Bright Hope: Tell your stories, share your moments, attend conference

​A moment with your Mission Centre President
by Shannon McAdam, Canada West Mission Centre Co-President

In just 74 days we will begin our week of activities leading up to Mission Centre Conference! Where does the time go? 
 
In case you haven’t marked it on your calendar yet, here are some key days to note down: 

• Sunday September 22 we will have a pre-legislative meeting in the afternoon via zoom to discuss the business agenda and address any questions you have. 

• Wednesday September 25 we will have a second pre-legislative meeting in the evening via zoom for those who weren’t able to join the Sunday session or who would like to attend a second meeting. 

• Friday September 27 we will gather in the evening in-person at Edmonton Community of Christ for fellowship. 

• Saturday September 28 we will gather in-person in Edmonton and on Zoom for worship, celebration, and our business meeting. 

• Sunday September 29 we will gather in-person in Edmonton and on Zoom for a communion service with guest speaker Vonda DenBoer, who is part of the Canada East Mission Centre President Team. 

 
As I look both backward and forward in my preparations, I am inspired and compelled by our theme Bright Hope. What does hope mean to you? I recall a quote from Krista Tippett: “Hope is a muscle” and just like any muscle, we have to exercise it to keep it healthy. “The hope that I see to be transformative and modeled in very wise people who have shifted something in their world,” says Tippett, “it's not wishful thinking. It's not assuming that things will turn out all right. It's an insistence, looking at the world straight on as it is and rejecting the idea that it has to be that way, and then throwing your light and your pragmatism as much as your spirit at it.” (Read the full article at: https://www.gq.com/story/krista-tippett-on-being-interview) 
 
How can we “throw our light” at our world and make it a better place? And by the way I think our world begins in our families, congregations, neighbourhoods, cities. Our mission centre spans many different lives and experiences, urban, rural, and everything in between. How can we equip and support one another to be light bearers in the world in our unique contexts? This is the work of our mission centre as I see it. 
 
So I ask that you consider how you can support this project of equipping one another to be light bearers: 

• Tell stories of what your congregation has done in the past year, what worked and didn’t work and what you learned. Congregational reports are due August 1st. 

• Share your moments of celebration – a graduation, landmark anniversary, or birthday – so we can all celebrate. Submit your moments and photos by August 15th. 

• Attend conference – I encourage you to join in person! Being together gives us energy, and moments of passing conversation as we sit and eat together or work together help sustain us and build our hope muscles! 

• Think about what you hope for in Canada West and share it with our Mission Centre President Team so we can continue to make sure what we offer and strengthen is meaningful and sustainable. 

 
I hope I get to see you in 74 days! ​

Canada West Mission Centre Conference
Theme: Bright Hope
September 27-29
Join us in person at Edmonton congregation or via Zoom