Calgary Community of Christ
  • Welcome
  • About
    • Give
    • History
    • Programs
    • What to Expect
    • Youth Activities
  • Calendar
  • Blog
  • News
    • Announcements
    • Photo Gallery
    • Building Transition
    • Forms & Documents
  • Contact
    • Get Involved
    • Social

Calgary Spark

It only takes a spark to get a fire going.

Canada West Mission Conference in Review...by Parker Johnson

9/7/2017

0 Comments

 

Author

Parker Johnson
​Calgary, AB, Canada


​I experienced the feeling that many Community of Christ members describe upon arriving in a new congregation. Some describe it as a sense of belonging, or an instant family connection, or even as if they’d been there before. I like to describe it as the way the world should be. Roaming the world is hard enough alone, but knowing that you can walk through the doors of our church’s buildings in a foreign city/country and be immediately welcomed is invaluable. Before I knew it, I was enveloped by seemingly familiar people – laughing, talking, and sharing around food (my favourite). It was only the next day that I realized I never even knew their names…we just knew one another.

Has this ever happened to you in Community of Christ? In all my travels, I’ve never encountered another community like this one…and I, for one, am incredibly grateful to be a part of it.

This has happened to me in countries around the globe, in neighbouring cities, and in this case, a neighbouring province. I walked through the door and familiar iconography greeted me: the church sign out front sparked an immediate sense of calm, the smell was homey, and the faces oddly familiar.

Only my second Canada West Mission (CWM) Conference, I was blown away by the diversity of the congregational representatives (delegates) in attendance. We had members from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia, as well as church leaders from Ontario and Independence, Missouri, USA. What stood out to me this year was the music…it was electrifying! The Vancouver congregation is known for its musical abilities, and now having visited personally, I can attest to this!
I spent a great deal of time with young adults from the area throughout the weekend – sharing meals together on-site, visiting the nearby Richmond Night Market, and singing and voting alongside them in the sanctuary during legislative sessions and services. As usual, I was impressed by their decorum, their interest in the process, and the energy and gifts they bring to this diverse community.
​
Jan Kraybill was our guest minister and she shared her wonderful musical skill with us throughout the weekend and during a one-day workshop on how to incorporate music into worship. ​

I hope to see you at our next Canada West Mission Centre Conference in Regina, Saskatchewan!
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Authors

    Calgary Spark is a collection of stories told by members and friends of the church alike. Each person's story is helping to shape our community in new ways.

    Back to the blog

    Archives

    January 2021
    June 2020
    April 2020
    October 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    June 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016

    Categories

    All
    Abolish Poverty
    Authenticity
    Camp
    Christmas
    Christms
    Community
    Confirmation
    Develop Disciples To Serve
    Education
    End Suffering
    Enduring Principles
    Equality
    Experience
    Experience Congregations In Mission
    Family
    Food
    Generation Now
    Generosity
    Graceland University
    Haiti
    History
    Homeless
    John Hamer
    Latter Day Seekers
    Latter-day Seekers
    LDS
    Leadership
    LGBTQIA+
    Love
    Magic
    Membership
    Millenials
    Mindfulness
    Mission
    Mission Conference
    MOM Project
    Music
    Politics
    Priesthood
    Relocation
    Remembrance Day
    Restoration Movement
    Retreat
    Sacrament
    Sacredness Of Creation
    Sacrifice
    Self Care
    Seminary
    Sermon
    Social Media
    SPECTACULAR
    Temple
    Testimony
    Thanksgiving
    Transformation
    Unity
    Unity In Diversity
    Veterans
    World Conference
    Worth Of All Persons
    Young Adults
    Youth

    RSS Feed

Home
About
Contact

Canada West Mission Centre
World Church
Picture
© 2017-2020 Calgary Community of Christ
Special thanks to Wayne Rowe for his beautiful photography.
  • Welcome
  • About
    • Give
    • History
    • Programs
    • What to Expect
    • Youth Activities
  • Calendar
  • Blog
  • News
    • Announcements
    • Photo Gallery
    • Building Transition
    • Forms & Documents
  • Contact
    • Get Involved
    • Social