​A picture says a thousand words! I could have told you here that the three of us were blessed to attend Gwyn Beer Sr.’s memorial this weekend in Chilliwack, but you can see in this picture how glad we are to be together, and how much we love Gwyn Sr.
 
We are preparing for Mission Centre Conference, and an important feature of the conference is to remember our dear ones who are members of our Mission Centre who have died this year. If you are carrying one of these losses close, please consider sending in pictures as a tribute. We would love to feature one from their youth, one from young adult or middle age, and one recent picture. You can send them to sandra@communityofchrist.ca.
 
Our conference is different this year from any I have experienced – it is neither online only nor all of us in one place, but truly hybrid. The three of us will lead the conference from Regina, Calgary, and Vancouver, and you are free to travel to one of these sites or participate from home. You can also organize a watch party from your congregation, although you’ll have to bring your own food!
 
We approach this 2022 conference as a time to take stock of where we are and what we can do. Our theme is “Growing Together”, and that is exactly what we hope to do!

Please plan to join us on September 9-11 for this chance to grow together and discover who we are.

Do you remember what it felt like to receive a party invitation when you were young?  They were in the form of a card, or maybe if you’re younger than me, it came to you in an email.  Whether it was on paper or digital, it was fun, even exciting and receiving the invitation gave you a feeling of being wanted and included. I’ll get back to this later.

At the Nature and Nurture retreat June 3-5 at Samish Island, we ‘invited’ people outside of our church community by advertising on meeup.com and Eventbrite. One-third of our attendees were people we had never met before and who had never been to Samish Island!

Our goal for this retreat was mainly to welcome people back to in-person activities.  We knew a lot of our regular team would not be available that weekend, so with the small team of Patti Beer, Barbara Rose (Seattle) and myself we planned a retreat that was largely outdoors, with lots of time for visiting.  We intentionally allowed up to 2 hours for meals and cleanup so everyone would have lots of time to linger over their meals and chat, and we set up the mornings with a toast bar at 7am, Yoga at 8am, and Breakfast didn’t start until 9am so that those who needed sleep could rest a little longer.

Mother Nature had her fun with us, pretty much turning on the faucet a few times, but she did share the sun with us for several hours on the Saturday.  We had advised people to bring appropriate clothing so we could be outside no matter what the weather conditions were, and we kept the fireplace in the dining going the whole weekend.

Our activities included Dancing the Labyrinth, Meaningful Conversation Groups, Forest Bathing, Qi Gong, Blue Mind Water, Canoeing and Paddleboarding, Yoga sessions, and the 5 Rhythms.  There were challenges navigating the world of Covid precautions and of course the weather, but for those of us who know Samish it so was great to be back, and our new people were wide eyed with amazement at our retreat space.  One of them will be coming to Samish Reunion with her grandson, and a group of women intend to make the Nature and Nurture retreat an annual event.

Back to the ‘invitation’.   If you’ve ever felt like inviting a friend to one of our Community of Christ events is pressuring them, I want you to re-think that and remember how it feels to be the one who is invited.  Community of Christ members have a history of being invitational and we truly are a welcoming community.  Let’s remember that. And remember that during covid many people have been lonely and are searching for a place to belong.  Let’s not miss this opportunity to make wonderful new friends and welcome them into our community whether it’s a retreat, a zoom session, a Creating Connection activity, online church or in-person church. 

To learn more about advertising on meetup.com or Eventbrite or other social media platforms, please contact me,  debra@creatingconnection.ca or toll free 1-877-411-2632 ext 4. This is YOUR invitation.
​
Debra Donohue
Creating Connection Director

Honouring Fathers
​
Father’s Day seems to be summed up in barbeque and crafts made from macaroni and glue, especially with puns about fishing (“Dad, you’re a great catch!”). On this day, we celebrate the qualities of nurturing, strength, and challenge that we seek from fathers, knowing that we may not have experienced those qualities as fully as we may have wished in our holding environments. I think of grandfathers on this day as well, with the extra layer of perspective and unconditional love that they are often able to offer. When I lived with my grandparents as a student as Graceland University, my Grampie could not help but jump in the car and run to the store if there was anything I needed! His love showed me the truth of God’s love.

