Boldly Venture
A worldwide worship event
 
On 12 June, the church is invited to “Boldly Venture,” a worldwide worship. This gathering will be the official start of our journey to 2023 World Conference. 

The worship will be streamed in English, French, and Spanish on Facebook and YouTube at 5:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. EDT, allowing for live participation in the chat and comments.

New for this event, congregations or groups can gain early access to the worship video to use it during their regular gathering on 12 June or anytime afterward. Details about downloading will be coming soon. 

The worship includes three segments—Gather, Center, and Bless. Participants of various ages from nations spanning the globe will share in music, testimony, readings, and prayer. Listen to President Steve Veazey’s message and hear music from Jan Kraybill, Daniel Harmon, Beyond the Walls Choir, French Polynesia, and Africa. 

Please make plans to join us live or download the worship to share with your congregation or group on 12 June! 

The Canadian Council of Churches was one of the organizers of Voices for Peace. John Nicols highly recommends watching the recording, especially the presentation by Robert Ellsberg and the response by Ukrainian Catholic Archbishop Borys of Philadelphia (11 minutes in). If you are passionate or curious about peace theology, then this exchange covers the contemporary waterfront.

On May 24, 2022, thousands of people from around the world gathered on online for our 2022 Voices for Peace conference – "Blessed Are the Peacemakers." Featured keynote — award-winning author and the publisher of Orbis books, Robert Ellsberg, spoke about what it is to create a culture of peace that embraces the radical vision of the Beatitudes.

“Each of the beatitudes presents a challenge to a world that prizes power, success, and greatness. Among them all, the beatitude of peacemaking is perhaps the most counter-cultural.” - Robert Ellsberg

Special Guests include: Boris Gudziak, Archbishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church; Willard Metzger, Executive Director, Citizens for Public Justice; Joanne Jefferson, Kairos Indigenous Rights Circle, Stolon Nation; opera singer and concert artist Measha Brueggergosman; and peace activist Sister Mary-Ellen Francoeur.

Children and Youth Worker Core Training
 
This course takes about 4-weeks and covers:

• Types of child abuse
• Strategies for safeguarding youth and preventing abuse
• Guidance on handling incidents/reporting requirements
• Other expectations of youth workers. 

Anyone wishing to work with children and young people within Community of Christ must participate in this course and be registered as a youth worker.

This class does NOT complete the paperwork portion becoming a registered youth worker – check with your mission centre or pastor to complete the application. 

Cost: $18 USD

Noronto Reunion 2022
August 6-13, 2022

Are you ready to come back home to Noronto Reunion this summer?

Your 2022 Director Team has been busy preparing and planning for this much anticipated week of return to in-person camping. You are invited to join in a week of community building, renewal and transformation. Come and let us breathe together once again!

Do you yearn for face to face conversation? Maybe a real human touch?
Is your potential just sitting there waiting to be released?
Do you need time and space to regroup and find inspiration to step forward?
Do you need to take action? To build? To serve?
Do you need to be exposed to new thoughts and ideas? To learn?
Are you missing the spiritual part of the balance you need in your life?
Do you have something to say and need a safe place to say it?
Do you need to feel the power of being in natural surroundings?
Do you need to sit in the chapel? View the waterfront? Be present on the campground?
Do you desire that your children experience their legacy of community?
Do you need to be surrounded by the Spirit?

If any of these resonate within you, please come and be part of Noronto Reunion 2022!

The registration package is coming in early June! Watch for it!


How will you protect your precious neighbour that sits beside you at Reunion?

This personal responsibility may look like:

• Updating your COVID-19 vaccination by receiving any boosters that are available.
• If you aren’t vaccinated, getting tested for COVID-19 no more than two days prior to arriving at camp.
• If you are feeling even a little bit ill, deciding not to attend Reunion.
• Isolating for 5 days prior to coming to camp, regardless of your vaccination status.
• Wearing a mask while indoors to avoid spreading illness.
• Ensuring good hygiene through regular hand washing; coughing or sneezing into an elbow or sleeve.


Have you thought of a way that you’d like to share your talents at Noronto Reunion 2022?

Volunteers are a super blessing to us all! Please contact us to discuss how you can contribute. 

Looking forward to connecting again with you soon!

