 Each week during Advent we are sharing a postcard from our Mission Centre President team on the weekly theme and some of the activities that bring us closer to God and our communities during this season. Enjoy!
From Shannon: The first Sunday of advent this year is Joy, and to remind me, I have seen the sign in this photo every day as I arrive at work the past two weeks! In Vancouver we share joy by providing gifts to the Surrey Women's Centre every year. What we give depends on their needs. This year they are in need of toys for the many families they serve, so that is what we will give. How do you share joy?
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 By Gwyn Beer, Canada West Mission Co-President
Two incredible opportunities await us in 2025: the January online conference for Canada West Mission Centre and the World Conference in May/June. These upcoming events are meaningful opportunities to connect, contribute, and be inspired. Canada West Mission Centre will hold an online conference on January 25, 2025.There will be a few items on the agenda, and we hope to have good attendance. This special conference will also be the opportunity to put your name forward to attend the World Conference in May/June 2025. The Mission Centre will cover the attendance fee for all delegates. Travel, housing, and food expenses will need to come from your personal generosity. If you feel you will be able to go as a delegate, please send an email to Shannon McAdam at [email protected] to have your name added to the list. You may also be able to add your name at the January conference. We have 32 seats available. As our previous Mission Centre President Steve Thompson mentioned, not all seats have been filled at the conferences he attended. There will also be a few additional items to discuss at the January conference. The World Conference in May/June 2025, held in Independence, Missouri, promises to be an amazing event! We will be choosing our new Prophet-President for the Community of Christ. This will be an inspirational and meaningful experience. As Canadian delegates, it’s important to have a valid passport and plan ahead, especially with our dollar not being very strong right now—but it’s so worth it! We hope you will be praying for both conferences. Even if you cannot physically be there, your spirit will be felt and cherished. Much love to all of you as you consider these upcoming conferences. “God bless us everyone!” – Tiny Tim, A Christmas Carol  Take 20 minutes just for you! Haven is a weekly contemplative gathering for this dark season, offering moments of music, poetry, and silence to calm the mind and soul. Join us every Wednesday at 7:30 pm PT / 8:30 pm MT / 9:30 pm CT / 10:30 pm ET on Zoom. We hope you can join us for our last 2 sessions on Feb 12 and 26. Kat will be leading a labyrinth walk in New Westminster on the 19th so we will be taking a break that week.
To receive the Zoom link, please contact Kat at [email protected]  By Gwyn Beer, Canada West Mission Centre Co-President
As we reflect on our heritage, we’re drawn to stories that deepen our understanding of where we come from and where we’re headed. Last October, I joined a Community of Christ Historical Society trip focused on the role of women in the early church and in the United States. A central part of our journey highlighted women’s right to vote—a hard-won freedom that continues to shape our world today. On Tuesday, November 5, people in the United States will vote, and a woman may become president. Later in the year, at the end of May and early June, Community of Christ members will also vote—this time on a possible change in our presidency. A woman may be called as our Prophet-President. These milestones represent a shift in our shared heritage. Personally, I’ve been reflecting on heritage in my own “Upper Fraser Valley” community as we approach the 50th anniversary of our congregation’s building on Carleton Street in Chilliwack. In 1899, Bob Riley helped establish the RLDS (now Community of Christ) church here in the valley. As I delve into the incredible work of our local historians, I’m often delighted and surprised by what I find. I encourage you to connect with your local historian and perhaps honour their work by documenting your own community’s story. As Leandro reminded us at the Canada West Mission Conference, sharing and listening to our stories enriches our faith experience. We also have the chance to explore more of our shared church history through the Community of Christ Historic Sites Foundation’s Fall Lecture Series, which will be available via Zoom. The series begins on November 7 with “Kirtland During the Gilded Age…” presented by Seth Bryant. I’ll be attending and encourage you to consider joining as well. Let’s explore and celebrate our heritage together!  Buried deep within the cavernous belly of the internet is the Kid President. The Kid President introduces three questions that could change the world, and about halfway into his 3-minute video, he gets all excited about something called Socktober. Members of the Chilliwack congregation discovered the Kid President and Socktober on the list of videos Robin Linkhart referenced when teaching the Adult Class Reunion material at Samish Island this past summer.
It was quickly realized that Socktober, as presented by Kid President and happysocktober.com, meshed wonderfully with the craft program of about 20 women who meet at our church on Monday evenings to knit and crochet toques for the homeless. These are pom-pom-less toques because street persons find pom-poms a nuisance when wearing a hoodie. Last year, these women distributed between 200 and 300 toques. This year, they have around 450 or more toques ready to go. Help agencies in direct contact with the homeless have identified socks as a need. To facilitate Socktober and the collection of socks, posters were put up around town. The local newspaper, The Progress, published articles in print and online about the toque distribution and the idea of Socktober. The ladies have now been gifted many skeins of yarn, already knitted toques, and socks by members of the community. Some donors have expressed interest in dropping in for coffee and craft night. The response has been a blessing. At this count, Socktober donations total 132 pairs of men’s socks and 113 pairs of women’s socks, with a few more expected. Socks will go out with some of the toques. We encourage you to watch the Kid President. Something might just fit for your congregation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sbG-172e_Y. You might have to watch and listen four or five times—he talks fast!  Nancy Panting, a beloved member of the Lethbridge congregation, recently celebrated her 80th birthday and was recognized for 25 years of service by Blankets for Canada, the non-profit she and her late husband, Stuart, founded in 1998. Friends from the congregation gathered to celebrate Nancy’s birthday and her years of dedication.
Blankets for Canada (www.blankets4canada.ca) is a non-denominational organization with a mission to support agencies across Canada that serve those without shelter, providing warmth and comfort. Nancy’s journey began in 1998 after visiting her sister in Missouri, where she learned of a project called Warm-Up for America. Inspired, she returned home and began crocheting blankets for those in need. With the dedication of Nancy and Stuart, Blankets for Canada soon expanded across the country, with chapters in every province. Volunteers from coast to coast create beautiful, handmade blankets, which are given to local organizations supporting people in need of warmth and shelter. Even after Stuart’s passing, Nancy continued her service as President of the Board until recently stepping down for health reasons. Nevertheless, she remains active, knitting and crocheting colourful, cozy blankets that bring warmth and kindness to those who need it most. (As you can see in the photo, she received a huge stack of multi-colored yarn as a birthday gift, sure to keep her busy for months to come!) |
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