 Last year I attended an Advent Retreat at Kirtland Temple. In a moment of spiritual formation we were invited to select a picture with personal Advent meaning.
This picture of Mary and Elizabeth touched me. Both mother’s to be were sharing a sacred mutual knowing of discernment that their two sons would be born with divine purposes to fulfill. The deep magnitude of this forthcoming promise, coupled with their consecration of motherhood to nurture the desire of God through their own lives, is depicted in this picture for me. This picture is prominently placed upon my desk inviting me to reflect upon my own and all of our sacred callings to be the beloved sons and daughters God created, to fulfill our holy purposes in life. Advent births hope and promise of the incarnation gifted to us in Jesus that through him humanity and all creation might be fulfilled. In this time of celebrating Jesus’ birth, let us be jubilant with joy, hope, love and peace for God is at work in our midst. Even in these solemn days of distancing ourselves from those we love, God is with us. God longs for us as we long for one another. We have learned this year how to sense intimacy with loved ones in new ways, even the presence of one another from afar. Perhaps this has nurtured in us how we can experience God beyond our touch. The virtual oneness we envelop family and friends with also reaches the Divine. God is with us. The Spirit envelops us. May we be enriched in the promise this Christmas of what matters most. We certainly have the time to dwell upon sacred meaning, May we capture the knowing moment of Mary and Elizabeth depicted in the picture to sense and be enveloped by Divine love. Be blessed as we envision 2021 with a new reality of sensed oneness and promise. From my family to yours we uphold you in all the forthcoming promises of Advent resident within you. Hark! The angels sing! With Meaning, Kerry Richards CEM President  Kirtland Temple Christmas Eve Service Join us for a special Christmas Eve service of Beyond the Walls this Thursday, December 24th, at 6:00 pm EST. Each year at Kirtland Temple, the Christmas story is shared through scripture and carols. Although the community cannot gather in-person, the Spirit of the season will be expanded and streamed around the world. The Beyond the Walls choir will sing Canticle of the Turning; Noël Nouvelet; Good Christian Friends Rejoice; O Come, O Come, Emmanuel; Silent Night! Holy Night!; Hark the Herald Angels Sing; Angels We Have Heard on High; Silvery Star; Precious Star; What Child Is This; Community of Joy; and Joy to the World. The choir will be joined by special Christmas ministries of music. This is an evening not to be missed. Commemorate Christ’s birth into the world with disciples and seekers the whole world over. Sharing Love in Mission will be worshipping together on December 24th, at 4 p.m. EST to celebrate the Birth of our Lord. Contact Don Robb for ZOOM details.
Port Elgin Congregation - Christmas Eve Service, 7:30 p.m. Jan Storms presiding assisted by Ruth Parker. Contact Larry Buchanan for ZOOM details.  Exploring a Post-Pandemic Church: Discern, Plan and Act in Hope
Come and brainstorm / dialogue together as we think outside the box! January 16 and 30 Starting at Noon EST Day 1 - January 16, 2021 What Might A 21st Century Post-Pandemic Church Look Like? Exploring what a post-pandemic congregation might look like: Session 1: Relational vs Program Focus Session 2: To/For/With People – Seeing the Difference Session 3: It All Starts with Discernment and Engaging with the Neighbourhood Day 2 - January 30, 2021 How Do We Get There? Exploring some steps and practices to guide the shift Exploring the importance of passion, commitment, synchronicity Registration Fee: $20.00 Questions? Contact: Lisa Neudorf  Celebrate the Third Sunday of Advent with disciples and seekers from around the world, Sunday December 13th, at 12:00 p.m. Christian Vago will bring the message live from Montréal, Québec, on the theme "Bring Good News." Apostle Mareva Arnaud will join us from Tahiti with the Peace Lesson. Cathy Baker of Brooklin, Ontario, will share our Disciples Generous Response and Nadine Manson from Brampton, Ontario, will offer the invocation. Lectionary will be read by Evan Sharley of Boise, Idaho, and Jon Donald of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, will read our Call to Worship. SLIM (Sharing Love in Mission) - 2 p.m. Barb Kernohan has coordinated the service this week. Guest Speaker will be Dulcie Shepherdson. Contact Don Robb for Zoom info.
Port Elgin Congregation - 9 a.m. class. Coffee & Conversation 9:40. Worship 10 a.m. Wendell Martin will be speaking. 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 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.  The Community of Christ Human Rights Team invites you to observe December 10, 2020, the UN’s Human Rights Day, with a prayer for the struggle for universal human rights around the globe.