Your 2022 Director Team,

Scott Baker
Amy Unruh
Wende Badder
Brenda Paradis (Registrar)

June is Pride Month. Learn more about the history of Pride Month on the US Library of Congress website. Because you live in an area where inclusive church policies have been approved, the Community of Christ Communications Team in collaboration with Harmony is providing resources that your congregation can use on social media, websites, newsletters, etc. to celebrate, if desired.

DETAILS

• Remember to monitor social media comments. It can be harmful for 2SLGBTQIA+ (Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and/or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual) persons to see disparaging comments on affirming posts.  
• Gauge your congregation’s affirming position before participating. If your congregation is struggling with full 2SLGBTQIA+ participation, it is not appropriate to share this content.

 
GRAPHICS
In addition to the attached Community of Christ social media memes, Harmony provides free graphics and templates for brochures, business cards, stickers, and others that can be viewed by visiting http://www.harmony.lgbt/pride-resources. You can also find best practices regarding Pride booth operation on Harmony’s website.
 
EVENTS
Visit www.harmony.lgbt/pride2022 for a list of Pride Month events hosted by Harmony, mission centers, new expressions, and local congregations.
 
QUESTIONS
To learn more about Harmony and its resources for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and its allies in Community of Christ, visit Harmony.lgbt.
 
Contact the Communications Team or Harmony with questions about Pride Month communications and graphics.

Beyond the Walls – Lives Transformed 
 
Our theme is “Lives Transformed” as we receive ministry from the Seventy in Community of Christ. Seventies Humberto Rosario, Gustavo Alexis Jimenez, Shirley Smith of Calgary, Alberta, Mary Jean Belrose of Port Elgin, Ontario, and Troy Roach of Midland, Ontario, will each share the story of a life transformed through ministry. John Glaser, President of Seventy for Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean will present the Challenge to our congregation. Seventies John Morgan of Brampton, Ontario, will offer our invocation, Barbara Kernohan of Ottawa, Ontario, will read our Call to Worship, and Cathy Baker of Brooklin, Ontario, will read our Sending Forth. 
 
MUSIC PROGRAM  
PRELUDE: Fugue No. 4 in A-Flat Major from 6 Preludes & Fugues (Op. 35 No. 4) by Felix Mendelssohn 
HYMN: CCS 172 - God Is Calling 
GLOBAL WELCOME: Beloved Brethren, Sing His Praise (Grey Hymnal 9) 
HYMN: CCS 234 - There Is a Balm in Gilead 
HYMN: CCS 19 - Amazing Grace 
POSTLUDE: Andante in C Major from Songs Without Words Book 1 (Op. 102, No. 6) by Felix Mendelssohn

Scarborough Congregation - Thursday evening online services at 7:00 p.m.  Please contact Peter Williams for Zoom info,

Ottawa Congregation - 10:30 Worship. Contact cofc.ottawa888@gmail.com for Zoom details.


Windsor Congregation - 10:30 Worship. Contact Jeff Moor for Zoom info.

SLIM (Sharing Love in Mission) - 1:45 p.m Sharing and prayer followed by worship. Many people, led by Shone Carson, will participate in a service focused on Blessings We Receive. Contact Don Robb for Zoom details.

SLIM attempts each month to meet community needs. This month into early June the focus is on helping Hope Mission, a non profit organization that touches lives living on the streets by providing food and other necessities. The need SLIM identified is for sleeping bags. You can contirbute financially by donating to SLIM and increase the ability to purchase more sleeping bags. We presently have the resources to buy 10 but with your help we could get 15 or more. If you sense the call, send an etransfer to Mary Robb at drobb3ca@yahoo.ca.


Port Elgin Congregation - 9 a.m. Contact Josephine Amelia Fraser Morgan for Zoom details. 

La Salle Road Congregation - Social time from 10:15-10:30. Worship 10:30 a.m. Contact Pastor Vonda den Boer for Zoom details.

Reaching Out - Generally meets twice a month. Please sign up for email notices by clicking here.

Kitchener Congregation - Sunday evenings at 7:00 p.m. Contact John & Ruth Black for details.

Cambridge Congregation - 11 a.m. Complete Worship Services are held each Sunday at 11:00 am For details go to www.cofchristcambridge.ca. On the calendar page click on the event for the Zoom link. Social time follows the service.

