 By Leandro Palacios, Director of Communications
Imagine yourself in a quiet room, watching a video of a Christmas song with the words on screen. Through your earpiece, you hear the lead singer, and you simply sing along. Then imagine your voice blended together with the voices of others from across Canada, the USA, and beyond, singing together as if you all were in the same room, beautiful harmonies emerging as the voices of altos, tenors, and basses interlace with the main tune carried by the sopranos. And imagine people around the world, literally around the world, coming together for worship, or perhaps in moments of personal reflection or spiritual need, clicking “play” and being able to listen to the gift you offered the day you simply sang to your phone in a quiet room at home, a ministry that keeps on giving week after week, and year after year. That is the ministry of the Beyond the Walls Choir. Do you love to sing? Do you know someone who does? Are you ready to add your voice to this ministry? We invite you to give it a try. This Christmas season, our choir invites you to participate in this ministry, singing CCS 437 – “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming” and CCS 422 – “In the Bleak Midwinter”, which we will premiere on Christmas Eve.
Please find the step-by-step instructions to get you started by clicking on the buttons below. Our team is happy to help you with any questions about the music and to figure out any technical obstacles. We are looking forward to singing together with you!  Giving Tuesday 2025 was a success. Together, 752 donors from Canada, the USA, the UK, and Europe raised $852,325 USD, including a $375,000 USD matching fund. In Canada alone, 92 donors contributed $45,430 CAD.
This remarkable display of generosity from members and friends across Canada shows the whole world that here in Canada we are committed to moving onward together as a worldwide church dedicated to promoting joy, hope, love, and peace, and to sharing Christ’s mission globally. We are deeply moved by your incredible generosity. Thank you for sharing hope and compassion this season and for continuing to imagine a world shaped by generosity and peace! Visit our Giving Tuesday page to learn more about this year’s theme and how your gift makes a difference.  By Apostle Shannon McAdam, I have brought home many learnings from my fall tour of the British Isles and Western Europe. One of these has particularly stayed with me: how people there have provided impactful, meaningful ministry in small, humble spaces. As I visited congregations in the UK, I noticed that people take great pride in buildings that are much more humble than many of the facilities our congregations have in North America. And no one seems to let the size of their space limit what is possible to offer as ministry for their community. In Sutton, I met a congregation that opens every Wednesday morning for coffee with the community. People wander in from the neighbourhood on their morning walks or intentionally head to “their church” for a hot drink, a cookie, and—more importantly—friendly conversation. At long tables in the small church hall, people sit and catch up on their lives. The congregation also has thrift tables around the edge of the room where people can buy household goods, books, and clothes for just a few pence. Most think of it as “their church,” even if they aren’t members and have never been by on a Sunday. A little later on Wednesday mornings in Clay Cross, members of the congregation and the larger community gather in their sanctuary to divide food into hampers that people in need can purchase for a very nominal amount. After receiving an overwhelming number of tins of baked beans as donations for hampers, a congregation member came up with the idea of also serving a simple hot lunch of beans on toast on Wednesdays for anyone who might be hungry for a hot meal and/or some conversation. “Bean Still” was born, and has become a weekly tradition. At Stockport, one room serves as sanctuary, dining room, children’s play area, and meeting place. Their kitchen is smaller than my condo kitchen, and yet they served us a generous lunch when we visited, with homemade soups, fresh bread, cheese aplenty, and desserts (complete with custard!). These places inspired me to think about how often we assume our spaces—not just our churches but also our homes—are too humble or small to invite anyone to. But in reality, people will remember far more about how they felt when they visited, and the quality of the relationships they formed, than about the décor, the size of the space, or how fancy the meal was. Could you “risk something new” in your space? Is there something simple you could offer that might bring warmth and hope to others’ lives? Because, as Stassi has challenged us to think: “What if we get it right?” We won’t know unless we try!  Apostles Shannon McAdam and Lachlan Mackay share their Advent and Christmas greetings in this short video, reflecting on the many people they connected with this year and looking toward the year ahead with gratitude. They also offer a special blessing for the season.
 Last Saturday, November 22, more than 30 members from across Canada participated in our first Communications Town Hall—including eight from the Chilliwack congregation. This was an opportunity to meet face to face with the members of the Communications Team and learn more about what we do and what our priorities are for 2026. We also had a chance to hear questions and insights from attendees across the country, helping us better understand how our team can support ministries and programs at the local level as we move onward together.
