We have now got through April in what will surely be recognized as a historic period of time in world history. Our COVID-19 “saga” began in January and grew in visibility and seriousness through February. March 5 marked our last “in-person” worship services before we were directed by our First Presidency to “suspend” services until the end of March, and then the end of April and now the end of May. The first issue of my “COVID-19” update was eight weeks ago on March 4.
 
We are now awaiting the beginning of the “re-opening of the economy” in some, but not all, jurisdictions across Canada. These easing of restrictions will not come in time to save our summer camping and retreat programs. I remain optimistic that they might come in time for us to gather in-person for our Mission Conference in Chilliwack – but obviously I can make no promises about that yet. Watch for e-conference arrangements if that becomes necessary.
 
I hope that you have been keeping well and that you have been keeping you and your families occupied during this time of self-isolation. I have no direct information about how many of you may have lost jobs. I do not know what other stresses may have become a part of your life since this all started. I can only pray that you are coping as well as possible. I also encourage you to reach out to your Pastor or Congregational Financial Officer or other trusted minister in your congregation if you need assistance of any kind or if you just need someone to talk to for a while.
 
Many congregations in Canada West Mission Centre have been offering alternative ministries ranging from more frequent email postings to intentional telephone ministry to weekly informal online gatherings to somewhat more formal Sunday morning video conferencing worship services via Zoom or Skype. In addition, I know that many people have been “tuning in” to the online services offered by the Toronto congregation on Sunday mornings and through the week. (For details check their webpage: www.centreplace.ca)
 
I want to be sure you are aware of a few other regular resources available to you:

• The current message from President Steve Veazey to the church on “Sheltering in Place” (should be the first video on the list from the church’s YouTube channel).
• Daily messages from our Apostle Art Smith, in which he shares various aspects of his day and ministry and builds to an announcement of “What day is it anyway?”
• Online versions of the church’s Daily Prayer for Peace and the Daily Bread blog.
• The Canada West Mission Centre’s “Virtual Visiting Fellowship” meetings offered on Tuesday mornings and Thursday evenings. See information elsewhere in the Weekly Wire, or email [email protected]

 
And, just to ensure you know there is “Some Good News” out there, let me repeat this referral to a weekly video produced by actor John Krasinski. Really good fun that will bring a smile to your lips and maybe a tear of joy to your eyes. Give it a look.
 
Stay safe. Be well. God bless.

Steve Thompson
Canada West Mission Centre President
[email protected]

I am pleased to introduce to you Sandra Rodriguez as our new Administrative Assistant for the Canada West Mission Centre.

​Sandra has been attending the Calgary Community of Christ for the past several months. Sandra brings with her a degree in Communications, with training in advertising, marketing, social networks, and graphic design. She has experience in a variety of positions related to customer service and social media, digital, print, and video communications. I am looking forward to working with Sandra in her new role supporting many functions and services of the mission centre.

​Sandra has a newly-minted email address: [email protected].  She can also be reached at: 1-877-411-2632, ext. 6.
 
She is beginning to exercise some of her new duties. Debra and I are now working with Sandra to orient her to her new position and responsibilities.

Please join me in welcoming Sandra Rodriguez to Canada West Mission Centre!

​Steve Thompson
Canada West Mission President

I cannot quite believe that this is already our seventh COVID-19 Statement! Watch for a new name next week. Although COVID-19 is still “top-of-mind” for us, I want to start transitioning this column into more of a general weekly message from the Canada West Mission Centre to all of our members and friends. Got an idea for a new name for this message? Let me know: [email protected]
 
There is beginning to be some good news on the virus front. Many jurisdictions are reporting a leveling out of confirmed cases. It will be another week or two before we know for sure if we have passed “the peak” of the situation. We are all cautioned to continue with our social distancing on and health-maintenance practices for the foreseeable future.
 
There have been no new announcements or direction received from Community of Christ world leadership. The official suspension of church services and programs continues to be in place until May 1. Some congregations have indicated to me that they do not plan to open for services on May 3 and are awaiting instructions from church leadership for future weeks. Certainly local restrictions are not likely to be lifted and resumption of services is unlikely any time soon.
 
I have mentioned various program cancellations and postponements in previous statements. I will not repeat those here. They are noted elsewhere in the “Weekly Wire” as well as on the Events Calendar for the mission centre.
 
This past Sunday I know many people took advantage of the opportunity to tune in to the Community of Christ Easter Service. It was hosted in Independence, Missouri, and included participation by members from around the world. In case you missed it, you can view the entire service here: Living Hope: A Worldwide Easter Service  You can also see the service in French or Spanish on the video page of the Community of Christ YouTube site. Many other videos are also available there, including the recent weekly messages to the church from President Steve Veazey.
 
Here is a link to the YouTube video page of the Toronto Centre Place congregation where you can find a recording of their Easter Service: Christ is Risen. This was also an excellent worship experience involving participation by persons from Canada, the U.S. and Europe.
 
Before closing, let me put in a plug for the Canada West Mission Centre’s “Virtual Visiting Fellowship” meetings. They are available via “Zoom” on Tuesday mornings and Thursday evenings. For details contact me directly at [email protected]. These gatherings have proven to be popular opportunities for people to visit with others from across the mission centre (with occasional participants from Ontario and Washington State) and to share generally about what is going on with them in these COVID-19 times.
 
