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Apostle Art Smith shares his Canadian Thanksgiving well-wishes to the church in Canada and offers his gratitude for the engagement in a recent survey concerning the future of the church.
View the video and share it with others who might appreciate it.  Yesterday I spoke with a dear member who was de-cluttering her home and discovered a worn and discoloured 1917 Herald. A major focus within its pages was the Spanish Flu pandemic that was overwhelming the world. That flu was couched in mystery and without understanding of how we can protect one another. A century has passed and today we have hope knowing the safeguards we follow to keep each other safe.
Our 2020 Thanksgiving is being celebrated within this pandemic and is upon each of our minds. Normally we would be looking forward to celebrating with generations of family and friends. Our family, as most of you will be experiencing this year, is separated from an in-person Thanksgiving get together. It may be hard for us to feel thankful right now….in home spaces that now seem more spacious, at tables that are normally overflowing. And yet, that doesn't mean we should let go of this sacred tradition of gratitude we need now more than ever. If we still practice gratitude this holiday weekend, there's still hope for this Thanksgiving. We have learned these past few months that we can still share together in personal, touching ways that still allow us facetime or phone time with one another. Let us make our Gratitude intentional this weekend. Let us not take anyone for granted. Let us voice the words, “I love you”, “I miss you.” These words transcend the miles and warm the heart more than a turkey dinner ever could. These words spoken will be remembered when we look back at 2020. Let us share with one another the innumerable gifts of life we are grateful for. Especially this year, let us be grateful for life itself. Gracious God we are blessed. Thank you for family and friends and the joy of togetherness in whatever form we experience it. Our family wishes each of you a bountiful Thanksgiving rich in the blessings that matter most. Kerry & Shelley Richards and family  Beyond the Walls - "Confess Our Impatience" You’re invited to join with hundreds of participants from around the world for an inclusive church service on the theme “Confess Our Impatience.” Danny Belrose will give our Sunday message on the story of the children of Israel and the Golden Calf (Exodus 32:1-14). Our scripture will be read in Lingala by André Nzuzi from Bern, Switzerland, and Andrea Salemi of Catania, Sicily, will give our Call to Worship in Italian. Richard Troeh of Independence, Missouri, will offer our invocation and Zilphia Martin IV of Southfield, Michigan, will teach our Peace Lesson. Leandro Palacios of Toronto, Ontario, will offer our Disciples Generous Response. Join the Beyond the Walls Choir in singing: CCS - 23 “I Danced in the Morning,” and CCS - 574 “Touch Me, Lord, with Thy Spirit Eternal.” Let us build a community Beyond the Walls this Sunday, 12 p.m. EDT. SLIM (Sharing Love in Mission) - 2 p.m. Bring a writing pad to begin a Gratitude Journal. Please answer the following questions before the service.
I am grateful for my family because…; ”“Something good happened this week…"; “I am grateful for my friendship with… because…”; “I am grateful for who I am because…”; “Something silly that I am grateful for…”; “Something else I am grateful for…” Speaker Barb Kernohan. Contact Don Robb for Zoom info. Port Elgin Congregation - 9 a.m class. Coffee & Conversation 9:40. Worship 10 a.m. Speaker Kris Judd. 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 Carman Thompson 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 "Church History Without Boundaries," a series of online lectures each Thursday at 8 p.m. Eastern Time through November 19.
Participants will journey through the pages of Community of Christ history as we listen to guest historians share the global history behind Community of Christ. The eight-week series features church history from Nigeria, Korea, India, Canada, England, and the Holy Land. Registration is free. Online space is limited.
More about this lecture series here. Previous lectures "A Global Family: Strategies for Visualizing and Narrating Community of Christ's Global History" with John-Charles Duffy  The COVID-19 pandemic continues to reduce opportunities for the church to provide in-person pastoral-care ministries and to gather physically for fellowship, worship, and community formation. After extended consideration, the Presidency is providing principles and guidelines for offering the sacraments through online means during the pandemic. These principles and guidelines may be refined in the future as the church lives into its experiences with online ministries.
It is our hope that providing for the sacraments to be shared through online experiences will continue the pastoral-care ministries the church is called to extend into human life, even during this time of physical distancing. It also will provide the church learnings for how to share the sacraments in a world that is becoming more borderless through online connections. May blessings abound as you offer these gifts.  Douglas Gordon Walker, age 90, passed away peacefully Thursday afternoon, October 1st, 2020 in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Beloved husband of Margaret Walker (Smith), cherished father of Brenda Arrowsmith (Don) and Bruce Walker (Lorraine). Proud grandfather of Jamie Arrowsmith (Katie Schell) and Dana Arrowsmith, and great-grandfather to Elizabeth and Douglas Walter Arrowsmith. Pre-deceased by much-loved brothers: William Walker (Kay) and David Walker (Deanna). Brother-in-law to Mervyn Smith (late), Lawrence Smith (Sandy), Harold Smith, and the late Muriel Talcott (Smith). Pre-deceased by parents Edward and Nellie Walker. ‘Uncle Doug’ to many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, as well as young friends who loved to call him uncle. Each one was special to him.
