Occasional

As Marion indicated in her Last post, we have been talking for some time about the future of What’s the Good Word. It is clear from many of your comments and questions that some of you are wondering too. You deserve an answer, so the purpose of this post is simply to share with you what we have in mind.

We began the blog in June of 2009 as another channel of communication and conversation. Marion chose the title as representative of all the good things that were (and are) happening in Canada East Mission, which is primarily what we wanted to share. Marion took the initiative to get it going. Within two weeks I began contributing occasionally and then regularly. For almost 2 ½ years, we have blogged 5 days per week. I guess we must have had a lot to say, because between us we amassed over 600 of these short essays.

During that time, you, our faithful readers and friends, have been generous with your appreciation, often shared with us personally if not in the comments section. We have highly valued your thoughts. At the same time, it sometimes felt a little daunting when people would tell us the blog had become part of their morning devotions! We were glad people found the blog so helpful, but "devotional" really was never our intent. We talked about that, finally deciding (in Marion's immortal words) "it is what it is," and then went on with what we do.

For both Marion and me, writing is part of what we do, and it is generally more of a pleasure than a chore. Still, it takes a little time each day to prepare a thoughtful piece, and Marion’s retirement represents a major transition. Were I now to take on the task of blogging 5 days per week, the task would indeed become a chore and perhaps a burden. We do not want that to happen. Our conversations together should always be joyous and never an obligation.

Consequently, we have decided to shift What’s the Good Word from a Monday to Friday blog to a more occasional one. Occasional is much more the norm in the blogosphere, with many bloggers who began writing daily, moving to semi-regular offerings. We will continue to share good news as it occurs, probably along with other musings, not every day but perhaps two or three times per week. We hope Marion may still contribute occasionally, and who knows, perhaps some of the other CEM staff, either in the office or out, may also find they have something they wish to say.

It you have subscribed to receive the blog by email, you will continue to get it there. It will also continue to show up on facebook. If you miss receiving a daily piece, there are half a dozen fine blogs listed to the left that you may wish to follow, and there are many others available. We may add more from time to time, and you may also wish to suggest some that you especially like.

So…today marks a transition of sorts, or at least a shift in the frequency of the conversations we enjoy together here. As we have often tried to point out, a conversation flows two ways, so let me ask you, dear friends, What’s the Good Word for you today?

Oh, and by the way, Happy Halloween!

Posted by Carman

Conference 2011

Last Saturday was the annual Canada East Mission Centre conference. It was a great day. The morning began with praise music led by Bryce Huffman and his guitar, followed by almost three hours of positive reports. The reports included details of progress made on CEM’s goals as outlined in the 2020 Vision.

Conference participants rejoiced together over news that more young adult leaders have stepped up to take important roles, both in congregations and in the camping program. Their spirits were lifted further as they watched a video provided by the leadership team in the new Barrie congregation detailing its first year of life, and then by the hope for another new plant, this time in New Brunswick.

Co-missioned Pastor Initiative (CPI) director, Doug Bolger, detailed what we have learned in almost three years of the CEM pilot project, and discussed plans to morph that learning into a new Leadership Development program now in the early stages of design. The goal here is to provide training for more people, both present and future leaders, at the same time. Doug also shared about a new Discipleship Formation Team now in the planning stage.

Following this, two of our Mission Advocates shared about some of the positive momentum in the congregations they support. It was exciting to hear of congregations beginning to catch a new vision of ways in which they can actually fulfill the mission of Jesus Christ. It was also obvious that they are also having fun doing it. Then Bishop Mel Mills shared a presentation concerning What Matters Most workshops, both what has been accomplished to date and what we have learned.

J.W. Windland shared some of the special ministry that Encounter World Religions Centre is involved in. Their teaching of inter-religious peace now include providing training for staff and officers of the Canadian Armed Forces about the nature of Islam. J.W. has also been asked to conduct a special three day workshop for the Council of Twelve, and perhaps other members of the World Church Leadership Council on major world religions.