The connection that Jesus had with his heavenly father is especially touching to me. I grew up praying, “Dear Heavenly Father” in my prayers, which had a grand yet distant ring to it. When Jesus says “Abba,” meaning “Daddy,” it is sweet in a humbling sort of way. Its intimacy draws God close, without barriers or resistance.

God is a mystery that transcends race and gender. Still, I wonder: could I pray to God in this way? We can have many kinds of unitive experiences with God and Spirit, but I feel that this language is a special manifestation of a soul at peace with God. I pray for that peace in myself and for you!

​May you find sheltering in this celebration. May you find love. May you find the peace that passes all understanding and know yourself as a beloved child of God. 

Last week in the column we looked at membership and belonging. Today we’ll flip that coin and look within. Our humanity is hardwired for connection and at the same time tuned for meaning. Why are we here? What is the meaning of life? What is a good life?

We all grow older, if we’re lucky, but we don’t necessarily grow up. It’s the time we spend in study, self-reflection, prayer, and meditation that feeds our inner life and helps us transition from milk to solid food, as Paul says in I Corinthians 3. We have many ways to distract ourselves from real, burning-bush experiences with God, and our intellect is one of the big ones!

At the Spiritual Retreat at Hills of Peace (June 24-26), we will be opening ourselves to spiritual growth in a safe container at a beautiful campground. We will examine the stories of Mary, Martha, Jesus, and Lazarus for those moments of spiritual connection that show us ways to grow. We will use all of our senses to experience and appreciate the Holy. We will slip behind our figuring-out minds and listen to our hearts and bodies; to the still, small voice that longs to be one with us.

As you clear your vision about where you belong and who you long to be, make room in your heart for the One who knows you best! ​

Where are you?

Last week in the column we looked at Psalm 139, at God’s ability to hold us in knowledge and love. We do not have that same insight as Mission Centre Presidents! As we prepare for voting at Mission Centre Conference, we received a question about where each of you have membership, whether it’s in a congregation or as a non-resident. This is a great time to reflect – do you know where your membership is? Would you like to update it? Any of us would be glad to hear from you if you would like our help in that process!

This is also a great time to reflect, where does my ‘membership’ lie in other areas of my life? Has COVID disrupted the ties that usually hold me? Have my relationships floated out beyond my reach? No matter how introverted we may feel in our heart of hearts, part of our life here in this beautiful creation seems to be making and fostering connections. Where are you? Right here, in a specific space.

I invite you to find a spot outdoors that speaks to you – a tree, a flower bed, a bend in a river, and really see what is there. Perhaps it’s new life, perhaps it’s a mossy boulder, perhaps it’s a tiny ecosystem full of activity. Let yourself love this particular place and see if you can build a habit to return to it as days and seasons pass. Just like the elements of your special spot, you also have a place, a relationship with what is, an invitation to full engagement with life. 

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

​I’m reading about holding environments right now – the idea that what we experience when we’re young influences our experience of trust as we grow. If we find what we need often enough as a youngster, we believe that the universe is benign and helpful. If we don’t, then we try to create a different reality and turn away from what surrounds us. I don’t know what it means about me, but I do tinker a lot! I’m always imagining how things could be better. Perhaps it’s part of growing up around the idea of Zion – God’s kin-dom here on earth.
 
On Sunday, we meditated on Psalm 139, with those familiar words: “O Lord, you have searched me and known me.” As I settled into silence, I realized that this scripture is all about a present holding environment, in that God knows me intimately, knows everywhere I could possibly go and everything I could do. No matter what, God is present.
 
