Climate Webinar
Sunday, February 26, 5 p.m. ET

Dr. Wallace’s book: "When God Was a Bird* explores questions about the spiritual and physical relationships between us (human creatures), God (the Living Spirit in all things), and all creatures and Creation (When God Was a Bird: Christianity, Animism, and the Re-Enchantment of the World (Fordham University Press, 2019), was awarded the 2019 Nautilus Gold Award for best book in western religious thought). Drawing on his indigenous heritage, biblical scholarship and work as a Christian eco-theologian, Dr. Wallace will share his experiences and thoughts on “Christian animism” and ways that we, too, might experience the reenchantment of the world. To learn more visit: swarthmore.edu/profile/mark-wallace

If not registered for this Zoom series, please register at
https://cofchristclimatejustice.org/register
Watch previous webinars, conversations, and podcasts:
https://cofchristclimatejustice.org/archive-videos

March’s Webinar
David Anderson, DMin
High Priest Quorum President, Community of Christ
Topic: Climate Impacts on Global Security
Sunday, March 26, 2023, 5 p.m. ET

 
Hosted by the N. American Climate Justice Team. Sponsored by GPNW Mission Center, Community of Christ.
Open to all people of all faiths and traditions.

Dates/Time: 7 p.m. ET
February 13, 27
March 9, 13, 23, 27
April 10, 13 

Online / Free

Facilitators: Sandee Gamet & Nina Warriner

Class will be limited to 12 attendees. A 60-page e-booklet will be sent in PDF. Printing is optional and may cost approximately $25 at Staples. Participants must commit to all sessions. 
 
This course will equip persons to work through differences they are having with another person. The first step is self-awareness. When we learn about or become more aware of how we deal with conflict and how that affects others, we will be more skilled at dealing with differences. Self-awareness helps us better utilize the communication skills taught in part two of the class. The class culminates with learning a model of decision making that can bring about mutually satisfying solutions to a conflict.
 
Course Outcome
Participants will have a greater understanding of their communication style, choices made in dealing with conflict, and how to more effectively manage conflict so that mutually satisfactory resolutions may result.
 
Course Outline
I. How I deal with differences
This section includes a variety of activities, discussion and teaching of concepts.
    A. Assessment – “Style Profile for People at Work”
             Discussion and analysis of persons’ scores
    B. Several activities dealing with personal perceptions of conflict
    C. Discussion of five basic choices persons make in dealing with conflict
    D. Attitudes helpful in dealing with conflict
    E. Activity and discussion about dealing with change
 
II. Communication skills helpful in dealing with differences
This section includes teaching of concepts and group and partnered skill practice, coaching by instructors as needed.
    A. Overview of basics of communication
    B. Dealing with and expressing feelings
    C. Discussion of how perspectives impact communication
    D. Listening
        1. Why it’s hard to listen
        2, What helps to listen
        3. Listening skills that assist communication during conflict
        4. Listening skills practice
 
III. A collaborative process for decision making
This section includes teaching the process, practicing each step, culminating with skill practice using the whole process with coaching by the instructors as needed.
    A. The process
    B. Practice

A position is currently open for an administrative and bookkeeping person to provide support for the Canadian Church Office as well as the Mission Centres and any of the Project initiatives that form part of the Church’s mission.

If you are interested, please submit a resume asap or by February 28 to Heather or Dar. If you know of someone who may be interested, please forward this information to them.

Enrolment Information for Online Classes
  
The Center for Innovation in Ministry and Mission (CIMM) through Graceland University and the Community of Christ Seminary announces upcoming online classes. Along with Ministry and Priesthood classes, we offer the first “Christian Ministry Certificate” course (similar to past “MEADS” courses). 
 
The following classes are now open for a limited enrollment:   
 
Spring B Session: 

• Introduction to Priesthood Ministry:  8-weeks, March 6-April 30 - $25 
• Ministry of the Teacher: 6-weeks, March 6-April 16 - $25
• Ministry of the Seventy:  8-weeks, March 6-April 30 - $25 (Newly called Seventy, please contact President of Seventy for reimbursment) 
• Christian Ministry Certificate Course: 
  • Peace and Justice: Dr. Nancy Ross – March 6-April 30 – mix of online and one live session per week - $100

Note:  Special consideration with be given students during the week of World Conference.
 
CIMM offers non-credit bearing continuing education units (CEU’s) that focus on priesthood development, leadership development, and theological education. These CEU’s do not lead to a degree. To enroll or view the schedule of upcoming classes, go to our website: www.graceland.edu/CIMM. ​

Unfortunately, there are many scammers looking for opportunities to take advantage of non-suspecting individuals in many different ways. Please be aware of schemes that may be circulating among or seemingly from Community of Christ members, friends and Mission Centre Leadership. 

Scammers use email or text messages to trick you into giving them your personal and financial information. If you reply, the next email may ask you to purchase a gift card on their behalf or to provide personal information. 
 
