 Each week of Advent, we’re sharing a brief postcard from our Mission Centre President team reflecting on the weekly theme and the ways we can draw closer to God and one another during this sacred season.
From the team: In this Advent week of Hope: We pray that your hope will be renewed in this season of Advent, as we celebrate the coming of Christ as a child full of hope.
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 By Rick James of Chilliwack, BC
On Tuesday, October 7, Pat and I travelled to Vancouver Island. We were invited to stay with Dana Donohue and John Nepomuceno for the week and spent Wednesday getting to know them and their wonderful children—Georgia, Sydney, Frankie, and James. On Thursday, I called Carl Bolger, and we were invited to join him and Shirley for a visit on Friday. Carl then invited us to a Saturday breakfast at a local restaurant with Jim and Elaine Watson, Donna Martin, and a friend from Carl’s apartment complex. On Sunday, we had Thanksgiving dinner with John, Dana, their family, and Mitch’s parents, a friend of Georgia’s. During the week, we also visited Butchart Gardens and downtown Victoria near the Parliament buildings—hence the two photos shared here. I called John Canty and talked briefly, as he had just had an operation and wasn’t ready for visitors. I also called Sally Glasier over the weekend and explained that on Monday, October 13, we’d be travelling to Nanaimo and could stop by. She invited us in, and we spent an hour with her and her two grandsons. After leaving Sally, we continued to Nanaimo to the home of Ed and Audrey Salahub. I called Renae Christianson and left a message but didn’t receive a response. We left on October 16 to return home, hoping that those we visited knew how much we appreciated the time together. It’s our intention to return in the spring and visit even more members and friends. In the meantime, I am requesting the email addresses of those on the Island and in the interior so we can stay connected.  As we walk onward together in Community of Christ in Canada, moments of connection and shared reflection remind us of the Spirit at work among us. During a recent retreat at Samish Island, Vickie MacArthur and our new Director of Leadership Development, Lanette Vawter, experienced the power of sacred community that transcends faith traditions. Vickie reflects on how openness, friendship, and quiet listening can help us deepen our shared discipleship as we continue this journey—together. By Vickie MacArthur, from the Lethbridge congregation I always take a deep slow breath as I turn into our beloved Samish Island campgrounds. It’s a cherished moment of arriving, of leaving behind the busyness of my everyday life, a chance to slow down into “Sabbath time at Samish.” This time however, I was not coming to a Community of Christ event, but to a 5-day mostly silent retreat organized by the Anacortes Mindfulness Community, a Buddhist sangha I have connected to through my affiliation with the Plum Village tradition of Buddhist Master Thich Nhat Hanh (www.plumvillage.org). I was not arriving on my own, as my dear friend Lanette was with me, taking in her first Zen Buddhist retreat. What a joy to be sharing this retreat with my Zen Buddhist sangha with my long-time Community of Christ friend. As we stepped onto the grounds, there was that feeling of familiarity, of being welcomed home, but this time was a bit different. Usually, when Lanette and I come to Samish, we both are busy in leadership or teaching roles. This time we were here as guests. However, it also felt like we were welcoming our Buddhist friends, not only from our own love for these sacred grounds, but from our entire circle of Community of Christ friends and families. The theme of the retreat was “What Do I Do Now?”—a timely question as we all face the uncertainties of life both individually and globally. It is a question that can be asked and answered in every moment, but also over time as we seek guidance and discernment for the larger questions of our life. It is a question that cannot be truly answered when we’re too busy planning, or overscheduled, or distracted to listen. “What Do I Do Now?” is like a Buddhist Koan that cannot be understood by intellect alone, but rather invites us into a deeper way of being instead of constantly doing. As we settled into the daily silent rhythm of early morning meditation, breakfast, listening to a dharma talk by wise and caring Zen teachers, walking meditation, lunch, rest, small-group (dharma) sharing, deep relaxation, dinner, and evening activities, I could feel my body beginning to unwind, and my mind beginning to clear. I could feel myself opening to life as it unfolded all around me, watching a Blue Heron effortlessly glide in for a landing on the clear water, or the fall leaves beginning to turn brilliant gold and reds in a last blaze of glory. I savored the silence at meal times, gazing out over Freestad Lake and the guardian trees that reflect perfectly on its surface. Is this