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2021
October 17 and 24 Climate Change Colloquy Series-Online October 17-November 28 Community of Christ Adult Lessons-Online October 18 Creating Connection Book Club-Online October 22-23 Nurturing Silence Retreat-Online 2022 January 9-March 27 Community of Christ Adult Lessons-Online View full Canada West Events Calendar Dates are subject to change. Please register early to avoid cancellation of your event on Reggie.  Good news: Virtual Visiting Fellowship is back!
After taking a break over the summer, the gatherings are set to start again the first week of October. Here are the schedule details:
Each week we share in some informal visiting, then introductions and opening comments to set up our time together. We share in discussion around a different theme topic each week: perhaps a current event, maybe a church-related article or announcement, sometimes thoughts on a challenging scripture or a favourite hymn. We conclude with a prayer for peace, for each other, and for others who need our support. Each session lasts about an hour. This has proven to be an upbeat, positive opportunity that has built a meaningful “virtual community” among our regular participants. Please come and join us! How to participate:
Mark one (or both!) of these gatherings on your calendar and plan to attend. We look forward to your participation in our “Virtual Visiting Fellowship.”  Last week I discussed the importance of symbols in our lives. Here is a potent symbol in Community of Christ: Zion.
In our “Virtual Visiting Fellowship” groups this week we have discussed Zion, with a focus on four hymns from Community of Christ Sings. These included (with selected lines): #386, “The Cause of Zion Summons Us,” by Geoffrey Spencer “The cause of Zion prophecies the future yet to be, When men and women everywhere shall walk in dignity. We now anticipate the day when pain and tears shall cease, When humankind shall live as one in righteousness and peace.” #622, “Send Forth Your Light, O Zion,” by Roy A. Cheville “Send forth your life, O Zion! Not for yourself alone Have come life-giving powers by which the soul has grown. Your promise builds a people well-skilled in mind and hand. Your life is like a leaven of hope in every land.” We also looked at these two hymns: #381, “Come Now, Sound the Call of Zion,” written by Eric Selden #390, “Onward to Zion,” by Frederick M. Smith Other hymns with Zionic themes were referenced by members of the groups. The idea of Zion has been a beacon and a guiding light through most of the church’s existence. Joseph Smith, Jr., first identified Zion as a city in the prophet Enoch’s time in section 36 of the Book of Doctrine and Covenants. It was described as the “city of holiness” and was said to have been taken up into heaven in its entirety. Thus, it became a goal to recreate Zion on earth. What has been your experience with the notion of Zion? Is this actually a new term for you? Or might you have family members who “gathered to Zion” (i.e., Independence, Missouri – the “Centre Place of Zion”) at some point in the past? Perhaps you are old enough to remember the rare references to Zion in the 1980s and 1990s. (No particular reason for that – it just seemed to happen.) Perhaps you have been pleased to see a somewhat renewed emphasis on Zion as a concept and goal, but something that represents community wherever it can be established, not a limited location. Room does not permit a greater discussion of Zion. Let me just encourage you to consider what it might mean to you. There are many resources published by the church – some current, some rather old and historic. Let me know if you would like to be pointed in the direction of anything specific. I will close with these two comparatively recent references to Zion from the Book of Doctrine and Covenants. This compelling and motivational verse is often missed as it is the closing verse of section 156, which authorized both the ordination of women and the planning for construction of the Temple: Dear Saints, have courage for the task which is yours in bringing to pass the cause of Zion. Prepare yourselves through much study and earnest prayer. Then, as you go forth to witness of my love and my concern for all persons, you will know the joy which comes from devoting yourselves completely to the work of the kingdom. To this end will my Spirit be with you. Amen. Section 156:11:a,b; given through Wallace B. Smith, President of the Church Independence, Missouri, April 3, 1984 And this verse is possibly responsible for the “rebirth” of the concept of Zion as a prominent feature in Community of Christ: Heed the urgent call to become a global family united in the name of the Christ, committed in love to one another, seeking the kingdom for which you yearn and to which you have always been summoned. That kingdom shall be a peaceable one and it shall be known as Zion. Section 161:6b; given through President W. Grant McMurray, April 2000. It is my prayer that our movement may always look towards developing the “spiritual conditions” (see D.&C. section 140:5c) that will bring the ideals of Zion closer. 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 steve@communityofchrist.ca  Climate Webinar:
”Through Crises Toward Transformation: Systemic Solutions - Climate Policies 101" When: Sunday, October 17, 2021, 2:00 pm-3:30 pm PDT (3 pm MT, 4 pm CT, 5 pm ET) Where: Online Ministry Join the follow-up conversation on:
From municipal regulations to national legislation, the world of policy making has embraced a variety of ideas for passing climate policies to address climate change. But proposed legislation can be confusing, conflicting, and manipulative, often with hidden agendas and misleading claims. “Climate Policies 101” is designed as an introduction to understanding and supporting effective proposals for decreasing carbon emissions and addressing global warming. Randy Litzenberger is the co-chair of the Seattle 34th District Environment, Energy and Land Use Caucus. He has had years of experience teaching students to understand climate policies and legislation, and now shares his expertise in an introductory course that all can understand. Randy brings to the webinar multiple experiences in advocacy and political involvement as well as a deep passion for creating effective change through our political system and legislators. Come join us for the Climate Webinar on October 17. All sessions are free and participation in previous webinars and conversations is not necessary. For more information about the series please visit the Climate Change Colloquy website.  Registration is open for CWM Adult Lessons
(ongoing, weekly on Sunday evenings) CWM is pleased to continue offering the adult lessons which were well received in the Winter and Spring 2021.
