 A new online book club is beginning on May 14. In this first eight-week series of weekly gatherings, we will read and discuss Henri Nouwen’s “Spiritual Formation: Following the Movements of the Spirit” through prayer, reflection, and conversation together.
Over the next eight weeks, the group will explore Spiritual Formation: Following the Movements of the Spirit by Henri Nouwen. Facilitated by Beyond the Walls community members Vickie Thatcher and Don Wiley, sessions will take place Thursdays at 8:00 p.m. ET, 7:00 p.m. CT, 6:00 p.m. MT, and 5:00 p.m. PT. Each session will begin with prayer and a Visio Divina or Lectio Divina before moving into presentation and discussion of a chapter. This is not intended to be an academic study, but an opportunity to grow in our understanding of spirituality and deepen our personal spiritual practices together. Each week will also provide time for sharing experiences of spiritual growth. Weekly Reading Schedule May 14 — Introduction to Henri Nouwen and overview of the writings May 21 — Chapter 1: From Opaqueness to Transparency May 28 — Chapter 2: From Illusion to Prayer Jun 4 — Chapter 3: From Sorrow to Joy Jun 11 — Chapter 4: From Resentment to Gratitude Jun 18 — Chapter 5: From Fear to Love Jun 25 — Chapter 6: From Exclusion to Inclusion Jul 2 — Chapter 7: From Denying to Befriending Death
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 The Ministry of the Priest Temple School course will be offered May 26–28, 2026, with instructor Debi Weaver, hosted by the Brydges Street congregation in London, Ontario.
This course is open to those currently serving in the office of Priest as well as those interested in learning more about this ministry. Participants can attend in person at 1446 Aldersbrook in London or join online via Zoom, with the Zoom link shared prior to the course. Classes will be held: Tuesday, May 26 9:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 27 9:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m. Thursday, May 28 9:00 a.m.– 12:00 p.m. Registration deadline: May 22. Participants will need the Ministry of the Priest workbook from Herald House For more information or to register, please contact Nancy Baer at [email protected] Those who are interested in a future Introduction to Elder course—either to refresh requirements or explore a call to this ministry—are also invited to contact Nancy Baer to express interest.  Preparing to officiate a wedding? Brydges Street Congregation in London, ON, invites you to attend a marriage certification course on Saturday, April 11. You can join in person or online. Online participants will receive the Zoom link and course materials after registering.
Instructor Kevin Mercer will lead this course for priesthood members serving as elders or priests who want to learn or review current church and provincial regulations. The session will focus on Ontario marriage requirements. When: Saturday, April 11, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. EDT Where: Brydges Street Congregation, 1550 Brydges St, London, ON N5W 2C8 Registration deadline: April 9, 2026 To register, contact Nancy Baer at [email protected]  With the birth of a unified Community of Christ in Canada mission centre comes a wonderful opportunity to shape policies and procedures that truly reflect Canadian culture, context, and legal standards. As many of you know, we are moving toward securing Canadian-based insurance coverage, which will increase our ability to be responsive and adhere to Canadian risk management policies.
As we moved through this process, we discovered that our existing Registered Child and Youth Worker certification required updating to align with current Canadian insurance and legal requirements. This realization opened the door to something even better: the development of a made-in-Canada policy framework and certification program designed specifically for our context. Significant care and collaboration have gone into creating a program that equips leaders to serve safely, faithfully, and confidently—while ensuring the highest standards of protection for children, youth, and vulnerable persons. We are thrilled to launch the Program Activity Leader and Assistants (PAL) certification program this spring. This initiative represents an important step forward in strengthening our ministries and deepening our commitment to providing safe, welcoming, and accountable environments for all. We will begin by training the trainer in March, followed by training for camping staff from April to June. Training for other leaders, including priesthood, will follow in the fall.  This spring, take the next step in your ministry journey with the Centre for Innovation in Ministry and Mission (CIMM). In partnership with Community of Christ and Graceland University, CIMM offers two upcoming sessions of online courses beginning March 2 and May 4, designed to support priesthood formation, leadership development, and deeper engagement with scripture.
These eight-week online classes are open to everyone and are structured for flexible participation. Each course includes weekly readings, discussion forums, and facilitator feedback, with assignments due Sundays by 2:00 p.m. CT. Participants who complete three classes earn certification. Spring Session: March 2 – April 26, 2026
Early Summer Session: May 4 – June 28, 2026
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