Note:  We will continue to explore establishing networking groups for climate action. 
 
From municipal regulations to national legislation, the world of policy making has embraced a variety of ideas for passing climate policies to address climate change.  But proposed legislation can be confusing, conflicting, and manipulative, often with hidden agendas and misleading claims. “Climate Policies 101” is designed as an introduction to understanding and supporting effective proposals for decreasing carbon emissions and addressing global warming. 

Randy Litzenberger is the co-chair of the Seattle 34th District Environment, Energy and Land Use Caucus. He has had years of experience teaching students to understand climate policies and legislation, and now shares his expertise in an introductory course that all can understand. Randy brings multiple experiences in advocacy and political involvement as well as a deep passion for creating effective change through our political system and legislators.

Come join us in the Climate Webinar on October 17 to learn the basics about climate policies that will help mitigate climate change. Invite your friends to join. All sessions are free. Participation in previous webinars is not necessary to join in this opportunity.

Is your congregation addressing climate change?  Send a video of what you are doing to:  Rod Downing, [email protected] . 
 
To connect to “Systemic Solutions:  Climate Policies 101", please register by clicking the button below.

If you registered for a past webinar or conversation, you do not need to register again. Once registered, you will be sent a Zoom link a few days before each webinar, panel and conversation.

Six years ago, I stood with 80 others on a large canvas map of Canada that showed only topographical landforms such as lakes, rivers and mountains. No cities were marked. The event I was at was hosted by the Canadian Council of Churches to commemorate the passage of the Truth and Reconciliation Bill. Amongst us were many from indigenous backgrounds.
 
Our indigenous friends stood upon the map in the places that identified their legacy as First Nation inhabitants of this land known as Turtle Island through the millenniums of it being their place called home.
 
Then, we who are called Settlers, moved to the places on the map where our immigrant ancestors occupied the land upon their arrival. The map become crowded and we as Settlers displaced the Indigenous amongst us from the places of their family heritage. This was a very personal and intimate experience of looking into the eyes of those displaced as they moved to lesser occupied places on the land. How many times I heard the words, "I am so sorry" from Settlers as we physically nudged them to allow us to stand where they had comfortably stood. There were tears as the visceral reality we know today became real.
 
As we all stood upon the landscape for the next thirty minutes, historical quotes of government officials, newspaper headlines and newly passed dehumanizing Canadian laws were read aloud by those amongst us that reinforced the systemic participation of all Settlers.
 
This was a profoundly moving experience for me. Indeed this was my first real introduction to my history as a Settler which was never taught in school. Since that day, I have read through the entirety of the Truth and Reconciliation Act and its 94 "Calls to Action" urging all levels of government — federal, provincial, territorial and aboriginal — to work together to change policies and programs in a concerted effort to repair the harm caused by residential schools and move forward with reconciliation.
 
Our Call to Action
The "calls to action" are divided into two parts: legacy (1 to 42) and reconciliation (43 to 94). I have read the heart-rending statements of apology of the many Churches who participated in the operations of the hundreds of compulsory Residential Schools established in 1878 until the last one closed in 1996. As a Settler, I identified with the entirety of the acknowledgement, emotions and accountability that rests with me. For all of us as immigrant occupants of the homeland of Indigenous nation's numbering 10's of millions, let us always remember our shared responsibility to bring reconciliation in active ways and means to honour the worth of those who welcomed us as neighbour in their homeland. Thanksgiving Day, in its original Good Samaritan like portrayal of Indigenous peoples tending to the life threatening vulnerability of early Settlers, shows the blessings of community shared towards us. May we be so inclusive and demonstrate love of neighbour in our own intentional acts of giving back with Thanksgiving.
 
For the first time, September 30th in Canada, is a new day of acknowledgement that has been enacted to always remember that Truth and Reconciliation that is our individual responsibility. I pray that we each honour this day with deep reflection, learning and resolve that leads to healing and transformation.
 
May the blessings of community unfold across this glorious land.
 
With Meaning,

Kerry Richards
CEM President

March 13, 1934 ~ September 21, 2021 (age 87)
 
Llewella passed away peacefully at Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital in Orillia on Tuesday September 21, 2021, after 43 days in hospital.

Llewella, a resident of Orillia for 68 years, was born in Little Current, on the Manitoulin Island, in Ontario on March 13, 1934. She was the first daughter to Dewey Darius Mercer, predeceased, of Harrietta, Michigan, USA and Mary Viola Sagle, predeceased, also born in Little Current.

