 Photo courtesy of Stephen Thompson. By Kat Goheen, Canada West Mission Centre Co-President Our 2025 Canada West Mission Conference is complete! There are so many highlights to share — from friends joining both online and in person from all four of our provinces, to inspiring music, and the wise words shared in our business deliberations and worship experiences. We shared sacraments together around the world through the faithfulness of the Beyond the Walls ministry, welcoming two new outreach ministers serving as Seventy. On a personal note, it was a joy to be together with our whole Mission President Team: Shannon, Becky, Gwyn, and myself, and remember the highlights of our service together. A spirit of joy accompanied our fellowship, and even the budget conversation was titled “Fun with Numbers”! Our friends in the Chilliwack congregation were generous hosts, offering excellent food and thoughtful care for everyone who attended. Truly, we experienced “Love in Action” just as our theme proclaimed. We passed the budget presented by Sam and engaged in prophetic imagination together. We are grateful for everyone’s prayerful support as we voted to combine with Canada East Mission Centre in the coming year. Let us continue to uphold the church in Canada in our prayers as we take our next loving and hopeful steps into the future.
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 From Kat Goheen, Canada West Mission Centre Co-President
Greetings! It is delightful to tour around Atlantic Canada while proclaiming Community of Christ values through my T shirts! I hope you can find creative ways to share joy, hope, love, and peace wherever your summer finds you.  From Shannon McAdam
Becky and Shannon both got to spend a lovely week with our CWM family at Hills of Peace in Alberta. There were many memorable classes, worships, and campfires. Even the chipmunks enjoyed hanging out at the chapel! We hope you are finding time this summer to connect with those dear to you and choose hope!  A postcard from Kat Goheen
Greetings from Naramata! The sun, the water, and the wind have blessed this community this week. How wonderful to share music with yet another community of good will. Blessings to all of you enjoying Family Camp and Kimtah/Atsaken!  Postcard from Shannon McAdam
A wonderful time was had at Samish Island Campground last week for the Canada West and Inland West combined reunion! We had two baptisms - one at the beginning of the week and one at the end. As someone mentioned in our closing service, having baptisms at camp helps remind us all of our commitments to being disciples. May this photo from Monday’s baptismal service inspire your commitment to discipleship as well.  Postcard from Shannon McAdam
Last week I got to be part of the staff at our annual youth sports and arts camp that brings young people together from across the church. My highlight was seeing 15 youth from Canada fully engaged in the event! They were worship leaders, kind sportspeople, avid learners, and were part of making an inclusive camp. Hope in action!  My experience at World Conference this year was filled with many highlights and new experiences. I particularly enjoyed the debates in caucus, meeting new friends, and reconnecting with some old ones. Overall, the sense of community was my favourite. I felt welcomed, respected, and loved by those in attendance—it truly felt like we were all spiritually connected through our fellowship in Christ. There were many moments throughout the week when the presence of the Spirit was so strong it pulled you into appreciating the moment before us. One that comes to mind is when the lovely French Polynesia choir sang at the ordination service of our new prophet-president. It truly warmed my heart to see members from all different nations, races, languages, and orientations come together in love and harmony. It was a historic and truly moving experience for me, and I’m grateful to my grandparents, Doug and Becky Middleton, for letting me come with them and taking care of me. I left feeling inspired and ready to answer what was calling me. I have decided to be baptized, which is something I had been considering for a long time but finally felt the call to do. Thank you to everyone who made the 2025 Community of Christ World Conference meaningful and a joy to be part of.  WOW!!! When I look back on my journal entries from my FIRST World Conference, it seems like every sentence ends with an exclamation mark. Yes, at 70 years old, I experienced my first Community of Christ World Conference and it was amazing and wonderful! From visiting with family and friends to meeting new friends from far off lands, it was a week of connection and spiritual experiences. Little moments like having the question of whether the church would support the call of Stassi Cramm to Prophet President read by Apostles in their own native language, to being introduced to Stassi and having her call me Mom, to hearing Art Smith’s amazing prayer as he ordained Shannon as an Apostle, I am incredibly grateful. And finally, the music—sung in so many languages, from so many different places in the world—and the love, peace, hope, and joy that permeated every session, this experience was spiritually inspiring and hopeful!  