This brings an image to mind: you and I are floating on a salty body of water (like the Dead Sea or a float tank) that will effortlessly support our bodies, letting us lay back and relax. Yet we thrash about with our arms and legs, trying to stay vertical, refusing to let go and rest. Here is some wisdom from our church administrator’s handbook that can remind us to follow the rhythm of our lives and participate in life around us rather than managing it all!

BRINGING BALANCE TO LIFE

All life needs a rhythm of rest. There is a rhythm in our waking and the body’s need for sleep. There is a rhythm in the way day dissolves into night and night into morning. There is a rhythm as the active growth of spring and summer is quieted by the necessary dormancy of fall and winter. There is a tidal rhythm, a deep, eternal conversation between the land and the great sea. In our bodies, the heart perceptibly rests after each life-giving beat. The lungs rest between breathing out and inhaling. We have lost this essential rhythm. Our culture invariably supposes that action and accomplishment are better than rest, that doing something—anything—is better than doing nothing. Because of our wish to succeed, to meet these ever-growing expectations, we do not rest. Because we do not rest, we lose our way. We miss the compass points that would show us where to go. We bypass the nourishment that would give us succor. We miss the quiet that would give us wisdom. We miss the joy and love born of effortless delight. Poisoned by the hypnotic belief that good comes only through unceasing, determination and tireless effort, we can never rest. And because we need rest, our lives are in danger.
​
Sabbath is a gift of God to remind us and give us permission to rest, to bring balance into our lives. Even our dedication to the service of others as ministers, when not balanced with healthy living, can lead to suffering in ourselves, our families, and in the ones we are trying to serve. Even God rested on the seventh day (Genesis 2:2). We rest to bring balance to our lives, to see the goodness that God has placed in all creation.  

Community of Christ Church Administrator's Handbook

Self-care is such a big topic right now; do you feel it too? It hasn’t always been so – in times of war, service is forefront. In times of hardship, survival is. In this moment there is a yearning for a fullness of life that brings self-care to the fore.

​I hope that we look to Jesus as an example when we need discernment. What about the area of self care? So many times he went away to be by himself, even when it mystified and irritated his followers. He spoke his mind and was assertive even with those he loved. When he was tired, he slept, even in the midst of a storm! He did not seem to be caught up in ego concerns at all but embodied each moment as it came. ‘Worried’ is not a word that describes him, although he did grieve in the Garden of Gethsemane. It is true that he emptied himself even to the point of death, but he was a participant in that process, not a victim.
 
My big takeaway from looking at Jesus through the lens of self-care is his relationship with his Abba, God. That tender and constant thread relieved many of the pressures that we experience that fall under the category of “needless suffering”. Jesus shows me that sometimes my self-care is found in caring for others. So what should capture our precious attention? Ruminating about the past, fretting about the future, the thoughts and judgments of others? I would like to share more of my precious attention with God and look to God’s will. I hope you will join me!

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

It’s a wonderful opportunity to connect with you through these messages. It’s becoming apparent over the months that the feeling tone of the ones I write is more like our Disciple’s Generous Response rather than our Daily Bread! Part of my spiritual journey is to keep close tabs on the health of my heart (both physically and spiritually) and generosity is a great metric for heart health. Where my treasure is, there my heart is also. Just like my sermons, I’m ‘speaking to the mirror’ with these messages, reminding myself of what I already know leads to life.
 
Two aspects of heart-healthy stewardship come to mind right now. The first is our camping season! This year we move back into a fee-based camp experience where we know exactly how much camp costs in advance and what we are expected to contribute. Our directors are assembling registration information right now to make this clear. This is an opportunity to let our values influence our budgets in the next few months, allowing us to respond generously to the opportunity to gather again. What if you are not able to go and experience camping in person? I wonder if this is also an invitation to extend grace to others in the form of donations so that they can experience one of our most wonderful offerings as a church.
 
