 Black Lives Matter
Indigenous Lives Matter Lives of People of Colour Matter I have brought back the three-line header as a reminder that the issues of prejudice, discrimination, and racism continue to plague our society. The focus today is on “Indigenous Lives Matter.” Thursday, September 30, 2021, will be the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The day has been established by the federal government of Canada to provide an opportunity for all Canadians to reflect on the legacy of Indian residential schools specifically, and the effects, generally, of other examples of systemic racism experienced in the daily lives of Indigenous persons in this country. Beginning in early July, I have been participating in an online course called “Indigenous Canada,” which is offered through the University of Alberta. Topics covered included the fur trade and other exchange relationships, land claims and environmental impacts, legal systems and rights, political conflicts and alliances, Indigenous political activism, and contemporary Indigenous life, art, and its expressions. We have had a weekly discussion group of people from Canada West Mission Centre (and a few from Canada East) to debrief what we heard and saw in each week’s presentations. It has been an informative and illuminating experience and I encourage anyone to check it out. The course is available for free. The course has provided much food for thought as I consider the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The course presented excellent history and background on the experience of the Indigenous community in Canada over the last 150 years – and really the last 500 years. I am still considering what kind of a response it requires of me to be supportive of the initiatives of reconciliation. For a quick (or in-depth, if you choose) introduction to the issues of reconciliation, consult the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, and especially their resources supporting “Truth and Reconciliation Week.” The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation has been set on September 30 because that is the date used in recent years to mark “Orange Shirt Day.” I won’t take up space here to tell that story. You can read about in the words of the woman who had her orange shirt taken from her on her first day at a residential school here. When we act to support reconciliation with Indigenous persons, I suggest that we are being consistent with Jesus’ statement of the “second” commandment (after “love the Lord your God…”): “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39) We also give expression to a number of our church’s “Enduring Principles,” including “Worth of All Persons,” “Pursuit of Peace (Shalom),” and “Unity in Diversity.” Even if you are reading this after September 30, I encourage you to give some thought to the priority of reconciliation in our communities and what role you might find to personally support those efforts. As always, I pray for you God’s blessings of joy, hope, love, and peace in these challenging times. Steve Thompson Canada West Mission Centre President [email protected]  Join Apostle Art Smith this Saturday, September 25th, for the unveiling of the Testimony Tapestry website!
All Voices: Discerning Across Canada is a process where members and friends of Community of Christ in Canada are sharing their sense of passion and calling, along with their visions and hopes for the future. The Testimony Tapestry is an innovative way to hear and share the diverse ways we are called to mission in Canada. The event will be livestreamed at 9am PDT/ 10am MDT/ 11am CDT. Today I will highlight two events that you might have missed that may be worth going back to have a look at, and two events that are coming up that will certainly be worth putting on your calendar.
First, did you know that Wednesday, September 22, was officially designated by the United Nations as the “International Day of Peace?” In recognition of this event the daily prayer for peace from the Temple in Independence focused on this theme. Here is the announcement from the World Church Announcements page that provides the links relevant to the Daily Prayer for Peace: International Day of Peace Online Event on 21 September An online observance of Daily Prayer for Peace will focus on the International Day of Peace. Apostles Richard James, Mareva Arnold, Janné Grover, David Nii, Art Smith, Bunda Chibwe, Robin Linkhart, and Carlos Enrique Mejia recorded sections of the service, which can be seen on the Community of Christ Facebook page. (NOTE: You may need to scroll down to find the recording of the service.) Some portions of the event will be in English, some in Spanish, and some in French. Participants can follow the script online. You do not need to be a Facebook member to watch the video. Second, did you know that this past Sunday, September 19, was “Heritage Day” for Community of Christ? This is an annual day intended to encourage some concentration on the church’s rich history. You might enjoy watching a recording of the Beyond the Walls Service from Toronto, which consisted of a festival of hymns from different eras of the church as well as presentations of historical information by various persons. Coming up THIS SATURDAY, September 25, is the official unveiling of the “Testimony Tapestry” website. See the full announcement elsewhere in this edition of the Weekly Wire. Then, in follow up, don’t miss the Beyond the Walls Service the next day, Sunday, September 26, for a special service also highlighting “A Tapestry of Testimony.” Watch it live on YouTube or catch a recording of it later at the same link. These weekend events will both feature Apostle Art Smith presenting this unique and important project to bring together voices of testimony from across Canada. I hope you will enjoy some or all of these online opportunities. As always, I pray for you God’s blessings of joy, hope, love, and peace in these challenging times. Steve Thompson Canada West Mission Centre President [email protected]  As a worldwide faith movement, Community of Christ strives to embody God’s peace through our beliefs in the Worth of All Persons, Unity in Diversity, and Blessings of Community. We stand with other communities of faith and faith-based humanitarian organizations in solidarity with displaced people around the world.
