 2024, hosted by Scarborough Congregation, both in-person and online. The theme, "Living the Mission Prayer - Ready to Risk?", sets the tone for a day filled with inspiration, creativity, collaboration, and spiritual renewal. Keynote Speaker: We are thrilled to announce that Apostle Art Smith will be our keynote speaker, sharing insights and wisdom to inspire and guide us on our spiritual journey. He will also update us on the Canadian Church vision and mission. Legislation for World Conference 2025: To consider legislation intended for World Conference 2025, we are convening this Special Conference to provide dedicated time for necessary discussion among delegates. Save the Date: Date: April 13, 2024 Location: Scarborough Congregation / Online Let's come together, ready to risk, embrace the new, and strengthen our bonds as a community. We look forward to your active participation. Click HERE to register!  WHAT: CEM Family Camp 2024 at Noronto!
WHEN: August 10th -17th , 2024. "In each of these lives is the potential to make the world a better place...Without the loving presence of a community, the potential in each person along the road sat dormant, and the world was not able to receive what those lives could offer." (K. Scott Murphy, First Presidency, Daily Bread, January 22, 2024) Are we ready to be part of a community experience that recognizes, awakens, invites, empowers, appreciates, and finds application for that dormant potential that is just waiting to make the world a better place? Shall we change the world together? Guest Ministry: Evangelist Andrea and Seventy Mark Johnson Watch for updates over the months to come ...  WHAT: “Grassroots Organizing for a Sustainable Water Future” Climate Action: Restoration of Right Relationships
WHO: North American Climate Justice Team WHEN: Webinar – Sunday, February 25, 2024, 2pm-3:30 pm PT (Begins 3pm MT, 4pm CT, 5pm ET, 12pm HT, 10pm London, 9am Sydney + 1 day) WHERE: ZOOM Online Ministry Local citizens in Guelph, Ontario, banded together as a grassroots movement to address injustices happening with the bottling of water. Since then, the Wellington Water Watchers have assisted local communities in fighting a quarry proposal and a glass plant proposal. Dani Lindamood is the Program Manager and Jane-of- all-trades for the organization. She will share her passion for water justice and provide tips for grass- roots organizing to address environmental injustices. If not registered for this Zoom series, please register at https://cofchristclimatejustice.org/register Written by Becky Middleton Canada West Mission Centre Co-President  This week is the beginning of Lent. For some in the Christian world lent is a season of observing 40 days of "fasting" which imitates Jesus' 40 days of fasting in the desert before starting his ministry. For others it is a period of preparation to celebrate the Lord's resurrection at Easter.
Through lent, we seek the Lord through prayer and scripture, serve through alms (charitable acts) and practice self-control through abstinence of luxuries. Many in the faith say that a true inner conversion of heart seeks to follow Christ's will more faithfully. What is your understanding of lent? Has lent been part of your faith tradition? Do you observe lent? If so how? We talked about this in our Tuesday virtual visiting group this week. Several people had varying thoughts about the practice or not of lent. Basically it was decided that we respect all practices of observing worship whether we 'adopt' them or not. One thought that really resonated with me was shared by Nancy Panting. She said she liked to focus on the positive aspect of 'giving' rather than 'giving up' something. Her encouragement was to take on some positive action during lent that might be continued even afterwards. I liked that idea and thought it could be as simple as taking on the practice of phoning someone each day - just to visit and see how they're doing! Or it might be taking on the practice of making babies bibs for a daycare like Svea Mountenay does or knitting hats and mitts for the homeless like the Chilliwack crafting group does. The possiblities are endless! What positive action might you 'take on' during lent? Written by Gwyn Beer Canada West Mission Centre Co-President  Lent starts next week and I want to give up Gratitude to everyone. Community of Christ is exactly that! A community! I am grateful for everyone in this community. To keep things going for everyone, many pieces must fit together. There is a puzzle on the go in the Chilliwack church (there is ALWAYS a puzzle). This one is all clocks and it will probably be complete in another week. Craft night ladies have been working on it. Early Sunday morning arrivals work on it. Coffee morning people grab their coffee and some head to the puzzle table. Often someone will walk over and put in a piece right away and leave while others look and look for a piece but they don’t give up. The puzzle will be completed. So what does this have to do with Gratitude? I am one piece in this community. If I have a problem, I can ask one of the team that make up the Community of Christ in Chilliwack. As a member of the Canada West Mission Centre President team, I am grateful for the others on the team. When someone in the mission centre has a problem, there is usually someone they can ask or call for help. Community of Christ in Guelph, Ontario has been a large part of the puzzle and they have provided answers to all the financial questions that have been asked. We have many people who are volunteers that are pieces of the Community of Christ and who, together, work till any task is completed. I am grateful for all those volunteers who come to a meeting when Shannon calls it. I am grateful for a team of church members who join together once a month and pray for our mission centre and any special thing we ask them to. I am grateful for those who have stepped up and are planning our summer camps. I am grateful for all the volunteers who have made our camps happen over all the past years. I am grateful for all the volunteers who will help with camps now. I am grateful for all those pastors out in our mission centre who lead congregations in mission. I am grateful for all those who have become congregation recorders and our Canada West Mission recorder who uses Shelby. I am grateful for all who use Shelby to keep us connected as Community of Christ. I am grateful for all the members of Community of Christ who may not have a home congregation anymore but remain in touch. I am grateful for all the congregations that zoom their services so others may attend virtually. I am grateful for my heritage in Community of Christ, for those who established this church. We are all pieces in the puzzle that is Community of Christ. I am grateful that new pieces will be added as we ask more volunteers to be part of the future plans for the church in Canada. Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. |
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