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May 15 All Voices Canada-wide Conference-Online
May 15 Fundraising Concert for Samish Island -Online May 16 Sunday Evening Adult Lessons-Online May 16, 20, 23 Climate Change Colloquy Series-Online June 5 Friends & Family Campfire-POSTPONED June 12 Satsang: Singing into Silence-Online June 12 Spiritual Retreat "The Grace of the Dark Night of the Soul"-Online June 21 Creating Connection Book Club-Online View full Canada West Events Calendar Dates are subject to change. Please register early to avoid cancellation of your event on Reggie. Sundays BC Community of Christ Online Gathering Hosted by the Vancouver Congregation Sunday mornings 9:30am Pacific Time - Visiting and gathering 10am Pacific Time - Service Contact Chris Phelps at cphelps@shaw.ca for Zoom links.  Inclusive Church Hosted by Beyond the Walls Community and Toronto Congregation Sundays at 12pm (EDT), 11am (CDT), 10am (MDT), 9am (PDT). For more information please visit their website, Facebook page and YouTube channel to watch the service. Mondays  Creating Connection Book Club Third Monday of every other month at 7PM (BC), 8PM (AB-SK), 9PM (MB). To join please visit the Creating Connection Meetup group. For details about the next session click here. Tuesdays  Virtual Visiting Fellowship Tuesday mornings at 11am CDT (Manitoba), 10am MDT (Alberta and Saskatchewan), 9am PDT (BC). Please send an email to steve@communityofchrist.ca to participate. For more details click here. Wednesdays  Creating Connection presents: An Afternoon of Nurturing Spirit Wednesdays from 3pm to 4:30pm Pacific Time. To join please visit the Creating Connection Meetup group. Thursdays  Creating Connection presents: Coffee and Conversation Thursdays from 10:30am to noon Pacific Time. To join please visit the Creating Connection Meetup group. Virtual Visiting Fellowship Thursday evenings at 9pm CDT (Manitoba), 8pm MDT (Alberta and Saskatchewan), 7pm PDT (BC). Please send an email to steve@communityofchrist.ca to participate. For more details click here. For a list of Online Ministries please click here.
 Apostle Art Smith invites you to add your voice to a Canada-wide Zoom conference, sharing the things we love about Community of Christ and our hopes for the future as we look forward to a time past the lockdowns. Please join us on Saturday, May 15, 2021 for a conversation with your church family. Hear testimonies from the rich tapestry of voices who experience Community of Christ in Canada. Join topical break-out rooms to chat about all the interesting ways individuals experience the church and further its mission. Add your voice to the tapestry! Plan to participate in this time of intentional reflection and discernment. Enjoy the community, collaboration, and cross-Canada friendship. WHAT: All Voices Canada-wide Conference WHERE: On Zoom HOW: Go to https://www.communityofchrist.ca/all-voices.htmland click on the button that says "Zoom Meeting". WHEN: Saturday, May 15, 9 AM-Noon BC/ 10 AM-1 PM AB-SK/ 11 AM-2 PM MB. Watch the video below to get a sneak peek of some of the messages from across this country forming our most amazing Testimony Tapestry! In the Virtual Visiting Fellowship groups this week we are discussing two scriptures involving talking God out of punishing the people. In Genesis 18:20-33, Abraham talks God out of destroying the city of Sodom even if there are only five “righteous” people living in the city full of otherwise sinful people. And in Exodus 32:7-14 Moses argues with God about God’s intention to punish the people for their misbehavior while Moses was on the mountain to get direction from God. The links given above will take you to the stories in the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible. In Exodus 32:14 God “changed his mind” and did not punish the people. In the King James version the verse says, “And the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.” Most modern translations use some variation on the NRSV wording, so it may be a more accurate expression of the original language. However, the KJV presents an interesting concept. How can God “repent” of anything? And how could God possibly think of “evil” to do to his people?