Take care. Stay Safe. Be Healthy. God bless.

Steve Thompson
Canada West Mission Centre President
[email protected]

As we continue to find new ways of being together when physical distancing guidelines prevent our gatherings, you're invited to join us for "Living Hope," a unique online Easter worship experience this year. 
 
On Sunday, April 12 we will be hosting two online gatherings to share in Easter celebration and worship together.
 
Gathering 1 --- 4 a.m. (CDT) Time zone calculator   
Gathering 2 --- 2 p.m. (CDT) Time zone calculator 
 
By having two gatherings we hope to increase participation around the world and allow people to join in at a reasonable time of their day. Pick the time that best fits your day and worship with us through music, prayers, reflections from members around the world, and a homily by President Steve Veazey. 
 
To provide opportunities for interaction as we all watch from home, we'll be broadcasting the worship on the church's Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram feeds. Viewers will be invited to share in the comments on Facebook and Instagram or by using #CofChristEaster on Twitter at several points during the worship. The broadcast will also be available at www.CofChrist.org/live-webcast and the church's YouTube channel.

The common first question after “Hello” has become much more heartfelt and honestly intended than had been traditional before our COVID-19 social distancing: “How are you doing?” We are truly interested in the answer to that question. We want assurance that our friends and family are, in fact, staying safe and being well. They wish to know the same of us. Yet we also want to be able to express our support if the answer to the question is the expression of some kind of health issue or personal concern that has arisen in the lives of those we love.
 
There are families and individuals in Canada West Mission Centre, and elsewhere in the church, who have been directly touched by COVID-19 in the form of illness or job loss. I know of people who continue to struggle with various medical, physical, and personal issues not at all related to the pandemic. And in the unstoppable cycle of life, there are families among us who mourn the loss of loved ones. All of these persons and families are worthy of our prayers of love and support.
 
So: What have you done to keep your outlook positive in recent weeks? What good news do you seek out to assure yourself that humanity is good and that we will all get through this together? What miracle or beauty in the natural world around you gives you hope and assurance and perhaps even inspiration? What books have you read? What friends have you reached out to by phone or electronically? And, yes, what social media connections have been beneficial for you? What images, stories, or anecdotes have kept you smiling, if not outright laughing? Please email some answers to me ([email protected] ), and I may share them in the future.
 
Let me offer a few “good things” for you to consider and to look forward to in the next few days.
 
Community of Christ President, Steve Veazey has provided the latest in his weekly messages to the church. Go to the church’s website at www.cofchrist.org and you will see the message displayed on the front page, or follow this link.
 
Also watch for the broadcast of an Easter Service from Community of Christ World Headquarters on Sunday beginning at 2 p.m. Central Daylight Time. To provide opportunities for interaction from home, the service will be broadcast on the church's Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram feeds. Viewers will be invited to share in the comments on Facebook and Instagram or by using #CofChristEaster on Twitter at several points during the worship. The broadcast also will be available at www.CofChrist.org/live-webcast and the church's YouTube channel.
 
Let me suggest a “non-church” option that I think is positive and uplifting in a more secular way. Go to the YouTube site and search for “Some Good News John Krasinski” or follow this link.
 
May God bless you with health or healing and with God’s good and uplifting Spirit.

Steve Thompson 
Canada West Mission Centre President
[email protected]

Please note that we will issue you a refund if we need to cancel your event due to COVID-19 restrictions. Please continue to register for any event you may be interested in.  Full refunds will be available if you cancel 14 days prior to the event.

Hello everyone.
 
I hope that you are continuing to stay safe and remain well in whatever social-distancing or confined-to-home situation you may find yourself. It is a challenging time for all of us.
 
I have a few things to share with you this week.
 
First, as I mentioned last week, some Mission Centre events in April have been affected by the church’s suspension of services and programs as well as by governmental recommendations. The Nurturing Justice Retreat at Samish has been postponed with the hope of rescheduling to a later time. The Samish Campground work week has been cancelled.
 
In addition, events in May have now also been affected. The Creating Connection Facilitators training scheduled for the first weekend in May at Chilliwack has been postponed, also hoping to find an alternative date later in the year. Watch for announcements about the Jan Kraybill weekend in Vancouver and the Nurturing Friends and Family Retreat. Neither event will be able to proceed as intended, but alternative arrangements may be able to be made.
 
Moving into June please also watch for an announcement about the Spiritual Retreat at Hills of Peace for alternative plans.
 
We know there is much concern about our summer schedule of camps and reunions. The mission centre staff have set a mid-May deadline to make decisions for those events. We feel that at least six weeks’ notice for those events is necessary for those planning the events as well as those planning to attend.
 
Here is a good question: What are you planning to do with your Sunday mornings once our suspension of services is over? Will you return to your congregation’s activities as you did before? What do you think you might like to see change about how your congregation “does church” in the aftermath of this period of self-isolation? Maybe call your Pastor if you have some ideas. Just something to think about while you have time to think about it!
 
In closing, let me encourage you to make that phone call to a friend or relative that you have been putting off. That bit of connection may do as much for your well-being as it will for the person you are calling!
 
Stay safe! Be well! God bless!

Steve Thompson
Canada West Mission Centre President