Weekly Wire for March 2, 2016

Canada West Mission

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Upcoming Events at a Glance

2016

February 27 Samish Island Kitchen and Cabin Work Day

March 4-6 Nurturing Spirit Retreat Samish Island

March 18-20 Weekend of World Religions Vancouver

April 15-17 Pastors Retreat Edmonton

April 22-24 Fine Arts Retreat Samish Island

April 25-30 Samish Island Work Week

*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!

 

First Presidency Shares Financial Update

Letter from Apostle Arthur Smith

Arts Retreat Samish Island

Nurturing Spirit Retreat Samish Island

Weekend of World Religions – Vancouver

New Community of Christ App

Winter Youth Retreat Regina

Shopping on Amazon.ca

Call for Delegates for World Conference 2016

What’s Up…In the CWM, Christmas in Review online edition

2016 Camping Dates

Links to our Worldwide Ministries website

We want you to ‘like’ our CWM Facebook Page

Buy or Hold, Market Situation and Challenge

Quote of the Week

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First Presidency Shares Financial Update

2/18/2016

The First Presidency and World Church leaders want to share the following financial updates and related information with the church:

Videos

• Steve Veazey interviewed by Linda Booth
• World Church leadership transitions announcement and statements to the church by Steve Veazey and Stassi Cramm

Documents

• Letter about World Church Leadership transitions and statements to the church by Stassi Cramm and Steve Veazey
• “The Way Forward” statement by Scott Murphy
• Financial Update Questions and Answers

Dear friends,

What a devastatingly difficult time in the life of Community of Christ!

We just lived through a frightening year of budget reductions and staff layoffs. With such sadness barely behind us, how could this be happening AGAIN?!?!

Several days have gone by now, since the news began going out to the church. In a way, it hasn’t gotten any easier, but the Holy Spirit is so very persistent.

Words from Doctrine and Covenants 164: 9a keep asserting themselves in my mind.

9 a. Beloved children of the Restoration, your continuing faith adventure with God has been divinely led, eventful, challenging, and sometimes surprising to you. By the grace of God, you are poised to fulfill God’s ultimate vision for the church.

Challenges abound! That’s sure an understatement! Poised to fulfill God's ultimate vision for the church?!?  What might that be? Is that message to us a mistake? No!

What’s really wild is that everywhere I go in the church I see opportunity as never before. At no time in my lifetime, have I had so much hope for the church I love. Self-sustaining leaders of all ages are stepping up with renewed energy and determination to engage in Christ's mission, offering invitation, peace and refuge. People are experimenting with exciting new ministries, creating entry points for people into the church, to be embraced by the Holy Spirit and to find a loving community.

We've got Meetups, Coffee and Conversation groups, Community Place creatively using the internet to keep people connected, Congregation Revitalization, innovative ministries, campus ministries, mission advocates, Ministerial Education and Discipleship Studies, community gardens, community meals, campgrounds, new congregations springing up and heritage congregations rediscovering pride in a sacred identity worth sharing.

Thousands of people, Latter-day Seekers and others, every year, are investigating the Community of Christ. Many are finding it to be a good place of sanctuary, openness, authenticity and a spiritual home through which to engage in mission.

So much financial stress and strain and so much hope, all at the same time! We must respond generously as we’re able, so that we can pursue all the opportunities. Our heritage of faith is filled with stories of God choosing to work with the one who others might dismiss. (David, the shepherd boy, Mary, the unwed young mother, Saul, the hateful persecutor, Joseph, a poor boy seeking answers.)

We must not give up! Don't miss out on the opportunity to be part of what God has in store for us. These are not just words. It is time to faithfully apply all the work that has been done over these last years, to discern God's call to us for this day and age. We must share our basic beliefs, our enduring principles, our mission initiatives and the wonderful spirit of the Restoration with others.

Share about Sionito social housing ministry! Invite friends to see the difference these residences are making in our cities!

Share about World Accord! Invite friends to know of this life saving ministry!

Share about Encounter World Religions! Invite friends to thrill in learning and building new relationships across cultures!

Share about the work of the Canada Peace and Justice Team! Invite your friends to make a difference!

Share our sacred story with a Latter-day Seeker! Prepare yourself through studying materials on the Latter-day Seeker website. Become a living sanctuary of God’s grace with those searching. Mentor someone in person or on-line.

Share the beautiful texts of our new hymnal!

Share the sacred story of our church, the adventure, the way it has made a difference in your life and in the lives of others around the world!

Share an invitation to a camp or a reunion!

Share an invitation to a silent retreat or to another opportunity to grow spiritually!

Share an invitation to build relationships through conversation that matters!

Share an invitation with a brother or sister, someone from Community of Christ, who has been neglected or ignored, or who we've struggled with, to sit down for a chat. Listen to them.

Prepare to be astonished at what is going to happen as we respond.  Can you almost catch a glimpse of it (God's ultimate vision for the church)? Friends, God's not done with us yet! This wonderful Community of Christ is about to burst with all the potential inside. Let's let it out!

