Kat, Gwyn, and Shannon spent last week at Samish Island for our combined Canada West and Inland West Reunion. Nearly 200 attended, much fun was had, and we heard inspiring challenges from our guest ministers Ron Harmon and Robin Linkhart.
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Kids entering grades 3-6 join us at Camp Mungai, at Samish Island Campground, from August 11th to 15th for a camp experience like no other. Our theme, "Jesus, I know him!", will guide us as we explore nature, do crafts, play games, and meet new friends. Prepare for lots of laughter, dancing, singing, and fun while we celebrate the many blessings God has given us. Don't miss out on this incredible adventure!
Last week Kat, and her daughter Savannah, spent the week in Naramata, BC. They were there to offer music ministry at a United Church of Canada family camp. They had a great time and shared many songs and stories.
Mark your calendar for September 13-15 and plan to join us at Hills of Peace campground for the Western Canada Mission Centre Men’s Retreat. We’ll meet Friday night for an icebreaker and depart Sunday morning after a communion service. In between, we will hang out, eat some pie, and share with each other and our guest minister, Parker Johnson from Calgary congregation. It’s a chance for a road trip and to get together with friends from Western Canada. You make a lot of tough choices in your life – this shouldn’t be one of them.
Parker is the latest in a long list of great guest ministers we've had over the years. Past guest ministers include church officials from Independence, a prison minister from Montana, a friend Dan met on a mountain in California, and Steve Thompson from Edmonton. If you have any questions contact Dan at [email protected] or 306-540-2359. Mission Conference 2024 is coming up soon from September 27-29, and we’re excited to hear from you. We’re gathering congregation reports for 2023/24, and we want to celebrate all the milestones that made this year special – milestone birthdays and anniversaries, graduations, and any other big moments.
If you or your congregation have any new business motions, we’d love to hear those too. Submit your stories and proposals by the deadlines below. Let’s celebrate our achievements and plan for the future together! Deadlines:
The Samish Island campground will soon be ringing with the happy voices of youth and staff gathering for Camps Atsaken (grades 7-9) and Kimtah (grades 10-12).
Happening in tandem, August 4 - 8, campers and staff will enjoy activities like classes, swimming, campfires and adventure in the great outdoors. The themes this year are: Come to the Well (Kimtah) and Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations (Atsaken). Registration deadline is July 19th so book your spot soon and don’t miss out! Don’t forget to register for Hills of Peace Youth Camp 2024! Caitlin, Andy and Brianna (and all the staff) are excited to welcome everyone back, Aug 10 - 16, for a week of everyone’s favourite activities like recreation and wide games, campfire, swimming and floaties on the lake, classes and small groups, Nailed It HOP Edition and much much more! Everyone is more than welcome to come, and learn together how to live life #Unfiltered with authenticity, transparency, and vulnerability.
Registration deadline is July 27. See you soon! As early as Wednesday July 10th six Canada West youth and Gwyn Beer, from your mission centre president team, began their journey to Iowa for SPECTACULAR. They are a part of a delegation with others from the northwest USA. They led the Prayer for Peace at our Community of Christ Temple on Friday. We will certainly have more stories to tell afterwards!
Experience a transformative week at Samish Island Reunion, where our guest ministers, Presiding Bishop Ron Harmon and Apostle Robin Linkhart, will lead us in exploring the theme "Heal the Earth: A Restoration Imperative." Through classes, worship, and engaging activities, we'll respond to the World Conference Resolution 1325 Climate Emergency with education, formation, and a call to action.