Tim Stanlick shared concerning plans for the Canadian National Conference coming up on June 16, 2012, and the fact that he has “245 more sleeps” until then. Bishops Dave Snell and Mike Hewitt provided a presentation detailing some ways congregations can be involved in fulfilling the mission initiatives.

The conference was then treated to a presentation with pictures from the 2012 camping season. What a joy for people to see themselves, their friends, their children and grandchildren participating in so many great times at camp this past year. It would have been the perfect way to end the day. But there was more…much more. David Barth was standing in the wings with a great presentation on how World Accord can help congregations fulfill their mission. This was followed by a touching recognition of long-time director Jack Cooper for his many years of service to Sionito and Zerin Development Corporations, led by Bryce Taylor.

Sounds like a very full day, doesn’t it? But that was only the morning! Since I have reached my self-imposed word limit, however, that will have to be the “Good Word” for the day. Perhaps we will talk about the afternoon some other time.

Posted by Carman

Fire

It’s a funny thing about fire, but conditions have to be just right for it to burn. If you studied such things in school, you probably learned that in order for a fire to burn, it needs three ingredients: fuel, oxygen, and heat. If there is no fuel, there is nothing to burn, and all the oxygen and heat in the world will not change that. If there is no oxygen or other enabling gas, you can have lots of fuel and an abundant heat source but the file will simply not catch. And without a heat source such as a match or other igniter, you could have a mountain of fuel with plenty of oxygen, and nothing at all would happen. When you have all three in the right configuration, however, magic happens! You will have a fire, and that fire can produce, heat, light, and energy!

Over the summer months, not much had been happening at Fired UP! Oh, there has been some communication among the Fired Up team, but while the team members were mostly off doing other things, the fire was largely left untended and allowed to burn low. There were good reasons for this of course, but in the end, the question was, had that fire actually gone out? Was it time to move on and look for a different source of heat and light?

On Sunday evening, the Fired Up team met together around its metaphorical campsite to poke the coals to see how much heat was really left there. All agreed that they wanted there to still be a Fired Up. They also agreed there was a need within the larger community to have a place for those who do not quite fit the mould of regular church, and there are plenty of people like that! Were those embers glowing there in the darkness? Could we nurse that fire back to a life?

As the group talked together, we recognized that the time pressures in everyone’s lives sometimes meant there was not enough oxygen to allow that fire to burn brightly. Further, the miles between the team members sometimes meant there was nobody readily available to feed the flames. Despite all of that, however, the heat of passion and hope was still there. As ideas were shared and discussed about how to provide more oxygen, and who could feed the fire, the coals began to glow more brightly. Finally, as the creative fuel of fresh ideas was added to the now glowing embers, a little flame began. Fired Up was Firing up again!

It will take time for this little fire to grow stronger and to provide the warmth and light that is its potential, but we have time. It will take care for this little flame to be tended and nourished, but we have people who care.

Soon you will see the flames of Fired Up burning more brightly again. It will be a small fire perhaps, but we can manage that. The little flame is burning. Watch for it. It may be just the source of light and warmth you need.

F - ellowship
I - nspiration
R - eaching Out
E - ducation

Posted by Carman

Butterfly

Consider the caterpillar; how he crawls along quietly going from leaf to leaf, staying mostly hidden, trying to blend in with his surroundings. He wouldn’t dare stand out. After all, he might get stepped on or eaten for some bird’s lunch! So he quietly crawls along until it is time, then spins a cocoon with himself inside. To all appearances, that is the end. The caterpillar is no more. The blend-in caterpillar, that perhaps no one knew even existed, has ceased to be.

But then something remarkable happens. Transformation occurs! The cocoon splits and a new creature emerges. This new being does not immediately take to the air, but spends some time to get oriented and dry its wings in the sun. Only then does it begin to float on the breeze and fly where it wills. Gone are the drab, blend-in colours, replaced by bright and wondrous hues. The urge to hide is replaced by a willingness to see and be seen as it visits the flowers and makes the world a better, more beautiful place.

