Registration Information:  
Cost: $150 CAD for the entire weekend 
Registration Deadline: April 10th 
Registration Link: www.cwm.events (You need to set up an account if you haven't already.)

​Last chance to register!
Enrollment Information for eLearning Classes.

The following credit classes will open for limited enrollment March 13 - April 3:
​

• Ministry of the Teacher (MP303): 6-weeks, April 4 - May 15
• Introduction to Scripture (SS400):  8-weeks, April 4 - May 29
• Ministry with Latter-day Seekers: 4-weeks, April 4 - May 1
• Children and Youth Worker Core Training: Complete at your own pace - Class open April 4 - July 7

Class cost is $7.50 and should be paid before class via e-transfer to: ​Sam Smalldon sam@communityofchrist.ca 
 
To enroll, go to developmetrics.org and click on the "Canadian Registration Form." 

​March 25, 2020
Canada West Mission Centre Statement #4
On Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19)
 
I hope that all of you are staying safe and being well. It is amazing to me how quickly any variation on that greeting has become so common to us. Yet it is an expression of that which is most important to us as we find our way through this COVID-19 environment.
 
The most important update since last Wednesday is that our Community of Christ leadership sent word late last week to extend the suspension of services and other church activities through to Friday, May 1. This means we are really settling into an unfamiliar routine of NOT going to church on Sunday. It also means that we have had some mission centre activities affected for the first time, specifically with the postponement of the Nurturing Justice Retreat at Samish Campground, the Creating Connection Facilitators Retreat in Chilliwack, Samish Island work week, and the intended meeting of the Hills of Peace Campground Board of Directors converted from an in-person meeting to a Zoom video meeting.
 
I hope you are finding alternate ways to connect with each other in place of our weekly services and activities. I have heard from different people how they have felt good about making phone calls to people they were missing from church, and I have also heard from others how much they have appreciated receiving such phone calls. This is not a difficult thing to do! Please feel free to pick up a phone and make a call – or two or three. I know that the number of viewers for Edmonton congregation’s worship service was way up last Sunday. I also understand that Vancouver experimented with an online Bible Study followed by a worship experience. At least one other congregation has told me they are investigating an online option for Sunday mornings to include their members and keep them connected.
 
This week was the first attempt at what we have called the Canada West Mission Centre “Virtual Visiting Fellowship.” Our first session went very well and included people from BC, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. You will see a notice about this elsewhere. If you are interested in being involved in this, see the notice and then email me to be included: steve@communityofchrist.ca
 
Here are two good links for you to explore. First is a video of President Steve Veazey and a "Spiritual Check-In". Second is a resource that he refers to, a "A Spiritual Check-In for You and for Your Community". Check them both out.
 
I have gotten away from the pattern I set in the first couple of these updates to reinforce things that were happening at our government levels that were affecting us. I believe that most of you are keeping up on those things without me telling you. If you really need an update, email me or call me and we can talk.
 
My continuing prayer is that you are doing your best to stay safe and be well. May I also suggest that we look after each other to the extent we possibly can.
 
Steve Thompson
Mission Centre President

​Greetings and best wishes to everyone in the Canada West Mission Centre.
 
Today I am going to trust that you are getting your fill of information from the media about the COVID-19 situation in your province and across the country and, indeed, around the world. Today alone (Wednesday) we have had further economic situations occur and a closing of the Canada-U.S. border to discretionary visitors in both directions. I am not going to deal with specific details of the situation in this statement.
​
Instead, I wish to talk to you as the human and spiritual beings that all of us are. How are you doing? No, really, how are you doing? How have you been affected by the governmental responses to the COVID-19 situation so far? Are you working from home? Are your children home from school? Are you missing direct contact with friends and neighbours – perhaps even visits with loved ones living in care-homes with restrictions on visitors now? Are you sick? Are you self-isolating? Are you keeping your spirits up? Or are your spirits a bit low as you consider your own situation or the situations of those around you?
 