First People Community of Christ (FPCC) - Reaching out to Native People across North America  and the World! Online Prayer and Testimonies Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m. and Worship Sundays at 7 p.m. Contact Larry Buchanan for ZOOM details.

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

Sunday, June 5 
5 PM ET  

Special Sunday Worship with GPNWMC: 
“Sacredness of Creation" 
Sunday, June 26, Prelude begins at 9:40 pm ET  
 
Where: ZOOM Online Ministry

If you registered for a past webinar or conversation, you do not need to register again.
 
Open to people of all faiths and traditions.

 
This is an online ministry sponsored by the Greater Pacific Northwest USA Mission Center for Community of Christ. The North American Climate Justice Team are the planners, with members from GPNWMC, Canada East, Canada West, IWMC, SPMC, and SPIMC.
 
Watch previous webinars, conversations, and Steve Veazey’s sermon by clicking the button below.

 
Beyond the Walls – Prepare a Sanctuary   
Beyond the Walls is made possible by the weekly dedication of a group of talented and passionate individuals who often stay “behind the walls.” This Sunday we are blessed to receive ministry from those who prepare our virtual sanctuary week after week. Evan Sharley of Boise, Idaho, brings our message on the theme “Prepare a Sanctuary.” Kahealani Faatuarai Drollet will teach our Lesson of the Living Church from Tours, France, and Shawn Matheson will offer our invocation from St George, Utah. Jeanny Jakobsen of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, will read our Call to Worship, and Lee Mitchell of IJsselstein in the Netherlands will read the Lectionary scripture. We will also salute and thank Olive Wilby, the most senior member of the Toronto Congregation, who turns 100 this Monday.  
 
MUSIC PROGRAM  
PRELUDE: Prelude in F Major (TN ii/15) by Sergei Rachmaninoff  
HYMN: CCS 77 - Gather Your Children   
GLOBAL WELCOME: Dear Lord, on This Day of Days (Grey Hymnal 427)   
HYMN: CCS 344 - Creator of the Intertwined  
HYMN: CCS 622 - Send Forth Your Light, O Zion  
POSTLUDE: Fugue in C Major (BuxWV 174) by Dietrich Buxtehude 

Beyond the Walls is an online worship service offering live ministry from locations around the world. Our global congregation meets every Sunday at 12:00 pm EDT. All are welcome at this inclusive church service.

Scarborough Congregation - Thursday evening online services at 7:00 p.m.  Please contact Peter Williams for Zoom info,

Ottawa Congregation - 10:30 Worship. Contact cofc.ottawa888@gmail.com for Zoom details.

Windsor Congregation - 10:30 Worship. Contact Jeff Moor for Zoom info.

SLIM (Sharing Love in Mission) - 1:45 p.m Sharing and prayer followed by worship. Daryl and Angela McDonald will preside over our worship and Karen Smith from Ludington will share her testimony. Contact Don Robb for Zoom details.

Port Elgin Congregation - 9 a.m. Contact Josephine Amelia Fraser Morgan for Zoom details. 

La Salle Road Congregation - Social time from 10:15-10:30. Worship 10:30 a.m. Contact Pastor Vonda den Boer for Zoom details.

Reaching Out - Generally meets twice a month. Please sign up for email notices by clicking here.

Kitchener Congregation - Sunday evenings at 7:00 p.m. Contact John & Ruth Black for details.

Cambridge Congregation - 11 a.m. Complete Worship Services are held each Sunday at 11:00 am For details go to www.cofchristcambridge.ca. On the calendar page click on the event for the Zoom link. Social time follows the service.

First People Community of Christ (FPCC) - Reaching out to Native People across North America  and the World! Online Prayer and Testimonies Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m. and Worship Sundays at 7 p.m. Contact Larry Buchanan for ZOOM details.

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

Camp Noronto Work Camp

June 4 & 5

 
Accommodation facilities will be open for those arriving Friday. Please bring your own food.  Coffee will be provided.
 

Work to be completed includes:

• Removing downed trees
• Raking of walkways and roads (Please bring a rake with you, much appreciated!)
• Clean-up of buildings

 
 
GREAT OUTDOOR ACTIVITY AND TIME TO ‘CATCH UP’ WITH FRIENDS!
 
Questions? Contact Brenda Arrowsmith