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Greenwood Village Community of Christ Pastor - Jana Horner Phone 303- 798-7036
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Friday, May 18, 2012
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1695 East Orchard Rd, Greenwood Village, CO 80121 (click on address for link to map)
Latest Additions: · Worship this Week - Spiritual Discipline · Rocky Mt Mision - Apostolic Changes - Young Adult Retreat · An Evening with Phillip Gulley to discuss his book . USA National Conference · Join in WE Share - Mark Your Calendar - Cleaning Crew Schedule
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On the Bookshelf Christianity for the Rest of Us: How the Neighborhood Church Is Transforming the Faith
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Welcome
to Greenwood Community of Christ . Â We hope your visit to our website
will be a pleasant one and that you find what you are seeking here with
us. Our church is a small congregation committed to honoring God and
that presence of God in each of us Worship this Week-Sunday, April 15th, 2012 Discipleship Formation 9:30 a.m. Fellowship 10:30 a.m. Community Sharing 10:45 a.m. Worship 11 a.m. Potluck following Worship! Theme: Join in Apostolic Witness Lectionary Readings: Acts 1:15–17, 21–26; Psalm 1; 1 John 5:9–13; John 17:6–19 The nature of leadership and the role of faith and prayer in making decisions – as individuals and as the church – are highlighted in the scripture passages this week. The focus reading from Acts speaks of the decision-making process used to select the replacement for Judas. Every day we make decisions. Some we hardly give a thought to and others we may agonize over for months or even years. The leadership of the church has asked us to diligently engage in the process of discernment. To seek God's will for our people, individually as well as collectively. Please consider joining the Journey to 2013 Saturday exploration sessions. Creator
God, you make all things
LET YOUR IMAGINATION SOAR!! New friends ~ Lip-smacking snacks ~ Incredible music Wild games ~ Amazing experiments ~ Surprising activities The VBS adventure is at: Community of Christ 1695 E. Orchard Rd. Greenwood Village, CO 80121 The fun takes place: Sunday, June 17 th through Thursday, June 21 st The excitement begins at: D inner 5:30pm Program 6:00-8:30pm To join the adventure, contact: Dawn Cook (303)748-6518
Hearing Good News…Being Good News! We just sang the main message today: “To be your presence is our mission here.”Christ lives in community that is devoted to continuing his mission on Earth!And, according to scripture, the soul of such community is “oneness” in Christ that transcends human differences.Are we such community?The vision that inspired Jesus’ was broadly inclusive community that mirrored God’s nature. In pursuit of that vision he gathered his first band of diverse followers and adamantly taught them to “love one another.” Jesus said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35 NRSV).The same vision enthused the first communities of Christ described in the Book of Acts. As a result, a tangible spirit of love, hospitality, and oneness stood out, contrasting with the larger society.But, even those first disciples struggled to embrace all the possibilities of oneness in Christ. As Jewish Christians, their culture and religion deeply embedded in them distrust and even disgust toward some people. Not surprisingly, it took the Holy Spirit to uproot and move them toward God’s broader vision of community in Christ.Apostle Peter was napping and praying on a rooftop when he had a vision of a sheet coming down from heaven filled with all kinds of creatures. A heavenly voice said, “Kill and eat!”Thinking this could be a test of his faithfulness to Hebrew dietary laws, Peter said, somewhat self-righteously, “By no means. I have never eaten anything that is profane or unclean.” He was startled to hear the voice retort, “What God has made clean, you must not call profane.”God was transforming Peter’s view of how the world is ordered. But, it is hard—extremely hard—to break out of one’s inherited beliefs and biases to accept a broader vision of what God is doing to reconcile all of creation!Read MoreGod does not exist to answer our prayers, but by our prayers we come to discern the mind of God. ~ Oswald Chambers, 1 874-1917
Holy One, I choose life. I choose openness. I choose beauty, and faith. I choose to create. In all the things I intend for my life and the life of the world, O God hear my prayer, and in your love and understanding, answer. Amen. ~ from Go Deep by Doris e. Kizinna, p. 40
My friend
will stay beside me and hold my hand while I make my own discoveries.
Check out the mission initiative video interview series in which President Steve Veazey talks in depth with Apostle Linda Booth about Luke 4:18–19 and the five mission initiatives. Excerpts of the first of the six-part series are in the March Herald article, “Holistic Mission.” Follow the entire series in the magazine. To subscribe, visit www.HeraldHouse.org or contact subscriptions@HeraldHouse.org or 1-800-767-8181 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-800-767-8181 end_of_the_skype_highlighting . Also, see and share the videos from www.CofChrist.org/mission/Veazey-Booth-interview.asp .