Times:
These classes are intended to create an environment similar to a Sunday morning adult Sunday school class. We have enjoyed diverse participation across Canada West Mission Centre. It is interesting because the materials have been prepared by the church. It is enjoyable because those teaching/facilitating have prepared each session to appeal to participants as much as possible. All are encouraged to participate, there will be no registration fee but registration through www.cwm.events is required to obtain online link.  Come join us for a monthly “get together” for casual discussion of books from a wide range of genres. Open to all book lovers (some books may not be suitable for younger readers). When: Third Monday of every other month at 7 PM (BC), 8PM (AB/SK), 9PM (MB). Our next meetup is on October 18th  Our book for this session is: The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley The magical saga of the women behind King Arthur’s throne. In Marion Zimmer Bradley’s masterpiece, we see the tumult and adventures of Camelot's court through the eyes of the women who bolstered the king's rise and schemed for his fall. From their childhoods through the ultimate fulfillment of their destinies, we follow these women and the diverse cast of characters that surrounds them as the great Arthurian epic unfolds stunningly before us. As Morgaine and Gwynhefar struggle for control over the fate of Arthur's kingdom, as the Knights of the Round Table take on their infamous quest, as Merlin and Viviane wield their magics for the future of Old Britain, the Isle of Avalon slips further into the impenetrable mists of memory, until the fissure between old and new worlds and old and new religions claims its most famous victim. Meet our host:
Kelly Duff has loved reading from an early age. In recent years, she has especially loved the opportunities she's had to read stories by brand new authors through her volunteer work with Filidh Publishing; where she assists with preliminary edits of new manuscripts, as well as helps with planning/running book launches and open mic events. She enjoys reading books from many genres, and she looks forward to exploring the worlds of fiction and non-fiction with other avid readers!  What: Nurturing Silence Retreat
When: October 22-23, 2021 Where: Online, please click on the button below to register Registration fee: $20 (financial assistance is available) “If you’re silent, you can hear the forest breathe, the holy hush of the tree’s limb.” Felicia Morrell Take time out to relax, slow down and savor life exactly as it is. In this Zen style retreat, you’ll have time to let silence seep into the depths of your being, learning core practices to help sustain awareness while sitting, moving, walking, eating, working, resting, or whatever you’re doing. SCHEDULE (all times are pacific time) Friday, October 22
Goodnight and see you March 4-6, 2022 for the Nurturing Spirit Retreat: Writing into the Sacred! Sundays BC Community of Christ Online Gathering Hosted by the Vancouver Congregation Sunday mornings 9:30am Pacific Time - Visiting and gathering 10am Pacific Time - Service Contact Chris Phelps at cphelps@shaw.ca for Zoom links.  Inclusive Church Hosted by Beyond the Walls Community and Toronto Congregation Sundays at 9 am PDT/10 am MDT/11 am CDT/Noon EDT. For more information please visit their website, Facebook page and YouTube channel to watch the service. Mondays  Creating Connection Book Club Third Monday of every other month at 7PM (BC), 8PM (AB-SK), 9PM (MB). To join please visit the Creating Connection Meetup group. For details about the next session click here. Tuesdays  Virtual Visiting Fellowship Tuesday mornings at 11am CDT (Manitoba), 10am MDT (Alberta and Saskatchewan), 9am PDT (BC). Please send an email to steve@communityofchrist.ca to participate. Wednesdays  Creating Connection presents: An Afternoon of Nurturing Spirit Wednesdays from 3pm to 4:30pm Pacific Time. To join please visit the Creating Connection Meetup group. Thursdays  Creating Connection presents: Coffee and Conversation Thursdays from 10:30am to noon Pacific Time. To join please visit the Creating Connection Meetup group. Virtual Visiting Fellowship Thursday evenings at 9pm CDT (Manitoba), 8pm MDT (Alberta and Saskatchewan), 7pm PDT (BC). Please send an email to steve@communityofchrist.ca to participate. For a list of Online Ministries please click here.
 Our "Red Session" of e-learning classes and MEADS are open for Canadian enrollment starting on September 20.
The following credit classes are open for a limited enrollment:
Classes cost $7.50 each, MEADS class cost $30 and should be paid before class via eTransfer to: Sam Smalldon cwm_mcfo@communityofchrist.ca To enroll, go to developmetrics.org and click on the "Canadian Registration Form". Should you have any questions, please contact David Lloyd.  Unfortunately, there are many scammers looking for opportunities to take advantage of non-suspecting individuals in many different ways. We want to warn you about one such scheme that may be circulating among or from Community of Christ members, friends and Mission Centre Leadership right now.