Discover the intersecting issues of justice and peace rooted in the climate crisis and find your place in the web of life with humility and urgency. Participate in workshops, evening campfires, games, and more. Your unique gifts and talents will enrich our community as we create cherished memories together. About our guest ministers Apostle Robin Linkhart is a member of the Council of Twelve assigned to the North Central USA Mission Field. She also serves on the International Leaders Council, Theology Formation Team, Ecumenical and Interfaith Ministries Team, and chairs the Latter-day Seekers Ministries Team. Ron Harmon serves as Presiding Bishop. His previous assignments include president of the Council of Twelve Apostles, Congregational Leadership Development, Spectacular and International Youth Forum, Urban Ministries, and president of the Kentucky-Indiana USA Mission Center. Join us for an unforgettable week of learning, worship, and community-building! When: July 20-27 Where: Samish Island, 11633 Scott Road, Bow, WA A moment with your Mission Centre President by Shannon McAdam, Canada West Mission Centre Co-President In just 74 days we will begin our week of activities leading up to Mission Centre Conference! Where does the time go? In case you haven’t marked it on your calendar yet, here are some key days to note down:
As I look both backward and forward in my preparations, I am inspired and compelled by our theme Bright Hope. What does hope mean to you? I recall a quote from Krista Tippett: “Hope is a muscle” and just like any muscle, we have to exercise it to keep it healthy. “The hope that I see to be transformative and modeled in very wise people who have shifted something in their world,” says Tippett, “it's not wishful thinking. It's not assuming that things will turn out all right. It's an insistence, looking at the world straight on as it is and rejecting the idea that it has to be that way, and then throwing your light and your pragmatism as much as your spirit at it.” (Read the full article at: https://www.gq.com/story/krista-tippett-on-being-interview) How can we “throw our light” at our world and make it a better place? And by the way I think our world begins in our families, congregations, neighbourhoods, cities. Our mission centre spans many different lives and experiences, urban, rural, and everything in between. How can we equip and support one another to be light bearers in the world in our unique contexts? This is the work of our mission centre as I see it. So I ask that you consider how you can support this project of equipping one another to be light bearers:
I hope I get to see you in 74 days! Canada West Mission Centre Conference
Theme: Bright Hope September 27-29 Join us in person at Edmonton congregation or via Zoom Please find this week's article in our main blog page
Mark your calendars and register! Family Camp is just a month away. Join us from August 3 to 8 for fun and fellowship with friends, family, and our Guest Ministers, Matt and Margo Frizzell, from Chicago. Enjoy the beauty of Hills of Peace as we explore our theme, "Heal the Earth," together. The deadline for online registration is July 15.
Inquiries: [email protected] If you or a loved one wants to attend camp this summer but financial issues are a barrier, the Canada West Mission Centre offers a Subsidy Request Form for Camps and Retreats to help make your plans a reality. We are dedicated to providing support so that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy and benefit from our camp reunions and retreats.
By: Debra Donohue Creating Connection Director for Western Canada I hope everyone had a great Canada Day weekend. I spent this past weekend in Victoria. Though their church building has been sold, the congregation still gets together and experiences community with each other. My weekend began with a picnic dinner at Butchart Gardens with my sister Dana’s family. Butchart Gardens has free live music in the amphitheatre Tuesday through Friday throughout the summer. The four-piece string quartet, called Medusa, played music from around the world and shared great stories. I can think of a few fiddlers in our midst who would have loved it! On Saturday, the Victoria congregation gathered at Sally Glasier’s home in Mill Bay for a ‘white elephant’ gift exchange, lunch, and visiting. The white elephant gift exchange is usually played at Victoria’s annual Christmas party. Each person brought a wrapped gift of something gently used or new. The rule is not to go out and purchase something new but rather to find something in your home that you’re not using. In this game, people have the opportunity to ‘steal’ a gift someone else has already chosen and opened. There were lots of full-belly laughs and squeals of disappointment (all in fun) as some of the gifts made their way around the room several times. Sally’s house was packed, and 7 people were under 25 years old. Kelly Duff, you may remember, used to host Creating Connection’s online book club. Kelly had some great ideas for a new Creating Connection group she is interested in hosting in the coming months. Quilting, knitting, and crochet are at the top of her list. We’ll be sure to let you know when Kelly starts up her new group. Just a reminder that you can find Creating Connection events at the links below on our Meetup pages. We have both in-person and online groups: Or reach out to me, Debra Donohue, at [email protected], and I’ll be happy to help you. P.S. I just have to share this video of my nephew James Donohue setting off his homemade air/water pressure rocket. It’s very short; you can see it here. |
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