 By Cathy Baker, Noronto Reunion 2025 Director
Have you ever planned something that turned out better than expected? Have you had people turn up, help out, and go the extra distance to make things better? Imagine: Walking into a bathroom being cleaned and realizing that the family, of all ages, were actually "detailing" it—going beyond sinks, countertops, and toilets to truly make it clean! (Think: developing disciples to serve!) A young girl, almost 8 years of age, deciding she wanted to do KP for a second day, and bringing joy in the happy way she collected dirty dishes from each table. A sea of pink in the dining hall, as the KP group on the Pink Team wore pink in a variety of ways on their day of service. Realizing that all but one hymnbook was being used in a worship service, and the singing was truly "out of this world"! (Noronto, you are gifted with musical talents!) Having our guest minister, Janné Grover, bring out our talents in so many ways—like having us sing a four-part rendition of Be Still as a congregation. Hearing someone comment on the way that people turned up so fully and participated. Having leaders who delighted, informed, and stretched us on interesting topics and in interesting ways: Autism, AI, Hope, Deep Personal Conversations, Church present, future, and past, Music, and much more. Watching someone make it her personal mission to raise money for the campgrounds by outfitting as many people as possible in Camp Noronto clothing. Enjoying two incredible EggNorMuffin breakfasts that even included a special dietary component. Raising a significant amount of money for World Accord even before anyone stepped onto the campgrounds for Noronto Reunion. (Thank you to everyone who participated—over $6,000 was raised! A special thank you to Andy Charron for donating his exceptional pictures for our silent auction.) Celebrating a beautiful baptism at the Camp Noronto lakefront to finish off our week! It is the people, and the special details each one added or experienced, that made Noronto Reunion 2025 a truly blessed event. Thanks be to God and the presence of the Spirit with this community.
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 By Mary Jean Belrose, Canada East Mission Centre Co-President
Many years ago, I heard a saying that caught my attention: “If you’re not living on the edge, then you’re taking up too much space.” It struck me as both a challenge and an invitation—one I decided to accept. I realized I had a choice: I could sit quietly in my corner, comfortable but complacent, or I could lean into opportunities that stretch me. That means pushing past fear, challenging myself, and resisting the temptation to settle into places that might stall my growth. It’s a mindset that keeps me awake and honest with myself. If I never try anything new, I risk stagnating. But if I step into an adventure—whether it succeeds or fails—I open the door to an experience that could transform my life. God, where will your Spirit lead today?... Grant me courage to risk something new and be a blessing of your love and peace. Amen This posture of risk-taking has shaped many areas of my life: considering new employment, accepting a priesthood call, questioning long-held beliefs, practicing radical compassion, and trusting in what I cannot yet see. It has challenged me to live my faith more fully, even when it’s uncomfortable. By contrast, “taking up too much space” feels like avoidance—stepping away from self-reflection, growth, and the holy discomfort that can lead to transformation. Should everyone live on the edge? Not necessarily. Courage has many shapes. Some live with quiet strength, steady care, or deep contemplation. These rhythms are no less powerful, and together they create a beautiful harmony in the world. Living on the edge is not superior—it’s simply one expression of faith, courage, and calling. For some, the edge is found in speaking up; for others, in staying steady. What matters is that we keep showing up with openness, integrity, and love.  As our amazing camping season begins to wind down, I’m mindful that our Mission Centre Conference is just around the corner.
It has been a joy this summer to set foot on all five sacred reunion grounds within the boundaries of Canada. Each one holds its own spirit and community, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to have been present and get to know you. (Samish Island will have to wait for another year!) At each of these reunions, we’ve shared presentations on the work of the Mission Design Team. This team has been diligently working on a series of recommendations that could shape the framework for a single Mission Centre in Canada. These are important considerations that will come before us at our upcoming Mission Centre Conference. I hope you’ve received the official notice for the Canada East Mission Centre Conference, being held September 19–21 at Ziontario Campground. We’ve intentionally planned this weekend as a low-cost, in-person experience to encourage broad participation in the activities and important conversations. Please remember that everyone needs to register to attend, whether a delegate or not. If your congregation hasn’t submitted its delegate list, please do so as soon as possible. Delegates are elected to represent their congregations, so it’s vital they come prepared. That means taking time to discuss the Mission Design Team recommendations—whether at your local congregation or one of the town hall meetings. One More Opportunity to Engage: If you haven’t had the chance yet to review and respond to the Mission Design Team’s work, there’s still one more town hall meeting, August 28 at 8:00 PM Eastern Time. This is your chance to listen, ask questions, and share your thoughts before we gather in September. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to community and mission. I look forward to seeing many of you at Ziontario! At our mission conference business meeting on September 20, here is the motion coming before conference: Field Organization Proposal for Canada East Canada Mission Centre Creation Resolved, that Canada East Mission Centre desires to join with Canada West Mission Centre as one Canada Mission Centre effective January 1, 2026, upon approval by the appropriate governing bodies under Community of Christ bylaws; and be it further Resolved, That the Canada East Mission Centre budget be subsumed into the Canada Mission Centre budget, which shall be approved at a Canada Mission Centre conference to be held before February 28, 2026; and be it further Resolved, That Canada Mission Centre leadership shall be sustained at a Canada Mission Centre conference to be held before February 28, 2026.  A bunch of happy campers came together recently at the McGowan’s Lake Campgrounds for our annual summer reunion where we shared worship, thought-provoking classes and discussions, forged friendships, unplugged, laughed abundantly, and deepened our faith. Mercifully, the weather was perfect for a week of camping—warm during the day and cooler at night. There was a bit of rain one night and early morning, but it didn’t dampen our enthusiasm for being together. Pat Pallister and Rick Badder joined us as our guest ministers and thoughtfully led us through our camp theme of Choose Hope. During our time together we enjoyed hymn sings, morning devotions, intergenerational classes, delicious meals, movies, cooperative games night, trivia night, campfires, recreation, canteen, Sunday worship, communion, making prayer flags, a community potluck lunch, a World Accord pancake breakfast, a One Mission Centre discussion with Vonda, wood, clay, and paper crafts, KP, plus community service projects including making fishing and sewing kits for Operation Christmas Child and preparing 20 hygiene kits for Matthew House. We had a wonderful few days of being together in nature as well as in personal growth, spiritual development, and service to others. Join us next year?  By Kelly Knight, , Erie Beach Planning Team What a blessing this year’s reunion was, and what a beautiful theme to remind us of our community, our beautiful campground, and our amazing future. We had over 200 in attendance throughout the week, including 138 overnight campers, and a strong children and youth program. We were blessed in so many ways this year and welcomed some that we have not seen in many years. This is very promising when looking ahead. Brother K, Kristen Parmera, Leandro Palcios, and John Nicols were our guests this year. They were enfolded into our Erie Beach family very quickly, and we were blessed by them. We were so happy to have Ken Barrows back this year—he is a very important part of our Erie Beach community, and we welcome the spirit that he brings. We had many activities that created joy in all of us this year. Some of these activities included: a beautiful baptism, wonderful classes for all ages, roaring campfires, a beautiful “Hula” lesson from Brother K, swimming at the beach every day except one, canteen, a baseball game and barbecue, inspiring worship services, wonderful food in the dining hall, kids everywhere, a spectacular fireworks display over the lake, and ending with us coming to the table for communion before we parted. We have the BEST planning team, grounds maintenance team, and campground board. It takes a huge army to make things work, and we have it. God’s love for us was running over. We welcome everyone and anyone to join us and feel the community that we have. Planning for Erie Beach Reunion 2026 is underway! Come experience it all with us—July 25 to August 2, 2026!  We’re looking forward to an inspiring conference weekend at Ziontario, September 19–21, as we move Onward Together in Joy! To help us prepare accommodations, meals, and more, please register as soon as possible: Register here. Registration fee is the low price of $25/person or $50/family.
Meet Your Apostles You’ll have the opportunity to connect with our new apostle, Shannon McAdam—hear her story in this interview. We also welcome Apostle Lachlan E. Mackay, assigned to Field 4. A native of Independence, Missouri, Lachlan holds a B.A. in Economics and Russian Area Studies from the University of Missouri and is passionate about church history. A former president of the John Whitmer Historical Association, he has contributed to numerous scholarly publications. Make a Difference for a Child This year, we’re collecting a mountain of socks, toques, mitts, and underwear for children in need. Your donations will go to students at Macphail Memorial Elementary School in Flesherton, making a real difference in their lives. Let’s show them that their world can be warm, caring, and full of hope.Invite your family, friends, neighbours, and congregation to help us make a huge impact.  This summer, we invite you to be part of a powerful journey at Sr. High Camp 2025 – August 16–23, as we explore our theme: Unmuted. This camp is open to youth entering Grade 9 through recent high school grads (up to age 19). Together, we’ll learn what it means to find our voice—not just to be heard, but to show the world who we truly are, and to speak up for others who haven’t yet found the strength to do so. Through community, creativity, and conversation, we’ll grow in confidence and connection, and leave ready to use our collective voice to make a positive difference in the world.
Whether you’re a first-time camper or a returning one, Sr. High Camp is a week like no other—filled with creative electives, campfires, games, House Cup challenges, and meaningful connections. Our banquet theme this year is Vikings, so bring your best Norse costume—fur cloaks, braids, shields, and cardboard axes encouraged! We can't wait to welcome you to Sr. High Camp 2025. Come ready to get loud, be real, and stay unmuted—and don’t forget your Viking gear! Director: Alfredo Zelaya-Martinez [email protected] Fees: $550.00 (including HST) Sibling Discount Rate: $500.00 per camper (including HST) To access the sibling rate, enter code: Sibling2025 Registration Contact: Jordan Shepherdson [email protected] |
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