Are you that special someone?
 
The one who is asked to speak at memorial services or funerals?
 
Are you the person others turn to create a service or a tribute?
 
Do you keep a growing list of quotes from poets and wisdom keepers that offer solace and perspective on life and death?
 
You are not alone.
 
The grieving process around death and dying includes the words we speak—and the words we are willing to make public. Eulogies and obituaries are examples; so are living funerals, with stories, songs, tributes, and ceremonial goodbyes. Life-cycle celebrant, home funeral guide, and writer Penny Allport will lead us in exploring the challenge of balancing the (sometimes hard) truth about the dead with solace for the living. Please bring pen and paper, and prepare for an evocative writing exercise.
 
Register here
 
Watch for news of our upcoming webinars on more controversial subjects:
 
Ancestors—honoring or undoing the legacies we’re left with
Embodiment—embodied practices & the art of writing
Heartbreak—how to open up to life again, and again…and again
Fear—coping with the (very real) fear of going public with our stories
Mental health—the gift of an unconventional state of mind
Mentors—finding guides, ancient and modern, living and dead
Nature—writing that is grounded, real, and wide out in the open
Publishers—presses open to spiritual life writing!
Race & Ethnicity—identity colors how our stories are told, and received
Sexuality & Gender—the mystics’ great unspoken secret
Trauma—the profound connection between spirituality and pain
 
Our life writing webinars are built around intimate conversation, a special guest, and a writing exercise that helps you contemplate the subject.
 
Come with questions. Leave with heart.
 
Sessions are free and open to all.
 
Simply register on Eventbrite (hence the link, above)
 
Relax, and leave the rest to us. If we haven’t yet explored your passions, write and tell me what you need.
 
I can hardly wait to hear your voice.
 
Susan Scott
Body & Soul groundbreaking volume on a taboo subject
Director, Wild Writers Mentorship Program
Contributing editor, The New Quarterly (TNQ)
Website: http://susanlscott.twohornedbull.ca/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-scott-writer-editor/

Beyond the Walls 

Jerry Dale, Jr. will bring our message this week from Casper, Wyoming, on the theme: “Infinite Mystery.” Zilphia Martin III will teach our Peace Lesson. Julie O’Neil will read our lectionary text from the book of Job 38:1-7,34-41. Our Call to Worship will be read by Carol Smith and Robert Smith will offer our Invocation. The Beyond the Walls Choir will premiere CCS 143 “Morning Has Broken.”
 
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 cofc.ottawa888@gmail.com for Zoom details.

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

SLIM (Sharing Love in Mission) - 1:45 p.m. Donald Robb is presiding and the message will be on the topic of "Waiting" delivered via video sermon from Shane Adams, Director of Marketing and Communications for Graceland College. Contact Don Robb for Zoom details.

Port Elgin Congregation - 9 a.m. class. Coffee & Conversation 9:40. Darrell Belrose presiding. Ron Rowbottom 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 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. 

We are inviting everyone across our Canada East to be present during Mission Conference for the ordination of:
 
Johan Koeslag to the office of High Priest / Evangelist.

Johan will be ordained by Evangelist Elaine Kerr Morgan, Apostle Art Smith and High Priest Kerry Richards. Within our Community of Christ heritage, discernment of the Spirit’s call to ministry touches all of our lives and so we ask for your prayerful support in preparation for Johan’s ordination and our collective blessing as Johan continues to live into his call.
 
In response to the Spirit, the call of John Nichols to the office of Evangelist will be presented at the Conference for our consideration.

These two solemn yet joyous moments will richly uplift our Conference experience.

 Please join us October 23 @ 1 pm.

Beyond the Walls 

Apostle Mareva Arnaud brings our message from Tahiti on the theme “With One Heart and Mind May the Lord Call Us Zion!” We will hear testimonies from French Polynesia including: Tehina Puariitahi, Joudy Clark-Tefau, Edwige Chong Yuk Ting, Thierry Bonno, and Teiho Tanepaù. The Beyond the Walls Choir will premiere an all-new rendition of “The Spirit of God like a Fire Is Burning” sung in Tahitian, French, Spanish, and English. We will also be treated to special ministries of music from the saints in French Polynesia.
 
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 cofc.ottawa888@gmail.com for Zoom details.

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

SLIM (Sharing Love in Mission) - 1:45 p.m. Presiding will be Susan Flight. The theme for Sunday is God, Where are you? Testimonies will be shared from people about how God has blessed their lives. Click here for children's colouring page. Contact Don Robb for Zoom details.

Port Elgin Congregation - 9 a.m. class. Coffee & Conversation 9:40. Jan Storms 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 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. 

The North American Climate Justice Team invites your congregation to share with us any existing or planned efforts you are engaged in to address climate change. 

Pastors or congregational team members are invited to send a video summary of what they are doing to help decrease carbon emissions, educate themselves or others about climate challenges, or transform their buildings into more sustainable and environmentally friendly locations. 
Please send to kerry@communityofchrist.ca  your congregation name, your project along with contact information so the Climate Justice team can correspond directly with your congregation. They would love to highlight at least one project from our mission center at one of their climate sessions, beginning in November.
Thank you for your responses and for the difference you make.

Susan Oxley

Cathy will be ordained by Apostle Art Smith and President of Seventy John Glaser on this occasion. Within our Community of Christ heritage, discernment of the Spirit’s call to ministry touches all of our lives and so we ask for your prayerful support in preparation for her ordination and our collective blessing as Cathy continues to live into her call.

This is a joyous Mission Centre event for all. Please join us 

We are sad to say that virtual thanksgiving retreat will be postponed until next year (fingers crossed in person). We look forward to connecting with everyone soon. We miss you all and can’t wait until we can come back ‘home’ 💛 - Regan Ross

As of June 30, Community of Christ has raised $93.2 million toward its $120 million Bridge of Hope goal—an increase of $5.2 million since December 31. Thank you to all those who are doing such amazing work toward meeting this goal!  

As a reminder, funding the retirement responsibility is the first priority for Bridge of Hope. Growing endowments is the second. 

In August, damage from a 7.2-magnitude earthquake and then Tropical Depression Grace overwhelmed Haiti, a country already dealing with political upheaval. The epicenter of the quake was in the western part of the country, near Trou de Nippes.  

On August 31, Community of Christ sent $56,200 USD to Haiti for earthquake relief. More than four hundred eighty families across sixteen congregations in the southwestern part of Haiti were directly affected by the earthquake. 

“A lot of their homes are either partially damaged or destroyed. There have been reports of church member casualties at the early onset of the quake,” said Moana S. Faana, field bishop for the Caribbean and field support minister for the South Central USA Mission Field. 

In the town of Chardonnieres, for example, church officials reported thirty-six people died because of the earthquake, nine of whom were members of Community of Christ. 

Oblation aid sent will provide rice, beans, cooking oil, and water, among other things. Local church staff worked with pastors and leaders to help distribute the relief. 

Thank you for your ongoing generosity that makes donations like these possible. To support these and future oblation efforts, members and friends can give to Worldwide Mission Tithes on the church website. 

Donations by cheque should be sent to Community of Christ, 1001 W. Walnut St., Independence, MO, USA, 64050. Indicate “Oblation” on the memo line.