Weekly Wire for October 7, 2015

 

Canada West Mission

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Upcoming Events at a Glance

October 16-18 Theology Weekend Edmonton

October 23-25 Singles Retreat Samish Island

October 24 Child Protection Training Calgary

October 25 Child Protection Training Lethbridge

TBA-Young Adult Dialogue Retreat #2 Calgary

*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!

Edmonton Theology Weekend

World Accord Price Reduction on fall excursion

Canadian Revitalization update

Men’s Retreat Photos

Mission Conference wrap up link

Church Pews for sale – Regina

Child Protection Training – Alberta

Peace and Justice/Human Rights

Send us your articles for What’s Up…In the CWM

Call for Delegates for World Conference 2016

2016 Camping Dates

Links to our Worldwide Ministries website

We want you to ‘like’ our CWM Facebook Page

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Canadian Revitalization has Begun

Many of you may have heard of the “Congregational Revitalization Ministry” initiative being undertaken by the Community of Christ in Canada. Information had been circulated to Pastors earlier in the summer. A posting for four “Revitalization Minsters” appeared on the Canadian church website (both Canada East and Canada West mission centres) for much of the summer. And Kerry Richards, President of Canada East Mission Centre, made a presentation about it at our Mission Conference in Saskatoon last month. This is an update on the hiring process.

Four Revitalization Ministers have been chosen and training for their new positions has begun. The majority of the group participated in the MEADS (Ministerial Education And Discipleship Studies) program at the Kitchener, Ontario, Community of Christ in September. The two courses they took were “Introduction to Spirituality” and “Mission and Evangelism,” which are in essence the alpha and omega of Revitalization. Their first stop as a team will be the Hamilton Community of Christ congregation where they, along with CEM President and Revitalization Project Leader, Kerry Richards, will be embedded in the congregation from October 1 to the end of 2015. They will engage with the congregation and facilitate with them invitational ministries within the surrounding community. Training will be hands-on, with faith in the Spirit's leadings and utilizing the giftedness of the congregation and those skill-sets which they have awaited their whole lives to put into action.

The Revitalization Ministers are: Russ Pirie, Wende Badder, Troy Roach and Bryce Huffman, all from congregations in Canada East Mission Centre. Stay tuned for more great news of what is happening in Hamilton and that can happen in your congregation. REVITALIZATION!!

All four RMs will be placed with four different congregations in Canada East Mission in January. The intention has been to involve congregations in Canada West Mission as well. Initial consultation with congregations in CWM during the summer resulted in interest being expressed in the program by a few congregations. More preparation is required with the congregations contemplating this commitment. Watch for possible involvement by CWM congregations in September 2016 or January 2017.

For details about the initiative please check the documents in the following on-line folder: Congregation Revitalization Initiative or contact Steve Thompson, CWM President, at steve@communityofchrist.ca or 780-904-4389.

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What’s Up…In the CWM

Deadline for submissions is approaching fast, please let me know if you need a day or two more. 

Thanks,

Debra.

Do you have something to share in our newsletter?

Send your news, photos, articles, or stories to

debra@communityofchrist.ca

by October 8, 2015.

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Men’s Retreat

Read about the Men’s Retreat in

“What’s Up…in the CWM” coming soon

to a church or mailbox near you!

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PRICE Reduction:

Sandra Fielder Memorial School Construction Expedition

Due to overwhelming support for the construction materials for this project, we are NOW offering this two week trip with Terry Fielder for $1,100 plus airfare. The trip is Oct 31 - Nov 14. Current airfares today from Toronto are as low as $682. You could easily take this trip for under $2000 (tax receiptable) If you were contemplating going, there will never be a better time. Contact our office at           1-800-525-3545 or get in touch with Al Wigood or Terry Fielder.

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Child Protection – Core Training

Upcoming Sessions

Calgary – Saturday October 24, 9:30 am

Lethbridge – Sunday October 25, 1:00 pm

for more information contact Lisa Neudorf lisa@communityofchrist.ca

Registered Youth Worker Application Form

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Church Pews For Sale

The Regina Congregation has 16 Church Pews for sale. They are constructed with White Oak and have a light walnut stain finish. The pews have Hymnal racks. The set also includes the front row divider panels. 12 pews are 10' in length and seat 6-8 people. 4 pews have been shorted to 7’10” to allow a wheel chair beside the pew. The pews are about 50 years old and in good condition. We are asking $2000 for the set. You can contact Gregg Lester at Gregg.lester@sasktel.net

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Canada West Mission Conference

Look for our Mission Conference 2015

wrap up in your inbox or follow this link.

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Doctrine and Covenants E-book

Community of Christ has our first e-book! It is the Doctrine and Covenants, Kindle edition (free app available to make it compatible with smartphones, tablets and computers). Order it  through the Community of Christ Amazon.ca link and support our church projects.

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Singles Reunion Samish Island was great!

Be sure to join us for our fall Singles Retreat

  October 23-25, 2015 with Guest Minister GPNW President Mike Bessonette

Please contact Tom and Susan Webber at

swebber@cofchrist-gpnw.org or 253-370-8840.

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Call for Delegates for World Conference 2016

If you are planning to attend World Conference June 4-11, 2016, please send me your name so I can add you to the list.

debra@communityofchrist.ca or 1-877-411-2632 ext 4

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Theology Weekend – Edmonton

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 CWM Facebook Page!

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 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 or on the Announcements page .

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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Peace & Justice  --  Human Rights

September 27, 2015

Welcome to this issue from the “In The Forefront” mailing list.  To alter your profile, follow the steps at the end, where your profile is listed. 