In the Barrie congregation, we are beginning to see signs of a butterfly. Our former presence there had reached the stage of its life when it needed its rest. To outside appearances, the caterpillar was dead, but this was not the case. From the cocoon has emerged a new creature and a fresh expression of Christian life is beginning to test its wings in that fair city.

This past weekend, for instance, there was a gathering of youth and others on Thursday evening for fun and fellowship. Friday saw our leaders out on the streets, visiting the unique flowers that are God’s people. Saturday evening was their first worship event held in a downtown café, and the little coffee shop was packed with 31 people! Then Sunday afternoon, despite some rain, a group gathered for a service project which consisted of picking up trash at a local park. I have seen pictures of that event, and they were clearly having a wonderful time. They didn’t even look like caterpillars! Then they all went back to the pastor’s home for more conversation and play.

I think this butterfly is going to be absolutely beautiful!

You can stay in touch with the Barrie Community of Christ by clicking here.

Posted by Carman

Chile

I am writing this post on Thursday, so it will probably be old news by the time you read it, but I still think it is worth a comment or two.

This morning, as yesterday morning, the news is all about the successful rescue of the 33 Chilean miners trapped underground for the past 69 days. In fact, yesterday I don’t think there was any other news! Even the Commonwealth games hardly got a passing mention on the Canadian news channels, and that is highly unusual. Today the rescue is the lead story, but the closing ceremony of the games will also be covered at least, and there will be some handwringing over the fact that Canada only came away with 75 medals. I guess things are returning to normal (sigh).

But it is amazing and wonderful to have such a good news story so fully occupy the attention of broadcast journalists and news anchors, not just here but around the world. It is really quite refreshing. It is lovely to see Chileans proudly waving their flags, and celebrating this successful rescue. Little wonder they are so excited; after all, the entire world is watching. Most of the world probably didn’t know where Chile is, let alone know anything about this remarkable country.

The rescue has given the people of Chile much to feel good about, and clearly they do. Of course they have much to be proud of anyway, but the rescue has given them a reason to hold a wonderful celebration, which I heard described as the “World’s biggest street party.” As the balloons rise, the champagne corks pop, and the streamers fly, our hearts celebrate with the people of Chile. Our congratulations, prayers of gratitude and good wishes join with theirs. Well done! Chile is definitely the good word of the day.

So party on Chile; you deserve it, and may the joy you feel this day last a long long time!
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Posted by Carman

New

There is a saying that everything old is new again. That saying seems very appropriate today. We have a new Apostle, a new Apostolic Leadership Team, and a new Apostolic field. Let me review them one at a time.

We have known for some time that our Apostle, Mary Jacks Dynes, was retiring from her duties with us. Yesterday we learned who our new Apostle is and she is Susan Skoor. Interestingly, For Mike Hewitt and me, Susan was our Apostle when I was assigned to Southwest International (USA/Mexico) Mission Centre, and Mike was in Southern California. She is an old friend. While there will be a learning curve for her and for us, she is a familiar presence, and we look forward to working with her.

The Apostolic Leadership team is made up of the Apostle, the Field Missionary Coordinator/President of Seventy, and the Field Apostolic Assistant. This newly reconstituted team will now consist of Apostle Skoor, President of Seventy Kris Judd, and our own Bishop Jim Poirier. As a staff, we are very pleased. While this is a new team, Kris and Jim remain with us and we are delighted to be retaining them in their current roles. Consistency is often a very good thing.

Finally we have a new Apostolic field, since the former Canada/North Central USA alignment is no more. Instead, our new field consists of all of Canada and the Pacific Islands, including Australia, New Zealand, French Polynesia, Fiji and Hawaii. What does that mean to the members and friends of Canada East Mission? Well…probably not very much. It has more to do with the Apostolic team than with our members, since most were probably not very aware of the old field anyway. Interestingly, it does mean that we are once again in the same field with our old friend Ken Barrows, which we can also celebrate.

