 By Dawn Dawson, Canada East Mission Centre Co-President
At the CEM conference, we had the opportunity to hear about the Celebrate Mission ministry. Our time together highlighted the importance of sharing our stories. Many of us are currently, or have been, involved in wonderful mission activities. Consciously or unconsciously, we may take notes on these stories during our times of sharing and bring new ideas back to our own ministry. One barrier we often face is a hesitancy to share our stories. Sometimes, we may not believe anyone wants to hear them, or we may be reluctant to share for fear of appearing boastful. Many of us want to create or work on projects that help people without seeking recognition. As Community of Christ members, our work often extends beyond the church walls, frequently serving others. In these roles, we continue to perform acts of service without claiming credit, going beyond what is expected to help those around us. Recently, Health Sciences North in Sudbury held an awards banquet at Science North’s Cavern, capping off a week of celebrating team members for their dedication, professionalism, and commitment. Awards were given for leadership, patient care, community service, and outreach. One notable honour, the Unsung Hero Award, was designed to recognize a person who works tirelessly “behind the scenes,” performing essential tasks with efficiency, reliability, and a positive attitude—contributing significantly to the hospital’s success. This year’s Unsung Hero Award recipient was Melanie (Moore) Brouillard, a Community of Christ member who serves as Executive Assistant to the VP of Academic and Research at HSNRI. While several individuals were nominated, it was Melanie’s dedication they chose to celebrate. The award title, “Unsung Hero,” aptly reflects the spirit of helping others without seeking recognition. Sharing stories like Melanie’s may inspire others. In a world filled with negative stories, those of positivity, respect, and generosity uplift our hearts. Celebrating our mission may take many forms, each an opportunity to honour and reflect. I share Melanie’s story with joy, as her mother did in church, filled with pride. Let us embrace these good works and celebrate our members.
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 Join us at Corinth Congregation (54246 Eden Line – Culloden Rd. & Eden Line) on Saturday, November 16, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. for a delicious community breakfast in support of local schools’ healthy snack programs. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children, and everyone is welcome to join!
Questions? Contact Cheryl at [email protected]  Join us for an evening of fun and fellowship, at the Reaching Out Centre (125 Queen St, Mississauga), as we get silly with board games for all ages. We will have games, and some light refreshments, at the centre, but feel free to bring your own.
We will play until we want to go home. Hope to see you there! If you have any questions please email [email protected]  The Canada East Spiritual Formation Centre invites you to join us for an online Ignatian Advent Retreat, meeting every Sunday at 7:00 p.m. ET from November 24, 2024, to January 2, 2025. Together, we will explore how God is present in our daily lives through reflection, prayer, and group sharing.
Ignatian Spirituality encourages us to deepen our spiritual awareness, guiding us to prayerful discernment and active service. Each week, participants will be invited to spend 30 minutes in daily reflection, using readings and “Visio Divina” (sacred seeing). Sunday evenings will be a time to discuss and process the week’s spiritual experiences. Retreat Schedule: Pre-Retreat Reading & Prayer: Prior to the start Receive Week One Materials: Saturday, November 17, 2024 Week One: Sunday, November 24 – Zoom, 7:00 p.m. ET Receive Week Two Materials: Saturday, November 30 Week Two (First Sunday of Advent): Sunday, December 1 – Zoom, 7:00 p.m. ET Receive Week Three Materials: Saturday, December 7 Week Three: Sunday, December 8 – Zoom, 7:00 p.m. ET Receive Week Four Materials: Saturday, December 14 Week Four: Sunday, December 15 – Zoom, 7:00 p.m. ET Week Four Meeting: Sunday, December 22 – Zoom, 7:00 p.m. ET Post-Retreat Wrap-Up: Thursday, January 2, 2025 – Zoom, 7:00 p.m. ET Registration: Space may be limited, so register early by emailing [email protected] Come, deepen your spiritual journey this Advent season. All are welcome! If there is enough interest, we will consider an “in person” version of the Retreat, at Woodfield Community of Christ, on an evening that seems good for most.  The Scarborough Congregation invites you to a special Remembrance Day service on Thursday, November 7, 2024, at 7:00 p.m.