The world spotlight recently highlighted Afghanistan. Thousands of people are being relocated to places that might feel strange or unwelcoming. Our Statement on Immigration explains how to respond to the needs of individuals and families seeking refuge and safety. A $10,000 donation from oblation funds will be given to aid the work of Church World Service as it supports newly-arriving Afghans. Learn more about this important work on the CWS website. We continue to monitor the situation and will send additional support as appropriate. Members and friends can give to Worldwide Mission Tithes to support these and future oblation efforts. The words in Doctrine and Covenants 163:4a call us to hear and respond, “God, the Eternal Creator, weeps for the poor, displaced, mistreated, and diseased of the world because of their unnecessary suffering. Such conditions are not God’s will. Open your ears to hear the pleading of mothers and fathers in all nations who desperately seek a future of hope for their children. Do not turn away from them. For in their welfare resides your welfare.” THE FIRST PRESIDENCY  Last week’s MCP Moment told you what was going to happen at Mission Conference this past weekend. Guess what? It all happened pretty much as planned!
I won’t go through every session in detail. I kind of did that last week. And everyone who was involved in all those sessions did an excellent job! If you were not there you missed excellent events from Debra Donohue’s Coffee and Conversation event on Thursday evening, through Shannon McAdam’s very creative online “Community Dinner” on Friday evening, Lisa Neudorf’s opening worship on Saturday morning, even the presentations by Dar, John, and Steve on Sunday afternoon, and, finally, the closing mini-concert by Edith Wallace. I will share some of the highlights from my perspective that I think will have some longer-term implications for us in Canada West Mission Centre. On Friday evening Apostle Art Smith brought us up to date on preparations for the “Testimony Tapestry” project and website and a second Sunday service focused on the Testimony Tapestry coming up on September 25. For current and up-to-date information, check the Testimony Tapestry webpage regularly. You can be involved! Consider the following questions, write your responses, and send them to Art Smith at [email protected].
During Saturday’s annual business meeting, the following decisions will have long-term positive impact on the Canada West Mission Centre. First, a new volunteer Mission Centre President Team was recommended by the church’s First Presidency and approved by the conference. The new MCP Team consists of Gwyn Beer from Chilliwack congregation and Kat Goheen and Shannon McAdam from the Vancouver congregation. Following their approval, the three (despite Gwyn’s absence due to a personal commitment) were blessed with a prayer of “setting apart” by Art Smith. They officially take over their new duties on November 1. Watch for updates and details on the transition process from the “old regime” (i.e., me) to the new team. Second, two new priesthood calls were approved. This was not necessarily any more remarkable that any other approval of calls at a mission conference. Just as any approved call to ministry has the potential to have impact for a person’s local congregation as well as the mission centre at large, that was certainly the case for these calls. Kathy McAdam (Chilliwack) was supported in her call to the office of High Priest-Evangelist. Kat Goheen (Vancouver) was supported in her call to the office of High Priest. Both were ordained during a special ordination service on Sunday morning. I believe both women will serve very well and will be well respected in their new priesthood roles. Finally, on the “business side” of things, the conference approved the “re-assignment” of four purpose-specific restricted funds of the mission centre into the general operating fund of the mission centre. This simplifies the processes of accounting and of approval of funds by the mission conference for current and future programs of the mission centre. This is one of those decisions that may or may not be considered significant right now, but which may well be recognized as VERY significant two or three years from now when funds can more easily be approved for new and creative initiatives of ministry, outreach, and mission. In closing I thank everyone for the contributions to the success of the conference including the presenters (most of whom were mentioned above), plus the people who planned and prepared for conference, and those who supported sessions in the background as “tech support” for the presenters. I also thank all those who attended all or part of the conference. The contributions and participation by so many people made this conference a weekend to remember! As always, I pray for you God’s blessings of joy, hope, love, and peace in these challenging times. Steve Thompson Canada West Mission Centre President [email protected] The Canada West Mission Centre Annual Conference begins Thursday evening with a “Coffee and Meaningful Conversation” session hosted by Canada West’s Creating Connection Director, Debra Donohue. Debra will model her weekly conversation events for us by asking us to share a response to the question, “What are you so excited about right now that you can’t help but sing it to the world?”
