 Ziontario has six buildings and plenty of outdoor space that need spring cleaning every year. We count on your help to prepare our campground before the 2025 camping season begins. We invite you to join us for "Select a Day in May"!
Bring a friend, gather a team, or rally your congregation to help maintain the grounds. You get to choose the day that works best for you! For important details contact Becky Grigsby at [email protected]
0 Comments
 Children Ages 7-12 Welcome new and returning campers! Join us for a fun-filled weekend at Noronto, July 4–6, as we explore our theme “We Shine Brighter Together”. New and returning campers can expect laughter, friendship, worship, crafts, and plenty of outdoor fun—including everyone's favourites like swimming and campfire time. Whether it’s your first time at camp or one of many, this weekend is a great chance to grow in faith, build friendships, and shine together in community. We can’t wait to see you there! Registration Fee: $125.00 (including HST) per camper. 
 By Troy Roach, Creating Connection Director, Canada East
Capture, Celebrate, and Share What You’re Already Doing Ever wished you could capture the energy, joy, and spirit of your event to share with others—but didn’t have the equipment or know-how to make it happen? You’re not alone. That’s why we’re excited to offer Creating Connection’s Mobile A/V Support—a way to partner with you and your team to capture, share, and celebrate the amazing things you’re already doing. What We Bring Whether you’re hosting a camp, retreat, reunion, group gathering, hybrid event, or online session, we can bring our tech toolkit to you. We’re talking about: • HD web and PTZ (remote point-tilt-zoom) cameras, and accent/flood lighting • Digital HD camera for photo/video capture and live streaming • Audio mixer board, streaming controller, and USB hubs • Laptops, tablets, LCD screens, and video editing workstation • Wireless handheld and lapel microphones, Bluetooth loudspeakers • Tripods, cables, adapters, mic boom arms, and backup gear • Internet access gear for hybrid/online participation, power protection What We’ll Do Together We’ll work with you to: • Capture high-quality video and images for social media, storytelling, promotions, reports, and more • Explore what’s possible with livestreaming, hybrid hosting, digital storytelling, or even creating your own podcast • Experiment and learn by doing, side-by-side with our support—whether it’s live production or audio storytelling Yes, you read that right—we can even record a podcast with you or support you in getting one of your own started. Whether it's a one-time episode, a week-long series at camp, or the launch of something even bigger, we're here to bring your ideas to life. If it supports your storytelling or amplifies your mission, we’re all in. Why This Matters We’re not offering to be your ongoing tech team—we’re offering to walk with you through the first steps so you can learn what’s possible, see how it works, and start dreaming about how your community can do the same. Like the old saying goes: we’re not just here to catch the fish—we’re here to guide and equip you to fish. It’s about growing capacity. It’s about making the amazing things you do more visible. It’s about showing people what’s possible, so they can imagine doing it too. Let’s Collaborate If you’ve got an upcoming event and you’d like to explore what we can do together—just ask. We’d love to dream with you, brainstorm, support your first one or two projects, and share our tools and experience so you can build confidence, inspire others, and maybe even invest in your own gear and team over time. Not sure if it fits? Ask anyway. We’ll cast the vision with you. Let’s show the world what’s possible—together. Ready to Take the Next Step? Book a spot on our calendar before it fills up—especially if you’re a camp director planning for a busy summer season. Let’s make this the year your community’s story gets seen, heard, and shared! Contact us at: [email protected] Call or text: 519-404-3357  When members of the Guelph Elora congregation said goodbye to their Mitchell Street building, some in the community wondered if they were closing their doors for good. But as Marion Smith writes in a recent letter to GuelphToday, the congregation is very much alive—just refocusing its ministry beyond the building.
“The Guelph Community of Christ is alive and well in this community,” Marion shares. “We just decided to follow Jesus—out of the building and into the neighbourhood.” In the year since letting go of their physical space, the congregation has deepened its outreach. Members have devoted more energy to local service organizations, including food banks, housing support, climate advocacy, and Meals on Wheels. “Energy which we would much rather devote to serving as volunteers, advocates, even letter-writers,” Marion explains, showing that ministry continues in new ways. Read the full letter on GuelphToday  Join us at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 27 for this month’s All In Sunday at the Reaching Out Centre (125 Queen St South, Streetsville). We’ll gather for a time of focus and reflection, enjoy a potluck lunch, and experience the ministry of a drumming circle led by guest Mary Jean Belrose.
A community building event with side effects of peace and joy. Drum circles are playful but non-competitive, uplifting, meditative, healing, and transformative. No experience required. Drums supplied (or bring your own). Please RSVP to Shannon Daily at [email protected]  Sunday, April 20 at 10:30 a.m.
Celebrate Easter with us at the Reaching Out Centre (125 Queen St South, Streetsville)! This beloved tradition brings us together to share in good food, warm conversation, and the joy of our risen Lord. RSVP to Darlene Kent at [email protected]  Welcome to World Accord’s 45th Anniversary Donor Appreciation Nights!
