Welcome to the 2021 Canada West Online Mission Conference hub. Here you will find the details, registration information, and resources for all conference events scheduled September 9-12.

"How Can We Keep from Singing?"

Special Guest

Art Smith

Apostle, Council of Twelve

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download conference program

Download Business Meeting Materials

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Click below to register

Welcome

by Canada West Mission Centre President Steve Thompson

Mission Conference this year will be a celebration of coming to the end of pandemic restrictions and beginning to define whatever our “new normal” will be. We recognize that this may not happen immediately for all congregations and that situations could still arise that will affect in-person gatherings in any area.
 
Come along as we optimistically celebrate with our theme, “How can we keep from singing?”
 
One of the things we have missed the most has been our congregational singing. In our online conference format we may still not be able to do this to the absolute best of our ability. But we are going to do our best to sing in celebration and praise as often and as enthusiastically as we can!
 
Come along and join us! We believe you will ask yourself: “How can I keep from singing?”

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EVENT DETAILS

Below you will find all activities taking place from September 9 to 12. Full event descriptions can be viewed by clicking or tapping the "+" symbol on the right side of each event title and time. At the bottom of this page you will find a short form schedule for your convenience.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9

COFFEE AND MEANINGFUL CONVERSATION - 6:30 PM BC / 7:30 PM AB & SK / 8:30 PM MB

“How Can We Keep From Singing?”

Facilitator: Debra Donohue, Creating Connection Director, Canada West Mission Centre

Kick off Mission Conference 2021 with a positive and uplifting Coffee and Conversation session. We’ll ask the question “What are you so excited about right now that you can’t help but sing it to the world?”

Join us for an hour or so as we share in a sacred space, the things each of us are moved by, pumped up about, excited about, send us over the moon, and yes, we can’t keep from singing about them!

​FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10

"COMMUNITY DINNER" - 5:30 PM BC / 6:30 PM AB & SK / 7:30 PM MB

Facilitator: Shannon McAdam

Remember what it is like to walk in the door at mission conference and see a
familiar face, say hello, and find out what’s new? Or what about how it feels to
walk up to the coffee table and 10 minutes later realize you just made a new
friend? And isn’t there something magical about sitting down to eat with a
random assortment of people?
​
Our Friday evening gathering is a chance to virtually experience these kinds of
moments together as a community. Join us while you eat your dinner or dessert,
and come prepared to listen and to share.

​WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS - 6:45 PM BC / 7:45 PM AB & SK / 8:45 PM MB

Presided by Steve Thompson, Mission Centre President

​ART SMITH ON ALL VOICES: DISCERNING ACROSS CANADA - 7:15 PM BC / 8:15 PM AB & SK / 9:15 PM MB

Art Smith will provide an update on our Canada wide discernment project for Community of Christ and on the developing Testimony Tapestry.

​SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11

​OPENING WORSHIP - 9 AM BC / 10 AM AB & SK / 11 AM MB

You are warmly invited to join us for an opening worship/meditation. This is an opportunity to center ourselves - mind, body, and spirit through a led devotional and/or spiritual practice.

• Opening Worship/Devotion/Spiritual Practice
• Review Schedule
• Process Explanation/Description

PRE-LEGISLATIVE MEETING - 9:30 AM BC / 10:30 AM AB & SK / 11:30 AM MB

Click here to see detailed agenda. ​​

• Review of Business Meeting Agenda
• Introductions to new MCP Team
• MCP and MCFO Appointment Letters
  • Note changes
  • Note revised processes – for Mission Centre and for Congregations
• Presentation and Discussion of Budget Information
  • 2021 Budget Adjustment
  • 2022 Proposed Budget
• We Remember: Honoring members who have died in the last year
• We Celebrate: Anniversaries (60+ years), Birthdays (90+ years) and Graduations (high school or college/university)
• Review Congregational Reports
• Review Mission Centre Program Reports

​ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING - 12:30 PM BC / 1:30 PM AB & SK / 2:30 PM MB

Click here to see detailed agenda.​
​
Reminder: While everyone is encouraged to observe, only delegates are allowed to vote in the business meeting. ​

​SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12

ORDINATION SERVICE - 9 AM BC / 10 AM AB & SK / 11 AM MB

You are invited to attend the Ordination Service to High Priest Evangelist of Kathy McAdam (Chilliwack Congregation) and to High Priest of Kat Goheen (Vancouver Congregation) ​

COMMUNION SERVICE - 10:00 AM BC / 11:00 AM AB & SK / NOON MB

All are invited to join a special Communion Service for Mission Conference presided by President Steve Thompson and Apostle Art Smith. 

Members and friends of the church across the mission centre will participate in an online worship experience together. This is a communion service, so please come prepared with your emblems (juice and bread or water and a snack). Following World Church guidelines, participants interested in taking communion must do so in real-time. If you are unable to join the live broadcast, we ask that you wait to take communion until you can participate in a live service.

​MISSION CENTRE UPDATES - 12:30 PM BC/ 1:30 PM AB & SK / 2:30 PM MB

Presided by Steve Thompson, Dar Shepherdson and John Glaser

Three of the Mission Centre’s key leaders will briefly present their plans and expectations for the coming year. Audience questions will be taken as time permits.

SATSANG: SINGING INTO SILENCE - 1:45 PM BC / 2:45 PM AB & SK / 3:45 MB

Creating Connection present's "Satsang: Singing into Silence" with Vickie and Doug MacArthur
Hosted by Debra Donohue and Edith Wallace as special guest.

Singer, songwriter, storyteller Edith Wallace, loves sharing her experiences of life and living.  Her commitment is to sing of ordinary things, everyday moments, find light amongst shadow, bring light to shadow, and give through song and story, love and joyful expression. She has been about her business since she was a teenager, and as the decades have moved along their linear lines, she has travelled and toured, performing for, and with many lovely souls.
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Satsang is another word for sacred community. Singing is a
universal language that speaks to our hearts. Join Doug and Vickie as they lead familiar songs from Community of Christ, complimented by sacred songs from other spiritual traditions that point us to the Oneness beyond words.

SHORT FORM SCHEDULE

Mission. Connection. Expression