Born in Grimsby, Ontario, Doug’s family moved in the early ’30’s to the small hamlet of Melissa in Muskoka, followed by Little Current, Manitoulin Island, where he met Margaret, his life-long sweetheart and best friend. He started life in the Sault in 1951 as a welder/ironworker. In the late 1960’s he became owner-operator of his developing steel fabrication/erection business, Conaquip, a well-regarded entity in the steel fabrication business for almost three decades. He enjoyed involvements with the Bon Soo Festival, the seniors curling community, ball-room and square-dance groups, and felt deeply enriched by his faith group, Community of Christ where he served in many capacities. Doug and Margaret also enjoyed extensive travel, and skiing. Douglas was widely regarded as a kind, gracious gentleman. His renowned gentle humour was evident to the end. The family would like to thank the staff at Maple View Extendicare for their care and compassion. A Celebration of Life will be announced sometime in the Spring. Memorial contributions to Community of Christ or a charity of your choice would be appreciated. Memorial donations made (payable by cheque) to Community of Christ, or a charity of your choice would be appreciated by the family. Arrangements entrusted to the Arthur Funeral Home - Barton & Kiteley Chapel (492 Wellington Street East 705-759-2522).  The following classes are now open for enrollment through October 17 for $7.50 each:
Click on button above and choose the "Canada Registration Form." Class fee must be paid before the first session.
MEADS Online: "Community of Christ History" taught live via ZOOM by John Hamer Monday, November 9 through Friday November 13 from 7:30-10:00 PM (EST). The price is $30 and you can enroll by sending a check to: Attention: Melissa Freer Community of Christ 355 Elmira Road North, Unit 129 Guelph, ON N1K 1S5  Douglas Walker of Sault Ste. Marie, father of Brenda Arrowsmith, passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 1,2020. He was 90 years old.
Brenda and Don were able to be with him at the long term care facility through out his last few days. A memorial service will be held at a future time.  Virtual Special Mission Conference Countdown is on! Just 21 more Sleeps! October 24-25 "Disciples and Seekers Blessing Sacred Community" Essential business of our Mission Centre must continue even in a pandemic. Our agenda includes sustaining of officers, approval of 2019 Conference Minutes, approval of 2021 budget and priesthood calls. If you have not already volunteered to be a delegate, consider representing your congregation with voice and vote. We will be meeting via ZOOM, a very familiar video conferencing platform. We'll also use the incredibly simple tool called "Poll Everywhere" to collect votes. Using Poll Everywhere allows each vote to be anonymous. Check out the video below to see how uncomplicated the process is. Training sessions will be provided in order to give you the opportunity to try the system first hand (see details below).  Lunch with Mystery Guests We have planned special surprises for you prior to the business meeting!! Many guest ministers who have shared in Canada East Mission Centre over the years have been invited to spend time with us during lunch. These are people you already know and love and THEY are super pumped about visiting with YOU! When you join the ZOOM meeting on Saturday, October 24 starting at 11:30 a.m., Delegates and Ex-officio will check in with Melissa to be included in the Credentials Report. Then we will all have lunch together and mingle with our special guests. Join the conversation! Other guests
new procedures
Pastors have received a package of information regarding how many delegates your congregation is allotted, how to select delegates and how to register. Once congregational lists are submitted, delegates and ex-officio will receive further information. The conference booklet will be made available electronically. Pastors who have not yet submitted their list of delegates is urged to do so asap so that we can disseminate important information to delegates. training sessions for voting
Conducting a virtual business meeting will require a learning curve. Training sessions are scheduled to familiarize everyone with ZOOM and Poll Everywhere, the platform we will use to vote on resolutions:
pre-legislative sessions
Delegates and ex-officios will be equipped with an understanding of the business to be presented to the conference body.
conference is for everyone!
It's for everyone (not just delegates and ex-officios). Business brings us together but we are enriched by our engagement with each other. A special campfire is being planned for everyone with Apostle Art Smith on Saturday evening. You won't want to miss the fun and laughter or the warmth of the gathering. Ron Harmon is our special guest speaker on Sunday. Stay tuned to be uplifted and encouraged for the road ahead.
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