This brief newsletter revisits the world of human slavery and slavery-like conditions, focused on those trying to uncover this repugnant largely hidden world.  The first action is URGENT, given that the court case is in mid-October.  The second action involves the head of Mauritania’s most prominent anti-slavery group, who has been detained for almost a year.  In addition there is a thank-you to those opposing the Shell Arctic drilling – they have ceased explorations for now.  The next newsletter will hopefully have some basic guidelines regarding the Syrian refugee crisis.

The blog associated with this newsletter is at: http://untilall.org/blogs/newsletter/.  Feel free to comment on any topic.

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Pour la traduction française: cliqueter ici; et cliqueter alors le bouton de traduction sur la page Web.
Para la traducción española: clic aquí; y entonces hace clic en el botón de traducción en la página web.

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URGENT: DROP CHARGES AGAINST THAI INDUSTRY RESEARCHER

Human rights activist Andy Hall will soon find out if he faces time in prison for reporting on labour rights abuses in the Thai pineapple industry. In 2013 a report entitled Cheap Has a High Price was published by the NGO Finnwatch, which included some of his research.  It contained allegations of worker abuse and slavery-like practices in the Natural Fruit factory, a Thai company that processes pineapples and supplies retailers around the world.

Instead of looking into the allegations, Natural Fruit targeted Andy. He was hauled into court on charges of computer crime and criminal defamation.  Despite an international outcry, Natural Fruit have not backed down.  Thus WalkFree is calling on the Thai government to ensure that all charges against Andy Hall are dropped.

The Thai authorities are already facing global scrutiny for not doing enough to protect workers from abuse — the latest US Trafficking in Persons report gives Thailand the lowest score for action to tackle trafficking.

Take Action:
http://www.walkfree.org/drop-the-charges-against-andy-hall-now/

Background:
Charged in Thailand [The Guardian]
Joint Letter to Thailand Prime Minister [Human Righs Watch]

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FREE MAURITANIA’S ANTI-SLAVERY ACTIVISTS

Biram Dah Abeid is a leading anti-slavery activist in Mauritania, the country with the highest prevalence of slavery in the world1. The organization he founded, the Initiative for the Resurgence of the Abolitionist Movement, has fought for the freedom of countless men, women and children.

Mauritania fully outlawed slavery in 2007 but has systematically failed to end it in practice. It has fallen to activists like Biram to fight for people’s’ freedom and they face regular harassment and harsh treatment in their campaigning.

Take Action:
http://www.walkfree.org/mauritania/

Background:
Mauritanian Sentenced to Prison [Slate]

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=== FOLLOW-UP TO PREVIOUS ISSUES ===
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Shell Stops Its Arctic Drilling

Thanks to all who took action this spring calling on Shell to not drill in the Arctic.  Shell just announced that it will cease exploratory drilling “for the foreseeable future” due to surprisingly marginal discoveries and indirectly to what they saw as the surprising public pressure.
Shell Abandons Alaska  Artic Drilling [Guardian]

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=== ARTICLES OF INTEREST ===
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Detecting (and Eventually Preventing) Mass Killings and Genocide

The US Holocaust Memorial Museum has unveiled an online tool to forecast which countries have the highest risk of state-led mass killings.  The aim of the project is to help prevent civilian mass atrocities by providing earlier and more accurate warning.  Much has been learned from past genocides in Darfur, Bosnia, Rwanda, and the Holocaust in terms of the clear early warning signs that precede mass violence.

The tool takes into consideration factors including political instability and potential threats to a regime's hold on power that might lead to a response in the form of a mass killing. Live expert feedback is also part of the project, which defines mass killings as killings of more than 1,000 civilians.

Topping the list of countries currently at risk are: Myanmar, followed by Nigeria, Sudan, Egypt, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Yemen.
New Tool To Assess Risk of Mass Killings [Al Jazeera]

In appreciation and support,
  Rod Downing

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Canada West Camping and Event Calendar

2015

October 16-18 Theology Weekend Edmonton

October 23-25 Singles Retreat Samish Island

TBA Young Adult Dialogue-Retreat #2 Calgary

2016

Feb12-15 Winter Youth Camp (location to be confirmed)

February 27 Samish Island Kitchen and Cabin Work Day

March 4-6 Nurturing Spirit Weekend Samish Island

March 18-20 Encounter World Religions Program (location to be confirmed)

April 15-17 Pastors Retreat (location to be confirmed)

April 21-24 Fine Arts Retreat Samish Island

April 25-30 Samish Island Work Week

May 27-29 Young Adult Retreat Hills of Peace (to be confirmed)

June 3-5 Camp Genesis (8-9 yrs) Samish Island

June 4-11 World Conference - Independence Missouri

June 13 Samish Island Work Day

June 25-July 1 Adult Reunion Samish Island

July 3 - 8 CWM Youth Camp Hills of Peace

July 9 - 14 Family Reunion Hills of Peace

July 15 - 18 Junior Camp (8-12 yrs) Hills of Peace

July 16-23 Family Reunion Samish Island

July 16-23 Spectacular Graceland University tentative dates

July 24-30 Camp Kluane (girls 12-14 yrs) Samish Island

July 31-Aug 6 Camp Chimacum (boys 12-14 yrs) Samish Island

August 7-13 Camp Kimtah (15-18 yrs) Samish Island

August 6-7 Nurturing Spirit Retreat Hills of Peace

August 14-20 Camp Mungai (10-11 yrs) Samish Island

Sept 2-4 Canada West Mission Conference – Ribstone AB

Sept 23-25 Men’s Retreat Hills of Peace

Sep 30–Oct 2 Women's Retreat Chilliwack

October 28-30 Singles Retreat Samish Island

Note: Hills of Peace Spiritual Retreat cancelled for 2015 due to WC

Dates are subject to change, please register early

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Quote of the Week