Bringing Cheer and Showing Support
The Sharing Love in Mission (SLIM) group from Chatham coordinated a community event to share posters of love, encouragement, support, caring and thanks to ALL the staff at Chatham Kent Health Alliance, long-term care facilities and ALL ESSENTIAL STAFF working in Chatham Kent.

SLIM has produced and/or received over 100 posters from caring individuals who want all those who are working with the public to know that they are in our thoughts and prayers each and every day of this challenging pandemic.

A response of appreciation was received from Ms. Fanny of the CKHA. “The posters are so beautiful. We have put them up at the entrance where the staff are screened upon coming to work. Thank you to all the contributors!” 

​Self-less Giving by Making Masks
Penny Allen of Hamilton loves to quilt. It was a great fit for her to transition to making masks. At first, she made them just for family members but soon others were asking for them too. That's when she chose to sell the masks for $5 each and to donate all the money to the local "Neighbour 2 Neighbour Food Bank", an organization that uses preventative measures and strategies to alleviate the burden of poverty in Hamilton.. So far she has been able to raise $200! Thanks for making an incredible difference Penny.

I Wash for Them
By Seventy Mary Jean Belrose

These days are strange--strangely quiet, strangely occupied, separated from one another and strangely together. It’s been a month and I’ve fallen into some sense of familiarity, a little more comfortable with the uncertainty, a little more content with blessings I have taken for granted. I’ve come to accept the new boundaries and even guard my perimeters of assumed safety as I respect others’ borders as well. We give each other a cautiously wide berth as we take care of our essential needs in public spaces and still find the opportunity to strike up a conversation while in line, hungry for face-to-face connection.

Family members in Cuba who worry about us even as we worry about them...
Click here to read the entire story>>>>
 

Tell us how you have been inspired to make a difference in your congregation, community or beyond, or what thoughts have surfaced for you through the lens of your faith journey. Send your uplifting stories to [email protected].

Dear Friends,
I am writing to you, our cherished donors, on behalf of World Accord. You usually hear from our Executive Director, David Barth, but in these unprecedented times, as president of the board, I felt it was important you hear from us as well to assure you that David, World Accord staff and partners are all healthy and well.

We understand you may be anxious to hear about the welfare and well-being of our programs and partners. All our partners’ staff are healthy at this point and attempting to work from home. This is challenging and frustrating for our dedicated partners because many of their tasks are accomplished in person. This means that a lot of progress will be halted for the time being in hopes of keeping the participants safe and healthy.
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​Click here to read the entire article.

Listen to Apostle Smith's personal thoughts on coping during a pandemic, the blessings of community in Community of Christ and our Enduring Principles.

Community of Christ Extends Closing Date for Sites
4/17/2020
The Community of Christ temples, Auditorium, headquarters and historic sites around the USA will remain closed to the public through June 30. Church officials also extended a current work-from-home strategy for many employees. 

The decision to extend the plan reflects the Presidency’s continued concern for the welfare of staff and their families. The selected date is fluid, based on government and public-health recommendations. 

Our Continued Response to COVID-19
4/17/2020
The First Presidency has continued to monitor recommendations from professional health organizations about preventing the spread of COVID-19. Many nations continue to recommend the suspension of group gatherings. Based on our review, the First Presidency is advising congregations and mission centers to continue suspending church gatherings. Read more. 

Church Receives Funds to Help Cover Payroll, Utilities During COVID-19 Emergency
15 April 2020
On Friday, 10 April, Community of Christ received $1.53 million USD as a loan through the Paycheck Protection Program, which is part of the CARES Act enacted by the USA government. 
The loan will be used to cover employee payroll and utilities for eight weeks. Loan amounts used for these purposes during the eight-week time frame are forgiven. Any amount not used for eligible expenses will be repaid at the end of the eight-week period. 
The PPP loan will help bridge the gap for lost income due to cancelled events at the Auditorium and historic sites, lost preservation fees and sales due to closed historic sites and limited sales from Herald House, as well as anticipated shortfalls in Worldwide Mission Tithes.  
While this funding will be a significant help in filling a short-term gap, continued support of Worldwide Mission Tithes and local tithes by those who are able is critical as the church navigates the months during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

​We are so very pleased to report that Kerry has been declared "recovered" from CoVID-19!

Just this morning, Shelley noted that Kerry had remarked on just how much better he felt and that he was even up and out of bed. The call from the health nurse with the good news was just the icing on the cake. Kerry continues to rest and regain strength.

We are indeed grateful for the outpouring of your prayers, Kerry's recovery thus far and the celebration of Easter. Though these are difficult and dark times, let us remember that God is always with us.
 
"Where flowers bloom, so does hope." Lady Bird Johnson

ANNUAL "WALK FOR JUSTICE" TO GO AHEAD AS ONLINE EVENT
The annual Good Friday Walk for Justice, sponsored by the Simcoe County KAIROS community, will still take place this year by moving the event online using ZOOM and broadcast out on Facebook Live. This year's theme is centered around ecological justice and will be titled "Justice for the Earth", the idea being inspired by the efforts of Greta Thunberg and due to the heightened focus on the environment brought about by the current global pandemic.
 
Viewers will be invited to "walk" virtually to acknowledge and confess humanity's complicity in ecological injustice and covenant to work towards ecological justice as a global village. The schedule runs approximately 30 minutes and will include reflections, prayers, and singing in unity with folks from a diversity of faith traditions, cultures and backgrounds and others from the local and surrounding community.
 
Anyone can tune-in to the live video stream at 1:00 PM on Friday, April 10th (and participate in this observance) by going to the group's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/simcoekairos even without the need for a Facebook account. 
 
Simcoe County KAIROS, affiliated with KAIROS Canada, is a community of ordinary Canadians working together in faithful action for ecological justice and human rights. They can be contacted at [email protected]."