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•June 1-4•
"Creating Community: Where Spirit, Nature and Justice Meet" •June 2-4• Hills of Peace Campground Opening Weekend •June 11• Climate Webinar "Climate Impacts on Global Security - Part 2" •June 23-25• Hills of Peace Spirit Retreat "Something is Stirring Among Us" •July 12-22• Northwest SPEC 2023 Written by Gwyn Beer Canada West Mission Centre Co-President  cofchrist.org During May, for our discernment of future leadership in Community of Christ, we were to consider the following question: What are the most significant situations, opportunities, or challenges that a prophetic leader will need to address? June is our time to share our thoughts on this question. For me, this was WIDE OPEN, so many things to consider, processing those situations (first time for me at conference to hear about “Active Shooter Protocols”) and opportunities and challenges. I felt overwhelmed for our next president/prophet. At World Conference, resolution I-1 on a non-violence statement went through my mind. We could not determine how to answer all the questions associated with trying to give the President and counsellors a concise view of what that statement might look like. Opportunities for the growth of the church abound in the world at large but in North America, there is a shift in how people view church and spirituality. What ways will the president deal with the changing view of church? Challenges include the financial status of the church. There are so many things that the new president/prophet will be dealing with. Spend time in June sharing your thoughts with others you encounter. Offer your thoughts and listen to those you speak to, is there common ground? Are you feeling the weight of this question? Pray on your conversations for clarity and wisdom. July will bring a new question to consider!  Yours in Christ,
Gwyn, Kat, and Shannon gwyn@communityofchrist.ca kat@communityofchrist.ca smcadam@communityofchrist.ca  During Hills of Peace Month, please donate to support the continued operation and development of the Hills of Peace Campground.
Saskatchewan people: Please donate! Alberta people: Please donate! And, yes, BC people, don’t feel left out: Please donate! Over the last three years we have made many improvements to the grounds. Most notably:
Your donation will help ensure the campground continues to be made more enjoyable. It will also help pay the ongoing bills: really mundane stuff like utilities and insurance; and more visible stuff like cooks, caretakers, and lifeguards. We have a modest goal to raise $20,000 to support this year’s expenses. Please be generous! You can make your donations by:
Hills of Peace Campground 7603 190 Street NW Edmonton, AB. T5T 5H6
Be sure to indicate in your email or on your cheque your preference for your donation to be applied to “Operating / Maintenance” or to “Capital Projects / Maintenance Upgrades” Tax receipts for e-transfers or cheques will be issued in February of next year. CanadaHelps issues receipts immediately upon donation (as if it was a donation to CanadaHelps). Please note that this is NOT an appeal to support camps or the camping program. The program is the responsibility of the Canada West Mission Centre. Your generosity there is also appreciated. THIS request is in support of the expenses to maintain and improve the Hills of Peace Campground that makes those programs possible. THANK YOU! Questions? Contact Steve at steve@communityofchrist.ca or 780-904-4389.  Everyone is welcome and invited to come to the Hills of Peace Campground to assist with opening it up for the 2023 camping season.
