​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.

​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.
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If you have any questions contact Dan at [email protected] or 306-540-2359.

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

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: 

• Sunday September 22 we will have a pre-legislative meeting in the afternoon via zoom to discuss the business agenda and address any questions you have. 

• Wednesday September 25 we will have a second pre-legislative meeting in the evening via zoom for those who weren’t able to join the Sunday session or who would like to attend a second meeting. 

• Friday September 27 we will gather in the evening in-person at Edmonton Community of Christ for fellowship. 

• Saturday September 28 we will gather in-person in Edmonton and on Zoom for worship, celebration, and our business meeting. 

• Sunday September 29 we will gather in-person in Edmonton and on Zoom for a communion service with guest speaker Vonda DenBoer, who is part of the Canada East Mission Centre President Team. 

 
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: 

• Tell stories of what your congregation has done in the past year, what worked and didn’t work and what you learned. Congregational reports are due August 1st. 

• Share your moments of celebration – a graduation, landmark anniversary, or birthday – so we can all celebrate. Submit your moments and photos by August 15th. 

• Attend conference – I encourage you to join in person! Being together gives us energy, and moments of passing conversation as we sit and eat together or work together help sustain us and build our hope muscles! 

• Think about what you hope for in Canada West and share it with our Mission Centre President Team so we can continue to make sure what we offer and strengthen is meaningful and sustainable. 

 
I hope I get to see you in 74 days! ​

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.​

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:

• Edmonton
• Calgary
• Chilliwack
• Vancouver

Or reach out to me, Debra Donohue, at [email protected], and I’ll be happy to help you.
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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.