Young Adult Retreat
Blue Water Campground and Retreat Center 
Michigan
June 17 - 19

(Subsidies may be available. Please contact Wendell Martin for details.)
 
 
Campfires, disc golf, tie-dying, beach time, a cookout, and worship!

Young adults ages 18-35 are invited to Blue Water Campground for a weekend of fun and fellowship! There is no fee to attend but donations are greatly appreciated. (Event costs are about $50/person/day.)

 
Please pass this information on to any young adults you know. ​

As the war in Ukraine drags on, we are left wondering what we can do to help bring about peace. The daily news delivers endless images of suffering, devastation and displacement and it's hard not to be aware of the uneasiness world-wide. 

The scriptures encourage us to pray in all things...
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:6-7
​
Cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. - 1 Peter 5:7

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Click on the button below for a suggested prayer focus session for Ukraine that you may elect to use in your congregation or adapt for your personal prayer time. Many thanks to John Nichols who prepared the outline.

​Please note:
 
Ziontario Camp Clean-up has been postponed to

June 4, 9 am - 7 pm

(due to an issue with the water pump)

Please mark your calendar with the new date.

Calling all Singers...

Raise your voice and contribute to a special worship service from World Church to be presented June 12. The theme is "Boldly Venture".  

Even if you have never sang with a virtual choir, you can easily contribute to the harmony - Soprano, Alto, Tenor or Bass (or maybe more than one part)! Click the button below for complete instructions and let Leandro lead you through the process. The choir will sing "Come and Bring Light" CCS 287.

 
IMPORTANT DATES

• Saturday, May 14: Deadline for submitting your TEST AUDIO test recording (everyone)
• Saturday, May 14: Deadline for submitting your TEST VIDEO test recording (first timers)
• Saturday, May 21: Deadline for submitting your final FINAL AUDIO and VIDEO recordings.

Sunday, June 12: "Boldly Venture" Worldwide Worship, 4:00 am and 2:00 pm CDT.

Beyond the Walls – Love One Another   
​
“Love One Another” is the new commandment that Jesus introduces in John 13:34-35. This is our theme this Sunday, May 15. Join us to relive homilies on love by Danny Belrose, Justin DeLong, and Leandro Palacios, prayers of love by Amanda Boosie, Kathy Robinson, and Richard Troeh, and a Peace Lesson on love by Charlie Brown. Our choir will offer a selection of beautiful CCS hymns on this topic.   
  
PRELUDE: Corrente from Trio Sonata in F Major (Op. 2 No. 7 III) & Allegro in B-Flat Major by Arcangelo Corelli, arr. Carl Reinecke  
POSTLUDE: Waltz No. 12 in E Major from 16 Waltzes (Op. 39, No. 12) by Johannes Brahms 


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. Speaker, Jimmy Munson, of Chattanooga, TN. 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. 

 We know many have been eagerly anticipating the return of in-person camping for Canada East, and we are excited to share that, barring any dramatic changes in the state of COVID-19, we are moving forward with in-person family camping and retreats this year. 

In light of our enduring principles around the worth of all persons, unity in diversity, and personal responsibility, we are offering some guidance. We do this because of our gospel call to offer welcome to the least and most vulnerable among us.

First of all, our corporate responsibility as a Mission Centre is to always, at a minimum, follow local COVID guidelines for safe gatherings. Individual camp directors are responsible at a minimum, for knowing, implementing and ensuring camps follow all local health unit guidelines for communicable diseases for their campground location and to stay updated as those change. They may also decide that additional restrictions are necessary to keep campers safe, including things such as no in-out privileges during camp. So, please be sure to check specific guidelines for each camp you plan to attend keeping in mind that decisions may need to be updated according to shifting circumstances. 

Second, each of us has a personal responsibility to consider what we can do to protect one another. Personal responsibility can look like: 

• Updating your COVID-19 vaccination by receiving any boosters that are available. 
• Considering getting vaccinated if you have not yet done so, as it is the best way that we know of to curb the spread of COVID-19. 
• If you aren’t vaccinated, getting tested for COVID-19 no more than two days prior to arriving at camp. 
• Not coming to camp if you are feeling even a little bit ill. 