The other part of heart-healthy stewardship addresses the news cycle. I was in airports a lot this weekend, journeying to our friends in Saskatoon, and was struck by the numbing that watching loops of news can bring. It’s heart-breaking, but the situation in Ukraine is not improving! I can keep my heart open and respond by once again donating to those helpers who are on the ground doing their best to end suffering. I can light my light in the face of darkness and tend the flame, partnering with the Holy Spirit in divine work.
 
May our faithful God bless and keep our hearts!  

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

Ken Barrows spoke at the closing service of the Lethbridge congregation building in March, having been their administrator in the 1990’s. He shared about a transitional time when some key families had moved away and there was not enough spark left in those remaining to organize worship services. He counseled them to leave off from having services for a few months and then to check in with him. For those months, the chapel was open for meditation on Sunday morning, but nothing else was done. After that time, when Ken checked in with the congregational leadership, one dear Saint offered to bring cheese and crackers every Sunday, for some social time after the meditation. After several months of that, another dear one wished to offer a hymn service, and that began a re-emergence of corporate worship. What would have happened without the offering of those cheese and crackers?

I carry that story close to my heart. There are times when we don’t have to force ourselves to do everything. If we cannot do everything, what is the something – the cheese and crackers - that we can offer? We know that God can bless even the last measure of flour and oil we have, and we’ve heard about what Jesus did with loaves and fishes. Instead of focusing on what we don’t have, it may be time to offer and make sacred what we are capable of offering. Listen for the Holy. Tend the Holy.

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

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

“Before any change comes chaos.”
 
My sacred movement teacher shared this truth from quantum physics with us during our meditation this morning. It led me straight into the drama of Holy Week. Did the disciples read their way into a new reality with Jesus? Did they meditate their way in? No, the new reality did not come from a bloodless birth or over the internet or through a book. Not even from a pulpit! The new reality of God’s love in Jesus Christ came through very gutsy things: betrayal, pain, scorn, abandonment.

              “What wondrous love is this, o my soul:
              What wondrous love is this, that caused the Lord of life
              To bear the painful cross for my soul.”

What cross do you bear? If the answer isn’t immediate, let me ask: What chaos are you in right now? I do not believe that we can expect to live into a new reality as Community of Christ here in Western Canada without some chaos. I certainly don’t believe we can think our way into it! If I can believe that Jesus was still held by God during the events of his passion, then I can believe that we find ourselves held by God during difficult conversations about finances, about relevance, about COVID, and about ‘what’s next’. We honour the name we share with Jesus when we humbly hold the remembrance of Holy Week. Let us share the last supper. Let us stay awake with Jesus. Let us gather close as we can as he is tried and beaten. Let us gaze on the cross. Let us be prepared for a tomb, and a stone, and a magnificent wondering: What is this new reality being born?

On Sunday we were encouraged in our worship services to share generously. I’ve had this on my heart as I’ve been driving around the city. There are so many blossoms, and pollinators, and more sunshine than I’m used to seeing! Both the Bible and the natural bible of creation give us abundant examples of generosity. God is love, we love God, so why is sharing hard for us?

Like meditation or prayer, generosity can be practiced and strengthened. Our ‘muscle’ for generosity is our heart. Jesus famously had no place of his own to lay his head, and we have lots of options for our comfort, so this can be tricky work for us.

How can we practice generosity? First, we can increase our awareness of troubles both near and far. Then we can soften into awareness of our capacity to give while overcoming our fears of being overwhelmed. We can pray that God’s will be our will – God’s heart our heart. When we want to treat ourselves, we can also treat someone else. When we hear of refugees, either in the global north or south, we can send money along with our prayers to organizations that we trust, including our church. In the end, generosity comes down to trust – trust that we won’t be abandoned or left helpless if we share what we have and care about the needs of others. Trust that there is enough for all.

