We have been told that our president Steve Veazey is retiring. At World Conference in 2025, we will elect a new prophet/president. We have been asked to move forward in discerning who that will be. It has been suggested that we follow a month of prayer then a month to share.

March is Prayer, April is Share….

There is an excellent video from Steve Veazey about the process that he is hoping we will all participate in. It is available to you on the church website here.

So… March is prayer, the start of the process. You are being asked to join with others and you can write and submit your prayer.

When Kat, Shannon and I shared about Steve, Shannon
said how he has shifted focus to us being a prophetic people instead of a people with a prophet. I am hoping to let the spirit take me on a journey to get to know those who might be able to lead this church. I hope to discern my future and the future of this church.

Here is my prayer for discernment, what will your prayer be?
​
Dear God, Give me the patience to slow down, breathe in and feel your spirit. I pray for inspiration and wisdom. I pray that if and when I share, I will give value to the conversation about our future. Amen

What: Climate Webinar – “Climate Impacts on Global Security”
Who: David Anderson, DMin; High Priest Quorum President, CofC; Retired USAF Colonel; Masters of International Public Policy, SAIS, John Hopkins  University
When: Sunday, March 26 at 2pm PT/ 3pm MT/ 4pm CT/ 5pm ET 
Where: ZOOM Online Ministry

Climate disasters are threat multipliers. They increase the danger of global insecurity and social destabilization—a fact many countries’ national security establishments and collective defense organizations recognize and prepare for in their defense strategies.
 
With his academic background in international policy, his personal military experience, and his knowledge of NATO, Dave brings a global aspect to this issue, not just a USA perspective.  In many countries, it isn’t just the military but the entire foreign affairs/defense policy establishments that are aware of climate crises and engaging in the preparations to deal with the resulting instability. You won’t want to miss this exploration of the way climate intersects with and amplifies the global threats in today’s world.

​All sessions are free and participation in previous webinars and conversations is not necessary to join. ​​If you registered for a past webinar or conversation, you do not need to register again. Once registered, you will be sent a link to join the sessions. 
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​For more information about the series please visit the Climate Change Colloquy website.

Hills of Peace is a scenic campground in the MD of Provost, Alberta. HOP requires cooks and cooking assistants for the upcoming camping season. Accommodation is provided. Staff are paid.

Cooks and assistants are needed for the following:

1. 2 -3 staff. Family Camp (August 5 – 10) cook and possible two assistants.
2. 2 staff. Youth Camp (August 12-18) cook and assistants
3. 2 staff. Kids camp (August 19 – August 23) cook and assistant

Requirements:

• Successfully pass of the Alberta Food Safety Certification course. Available online. (Cost is $52.45) Cost of the course will be reimbursed for the successful candidates.
• Cooking experience
• Flexibility
• Excellent communication
• Prepare a Food budget
• Shopping and purchasing of food (food costs are reimbursed)
• Transportation to and from the campground
• Ability to supervise and provide direction to assistants

For more information please contact Eileen Johnstone at psych3492@gmail.com or call at 587-566-6446.

​Canada West Mission Centre is joining with GPNW mission center team for SPEC.

We know the difference between US and Canadian Dollars is a lot, so we encourage our young people to think about how they might partner with their local congregation to do some fundraising. In the past, things like bake sales and spaghetti dinners that Spec attendees have organized helped them achieve their goal of attending. Should further assistance be required, please contact the Greater Pacific Northwest USA Mission Center.

World Accord is actively seeking new Directors for the Board. Now more than ever our partners in Central America, Nepal and Ethiopia need a strong organisation. Our partners face significant challenges due to the impacts of Covid, climate change and the ongoing political and social complexities that make living conditions unstable, particularly for women and girls.

The Board seeks applications from a wide diversity of people and backgrounds. For more information, click on the button below to see the Board Job Description, or reach out to Board Vice Chair, Leah Christensen (lchristensen@worldaccord.org)

The Council of Twelve has tentatively determined two locations for remote sites. One will be hosted in Honduras and the other will be hosted in D.R. Congo. One additional remote location will be hosted at Graceland University to accommodate students who are taking their final exams during World Conference week.

Special attention is being given to health and safety. This will require some precautions not experienced at conference before.

