 Samish Island Work Week
Join us on from Monday, April 25 through Friday, April 29 for the Work Week. Three meals a day, free cabins and all the work anyone wants! No charge for workers, of course.  Ken Barrows spoke at the closing service of the Lethbridge congregation building in March, having been their administrator in the 1990’s. He shared about a transitional time when some key families had moved away and there was not enough spark left in those remaining to organize worship services. He counseled them to leave off from having services for a few months and then to check in with him. For those months, the chapel was open for meditation on Sunday morning, but nothing else was done. After that time, when Ken checked in with the congregational leadership, one dear Saint offered to bring cheese and crackers every Sunday, for some social time after the meditation. After several months of that, another dear one wished to offer a hymn service, and that began a re-emergence of corporate worship. What would have happened without the offering of those cheese and crackers? I carry that story close to my heart. There are times when we don’t have to force ourselves to do everything. If we cannot do everything, what is the something – the cheese and crackers - that we can offer? We know that God can bless even the last measure of flour and oil we have, and we’ve heard about what Jesus did with loaves and fishes. Instead of focusing on what we don’t have, it may be time to offer and make sacred what we are capable of offering. Listen for the Holy. Tend the Holy.  Yours in Christ,
Gwyn, Kat, and Shannon gwyn@communityofchrist.ca kat@communityofchrist.ca smcadam@communityofchrist.ca  What is SPEC all about? Do you have questions about SPEC? Join us for an informal info session on Thursday, April 28, from 5-6pm Pacific Time. RSVP to debra@communityofchrist.ca
This year CWM youth will travel with the Greater Pacific Northwest Mission Centre (GPNW) – known as the “Northwest” team. They do require youth in their delegation to participate in additional team-building events in Independence prior to Spec, to ensure everyone has a great experience. How travel to meet up with GPNW will work for youth from outside BC has yet to be finalized, and may be the responsibility of families to arrange, depending on how many registrations there are. We're happy to share that GPNW is quite well-known in Spec circles for being hospitable and welcoming to youth who join in their team. The youth in their mission centre are quite spread out geographically, stretching from Oregon to Alaska and this year the Hawaii group will travel with us. More information about SPEC 2022, and a registration page can be found at: https://speccofchrist.wordpress.com Debra Donohue will be the local contact for youth to learn more about SPEC and about traveling with GPNW. When is IYF/SPEC held? SPEC Trip: July 13-23, 2022
Who Can Attend? Any high school student who is CURRENTLY in grades 9, 10, 11, or 12 may attend. Invite your friends!  March 27 was a very special day: a celebration of the life of the Lethbridge congregation in their building on 11th Street. There were wonderful stories and testimonies told of the six decades our dear ones shared together in that building. One highlight of the service was the Prayer for Peace offered by Vickie MacArthur, so we share it with you today to continue celebrating Lethbridge and to offer ourselves again to the work of peace in our world. A church is more than a building. Peace is more than a word. Prayer for Peace: Ukraine, and Russia, and the World By John Bell Loving God, because you have the whole world in your hands, cradle gently those who are rocked by fear, shocked to a depth they have never known and frightened to face tomorrow. On the people of Ukraine: their children, their old people, their vulnerable adults, their babies soon to be born, Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy. On the people of Ukraine: their defenders, their advocates, those who care for the wounded, who sit with the despairing, who witness and report on the savagery and destruction, who bury the dead. Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy. On the people of Ukraine: their leaders that they may continue to inspire, in word and by example, and continue to receive help and solidarity from across the world. Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy. On the people of Russia, that they might learn the truth kept from their hearing; On the churches in Russia that they might find the vocabulary and courage to speak truth to power, On the soldiers of Russia who do not believe in the carnage they cause. Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy. On the Russian president, and those who affirm his policies, we ask the judgement of heaven, a radical conversion and an end to their lies, scheming and murder. Lord hear us, Lord graciously hear us. And for our own nation we ask for commitment to match conviction so that the pain of the Ukrainian nation be shared by us, their weary people sheltered by us, their peace assured by us. Lord hear us, Lord graciously hear us. Amen.  Yours in Christ,
Gwyn, Kat, and Shannon gwyn@communityofchrist.ca kat@communityofchrist.ca smcadam@communityofchrist.ca  Join us for this year's Nurturing Justice Retreat and make a change in our world!
