By John Hamer, President of Sionito

When faced with the scale of seemingly intractable problems in our country and our world, we sometimes can’t help but ask the question, what can a little church like ours do in the face of human suffering?  Wherever we live in Canada, we cannot help but be aware of the housing crisis: from basic affordability to lack of sufficient housing and ultimately the problem of homelessness.  

But for the past half century church members in Toronto and London have worked to be a part of the solution in their communities, founding our social housing charitable affiliates, Sionito and Zerin.  The Sionito Group of Charities broke ground earlier this year on a new development located on Finch Avenue in Toronto that will provide affordable housing to 158 people who might otherwise be in danger of homelessness.

Last month, the Federal government recognized the project as a model and singled out Sionito as a trusted partner.  At a media event held at the construction site, two members of the Federal Parliament announced the launch of the government’s new “Build Canada Homes” program.  Adam van Koeverden, MP for Burlington North/Milton West, and Ali Ehsassi, MP for Willowdale, also share the news that the government would devote an additional $1.5 billion to support projects like the one Sionito is currently building.  The event illustrated the trust and goodwill church members like Bryce Taylor, CEO of Sionito, have built over the years with all levels of government partners, as we have fought together for housing justice.  

The teams at Sionito and Zerin are to be congratulated for continuing to build on the good work started decades ago, addressing one of the greatest challenges our country faces.  When we ask ourselves, “what can a little church like ours do in the face of human suffering?”  Let’s always answer, “we can do our part!”

This Sunday, members and friends of Community of Christ will gather to partake in the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, also known as Communion. When we think of this sacred meal, we immediately recall the scene of the Last Supper. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus offers bread and wine to the disciples, saying, "This is my body," and, "This is my blood" (Mark 14:22–24). In Luke, he adds, "Do this in remembrance of me" (Luke 22:19).

Christians continue to share in this meal in remembrance of Jesus—but why? Is it simply a symbolic ritual that keeps the church connected as we reenact what Christians have done for two millennia? Or does something miraculous happen when the minister speaks those familiar words over the emblems?

What really happens during the Lord's Supper—and, consequently, the meaning of this sacrament—became a source of bitter controversy during the Protestant Reformation. The Catholic Church maintained that the bread and wine, while retaining their material appearance, become in substance the body and blood of Christ. This is transubstantiation: the outward form remains bread and wine, but their inner reality is changed. In the Eucharist, these simple elements participate in divine reality, just as Jesus—though fully human—shared the same divine substance with God.

Protestant reformers rejected this doctrine. Ulrich Zwingli went so far as to say that the Lord’s Supper is purely symbolic—a remembrance of the Last Supper. Martin Luther, on the other hand, taught that the body and blood of Christ are truly present in the bread and wine, not because the elements are transformed, but because God is omnipresent. John Calvin proposed a more moderate view: Christ is not bodily present in the elements, but through the Holy Spirit, believers are lifted up to participate in Christ’s divine life.

In Community of Christ, we bless the emblems, saying that we will “eat and drink in remembrance of the body and blood” of Christ, so that we may keep the commandments Jesus gave us and that the Spirit may be with us. Our Communion prayers express a theology of spiritual presence and transformation through remembrance—not transformation of the elements themselves. It is therefore Calvinian in character, emphasizing communion with Christ through the Spirit—not a merely symbolic act, nor a bodily presence. Communion is not about the metaphysics of the emblems; it’s about the real presence of Christ, recognized by the Spirit when the community gathers, remembers, and is nourished together.

Interestingly, our church’s understanding of the Lord’s Supper is reflected not in the scene of the Last Supper, but in a miraculous story from the final chapter of the Gospel of John. After the Resurrection, the disciples are back at the Sea of Galilee. They go fishing at night, “but that night they caught nothing.” How often do we embark on our ministry, struggling to see through the darkness of our own challenges? We sail at night without direction, casting our nets in the wrong places. We try hard, yet we haul in empty nets—our sanctuaries remain empty.

At sunrise, a stranger stands on the shore and calls out, asking if they have any food. They have nothing to offer. Then the stranger tells them to try once more, and a miracle happens. The catch is so abundant that they can hardly believe the net is not torn. The stranger invites them to eat and they share a meal. They recognize they are in the presence of the Lord.

This is an epiphany—a moment of sudden revelation—and it happens as they gather at the table. The Spirit fills their hearts with remembrance: the feeding of the five thousand had taken place on these same shores. The meal reveals that Christ is present in mission—when the impossible becomes possible, when abundance arises from scarcity, when souls are nourished through forgiveness and reconciliation, when the worth of all is affirmed.