Based on what we know at this time, people will be strongly encouraged to wear masks when indoors at World Conference to protect the most vulnerable in our gathering. We will provide larger spaces for delegation seating using the main floor and the balcony and encourage people to spread out during other indoor events.

We are also strongly encouraging participants to take several self-initiated and self-monitored precautions to include testing for COVID before arriving, staying home if one tests positive or has fever or symptoms, and getting up-to-date on vaccinations to protect one’s self. Thanks for your understanding! 
​
We look forward to sharing with our global family!​

If you would like to explore the World Conference Resolutions for April this year, you can listen to these summaries of the sessions that have been held online over the past month. Observations and questions about each resolution are being gathered and shared at the links below. If you are inspired to join in on the remaining sessions, they will be held ongoing through the week of March 13 and you can register at the first link below. Please continue to hold World Conference in your prayers!
 
The Exploration Session Summaries in audio form can be found on the 2023 World Conference page at cofchrist.org, here:
https://cofchrist.org/news/register-for-exploration-sessions/
 
The Exploration Session Summaries can be found on YouTube at the following link:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6z7pDtiBtvLYvES7ho9Sa5GF-sxAQOz

SAVE THE DATE!
Hills of Peace Family Camp
August 5-10, 2023
Director: Marian Thompson
melthompson@shaw.ca

Many of earth’s communities now live out of balance with the world around them. Many lack access to food, water, and shelter, the universal needs of existence. Many have gifts that go unrecognized and unshared. As a result, all communities—the human and the more-than-human—experience woundedness and loss.

Come for a weekend of nurturing, awareness and hope.  Join in community as we learn about and experience profound acts of reconciliation and restoration happening both locally and throughout the world. ​Find your place in this great awakening. Register today!

Brought to you by Creating Connection.  ​

Parents - please plan on your children attending camp in August of 2023!  We will have a wonderful experience together!
 
Counsellors - please note the dates for the Youth (Sr/Jr high age) camp and for the Kids camp.  We need YOU!! If you have the time, please join us as volunteers for either camps (or both!).  If you are interested in becoming a camp director, please let us know!  We would love to foster that interest.   Thank you in advance for your volunteer participation!

​Written by Kat Goheen
Canada West Mission Centre Co-President

I began studying Discernment Facilitation with Katie Harmon-McLaughlin earlier this year, and it’s been such an enriching experience. Someone recently asked to hear more about this course experience, so this seemed a good way to begin!

Here below is a short summary of my learning from the course so far (under 9 minutes):

​We received the announcement this week that Steve Veazey has begun his retirement process as the president of our church. He will have served as the leader of our Community of Christ for twenty years, having offered us three revelations we have included in our Doctrine and Covenants: 163, 164, and 165. Steve has brought a wealth of pastoral experience to the role and has blessed our church worldwide, both as an apostle and as a president. This is bringing up so much warm feeling for the three of us, and we want to express our appreciation!
 
From Shannon: What stands out to me is Steve’s calm presence and grounded leadership style. I appreciate how he has shifted focus to us being a prophetic people instead of a people with a prophet. I also admire him for being so open about his own discernment processes. I know family is important to Steve, so I hope he gets to enjoy a relaxing retirement with lots of family time.
 
From Gwyn: Steve Veazey is gentleness personified.  I have never personally met Steve but have seen him up close.  My overall impression is that he is a man of quiet persuasion, gentle demeanor and kindness that flows out from him.  Steve has led our church through some heavy conversations and he never seemed to falter.  
 
From Kat: My overwhelming impression of Steve is kindness. I admire Steve’s patience in the face of dissent during business meetings, and the way he greets people amid his busy schedule with deep hospitality. I also admire his vision, remembering his statement eight years ago that the work of spiritual formation is the future of our church. The phrase from revelation that I am truly grateful for is in Doctrine and Covenants 163:9b, ending: “Be vulnerable to divine grace.”
​
We are so grateful that this isn’t goodbye, just a chance to reflect and show appreciation. What part of his legacy is bearing fruit in your life? How can you also be part of the legacy of our church? We will carry this time of transition in prayer and be open to the work that God will continue to inspire in us. 