Thank you to the Pastors, and their congregations, who responded to the direction of Community of Christ leadership late last week and suspended worship services and other activities at our congregational buildings across the mission centre for the next three weeks. This was not an easy thing to do. We are still the “chatter-day saints” and we love to gather – to visit, to share testimonies and stories and prayer needs, to catch up, to shake hands and to hug, to celebrate and to comfort. We love to gather because we love each other and it is hard to not gather. But let me be clear: at this time we must not gather in our congregations or our social times or our service groups. It is for our own health and for the health of those around us that we must not gather. Not for now. Hopefully not for long. But, certainly, not for now.
 
Please find other ways to connect and share with each other. Phone each other. Email each other. Text each other or use social media. Find ways to ensure that those who we know depend on Sunday mornings for their social “fix” hear from friends through the week. This may well be your seniors, but don’t forget those who live alone, maybe your young adults, and even those who may be feeling confined to their house, especially those with children home from school. Congregations are experimenting with “virtual” services online – not just Toronto and Edmonton. This can help everyone still feel connected. Please join in. (Let me know if your congregation is giving this a try.)
 
Let me leave you with two things to consider: First, an entertaining reminder to “don’t be a spreader”: Mel Brooks and Social Distancing (scroll down to find the video and make sure you make it full-screen. Second, some tips on Caring for Self and Others in Times of Trouble.
 
Finally, if you want to tell me “how you’re doing” – please email me! We’ll talk! (steve@communityofchrist.ca)
 
Grace and Peace,
Steve Thompson
Mission Centre President

Creating Connection Facilitator Weekend is coming to Chilliwack BC 
Register today at www.cwm.events.  Space is limited.

Canada West Mission Centre President Steve Thompson has issued an update concerning COVID-19 (Coronavirus) as it pertains to the church in Western Canada.

​Click the button below to view the full statement.

Rooted – Connected - Growing  Feb 28- March 1, Samish Island
High winds and rain blew as we began our time of exploration on how we are connected, using the metaphor of trees.  A comforting dinner of burritos and vegan pea soup warmed us from the chill.  In the evening we greeted, shared expectations for the weekend, meditated and closed the evening watching ‘The Secret Life of Trees’ (available on youtube and vimeo).
​
Mother Nature smiled on us Saturday, as we awoke to a glorious sunny day.  We meditated indoors and out, learned about the science of trees, sat with trees, talked with trees and learned how trees roots connect them as families beneath the earth.  We practiced four types of yoga.  Growing together as trees, Yoga Nidra, Hatha Yoga and Goat Yoga. Samish Island has four Nigerian pygmy goats who voraciously eat the invasive ivy.  Our meals were a sensory overload of tastes and textures.  Vespers quieted our souls and prepared us for tea and sharing in the evening.
Sunday morning brought with it the sad realization that our time together would soon come to an end.  We meditated, nourished ourselves with food and conversation, cleaned and then held our closing circle. 
With our roots watered and fed, and our hands outstretched to the world like leaves on branches, 34 of us returned home happy and fulfilled.
Below is a poem written by Lindsay Brown.

How You Can Help 
Due to the high cost of travel plus SPEC registration fees (payable in USD), the cost per camper is C$2000. Canada West Mission has provided a subsidy which reduces the registration fee to C$1000 per camper. This registration fee can be cost prohibitive for some campers. With your generous support, we hope to further reduce the registration fee to give all youth the opportunity to attend SPEC.
All funds raised will be split 50/50 with half supporting 2020 campers and the remainder being saved for future years of SPEC costs.
Your contribution will make an impact, whether you donate a lot or a little. Anything helps. We are asking you to share the GoFundMe link with your friends and family to generate support for our youth. Thank you for your support!
All donations are income tax deductible with receipts for charitable purposes being issued directly by GoFundMe.
What Is SPEC?
To learn more about SPEC visit www.spec-cofchrist.org.  Check out the SPEC 2019 highlight video.