Enjoy this TED Talk featuring Ron Gutman sharing information on Creator
God, you make all things
We Share
Worth of All Persons
Peace Award to Honor Dr. Tadatoshi Akibaby BRAD A. MARTELL, Peace and Justice Ministries Independence, Missouri, USAHerald , May 2012In the late 1960s, a young Japanese mathematician came to the United States for doctoral work at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). There, he joined the anti-nuclear movement. Almost 30 years before, MIT professors were part of the Manhattan Project that created the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, in 1945.Dr. Tadatoshi Akiba did not want the world to forget the hibakusha , the survivors of the atomic bombings. In 1979, while teaching in the USA, he started the Hibakusha Travel Grant Program or “Akiba Project.” It brought international journalists to Japan to listen to survivors’ stories. With the help of journalists, the hibakusha experiences were retold to the world in hopes no one ever again would suffer the same fate.Dr. Akiba, advocate for global nuclear disarmament, will receive the 19th Community of Christ International Peace Award on October 26. The event will be webcast live at www.CofChrist.org from the Temple in Independence, Missouri.The theme, “Peacemaking: Engaging Nuclear Questions,” honors his life’s work of promoting peace with the vision of a world free of nuclear weapons.Read MoreSpiritual Discipline~Reflection"The plain fact is that the world does not need more successful people, but it does desperately need more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers, and lovers of every kind. It needs people who live well in their places. It needs people of moral courage willing to join the fight to make the world habitable and humane. And these qualities have little to do with success as our culture has defined it." - David Orr Live your beliefs and you can turn the world around.—Henry David Thoreau "I always wondered why somebody doesn't do something about that. Then I realized I was somebody."—Lily Tomlin I can believe anything, provided it is incredible.—Oscar Wilde "We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences we can make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee."—Marian Wright Edelman I believe in order that I might understand.—Anselm of Canterbury "It doesn't matter where you are coming from. All that matters is where you are going."— Brian Tracy "Change your thoughts and you change your world."— Norman Vincent Peale "Be aware of wonder. Live a balanced life — learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some."– Robert Fulghum God is at home; it is we who have gone for a walk.—Meister Eckhart
Frequently Asked QuestionsDo you believe in Jesus Christ?Yes. Community of Christ believes in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, our Lord and Savior.What do you use for scriptures?Community of Christ recognizes three books of scripture: The Holy Bible, the Book of Mormon, and the Doctrine andCovenants. We believe in continuing revelation and an open canon of scripture.Who is eligible for priesthood membership?All persons, male and female, are eligible for priesthood ordination. We believe God calls those chosen to serve in the ministry. Most of our ministers earn their living outside of church employment and serve in various offices according to their gifts and callings..What is tithing?The concept of tithing is deeply rooted in our scriptures and tradition. It is a disciple's generous response, expressing love of God, neighbor, creation, and self.Prison Ministries Are you involved in, or interested in being involved, in prison ministries? A Community of Christ prison ministry group based in Kansas City, Missouri, wants to network with and assist others in prison ministry across the USA. Please send your name, address, e-mail, and the congregation you attend to prisonministry@live.com if you are interested. If you know an incarcerated person who might want some kind of Community of Christ contact, please send their information to prisonministry@live.com . Who in the faith community are welcome? God
welcomes those who say very little but quietly help people who are in
trouble. From
Pastoral
Prayers to Share, Year A ,
Worth of All Persons · God views all people as having inestimable and equal worth.· God wants all people to experience wholeness of body, mind, spirit, and relationships.· We seek to uphold and restore the worth of all people individually and in community, challenging unjust systems that diminish human worth.· We join with Jesus Christ in bringing good news to the poor, sick, captive, and oppressed.Develop Disciples to Serve
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Are you the one?