Zoom entry will begin at 6:45 p.m., with a pre-service slideshow to help centre our thoughts and prepare our hearts for this meaningful time together. To receive the Zoom link, please contact Linda Armstrong at [email protected]. Together, we will honour and reflect on the sacrifices and service of those who have given, and those who are still giving. We welcome all to join us for this time of Remembrance.  By Mary Jean Belrose, Mission Centre co-President
So much tender care has been poured into each congregational facility, and countless memories are embedded in these sacred spaces. These structures have faithfully supported our mission, allowing us to gather, worship, and invite others into our community. However, when the responsibility of maintaining these buildings becomes too heavy for a few, congregations face difficult decisions. As stated in our Enduring Principle of Responsible Choices, “God gives humans the ability to make choices about whom or what they will serve… We are called to make responsible choices within the circumstances of our lives that contribute to the purposes of God.” Over the past year, four properties have been sold, and four congregations have closed within the Canada East Mission Centre. These decisions were difficult and heartbreaking, representing a significant loss for our community. We acknowledge the stress and pain involved, and our thoughts are with those affected. Thunder Bay congregation had only a few aging members remaining when Pastor Cecil Smith passed away, leading to the sale of their property and the closure of the congregation. For decades, this congregation was a beacon of faith and community, nurturing the spiritual growth of countless individuals and serving as a gathering place for worship and fellowship. Though the physical building has been sold, the legacy of Thunder Bay's ministry continues to live on in the lives of those touched by its presence. Growing up, many of us were taught the importance of good stewardship—caring for our resources, using them wisely, and not overextending ourselves. These principles are just as vital to the life of the church as they are in our personal lives. Sometimes, making responsible choices means letting go of certain assets to ensure the future strength and sustainability of our ministry. Selling a property does not always signify the closure of a congregation. Instead, we should ask questions like, What would this make possible? What new opportunities might emerge if we were freed from the maintenance and financial burden of owning a building? What doors might open to expand our ministry and reach more people? Guelph congregation made the decision to sell their aging facility, but the congregation is alive and well. As Marion Smith explains, “One of the main reasons for selling our building was in response to our enduring principles of the sacredness of creation and responsible choices. The building required major updates to become climate-efficient, and with a declining donor list, we decided our real desire was to impact the community, not invest in the building. We needed to make a responsible choice. We decided to keep our congregation together but to let our building go. We have not yet decided on a permanent location. We meet in homes or other places—parks, rented locations, borrowed spaces (e.g., Arbor Trails retirement home library and chapel). We visit other congregations and community events. We have become ‘nomads’ and have found many advantages to that status. It occurs to us that Jesus was a nomad before us.” Sault Ste. Marie congregation faced accessibility challenges, an aging membership, and decreasing numbers without a pastor. They, too, chose to sell their property and close. Niagara Falls had sold their property a few years ago and had been meeting in a hotel, but the pandemic exacerbated difficulties, and they decided to disband. A portion of their funds was donated to the Ziontario campground. Similarly, Sarnia congregation struggled with too few members to maintain a large facility or sustain ministry, leading to the sale of the property and closure of the congregation. In each circumstance, the decision to close was not made lightly, but rather in the spirit of responsible stewardship, ensuring that their faithful contributions will continue to support the wider ministry and mission of the church. Let us hold one another in love and support as we navigate these changes.  As we approach the Canada East Mission Centre (CEM) Conference, we invite you to take part in two important pre-conference events designed to enhance your experience and understanding of what’s to come during our weekend together.
1. PollEverywhere Voting Platform Session Whether you’re a first-time attendee or a seasoned delegate, join us for a brief session on using PollEverywhere, our voting platform for conference business matters. Please note that delegates attending via Zoom will need two devices—one for viewing the session and another for voting. While a group can share the same device for viewing, each individual must have a separate device to cast their vote. Bring your questions for Troy and enhance your conference experience!
2. Pre-Legislative Sessions Join us for our Pre-Legislative Sessions, offering a chance to gain clarity on the business items being presented at the upcoming conference, without the formal constraints of Robert’s Rules of Order. Hear Bishop Sam Smalldon present the CEM 2025 budget and engage in valuable discussions. You are welcome to attend one or both sessions.
We look forward to your participation in these sessions and the engaging discussions that will help prepare us for the CEM Conference!  By Dawn Dawson, Canada East Mission Centre Co-President
How much time do you take to think about the music used during a Sunday service? If you are the one leading the service or part of a group planning the service, then you probably understand the importance and impact a song with the right words at the right time can have. Songs in the service can move the message along and not just be a pause in the content. Music can uplift or confirm a thought through the emotions it evokes. Meaningful words, brought alive through cleverly crafted tunes, can both inspire and linger in our minds. To further expand on the desire to include those from a younger generation, perhaps using music from various genres would be effective. There are many impactful songs that inspire or encourage thoughtful meditation in the hearts of younger generations that are not necessarily found in our hymn books. Our hymn book contains amazing hymns, categorized for every service purpose, such as gathering, discernment, and justice. To bring some in to discover our wonderful music, they need to understand that we appreciate all kinds of music. For Youth Sunday last February, I planned a service using a Psalm, and between the reading of each verse, we used contemporary songs to enhance the message. We included songs such as Let the Sun Shine In, Why Me Lord by Kris Kristofferson, Just Breathe (a Pearl Jam cover by Willie Nelson and his son), and wrapped up the service with Spirit in the Sky by Norman Greenbaum. Songs can be used with music or as part of meditation study by reflecting on the lyrics alone. That morning, we had twice as many twenty-somethings in the pews. A couple even said they would like to help put the service together next year because they had songs in mind that could be used. Some of these songs are not new, but with today’s access to all kinds of music, older songs are often new to others. You must confirm copyright approval through a CCLI or Entandem licence for any song you wish to use. Simply looking up Inspirational Songs on music services like iTunes or Spotify reveals well-crafted playlists in every genre. Spiritual life for the next generation is changing, and being open to the new music that speaks to their hearts is just one more tool we can use to bring multigenerational groups together. Incorporating campfire songs or exploring hymns from different countries in the hymn book could also bring great joy to a service. Music is a wonderful gift we have all been given. Let us use the gift of music to grow our congregational life, always inspiring new ground.  Scarborough branch’s women’s circle (Acacia Circle) would like to invite you to join their online fellowship group for a 13 month study of the Book of Psalms. Led by Arland Baker-Wicksey, the group meets once a week, usually the 2nd or 3rd Tuesday afternoon at 1:00 PM. We are a warm group and enjoy a happy fellowship. Using the Serendipity Bible for Group Studies - New International Version we will study one of the greatest and oldest collection of songs ever composed, poems written, and prayers that helped form people into followers of God. We will begin our study Oct 15th.
If you would like to join you can contact Arland at [email protected] or call 519-688-0583 and she will send you the study information on a monthly basis.  POSTPONED - Watch for new date in the new year.
Join us on Sunday, October 20, for a very special day with Brian Carwana of Encounter World Religions. Brian will give presentations on “What Drives Religiosity” and “American Exceptionalism”. Registration is required. Reaching Out Centre: 125 Queen St S Streetsville, ON www.reachingout.ca |
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