Come celebrate with us as we express our gratitude to our incredible donors who have supported us over the years. These in-person events will feature guest speakers who will share their experiences with World Accord, Zoom presentations from our Central American partners, and a panel discussion about emerging topics in the sector that are affecting World Accord. Join us as we look back on our achievements and look forward to a future of continued impact. Your generosity has made a difference, and we can’t wait to show our thanks in person. Two celebrations will take place later this year—one in Ottawa and one in Kitchener. Both evenings will run from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. and include a light buffet dinner and refreshments. For questions, contact Kristen Douglas at [email protected]. Visit worldaccord.org to learn more. Register Now! Ottawa – June 20 Kitchener – September 17  By Troy Roach, Creating Connection Director, Canada East
Every year, on the first Saturday in May, something pretty amazing happens—people from all around the world slow down, step outside their busy lives, and walk a labyrinth. Why? Because it's World Labyrinth Day, and this year, on May 3, I invite you to join in taking a mindful walk toward peace, clarity, and connection. World Labyrinth Day is organized by The Labyrinth Society, and their idea is simple yet powerful: at exactly 1:00 p.m. local time, people across the globe step onto labyrinths and "walk as one at 1." It's a beautiful moment of collective peace and mindfulness that ripples around the world, connecting us in a shared intention. How to Participate: Getting involved couldn't be easier or more enjoyable: • Join an Event: There's probably an event happening near you! Just check out the Interactive Global Map to find a labyrinth gathering close by. • Take a Personal Walk: If you'd prefer some quiet reflection, just check out the Labyrinth Locator to find a labyrinth to visit on your own. It's a perfect moment for personal clarity and peace. • Stay Home and Participate: Can't leave the house or just want to stay comfy? No worries! You can print out a finger labyrinth and trace it at home, right from your sofa or kitchen table. Here's why I'm so passionate about this: World Labyrinth Day really aligns with what we're all about at Creating Connection. Our community thrives on building meaningful relationships, exploring spirituality in inclusive ways, and sparking compassionate action. The labyrinth—a universal symbol of peace and inner exploration—beautifully captures what we're passionate about: creating spaces for meaning, belonging, and positive change. Partner With Us! Want to collaborate? Here's the fun part: we're all about collaboration and would love to partner with anyone interested in hosting their own labyrinth event! Whether you've got your own vision or you're just curious and want some support, we've got you covered. Creating Connection can provide two wonderful canvas labyrinths—a 30-foot Chartres-style labyrinth (that's the fancy one with 11 circuits!) and a colourful, fun, 20-foot traditional 7-circuit labyrinth. We'll even help spread the word about your event through our social media and community network. So, let's have some fun with it! If you're inspired to join in or curious about hosting an event, please reach out. I'd love to chat about how we can make this year's World Labyrinth Day something special together. Ready to dive in? Drop me a message and let's make May 3 an awesome day of connection and peace! Want to hear more? We also recorded a podcast episode all about World Labyrinth Day—why it matters, how it connects to our Creating Connection mission, and how you can be part of it.  By Vonda DenBoer, Canada East Mission Centre Co-President
We have enjoyed a long-standing, mutually satisfying, and collegial relationship with our friends to the south—until this year. In my lifetime, I cannot recall such a turbulent time, when personal and corporate strategies have to change daily in response to rapid-fire directional changes from beyond our borders. It begs the question: how does that change our role as disciples of Christ? Study of first-century life reveals that Jesus lived in a time of political unrest and occupation. Yet this did not stop him from the mission of building the peaceable kin-dom. He travelled into Samaria and brought the message to people deemed unworthy by society. He associated with the untouchables (Mark 14:3), called labourers to his inner group (Mark 1:16–17), spoke with women in public (John 4:9), acknowledged the faith of the oppressor, a Centurion (Matthew 8:11), and wept over the city of peace—Jerusalem—that would not receive him (Luke 19:41). We say we proclaim Jesus Christ and promote communities of joy, hope, love, and peace. That doesn’t change when our context changes. We live this call 24/7—or at least we should. We are called to be Jesus’ disciples, covenanting with God to be in loving relationship with one another and emissaries of peace and justice in times of turmoil as well as times of stability. We must ask ourselves, “Am I living the Enduring Principles with integrity?” In the midst of conflict, we may feel anger at the way things are. So we must strive for the courage to see that they do not need to remain the way they are. Whether it is the politics of our own election or that of other countries, rather than engaging in conflict, we must ask ourselves: “How do I strive to understand why this is important to them?” How can I be faithful to my calling as a disciple of Jesus? How do I personify the Worth of All Persons, Unity in Diversity, Sacredness of Creation, and Blessings of Community? How can I practice Responsible Choices and pursue Peace and Justice for all humanity? How do I discern God’s will for the future—and what is my part in that? We are told: “The restoring of persons to healthy or righteous relationships with God, others, themselves, and the earth is at the heart of the purpose of your journey as a people of faith… Courageously challenge cultural, political, and religious trends that are contrary to the reconciling and restoring purposes of God. Pursue peace.” —Doctrine and Covenants 163:2b–3a God encourages us to be grateful for all creation. God summons us to engage in spiritual practices that open our hearts and minds to the will of God. God invites us to be aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit that works in and through us in all our relationships. As we move toward the agony of the cross and the joy of the resurrection, let us be mindful of the tribulations that Christ bore for us. And let us honour that sacrifice with faithful prayers of thanksgiving, trusting in a God who is in control in the midst of our uncertainties. May the prayer of St. Patrick summon you to a faithful response that is true to your call of discipleship and the Enduring Principles that direct our daily decisions. Christ be beside me, Christ be before me Christ be behind me, King of my heart. Christ be within me, Christ be below me, Christ be above me, never to part |
Categories
All
Archives
June 2025
|
||
RSS Feed