These two stories are examples of significant bargaining with God. In our own lives the extent of bargaining with God in a stereotypical sense involves trying to make a deal with God as in, “Dear God, If you will get me out of this mess (that I know I have created), I will go to church every Sunday from now on.” Or maybe it’s “heal my disease,” or “help my family reconcile,” or any other of life’s major challenges. Seldom do such deals work out as well as the two situations in the Old Testament did. In the Gospel of Matthew, we find Jesus giving this advice: “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” (Matthew 4:7) This is the more likely example we should be following. No matter the situations in which we find ourselves, it is expected that we will reach out to God in prayer and supplication to seek his special blessings of wisdom and relief. We may feel God’s direction and inspiration as we find our way to healing (or even if the answer to our prayer is not what we expected or requested). Mostly, it is reasonable to believe that God knows what blessings we require before we ask. We do not need to follow the example of Moses or Abraham in bargaining with God. We need to follow Jesus’ advice to not “tempt” God, but rather to simply seek God’s blessings. As always, I pray for you God’s blessings of joy, hope, love, and peace in these challenging times. Steve Thompson Canada West Mission Centre President steve@communityofchrist.ca  Have you checked out Canada West Mission Centre’s “Virtual Visiting Fellowship”? This is a “program” that has truly become a “community;” actually, two communities! Participants have become real friends in these online communities that include people from across the mission centre and beyond. Two sessions are offered each week. At least one of them will surely fit into your schedule:
Our Mission Centre President, Steve Thompson, plans and facilitates these sessions. We share in some introductions and opening comments to set up our time together. Then we engage in a general discussion with reference to topics that have included current events, articles in various periodicals, as well as hymns or scriptures. We conclude with a prayer for peace, for each other, and for others who need our support. Each session lasts about an hour. This has proven to be an upbeat, positive opportunity to help make up for not being able to visit “live and in person” with our congregation on Sundays. How to participate:
Mark one (or both) of these virtual gatherings on your calendar and plan to attend. We look forward to your participation!   Community. Nature. Spirituality. Creativity. Family. Friends. Samish Island Campground holds a special place in our hearts. We long for the chance to be together, basking in our love for each other and that sacred place. Join this special fundraising concert on May 15 at 7:30 PDT on Zoom! To make sure Samish survives until we can gather there again, let’s give back. We need at least $30,000 to get through the summer season - much more, depending on how long COVID-19 restrictions last. WHAT: Fundraising Concert WHEN: Saturday, May 15, 2021, 7:30 pm PDT WHERE: On Zoom HOW: RSVP here https://forms.gle/GqzXgGwzQQXtBhxT6 or click on the button below to join the event when the time comes. (Please do not share the Zoom link publicly in order to preserve security of the meeting.) DONATE through the following links:
If you prefer to send donations by mail, please use the following information:
Community of Christ c/o Dave Skoor 12303 32nd Ave SE Everett, WA 98208
Community of Christ c/o Sam Smalldon 1185 Strathcona Drive SW Calgary Alberta, T3H4S1 or send e-Transfer to cwm_mcfo@communityofchrist.ca WHY: We need to raise $30,000 or more to keep Samish Island campground running. Be entertained, celebrate and give back to the place we love! Questions? Email savingsamish@gmail.com We hope to see you there! #SaveSamish  After careful consideration of global pandemic recovery trends and consultations with field leaders and health professionals, the Community of Christ First Presidency has decided to delay 2022 World Conference until 2023.
Upholding our Enduring Principles in light of the collective information we have at this given time, it was wise to delay the next World Conference until delegates from around the world can safely travel, enter the USA, meet together, and return without contributing to community spread of COVID-19 or its emerging variants. Read the full statement and Questions and Answers.  Adult Weekly Lessons ongoing Sunday evenings! May 2, 9 and 16. These classes are intended to create an environment similar to a Sunday morning adult Sunday school class. We have a diverse participation across Canada West Mission Centre. It is interesting because the materials have been prepared by the church. It is enjoyable because those teaching/facilitating have prepared each session to appeal to participants as much as possible. All are encouraged to participate, there is no fee. Join these weekly lessons during the following times:
Instructor:
Pre-registration required for Zoom links. No registration fee.
For more information please contact Lisa Neudorf lisa@communityofchrist.ca  Climate Webinar: ”Through Crises Toward Transformation: Human Impact II: Mountain Glaciers, Oceans, and Our Response” Join us on Sunday, May 16 2:00 pm-3:30 pm PDT (3pm MDT, 4pm CDT, 5pm EDT) via online. We continue examining the disastrous impact climate disruption has on human populations around the globe. In this follow-up webinar by Dr. Richard Waugh, Professor Emeritus in Geography from Wisconsin University, the focus will be on melting mountain glaciers, ocean warming and acidification, and the opportunities we have to make a difference in the trends of global climate change. Dr. Waugh’s candor, expertise, and friendly demeanor enables him to speak the harsh truths of climate disruption while keeping webinar participants engaged, interested, and motivated. As a long-time elder in Community of Christ, his scholastic studies and teaching rest on a lasting appreciation of sacred space, an understanding of the sacredness of creation, and a deep respect for the Enduring Principles of the church. He brings to the conversations a firm conviction that people of faith must go beyond stewardship to mutuality. Join follow-up conversations on these dates:
Invite your friends to join as well. All sessions are free and participation in previous webinars and conversations is not necessary to join in this opportunity. Please note that you only need to register once for the entire series. To register please click on the button above. For more information about the series please visit the Climate Change Colloquy website.