Llewella is survived by her two sisters, Leila of Barrie, ON (Ken predeceased, & Philip predeceased), and Linda of Noelville (John, predeceased, & Joe).

She spent most of her school years living on the farm in Monetville while commuting to Sturgeon Falls for high school. She joined the RCAF when she finished school in June of 1952.

While stationed at RCAF in Edgar, she met and married William Richard Frederick Sydney, predeceased, her husband for 24 years, and they raised six children together, William, predeceased (Marilyn), Sandra (Roland), Eric, Susan, Lorelei, and Robin.

She was the beloved wife, for 24 years, of William Walter Turner, predeceased. Through her second marriage, she had the privilege of becoming stepmother to two more children that she adored, Marilyn (David), Carl (Rhonda).

When her children were young, she kept house, cooked wonderful meals, baked cakes, cookies, donuts, bread, did the family accounting for the year on one sheet of paper, gardened, canned and froze fruit and vegetables, sewed much of the clothing worn by her girls, and worked side-by-side with her husband to build a little brick house for their family to live in.

Through the years, she returned to school to update her accounting skills; she worked for a small construction company, Welcome Wagon, Zellers, and she had a long career at Saint Clair Paint and Paper.

Llewella was the cherished grandmother to Chellee (John), Scott (Alice), Marlene (Bill), William, Cheryl, Erin (Matt), Allison, Alleesha, Jessica, Justin, Michael, Stephen, Sheila, Julia, and Leanna. She was also blessed with many great grandchildren: Kathryn, Andrew, Alexis, Sydney, Emily, Nathan, William, Hunter, Luke, Levi, Vienna, Teddy, Malcolm, Jarrod, Hunter, Kolton, Emma, Noah, Maiya, and Kyla, and through extended family, four more grand-, seven double grand-, and four triple great grandchildren.

Llewella was a wonderful daughter, sister, wife, aunt, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. She had a special way of making family of friends and friends of family. She will be remembered for her great sense of humour, her kindness and generosity, her curiosity about many aspects of life as well as her strong opinions about so many things. She loved to read, knit, paint, and travel. One of her favourite hobbies became her genealogy studies and all the detective work that comes with it, after finding out she was a direct descendant of Elder William Brewster, who travelled from England aboard the Mayflower to settle in what was to become Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620.

She was a lifetime member and supporter of Community of Christ and an avid reader and frequent visitor at the Orillia library.

She always felt blessed to have so many family and friends that cared deeply for her, and she was excited to finally meet a sister-in-law, Irene, (and three of four new nieces) that she only learned of in recent years. She was best of friends with Joyce, Lyla, and her cousin, Carol.

She fought a good fight, and in the end, Heaven always wins, and brings the good ones home. There are so many that have passed before that are waiting for her with open arms.
Rest in Peace, Mom. You will be missed. You already are.

An interment and celebration of Llewella’s life will be delayed until spring 2022 when it should be safer for family and friends to travel and gather.

A special thank you to Dr. John Doan for his persistence in finding the correct diagnosis for Mom’s condition, and thank you Dr. Archer, Dr. McIntosh, Dr. Michalski, Dr. Catford, to the many nurses and other medical professionals and other staff at Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital for their extra special care they showed to Mom during her illness.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mundell Funeral Home, 79 West St., N., Orillia

Ottawa Congregation - 10:30 Worship. Contact [email protected] for Zoom details.
Windsor Congregation - 10:30 Worship. Contact Jeff Moor for Zoom info.
SLIM (Sharing Love in Mission) - 1:45 p.m. Anthony Smith presiding. Karen Smith of Ludington speaking. Contact Don Robb for Zoom details.

Port Elgin Congregation - 9 a.m. class. Coffee & Conversation 9:40. Worship 10 a.m. Darrell Belrose presiding. Speaker Catherine Manson. Contact Larry Buchanan 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.

Join Apostle Art Smith on Saturday, September 25th, for the unveiling of the Testimony Tapestry website.

All Voices: Discerning Across Canada is a process where members and friends of Community of Christ in Canada are sharing their sense of passion and calling, along with their visions and hopes for the future. The Testimony Tapestry is an innovative way to hear and share the diverse ways we are called to mission in Canada.

The event will be livestreamed at 12 pm EDT.

Are you aware of the many diverse, meaningful and even innovative ministries happening around Canada East Mission Centre? Come Saturday, October 23 to learn about them, ask questions, provide support or get involved.  