The Women's Retreat (Drumheller) has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. We anticipate rescheduling this event to take place in the fall of 2020. All registered attendees have been notified and should receive confirmation their registration fee has been refunded by March 11, 2020. Attendees are also responsible to cancel their hotel reservation for the weekend (Canalta Jurassic - 1-403-823-7700). Questions or concerns should be directed to Lisa Neudorf (lisa@communityofchrist.ca).

Work Week - April 27 thru May 2.  Breakfast each morning is at 8am.
 
Those who would like may arrive on the Sunday before BUT NOT BEFORE 5pm.
There is a retreat ending that day and we want to give the managers time to clean things up.  Questions may be forwarded to the campground manager Chris at samishislandcamp@gmail.com or Jim Fish at k7ncg@frontier.com.
 

 2020 
April 24-26          Nurturing Justice Retreat Samish Island
April 28-May 4    Samish Island Work Week
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May 2-3               Creating Connection Facilitators Retreat Chilliwack
May 31-Jun 2      Nurturing Friends and Family Weekend Samish Island
May 15-17            Jan Kraybill Music Weekend - Vancouver
 
June 12-14           Spiritual Retreat Hills of Peace
June 3- July 3     Junior Camp Hills of Peace
 
July 4-9               Family Camp Hills of Peace
July 11-15             Jr. and Sr. High Camp Hills of Peace
July 18-25            Spectacular Graceland University
July 19-25            Camp Atsaken (12-14 yrs) Samish Island
July 25-Aug 1      Nurturing Community (Family Reunion) Samish Island
 
August 2-8          Camp Kimtah (15-18 yrs) Samish Island
August 9-13         Camp Mungai (8-11 yrs) Samish Island
Aug 16-21             Adult Reunion Samish Island
 
Sept 4-6            Canada West Mission Conference Chilliwack
September 7     Workshop with Joey Williams         
 
Sept 25-27         Men’s Retreat Hills of Peace
 
Oct                    BC Women's Retreat (tbc)
Oct 9-11             Climate Change Colloquy Samish Island
Oct 25-27         Nurturing Silence Retreat Samish Island
Dates are subject to change.
Please register early to avoid cancellation of your event www.cwm.events ​

A Statement on COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus)
 
The Canada West Mission Centre has been following developments of the well-publicized COVID-19 (or Novel Coronavirus). This may be of concern to Community of Christ members due to the confirmation of cases in British Columbia and Washington State. No cases have yet been confirmed in Alberta, Saskatchewan or Manitoba.
 
There have been no advisories concerning gatherings of persons in any jurisdictions in the Canada West Mission Centre or in Washington State. We do not expect any impact on our planned retreats, youth camps, and family camps/reunions. We will monitor each jurisdiction in case any advisories are issued that may affect our event operations. However, you can expect at our events reinforcement of the directives from all health agencies on how best to protect ourselves against all respiratory illnesses including flu and COVID-19:

• Wash your hands often and well
• Avoid touching your face, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Clean and disinfect surfaces that are frequently touched
• Stay at home and away from others if you are feeling ill
• When sick, cover your cough and sneezes and then wash your hands

(adapted from: Alberta Health Services website)
 
Current government information about the disease for each respective location can be found at these links:

• Vancouver Coastal Health
• Snohomish (Washington) Health District (the county closest to the Samish Campground with reported cases of COVID-19)
• Alberta Health Services
• Government of Saskatchewan
• Manitoba Public Health

 
--Steve Thompson
President, Canada West Mission Centre
 
 
 

Please remember that our registration policy has changed as of January 1, 2020
You must register and pay your registration fee 2 weeks prior to the event on Reggie at www.cwm.events.  As a general rule, late registrations will not be accepted, contact the camp director for more information.
Payments will no longer be accepted on site or at the door.  If you can't pay online, a mail in option will be given to you upon registration.
Financial assistance is available and should be requested first from your congregational financial officer, second from the Mission Centre Reggie@communityofchrist.ca 
We realize this is a big change from previous years. and appreciate your understanding.
If you have any questions please contact Lisa@communityofchrist.ca or Steve@communityofchrist.ca
​