Do you have hopes, visions, and dreams for Community of Christ? We would like you to join the conversation by: Joining the mission team Help with communications Join a prayer team Lead a class Help with Vacation Bible School Post your dream on our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Community-of-Christ-Greenwood-Village/295520167165398?sk=wall Let your voice will be heard! Send me your favorite Bible Verse! pastorjana@q.comSpiritual Discipline~Reflection
"The human race is challenged more than ever before to demonstrate our mastery - not over nature - but of ourselves." --Rachel Carson "With spirit we are all children of the cosmos; without it we are orphaned and adrift." --Deepak Chopra "Most of us have grown up with beliefs about what is "good" and what is "bad." These beliefs are what we mean by the difference between "your will" and "God's will." - from The Passion Test "Love is the ability and willingness to allow those that you care for to be what they choose for themselves without any insistence that they satisfy you." — Wayne Dyer "The great use of life is to spend it for something that outlasts it." --William James LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES !! Spirit, Health, and Mission: A look at Religion, Faith, and Public Policy Join us every Sunday, April 15 - July 8, 9:30-10:30 am, as we explore relationships between health, spirituality, public policy, and the mission of the church. Expect thought-provoking ideas and lively discussion with three experts in their fields. Date Class Title April 15 Determinants of Heath I April 22 Good Mental Health & Stress Management April 29 Determinants of Heath II May 6 Health Policy and Reform in the US May 13 Human suffering and the medical mandate May 20 Health Policy and Reform in the US May 27 Soul, the Mind, the Psyche June 3 Faith and Healing June 10 Depression June 17 Dreams June 24 Addictions June 27 Spirituality and Aging July 1 Spirituality and End of Life Decision Making July 8 Creating communities of care Peacemaking:
October
26–28 The 19th annual Peace Colloquy will explore nuclear questions, complexities involved in disarmament, and our role as a peacemaking church. Programming will explore the theme from perspectives for multiple ages. Presentation
of the Community of Christ International Peace Award (recipient to be
announced May 1) will begin the Colloquy. The ceremony will be webcast
live at 7:30 p.m. (CST) Friday, October 26 at www.CofChrist.org
. If you are interested in the following Temple School Courses contact Karyn Wingard-Manuel for details. •An Introduction to Caring Ministries •An Introduction to Understanding Scripture •Aaronic Ministers: Ministry of Presence Karyn Wingard-Manuel email: karyndwingard@yahoo.com In the spirit of the Mission Initiative to “Invite People to Christ,” a significant grant has been received by the church to subsidize three missionary resources. Funding from the Morden Evangelism Endowment will allow lower prices for
The new price is $5.95 each rather than $10.95, $8.95, and $9.95 respectively. These books can be purchased from Herald House at www.HeraldHouse.org and from the bookstore at the Temple in Independence, Missouri. CHRISTIANITY AFTER RELIGION The Great Religious Recession or a Great Spiritual Awakening? Hope United Methodist Church of Greenwood Village, CO will be hosting Diana Butler Bass on Saturday, May 12th. Diana will be speaking primarily from her new book, Christianity After Religion: The End of Church and the Birth of a New Spiritual Awakening (forthcoming: HarperOne, Feb 2012). In it, Diana argues that we are in the midst of a Great Religious Recession, but that this erosion of religion is a spiritual crucible for new forms of faith--a new awakening that is reshaping Christian belief, behavior, and belonging. Like other aspects of American life, religion is going through a challenging period of change, erosion, and decline. Many Americans are not satisfied with forms of faith and church that no longer seem to speak to the soul. From membership to traditional beliefs, nearly every measure of conventional religiosity is down. Diana explores the religious trends reshaping our understandings of faith, practice, and community, drawing out the real questions that Americans are asking about their spiritual lives. Probing these deeper questions and addressing them in meaningful ways opens paths for a different sort of Christianity, one that offers genuine hope for spiritual awakening and cultural transformation. Event Details: 8:45 am - 2:15 pm - Saturday May 12, in Hope UMC Sanctuary Tickets: http://hopeumc.ticketbud.com/diana-butler-bass#.T3ocKQQhOnw.email