Phishing attacks
Phishing is the act of sending communications that appear to be legitimate but are fraudulent. Phishing emails often contain malicious attachments or links to malicious websites. Threat actors carry out phishing attacks to trick you into disclosing sensitive information, such as credit card numbers, social insurance numbers, or banking credentials.
Threat actors can carefully craft emails that look convincing or legitimate. For instance, a threat actor may send emails that use personal information about an individual within Community of Christ by using publicly available information from the church's website or social media accounts.

Given our desire to trust (and the number of emails we receive daily), it can be easy to believe the content we read in these emails, reply to the email, click on embedded links, or open attachments. However, attachments may contain malicious software, and the links may direct you to malicious websites. Even if an email comes from someone you know, you should always think twice before clicking links or opening attachments.

Identifying malicious emails
Malicious emails can be difficult to identify, but there are some steps you should take to determine whether emails are legitimate or fake:

• Check that the sender’s email address has a valid username and domain name. A suspicious email address could be similar to the one below:
  • “John Doe <johndoe.%nklo17er@gkmail.com>”.
• Verify that you know the sender of an email and that its tone is consistent with the sender.
• Look for grammatical errors or typos in the body of the message. Companies want to maintain a high degree of professionalism and generally do not send out emails that contain these types of errors.
• Consider the tone of the email or what is being offered. If the email is threatening or sounds too good to be true, then it is probably a phishing email.
• Pay attention to what is being requested. Most companies do not ask for sensitive or personal information in an email.

Handling malicious emails
Handle suspicious emails with care. When in doubt, avoid opening suspicious emails and contact the sender by another means (e.g. phone call) to confirm they contacted you.
Do not click on links, attachments or QR codes provided in emails. If you are being asked to log in to an account for an unsolicited reason, do not click the link. Do not open attached files and avoid scanning QR codes. Instead, visit the company’s website by manually entering the URL in your web browser or search for the website through a search engine.

For further information including how to report suspicious emails, visit Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, Government of Canada.

​Beyond the Walls – Discern Wisdom 
How can we discern what God is calling the Church to do and be? How can we facilitate dialogue between disciples that promotes discernment instead of breaking down into fractious debate? The process of discernment is at the heart of what it means to be a “prophetic people.” Katie Harmon-McLaughlin, World Church spiritual formation director, brings our message on the theme “Discern Wisdom.” The Canada East Mission Centre Presidents Team–Vonda DenBoer, Dawn Dawson, and Mary Jean Belrose–and Creating Connection Director, Troy Roach bring ministry exploring our topic and small-group facilitation. Zilphia Martin III offers our invocation. Our choir premieres CCS 248 - A Mighty Fortress Is Our God. Beyond the Walls – Discern Wisdom. We hope to see you there on Sunday, January 29, at 12:00 PM and 6:00 PM EST. 

SLIM (Sharing Love in Mission) - 1:45 p.m. Daryl and Angela McDonald presiding. Message by Seventy Karen Smith. Contact Don Robb for Zoom details.

Other Online Ministries are available from many varied places for you to connect with.

World Conference Director and World Church Secretary Susan Naylor and Communications Director Jenn Killpack were live on the Community of Christ Facebook page on 19 January to share important announcements about 2023 World Conference. 

You can review the recording of Susan and Jenn on Facebook by clicking on the image above as they discussed the conference theme “Courage” and highlighted details about World Conference Special Offering and registration.
​
The Community of Christ Facebook page is public and does not require a Facebook account to access.

To the Canadian Saints

 Arthur, one of you, just like you, called to serve Jesus Christ, grace and peace to all of you, not just for you, but flowing through you as a blessing to others, to all communities.

As I write, at the start of this new year, I remember all of you fondly, thinking of times we’ve shared and picturing places you are and situations you face.

My prayer, for you, at the start of this year, with all the joys and promises ahead, is that the Holy Spirit will do what I’ve always known it to do, meeting each of us and all of us and everyone mysteriously as needed.

In the middle of exile,
In a time of despair,
May the Spirit of hope shine through
So we see ways out of hopelessness with hope our beacon and our proclamation.

In a time of joy and celebration,
When all our needs seem met,
May the Spirit illumine and remind us of those in need on the margins
So we hear voices and understand the perspectives of others.
May we lift up and care.

Outside forces and our own weaknesses,
Lead so many to see the church as irrelevant
Or as an instrument of hate and harm, exclusion and injustice.

But the mission of Jesus Christ remains.
It’s not just some external promise of things that God will do,
as if by magic in some future, decades away.
YOU are a gift.
YOU are to be a light to the world.
YOU are to open the eyes of the blind, to release the prisoners.

See through the fog of fear and hate.
The mission of the church is not irrelevant, hateful or harmful.
Your mission, this year, where you are, is to participate in
Release from demonization, marginalization, poverty and all sorts of captivity.

Everyone is invited in,
To participate in this purposeful project.

How it happens will be as diverse and varied as the two or three of you who gather to support each other,
to dream and to plan.

No person abandoned.
All invited to participate.
No matter if you live in uncertainty, decline of your community, or despair.

May this be our mission, their liberation and our liberation. All at once.

Apostle Art Smith
Council of Twelve
Canada, Caribbean, Mexico/Texas Fields
January, 2023

I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my
prayers for all of you.
- Philippians 1: 3-4