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Written by Shannon McAdam Canada West Mission Centre Co-President  In recent weeks, with consultation from various volunteers, our mission centre had to make difficult decisions about cancelling our youth and kids camps at Hills of Peace this summer. While we have all been prepared for a few seasons of slow return to our pre-covid camping program, it is still difficult to admit that as a mission centre, we don’t have the capacity to hold these important gatherings this year. I think back to my own camping years with fondness. So many memorable experiences, and always a feeling like camp was the only time all year when I felt like I could truly and fully be myself. I had friends who liked me for me, and I looked forward to seeing them. Just a few months ago at a Creating Connection retreat I had a joyful reunion with an old camp friend and it was all we could do to not stay up all night talking just like we did at camp thirty years ago! I think of the leadership skills I learned during my camping years, and how when I was old enough to be a counsellor, I was so excited to be able to volunteer my time in the years when my summers were free of work and school. I think of the many hours of volunteer time so generously offered to create these memories that I hold so dear. Just a couple of months ago at world conference I ran into a number of people who are beloved to me because they directed camps or counselled at camps that I attended as a young person. I still look to them for inspiration and role modeling of how to be a leader. I wonder what memories you have of church camp in your youth? I wonder what memories you have of offering leadership in our camping program? I wonder what time, talents, testimony, or treasure you have capacity to share now in order to help our youngest Canada West Mission Centre members and friends create similar memories in the years to come? We have some extra time now to begin planning for next year’s summer gatherings of our young people. In this liminal season you are invited to help discern how best to ensure we have a full schedule of programming in 2024. All hopes and dreams are welcome! Please consider how you can share generously of your time, talents, testimony, or treasure as we move forward together. 
 During Hills of Peace Month, please donate to support the continued operation and development of the Hills of Peace Campground.
Saskatchewan people: Please donate! Alberta people: Please donate! And, yes, BC people, don’t feel left out: Please donate! Over the last three years we have made many improvements to the grounds. Most notably:
Your donation will help ensure the campground continues to be made more enjoyable. It will also help pay the ongoing bills: really mundane stuff like utilities and insurance; and more visible stuff like cooks, caretakers, and lifeguards. We have a modest goal to raise $20,000 to support this year’s expenses. Please be generous! You can make your donations by:
Hills of Peace Campground 7603 190 Street NW Edmonton, AB. T5T 5H6
Be sure to indicate in your email or on your cheque your preference for your donation to be applied to “Operating / Maintenance” or to “Capital Projects / Maintenance Upgrades” Tax receipts for e-transfers or cheques will be issued in February of next year. CanadaHelps issues receipts immediately upon donation (as if it was a donation to CanadaHelps). Please note that this is NOT an appeal to support camps or the camping program. The program is the responsibility of the Canada West Mission Centre. Your generosity there is also appreciated. THIS request is in support of the expenses to maintain and improve the Hills of Peace Campground that makes those programs possible. THANK YOU! Questions? Contact Steve at [email protected] or 780-904-4389. Written by Gwyn Beer Canada West Mission Centre Co-President  The Spiritual Retreat at Hills of Peace would have been this week, but sadly it was cancelled because of low registration. The theme for the retreat, “Something is stirring among us, Spirit is stirring among us!” has been part of my thought process since Brenda, Vickie, Art, and I came up with it. As part of the retreat, we were going to be asked to bring a spoon that had meaning for us. This is the story about my spoon. I have a spoon that is part of my family history. It was my grandmother’s spoon. Grandma Sadie always used this spoon with rice or vegetables. She had lots of grandchildren but I was the one who ended up with this spoon. Looking at the spoon brings me images of my grandmother. Why is it important to me? Seeing the spoon stirs memories of a member of the Community of Christ church who passed on her love of this church to her children and ultimately her grandchildren. She had a very firm belief that she just lived within, leading by example of faith. She was a gentle person who seemed to just love you no matter what. Why am I sharing a story about my grandmother’s spoon? Looking at that spoon makes me want to live my faith like my grandmother did. Your actions show others who you are and I want to reflect the love I feel for this church. God’s spirit is stirring within me to help with the work of this church. Discernment is stirring in me as we move forward in seeking a prophet/president. What is stirring in you? 
 We are sad to announce that the Spiritual Retreat at Hills of Peace was cancelled due to low registration.
Youth Camp at Hills of Peace was scheduled for Aug 12 to 17. Unfortunately we have not been able to find a camp director. This decision has not been an easy one to make, we are cancelling Hills of Peace Youth Camp for 2023.