The last bit of that question arises from our conference theme: “How can we keep from Singing?” After a year and a half of limited in-person interactions, it is time to “break out” just a bit and share in some celebration of our faith and of our relationships. Here is a different session for you: On Friday evening Shannon McAdam (Vancouver Congregation) will host an online “Community Dinner.” Come along and see what that is all about. A bit later on Friday evening, Apostle Art Smith will bring us up to date on the Canada wide discernment project and the developing “Testimony Tapestry.” (No spoilers here – you will have to attend to find out what that even means!) Saturday is almost all business, all day. There will be an opening worship session, followed by our “Pre-Legislative Meeting” during which we get a preview of the main business items up for discussion without the constraints of parliamentary procedure. We will also honour those who have passed away since our last meeting a year ago, and we will celebrate life milestones experienced by many of us. The business meeting will feature the usual consideration of last year’s minutes, this year’s financial outlook, next year’s budget, and reports on all manner of activities of the mission centre. Of special interest will be the presentation of a new Mission Centre President Team who will take over my duties as early as November 1. (More on that in a future column – you can count on it!) In addition, calls for two persons to new priesthood responsibilities will be presented for our support. Sunday morning will include a service to celebrate the ordination of the two individuals referenced above. Kat Goheen (Vancouver) will be ordained to the office of High Priest. Kathy McAdam (Chilliwack) will be ordained to the office of High Priest-Evangelist. That will be followed by our mission-centre-wide communion service, with speaking ministry by Apostle Art Smith. Sunday afternoon will include a presentation of mission centre highlights by three leaders: Dar Shepherdson, Bishop of Canada; John Glaser, President of Seventy; and, yours truly, Steve Thompson, Mission Centre President (for now!). We will close our conference with a special musical “Satsang” session, led by Vickie and Doug MacArthur (Lethbridge), with special guest Edith Wallace (Vancouver). I have intentionally left out lots of details. Please go to our “Conference Hub” to get all the details (including times for all events), as well as your invitation to register (at no charge) for the whole event – or just the sessions that interest you. You MUST register to obtain the Zoom logon information for the events. Come along and join the fun, the celebration, the information sharing, and the general fellowship. Especially, come and share “How can we keep from singing?” As always, I pray for you God’s blessings of joy, hope, love, and peace in these challenging times. Steve Thompson Canada West Mission Centre President [email protected]  Our annual Mission Conference will be held online. The theme for this year is “How Can We Keep from Singing?” beginning with a Coffee & Conversation session on Thursday evening, September 9, and concluding with a Satsang: Singing into Silence session on Sunday afternoon, September 12. Visit www.cwm.events to register today! Register through Reggie and select which activities you plan to attend. While this event is free, only those who have registered will receive the Zoom link for all the sessions. Please check your spam or junk folder if you can’t find it. Please click on the buttons above to register and to view the schedule.
We hope to see you soon! You have made the moon to mark the seasons
the sun knows its time for setting. Psalm 104:19 (NRSV) I have mentioned in a few posts in the last three months or so how quickly the year seems to be going by. Now – here we are at September 1 already! Just how did that happen? September is similar to New Years. It signals the start of the new year recognized by most of us: a new school year. It also signals the “end” of summer – even though summer does not officially end for another three weeks. Suddenly the weather feels a little cooler (whether it actually is or not). And those of us with gardens (or crops) begin thinking about when that first frost is likely to show up. There is nothing unexpected in the changing of the seasons. However old you are, that’s how many years you have been experiencing them. The Psalmist, writing at least 2600 years ago, recognized the moon’s movements as marking the seasons. Even the author of the first chapter of Genesis recognized the wisdom of God in placing the lights in the sky: And God said, “Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years, and let them be lights in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. Genesis 1:14,15 (NRSV) Perhaps the most recognizable biblical verse celebrating the seasons (of life) is the first verse of the third chapter of Ecclesiastes: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven…” The writers of literature that became our scriptures were struck by the passing of the seasons. The seasons, the sun, the moon, and the stars have been subjects of poetry and song for millennia. It must be okay for me to note the passing of the seasons today (even if I lament how quickly they pass!). May we give thanks to God for the amazing cycles of the universe and may our wonder be focused on the blessings that God’s universe brings to us in every season. Unrelated closing paragraph: Last week I mostly wrote about the upcoming Canada West Mission Conference. There is not yet anything really new to write about the event – so I won’t. I still need to remind you about it. Please go to the Canada West Online Mission Conference hub to see the schedule and to register for the online event. More information will be posted on this site in the next few days and as we get closer to the conference weekend. Please come along! As always, I pray for you God’s blessings of joy, hope, love, and peace in these challenging times. Steve Thompson Canada West Mission Centre President [email protected] |
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