Written by Debra Donohue
Creating Connection Director

Creating Connection’s ‘Nurturing Spirit Retreat: Connecting through Self Care’ was held last weekend at Stillwood Camp and Conference Centre at Cultus Lake in BC. 

A few people had to cancel due to weather … it snowed over a foot at the campground on Saturday, but we ended up with a lovely group of 24 over the course of the weekend and 25% were first timers! This retreat focused on recognizing the signs of burn out and creating action plans to take care of ourselves so that we live happy lives, and so we have the capacity to care for others.

Alexis Beer, our guest speaker, who has a long list of qualifications and training, did a great job leading us through the topic. Everyone agreed her sessions were interesting, thought provoking, and stimulated lots of conversation.  And let me tell you about the music. It was amazing! Edith Wallace led us in two meditations of sound, a concert Saturday night, and sent us off with a song which we all danced to on Sunday morning.  I think Saturday night may have been my favourite Edith Wallace concert to date.  Check her out on Spotify.

Kat Goheen brought her harp and gently strummed us into another mediation and Shannon McAdam taught us how to use needlepoint as a way to focus our thoughts and be mindful.

We spent time playing Pictionary and our theme was, of course, self care activities.  Gwyn Beer brought a 1000-piece puzzle (which we didn’t quite finish) and there was free time to walk in nature and explore the grounds.

Although Stillwood is not Samish Island, which is so near and dear to many of us, there were several benefits to using this campground.  First, it’s in BC so most of us didn’t have to cross the border, make sure we had up to date passports and purchase travel insurance. Although 3 people came from the US and they crossed the border to be with us.  Second, it’s a large and busy campground so they have staff to do all the cleanup in the buildings and after meals (woo hoo!)  And Third, we didn’t have to pay the US exchange rate which is around 30% right now.

We’re looking at going back next year, but maybe we’ll try to go in March.  The weather is a little more predictable then, or at least one can hope.

I’ve included a group photo, a walking group photo, a photo of the Edith Wallace concert, doing needlepoint, and my car Sunday morning covered in snow.  If you weren’t there, we missed you and hope you can join us next time.

Watch for details on our next Creating Connection Retreat "Creating Community: Where Spirit, Nature and Justice Meet" June 1-4 at Samish Island. This retreat will be a mindful and exciting combination of Nurturing Spirit and Nurturing Justice.  

We have just entered the season of Lent. My journey through Lent has had many stages. As a child I didn’t know anything about this season of the year, so when I was a young adult and discovered it, I made up for lost time! My most obstinate personal habit of the time went on the chopping block for the 40 days, substituted for a practice meant to draw me toward God. There were a couple of years in a row where I abstained from Diet Coke, which required great willpower at that time!

My practice continued through seminary, where I was surrounded with people from different churches with rich Lenten practices. I confess that my practice took a major hit with motherhood. The perpetual sleep deprivation prompted me to give myself a pass from further deprivation! More recently, COVID felt the same way. It was much more difficult to restrict myself given the external social restrictions already imposed!
​
Part of our study for the Discernment Facilitator’s course through the Seminary this week is on the topic of consolation and desolation. Consolation is anything that leads to increased energy and a feeling of closeness to God, while desolation brings a sense of apathy and isolation from God and others. My current approach to Lent is to be very mindful of where I seek consolation and seek to turn my heart toward God.

May this Lenten season bring an expanded sense of who we are in relation to creation and draw us to find consolation in community and in closeness with God.

​Yours in Christ,
Gwyn, Kat, and Shannon
gwyn@communityofchrist.ca
​kat@communityofchrist.ca
smcadam@communityofchrist.ca

The Center for Innovation in Ministry and Mission (CIMM) through Graceland University and the Community of Christ Seminary announces upcoming online classes. Along with Ministry and Priesthood classes, we offer the first “Christian Ministry Certificate” course (similar to past “MEADS” courses). 
 
