As we all look towards 2022 with hopefulness, we offer up this reflection and update from Lisa Neudorf.




​In the month of December my mind and thoughts begin looking forward past Christmas celebrations and thinking about what the new year will bring. As we approach 2022, foremost on my mind is what programming for Canada West Mission will look like. The word “gather” has been rolling around in my head and I am experiencing a yearning for us to gather in person. We have been fortunate to continue connecting and being part of a community where each of us feel accepted and loved for who we are. Our online community has expanded our borders, created connections and allowed new friendships which may not have otherwise occurred to grow from a distance. There is no doubt online gathering has been a blessing for us in difficult times and for those who simply have not been able to connect in person. That being said, we miss each other and it is my deep desire for us to live the best of both worlds by gathering both online and in person.

I am pleased to announce in 2022, the CWM Camping and Retreat programming will be known as Gathering Ministries. To gather means to bring together and ministry is the humble service offered according to the model of Jesus, who calls every disciple for the world (Sharing in Community of Christ, p. 37). In my heart, I feel the swell of God’s love and emotion confirming this is the direction we are to go in. In my head, I sing the “As we gather may your spirit work within us, As we gather may we glorify your name, Knowing well that as our hearts begin to worship, We’ll be blessed because we came.” Community of Christ Sings, 2013, Hymn 73.

JOY - Third week of Advent 

I live in a condo in the city.  When I sit out on my balcony at night, I look for stars.  I usually only see the brightest stars and there does not seem to be many, yet I know they are there.  Ambient light interferes with how many I can see.  When I am out on the farm, there is less ambient light and I see more of them.  I always look for the brightest star and think about the wise men who followed a star to find the newborn King.
 
Matthew 2 : 9-10
When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was.  When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.
       
The wise men left King Herod to continue following the star till it stopped over the place where Jesus lay.  Would I notice a new star and followed that it across the horizon?  If I knew that I would see the Messiah, would I step out in faith and follow where it leads?  Look up at the sky tonight and remember the journey made by wise men to the manger that holds the Messiah, the King of the Jews.  Advent represents this star by a candle that reflects the joy that comes through Jesus’ arrival, and through the salvation he has gifted us. Think about your faith journey and where it has taken you. May you be filled with JOY this advent season!

Hymn 438 refrain - O star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright, westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light!

LOVE - Second week of Advent 

As I prepared for the December communion service, I thought about the ultimate gift of LOVE that we all received.  The baby born to Mary in Bethlehem!  This week is the second week of Advent and our thoughts have focused on LOVE. As the second candle is lit HOPE and LOVE are offered up in the form of a child, Jesus.  His birth, life and ultimately his death give us HOPE for eternal life.  The teachings he shared taught us the importance of LOVING one another.  We all do give gifts this time of year, but we can pass along Jesus’ gifts to others.
 
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
 
Material gifts are appreciated, but some gifts just feel right!  The gift of time serving in a kitchen at reunion, time given to prepare for Sunday school classes, time volunteering in the hospital auxiliary, time preparing for a Rotary club book sale, time filling boxes for a food bank, time gleaning fields for the food bank, time visiting someone in a nursing home, time taking someone to an appointment, time making cards to send to strangers and friends, time to shovel a neighbour’s walk, time … you get the idea.

Mark 12:30-31
you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
 
I have never given a gift as great as God gave us. Through Jesus Christ, we have been gifted with LOVE and Eternal life.  May you be gifted with Hope, Love, Peace and Joy !

​Yours in Christ,
Gwyn, Kat, and Shannon
gwyn@communityofchrist.ca
​kat@communityofchrist.ca
smcadam@communityofchrist.ca

Join us for a worldwide Advent service at 4:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. CST on December 12, streamed on the Community of Christ Facebook page or YouTube channel in English, French, or Spanish.

Participants can share worship responses in real time in a live chat. “The People Walk” is a communal opportunity for examination, reflection, and challenge as we consider the Advent journeys of Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, the Magi, and all of creation…and our call as we walk our own Advent journey. 

The church’s global diversity will be seen in reflections on "Hope" from Rashmirekha Mallick of India, "Love" from Humberto Rosario of the Dominican Republic, "Joy" from Nicolas Lethanh of New Caledonia, and "Peace" from Apostle Barbara Carter of the United States.

The First Presidency will open and close the service, and President Steve Veazey will offer a moving Advent prayer. A worldwide choir will celebrate the season in song, and Organist-in-residence Jan Kraybill will play the prelude and postlude and unite us in singing our faith. 

HOPE - First week of Advent

This is the first week of Advent and as we move toward the day set aside for the birth of Jesus Christ, we are filled with Hope!
 
Hope this Christmas season is for good health!  I am hopeful that we are learning to live with COVID, masks, social distancing and health passports.  There is hope that, with vaccines, our health care workers will get some relief from their long days and hard work. 

Hope this Christmas season is for a healthier planet!  I am hopeful that we are learning how to care for the earth, that we can reverse some of the damage that has been done and slow down climate change.  There is hope that the world leaders will work together to reduce our carbon footprints.

Hope this Christmas season is for a true awareness that every child matters!  I am hopeful that we are learning to respect each person’s differences and that we are learning to look for our similarities. As we grow in knowledge of others and we turn to God to bless us with understanding of others, the new year will bring blessings to everyone.
 
​May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13