The Daily Prayer for Peace is held 365 days a year at Community of Christ Temple in Independence, Missouri. Prayers can be submitted at any time. The Prayer for Peace should be approximately 1˝-3 minutes long. It catches up the yearning of the gathered community for wholeness in relationships between humanity, creation, and the Creator. Prayers are selected according to the following guidelines: • The prayer may be written in prose or it may be poetry. • It should not include a specific country but be universal. • Please use inclusive language. • Be aware that while we are a Christian denomination sponsoring this prayer, the desire for peace is universal. Prayers are attributed to their authors. Prayers submitted become the property of Community of Christ. Prayers can be submitted by mailing them to jgrover@cofchrist.org. Focus Pursue Peace on EarthWe are poised to restore Christ’s covenant of peace, even the Zion of our hopes. The hope of Zion will become reality when we live Christ’s peace and generouslyshare his peace with others.We fulfill God’s ultimate vision as we… •Establish the Temple as a Center to Promote Peacemaking throughout the World •Engage Children in Peacemaking around the World •Seek Justice, Create Peacemakers around the World •Unite with Others to Make Peace around the World Mission
Initiatives
Preparing for 2012 USA National Conference: 7/18/12 – 7/22/12 The conference is intended to determine the level of support for: 1) Extending the sacrament of marriage to persons of the same sex/gender OR providing a church-recognized way for two persons of the same sex/gender to publicly express their commitment to each other. 2) Allowing people in committed, monogamous, long-term, same sex/gender relationships (legal marriage, civil union, church-recognized commitment) to be considered for ordination.Until the conference, the church in the USA will join in a participative process to discover God’s will about these issues for the church’s mission in the USA. This will include opportunities such as: • Reflection ideas for use in individual spiritual formation. • Information distribution at USA mission center conferences. • Group-study ideas for use at reunion and other gatherings.• Regional opportunities for sharing and discerning together. Surveys or other collection tools for gathering input and feedback.Change of Dates to the USA National Conference After several months of prayerful consideration and thoughtful discussion, the USA Team of Apostles and the Council of Twelve Apostles recommended to the First Presidency that the USA National Conference dates be changed from July 2012 to April 2013, following the 2013 World Conference. After additional consideration,The First Presidency approved this recommendation.The next WorldConference will be held April 13–18, 2013. The USA National Conference will be held April 19–21, 2013. Mark Your Calendar Upcoming Events June 1 st Movie Night 7:00 pm June 4 th Mission Meeting 7:30 pm June 9 th Pancake Breakfast 7:30 am-9:00 am June 9 th Journey to 2013 9:00-11:00 am Fellowship
More in our Mission Center! Rocky Mountain Mission Center’s SILENT RETREAT: Sacred Heart Retreat Center, Sedalia, Colorado. May 11-13, 2012 , Retreat Leader: Evangelist & Spiritual Director Marlene Krueger. The theme is “Come to the Quiet.” Instruction & time will be given for personal meditation & prayer, special meditation stations with images of God will be available as well as opportunity for individual Spiritual Direction sessions, Administration or Special Blessings by Evangelist Rich Kohlman. There will be a Saturday evening group activity and evening and morning devotions. Pre-registration with payment is required April 25, 2012. There is a limit of 25, adults age 18 & older only. Registration forms are on the Mission Center web site, www.cofchristrm.org The 280 acre Retreat Center near Sedalia, CO is off of Hwy 67. It is the perfect setting for solitude, reflection and prayer. Accommodations are private rooms with shared baths. The Retreat starts at 7 pm Friday and ends with lunch on Sunday Calling all priesthood to join us in a weekend of fellowship, worship, encouragement and learning on May 18-19, 2012 , at the Fort Collins Congregation Facility. This event is our annual Priesthood and Spouse Gathering . Our guest minister is Seventy Rob Borkowski who presently serves as the World Church coordinator for the Leading Congregations in Mission initiative. We begin on Friday evening from 7-9pm. We continue on Saturday from 8am (with a light breakfast) and end by 5pm. A soup and salad lunch will be provided. Registration cost is $15, which helps to offset the event expenses. Please put these dates on your calendar today and call the mission center office to register. The event schedule soon will be on our website. Young Adult Retreat: Join us for the third annual Young Adult Retreat at Peaceful Valley, Lyons, CO: May 25-28, 2012. The retreat is open to all ages 18-35 (and their families - child care provided)! Zac and Katie Harmon-Mclaughlin will be our guest ministers. Cost for the 3 nights is $114.00 for adults. For more information, contact Shandra at snewcom@cofchrist.org . Every week, one of the mission center staff sends out an e-mail update to communicate information about upcoming events and relevant ministerial topics. To receive these Weekly E-Mail Updates send an email to information@cofchristrm.org
As we grow in our discipleship, may we be more than just admirers but true followers of Jesus. When we come to church, may we nurture each other and look for ways to foster the growth of God's love that is already within each of us. When we go out to the world, may God’s light shine in our lives, illuminating God’s love that is already within those we meet. Blessings, Jana |
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