 By Leandro Palacios, Director of Communications Here’s what will happen when we gather on Zoom on Jan 17, and why you won’t want to miss this historic event for Community of Christ. We will begin with a time of worship and reflection to renew our commitment to promote Christ’s mission in Canada, now as a single mission centre with one shared identity and purpose, while honouring the many diverse and unique traditions nurtured in every region and locality where members and friends of our church engage in ministry. After intentionally singing together “We Are One in the Spirit,” spiritually renewed and united, we will commence the formal organizational meeting of the Canada Mission Centre. This new mission centre will become the spiritual home of all congregations and non-resident members previously associated with CEM or CWM. All members who take part in this event will be invited to vote. The most important motions to consider include:
Please take time to visit our website to review the agenda, bios, budget, and other important documents, as well as the dates for our pre-legislative and technical support sessions. We also ask that you hold all those who have accepted the call to serve in the Canada Mission Centre in prayerful consideration. We remind congregations that wish to gather locally for this occasion to let us know in advance so that we can make arrangements to extend voice and vote to everyone.
We look forward to seeing you and taking our first historic step onward together on Saturday, January 17 at 12 p.m. PT / 1 p.m. MT / 2 p.m. CT / 3 p.m. ET. Where: Online via Zoom  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, 761 donors from Canada, the USA, the UK, and Europe raised $858,738 USD, including a $375,000 USD matching fund. In Canada alone, 101 donors contributed $54,280 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.  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:  Council of Twelve updates The World Church Leadership Council has reorganized the Council of Twelve into two teams to meet the evolving needs of the worldwide church. Since October 9, 2025, Apostle Catherine Mambwe has led Team A, which includes fields 1, 2, and 3. Team B brings together fields 4 and 5 under the leadership of Apostle Lach Mackay, grouping Canada, the USA, Australia, and Western Europe as areas of contextual overlap. Additional updates include:
Policy updates: Priesthood and Personal Relationships New policies on Priesthood and Personal Relationships have been implemented in Canada, the USA, and the British Isles Mission Centre. These updates were developed in response to World Conference Resolution 1327 (2023), which authorized apostles—working with the Council of Twelve and the First Presidency—to create policies that align with local laws and cultural contexts.
Church Bylaws Survey closes November 14 Please review the current bylaws and share your feedback. Baptism and Membership Survey is open until December 31 Explore the study resources and share your voice regarding baptism and membership. Jamaica and Philippines Relief The Presiding Bishopric is sending funds to local leaders in Jamaica where church members and property were affected by Hurricane Melissa. Also, a donation was sent to members in the Philippines in areas greatly affected by Typhoon Tino (Kalmaegi). The Generosity Cycle concludes November 23 The 2025 Generosity Cycle wraps up on November 23. There’s still time to participate through worship, study, and daily expressions of generosity. Resources and ideas for closing celebrations are available online.  Imagine lives being changed as people grow in faith, develop new skills, and build communities of peace. Your generosity helps strengthen congregations, empower leaders, and support ministries that nurture learning, connection, and hope in practical, life-giving ways. As Apostle Joey Williams reminds us, “We… are better together, forming communities where we not only grow, but where we thrive.” One U.S. congregation lived out that vision by welcoming Congolese refugees and creating a thriving community of belonging and peace—an inspiring example of what generosity can make possible. 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:  By Leandro Palacios, Director of Communications How do we keep members connected across great distances? To what extent should we embrace new technologies and trends in our efforts to spread the Gospel? How far should we go in adapting our places of worship to new tools? Although we might think these questions belong to the modern age, they have a long history in Community of Christ. A century ago, as the church was re-establishing its presence in Independence, Missouri, while maintaining strong roots in Lamoni, Iowa, President Fred M. Smith saw the need to reach out to members scattered across the world. Travelling often between the two cities, he envisioned a new way to connect them: through the airwaves. Radio was still new and exciting, and very few Christian denominations had dared to use it. That didn’t stop our church leaders from setting up a radio station, authorized by the U.S. government under the call sign KFIX (later KLDS). This made the RLDS church one of the first denominations in the United States to own a licensed station. The first broadcast took place in January 1925 from Lamoni and reached members in several nearby states. Later, a radio antenna was installed on the tower of the Stone Church in Independence, and the broadcasts began reaching listeners as far as Canada and beyond. A hundred years later, these same questions still echo — perhaps louder than ever. Many members today wonder how we can stay connected across great distances while still honouring regional traditions as we move onward together as one mission centre. The internet and social media give us powerful ways to reach each other, but they also bring new challenges. Is TikTok an appropriate way to share the Gospel? How do we communicate effectively on Facebook? How do we keep our online spaces safe and inclusive? The choices we make today are as significant as those made by our pioneers who once raised an antenna over one of our most sacred spaces. And because what we do today is history, we are called to tell the story — so that 100 years from now, someone else might be inspired to boldly try something new, something we cannot yet imagine! Where to start? We will consider how to tell the story at our first Communications Town Hall. Everything we do when we gather can become part of our shared story of community and discipleship if we remember that these moments belong to a greater story that reaches all the way back to the first disciples. 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! Communications Town Hall 📅 Saturday, November 22 ⌚ 10 am PT / 11 am MT / 12 pm CT / 1 pm ET 🖥️ On Zoom – open to members and seekers Meeting ID: 878 5553 5695 Passcode: 081015 |
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