🌱 Seeds of Peace

Community of Christ Peace Forum

Vancouver Gathering - October 16-18, 2026

"Environmental Justice & Action"

🎤 Special Guest Presenter - Issac Bennet Joshua

Joshua travels to us from India for an in-person workshop on Saturday from 4-5 PM in Vancouver exploring how communities can build peace while responding to injustice and ecological crisis. Together, we will reflect on how social transformation becomes possible when all people are included in conversations about environmental stewardship.

👋 You're Invited

Join us in Vancouver for a unique Canadian expression of the international Community of Christ Peace Forum.

While the global gathering takes place at the Temple in Independence, Missouri, our Vancouver site brings people together locally to experience this event through a blend of livestreamed sessions and in-person activities designed for our community.

Rather than simply watching an online event, we will gather, reflect, and act together in community.

Over the course of the weekend, you’ll be invited into meaningful experiences—exploring creation, practicing spiritual reflection, learning practical sustainability skills, and putting your faith into action.

Whether you attend for the full weekend or just a portion of it, you are welcome here.

🌎 This Year’s Focus

Environmental Justice & Action

Together, we’re invited to deepen our commitment to the Sacredness of Creation through three shared purposes:

🌱 Formation
Growing as disciples who care for creation in thoughtful and intentional ways.

🌎 Public Witness
Responding to environmental challenges through visible, meaningful action.

🤝 Community Building
Building relationships across generations and communities as we seek peace together.

🌲 A Vancouver Experience

“Gather. Reflect. Act.”

What makes the Vancouver gathering unique is the opportunity to engage this theme hands-on and in community. This is where this gathering becomes something we don’t just observe—but live out together.

Throughout the weekend, you will have opportunities to:
🍃 Experience inspiring keynote presentations streamed from the international gathering
🌲 Explore creation together through a guided visit to the Lynn Valley Temperate Rainforest
🕊 Practice mindfulness and spiritual reflection through guided awareness and meditation
🌎 Take meaningful action by participating in a community river cleanup
🧵 Learn practical sustainability skills during our "Sew It, Don't Throw It!" repair workshop
🎵 Build community through shared meals, music, conversation, and fellowship

📅 Your Weekend at a Glance

Each day blends livestreamed moments from the international Peace Forum with activities designed specifically for those gathering in Vancouver.

The rhythm of the weekend includes reflection, learning, conversation, and opportunities to take meaningful action.

Friday • October 16

1:00 PM
🌲 Meet at Lynn Canyon Ecology Centre by 12:45pm- Directions https://ecologycentre.ca/plan-your-visit/

Free of charge - Advance Registration required, email PeaceForum.Vancouver@CommunityOfChrist.ca

Only 30 spaces available for the Rain Forest Walk please register early

4:00 PM
🕊 Guided Relaxation (and gentle stretch): Rest and Come Home to Mother Earth with Vickie MacArthur. Bring a yoga mat, blanket and pillow. A few extras will be available. Let us know ahead of time. Community of Christ - 3333 Kaslo Street Vancouver

5:30 PM
🍽 Dinner (by donation) Community of Christ 3333 Kaslo Street Vancouver

7:00 PM
📺 Opening Session and International Peace Award Presentation (livestream from our International Peace Forum)

Saturday • October 17

All Saturday in-person Activities at Community of Christ 3333 Kaslo Street Vancouver

9:00 AM
🍵 Coffee and Visiting

9:30 - 10:30 AM
📺 Livestream from our International Peace Forum with keynote speaker Bill McKibben

11:00 - 11:30 AM
🧘‍♀️Guided Meditation: Breathing the Earth with Vickie MacArthur

12:00 PM
🍽 Lunch (by donation)

1:30 PM
💬 Canada-wide Online Young Adult Conversation
"What does it mean to be a Peace Church?"

Or

📺Pre-recorded Session (livestream) from our International Peace Forum

2:30 PM
🧵 Sew It, Don’t Throw It!
- Learn tips on how to extend the life of your clothing by repairing and embellishing and have sewers and sewing machines on hand to assist.

Or

📺Livestream from our International Peace Forum

4:00 - 5:00 PM - In person
🗣️ Joshua Bennet from Chennai, India, will talk about ways Community of Christ is confronting the injustice of the Caste System

Evening
🍽 5:30 PM - Dinner (by donation)
🎵 7:00 PM - Songs to Bless and Heal the Earth: Interactive Music and Singing with Doug and Vickie MacArthur and special guests
🎵 8:30 PM - Social time

Sunday • October 18

9:00 AM
🍵 Coffee and Visiting - Activity Hall

9:30 - 10:00 AM
🧘‍♀️ Loving Kindness Meditation: For All Creation with Vickie MacArthur

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
📺 Closing Peace Forum (livestream from our International Peace Forum site)

12:00 PM
🍽 Lunch (by donation)

2:00 PM
🌊 Community Ravine Cleanup at Renfrew Park Ravine
- Put the weekend’s theme into action by caring for our local environment together.

🍽 Meals

Lunches and dinners throughout the weekend are available by donation.

Sharing meals is an important part of the weekend experience—creating space for conversation, connection, and community.

📍 Location

Community of Christ Vancouver
3333 Kaslo Street
Vancouver, BC

🌱 We Hope You’ll Join Us

Seeds of peace are planted through simple acts of presence, learning, service, relationship, and hope.

Join us in Vancouver as we gather alongside others across the world to explore how caring for creation can become a faithful expression of Christ’s peace in our communities.

Whether you attend one activity or the entire weekend, we look forward to welcoming you.

Questions? email PeaceForum.Vancouver@CommunityOfChrist.ca

Please note: Schedule details are subject to change as additional activities and livestream timing are confirmed.

🎤 Presenter Spotlight 4-5pm Saturday October 17th

Issac Bennet Joshua travels to us from India for an in-person workshop in Vancouver exploring how communities can build peace while responding to injustice and ecological crisis.

In this in-person session in Vancouver, Joshua will share from his work with Community of Christ and with Dalits, Tribal and Adivasis communities in India who have been pushed to the edges of society. He will describe how these communities are now shaping movements that reclaim their belonging by prioritizing the dignity and worth of all and demanding ecological responsibility from all people. This session will also explore how these efforts to challenge caste-discrimination have resulted in demands for rights to land ownership and political representation. With caste discrimination also affecting South Asian communities in Canada, participants will be invited to consider how greater awareness can help Canadians move toward a more just and sustainable future. Together, we will reflect on how social transformation becomes possible when all people are included in conversations about environmental stewardship.