We will gather at 10 a.m. for a short welcome and housekeeping. Participants will have opportunity to attend three 20 minute break-out sessions from a variety of presenters, who will provide a short summary followed by a Q&A period. 

Global Village Sessions
The list of breakout rooms for the Global Village so far include:
 
World Accord - David Barth

Encounter World Religions - Brian Carwana

Creating Connections - Glen Johnson

Climate Change - Joan Thompson

Prayer Shawl Ministry - Pat Lewis

Zerin Project - Ron Rowbottom / Paul Fitgeorge

Sionito Project - Bryce Taylor

Awakening Spirituality - Susan Scott

Healing & Freeing Camp - Becky Grigsby

Tech Support
 
Social Room
 
Know a Group We Can Include?
We're sure this list of subjects is far from complete! Do you have something that you would like to showcase? Do you know of something that is happening that can be celebrated and highlighted?

There is still plenty of room. Please send an email to [email protected] with details. 

Enrollment Information for eLearning Classes:
 
The following credit classes will open September 20 for a limited enrollment: 

• Ministry of the Disciple (MP301): 8-weeks, October 16 - Dec. 10
• Ministry with Latter-day Seekers: 4-weeks, October 16 - November 12
• Introduction to Scripture (SS400): 8-weeks,  October 16 - Dec. 10
• Children and Youth Workers Core Training: At your own pace for 2 weeks - starts October 16
• MEADS - "Hospitality as a Spiritual Discipline" - November 8-12, 7:30pm-10:00 pm EST Live via ZOOM. Instructor:  Tammy Lindle Lewis

Each course is $7.50 with the exception of MEADS which is $30. Send payment(s) before class via cheque to:
 
Attention: Melissa Freer
Community of Christ
355 Elmira Road North, Unit 129
Guelph, ON
N1K 1S5

To enroll, go to developmetrics.org and click on the "Canadian Registration Form" when registration opens on September 20.

​Let’s retell the sacred story of Community of Christ through song and readings from historic sites around the world. Join Historic Sites Foundation, Kirtland Temple, and disciples and seekers from around the world as we celebrate Heritage Sunday with special focus on the worldwide church, “Our Worldwide Story.”

Order of Worship
 
READING: Community of Christ Sings: Our Long Tradition of Hymnody
HYMN: “We Call Out to You” (CCS 299)
READING: The Early Church: Gathering to Build Zion
HYMN: “There Is a Land the Lord Will Bless” Emma’s first hymnal (1835) 34
READING: The Dark and Cloudy Day: The Scattering of the Saints
HYMN: “In the Dark and Cloudy Day” (Saints Harp 695, Saints Hymnal 117)
READING: Emma, Joseph Smith III, and the Reorganization
HYMN: “Let Us Shake Off the Coals” by David Hyrum Smith (Saints Hymnal 188)
READING: Regathering the Scattered Saints: French Polynesia
HYMN: “The Spirit of God Like a Fire Is Burning” (CCS 384)
READING: A Changing World and the Social Gospel of Zion
HYMN: “Onward to Zion” by Fred M. Smith (CCS 390)
READING: The Mid-Twentieth Century Church
HYMN: “God Has Spoken in All Ages” (Grey Hymnal 236)
READING: Hearing Voices of the International Church
HYMN: “Siyahamba’ ekukhanyeni’ kwenkos’” (CCS 95)
READING: The Path of Jesus, the Peaceable One
HYMN: “God’s Melody of Peace” (CCS 319)
READING: Our Ongoing, Faithful, Meaningful Journey Continues
HYMN: “There’s an Old, Old Path” (CCS 244)
 
Our global congregation meets every Sunday at 12:00 pm EDT. All are welcome to this inclusive church service.

Ottawa Congregation - 10:30 Worship. Contact [email protected] for Zoom details.

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

SLIM (Sharing Love in Mission) - 1:45 p.m. This Sunday, which is themed: Heritage Day, will be a service about the journey of Community of Christ with a focus on the Temple Ministry of Peace. Send questions to [email protected] or have them ready to ask. Contact Don Robb for Zoom details.

Port Elgin Congregation - 9 a.m. class. Coffee & Conversation 9:40. Worship 10 a.m. Kevin Mercer presiding. Speaker Steve Northey. Contact Larry Buchanan 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. 