Date: Friday afternoon, June 2 through Sunday noon, June 4 Fee: NO registration fee (donations ALWAYS welcome!) Meals: provided; a cook will be staffing the kitchen Registration: please register by May 28 so we can plan appropriately for food. Register by sending an email to Eileen Johnstone psych3492@gmail.com, include the names of those intending to attend, preferences for accommodation (cabin, dorm) or if you are bringing your own (RV, camper trailer, tent). Also indicate when you plan to arrive (Friday afternoon, evening, Saturday morning, etc.) Primary tasks for the weekend: This is a general clean-up effort for all buildings: sweeping, cleaning, window-washing, etc. Anyone can do this work! We will also have good fun and fellowship as we work. What to bring:
Questions? Contact Steve Thompson at sgthompson007@gmail.com or call/text 780-904-4389 See you at camp!  Theme: "Something is Stirring Among Us, Spirit is Stirring Among Us"
When: Friday, June 23 to Sunday, June 25 Guest Speaker: Art Smith Registration fee: $130.00 (subsidies available if needed) Register at www.cwm.events Registration deadline: Friday, June 16 Do you have a spoon that tells a story for/about you? Bring it with you to tell how it stirs your heart! Join us for a Hills of Peace sunrise and find out what is stirring within you.  What: Climate Webinar – “Climate Impacts on Global Security - Part 2”
Who: David Anderson, DMin; High Priest Quorum President, CofC; Retired USAF Colonel; Masters of International Public Policy, SAIS, John Hopkins University When: Sunday, June 11 at 2pm PT/ 3pm MT/ 4pm CT/ 5pm ET Where: ZOOM Online Ministry The response to our March webinar on Global Security was outstanding! People wanted more time for Q&A and asked for an opportunity to hear suggestions for solutions. As a result, we have invited David Anderson back to share with us once again on climate change as a threat multiplier. Climate catastrophes increase the danger of global insecurity and social destabilization. Many national security establishments, foreign affairs offices and collective defense organizations recognize this truth and are preparing defense strategies to meet the challenge and deal with the resulting instability. With his academic background in international policy, his personal military experience, and his knowledge of NATO, David brings a global aspect to this issue, not just a USA perspective. In addition, he has agreed to share his own thoughts on the legislation passed at World Conference to declare a climate emergency. Those who missed the March webinar can view it in the archives on the Climate Change Colloquy website. Just go to cofchristclimatejustice.org and choose “Archives” to view any or all of previous webinars. All sessions are free and participation in previous webinars and conversations is not necessary to join. If you registered for a past webinar or conversation, you do not need to register again. Once registered, you will be sent a link to join the sessions. For more information about the series please visit the Climate Change Colloquy website.  We are actively seeking volunteers to assist in running our Reggie registration system to ensure an exciting year of CWM Gatherings. You will receive training and mentoring on how to use the system.
For more information, click on the button below to see a description of this volunteer position or reach out to Shannon McAdam, Mission Centre Co-President smcadam@communityofchrist.ca Hills of Peace is a scenic campground in the MD of Provost, Alberta. HOP requires cooks and cooking assistants for the upcoming camping season. Accommodation is provided. Staff are paid.
Cooks and assistants are needed for the following:
Requirements:
For more information please contact Eileen Johnstone at psych3492@gmail.com or call at 587-566-6446.  Canada West Mission Centre is joining with GPNW mission center team for SPEC.
We know the difference between US and Canadian Dollars is a lot, so we encourage our young people to think about how they might partner with their local congregation to do some fundraising. In the past, things like bake sales and spaghetti dinners that Spec attendees have organized helped them achieve their goal of attending. Should further assistance be required, please contact the Greater Pacific Northwest USA Mission Center.  Family Camp 2023 “God, Where is your Spirit Leading Next?” Hills of Peace, Alberta August 5-10 Register at www.cwm.events We all have questions, dreams and plans in our lives. How does God fit in? Come join in building community as we notice, nurture, pray and explore where the spirit of God is leading us. Special Guests: Apostle Janne Grover, Community of Christ Kristin Douglas, World Accord Gwyn Beer, Canada West Mission Centre Director: Marian Thompson melthompson@shaw.ca Rates   Canada West Mission centre is looking for a volunteer Camp Director for the Youth Camp Aug 12 to 17. Please contact gwyn@communityofchrist.ca by May 31 or we will have to cancel the camp.
If you are able to be the director or if you know someone who might consider it if the dates were changed, please contact Gwyn Beer as soon as possible. Thank you in advance for your volunteer participation!  World Accord is actively seeking new Directors for the Board. Now more than ever our partners in Central America, Nepal and Ethiopia need a strong organisation. Our partners face significant challenges due to the impacts of Covid, climate change and the ongoing political and social complexities that make living conditions unstable, particularly for women and girls. The Board seeks applications from a wide diversity of people and backgrounds. For more information, click on the button below to see the Board Job Description, or reach out to Board Vice Chair, Leah Christensen (lchristensen@worldaccord.org) Thank you for your interest in supporting World Accord and its partners.