In this article, we share key takeaways from this event, including highlights from the presentation and answers to some of the questions we heard from attendees from across Canada. Who We Are The Communications Team is currently composed of Jeanny Jakobsen from Saskatoon, SK, serving as Operations Specialist; Quinlan Stevenson from Stratford, ON, serving as Communications Coordinator; and Leandro Palacios from Toronto, ON, serving as Director. We are hoping to add a Graphic Designer to the team (if you are interested, you can find more details here). What We Do
To do that, we aim to clearly express who we are, what we do, and what we believe. This is why we uphold visual standards and communicate our identity, mission, message, and beliefs as stated in Sharing in Community of Christ, while reflecting the Canadian cultural context. Our Priorities for 2026 Key priorities include:
Feedback and Questions from the Town Hall 1. How do we develop and maintain relationships with local members who can no longer attend in person? The local community is unique and we want to continue to support this type of gathering. However, connecting with those who cannot attend in person does not have to be centered around the Sunday service (by adding more cameras and microphones), but by trying something new. For example, the Scarborough congregation holds their regular in-person service some Sundays but gathers every Thursday for a fully online service. That allows people who can no longer attend in person to participate fully, and “quality” becomes less about production and more about community. Our team is hoping to create and nurture connections with people across Canada, no matter what congregation they come from. Onward Together does not only mean that two mission centres are becoming one. It also means that to fully take advantage of the opportunities ahead of us, we must let go of thinking that our church community is only the people who used to come in person to our building. Identity based on a building has not helped us invite people to church in the last few decades. Instead, we want to promote Canada-wide communities that share common passion and vocation. This question was related to how to run a successful hybrid service. While IT recommendations and support are not functions of the Communications Team, we remind everyone that a guideline for online and hybrid services is available on our website. 2. Can you blur faces in photos we share with the Communications Team? No. Before sharing photos with us, you need to ask permission from anyone whose face is clearly visible. 3. What are the minimum communications channels a congregation should manage? We heard questions like: Can someone help us update our website? Should we be on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X? How much time should we dedicate to these things? You don’t have to be on every social media platform and you don’t need to have your own website. But of course, you can. However, the more channels the more time it will take to manage them. Here's what we suggest: Appoint a Communications Officer if you haven’t yet. This way we can ensure that all the information about your events, ministries, and contact information are up to date on the website of Community of Christ in Canada. This is more important than managing your own website because communityofchrist.ca will normally rank higher on Google searches. If someone in the congregation uses Facebook regularly, they can dedicate one hour per week to manage your congregation’s Facebook page. If someone in the congregation uses Instagram regularly, they can dedicate one hour per week to share photos on a church account. Instagram posts can be automatically shared on Facebook. What about TikTok, X, YouTube? These platforms require more content creation. Content has to be about a topic, not about promotion or invitation to a church event, the algorithms don’t like promotional content unless you pay for it. Online channels are not the only way to promote your activities. For example, in Toronto, a small note in a free magazine brought hundreds of people to our in-person lectures. Think of what might work in your area, like a bulletin board at the library or community centre. 4. Are you creating media content that we can post on social media? We encourage you to share in your congregation’s social media channels all the content that we publish online as Community of Christ in Canada. But we do not create content tailored for your local events and ministries. We can work with your Communications Officer to build templates so that you can create quality graphics and video that will look professional and follow current social media trends. 5. Are we developing guidelines for congregations to effectively and safely promote their work on social media? We are. Once those become available early next year, we will publish them on the website and announce them in our newsletters and social media. I want to thank all those who participated in the first of many Communications Town Halls. I am looking forward to seeing you at our next session (the date will be published shortly). In the meantime, should you have any questions, concerns, or feedback, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Leandro Palacios Director of Communications – Community of Christ in Canada [email protected]  As the Generosity Cycle draws to a close, we carry its spirit of daily and spiritual generosity into Giving Tuesday on 2 December—a time to extend that same spirit through financial giving. Together, we can help the church’s global ministries continue to support life-changing work through Worldwide Mission Tithes.
This week, we’re focusing on Empowering People and Communities. Imagine barriers being lifted as people gain access to education, training, and opportunity. Across Canada and around the world, your generosity helps create spaces where people can grow, gain confidence, and build sustainable futures rooted in dignity and hope. From community food programs to youth leadership initiatives, every contribution supports efforts that strengthen resilience and open doors to a better future. On December 2, join us for Giving Tuesday, a global day of generosity that supports ministries of compassion, justice, and peace. A generous $250,000 USD matching contribution will double every gift—amplifying your impact. Visit our Giving Tuesday page to learn more about this year’s theme and how your gift makes a difference:  Imagine communities coming together to care for the Earth and live sustainably. Your generosity supports global efforts to protect natural resources, address climate change, and inspire people to live in harmony with creation. Community of Christ has declared a climate emergency and is committed to taking practical steps like installing solar power, reducing waste, and hosting more virtual gatherings to reduce emissions. These initiatives are helping model sustainable ministry and care for our shared world. On December 2, join us for Giving Tuesday, a global day of generosity that supports ministries of compassion, justice, and peace. A generous $250,000 USD matching contribution will double every gift—amplifying your impact. Visit our Giving Tuesday page to learn more about this year’s theme and how your gift makes a difference:  A very meaningful and memorable part of travelling the British Isles and Europe was our experiences of the sacraments. We participated in Communion 4 times and observed or participated in 3 ordinations, 2 baptisms, 2 laying on of hands, and 1 confirmation.