• Isolating for 5 days prior to coming to camp, regardless of your vaccination status, to ensure you are not unduly exposing yourself and others to illness. 
• Wearing a mask while indoors to avoid spreading illness. 
• Ensuring good hygiene through: 

       •      regular hand washing
       •      coughing or sneezing into an elbow or sleeve  
Our guiding question for you is, "How will you protect the precious neighbour that sits beside you at camp?"

We also encourage everyone to respect one another’s choices in how they have responded to COVID. Regardless of our individual views on vaccinations or public health mandates, we come together as one community who find unity in diversity. Some people will feel more comfortable wearing a mask and keeping their distance, others will be ready to embrace everyone. Please respect the speed and space of each person’s engagement at camp.

We can’t wait to raise our voices to sing “We’re all together again, we’re here, we’re here” in the sacred spaces we find ourselves gathering in this summer, and to also sing the words together “We are one in the Spirit”.

World Accord supporters,

We have officially moved!! With two full time staff now in the Ottawa region, we have relocated our office to Ottawa. Our new address is:
 
World Accord
c/o Heartwood House
404 McArthur
Ottawa
ON K1K 1G8


Please feel free to stop in and visit anytime. Also, if you are in the Ottawa area, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our new Executive Director, Kristin Douglas, to introduce yourself.   

​Community of Christ is seeking input from church members and friends ages 18-50 through a brief survey. Responses will help church leaders understand the spiritual needs and desires for our faith community from this diverse group.

We're particularly curious to hear feedback from people connected to Community of Christ as children and youth but who no longer regularly attend Community of Christ activities as adults.

The survey closes 13 May.

Please share the survey link with those who might be willing to participate. 

• Friends or family
• Children or grandchildren
• People who attended camp or Sunday school with you.

​Tonight, Thursday, May 5, at 8:00 PM EDT) Apostle Art Smith will facilitate a scripture discussion on this week's lectionary reading, Psalm 23: "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want."

May 5 - Beyond Awakening: Meditation for Uncertain Times with Vickie @ 7 pm (CAN/US)
An inclusive, online community exploring time-honored practices that connect to resiliency and inner wisdom

Experience a vibrant community of practice to enliven and support your awakening, and strengthen your ability to sustain your practice through the challenges of daily life. These experiential sessions offer time to learn the practices, readings and poetry to inspire us, and space for sharing our experiences and insights. Through both our individual and collective awakening, we can bring much-needed insight and understanding to the complex issues that confront our world. Together, we can tap directly into the infinite intelligence and freedom of the awakened mind.
(Second Thursdays monthly except May)


May 8 - Fireside Chats with Anna @ 7 pm EDT (CAN/US)

Come explore Tarot and Oracle cards. Anna will choose a different deck from her collection each session. We will play with the cards and share the magic that can be found by interpreting what comes to light.
(Monthly second Sunday)


May 9 - "Perfect Brilliant Stillness" Book Discussion with Johan @ 3 pm EDT (CAN/US)

"It is challenging, triggering, gives me goosebumps, and points to Being, What Is, the Understanding and much more. You will want to say, "I don't 'understand' it at all." and "I get it!" even though there is nothing to understand and no "I" to get it. It will be an encounter of the 3rd kind, the 5th dimension, the nth dimension, the infinite, the eternal, Oneness, ...Perfect... Brilliant... Stillness...! This writing seems to go beyond the Course in Miracles in pointing closer than ever to Awakening; Understanding. " - Johan Koeslag
(Second and fourth Mondays monthly)


May 10 - Sharing the Journey - Making Conscious Choices with Irene @ 2 pm EDT (CAN/US)
Let’s commit to ourselves by joining together.
When we engage in activity, whether in community or solitude, do we experience expansiveness or do we allow our values and our truth to disappear in order to fit in?
(Monthly on the second Tuesday)


May 10 - Seekers Circle Presentation with Karen Weir @ 7 pm EST (CAN/US)

When my son died, I remember my friend/doctor/therapist standing beside me as we looked at Mikkel’s body in the casket, and he said, "What is it you want? Because you are going to have to live with this the rest of your life?" This statement is the premise of what I do. I help those dealing with loss, grief and bereavement define their wants so that they can heal, move forward and find peace in their continued life journeys.

