Canada West Mission Centre Statement #5 On Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19)

Hello everyone.
 
I hope that you are continuing to stay safe and remain well in whatever social-distancing or confined-to-home situation you may find yourself. It is a challenging time for all of us.
 
I have a few things to share with you this week.
 
First, as I mentioned last week, some Mission Centre events in April have been affected by the church’s suspension of services and programs as well as by governmental recommendations. The Nurturing Justice Retreat at Samish has been postponed with the hope of rescheduling to a later time. The Samish Campground work week has been cancelled.
 
In addition, events in May have now also been affected. The Creating Connection Facilitators training scheduled for the first weekend in May at Chilliwack has been postponed, also hoping to find an alternative date later in the year. Watch for announcements about the Jan Kraybill weekend in Vancouver and the Nurturing Friends and Family Retreat. Neither event will be able to proceed as intended, but alternative arrangements may be able to be made.
 
Moving into June please also watch for an announcement about the Spiritual Retreat at Hills of Peace for alternative plans.
 
We know there is much concern about our summer schedule of camps and reunions. The mission centre staff have set a mid-May deadline to make decisions for those events. We feel that at least six weeks’ notice for those events is necessary for those planning the events as well as those planning to attend.
 
Here is a good question: What are you planning to do with your Sunday mornings once our suspension of services is over? Will you return to your congregation’s activities as you did before? What do you think you might like to see change about how your congregation “does church” in the aftermath of this period of self-isolation? Maybe call your Pastor if you have some ideas. Just something to think about while you have time to think about it!
 
In closing, let me encourage you to make that phone call to a friend or relative that you have been putting off. That bit of connection may do as much for your well-being as it will for the person you are calling!
 
Stay safe! Be well! God bless!

Steve Thompson
Canada West Mission Centre President