As we head toward Holy Week along with Jesus, let’s really listen to what he says in his last sermons about the flowers of the fields and about abiding in Him. Let’s build our relationship with Jesus and our capacity to trust.

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

​Turn to the spirit within you!  As we approach Easter,  look around your world in wonder and appreciation.  

​As snow starts to melt, green grass returns, flowers start to sprout, and the world reawakens. I am privileged to be staying on a beef farm.  I came to the farm yesterday to new birth! A little calf! Joy, hope and a peaceful feeling came over me. I said a prayer for momma and baby thanking God for being there when I was not…from the very heart of a suffering, sacred world.

Our world is in turmoil.  There is a sense of desperation about the war in Ukraine, the next COVID wave in China, news about the increase in racist attacks in Canada and the need to reverse climate change on the planet.

Where do you turn?  Do you wonder how all this affects you?  Do you wonder what you, as one person, can do to make a difference?

Turn to the spirit within you!  Use the tools that you have been taught and the tools we are being given.  I have been very appreciative of the Daily Bread Lenten practices that are offered to guide us.

Daily Bread - March 15, 2022
A Vision

Reads in part...
​
There IS a vision greater
There IS a Spirit moving
There IS a deeper yearning
That means something real

There IS a God creating
And re-creating still
Who continues to call out
In the caverns of your soul
From the very heart of a
Suffering, sacred world.

Read full reflection and scripture here

We are getting closer to Easter.  Our themes from World Church have been our guide.  Enter the Wilderness, Count the Stars and Seek the Lord!  Isaiah 55:6 “Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near”.

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

“With a deep mindful breath, we announce the passing of our beloved teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh, at Tu Hieu Temple in Hue, Vietnam on 22nd January, 2022 at the age of 95.”  
As I read these words through a blur of tears, memories of being with this dear Buddhist teacher on retreat at his monastery in southern France come flooding back: the slow, measured way he entered the meditation hall, as if imprinting peace with every step, the way his delicate hands cradled his cup of tea before savoring a long slow sip, the way his dazzling smile could light up every person in the room, the graceful arc of his arm as he drew it back before inviting the sound of the meditation bell to awaken our hearts and minds, the peaceful countenance of a Zen master deep in meditation, the child-like wonder as he gazed at the first lotus blossom of the season, the playful glint in his eyes as he invited the children to come forward, and finally, the way he would stop and look at you in the middle of a dharma talk, his wise words seemingly speaking to the deepest questions of your heart. 

Since his passing, there has been a huge outpouring of both grief and gratitude around the world for this peaceful and courageous Buddhist monk. A true bodhisattva, his teachings on mindfulness, along with his life of compassionate action, have touched millions. Born in Vietnam in 1926, he lived an inspiring life of both contemplation and service: entering the monastery as a novice monk at the tender age of sixteen, choosing to leave the safety of the monastery to help rebuild bombed-out villages during the Vietnam war, traveling to the United States to advocate for the end of that war, with the help of Dr. Martin Luther King, then being exiled from his homeland when he tried to return.  Eventually settling in France, Thich Nhat Hanh continued to advocate for peace and eventually built a thriving monastery near Bourdeaux, ordaining hundreds of monks, nuns, and dharma teachers who continue to teach and offer retreats all over the world.  (Read more at www.plumvillage.org.)

Although Thich Nhat Hanh has been described as an artist, a poet, a mystic, a scholar, and activist, it is his loving and compassionate presence that has touched me to the core. Looking into Thay’s eyes was like looking into a mirror that was a pure reflection of love. It felt like looking into the eyes of the “Living Buddha, Living Christ.” Thay’s book of the same name connects Buddhism and Christianity; his legacy ensures that millions now also see the deep connections between these two great traditions.