what the Buddhists mean—to have a clear mind that perfectly reflects what’s there, instead of all our muddy words and thoughts? I watched in delight as one of my Buddhist friends bowed to the prayer wheel by the Zendo (our meditation hall) then, with a sweep of her hand, sent her prayers off with the wind. How welcoming for her to have a symbol of her own faith here in a Christian retreat centre. I also watched as our Buddhist friends slowly wound their way through the labyrinth, open to this spiritual practice rooted in the Christian tradition. Truly a melding of traditions and communities—what the Buddhists call inter-being—that sense that everything and everyone are inextricably woven together. As Lanette and I sat together in the closing circle for our retreat, at home in the familiar surroundings of the Christian Fellowship Centre (CFC), with memories of the old barn that used to be there, both of us had the feeling of being surrounded by generations of RLDS and Community of Christ families—people just like us, yearning for wholeness, who dreamed the best for future generations, evolving from a “one true church” and other limiting beliefs into a universal movement of Love. We could feel their smiles, their hopes, their laughter, their tears, their undying support. Slowly, the individual question of “What do I do now?” morphed into a collective question of “What do we do now, together?” Community of Christ? Anacortes Mindfulness Community? Plum Village Buddhists? We may have different teachings and practices, but at our core, we all want—and are working toward—the same goal of peace, wholeness, and justice for all. As we move into a new structure that brings together two Mission Centres into a Canadian Church, we would do well to keep pausing and praying, and asking “What do we do now?” both in the short term and the longer eternal view. Perhaps that question can only be answered when we ask “Who are WE now?” As we bring together mission centres and congregations with diverse needs, beliefs, and ideas across a huge geography, I’m imagining not just conversations, but time and space for spiritual practices that help us listen deeper together into this question—one that can only be answered when we take time to listen to the Holy One and to each other. I’m also imagining conversations and sharing with other traditions, in churches, mosques, temples, and forest cathedrals. It’s time to truly move beyond not only the walls of our church, but the walls of religion. The world is waiting.  By Debra Donohue, Creating Connection Director for Canada West
If you’re a gardener, you understand the value of patience. Long before your plants or trees bear fruit, you spend time weeding, feeding, watering, and lovingly caring for them. Without this consistent effort, your plants may wither and die. The same principle applies to the work we've been doing with Creating Connection. For the last three Community of Christ World Conferences, I’ve had the opportunity to help lead the Creating Connection Lunch and Learn sessions. Each year, the room was filled with excitement and enthusiasm. People were eager to participate in a worldwide Creating Connection initiative. But after each World Conference, interest tapered off, with only a few groups choosing to participate independently. Still, we continued nurturing the seeds we had planted. We kept showing up, presenting Creating Connection at every World Conference, and sharing our message with anyone willing to listen. Now, we’re beginning to see growth. We’re currently collaborating with a group in Australia that has a similar program, exploring ways we can support one another and move forward together. We’ve also been asked to translate our CreatingConnection.ca website into French so more people can access our resources. Earlier this month, at the 2025 Lunch and Learn, we had to add chairs in the aisles to accommodate the crowd. People arrived an hour early and stayed half an hour after the scheduled time. Thankfully, I had video clips from previous presentations ready to share, and we opened the floor for questions. We easily filled two hours with rich conversation and information about Creating Connection. It feels like our trees are finally bearing fruit—and it’s incredibly rewarding. I was tempted to say the hard work is over, but that wouldn’t be quite right. The patient work may be behind us, but now it’s time to roll up our sleeves, harvest the fruit, and ensure we keep this momentum going. Look for Creating Connection presentations at reunions this summer and be sure to check out our refreshed website at CreatingConnection.ca. We’re adding new content every week. One last thing—a request. If you have a story of connection from your community, congregation, camp, or retreat, we’d love to hear it. Please share it with us in the blog section of our website. Your success stories inspire others!  