 The SPEC leadership team made the difficult decision to cancel SPECTACULAR 2021. Earlier in the year we’d been cautiously hopeful that holding SPEC as usual might be an option. However, current data trends have made that seem unwise.
As we thought about the SPEC experience—the way we live, eat, learn, play, and worship together—our ability to guarantee a safe, virus-free environment would be nearly impossible. If even one individual tested positive, that has the potential to shut down the entire event. We are heartbroken about not being able to gather again this summer and will deeply miss the opportunity to form sacred community together. We ache alongside all our campers and staff at what feels like another huge loss in a year of losses that just keep piling up. Questions about some kind of online experience for 2021 and allowing current seniors an additional year of eligibility in 2022 are still under discussion and more information will be shared when it is available. Even though there are tears in our eyes, we are confident this is the most responsible choice at this time.  When: Our next session is on Saturday, June 12 at 5:30 p.m. BC / 6:30 p.m. AB-SK / 7:30 p.m. MB.
Click on the button above to RSVP and receive the Zoom link or contact debra@communityofchrist.ca “Everybody with a voice can sing, and everyone with a breath in their body can experience their divinity.” Deva Premal Satsang is a sanskrit word that describes a way of coming together in community to experience the pure truth and love that is beyond religion or culture. During these lonely and isolating times, it is so important to find creative ways of coming together to do this. Doug and Vickie will share simple songs and chants from various spiritual traditions you can sing in your own space, from the silence of “Om” to a joyful “Alleluia”. Clap your hands with lively rhythms and the beat of a drum, and let soulful melodies guide you into the silence that connects our hearts as one united voice. Together we will create a vibration of peace to fill the world. We welcome all voices, all cultures and all traditions.  Come join us for a monthly “get together” for casual discussion of books from a wide range of genres. Open to all book lovers (some books may not be suitable for younger readers). When: Third Monday of every other month at 7 PM (BC), 8PM (AB/SK), 9PM (MB). Our next meetup is on June 21.  Our book for this session is: Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell Malcolm Gladwell, host of the podcast Revisionist History and #1 bestselling author of The Tipping Point, Blink, Outliers, David and Goliath, and What the Dog Saw, offers a powerful examination of our interactions with strangers---and why they often go wrong. How did Fidel Castro fool the CIA for a generation? Why did Neville Chamberlain think he could trust Adolf Hitler? Why are campus sexual assaults on the rise? Do television sitcoms teach us something about the way we relate to each other that isn't true? “Talking to Strangers is a classically Gladwellian intellectual adventure, a challenging and controversial excursion through history, psychology, and scandals taken straight from the news. He revisits the deceptions of Bernie Madoff, the trial of Amanda Knox, the suicide of Sylvia Plath, the Jerry Sandusky pedophilia scandal at Penn State University, and the death of Sandra Bland---throwing our understanding of these and other stories into doubt. Something is very wrong, Gladwell argues, with the tools and strategies we use to make sense of people we don't know. And because we don't know how to talk to strangers, we are inviting conflict and misunderstanding in ways that have a profound effect on our lives and our world. In his first book since his #1 bestseller, David and Goliath, Malcolm Gladwell has written a gripping guidebook for troubled times.” Meet our host:
Kelly Duff has loved reading from an early age. In recent years, she has especially loved the opportunities she's had to read stories by brand new authors through her volunteer work with Filidh Publishing; where she assists with preliminary edits of new manuscripts, as well as helps with planning/running book launches and open mic events. She enjoys reading books from many genres, and she looks forward to exploring the worlds of fiction and non-fiction with other avid readers!  While gathering in person is not possible in many locations, these lessons offer resources for online gatherings, sunday school, study groups, or even for personal or family reflection.
Community of Christ lessons are available for children (ages 6–11), youth (ages 12–18), and adults. Weekly lessons connect the Lectionary text with Community of Christ identity, mission, message, and beliefs. Lessons through November 2021 are now available for download. Visit the Lessons page for more information.  The COVID-19 pandemic continues to reduce opportunities for the church to provide in-person pastoral-care ministries and to gather physically for fellowship, worship, and community formation. After extended consideration, the Presidency is providing principles and guidelines for offering the sacraments through online means during the pandemic. These principles and guidelines may be refined in the future as the church lives into its experiences with online ministries.
