 As “Giving Tuesday” fast approaches, we offer up this reflection on generosity from our Bishop of Canada, Dar Shepherdson. Watch your email the next few days for invitations to share generously! Tithing: God’s Grace in todays world When I was 8 years old, in our pre-baptismal class we were told that tithing was 10% of our income, this thinking has long been the traditional thinking within Christianity and one I accepted without question – and I meticulously recorded my dimes and quarters as income and faithfully gave 10%. A few years later the Church’s position on tithing had morphed from 10% of income to 10% of “increase”, again without much question I meticulously categorized my expenses as necessities or increase and paid my 10% accordingly. In looking back, it was interesting that most of the deep discussions we were having about tithing was not that the premise of giving had changed but “what constituted a necessary expense”. Little did I realize that even these accounting discussions were my early introduction to the discernment process and into what it meant for us to become a prophetic people. You have been given the principles of generosity, rightly interpreted for a new time. These principles call every disciple to tithe faithfully in accordance with means and capacity. —Doctrine and Covenants 162:7c The giving of our tithing from our generosity or capacity is not an end to our responsibility but the beginning of our becoming the embodiment of Jesus the Peaceful One in extending his Grace to a world in need through our generously giving. The tithing dollars we generously give should support all the jurisdictions of the Church equally – Local, Mission Centres, and Worldwide Mission, and it is our responsibility not only to use these funds wisely within our own congregations but to faithfully support others who are also bringing hope and peace in areas throughout the world where we cannot. In a recent Daily Bread article Michele McGrath introduced me to a book “A Bigger Table” where the author John Pavlovitz suggests there are two kinds of Christians: those who see sin and those who see suffering. When we begin to recognize and see suffering, our tithing truly becomes an act of generosity, an extension of God’s Grace – fulfilling God’s call to be a prophetic people. 
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 Where does your mind go when you see the Poppy? Do you wear a poppy on your jacket in November? Remembrance Day is commemorated on November 11th each year and marks the end of World War I in 1918. The armistice took effect at eleven o'clock in the morning - the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month." November is the month that we honour the military personnel who have defended both our borders and other international borders. I know some who have been part of both Canadian and US military and I want to thank them for their service. How do we align our mission initiative “Pursue Peace on Earth” with the need to have a military that is here in Canada and operates through the world when asked? Canada has been known to participate with the UN in peacekeeping operations. The Canadian military has been called upon in the last 2 years to assist the health care teams “fighting” COVID - 19. They have gone into care homes and hospitals. They have established care places in school gyms and warehouses and helped the health care system any way they could. Many people have benefited with getting education paid through the military and all they have to give is time as an active military member. Approximately 118 Canadians were serving in peace operations as of 31 August 2021 (58 in UN missions). Pause for a moment when you see a Poppy and remember that we have our freedom of religion and speech and live a more peaceful existence than most. Lest We Forget 
 Our First Weekly Wire column! Hello from your new Mission Centre President Team! We are so excited to share our first Weekly Wire column. We want to start by saying thank you for the notes and greetings of support we have already received. We are so happy to hear from you. The three of us would like to take this opportunity to give a warm thanks to Steve Thompson on behalf of the entire Canada West Mission Centre. Steve has modeled servant ministry in his seven-year tenure as Mission Centre President and has helped us be sustainable by serving as both Mission Centre President and Chief Financial Officer for a time, and by taking us into the territory of volunteer leadership even through the difficulties that COVID have presented us. His connections throughout the Mission Centre are strong, and he has shown by example how to strengthen the body of Christ in Western Canada. We wish Steve well, we're glad he's not disappearing, and we offer our sincere thanks! We would also like to share an update with you on how we are moving forward with some aspects of our new MCP role. This is a “work in process” as we discern how best to serve in this shared leadership model. One of the metaphors we’ve been using to describe ourselves is Kat being the heart, Gwyn the hands, and Shannon the head! But you will often find us cc’ing one another on emails so we can all stay in the loop on what’s going on. When in doubt, email all three of us. Here is how we are beginning to share out the work:
We are keen to mobilize as many volunteers as we can to support the mission centre, so we humbly ask you to share with us what aspects of Christ’s mission in Canada West speak to your heart and calling. Financial stewardship? Camping? Spiritual formation? Innovative new ministry ideas? Leadership development? Diversity and inclusion? Truth and reconciliation? Care for creation? As we reflect on what a Mission Centre is, perhaps we may sometimes think of it as a president and staff, or as a once-a-year conference gathering, or perhaps gathering at camp, but really, the Canada West Mission Centre is you! And it’s us, and it’s a large, interconnected group of diverse disciples who are moving toward the Peaceful One together. Our email inboxes are ready and waiting for those of you who feel the call to serve, and to those who have questions and wonderings. 
By Apostle Art Smith  Are you readily recognized as a leader in your congregation or in other aspects of the life of Community of Christ? Do you have a strong personal testimony of the place of Jesus Christ in your life as Christian disciple and leader? Are you an enthusiastic advocate for Community of Christ? Would you like to have a strong influence on the direction of Community of Christ in the Canada East Mission Centre and Canada as a whole? If so, have we got an opportunity for you! Applications are invited from interested and qualified persons for a volunteer position on the Canada East Mission Centre President Team. From three to five persons will be selected to serve on this team. One team member will be identified as the “Mission Centre President of
Record” for purposes of official contacts with Community of Christ International Headquarters. The others will be recognized as “Co-Mission Centre Presidents.” Here is where you may find a detailed Position Description. Applications are to be submitted to Apostle Art Smith ([email protected]) by Wednesday, December 1, 2021. |
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