Canada West Mission
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Upcoming Events at a Glance
August 2-8 Camp Kimtah (15-18 yrs) Samish Island
August 7-9 Nurturing Spirit Weekend Hills of Peace
August 9-15 Camp Mungai (10-11 yrs) Samish Island
August 16-21 NW Singles Retreat Samish Island
September 4-6 Canada West Mission Conference – Saskatoon, SK
Sept 25-27 Men’s Retreat Hills of Peace
October 2-4 Women’s Retreat Chilliwack
October 2-4 Young Adult Retreat Samish Island
*dates subject to change, always check online or here for the most up to date information.
All camping dates are included at the bottom of the Weekly Wire and on the CWM website.
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This Week…in the Weekly Wire!
Camping and Retreat Information
Announcement from Apostle Art Smith
Message from Steve Thompson
Job Opportunity in the CWM
Spiritual Retreat HOP review
Register for Mission Conference
Call for Delegates for World Conference 2016
How to register and pay for US run Samish Camps
Reunion photos and link
Josh Cravy’s Mississippi Squirrel Video
Northwest Singles Reunion
Reunion Resources Available
Links to our Worldwide Ministries website
We want you to ‘like’ our CWM Facebook Page
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Job Opportunity
Church Mission and Young Adult Ministries Specialist
Do you have a desire to help your church grow in one of Canada’s largest cities? Does the challenge of bringing new life and energy to a mission-oriented congregation excite you? Is helping young adults find their place in the life of the church an objective that is not just appealing, but personally motivating to you? Are you seeking a new, challenging, leadership opportunity in your faith journey and in your career experience? If you answered “yes” to all of these questions, then we want to hear from you!
The Canada West Mission Centre is seeking a “Church Mission and Young Adult Ministries Specialist” to work with the Calgary Congregation of the Community of Christ to help the congregation fulfill God’s mission in Calgary, and to help local young adult members and friends of the congregation find their place in the life of the contemporary church.
For details on this opportunity, and instructions on how to apply, please find the position description here or contact the Canada West Mission Centre President, Stephen Thompson, at steve@communityofchrist.ca. Applications are to be submitted by Tuesday, September 8, 2015.
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A Message from the President
Hello Canada West
I hope you will say, “Steve, I already know all of this!” But just in case, here are a few reminders about the rest of the summer:
1. Nurturing Spirit Retreat, August 7 to 9 at Hills of Peace is still accepting registrations. (In fact – we could use a BUNCH more people to come!) Please remind your congregations about the retreat, check information (hopefully) on your bulletin boards, and come check it out. The CWM Hills of Peace camp/retreat on-line registration form can be used for this event. It can be found at: http://register.communityofchrist.ca/cwmregistration.php
2. Mission Conference: Labour Day Weekend, September 4 to 6, in Saskatoon. Again – see information already distributed. Registration form is on the CWM website at http://www.communityofchrist.ca/uploads/downloads/forms/CWM-MissionConferenceRegistrationForm.pdf
Or – at least ask people to email Debra Donohue to let her know they intend to go: debra@communityofchrist.ca .
3. Mission Conference note #2: If any of your delegate information for your congregation has changed, also please advise Debra of anyone no longer going, of someone who is now going, or of any other kind of delegate changes.
4. Mission Conference note #3: To the extent possible, we will try to circulate the business meeting agenda a week or so before the meeting so that delegates have a chance to be aware of the business items to be discussed. Anyone who was at either the Hills of Peace or Samish Reunions may be aware of a proposed motion from the Vancouver Congregation. I have notice from the congregation that they will be considering a revised motion on August 16, so we will do our best to circulate that revised motion as soon as we can.
5. Finally, WORLD Conference Delegates: Please ask anyone in your congregations who may wish to attend World Conference in June 2016 as a delegate for CWM to let Debra know (see address above). These delegates will be elected as part of the business meeting at Mission Conference.
Thank you so much for your efforts in support of these Mission Centre events!
--Steve
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Announcement from Apostle Art Smith
Dear sisters, brothers and friends in Christ,
I am pleased and honoured to mark July 1st, 2015 as the beginning of my assignment to serve Community of Christ Canada West and Canada East mission centres. Having grown up in Gatineau, Quebec, I am Canadian. My son was born in Canada and Laura’s and my two children are Canadian citizens. My family loves our great country and we are most happy that we’ll be spending more time there in the future.
Since the announcement that Canada East and Canada West mission centres would be added to my field, and with the full support of Apostle Susan Oxley, I have been blessed with several opportunities to travel into these two mission centres, to visit with people, to be included in team meetings and to begin to get to know our staff. That has been a very nice blessing.
In collaboration with Apostle Susan Oxley (now retired) and Director of Field Ministries Scott Murphy, and after a period of conversation and discernment with staff in Canada, I would like to announce some changes to staff roles and ask for your support for these changes. Susan, Scott and I, as well as the Canadian staff, believe that this staff deployment will position us well for facing challenges and opportunities for mission.
We have asked Tim Stanlick to assist me by serving as an Executive Administrator for Canada. Appointed by me to this role, Tim will bring his excellent organizational and management skills to significant projects across Canada. Tim will be assigned to serve alongside the Bishop of Canada, our mission centre presidents and mission centre financial officers, always in support of expanding our mission in Canada. This does mean that Tim will conclude his service as Canada East Mission Centre President.
