 Hello from Independence Missouri!
I’m here preparing for World Conference and also setting up my office in the Temple! Delegates from around the world are arriving and I am so excited to see our Canadian delegates as you arrive here. See you soon! Shannon
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 June 20–22
Hills of Peace Campground Don’t forget to register for this year’s Women’s Retreat at Hills of Peace! Join Shannon McAdam and Vickie MacArthur for a peaceful, spirit-filled weekend of rest, reflection, and community as we celebrate the light of the Summer Solstice together. You’re invited to slow down, reconnect with nature, and explore simple spiritual practices that help you heal, ground, and shine your light in the world. Registration deadline is Monday, June 9 Retreat Fee: $170 Includes accommodations, meals, snacks, and all materials. Questions? Contact Lisa Neudorf at [email protected] or 1-877-411-2632  Theme: Hope in Action
At Junior Camp, hope is more than a feeling—it’s something we do with our hands and our hearts. It’s movement and messiness and moments that matter. Each day at Hills of Peace, Junior Campers (ages 7–11, going into grade 2 through grade 6) will choose their own adventure. From nature walks to water games, from campfire songs to crafting creations, campers will explore what it means to live out “Hope in Action”—together. They’ll be guided by joyful, caring leaders and surrounded by the beauty of the land, where God’s spirit moves through every tree and painted sky. They'll play hard, laugh loud, and discover that being hopeful means being brave, being kind, and being exactly who God made them to be. At night, they’ll rejoin their families for Family Camp and rest in their own cabins, wrapped in the safety of love and belonging. But during the day? It’s their time to shine, explore, and connect. There’s something sacred that happens at camp. It reminds us we belong to God and to one another. And for our youngest campers, that sacred thing just might look like building birdhouses, going for a swim, and learning to lead with love. Come. Choose adventure. Choose action. Choose hope. Director: Gwyn Beer Registration: use the forms for Family Camp coming in June to the camping page.  By Kat Goheen, Canada West Mission Centre Co-President If camping is what we do best as a church, then SPEC is what we do best in camping! In only fifty days, our Grade 9–12 youth travel to Independence, MO, to tour the Temple, play endless volleyball, and prepare for a week of sports, worship, and music on the Graceland campus. We have a record number of CWM campers from BC, AB, and SK going to SPEC this year, which is fabulous news! As a Mission Centre, we are supporting part of each camper’s registration to the tune of $425 CAD, as well as full fees for two chaperones, which is a little more sobering. To that end, we held a high-energy fundraiser at the Vancouver congregation on May 18 that featured a SPEC morning worship led by the youth, many SPEC testimonies, and a taco lunch and jewelry sale by donation. Our youth cleaned up the meal and dishes afterwards, just like KP at camp! We raised over $1,500 from those present, and over $2,000 from online donations, and one very generous donation before the event. BC was well-represented in our online Zoom-room and we were pleased to have the entire MacArthur clan from Lethbridge helping out in person. Here is a joyous report from Shannon McAdam about how the youth pulled together to bring us a wonderful time of worship and celebration of everything that SPEC is to them: “The view 'from the pew' was so inspiring! I had arrived thinking my help was needed to facilitate the Zoom, but I was informed it was being handled by a young person! And then I watched with great hope in my heart as another young person set out hymnals, and yet another was making sure all the microphones worked and the sound was set up. Then I was overjoyed to see Charlotte—one of our SPEC youth—take the lead in 'presiding' over the worship experience. She dealt with tech instabilities with grace and led the music with confidence. Young folks shared in readings—one even wrote a poem for the occasion! We also had youth join virtually from Vancouver Island and Northern BC. I felt such a sense of possibility and hope seeing these younger folks stepping up to take the lead in making this event a success. I was moved to tears on several occasions and can't wait to see them all again at SPEC this summer!” If you feel you missed the boat, don’t worry! You can support the donation drive anytime at Canada Helps or by e-transfer, making sure to specify “CWM SPEC 2025 Fundraiser.” As always, please don’t let this special drive take away from your planned giving, but if you have extra capacity, please share! Let’s show our youth that we care about them through this tangible gift of love.  Theme: Choose Hope
There’s something sacred that happens at camp. Maybe it’s the cool morning air that’s been carried across the prairies. Maybe it’s the way the lake holds the sky, or the laughter around the dinner tables, or the stories shared under the tent by the canteen. Whatever it is, it reminds us—we belong to God and to one another. This summer at Hills of Peace from August 2 - 7, we invite you to Choose Hope. In a world that often normalizes cynicism or apathy, here we choose a different way. A hopeful way. One that makes room for joy and rest and renewal. Family Camp is for all ages and stages of life—young kids with muddy knees, tired grown-ups needing grace, elders with stories to tell. You’ll be welcomed by love, inspired by hope, and invited to share as a community in worship, play, learning, and stillness. Whether it’s your first time or your fiftieth, you’ll find a space where you are seen, known, and needed. This year the junior camp kids will head off for their own daily adventures as part of their separate camp experience, returning for rest with families each evening. Throughout the week you’ll have space to reconnect—with yourself, your people, and the God who’s still speaking. Come. Choose Hope. There’s a place for you here. Director: Marian Thompson Guest Ministry: Apostle Designate Shannon McAdam Watch the camping page for registration information to come in June  August 3–7, the Samish Island campground will once again be filled with the energy and laughter of youth and staff gathering for Camp Atsaken (Grades 7–9) and Camp Kimtah (Grades 10–12).