When: April 22-24 Where: See poster above Registration via email: nurturingjustice@gmail.com Please RSVP for more details. All events are free of charge, come to one or all!  “Before any change comes chaos.” My sacred movement teacher shared this truth from quantum physics with us during our meditation this morning. It led me straight into the drama of Holy Week. Did the disciples read their way into a new reality with Jesus? Did they meditate their way in? No, the new reality did not come from a bloodless birth or over the internet or through a book. Not even from a pulpit! The new reality of God’s love in Jesus Christ came through very gutsy things: betrayal, pain, scorn, abandonment. “What wondrous love is this, o my soul: What wondrous love is this, that caused the Lord of life To bear the painful cross for my soul.” What cross do you bear? If the answer isn’t immediate, let me ask: What chaos are you in right now? I do not believe that we can expect to live into a new reality as Community of Christ here in Western Canada without some chaos. I certainly don’t believe we can think our way into it! If I can believe that Jesus was still held by God during the events of his passion, then I can believe that we find ourselves held by God during difficult conversations about finances, about relevance, about COVID, and about ‘what’s next’. We honour the name we share with Jesus when we humbly hold the remembrance of Holy Week. Let us share the last supper. Let us stay awake with Jesus. Let us gather close as we can as he is tried and beaten. Let us gaze on the cross. Let us be prepared for a tomb, and a stone, and a magnificent wondering: What is this new reality being born?  Yours in Christ,
Gwyn, Kat, and Shannon gwyn@communityofchrist.ca kat@communityofchrist.ca smcadam@communityofchrist.ca  Spring is here and this marks another new beginning and a new chapter here at World Accord. We are thrilled to announce that Kristin Douglas will be leading the team at World Accord as the new Executive Director effective April 4, 2022. We will be saddened to see David Barth go at the end of April but are also celebrating his 24 years of service where he successfully led World Accord to grow and fulfill its mission of cultivating communities that thrive.
Kristin is an experienced and passionate non-profit professional with a focus on fund development, relationship management, strategic planning, campaign management and volunteer engagement. Most recently, she worked as the Executive Director for Ethiopiaid, a non-profit organization focused on sexual and reproductive health and rights and women’s empowerment. Kristin is a very well rounded, passionate and intelligent leader. She brings more than eight years of professional experience from both small, grassroots non-profits like World Accord, as well as large, national and international NGOs. With a BA in Philosophy, Minor in Social Justice and MSc in Human Rights & International Politics, she has a passion for the type of work that World Accord does and an appreciation for how we pursue our goals. World Accord is in good hands. On a more personal level, Kristin has a number of hobbies and interests. She describes herself as a “social butterfly” which can be reflected in her love for concerts, trivia nights, and comedy shows. She uses her social skills in athletics as well, as she currently participates in an ultimate frisbee league. Similar to many of our World Accord donors and previous Executive Directors, Kristin also has a huge passion for travel and hopes to see as many of the corners of the world as possible. She enjoys both classic weekend road trips or more adventurous and exotic international travel. For our foodie members of World Accord, you can win the heart of our new executive director with ceviche, or “arguably the best pizza in North America” fresh from Windsor. Furthermore, Kristin is not only a lover of Peruvian food, but she is also known for her breakfast-making skills. Eggs Benedict and omelets are her favourite foods to cook up while at home with her partner and yorkie poo. Thank you all very much for everything you have done for David Barth, World Accord, and our partners during his tenure. David expressed “It has been a privilege and an honour to serve you and our partner organizations in this manner. I know Kristin will enjoy getting to know you all as much as I have, and hope you enjoy getting to know her as well.”  On Sunday we were encouraged in our worship services to share generously. I’ve had this on my heart as I’ve been driving around the city. There are so many blossoms, and pollinators, and more sunshine than I’m used to seeing! Both the Bible and the natural bible of creation give us abundant examples of generosity. God is love, we love God, so why is sharing hard for us? Like meditation or prayer, generosity can be practiced and strengthened. Our ‘muscle’ for generosity is our heart. Jesus famously had no place of his own to lay his head, and we have lots of options for our comfort, so this can be tricky work for us. How can we practice generosity? First, we can increase our awareness of troubles both near and far. Then we can soften into awareness of our capacity to give while overcoming our fears of being overwhelmed. We can pray that God’s will be our will – God’s heart our heart. When we want to treat ourselves, we can also treat someone else. When we hear of refugees, either in the global north or south, we can send money along with our prayers to organizations that we trust, including our church. In the end, generosity comes down to trust – trust that we won’t be abandoned or left helpless if we share what we have and care about the needs of others. Trust that there is enough for all. As we head toward Holy Week along with Jesus, let’s really listen to what he says in his last sermons about the flowers of the fields and about abiding in Him. Let’s build our relationship with Jesus and our capacity to trust.  Yours in Christ,
Gwyn, Kat, and Shannon gwyn@communityofchrist.ca kat@communityofchrist.ca smcadam@communityofchrist.ca |
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