Join me as I share with you “what is loss, grief and bereavement” and how you can heal the loss of self, loved ones and furkids by defining your wants.
(Monthly on the scond Tuesday)


May 11 - Self-Discovery Card Deck with Tina @ 7 pm EDT (CAN/US)

This Self Discovery session is a fun way to use your intuition to ask questions and reflect on your life path and spiritual journey. Join us as we gather to share and discuss ideas and concepts that work to set us free to be who we really are.
The Self Discovery deck is based on the Spirt Art of Tina Heathers and is used in groups or private one on one sessions to unravel the meaning and opportunities in our present life circumstances.
Come play with us!
(Monthly second Wednesday)


May 17 - Meet & Greet with Becky @ 6:30 pm EDT (CAN/US)

Join us for a casual chats about spiritual experiences. Bring your questions and chat with Becky, your host, as she facilitates a fun discussion of the spiritual journey and hang out for social time with like-minded companions.
(Third Tuesday monthly)


May 17 -  A Course in Miracles Text Discussion with Johan @ 10:30 am EDT (CAN/US)
A monthly online open discussion about this unique spiritual self-study program. In this online discussion, we delve into how A Course in Miracles (ACIM) can enhance our spiritual journey and teach us peace in the midst of chaos. 
(ThirdTuesday monthly)


May 18 - Spiritual Life Story Writing with Lana @ 7 pm EDT (CAN/US)
Help is here to bring your story to life! These sessions allow you to reflect on your life and uncover hidden truths and patterns. Get to know yourself, connect with others more authentically, initiate healing, and discover life-changing gifts. Let us help you write in ways that bring freedom and meaning--to yourself and others.

Written By The Land         Special guest - Isabella Mori
How does land communicate? The stream that tumbles down to the lake brings minerals and leaves and little water creatures and oxygen and so many other things, and each of them carries information. Isabella is intrigued by biomimicry, which takes inspiration from living systems for questions in areas such as science, engineering, and economics. Let's explore together how writers are written by the land and become an integral part of this lineage of communication.

Isabella Mori’s poetry and short fiction have appeared in publications such as Presence, Kingfisher and The Group Of Seven Reimagined. Isabella’s books include A bagful of haiku – 87 imperfections. In April, they were a writer-in-residence at Hay Lake Lodge in Ontario’s Algonquin Park. Born in Germany, Isabella has lived in the UK, Paraguay, and Chile, and now resides in Vancouver, BC, on unceded Coast Salish territory, and works in psychiatry.
(Third Wednesday monthly)


May 24 - Conversations on Spirituality with Troy @ 7 pm EDT (CAN/US)

Topic: The Existence of God
Many perspectives circulate about the existence of God, and many people are shunned for their beliefs. This month we will explore where we hold common thoughts AND where we differ, with questions like "Does God exist?", "What if we are wrong?", and "Why does it matter?" We look forward to sharing this discussion together and how it will shape our spiritual journey and worldview.
(Fourth Tuesday monhtly)


May 30 - Energy Management & Integrity with Christine Balarezo @ 7 pm EDT (CAN/US)

Come learn about how to manage your energy as a spiritual being, so that you can feel your best no matter what season you're in.We are in the passionate, adventurous, and lively season of Aries, which can help us accomplish things but can also quickly lead to burnout! Many of us are also going through many changes, both with endings and new beginnings.


Join a Mentoring Group - Ongoing
Learn to find guidance from within. Honour the truth that Divine Wisdom lives in all of us and the greatest freedom comes from living your own life and following personal direction from the spirit within. Be supported and provide support for others on your spiritual journey. Meet one day/night a week to share and develop your own spiritual path for three sessions (three weeks in total). Then participate in monthly gatherings to build community, strengthen your spirituality, and watch for openings to begin your journey to help others with their spiritual path.