By Shannon McAdam, Field Apostle, CWM Co-President. As I sit alone in my home office once again, having traveled back from Community of Christ World Conference, I realize I am not really alone. I feel deeply connected to the many people I had the joy of connecting with over the past two weeks. I have many treasured memories already, but today I want to highlight our Wednesday night gathering of Canadians. For me, Wednesday was a busy evening of visiting many different receptions, so it was lovely to walk in to see so many familiar faces. An added joy was being alongside my new partners in ministry: fellow Apostle Lachlan Mackay, and Presidents of Seventy Joelle Wight and Karin Peter. As you said goodbye to Art and hello to our new team, I was touched by the sense of a torch being passed. I am excited to see what awaits us next - together in Canada!  Hello from World Conference! Your MCP team (and MCP ‘emeritus’ Gwyn!) have had the joy of seeing one another every day, as well as many of our Canada West delegates. The theme this week is Hope is Here and we are focusing on the story of Pentecost so the Temple complex has been beautifully decorated with the fiery coloured fabric you see behind us in this photo! We have already witnessed the ordination of our first woman President, and are excited for what’s next!  Hello from Independence Missouri!
I’m here preparing for World Conference and also setting up my office in the Temple! Delegates from around the world are arriving and I am so excited to see our Canadian delegates as you arrive here. See you soon! Shannon  By Becky Middleton, Canada West Mission Centre Co-President Recently, I was privileged to attend a five-day dance competition in Saskatoon with my daughter-in-law and granddaughters. They were all competing to some degree and, regardless of outcome, agreed that the skill level of the performers was inspiring and rewarding. What really encouraged me was the genuine camaraderie and joy they felt for each dancer’s placement in the competition, along with the encouragement they shared among their peers. I was also able to visit our dear brother Charles Lester in the hospital. We reminisced about joy-filled times together in the past, as well as upcoming activities such as World Conference. He shared some of the wonderful experiences he and Sylvia had at World Conferences and family camps. Our time together was a blessing to us both. The following Sunday, I had the opportunity to be with the congregation in Regina. It is always a joy for me to connect with people and spend time together in fellowship and worship. The hospitality shown to me was delightful! A big part of dance is connecting with the music and telling a story. A big part of the enjoyment of being together is building connections—relationships—with each other and weaving our stories together. We are continuing to look forward to more opportunities to create connections!  By Shannon McAdam, Canada West Mission Centre Co-President As we get closer to World Conference, our Canada West Mission Centre President team is hearing stories from people around the world who are excited to attend! Becky shares about her friend Eva: While Doug and I were in Honduras in February, one of our Community of Christ sisters made a trip into Tegucigalpa—the capital city—for a meeting to secure a visa for going to World Conference in the USA. She was successful in obtaining her visa and is very excitedly looking forward to going! It will be her first time at Conference and her first trip to the US! We are so excited for her and look forward to being with her at Conference! From Kat and Shannon’s friend Elray in the Western Europe Mission Centre: I am very excited about World Conference. I always look forward to the first two joyful days of Conference, because I get to reconnect with friends from all over the world. Then this year, we might just also adopt a nonviolence statement for Community of Christ, which is something I have cared deeply about. Stassi Cramm, and so many others, are being ordained! I also look forward to my own ordination as high priest at the European gathering, which will make this world event even more memorable for me. And from Art: Kamala Rao is a newly ordained Seventy in Bhimavaram, Andhra Pradesh, India. She just received her visa last week for Côte d’Ivoire, where there is a remote site. She’s never been able to get a visa to attend World Conference in the USA. This will be her first-ever trip out of India. She’s very excited to share with the ten other delegates from India and Nepal headed to that remote site, as well as with others from all over Africa—and remotely, with all the delegates from the World Conference. Each of our team members are looking forward to our own pilgrimages as well, and we are looking forward to seeing many of you there.  Elray Henriksen, Shannon McAdam, and Kat Goheen  By Gwyn Beer