I am deeply honoured to be your apostle in this exciting time!

In Christ's peace,

Art Smith

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Follow the link below to see the

2016 World Conference Resolutions

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Chilliwack Craft Day

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Samish Island Arts Retreat

Returning this year will be:

Andy Porter - Photographer

John Sedgwick - Photographer

Michael Hickey - Writer & Poet

Thom Mayes - Whatcom Symphony

Nan Sargent - Kid's Class

Shonnet Allen - Cook Extraordinaire

Shelley Beer - Cook Extraordinaire

And hopefully each of you!

Bio's and class titles for confirmed classes and teachers will be listed on the Facebook page. Be sure to say yes to the event or like the page for the most up to date info.

Please contact me with questions pertaining to a family/group rate or single day fee.

Registration

Stacy Hicks stacyhicks@gmail.com

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Click  to see

What’s Up…In the CWM, Christmas in Review

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Nurturing Spirit Retreat

Last chance to Register!

A  schedule is available,

send requests to debra@communityofchrist.ca

Guest Minister Laurie Gordon

Laurie Gordon is a spiritual director and an Evangelist in Community of Christ, living in Bend, Oregon. Laurie’s lifelong passion for contemplative practice and the natural world has deepened her sense that the universe reverberates with Holy Mystery. When we turn to stillness, listen deeply and awaken to an awareness of God’s Presence in and through all things, we touch this Mystery. We open to God’s invitation to be transformed; to embody Christ’s wisdom and compassion; to become vehicles of loving, Spirit-infused action in the world.

Please register early to debra@communityofchrist.ca

For E Cabins, preference will be given first to those with a need         and second to the first registered.

Please register early and advise us of any food allergies you have.

Registration is by donation

Canada West Mission Centre is continuing to offer camps and retreats at no charge to ensure that registration fees are not barriers to participation. Donations are accepted to help offset the costs of the events. As you consider your donations this year, please keep in mind that the high exchange rate between the US and Canadian dollars will result in higher costs to the Mission Centre to fund camps and retreats. Thank you for your past and continuing support of these events. Contact Debra Donohue for more information if needed debra@communityofchrist.ca or 1-877-411-2632 ext 4

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Community of Christ App for Android and IOS

Community of Christ launched an app for Android and iOS devices. The app is available for download from Google Play and the App Store on iTunes.

With the Community of Christ app, you can read daily spiritual devotions, watch inspiring videos, stay in touch with mission happening around the world, and much more.

The app development was funded through the generous offerings received during the USA National Conference after event expenses were met.

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Here is the  link for “Community of Christ and Amazon.ca ” to make purchases and have up to 8.5% returned to the Canadian church.

Learn how it works here Community of Christ Amazon video

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Register Today! 

Space is still available

*Please note, if you choose to attend Friday evening only and afterwards discover that you’d like to join us for the whole weekend, your $25 fee will be applied to the weekend fee of $100, provided space is available.

Click below to go to the

Encounter World Religions website

Brian Carwana, Director of the Encounter World Religions Centre

Brian Carwana is the director of the Encounter World Religions Centre, an educational organization designated as a “Gift Of Service To The World” by the Parliament of World Religions. Brian has worked as an educator in religions and cultural diversity for fourteen years and finds religion endlessly fascinating for understanding global issues or individual lives. He has taken thousands of people to places of worship, observed rituals and festivals, and formed lasting relationships with Muslim imams, Jewish cantors, and Wiccan priestesses. Brian also brings a strong academic background with a Masters degree in religion and culture and is currently a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Toronto. Audiences repeatedly comment on how his lectures combine great learning with an approach that is enjoyable and accessible. He has delivered conference keynote speeches, lectured at universities, been a visiting scholar in the United States, and taught in varied settings including corporate, churches, hospitals, and police forces. He looks forward to sharing with you the extraordinary worlds of humanity's religious traditions.

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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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 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.

Community of Christ, What We Offer You Video

To those seeking a spiritual home, Community of Christ is a welcoming, loving, worldwide faith community that values the worth of every person as a child of God, and provides a safe space for you to explore and deepen your relationship with Jesus Christ and each other.

In Community of Christ, you will receive love and support as you discover renewed purpose for your life through compassionate, Christ-like service that ends suffering and fosters justice and peace.

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Canada West Camping and Event Calendar

2016

March 4-6 Nurturing Spirit Retreat Samish Island

March 18-20 Weekend of World Religions Vancouver

April 15-17 Pastors Retreat Edmonton

April 22-24 Fine Arts Retreat Samish Island

April 25-30 Samish Island Work Week

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

June 4-11 World Conference - Independence Missouri

June 13 Samish Island Work Day

June 17-19 Young Adult Retreat Hills of Peace

July 3 - 8 CWM Youth Camp Hills of Peace

July 9 - 14 Family Reunion Hills of Peace

July 15 - 19 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

August 28- September 2 Singles Reunion 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 World Conference

Dates are subject to change, please register early

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Quote of the Week