We invite everyone who was anticipating coming to the camp to attend the Family Camp Aug 5 to 10. We are reaching out for a camp director next year. We anticipate holding a course for future Camp Directors. Written by Debra Donohue Creating Connection Director Canada West  I returned from our retreat Creating Community: Where Spirit, Nature, and Justice Meet at Samish Island with renewed hope for the planet, and bathed in the rich spirit that comes with any visit to Samish Island. This year, the Nurturing Justice team joined the Nurturing Spirit team to create a retreat that combined the contemplative experience with a learning and sharing model. Our special guest, Isabelle Hachette from World Accord, shared stories of her experiences with, and before she joined World Accord, which helped us better understand the plights of people around the world and the climate crisis on our planet. I think Isabelle left renewed by our spirits, just as we left with a new energy to support social justice issues. Our 38 attendees included 4 people from the Climate Action team, Americans, and Canadians. 6 people had never been to Samish Island, 4 had never been to anything Community of Christ. As we move forward exploring new expressions of mission, our retreats are a wonderful place to introduce your friends and neighbours to Community of Christ. Remember to offer the invitation. Creating Connection is exploring new ways to reach new people. If you have an idea you need a little help with, or you’d like to learn more about Creating Connection, contact me, Debra Donohue, [email protected] 
Written by Gwyn Beer Canada West Mission Centre Co-President  YOU Are Invited! We have saved a place for YOU! Thank you for your patience as preparations have been made in getting Spiritual Retreats, Family Camps and Kids Camps ready for you to register! Big THANKS to Lisa Neudorf for helping us this year with REGGIE! Hills of Peace and Samish Island are sacred places for all of us! Join us at either place and feel that wonderful homecoming! If you have never been to the campgrounds, you are invited to come and join us for a weekend, a whole week or even just one day!
While Samish Island and Hills of Peace are beautiful places, they become even more special spaces with YOU there. Greet old friends and make new friends! Spend time in classes, over the dining room table, washing dishes, going to the waterfront, join in singing at the campfire and walk the grounds. It is your time to just BE. Register for a retreat or camp! We have saved a place for YOU! 
 Historians Corner Vol. 1 | No. 3 In recognition of June being “Hills of Peace Month,” I am going to share how the grounds came into the possession of the church in Alberta. I am drawing on written accounts from two people “who were there:” Ethel Hayden, from Calgary; and Jean Walrath, from Edmonton. Ethel: The Hills of Peace grounds holds a special place in the hearts of young and old who ever attended a camp there and (have) been surrounded by God’s spirit and the feeling of peace. Renting grounds at Sylvan Lake was not to our liking. Jean: (At the 1956) District Conference and Reunion held at Sylvan Lake, Alberta, Will McLeod told of a quarter section of land on a lake that could be suitable to build a campground. Ethel: (It) had a spring-fed lake, lots of trees for shade, and very sandy soil which meant no mud when it rained. Jean: Six people went immediately to investigate. They were Alvin Walrath, Dave Larmour, Will McLeod, Norman Olson, Vida Diaper and Cecil Diaper. A most favourable report was brought back. The same week on Saturday, a district meeting was held at Sylvan Lake. A vote to buy the land was taken…and passed unanimously. At the same meeting the people voted in favour of Alvin Walrath being put in charge of developing and building the camp. On Sunday a collection was taken and approximately $600.00 was raised. Ethel: The land was bought in 1956 and work parties soon began. Many weekends and some holidays were spent travelling on muddy roads and later gravel to start developing the grounds. Steve: And on the story goes up to the present day. Purchase documents from the time indicate the price paid for the land was $856.00. This is an story of rapid decision making. As Ethel suggests, there had been a feeling, probably for some time, that the people wanted a reunion grounds of their own. But still – in a matter of one week, Will McLeod told the District Conference (probably on Sunday) about the land; a party of six people immediately (probably on Monday) set out to go look at; they came back and reported favourably – despite what must have been very difficult road conditions and a much longer trip than it would be today. They had another business meeting on Saturday and approved the purchase! Amazing! Now – while you’re thinking about it, go to that notice about “June is Hills of Peace Month” elsewhere in the Weekly Wire and make a donation to support the continuing operation and maintenance of this wonderful campground. Sources:
Ethel Hayden: “Hills of Peace Camp”, a one-page history published as part of a history of Alberta District, assembled in 2003 when the district was being folded into the Canada West Mission Centre. Jean Walrath: “History of the Hills of Peace Campground,” unpublished, undated. Written by Gwyn Beer Canada West Mission Centre Co-President  cofchrist.org During May, for our discernment of future leadership in Community of Christ, we were to consider the following question: What are the most significant situations, opportunities, or challenges that a prophetic leader will need to address? June is our time to share our thoughts on this question. For me, this was WIDE OPEN, so many things to consider, processing those situations (first time for me at conference to hear about “Active Shooter Protocols”) and opportunities and challenges. I felt overwhelmed for our next president/prophet. At World Conference, resolution I-1 on a non-violence statement went through my mind. We could not determine how to answer all the questions associated with trying to give the President and counsellors a concise view of what that statement might look like. Opportunities for the growth of the church abound in the world at large but in North America, there is a shift in how people view church and spirituality. What ways will the president deal with the changing view of church? Challenges include the financial status of the church. There are so many things that the new president/prophet will be dealing with. Spend time in June sharing your thoughts with others you encounter. Offer your thoughts and listen to those you speak to, is there common ground? Are you feeling the weight of this question? Pray on your conversations for clarity and wisdom. July will bring a new question to consider! 
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