By Kat Goheen, Canada West Mission Centre Co-President. "Silence is ultimately something that comes from the heart, not from any set of conditions outside us." - Thich Nhat Hanh “Silence, solitude, and stillness...the perfect combination” – retreat participant This past weekend twenty-four souls gathered on a Friday evening at Samish Island Campground and Retreat Centre to descend into silence until Sunday morning. Autumn is a magical time at Samish Island, with deer munching on apples that have fallen from trees that are scattered across the grounds; trees slowly shedding beautiful red, yellow, and orange leaves; and eagles and herons soaring above. As the wind swept through the area, so too did the spirit sweep us into deeper connection. And as rain fell, so did tears and our masks, clearing away layers of protection around our hearts. There was sitting meditation, walking meditation, art, deep relaxation, and music, all practices that supported us through the silence. Many people were anxious about spending a whole weekend in silence, and all came out of silence with gifts and realizations. Some felt like a prodigal child returned to love. Some felt that they’d sunk into deep grace. Some experienced healing. Some felt challenged to act, speak and think in new ways. If you have the opportunity to spend some time in silence, we would encourage you to take it, even if for just an afternoon. If you can spend some of that silent time in nature, even better. You may be surprised by the richness that is found when you allow silence time to soothe you.  A postcard from the Canada West Mission Centre President Team.
What we loved about conference: Becky: Being together! Great fellowship, food and fun! FABULOUS!! Kat: Wearing George Allen’s name tag! Gwyn: Renewed relationships and new relationships. “Make new friends, but keep the old…” Shannon: Seeing so many familiar faces in person, and walking the ravine with old and new friends.  By Debra Donohue Creating Connection Director Canada West This past weekend we held “What is Enough? Making Space for What Matters” at Samish Island Campground and Retreat Centre. This is the second time we’ve combined the Nurturing Spirit team and the Nurturing Justice team to create a space that can both acknowledge the tough stuff, like making changes and bringing awareness to challenging topics, while offering nurturing practices to help process these topics in a loving and healing way. At this retreat we offer both 2 and 3-night packages for those who can attend longer. And really, who doesn’t want to spend more time at Samish! The Sessions We began the weekend really looking at what nurtures our spirit and questioning what is enough and what is too much for each of us individually. We discussed sustainable practices like composting, recycling, upcycling, and buying better quality product that will last longer so we’ll have less waste. The group shared tips on repairing furniture, appliances, darning socks and using the ‘visible mending’ technique to mend clothing creatively without discarding it. We explored the concept of What is Enough to retire on and what kind of lifestyle could be ‘enough’ for us. Isabelle Hachette from World Accord had just returned from a visit to Nepal, and she shared success stories in the RENEW program. Our discussions included how embracing a new idea often requires a profound change, which can be sparked by either beautiful or tragic experiences. We talked about the Climate Crisis and used the old stories of Stone Soup and Loaves and Fishes to explore sharing in community as a way to use less. Stories are a wonderful way to help us open up to both new ideas and old ones that can still work in for us in today’s world. We delved into systemic racism and acknowledged how one race can never fully understand another’s experience of racism. To balance these intense discussions, we engaged in playful and creative activities such as playing games, writing poetry, sculpting with playdough, and coloring. We ventured into the forest for Forest Bathing and practiced the deep relaxation technique of Yoga Nidra. We also tried simple practices like breathing, rocking, shaking, tapping and sounding to help our nervous system slow down, rest, and relax. Our goal was not to judge what is enough for anyone, but to help each of us explore what is enough for ourselves and recognize what might not be enough for others. My brother, David Donohue did a weekend of service at Samish. He painted, mowed the lawn, pressure washed, chopped wood, helped us with tech, and much more. To find out how you can do a weekend of service at Samish Island during one of our retreats, and at no charge, contact [email protected] Our next Nurturing Spirit retreat is the Nurturing Silence retreat at Samish Island, Washington. The theme is ‘Deepening into Silence’ Go to www.NurturingSpirit.CreatingConnection.ca to reserve your spot. More information will be coming soon.  