Community of Christ in Canada
  • Learn
    • Values
    • Mission in Action
    • Lived Experience >
      • The Congregation
      • The Mission Centre
      • The World Church
    • Theology >
      • Enduring Principles
      • Mission Initiatives
      • Sacraments
      • Statement on Scripture
      • Principles of History
      • Generosity
      • Basic Beliefs
    • History & Heritage
  • Connect
    • Congregations >
      • What to Expect
    • Meetup Groups
    • Blog
    • Social Media
    • Partners
    • Contact a Minister
  • Give
    • Giving Tuesday
  • Canada West
    • CWM Dashboard
    • Events Calendar
    • CWM Gatherings
    • News & Updates
    • Staff Directory
    • Congregations
    • Connection Groups
    • Campgrounds
    • Training Courses
    • Forms & Resources
  • Canada East
    • CEM Dashboard
    • Events Calendar
    • CEM Camping 2022
    • CEM Conference
    • News & Updates
    • Staff Directory
    • Congregations
    • Campgrounds
    • Connection Groups
    • Training Courses
    • Forms & Resources
  • Learn
    • Values
    • Mission in Action
    • Lived Experience >
      • The Congregation
      • The Mission Centre
      • The World Church
    • Theology >
      • Enduring Principles
      • Mission Initiatives
      • Sacraments
      • Statement on Scripture
      • Principles of History
      • Generosity
      • Basic Beliefs
    • History & Heritage
  • Connect
    • Congregations >
      • What to Expect
    • Meetup Groups
    • Blog
    • Social Media
    • Partners
    • Contact a Minister
  • Give
    • Giving Tuesday
  • Canada West
    • CWM Dashboard
    • Events Calendar
    • CWM Gatherings
    • News & Updates
    • Staff Directory
    • Congregations
    • Connection Groups
    • Campgrounds
    • Training Courses
    • Forms & Resources
  • Canada East
    • CEM Dashboard
    • Events Calendar
    • CEM Camping 2022
    • CEM Conference
    • News & Updates
    • Staff Directory
    • Congregations
    • Campgrounds
    • Connection Groups
    • Training Courses
    • Forms & Resources

Blog

A Moment with the Mission Centre President–National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

9/29/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
Black Lives Matter
Indigenous Lives Matter
Lives of People of Colour Matter

 
I have brought back the three-line header as a reminder that the issues of prejudice, discrimination, and racism continue to plague our society. The focus today is on “Indigenous Lives Matter.”
 
Thursday, September 30, 2021, will be the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The day has been established by the federal government of Canada to provide an opportunity for all Canadians to reflect on the legacy of Indian residential schools specifically, and the effects, generally, of other examples of systemic racism experienced in the daily lives of Indigenous persons in this country.

Beginning in early July, I have been participating in an online course called “Indigenous Canada,” which is offered through the University of Alberta. Topics covered included the fur trade and other exchange relationships, land claims and environmental impacts, legal systems and rights, political conflicts and alliances, Indigenous political activism, and contemporary Indigenous life, art, and its expressions.

We have had a weekly discussion group of people from Canada West Mission Centre (and a few from Canada East) to debrief what we heard and saw in each week’s presentations. It has been an informative and illuminating experience and I encourage anyone to check it out. The course is available for free.

The course has provided much food for thought as I consider the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The course presented excellent history and background on the experience of the Indigenous community in Canada over the last 150 years – and really the last 500 years. I am still considering what kind of a response it requires of me to be supportive of the initiatives of reconciliation.

For a quick (or in-depth, if you choose) introduction to the issues of reconciliation, consult the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, and especially their resources supporting “Truth and Reconciliation Week.”

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation has been set on September 30 because that is the date used in recent years to mark “Orange Shirt Day.” I won’t take up space here to tell that story. You can read about in the words of the woman who had her orange shirt taken from her on her first day at a residential school here.

When we act to support reconciliation with Indigenous persons, I suggest that we are being consistent with Jesus’ statement of the “second” commandment (after “love the Lord your God…”): “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39) We also give expression to a number of our church’s “Enduring Principles,” including “Worth of All Persons,” “Pursuit of Peace (Shalom),” and “Unity in Diversity.”

Even if you are reading this after September 30, I encourage you to give some thought to the priority of reconciliation in our communities and what role you might find to personally support those efforts.

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
steve@communityofchrist.ca
0 Comments

A Moment with the Mission Centre President–September and the Seasons

9/1/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
You have made the moon to mark the seasons
the sun knows its time for setting.
Psalm 104:19 (NRSV)


I have mentioned in a few posts in the last three months or so how quickly the year seems to be going by. Now – here we are at September 1 already! Just how did that happen?
 
September is similar to New Years. It signals the start of the new year recognized by most of us: a new school year. It also signals the “end” of summer – even though summer does not officially end for another three weeks. Suddenly the weather feels a little cooler (whether it actually is or not). And those of us with gardens (or crops) begin thinking about when that first frost is likely to show up.
 
There is nothing unexpected in the changing of the seasons. However old you are, that’s how many years you have been experiencing them. The Psalmist, writing at least 2600 years ago, recognized the moon’s movements as marking the seasons. Even the author of the first chapter of Genesis recognized the wisdom of God in placing the lights in the sky:
 
And God said, “Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years, and let them be lights in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth.” And it was so.
Genesis 1:14,15 (NRSV)
 
Perhaps the most recognizable biblical verse celebrating the seasons (of life) is the first verse of the third chapter of Ecclesiastes: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven…”
 
The writers of literature that became our scriptures were struck by the passing of the seasons. The seasons, the sun, the moon, and the stars have been subjects of poetry and song for millennia. It must be okay for me to note the passing of the seasons today (even if I lament how quickly they pass!). May we give thanks to God for the amazing cycles of the universe and may our wonder be focused on the blessings that God’s universe brings to us in every season.
 
Unrelated closing paragraph:
Last week I mostly wrote about the upcoming Canada West Mission Conference. There is not yet anything really new to write about the event – so I won’t. I still need to remind you about it. Please go to the Canada West Online Mission Conference hub to see the schedule and to register for the online event. More information will be posted on this site in the next few days and as we get closer to the conference weekend. Please come along!
 
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
steve@communityofchrist.ca
0 Comments

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    October 2019
    April 2019

    Categories

    All
    All Voices
    Announcements
    Apostle Art Smith
    BLM
    COVID-19
    Racial Justice
    Vlog

    RSS Feed

Quick links

Make a Donation
Canada East Mission Centre
  • Upcoming Events
  • Staff Directory
Canada West Mission Centre
  • Upcoming Events
  • Staff Directory

External links

  • All Voices - Testimony Tapestry
  • Community of Christ World Church
  • Creating Connection
  • Community Place+
  • Community of Christ Mobile App for Android
  • Community of Christ Mobile App for iOS
  • World Accord
  • Encounter World Religions
  • Peace and Justice Committee

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
Picture

Canada West Social media

Canada East Social Media

Search Communityofchrist.ca

Site powered by Weebly. Managed by Community of Christ
Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Report a Website Issue