Dear Friends,
I’m reading the book “Christianity After Religion” by Diana Butler Bass. It’s a fantastic book and I highly recommend it for individual or congregational reading and study. In the book she suggests that instead of asking ourselves “Who am I?” we ask ourselves “Who am I in God?” Here’s an excerpt: “The biblical query “Who an I in God?” is a starting point of Christian spirituality. Why do Christians pray? Christians do not pray to have wishes granted; rather, Christians pray to find themselves in God and that they might be more aware of their motives and actions. Why do Christians worship? Christians do not worship to be entertained; rather, Christians listen to sermons, sing, and partake of bread and wine in community to be in Jesus presence and to come to know themselves better. Why do Christians serve others? Christians do not act charitably to earn heavenly credit; rather, Christians find Jesus in their neighbors and such proximity enables greater insight to live fully in the world. Christians practice seeking Jesus in their lives because when they find themselves in God, pretense slips away to reveal the truest dimensions of selfhood and gives individuals the power to act in transforming ways.” (From: Christianity After Religion, Bass, p.187)
Who are you, my friends, in God?
May this question walk with you this week as you discover yourself (and God’s love for you) in relationship with your Creator.
And may you take time to encounter the living God in whom you live and love.
Peace,
Shandra
The following is the mission prayer being used by participating congregations in the Leading Congregations in Mission Pilot. However all congregations are being encouraged to incorporate this prayer into the life of the congregation as well as in the lives of individual members. The prayer has been shared in various settings.
“God, where will your Spirit lead today? Help me be fully awake and ready to respond. Grant me courage to risk something new and become a blessing of your love and peace.” Amen
Jr./Jr. High Retreat, April 11-13, 2014, Loveland congregation. The cost is $40. The retreat will begin on April 11 at 7 p.m. and end on April 13 at 12:00 p.m. Please bring bedding for floor sleeping, swimsuit and towel, warm clothes, coat, warm shoes, flashlight and a Sense of Fun! To register: call the mission center office at 303-426-5900 ext. 1 or email Rebecca at brussell@cofchristrm.org Youth Registration forms are online at www.cofchristrm.org
Grand Junction Hunger Challenge, April 11-13, 2014: This is an intergenerational event raising funds for an organization called Sustainable Roots with projects in Ecuador, a community called Cosanga. Pledge forms are available from Naomi Barlow at nomebarlow@gmail.com A schedule and more information is attached to this weekly update. Youth Registration forms are available at www.cofchristrm.org Please send these forms to Naomi.
Sr. High Street Retreat, ABOLISH POVERTY, April 25-27, Downtown Denver, CO.
Join your friends and awesome leaders in an experience of a lifetime. At past retreats we have made music videos, had crazy photo shoots, 16th street mall scavenger hunts, a grand tea party in hotel lounge area… We have worshipped on the 16th street mall and shared communion; we have learned about hunger, poverty and homelessness; and we have made breakfast burritos for the hungry and worked at SAME Cafe.
Grades: 9 – 12; Cost: $100 – must register by April 18 to reserve your space
To register: call the mission center office at 303-426-5900 or email Rebecca at brussell@cofchristrm.org Youth Registration forms are online at www.cofchristrm.org
Young Adult Retreat: May 23-26, 2014 at Peaceful Valley Ranch. The theme is: Experiencing the Divine Everyday. Our guest Minister will be President of Seventy Larry McGuire. Please put this exciting event on your calendar. We will begin Friday evening and end Monday around noon. This has been a meaningful event in the past and we anticipate another great experience this year! Please contact Shandra at: snewcom@cofchrist.org for more info or to register!
Rockies Family Camp! SAVE THE DATE!! Rocky Mountain Family Camp at Peaceful Valley Ranch, dates July 30th-August 3rd. These are NEW DATES. Apostle Linda Booth will be guest minister. Come join us!!
Silent Retreat, September 12-14, 2014, Sacred Heart Retreat Center, Sedalia, Colorado, guest ministry Dave and Carolyn Brock, retreat director Marlene Krueger, cost is $140 per person. Mark this date on your calendars. See attached registration form. This form will also be available online at www.cofchristrm.org
Resolutions for World Conference 2016 are being accepted for consideration at the 2014 Rocky Mountain Mission Center Conference. Any resolutions will need to be submitted to the mission center office no later than 30 days prior to the mission center conference. If you have any questions about this information please contact Tim Ashburn at tashburn@cofchrist.org or by phone 303-426-5900 ext. #2.
WORLD CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS
2016 World Conference Legislation: We plan to implement the principles and steps of the proposed common consent process(www.CofChrist.org/wc2013/official/CommonConsentAdvisoryTeamReport.pdf) at World Conference, June 4–11, 2016. Legislation (proposals) submitted early in the inter-Conference period will benefit from having ample time for translations, collaborative review by church leaders and mission centers, and more thorough church-wide discernment.
Even though the deadline for mission centers to submit items for 2016 World Conference consideration is February 5, 2016, we encourage mission centers to submit such items by May 31, 2015. However, all legislative items submitted by the final deadline (February 5, 2016) will be placed on the World Conference agenda.
To aid effective church-wide consideration, a form for submitting legislative items (proposals) for World Conference consideration can be obtained from World Church Secretary Sue Sloan or at www.CofChrist.org/wc2016. Please note that legislative items do not require “whereas” rationale statements. A short, clear statement that proposes a desired action is preferable for translations and church-wide consideration. Background information will be provided in other ways.
—THE FIRST PRESIDENCY
OTHER ITEMS:
10 Minute News: For more information from the World Church please go to
www.cofchrist.org/news/10min. The 10 Minutes News Report can be subscribed to electronically (see the side bar at the website titled E-Subscriptions.)
Shandra Newcom
Rocky Mountain Mission Center
Community of Christ
303-426-5900
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