If you should receive an email that appears to be from someone you know or trust such as CWM leadership, or congregation leadership, other close friends or relatives, etc., stating something like, “Can you do me a favour?”, be extremely cautious. These messages are likely a “phishing” email. If you reply, the next email asks you to purchase a gift card on their behalf. The message may say they need the card immediately, but they are too busy to do it, and they will pay you back as soon as possible. These emails are not legitimate. They are being sent by malicious entities who are impersonating people in your contacts list to gain your trust and exploit you. These kinds of fraudulent emails attempt to gain your trust in order to access your personal and/or credit card information, or to get money (in the form of gift cards). DO NOT click any links or reply to such messages. Delete these emails immediately! What to do next: If you believe you have received this type of phishing email:
Be very suspicious regarding online communication, especially when being requested to purchase gift cards or transfer funds. Remember, scams come in many forms. Click here to see a list of other possible scams published by the Government of Canada. Note: This notice was originally published by Canada East Mission Centre in April 2021. Canada West acknowledges with appreciation their original drafting. This is being re-published by Canada West due to a series of “phishing” emails that circulated earlier this week.  Symbols are amazing things in our society. Words can be symbols. Pictures can be symbols. Corporate logos are symbols. Names of people – famous or infamous, successful or not-so-much – can be symbols. Even geographic names can be symbols that evoke some imagery in our mind. Religion is full of symbols. I have not yet named any examples and yet I am sure that you have been thinking of examples in your own mind of each one of these categories. As you have thought of those symbols, what related thoughts have come to mind? What emotions have you felt? What memories have come back to you? That is the entire point of symbols: they mean much more than what appears on paper (or on our TV or computer screens or on signs along our streets and highways or on products in our homes).
Earlier today I accepted a phone call from a person conducting a survey. He would not tell me for whom the survey was being done. I suspect it was for either a political party or a media organization. The questions were all about issues and politicians in Alberta. I was surprised at how emotionally charged I felt by the end of the 8-minute interview. The questions were framed as neutral. But the images that the terms evoked in my mind brought on more strong feelings than such questionnaires usually do. Immediately after the survey I was listening to a program on CBC radio. It included an interview with an Indigenous artist who had been commissioned by her city to design an art installation to take the place of a now-removed statue of a prominent Canadian politician with historic connections to the design of Indian Residential Schools. I was struck by the depth of negative emotion that the artist had felt in the presence of the statue – for her it was a symbol of oppression and racism. I was further struck by the assumption by the city that an indigenous art installation would be received more positively by the community at large – as a symbol of reconciliation and cultural understanding. I hope and believe that the city is right. It is likely that the artist’s work will be recognized and positively celebrated for much longer than the politician’s statue existed in that space. What symbols are truly important to you? Which ones evoke positive emotions, perhaps happiness or commitment? Which ones evoke negative emotions, perhaps anger or shame? I am going to name and briefly discuss two potent symbols. I need to clearly acknowledge that these symbols will mean different things to different people – as symbols often do. Please consider your own emotions and beliefs that are either sustained or challenged by these symbols. The cross. What image is first evoked by that word? Do you see Jesus nailed to an imperial symbol of punishment, torture, and death? Do you see a crucifix intended to symbolize Christ’s death as atonement for the sins of all humans? Do you see an empty cross intended to symbolize the risen Christ as the promise and potential of eternal life for all humans? Do you, perhaps, see another one of many representations of the cross that has been used through the centuries to symbolize things we still consider good and honourable or things we have come to regard as evil and regrettable? If you are a “church member of a certain age,” do you remember debates about including a cross in a sanctuary or on the exterior of a new church building? The Community of Christ logo of the lamb laying down with the lion with a child standing comfortably with them. What thoughts or feelings does that image bring to you? Does it realistically symbolize peace for you? Do you connect it to prophetic scripture from the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament? Do you have memories related to our “church seal?” Do you have any negative associations with this image? I have asked many questions in these few paragraphs. There are no right or wrong answers to any of them. They are simply your answers. In another set of circumstances, the questions and answers would lead to some very interesting discussion. If you feel inclined, please respond to me at my email address which you can find below. Meanwhile, I simply encourage your awareness of the symbols that surround us in our 21st century lives. Understand why you recognize them. Understand your responses to them. 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 steve@communityofchrist.ca  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 steve@communityofchrist.ca  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 steve@communityofchrist.ca  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 asmith@cofchrist.org.
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 steve@communityofchrist.ca This occasional feature is intended to ensure that people across the mission centre are aware of the passing of persons in other congregations in a timely manner.
Information provided here is restricted to the name of the deceased person, the city where they lived (or congregation they attended), and the date of death (if it is provided). If an online version of a detailed obituary is available, the name of the person will be underlined indicating that it is a link to that source of information. If you are aware of other church members who have passed away and whose names do not appear here or in our archive, please advise sandra@communityofchrist.ca. Please support in thought and prayer the family and friends of the following persons who passed away this year:
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 steve@communityofchrist.ca  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 steve@communityofchrist.ca |
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