Human Rights Day is observed every year on 10 December, the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted, in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Learn more about this day in honor of the UN’s Declaration of Human Rights. Watch this video. If you have questions, feel free to reach out to the Human Rights Team! Join us in prayer today... "God of all nations, kindreds, tongues and people; God of the many systems of faith and salvation; God who holds all people as precious and of inestimable worth; We call on you to cause nation to strive against nation no more. We ask that you cause dissension and strife between people to come to an end. Change our hearts so we may suffer war, and dissension, no more. Lord, hear our prayer... God who sees all people as precious, mold our hearts to see the other as you see them and in that change of perspective come to recognize them as your beloved and, in that process, come to recognize we are beloved as well. Lord, hear our prayer... Grant that we, in this time of pandemic, may recover better and make a stand for human rights, the inalienable rights owing to all persons, everywhere. Lord, hear our prayer... May we be spurred to end discrimination of any kind, and address inequalities of any kind, past and present, that the worth of all persons may be realized in us, in our communities, in our nations and our world. Lord, hear our prayer... Spur us to participation and solidarity, realizing we are all in “this” together, seeing each other as co-creators of a post covid reality that is better for present and future generations. Help us to ensure that the voices of the most affected and vulnerable are strongly heard in our global recovery efforts. Lord, hear our prayer... Help us to ensure sustainable development for planet and creatures as the cornerstone that leaves no one behind. Lord, hear our prayer... On this day set aside to recognize and own a universal declaration on the rights of all, help us to see with your eyes and beyond the confines of nationality, race and culture, to the vision you have for us and our world, that your time of peace, perfect peace, may become reality. Lord, hear our prayer... Sustain in us the value of our enduring principles, our mission initiatives, our blessings of unity in our diversity, that all may come to the table loved, welcomed, blessed, co-constituents of our common humanity. Lord, hear our prayer... Awake us, renew us, bless us, set our feet on the path to work in all ways for universal human rights. May our new normal bring the least and the vulnerable with full voice, to your table, as we stand for human rights. Lord, hear our prayer... Accept our efforts, for you in love, and may those efforts be the hallmark of our calling, and our clarion call to our world. Lord, hear our prayer... Lord, Lord, hear our prayer... Amen."  Elizabeth June Burton
June 10th, 1936 - December 7th, 2020 A very special mother and grandmother passed away peacefully at her Markham home on Monday, December 7th , 2020 in her 85th year. Elizabeth, beloved wife of the late Barry N. Burton (1936-1994) and the late Ronald J. Morris (1931-2012). Dear mother to Carol Anne, David (Whitney) and Glenn (Angie). She will be sadly missed by her cherished grandchildren, Jason and Jonathan and their father Stephen Earle, Emily, Sarah, Abby, Anna, Lindsay and Jenny. She will be deeply missed by Ron's children and their families as well as her many lifelong friends and family. Elizabeth spent her early years in Fenelon Falls, Ontario with her devoted parents William and Iris. As a child, she moved to East York where she continued her love of teaching, skills in crafting and sharing her wonderful lifelong sense of humour with everyone she met. Elizabeth loved all animals, and she had a special place in her heart for every dog and cat that came into her life. She loved spending time with her family and in particular she enjoyed spending time at her cottage in Muskoka. She took such pride in how it has become a hub of happiness for her family and friends. Elizabeth will be particularity missed by her wonderful friends at Community of Christ where she was so actively involved as a member, pianist, and volunteer. The family would like to thank their many friends and relatives for the continued kindness and support they have provided over the past few months. “If grieve you must – then let your grief be comforted by trust. It is only a while that we must part, so bless the memories within your heart.” A memorial service will be held for Elizabeth on Saturday, December 12th, 2020 at Chapel Ridge Funeral Home in Markham for the immediate family and electronically streamed for extended family and friends. Contact Chapel Ridge Funeral Home for details (905) 305-8508. The family will gather at a later date for a celebration of Elizabeth's life. Elizabeth asked, that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the charity of your choice. I'm Free - (Unknown) Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free, I'm following the path God laid for me. I took his hand when I heard his call, I turned my back and left it all. I could not stay another day, To laugh, to love, to work, to play. Tasks left undone must stay that way, I've found that peace at the close of the day. If my parting has left a void, Then fill it with remembered joy. A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss, Ah yes, these things I too will miss. Be not burdened with times of sorrow, I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow. My Life's been full, I savoured much, Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch, Perhaps my time seemed all too brief, Don't lengthen it now with undue grief. Lift up your heart and share with me, God wanted me now, He set me free.  Aaron Edward Grigsby