The following classes are now open for a limited enrollment:

Spring B Session: 

• Introduction to Priesthood Ministry:  8 weeks, March 6-April 30 - $25 
• Ministry of the Teacher: 6 weeks, March 6-April 16 - $25
• Ministry of the Seventy:  8 weeks, March 6-April 30 - $25 (Newly called Seventy, please contact President of Seventy for reimbursement) 
• Christian Ministry Certificate Course: 
  • Peace and Justice: Dr. Nancy Ross – March 6-April 30 – mix of online and one live session per week - $100

Note:  Special consideration with be given students during the week of World Conference.
 
CIMM offers non-credit bearing continuing education units (CEU’s) that focus on priesthood development, leadership development, and theological education. These CEU’s do not lead to a degree. To enroll or view the schedule of upcoming classes click on the button below.

Unfortunately, there are many scammers looking for opportunities to take advantage of non-suspecting individuals in many different ways, especially on this holidays season!

​We want to warn you about one such scheme that may be circulating among or from Community of Christ members, friends and Mission Centre Leadership right now. 

If you should receive an email that appears to be from someone you know or trust such as CWM leadership, or congregation leadership, other close friends or relatives, etc., stating something like, “Can you do me a favour?”, be extremely cautious. These messages are likely a “phishing” email.

If you reply, the next email asks you to purchase a gift card on their behalf. The message may say they need the card immediately, but they are too busy to do it, and they will pay you back as soon as possible. ​These emails are not legitimate. They are being sent by malicious entities who are impersonating people in your contacts list to gain your trust and exploit you. These kinds of fraudulent emails attempt to gain your trust in order to access your personal and/or credit card information, or to get money (in the form of gift cards).

​DO NOT click any links or reply to such messages. Delete these emails immediately!

What to do next:

If you believe you have received this type of phishing email:

1. Contact the person whose name appears in the email via phone to find out if the request is valid.
2. If not, they should notify their contacts to be on the lookout for fraudulent emails from them.
3. If you are a victim of fraud, report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

Be very suspicious regarding online communication, especially when being requested to purchase gift cards or transfer funds. Remember, scams come in many forms. Click here to see a list of other possible scams published by the Government of Canada.

Note: This notice was originally published by Canada East Mission Centre in April 2021. Canada West acknowledges with appreciation their original drafting. This is being re-published by Canada West due to a series of “phishing” emails that have circulated recently.

​Every day at my workplace this month we’ve learned about a different Black Canadian who is outstanding in one way or another, and it has been an incredible way to celebrate Black History Month. There are so many amazing people who I’d never heard of before, and I wonder why I’ve never learned about them before. If we believe in the Worth of All Persons, why don’t we learn about all types of people?
 
Black History Month is a fitting time to reflect on what it is that makes White culture so dominant that we don’t learn about the contributions of those who are Black, Indigenous, or People of Colour. White Supremacy Culture might sound like a problem from far away or long ago, but it is prevalent in all of our lives, and runs against our belief in the Worth of All Persons.
 
I’ve found this website by Tema Okun to be really helpful in my own learning about what White Supremacy Culture is, how to recognize it (the “marks”), and ways to overcome it. The original article that Okun based the website around is a quick and easy read that I highly recommend. Click here to read the article.
 
For me, one of the most insightful “marks” of White Supremacy Culture that Okun talks about is “One Right Way”. This is the idea that there is only one right way to do things, and can lead to some of the other marks: Perfectionism, Paternalism, and Either/Or Thinking. Okun’s antidotes to “One Right Way” are beautiful and life-giving. These include gratitude, being transparent, and being willing to take risks and make mistakes. These, I think, are also the kinds of things Jesus calls us to. Jesus sought to bring people together rather than dividing them.
 
How will you recognize Black History month? Perhaps take a moment to read some of Tema Okun’s insightful writings and think about what you can change in your home, workplace, or congregation to help dismantle White Supremacy Culture and help bring about God’s Shalom. 

Due to Covid protocols World Conference will be a bit different this year. Last minute delegates are not guaranteed to be accepted, and non-delegates will not be permitted on the conference floor.
 
So, if you are considering coming to conference and being part of business meetings, kindly let us know prior to February 10th. Please do not worry about possibly not being able to come, or only attending a few sessions. There is a lot of uncertainty in our world, and please be assured that no one will be judged negatively if they are unable to attend after putting their name forward.
 
Please contact Shannon McAdam for more information: smcadam@communityofchrist.ca