So let us extend to Susan a hearty Canadian welcome. We look forward to working together as we walk both old and new paths together.

Posted by Carman

Signs

There are just so many signs to pay attention to. As I began my long road trip this week I've been thinking about signs. Of course there are all those "Cars in this line" and "Merge right" and "Construction ahead." For fun there are also the "Heads Up Taxidermy" and "Hip new place for your orthopedic needs"!

Our blog started out the week thinking about Easter and Spring, new growth emerging after rain. Heading south directly into the path of the northward marching season I always enjoy noticing the signs of Spring, almost like a line visible on the face of creation. So there are the signs of spring; the flowering trees, the forsythia, the birds and the bunnies, the emerging green leaves! The grass gets longer and greener with every passing mile as the temperature rises.

Last week as our CPI pastors gathered with Apostle Mary, we considered the words of Isaiah: Behold I am about to do a new thing, do you not perceive it?

And we do perceive many signs in our lives and in our congregations of a new thing. People are sensing calls to get more involved. Ideas are materializing. Obstacles are being removed. Where we once thought there was none to do a task, we now have options. Volunteers are stepping up.

Some people have felt concern over how this World Conference would unfold. It promises to unfold in a way unlike any before it. The signs are everywhere. Preparing to respond to our call to be a prophetic people we expect to see signs. It's one of the requirements to be mindful, to pay attention, to hold a listening ear, an open mind. Watch for the signs.

Posted by Marion

People

It’s about the people!

I can’t help but think of the man in the coffee shop, nervous about going to a funeral. At sixty years of age he had no experience with funerals, and certainly none with death and dying. He asked about funerals, but clearly needed to talk about other, deeper questions. I imagine the woman at McDonald’s who wanted an opinion about saying the Lord’s Prayer in school. Feeling it was somehow important to her, because she’d said it as a child, but with no church connection now to test her child mind’s opinions against. She’s lost a way to talk about a subject that she really, really does want to talk about.

We’re not so far from 9/11 with its ensuing emotional turmoil about Islam. Our fears of the “other” moving into our neighbourhoods grow unchecked without diversity education. We struggle with current questions about same sex marriage, or gun control or questions of young offenders and criminal punishment. People don’t know how to talk about their concepts of ethics and morality.

Every day things happen in communities that raise impossible questions for ordinary people. Accidents claim carfuls of teenagers. Children contract terrible illnesses. Whole communities are thrown out of work by an economic decision made in some distant country. Where is their good news?

What do these have to do with Goal #2? These people need a community. Some of them need a Community of Christ. It’s not because we need to ensure the survival of our particular institutional faith community. It’s that there are people living right here in my neighbourhood who need to have a way to think about life’s hard questions. People need to know God’s grace and presence in the world. They need a place and a way and a community to struggle with what that can mean to them in the things that impact on their own life every single day. They need to feel God’s love; and it needs to come in human form for them.
Maybe we can reach out from our current congregation. I know some of you who do that. But maybe my congregation is too set in its ways. Most of us feel just too comfortable or too tired or unwilling to embrace persons with unfamiliar “lifestyles.” It takes something new!

These are the circumstances that come to MY mind when I consider CEM’s Goal #2: Plant five congregations in the next ten years. What about you? What do YOU think of?

Posted by Marion

Planting

Goal # 2: Plant (or re-plant) five new congregations in the next ten years.

Goal #2 was first spoken out loud at the Noronto reunion in August, 2009. The response was immediate! People began to come forward with expressions like, “Let me tell you about my community!” Or “ Have you considered planting a church in _____?” It was exciting!

We have not been idle on this goal since then. Despite our expressed intention to “go slow and learn with each new effort”, our people began rolling up their sleeves and working right away. The following is what we can report so far.

