Joining with others in community

By Dawn Dawson  Canada East Mission Centre Co-President

Have you ever wanted to take on a project or take part in an event but feel that you alone will not be able to go through with it?  There is an unfortunate trend happening all around us today that sees fewer active members in congregations.  It can feel like a battle or just overwhelming to get a group together to take on something new.  The interesting and sometimes overlooked aspect of this trend is we as Community of Christ are not the only ones that are going through this.  Several denominations are facing the same dwindling numbers.  Maybe what we need to do is join our mission with a neighbouring church to create something wonderful.
 
On Manitoulin Island the “Island Pastors” get together once every two months for a time of shared concerns and joys, have a meal together and embrace our common need to create active, healthy, mission in our community.  A different church welcomes us for lunch each time.  We get to tour each others’ facilities and meet the volunteers that are there to welcome us on that day.  We have decided as a whole, to take on two large projects, a back-to-school backpack campaign and the island food bank.  These projects touch individuals across the island.  We use the members in our own congregations to find ways to work together to make these projects happen.  The entire island feels connected through our work.  We are working together for a greater good in community.

One of the other benefits of working together is to experience what brings great joy and celebrations in other churches.  I was invited to take part in an ordination service for our Anglican Reverend friend into their office of Priest.  What a wonderful feeling of togetherness to share in such joy.  At the beginning of the service the Archbishop of the Diocese of Algoma welcomed all the friends in attendance from neighbouring churches by name and expressed love and appreciation for our love and respect of each other. The days’ theme was about giving in service to others.  A theme we all could relate too.

As Community of Christ we are not alone in our desire to create  communities  of love and peace. These larger, beyond our congregations, communities may develop into like minded groups with genuine appreciation and love for each other. In these communities we find ourselves becoming a group of people reflecting Christ’s way rather than society’s trendy or conditional way.   We can embrace the worth of all persons as we understand our individual worth in our groups.  It is a wonderful feeling of peace in our souls to belong and be a beloved member.

Doctrine & Covenant 163: 1 
1. “Community of Christ,” your name, given as a divine blessing, is your identity and calling. If you will discern and embrace its full meaning, you will not only discover your future, you will become a blessing to the whole creation. Do not be afraid to go where it beckons you to go.