Watch for Vickie’s upcoming spiritual memoir, A Lotus On Fire: How a Buddhist Monk Ignited the Love in My Heart
​www.vickiemacarthur.com

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

We are in the second week of Lent.  As I think about Jesus spending 40 days in the wilderness fasting and praying, I feel the need for prayer myself. In this world today, the need for prayer and the desire for peace are so prevalent.  How can we make a difference in the situation that is so close through the media and yet so far away? Prayer for peace and understanding can make a difference.  Reach out in comfort to anyone you know who needs it. Just listening and offering prayer can help ease someone’s stress about a situation to far away physically.

I want to offer the information below for your consideration.

The following eLearning classes are open for a limited enrollment: 

• Introduction to Scripture (SS400): 8-weeks,  April 2 - May 27
• Ministry of the Teacher (MP303): 6-weeks, April 2 - May 13
• Ministry with Latter-day Seekers: 4-weeks, April 2 - April 29
• Children and Youth Workers Core Training: At your own pace for 2 weeks - starts April 2 and continues open until late May
• MEADS - "Living Grace and Generosity" - April 25-29, 7:30pm-10:00pm (Eastern) Live via ZOOM. Instructor: Lew Shepherdson. Click for more details.

​Temple School Classes cost $7.50 each.  To enroll, go to developmetrics.org and click on the "Canadian Registration Form."

MEADS class costs $30 and should be paid before class via check to: Canada East Mission Centre, c/o Melissa Freer, 355 Elmira Road North, Unit 129, Guelph, ON  N1K 1S5

Have you ever taken a course through Developmetrics?  The courses are all online.  Learning is something that we all do every day when we watch something new to us or read something new or try something new.  Why not take an introduction to Scripture to just open up your mind? Maybe take the Children and Youth Workers Core Training even though you may have raised your family and / or taken something like it before?  We can always use help with our children and youth and this course will make helping easier to step up and assist. What's the next step on your discipleship path?

This is the first week of Lent.  I had pancakes this morning to celebrate Shrove Tuesday.  Shrove Tuesday   is observed by many Christians  who "make  a special point of self-examination, of considering what wrongs they need to repent, and what amendments of life or areas of spiritual growth they especially need to ask God's help in dealing with.”

Lent – the 40 days leading up to Easter – was traditionally a time of fasting and on Shrove Tuesday, Christians went to confession and were “shriven” (absolved from their sins). A bell would be rung to call people to confession. This came to be called the “Pancake Bell” and is still rung today.  Shrove Tuesday was the last opportunity to use up eggs and fats before embarking on the Lenten fast and pancakes are the perfect way of using up these ingredients.

What are you giving up for Lent?  As Shannon explained last week, she does not use the snooze button on her alarm clock.  She uses that time in meditation.

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday which is March 2, 2022.  Ash Wednesday marks the official beginning of this 40-day period of abstinence. Click here to read "Blessing the Dust for Ash Wednesday" by Jan Richardson.

Though not every person observes Ash Wednesday in the same way, Ash Wednesday is the time when you may finally decide on what you want to give up for Lent, or perhaps it's an opportunity to spend a quiet moment on some Easter prayers. Maybe it is not GIVING something up but ADDING a new practice.  With the world climate issues, pending war in Russia and Ukraine, continuing health concerns and the opportunity to “get back to the old way of life”, you can add something for 40 days. 

There are two ways that you can join other Community of Christ friends and members on a Lent journey this year:

1. Beyond the Walls congregation has a Lent devotional group that will be meeting daily at 9:30am EST. Find out more details by checking out the events section on their Facebook page
2. Daily Bread will be observing Lent as well, with new stories shared each Sunday and Monday that reflect on Lenten themes connected with the lectionary scriptures for the week. Tuesday- Saturday will be offered in a devotional style with contemplative writings, scripture meditation invitations, and a question for reflection. You can subscribe to Daily Bread emails by clicking here!

This week we offer this column to Debra Donohue, Creating Connection Director for Canada West Mission, who brings us some exciting news! 