May 23rd, 1977 - December 5th, 2020 Unexpectedly at his Kitchener residence on Saturday, December 5, 2020 at the age of 43 years. Loving and dear son of Ron and Sharon Grigsby of Kitchener. Dear brother of Becky Grigsby of Kitchener and his two special nieces Danielle and Erica. Aaron had a close and special bond with cousins Sandra and Mark Larose and their daughters Alexandria and Celine. Aaron will be sadly missed by his Aunt Susan and her children as well as his Ontario wide church family. Aaron Graduated from Conestoga College, as well as received a bachelor of Business degree from Graceland University in Iowa, USA. Aaron was a dedicated Financial Analyst with KPMG for 18 years. He was a lay minister in the Community of Christ and functioned as part of the Pastor Team. Aaron was a part of the University of Waterloo Choir. He taught computer courses for night school students at Conestoga College in Kitchener. He loved his family especially his nieces. A private family service will be held for Aaron on Saturday December 19 at 1 p.m. at the GRAHAM A. GIDDY FUNERAL HOME AND CHAPEL, 617 King St. N. Waterloo (across from Home Depot). Donations to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario, Ziontario Campground or World Accord would be appreciated by the family. On line condolences and donations can be made through the funeral home at www.grahamgiddyfh.com or call at 519.888.7700. Please feel free to join the service by live stream for Aaron by clicking the button below at the service time.  Celebrate the Second Sunday of Advent with disciples and seekers from around the world, December 6th, at 12:00 pm EST. Danny Belrose will bring the message live from Independence, Missouri on the theme "Prepare the Way of the Lord." Toronto congregation’s associate pastor Roger Dodson will offer the invocation. Judy Luffman of Redmond, Oregon, will give our Peace Lesson, and Doug Hayden of Calgary, Alberta, will lead our Disciples Generous Response. Llewella Turner of Orillia, Ontario will read our Call to Worship and Maricela McLean will read our Lectionary text of Mark 1:1-8. This will be a communion service. If you would like to share in the celebration of the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper with us, please have emblems mindfully prepared in your location. Roy Baggerly and Erik Nilsen will read the blessings on the communion. As we continue our Christmas selections, join the Beyond the Walls choir in singing hymn CCS 432 - “What Child Is This” and hymn CCS 433 - “Good Christian Friends, Rejoice.” Let us worship together with hundreds of participants from around the world this Sunday, December 6th at 12 PM EST. SLIM (Sharing Love in Mission) - 2 p.m. This is a communion service so please have your personal emblems available. Steve and Margie Lamoure presiding. Contact Don Robb for Zoom info.
Port Elgin Congregation - 9 a.m. class. Coffee & Conversation 9:40. Worship 10 a.m. Tony & Charmaine Chvala-Smith speaking. 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 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.  You are invited to continue the study of the guiding question, "Are We Moving Toward Jesus, the Peaceful One?," a yearlong series of linked Herald magazine articles, videos, and live online discussions.
Join us 7 December when Apostle Janné Grover leads a discussion with Michael Wright and Elray Henrickson, authors of the current articles in the series. Opportunities will be provided to question the authors and to participate in small-group discussion. Wright and Henrickson will discuss:
Please register by 6 December. Zoom links will be shared on 7 December. Because authors for this session reside in Europe, the previous start time has changed to 1:00 p.m. Eastern The series, found at www.CofChrist.org/guiding-question, is an entry point to ongoing conversation about nonviolence by reclaiming and deepening our understanding of first-century Jesus and how that affects us as his followers today. Previous sections of this study series are linked on the Guiding Question page.  Join us 6 December for a free online Advent worship service with special music, including participation from many locations.
The event will open with Christmas carols from Mexico, the Asia field, and Zambia. The three members of the First Presidency will welcome viewers. After scripture from the Gospel of Luke, Ron Harmon Jr. will offer a Prayer of Invitation and Anticipation. Apostle Mareva Arnaud Tchong from French Polynesia will deliver the homily. While most of the event will be played from a recording, the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper will be live. The invitation will be presented simultaneously in English (First Presidency), Spanish (Apostle Carlos Enrique Mejia), and French (Apostle Bunda Chibwe). Members will answer "Where do you see (Joy/Hope/Love/Peace) Being Born Today?," with an opportunity for social media responses from viewers. The Disciples' Generous Response will come from Andrew Fox, field bishop of Eurasia Mission Field. Prayers for Peace come next, followed by an international children's choir performing CCS #420, "Star-Child." Grammy-nominated Organist-in-Residence Jan Kraybill will perform:
These online gatherings are made possible by Worldwide Mission Tithes. Your contributions are welcome online or by mail to the Presiding Bishopric, 1001 W. Walnut St., Independence, Missouri, USA. |
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