Many of you have been on a Lenten journey—a period of fasting, prayer, and giving. This began March 5 (Ash Wednesday) and will end April 17 (Holy Thursday). I was privileged to Zoom into Kirtland Temple on April 13 for Palm Sunday. It was wonderful to see and “be” in the Kirtland Temple via technology. A bittersweet moment for me in a few different ways. We had visited the Kirtland Temple many years ago as a family, and I was privileged to return with my friend Linda Phelps on the Women in World Church History Tour. The Historical Society were the ones who made Palm Sunday happen. Stassi Cramm preached, others gave scripture, and others served communion. I watched from BC and felt transported back to Kirtland. My home congregation in Chilliwack is having a Good Friday service on April 18, led by Janine McCully. We will also enjoy an Easter Sunday worship experience as Brothers and Sisters in Community of Christ. The traditions of welcoming spring through Easter will mean extra treats—from coloured eggs, chocolate bunnies, and marshmallow peeps for the young and young at heart! When the sun rises on April 20, may you feel the wonder and grace that we have received when Jesus rose from the dead to take away our sins. God sent his son to save us all. Be glad and rejoice on Easter Sunday morning! On behalf of the Canada West Mission Centre President Team, Shannon, Kat, and Becky wish you all a wonderful Easter filled with the Holy Spirit, with family, and with friends.  By Shannon McAdam, Canada West Mission Centre Co-President
On a cold and very rainy Sunday morning in March, I walked from my home to Lions Park in Port Coquitlam to lead a mindful walk along the Coquitlam River. I arrived very wet and wondering if anyone would join me as I waited under the picnic shelter. I was delighted that two people from Meetup—one who had never been to a Creating Connection event before, and another who had—chose to brave the rain and join me! I had never met either of them before. We shared in a moment of quiet meditation and then read aloud together a poem by Joy Harjo called “Praise the Rain.” We then took a mindful walk in the rain along the river, sharing what we noticed in nature and engaging in meaningful conversation. For me, it was a day of living the Mission Prayer: God, where will your Spirit lead today? Help me be fully awake and ready to respond. Grant me courage to risk something new and become a blessing of your love and peace. Amen. I had never hosted a meetup like this by myself—only ever with others from Community of Christ. No one from Community of Christ was able to attend, so I was a bit apprehensive. The incessant rain could have been an easy excuse to cancel. But I mustered the courage to risk doing something new, and I am so glad that I did! The participants were grateful for an opportunity to have meaningful connection, and so was I. One of the things we talked about on our walk is how our culture often isolates people instead of bringing people together. We talked about how simple acts of kindness and connection are actually counter-cultural and are so important in our world today. We all risked something new by venturing out in the rain to connect with others, and I was reminded again of how the Spirit works to bring people together when we are open to its leadings. All three of us were seeking community and connection and were able to find it together in nature. If you’ve ever thought about what it might be like to invite others into community, I’d encourage you to think of something that brings you joy—and then think about how it could be shared with others. I love walking along the river by my home, and I love poetry, so this was something easy for me to share with others. Having it posted on Meetup was an easy way for people looking for connection to find the event. Creating meaningful connection doesn’t have to be complicated—it just takes a little courage to show up. Where will God’s Spirit lead you today? How will you courageously respond?  By Gwyn Beer