Communion in particular was memorable as we took the elements outside on a playground, in a schoolroom during a conference, in a hotel room, and in a conference room of a hostel. All were deeply moving and sacred times.  By Lana Cullis, Co-author of Spiritual Life Writing Workbook Yesterday I had coffee with a new friend. And we told each other stories carried close to our hearts. The kind of stories that usually go untold. The kind of stories that begin, “I had this experience…it’s hard to describe…but it changed me.” You know—faith and spirit stories. She and I first met about 18 months ago at a meeting to organize a new book club. Since then, our club of ten has read and discussed over a dozen books. We take turns selecting books, leading conversations, and hosting meetings. The books chosen, authors, and subject matter vary widely. Invariably, before every meeting, one or two members will research the “story behind the story” and share their discoveries during the meeting. With some books, the plot itself becomes less important than the question, “What drove the author to write this story?” My new friend and I have both retired from careers that required us to formally document the stories of our clients. And both of us took great care to ensure that our clinical notes conveyed our client’s voice alongside medical documentation. Why? Because stories matter, and because storytellers matter too. We all have that uncle or grandmother who keeps us spellbound around the dinner table; they are often the same people who give toasts at weddings, eulogies at funerals, or theme talks at church. You might be that person. We all wish we could hear or tell such important stories again—or even read a whole volume of stories of faith and spirit. During Advent we are especially mindful of messages about hope, peace, joy, and love. Ironically, though, it’s stories about faith, religion, and spirit that are the most likely to become lost. Because we hesitate to write them. It is normal to think, “But I am not a writer. I could never do that.” But what if, with a little help, you could? Take the next step in sharing your own story. Join us for the Spiritual Life Writing Online Retreat, on Zoom, January 24–25. The Early Bird registration price of $60 is available until November 29 and includes a copy of the Spiritual Life Writing Workbook.This guided experience offers support, encouragement, and practical tools to help you begin writing the stories that matter most. This Christmas season, tell someone their story matters. And remind yourself that your story matters too. Susan Scott, Lana Cullis, and Sharon S. Hines published The Spiritual Life Writing Workbook: From Concept to Bookshelf because too many important stories remain untold.  By John Hamer, Canada East Historian Stained-glass windows have deep roots in Christian history. They were popularized and made important by Abbot Suger of St. Denis in the 12th-century Kingdom of France. Suger’s abbey housed the royal crypts where most of the kings and queens of France have been buried. He wanted to renovate and rebuild his abbey church on a grand scale in a new style, using the latest engineering technology. He ended up building what we now think of as the first “Gothic cathedral.” The most important component of the new church were its windows — much larger and letting in far more light than earlier Roman and Romanesque structures. These were decorated with stained-glass images of the saints and vignettes of Bible stories. But these were not meant simply to be pretty or to tell stories to the illiterate. The windows had a theological purpose. Drawing upon the Gospel of John’s description of the divine Christ — “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind” — Suger allegorized light as the source of divine revelation. In his conception of stained glass, the natural light of the sun was lux, which was then mediated through the gem-light prism of the windows, becoming lumen or metaphysical light. Finally, that lumen entered the eyes of individuals as “illumination” — a spiritual light that elevated the mind and fed the soul. Suger developed his ideas from The Celestial Hierarchy, an important theological text he believed had been written by Dionysius the Areopagite. Dionysius was an Athenian leader in the Book of Acts who converted because of Paul’s preaching (Acts 17:34). Tradition in Suger’s day held that Dionysius became a Christian missionary in Gaul, ultimately serving as the first bishop of Paris, winning renown as “the apostle of France.” After Dionysius’ martyrdom, he was buried in Suger’s abbey, which was named in his honour — “Denis” being French for Dionysius. (Modern historians have concluded that Denis of Paris, the author of The Celestial Hierarchy, and the character from the Book of Acts were actually three different individuals.) Stained glass has continued to provide illumination within our own Community of Christ tradition in churches across Canada. Magnificent stained-glass windows from the historic Maitland Street church in London were preserved and are now housed in the Woodfield church. Stained-glass windows from the historic Soho Street church in Toronto are preserved in the heritage rooms of Toronto Centre Place, the Reaching Out Centre in Mississauga, as well as the church history museum in the Temple in Independence. Other beautiful examples of stained glass include renditions of the church seal in buildings as far afield as Edmonton, Calgary, and Proton. Does your church facility include stained glass? Do you know its history? Please share photos and the story with us: [email protected] |
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