It is our hope that providing for the sacraments to be shared through online experiences will continue the pastoral-care ministries the church is called to extend into human life, even during this time of physical distancing. It also will provide the church learnings for how to share the sacraments in a world that is becoming more borderless through online connections. May blessings abound as you offer these gifts.  Harmony, a non-profit advocating for full participation of Queer/LGBTQIA2S+ individuals in Community of Christ, is compiling a current list of ordained Community of Christ
ministers willing and excited to officiate Queer/LGBTQIA2S+ wedding ceremonies. WHY? Harmony is committed to providing its members with current, reliable contact information in order that they might be connected with affirming, kind, and inclusive individuals in their area wherever they are on their journey. This has historically been managed organically, but as they continue to grow, they are seeking out more formal ways of maintaining such records. In this case, Harmony hopes this database will be viewed as a valuable resource to its membership around the world as they plan one of the most important events of their lives: their wedding ceremony. IS THIS YOU? If so, please add your name to their database by clicking the button below. As always, Harmony pledges to safeguard your details and will only share them with interested individuals pursuing marriage.  The Canada West Mission Centre congratulates Margaret Ferguson, a member of the Prince Albert Congregation, on being named that city’s “2020 Citizen of the Year.”
According to the article in the Prince Albert Herald, Margaret attracted the honour through her volunteer work to help the homeless, cold, and hungry of the city. She has been producing quilts out of her home since 2012. More recently, particularly during the pandemic, production has expanded to masks, mittens, soup, treats, and jam, all donated to the Prince Albert organizations that work directly with those in need. The full story of Margaret’s work and her award are included in a local newspaper article available here: Margaret Ferguson chosen as 2020 Citizen of the Year. In the article, she acknowledges the assistance of many friends and neighbours who make this effort possible with donations of materials and with their own assistance in the work. The support of her church community is specifically mentioned a couple of times. Congratulations, Margaret! Your work in your community is a wonderful illustration of making Christ’s mission your mission in the recognition of the worth of all persons and extending the blessings of community.  Canada West Mission Centre has determined that in-person events will not be planned at least through the end of August of 2021.
To be clear, this decision means that for the second year in a row there will not be a Canada West Mission Centre reunion/family camp at Samish Island, and there will be no reunion/family camp or youth camps or retreats at Hills of Peace. Official notice of this decision has been provided to both the Samish Island Campground Association Board and the Hills of Peace Campground Board. In addition, it has been determined that Canada West will not be supporting delegations of youth attending “Graceland Spectacular” (“SPEC”) this summer. As of this date we have not received any announcement about whether SPEC 2021 will happen or not. A number of factors were considered by the Mission Centre staff to arrive at this difficult decision:
The decision to cancel the programs through to the end of August leaves a “faint hope” opportunity that we might still be able to hold an in-person Mission Conference on Labour Day weekend. Discussions are underway about the Hills of Peace Men’s Retreat in September that are leaning towards a “virtual” event. Watch for further information about these events over the next few months. Plans for alternative ways to facilitate our retreats, camps, and reunions are still under discussion and we cannot make definite announcements at this time. Please watch for program announcements over the next few months in our news and updates and events calendar sections on our webpage and in the events calendar in the “Reggie” registration system. Thank you for your attention. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Steve Thompson Canada West Mission Centre President steve@communityofchrist.ca  Twenty years ago the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints changed its name to Community of Christ.
To mark this anniversary, two podcasts from Project Zion offer a look at the past, the name-change decision, and what has grown out of that change.
Visit the Project Zion Podcast website to learn more. This occasional feature is intended to ensure that people across the mission centre are aware of the passing of persons in other congregations in a timely manner.
Information provided here is restricted to the name of the deceased person, the city where they lived (or congregation they attended), and the date of death (if it is provided). If an online version of a detailed obituary is available, the name of the person will be underlined indicating that it is a link to that source of information. If you are aware of other church members who have passed away and whose names do not appear here or in our archive, please advise sandra@communityofchrist.ca. Please support in thought and prayer the family and friends of the following persons who passed away this year:
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Guelph, ON N1K 1S5 Canada Canada West Mission: 877-411-2632 Canada East Mission: 888-411-7537 
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