We are grateful to Tim for his service in that role that has blessed the church.
We have asked Kerry Richards to serve as Canada East Mission Centre President. Kerry’s passion for mission will bless Canada East mission centre. Kerry will leave his role as Director of Mission for Canada, but will continue to bring significant leadership in Canada East and Canada West as director of a growing project to revitalize congregations in Canada. You will soon be hearing more about the opportunity to participate in this revitalization project.
I pray that you will be blessed by the same spirit of peace and confirmation that has graced Susan, Scott and me as we have considered the timeliness of these changes.
Tim and Kerry have already begun transitioning into new roles. They will officially assume their new positions on August 1st, 2015. But in the meantime, watch for them beginning to support each other and you through new responsibilities and callings.
Canada East mission centre delegates will have an opportunity to sustain Brother Kerry as mission centre president at the next mission centre conference on 17 October 2015.
I believe that Community of Christ in Canada, by the grace of God, is poised to fulfill God’s ultimate vision for the church (Doctrine and Covenants 164:9a). How wonderful that God has invited us to participate together in this great and marvelous work for this time and place!
It will be a blessing to see you soon in Canada,
Art Smith
Council of Twelve Apostles
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Call for Delegates for World Conference 2016
We will be voting in our Canada West Mission Delegates for World Conference 2016 at Mission Conference in Saskatoon this September.
If you are planning to attend World Conference June 4-11, 2016, please send me your name by August 1, 2015 so I can add you to the list.
debra@communityofchrist.ca or 1-877-411-2632 ext 4
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It’s time to register for
Canada West Mission Conference
send to debra@communityofchrist.ca
or bring your form to Mission Conference and email me today with the names and ages of who will be attending.
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Nurturing Spirit Retreat
Hills of Peace
Pre-Registration is required Online OR contact Lisa Neudorf: lisa@communityofchrist.ca or 1-877-411-2632, ext 5
Note: online registration does not work on mobile
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Samish Island Reunion 2015
Click below to see Josh Cravy’s
See more photos of both Samish Island and Hills of
Peace Reunions on our CWM Facebook page
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Thank you to everyone at BC Reunion who helped
contribute to the 30 letters and 39 signatures for
Human Rights Issues.
Your efforts are greatly appreciated.
Rod Downing
Peace and Justice
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Click here to read What’s Up…In the CWM
online and in full color!
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Payments for US run Samish Island
Camps and Retreats
Just a reminder to register for Samish Island U.S.-run youth camps before the early bird deadline.
These camps have set registrations for participants from the U.S., however Canadians may participate on the same donation basis that is available for events operated by the Canada West Mission Centre. Register for the event through this link GPNW Camps or use the fillable form on this page and email them to Dianne Webberly dwebberley@cofchrist-gpnw.org (i.e., do NOT use Canada West Mission Centre registration forms or processes).
Your donations to Canada West Mission Centre may be made in any of the following ways:
· By mail, addressed to: Steve Thompson, Financial Officer, Box 345, 224-6655 178 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T5T 4J5
· By email via Interac e-transfer (if available from your bank) to: steve@communityofchrist.ca
· By Electronic Donation via: www.CanadaHelps.org
(search for: Community of Christ Canada West Mission)
For all methods of donation, be sure to indicate the camp for you which you are registering.
Have a terrific summer camping season!
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Samish Island - Upcoming Youth Camps
To register for Samish Youth Camps, please use this form, GPNW Camps or use the fillable form on this page
and mail or email your form to dwebberley@cofchrist-gpnw.org
To register for Samish Youth Camps, please use this form, GPNW Camps or use the fillable form on this page
and mail or email your form to dwebberley@cofchrist-gpnw.org
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Go to our facebook page to see what’s going on in the CWM
and be sure to ‘like’ us.
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Community of Christ website links …
Community of Christ Upcoming Events: Visit the Community of Christ Calendar at www.CofChrist.org/events to see upcoming events, links to Daily Prayer for Peace, and Worship Resources.
Community of Christ Current Announcements: See the most current announcements on Community of Christ homepage at www.CofChrist.org or on the Announcements page at www.CofChrist.org/announcements.
Community of Christ Mission Stories: Mission Stories
The next link is to a great video produced by the Community of Christ that everyone should see.
Must See Video!
Community of Christ, What We Offer You Video
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Northwest Singles Reunion
To register, send your information to dwebberley@cofchrist-gpnw.org with the subject line “Canadian registering for Singles Reunion”.
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Canada West Camping and Event Calendar
2015
August 2-8 Camp Kimtah (15-18 yrs) Samish Island
August 7-9 Nurturing Spirit Weekend Hills of Peace
August 9-15 Camp Mungai (10-11 yrs) Samish Island
August 16-21 NW Singles Reunion Samish Island
September 4-6 Canada West Mission Conference – Saskatoon, SK
Sept 25-27 Men’s Retreat Hills of Peace
October 2-4 Women’s Retreat Chilliwack
October 2-4 Young Adult Retreat Samish Island
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Thought for the Week
If you smile, even if you’re in a bad mood,
it will immediately improve your mood,
because the simple act of thinking about smiling
and using those muscles,
is enough to trigger happy chemicals in the brain.
Keep Smiling!