"Creating Connection One Person at a Time"
Written by Debra Donohue 
Creating Connection Director Canada West
debra@communityofchrist.ca
1-877-411-2632 ext. 4

I want to share some news with you that I am very excited about.  My role as Creating Connection Director for Western Canada will be changing a little.

Before I became the Creating Connection Director, I was the Congregational Outreach Specialist for BC.  Now I have been given the opportunity to take the best of what I learned as Congregational Outreach Specialist, and the best of what I learned as Creating Connection Director, to embark on a new vision of Creating Connection.

I hope to become a bridge between Community of Christ and your local communities.  I know that many of you already have wonderful relationships with your communities.  It’s my hope to build on those relationships through the resources and advertising we can do through meetup.com and other platforms.  Rather than create new projects and extra work, I want to take the good work you are already doing and promote it, ask for volunteers from the community, and ultimately introduce like minded people in your communities to you in a way that is comfortable for you both. Of course, I would love to help you with your new ideas too.

I’ll be communicating with the Pastors, Pastorate and Leaders in your areas to find out where I can be the most help and I ideally, we’ll have a group from each congregation that may or may not include the pastor to figure out what areas I can assist with. Please let me, or your leadership team, know if you would like to be part of an informative zoom call. For you to gather information from me, and for me to gather information from you.

In Creating Connection we’ve had great success advertising on Meetup.com, Facebook and Eventbrite.  Through meetup, we can really pinpoint our message to people in your local areas. I’ll give you some examples of activities I’m thinking about.

Does your congregation or group do a Peace Walk, or a River Cleanup, or a day at the Food Bank, or provide Christmas gifts to a charity or neighbours?  Do you have an online activity like prayer shawl knitting, or a conversation group you could invite people to join?  Do you hold a workday at your church building or campground where we could invite others in the community to volunteer? I can help connect you with like minded people in your community who want to be part of something meaningful.  They may not realize yet who we are in Community of Christ, and how similar our feelings are towards inclusivity, peace and justice, environmental causes, and supporting community.

I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas.  Please reach out me by phone or email or connect with your pastor. To learn more about Creating Connection events visit the Creating Connection Meetup Event Page! 

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

Looking Towards Lent
 
It’s interesting to me the variety of experiences that we have of the season of Lent in Community of Christ. You may have embraced the observance of Lent as a way to deepen your spiritual life. You might think of Lent as an oppressive or restrictive practice that’s almost more like a new year’s resolution. You may have never really thought about what observing Lent could mean for you.
 
I’d never really thought much or known much about Lent when I was growing up in Community of Christ. I began to learn more about it when I was in seminary at Vancouver School of Theology and was amongst classmates of different Christian backgrounds. There I learned the practice of taking on a new spiritual discipline, and perhaps giving something up as a way of making space for that new practice. For example, someone might give up an hour of watching TV at the end of the day and replace it with an hour of bible study or meditation. What I liked about this was that they weren’t just giving something up, but finding something life-giving to replace it with. This appealed to me, and I began my own practice of giving up the snooze button on my wakeup alarm for Lent! I replaced that snooze time with morning meditation.
 
For years this has been my practice. Now you might wonder “why don’t you just permanently give up that snooze button Shannon?” And there have been times where, beyond Lent, I’ve stuck to it. But when I’m “off the wagon” and snoozing again, Lent is often the perfect time to give it back up again. Something beautiful happens as our days lengthen in springtime and getting up gets a bit easier each day. There is something very holy for me in being able to witness that change of the season, and that holiness of morning quiet light helps me renew my commitment to intentional time with the Holy One.
 
This year Lent begins on March 2nd, and yes, I will be giving up the old snooze button again! I’ll also be inviting others to walk the Lenten path with me through reflecting with poetry, chant, and spiritual practices. Stay tuned to the Weekly Wire for more details coming soon about a weekly virtual gathering during Lent! I hope to see you there, and I hope you have a blessed Lenten season, however you choose to observe it.

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