 From the North American Climate Justice Team:
In the communication we sent you prior to Community of Christ World Conference, we promised to distribute “a post-Conference summary of actions taken” in the resolutions that touched on climate issues and global security. By now, you are well aware that climate change is a threat multiplier. Every conflict, injustice, and societal problem is increased by the stress and crises brought by rapidly changing and escalating climate impacts. As a result, several resolutions considered at World Conference were of importance to the North American Climate Justice Team, and we want to share the results of conference action concerning them. Click on the button below to view the document. Written by Kat Goheen Canada West Mission Centre Co-President  More Conference memories: On the Sunday evening of Conference, we had an “Experience the Temple” event combining visual and musical arts all around the Temple complex. Shannon used her fabric art to stitch and visit with people passing by in Shalom Place upstairs by the World Plaza, surrounded by painters, quilters, and a synthesizer. I played my violin with the European delegation singing Taize music in the Meditation Chapel while a potter threw pots and vases.  I love this image of the potter’s work-in-progress, watched over by portraits of our sacraments because it’s a good metaphor of our work that week. We got our hands right into creating our future, discerning its form and appearance while also sharing together the sacraments that connect us to God and feed us spiritually. Our potter, Stephanie, had some pieces she had to rework. In legislation, we also had some moments when we needed to amend the business before us, striking out and adding words in our attempts to get it right. Still, we were always framed by moments of blessing just as the pottery was held in that sacred space by sacramental images. It was striking to see messy things happening in our sacred Temple space, like the bucket of water here that kept the clay flexible. We also had messy moments in legislation, gingerly discussing the need for articulating white supremacy in the motion on racism, lifting up the reality of sex in our conversation on marriage, confronting assumptions left and right in our conversations on environment and the meaning of baptism. Through it all, I felt a strong pastoral sense from everyone who spoke, so different from the combative tone of political discourse on television. Stephanie created fifteen pots and vases that evening in the Temple. We made strong statements in our legislative sessions. I pray that we live into the gifts that have come from our Unity in Diversity and Common Consent. I pray that we are strong, beautiful vessels for God in the world, as individuals, congregations, and altogether! You can see the legislative work that we did at Conference by clicking on the button below.  Yours in Christ,
Gwyn, Kat, and Shannon gwyn@communityofchrist.ca kat@communityofchrist.ca smcadam@communityofchrist.ca Written by Kat Goheen Canada West Mission Centre Co-President  Sandra Hunter serving Communion at World Conference Reflections on World Conference This past Sunday our Vancouver zoom service centred on a recap of our delegates’ experiences. Each person who spoke evoked memories of people and meaningful moments for me! One important thing that I want to share with you is the truly international feeling of this Conference. Shannon and I had roommates from Germany and Norway who shared with us daily about their church experience growing up in Europe and continuing today. We had apostles and delegates speaking in their native tongues as we English speakers waited for translations. All kinds of sessions were translated into French and Spanish as well as American Sign Language, and legislation and worship sessions were also translated into German and Tahitian (perhaps more!). It was such a reminder to me that faithful followers of Jesus in our Christian expression of Community of Christ eat, pray, worship, and sing in their own unique and beloved ways. During the week, we roomies realized that we have all studied different languages on the same learning platform, so we became language friends on the app and continue to do friend challenges together. I was studying French just for fun before, but after using it ‘for keeps’ during Conference, I have a renewed interest! I would encourage you to consider learning or brushing up on another language as a spiritual practice in solidarity with our spiritual siblings around the world. We sometimes forget that we are part of something bigger that is vibrant and beautiful: we truly have unity in diversity and it makes us stronger. PS – Email me if you want to be language buddies!  Yours in Christ,
Gwyn, Kat, and Shannon gwyn@communityofchrist.ca kat@communityofchrist.ca smcadam@communityofchrist.ca  Registration Closed Many of earth’s communities now live out of balance with the world around them. Many lack access to food, water, and shelter, the universal needs of existence. Many have gifts that go unrecognized and unshared. As a result, all communities—the human and the more-than-human—experience woundedness and loss.
