THIS WEEK'S NEWS STORIES 
World Conference Legislation Posted

Proposed legislation for 2023 World Conference is now available online. The legislation will also be printed in the September/October Herald. Access the 2023 World Conference web page through the main menu by clicking or tapping Connect and then...

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Contributions Within Goal Range Through June

Total contributions to Worldwide Mission Tithes through June are approximately $5.2 million USD, just within the goal range of $5.2-$5.7 million for this period. Your regular contributions to Local and Worldwide Mission Tithes ensure ongoing support...

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Church Campgrounds and the Climate Crisis

The first webinar for the fall season, part of an ongoing Zoom series, highlights the dangers of climate change that threaten our Community of Christ campgrounds: Samish Island, Camp Buckhorn, and others. “Climate Crises and Sacred Spaces: Our...

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Beyond the Walls – What Is Church? 
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We use the word “church” to refer to several different things: a building, a particular type of worship service, our own denomination, and to the body of all disciples. As more and more people in the West dismiss church as irrelevant to their lives, we pause to reflect on the question: “What is church?”  What is the essence of a tradition that we have committed our lives to in sacred covenant? How are we called to be the church in a changing world?

Thank you for inviting someone to participate! We hope to see you there on Sunday, August 28, at 12:00 PM or 6:00 PM EDT.  

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 and 6 pm EDT. All are welcome at this inclusive church service. 

SLIM (Sharing Love in Mission) - 1:45 - Led by Shone and Paula. The theme is "Humble Yourself" and you are asked to have a bowl of water for hand washing and a towel to dry your hands. Contact Don Robb for Zoom link.

Proton Congregation - 10 a.m. -  Facilitator led online dialogue session bringing scripture and everyday life together. Bring an open mind, questions, listen to various perspectives. Contact Wayne McLean for link.

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

Peacefully and surrounded in love, William Ross Morgan passed from this world August 19, 2022. Ross was in his 95th year. He leaves behind his beloved wife of 70 years, Wanda (Goodwill). Cherished by his children Susan Morgan Waite-Price (Ken), John (Elaine), Kathy Atkinson (Dave) and Bruce. Adored “Poppa” of grandchildren Kat, Seamus (Alex), Cody (Beth), Bowen (Emily), Curtis, Serenity (Danny), Carter, David, Ada and Cosmo. Much loved and adored “Poppa” to his great-grandchildren Abby, Gavin, Thea and Ezmay.

Beloved “Uncle Ross” to many loving nieces and nephews and special “Uncle Bobo” to his niece, Linda (Tom).

Predeceased by his father William, mother Grace, sister Ruth and nephews David and Bob.

Ross was an amazing singer, awesome harmonica player, avid gardener and a lover of the outdoors. Many of his favourite hours were spent in the Honey Harbour area being with family, fishing and driving his boats. He had a great love for cars (the bigger the better) and would challenge anyone, anytime to a good game of crib.

A man of great faith, Ross influenced so many lives through his work life, church life and home life. His zest for living and positive attitude were an inspiration to all who knew him. He continued to live this way, forever. Staff of Grey Gables, in Markdale, Ontario have relayed story after story embodying this attitude while they cared for him like family during this past year.

In his selfless, generous beyond measure way, Ross will continue to help others through the donation of himself to McMaster University, a place near and dear to his heart.

During his transition time from this earth, Ross only spoke a few words. Two of those were “open water”. When asked if he was in his boat, he answered, “yaaaaa”.

You go, Roscoe, nothin’ but open water in front of you and white water behind you.

A celebration of Ross’s life will occur at a later date.
 

Beyond the Walls – Listen for the Prophetic Call 
What is the role of the prophet? How were the men and women called as prophets understood in the Old and New Testaments? What is our own understanding in the Restoration tradition as a people with a prophet? And as we are called to be a prophetic people, how should we listen for the prophetic call as we journey forward?

Thank you for inviting someone to participate! We hope to see you there on Sunday, August 21, at 12:00 PM or 6:00 PM EDT.  

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 and 6 pm EDT. All are welcome at this inclusive church service. ​

SLIM (Sharing Love in Mission) - 1:45 - Celebration of the inclusion of all people including our LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters  in honour of Pride Sunday in Chatham-Kent. Presider Anthony Smith with video message by Carla Long. Please consider wearing your favorite color of the rainbow and display your Rainbow pride.

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

The start date of when all come together again is coming fast, which is on Thursday, August 18th for this year's 2022 McGowan's Lake Reunion. I can't wait, can you? 
 
As an update to this year's reunion:
 
On Friday, August 19th, there will be a Fundraising Pancake Breakfast provided by Erny and Alma Cowan with the proceeds going to World Accord. Please bring your money donations

Times have certainly changed and many of us long for the days of yesteryears gone by when our churches were bustling with activity all throughout the week. Remember the days when there were two worship services on Sundays, a full slate of Sunday School classes, choir practice and prayer service during the week, plenty of potlucks, church picnics, baptisms, and so much more. Now, the reality is that many of us are struggling to keep just one worship service alive with only a handful of people. It’s the last piece of familiarity that we cling to in hopes that something miraculous might happen. Meanwhile, for many congregations, offerings and other income are not near enough to carry the expenses of our empty aging facilities.

In reality, we are in new territory and have been for some time. The hard truth is that no rearranging of our schedule, repackaging our worship or switching the furniture will likely attract enough new people to help keep us moving forward. The fact is that churches everywhere are dealing with the same issues—aging membership, declining numbers, empty buildings, and challenges from the pandemic. According to a study done by Barna in 2014, the top two reasons people do not attend church is that they find God elsewhere and they do not find church relevant.

The $5,000,000 question is how do we now reach people to share this incredibly remarkable community that we cherish? Truthfully, we don’t know any other way than what we have lived and breathed for all of our life. And we simply continued the form from the foundation that we inherited—gathering in our buildings for study, worship, meetings, potlucks, etc. So now what? It may feel like a huge void as we try to discern what the next part of our journey will look like without a map or some concrete plan before us.
(click below for the full article)

Beyond the Walls – Where Is Your Heart? 
This week we ask you to consider "Where Is Your Heart?” Our scripture (Luke 12:32-40) challenges us to “sell our possessions and give alms,” and warns us to be ready because the hour will come unexpectedly. Are we really expected to do this? If not, what can we do? Noelle Gaffka will explore all these questions in her message, speaking live from Mount Pleasant, MI. One of the newest members of our Church, Heidi Hazen-Ramírez, will share her faith transition experience, speaking live from Orlando, FL; and Puna Teniau will share her experience ministering to prison inmates, speaking live from Tahiti.  
This is a communion service. We invite all those joining us live to prepare wine and bread at your location to take part in this sacrament. We appreciate your ministry of invitation and community building. Thank you for sharing this event! We hope to see you there on Sunday, August 7, at 12:00 PM or 6:00 PM EDT. Communion will also take place live during the Late Edition. 
 
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 and 6 pm EDT. All are welcome at this inclusive church service. 
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SLIM (Sharing Love in Mission) - James Stytle will lead the worship through the Sacrament of Communion.

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