The shared meal reveals a Christ who is here and now, not an elusive figure from a distant past. Christ is the Light of the World, piercing the darkness of uncertainty and guiding us toward new waters where we can cast our nets once more. Through the Spirit, we find the courage to keep inviting others to Christ even after failure, and the strength to gather the blessings of a heavy catch, even when we feel overwhelmed by the demands of discipleship.

As we partake in the Lord’s Supper this Sunday, let us open ourselves to the presence of the Spirit, so that the body and blood are not merely remembered, but that Christ may be revealed among us as we share this sacred meal. Where is the Christ who asks for food—the one we so often fail to recognize? Where is the Spirit inviting us to cast the net? And how are we preparing to haul the heavy catch that will follow?

By Leandro Palacios, Master of Arts in Religion, Community of Christ Seminary at Graceland University

Each fall, the Community of Christ Historic Sites Foundation invites members and friends to gather online and learn from historians, storytellers, and guest speakers. This year’s Autumn Lecture Series spans five fascinating sessions exploring the church’s global growth, diverse voices, and lesser-known moments of faith and history.

All lectures are free and open to the public, though donations are welcome to support student internships, new educational resources, and the preservation of historic sites.

Lecture Schedule

Thursday, November 6 – 7:00pm CT / 5:00pm PT / 6:00pm MT / 8:00pm ET

Nauvoo Polygamy and the RLDS Church with Lachlan Mackay

Explore the diverse perspectives and challenges behind understanding the origins of Nauvoo polygamy within RLDS history.

​Thursday, November 13 – 7:00pm CT / 5:00pm PT / 6:00pm MT / 8:00pm ET

A Peculiar People, Politically: The Saints and Politics in 1830s Ohio with Seth Bryant

Learn how early Saints navigated disenfranchisement and political tension in 1830s Kirtland, discovering how faith and civic life often collided.

​Thursday, November 20 – 1:00pm CT / 11:00am PT/ 12:00pm MT / 2:00pm ET

From War and Poverty to Questing for Peaceable Zion: Andrew Bolton’s Story with Andrew Bolton

Hear Apostle Andrew Bolton share his story of faith, peace, and calling—from his early life in England to his ministry and passion for Zion.

Register for November 20 (button) 

My journey through the British Isles has continually been full of new experiences. Lach and I attended the British Isles Mission Centre conference and had the privilege of ordaining Wayne Farmer to Bishop.

​Then we headed out with Andrew and Jewell Bolton towards Scotland to meet with seekers. Along the way we visited inspiring historical sites that are helping us better understand this context.

We’re launching a new quarterly Communications Townhall to connect with congregations, members, and seekers across Canada and strengthen how we share our stories and celebrate missional success. This will be a space for conversation, learning, and collaboration. Our first meeting will be November 22.

Come meet Communications Officers and other dedicated individuals guiding communications efforts at the local level. Get to know the people serving in our national Communications Team. Help us ask the right questions and find the right answers—together.

All are welcome—young and old, tech-savvy and tech-beginner, members and seekers alike. Together, we’ll talk about how communications can help you achieve your goals, and we’ll take note of any local concerns or challenges you are aware of.

Our first Townhall will focus on “Telling the Story.” Too often, our event announcements stop at dates and locations. But how do we make our invitations more engaging? How do we tell stories that make others want to join us? How can we share our stories so that our mission is remembered and celebrated?

We’ll explore questions like:

• If I were looking for a church, what would I want to know before walking through the door?
• When we say “all are welcome,” do we speak in ways that help newcomers actually feel included?
• How can we avoid church jargon and connect through stories that feel real and relatable?

We’ll also look at simple ways to:

• take photos that faithfully capture what was felt
• record meaningful reflections and lessons learned—not just statistics
• share those stories on social media

Each gathering can become part of our shared story of community and discipleship. Storytelling can transform the way we live and share our mission. Join us as we learn how to tell the story of Community of Christ in Canada—together.

📅 Saturday, November 22
 ⌚ 10 am PT / 11 am MT / 12 pm CT / 1 pm ET
 🖥️ On Zoom – open to members and seekers

​Hello from Dunfield House in the United Kingdom!I spent a weekend at Dunfield house as I begin my travels in the UK and Europe over the next few weeks. I was welcomed with warm hospitality, experienced beautiful sights (including wild ponies!), and enjoyed fun camp activities like campfire and swimming. It has been fun to see what is the same and what is different here. In spite of the small differences, I feel very much at home.