We have talked about generosity before. Your financial contributions help move everything forward. The cost of living isn’t getting any lower, and your contributions—whether to your local congregation, a favorite campground, helping send others to camp, or the World Church Mission Initiatives—are part of your generous support. Another way to be generous is with your time! Could you take a week out of your busy schedule to serve as a counselor, camp nurse, or lifeguard? So many of you have already given time to camps and reunions in so many different ways. We are looking for your valuable support with camps, retreats, and reunions, and I am also looking for someone to join me at SPEC. It is a commitment of time—one that will come back to you in joy. Your generous use of talents has benefited others through music, food, fellowship, and just plain fun! I have come to value acts of generosity that may seem simple or easy to do. How great is it to receive a Thinking of You card in the mail? What a joy to answer a phone call from a church member miles away who just wanted to chat! Take a moment to send that email you’ve been meaning to write. I am trying these new forms of generosity! Some of you have been practicing this type of generosity for years, and I thank you for that. Let me know the many ways you and others have shared generosity—I know I will be inspired by what I hear!  By Becky Middleton, Canada West Mission Centre Co-President We are in the last week of our time in Honduras for this year. The projects are completed, and everyone is very happy with the results. We’ve also had some fun adventures, including zip-lining, visiting natural hot pools, experiencing cultural events, and sharing coffee and conversation in people’s homes. A special joy for us has been joining with our brothers and sisters at La Buena Fe Congregation of Community of Christ. We may not understand all that is said in the worship service, but the fellowship, heartfelt music, and presence of the Holy Spirit transcend our language barriers. It truly is a testament to our awareness that we are all one family in the community of Christ! Hope is here!  This week I am in Independence for my first World Church Leadership Council meetings as an apostle designate. The Council of 12 Apostles, Presiding Bishopric, President of the High Priests Quorum. President of 70, and First Presidency all gather for these meetings.
It is so inspiring to be in the Temple and Auditorium, hearing wisdom of leaders from around the world, and sharing my Canadian voice. Looking forward to seeing many of you here again during world conference! And the table will be wide. And the welcome will be wide. And the arms will open wide to gather us in. And our hearts will open wide to receive. ~Jan Richardson  By Kat Goheen, Canada West Mission Centre Co-President
World Conference has so many great memories for me: seeing friends from far and wide, sharing in meaningful worship, and participating in the business of the church. It was in the Auditorium main chamber that I realized my affinity for the business of the church, even when sessions were filled with amendments and clarifications. It’s a powerful thing to know that you can request the floor and share your opinion or experience as part of international debate—common consent in action. It’s not as fun to sit through legislative sessions when you’re not well-informed. Three years ago, I was asked to be one of the facilitators for the pre-legislative online sessions held before World Conference. It was wonderful to lead different groups of between 20 and 30 people who came together to seek understanding and to ask better questions. Each group practiced deep listening and revealed the roots that discernment practice is growing in our community. I’m happy to be serving in this capacity again this year. I encourage each of you, whether you will be in Independence on May 30 or not, to register and log in to at least one session. It’s always lovely to see familiar Canada West faces! See what’s moving in the church and how the debate is unfolding. Be in the know! I hope to see you there.  By Becky Middleton, Canada West Mission Centre Co-President Doug and I are currently in Honduras along with Jim Wigood, with Mike Tettenborn and David Levitt soon to join us. We are here to implement a Prince Albert congregation-sponsored project to replace a badly damaged school roof and repair the floor in another. At the same time, Ribstone congregation continues its ongoing initiative, providing school scribblers and pens/pencils for students in need. These supplies are purchased locally—supporting the economy—and distributed by some of our local volunteers. There was literally a truckload of school supplies. There are many generous people who contribute to both of these projects. All volunteers who come do so at their own expense, covering both travel and living costs while here. The people here are no longer strangers but friends who help us help others. Incidentally, we have been reading lately about some well-known celebrities who live simply and donate most of their money to charity. This amounts to millions of dollars in aid and a diverse variety of recipients. Despite what we see on the news, there are many good people in the world who desire to help others have a better life. HOPE IS HERE! |
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