Running in tandem, these camps offer theme classes, games, outdoor adventure, swimming, and evening campfires—all in a supportive and inclusive community. This year’s themes are: Hope... It's the Future (Atsaken) Segue (Kimtah) Registration deadline is July 18, so book your spot soon and don’t miss out!  It’s time to get back to Youth Camp! Join us at Hills of Peace for a week filled with connection, creativity, and fun in community.
This year’s theme, LEAD, invites youth to explore what it means to lead lives shaped by joy, hope, love, and peace. Campers will engage in daily activities and reflection grounded in the mission prayer—supporting spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical growth. Whether you’re reconnecting with old friends or joining for the first time, this is a place to grow, discover, and have a blast! Ages 12–18 Theme: LEAD Fee: $450 per camper Early Bird Discount: Register and pay in full before July 1 to receive $25 off Financial assistance and Bring a Friend details are available on the registration form  Wednesday, June 4th at 6:00 p.m CT
Square Pizza – 208 W. Maple Ave Attention all Canadians attending World Conference! You’re warmly invited to join us for an informal evening of connection and celebration as we welcome our new Apostolic team and new Seventy team! We’ll gather over great conversation, introductions, and pizza starting at 6:00 p.m CT on Wednesday, June 4th. Pizza will be provided, so please register by Wednesday, May 28th so we can ensure we have enough food. Canadian Gathering at World Conference Registration Questions? Email [email protected] This evening is generously covered by the Canadian Church. Donations are welcome and can be included with your registration (Please note: no money will be collected at the restaurant.) We look forward to seeing you there!  By Becky Middleton, Canada West Mission Centre Co-President Recently, I was privileged to attend a five-day dance competition in Saskatoon with my daughter-in-law and granddaughters. They were all competing to some degree and, regardless of outcome, agreed that the skill level of the performers was inspiring and rewarding. What really encouraged me was the genuine camaraderie and joy they felt for each dancer’s placement in the competition, along with the encouragement they shared among their peers. I was also able to visit our dear brother Charles Lester in the hospital. We reminisced about joy-filled times together in the past, as well as upcoming activities such as World Conference. He shared some of the wonderful experiences he and Sylvia had at World Conferences and family camps. Our time together was a blessing to us both. The following Sunday, I had the opportunity to be with the congregation in Regina. It is always a joy for me to connect with people and spend time together in fellowship and worship. The hospitality shown to me was delightful! A big part of dance is connecting with the music and telling a story. A big part of the enjoyment of being together is building connections—relationships—with each other and weaving our stories together. We are continuing to look forward to more opportunities to create connections!  Throughout April, we invited you to Be 1 of 20—to become one of 20 new monthly donors supporting Hills of Peace. We're thrilled to share that 25 people stepped up to give regularly and sustain the future of our beloved camp!
We’d also like to take this time to thank our existing 5 monthly donors who contribute $803/month ($9,636/year)! Here’s the breakdown of generosity received during April:
Our new total of all monthly donation commitments going forward: $1,523/month ($18,276/year) Your generosity surpassed our goal and showed that when we come together, we can do more than we imagine. Thank you for choosing to walk with us in this journey of community, sacredness of creation, and stewardship. Here's to a thriving future at Hills of Peace! If you’d still like to participate, you can sign up at any time to become a monthly contributor by visiting the link below: Donate through Canada Helps  Sunday, May 18
11:15 a.m. PT/ 12:15 p.m MT/1:15 p.m CT Join us for a short, SPEC-style, contemporary online worship full of music and testimonies to help our Canada West campers raise funds for their trip to SPEC, happening July 10–19. This special event will help support the 12+ campers and 2 chaperones attending SPEC from CWM this year. Funds raised will help cover travel, registration, and participation in this powerful youth experience focused on sports, the arts, worship, and building lifelong connections. To join the worship: Email [email protected] for the Zoom link and more info. To donate: Visit CanadaHelps.org and direct your donation to: [email protected] Please specify “CWM SPEC 2025 Fundraiser” in the message or notes field. Every gift helps send our youth to this incredible gathering—thank you for helping make it possible! |
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