Recent discoveries of mass, unmarked graves on the sites of former residential schools has raised many questions of racism, injustice, and genocide in Canadian history. If you would like to learn more about Indigenous culture and experiences, consider enrolling in one or all of the following courses available online for free. Or for a small fee, obtain a certificate.

Indigenous Canada - University of Alberta via Coursera

Indigenous Canada is a 12-lesson Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) from the Faculty of Native Studies that explores Indigenous histories and contemporary issues in Canada. From an Indigenous perspective, this course explores key issues facing Indigenous peoples today from a historical and critical perspective highlighting national and local Indigenous-settler relations. Topics for the 12 lessons include the fur trade and other exchange relationships, land claims and environmental impacts, legal systems and rights, political conflicts and alliances, Indigenous political activism, and contemporary Indigenous life, art and its expressions.

Length: 12 weeks, three-five hours per week (it’s recommended to log on three times a week, but because it’s self-directed, that’s flexible)
Dates: Start at any time
Curriculum: Video lectures (with text transcripts available), readings, weekly multiple-choice quizzes, optional online discussions

Aboriginal Worldviews and Education - University of Toronto via Coursera
This course is all about re-contextualizing what we’ve learned about Canada and its history through Indigenous points of view. It’s offered through U of T’s School of Education with the focus on how education and mindset contribute to the way non-Indigenous people think about Indigenous issues.
A large portion of the curriculum is based on what Marlene Brant Castellano, the first Indigenous person to become a full-time professor in a Canadian university, identified as the characteristics of Indigenous knowledge: that it’s personal and not universal, orally transmitted, experiential, holistic, and conveyed through narrative.
In addition to the content directly about the education system, the class also touches on an analysis of then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s 2008 apology for residential schools and episodes of the 2012 CBC series ‘8th Fire’, which involved former TV host Wab Kinew traveling the country to examine relationships Canadians have with Indigenous people.
 
Length: Six weeks (it’s recommended to take the class twice a week)
Dates: Start at any time
Curriculum: Video lectures (with text transcripts available), film and TV clips, readings, short peer-graded writing assignments, quizzes

Reconciliation through Indigenous Education - University of British Columbia via EdX
 
Like the University of Toronto class, this one has an educational lens, although it isn’t just for teachers. Changing academic institutions is a central tenet of reconciliation, and both classes take up that responsibility. How can classrooms — or even everyday interactions — respect and uphold Indigenous experiences? What can we all learn from Indigenous ways of knowing?
This curriculum is all about learning — from the land, from storytelling, from the way Indigenous communities teach — and ends with a focus on thoughtful and respectful relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people living in Canada.
Length: Six weeks, two-four hours per week. This is an instructor-paced course.
Dates: Next dates have yet to be announced.
Curriculum: Video lectures, narration from Indigenous knowledge keepers, self-assessed checklists, online discussions
 
Indigenous People’s Rights - Columbia University via EdX
Unlike the previous courses, the framework for this one is largely around legal rights and governmental recognition, rather than Indigenous perspectives or worldviews. It focuses on events like the declaration of Indigenous Peoples Day at the 1977 Geneva UN Conference, on the legality of treaty agreements, and on the U.N.’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
This is the only American course on the list, although its focus is on Indigeneity globally. There are references to the Maori protests against the British Crown, for instance. There’s also a discussion of the fascinating history of the Zapatista Uprising in Mexico, where armed insurgents, many of them rural and Indigenous, declared war on the Mexican government. Even the group’s former “leader,” Subcomandante Marcos, took orders from a council of Indigenous elders.
The course doesn’t focus specifically on Canada’s colonial history or government, although it does feature an appearance by UBC professor Sheryl Lightfoot, Canada Research Chair in Global Indigenous Rights and Politics, talking about the Indian Act and the construction of the Site C Dam.
 
Length: 10 weeks, two-four hours per week
Curriculum: Video lectures (with text transcript), recommended readings, videos of experts answering common questions, optional discussion questions.

Over the last 18 months of pandemic life, we have navigated unknown waters encountering unprecedented challenges. We have suffered. We are still facing uncertainty. Yet, our congregations across Canada have found innovative ways to continue to build community in these most difficult times. New ways of sharing the blessings of community have emerged. New seekers and friends have crossed the virtual doors of our online churches. We have begun a nationwide process called All Voices: Discerning Across Canada. As we continue moving toward Jesus, the peaceful one, many of these Canadian expressions will continue to thrive. Community of Christ in Canada now has a space on Facebook to lift up All Voices and to celebrate mission with members and seekers across the country and beyond!