Come for a weekend of nurturing, awareness and hope. Join in community as we learn about and experience profound acts of reconciliation and restoration happening both locally and throughout the world. Find your place in this great awakening. Brought to you by Creating Connection. Written by Kat Goheen Canada West Mission Centre Co-President  A great deal of my joy in World Conference came from deepening relationships. We had a crew of Canadians who would often end up in the Temple lunchroom after the morning legislative sessions with leftovers, bought brown bag lunches, or homemade sandwiches. It was a joy to visit with Doug and Becky Middleton, and I want to share what they’re supporting in Honduras. Becky writes: I am attaching 2 photos. One is the completed renos on the school. It consists of 2 separate classrooms with a kitchen building in between. The walls of the existing school were ok but the roof, doors and windows and floors were all replaced as well as painting inside and out. New white boards and desks were also included. World Accord had some money that was contributed last year as it was a project promised last year and unable to complete due to Al Wigood's passing. The Senlac congregation and other people from the community contributed funds to take on the balance of it as well as build the office/admin building for Asocialayo. It is going to be a 2 story building as the footprint of land wasn't quite large enough to get it all in one story. It should be completed soon but attached is a picture in progress. Doug is exploring ways that building may be able to continue as there is an ongoing need for it. World Accord's partnership with Asocialayo is to do with agriculture and is not planning to continue with building projects but may be able to help with refurbishing projects - just not sure at this point. When I wonder what mission looks like, it’s this! Developing deep friendships, being with and listening to people, and then figuring out the best way to make a difference even before being asked. I am very grateful for the work Doug and Becky and the community in Senlac are up to, and I pray that you feel inspired to respond to your true capacity as well. If there aren’t any vibrant projects like this happening in your area right now, consider helping finance the rustic cabin reno’s at Samish Island, helping our eight campers go to SPEC, or responding to the June appeal for Hills of Peace.  Yours in Christ,
Gwyn, Kat, and Shannon gwyn@communityofchrist.ca kat@communityofchrist.ca smcadam@communityofchrist.ca Historians Corner Vol. 1 | No. 2 Welcome to the “late” second edition of “Historians Corner.” I was travelling home from the Community of Christ World Conference in Independence, MO, last week. My apologies for the delay. I have asked current congregation Historians to consider sending me anecdotes from the histories of their congregations for publication in this space. The Ribstone Congregation is celebrating their 115th anniversary this year and to mark the occasion they are publishing historical information about the congregation in their monthly newsletter. How convenient for me and you! The page that follows has been copied directly from the January issue of their newsletter to ensure the photos are also included. My thanks to Leila Goheen, Historian, and Darleene Skinner, Pastor, for their permission to use this material. Do you have a documented historical anecdote about your congregation to share? Please send it to me at: steve@communityofchrist.ca Thank you! Click on the picture below to download a PDF version to read   We’ve returned home from World Conference and are filled with inspiration from our experience. Here are some early reflections: Gwyn: "I was so moved by the Tuesday night ordination service where the World Church was so prominent. The mission prayer was given in so many languages and during the ordinations, I felt God's spirit present!" Kat: “I really felt I’d come home at the end of the communion service when we stood and sang ‘The Spirit of God like a Fire is Burning’ in full voice with the Auditorium organ in all of our languages.” Shannon: “I was so inspired by the theme of ‘Courage’ and found that it was a spiritual practice to listen with love to each courageous person who rose to speak from their heart on the conference floor.” We will continue to share our thoughts in the weeks ahead, and if you’d like to learn more, keep checking the conference page of the church website (click on the button below). You can already see a beautiful recap video there!  Yours in Christ,
Gwyn, Kat, and Shannon gwyn@communityofchrist.ca kat@communityofchrist.ca smcadam@communityofchrist.ca |
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