Fired Up Congregation was launched in September under the leadership of four enthusiastic young adults. The new congregation has had highs and lows, but we are learning and optimistic about this new plant.

Brantford congregation began the work of re-visioning and re-planting, and has gone from an average attendance of four people to between fifteen and twenty in just four months! They have already had a baptismal service.

The people of Sudbury congregation, who had not been meeting for perhaps two years, began to discuss their options. Getting together for fellowship and food, they decided not to close the congregation after all, but instead, to see what is possible. Now they meet from time to time, and bless each other with their love. The re-visioning has begun.

When it comes to fulfilling the call of God, the church does not have the luxury of simply marking time. Trying to stand still will inevitably lead to falling behind. There are people whose lives need to be blessed by the message of the gospel. There are communities of people everywhere we need to reach out to. These communities are not about towns, cities, or rural geography, they are about people. The potential to do something new exists wherever leaders of vision see and recognize a new opportunity. That may happen where we have only one member now, or where we already have a flourishing congregation. It doesn’t matter. What does matter is that we are reaching out to those whose lives we can bless.

In some cases, we have congregations that need to be re-planted. These are communities that may have existed for many years but are now in decline and in serious need of a new vision of greatness. Where we have people in those communities who want to try something new, we have hope. Given the choice, isn’t it better to re-plant than to close?

Some will no doubt say that we should strengthen our existing congregations before we plant something new. That is the stuff of goals three and four, and we will have more to share about that later. Today is about goal two.

Where else does the Gospel need to be planted? Barrie? Stittsville? Do you feel the stirring of a new plant in your community?

Posted by Carman

Brink

We're on the brink, the very edge of some new thing about to happen! Do you feel it?

Our CPI pastors began our week together with this announcement from Isaiah 43 and all week we felt it stirring among us as we studied and explored and prepared to go home and be engaged in something new.

As the Christian world has embarked on Advent we're feeling the same sense of immenence. Something is about to happen, something new!

Story after story is being shared about this sense that we're not where we once were. At times we've perceived this as loss, but increasingly we're recognizing that the changes we're noting can mean quite the opposite. We're recognizing that spiral is taking us up to a higher vantage point.

How are you feeling as you enter Advent, as you assume new responsibility, as you consider your next assignment, your next sermon, your next camping season?

Do you see it? There's the brink. Are you stepping up to it or beating a retreat?

The message is hope, anticipation, no fear! Imagine a new thing!

I'll meet you at the brink.

Prattle

I'm borrowing this great word from the lead article in the Ottawa congregation's newsletter.

"Pastor Pam's Prattle" starts off this very newsy collection of summer events--including some great pictures!--and announcements of things to come. This is a busy and active congregation!

I suspect if you email Carol at carol.shepherdson@sympatico.ca you could get on their mailing list.

If you want to know what's up in the southwest corner of the Mission, send a note to Elaine at ejaques@amtelcom.net for a copy of the latest Eleven O'clock News that has recently gone electronic as well.

If other areas or congregations want to share the prattle from your neck of the woods, just let me know and I'll get the word out.

And a very big thank you to those who've taken on the responsibility to manage the communications for your folks. This is one of the things that help build that community we've been reflecting upon.

What’s the Good Word?

I guess I should start off with this word. It just has so very many layers of meaning. Of course in our context many of you may think of “In the beginning was the Word” and surely that was good news! Good news relates to gospel relates to amazing things coming into the world.

The question “what’s the good word?” is apparently an antiquated greeting that really doesn’t mean anything more than Hey, howya doin’? but implies that you’ll respond with something positive and won’t be loading me down with your negatives.

I’m ok with sharing negatives, if that’s what you’ve got and that’s what you need to share, but for the most part, I want this spot to be for the good news, the good word, the quick reports of the many, many wonderful news items I hear all the time and want to share with the rest of you.
So give me a word and I’ll pass it along to the rest of the world. Or at least to as many as want to look in here from time to time. Expect to find the good news when you come to check out “what’s the good word?”