Nurturing Creativity of the Soul Retreat March 8-10 at Stillwood Retreat Centre, Cultus Lake BC Our special guest facilitator, Lana Cullis, presented us with an extraordinary opportunity: the chance to nurture personal creativity, regardless of whether we consider ourselves inherently creative or not. The rewards of cultivating creativity extend far beyond the artistic realm, encompassing improved health, heightened joy and wellbeing, and even financial abundance. With a pitch as compelling as that, joining Lana for this retreat was an irresistible proposition! The sessions were a delightful blend of fun and diversity, covering topics such as "Myths, Mysteries, and Misunderstandings," "Childhood Creativity," "What Colour is Your Creative Soul," "Creativity and Money," and "Honouring our Personal Lineage of Creativity," among others.  What made our retreat truly unique was its format. Each topic was explored for 30 minutes, after which we had the opportunity to put our newfound knowledge into practice through journaling or by utilizing the six tables stocked with an array of craft supplies, bringing our creative visions to life.  I highly recommend our suggested reading for this retreat:
Soul Space: Transform Your Home, Transform Your Life And Big Magic Registration is open for our upcoming retreat May 31st to June 2nd “What is Enough” follow the link for more details  Welcome to the inaugural edition of Creating Connection Corner, where we aim to keep you connected with upcoming events and much more each month. Discover effortless ways to amplify your voice within your congregation or community. We will furnish links to national and international interfaith events, climate and social justice activities, and walks that you and your community can effortlessly join. Consider initiating a Creating Connection group within your congregation or community, and we'll share inspiring success stories along with step-by-step guidance on commencing with the unwavering support of Creating Connection. Furthermore, delve into valuable tips and tutorials on harnessing the power of social media platforms integral to Creating Connection. Keep an eye out for Creating Connection Corner features in the Weekly Wire, and don't forget to explore our dedicated Creating Connection Corner page on the CWM website. There, you'll find our blog with an archive of all our Creating Connection Corner posts. In this edition, we are excited to guide you through the process of setting up a Meetup account, allowing you to stay informed about our diverse range of events. Our five Meetup pages cover online and in-person activities in Vancouver, Calgary, Chilliwack, and Edmonton, in addition to our Nurturing Spirit Meetup page. Join us on this journey of connection and community-building! How to Create an account on Meetup:
Why do we want to see your name and photo on meetup.com? It helps our hosts to know who is attending, if we know them, and is also very helpful for security purposes. So please add your name and photo to your account if possible.
 In the last quarter of 2023, Troy Roach (my colleague in Canada East) and I, discovered that many people aren’t aware of the things we’re doing in Creating Connection, and some still weren’t aware of the program at all! This came as quite a surprise to Troy and me because we’ve felt like we were screaming our lungs out for the last several years. It was Dar Shepherdson, Bishop of Canada, who suggested we become more ‘Evangelical’ in our sharing with Community of Christ in Canada, so that my friends is Creating Connection’s New Years Resolution. Last year in Canada West, I pulled back from some of the online programing I was doing to focus on in-person activities and work with individual congregations. Most congregations have not seen church attendance return to pre-pandemic levels so we want you to know that Creating Connection is here for you and can offer support with outreach and programming. This is also an excellent way to invite people who haven’t attended church in a while to meaningful but non-churchy events. We use a platform called Meetup.com to advertise to people outside the church and you can have a look through the links below to see what’s happening in some cities in western Canada. You’ll notice the online events are posted on all our Meetup pages. The in-person events will only appear in that city, except for retreats. If your congregation or small group (non-residents) are interested, I would love to do an online presentation about Creating Connection. After that, I would be happy to visit you and do some in-person events in your community so you can see live examples. And finally, I would like to invite you to attend our ‘Nurturing Creativity of the Soul’ retreat at Stillwood Campground near Chilliwack March 8-10. Lana Cullis is our special guest facilitator. The cost is $275 per person which includes accommodations, 6 meals, and all supplies. The early bird rate of $225 is available until January 28th, so please book soon. For more information and to register go to www.NurturingSpirit.CreatingConnection.ca Looking forward to connecting with you soon!
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