Dear Friends,
I’ve recently started to track my steps using a fitness tracker. Have you heard of these things? I wear mine on my wrist and it counts my steps and monitors my sleep. I can find patterns from the data I get from wearing the tracker. One of the things I learned was that when I started wearing mine I was walking about 3,000-4,000 steps a day. Experts suggest we walk 10,000 steps a day – I was way off! And I had no idea!
So I’ve started to get outside more and walk. This past week has been perfect weather for it. As I’ve walked, forging new paths through my neighborhood, I’ve noticed some things I hadn’t known before. First, I’ve met neighbors who have lived close to me for years. As I walk by and someone is out on their porch or working in their garage with the door open, I’ve taken to introducing myself and saying “hi”. Everyone has been very receptive and I’ve always walked away from those encounters feeling like a part of a community. Second, I’ve seen lots of families walking with lots of babies in strollers or young children. As I was walking yesterday I say a mom walking with her young daughter who was on a small bike. The girl was wearing a fluffy pink coat and they were at a cross walk. The mother was getting ready to teach her daughter how to look both ways and then cycle across the street. They were very serious (or the mother was, the girl was laughing out loud with anticipation!) As they crossed the street I began to cry…mid walk. I was struck with a sense of God in that place at that time loving us all just like that mother loved her daughter. And I was deeply grateful.
Like that mother, God loves you, too. I hope you have a sense of that love even when you feel unlovable. Even when you feel like you’ve made one too many mistakes or haven’t treated someone with kindness. I hope you have a sense of that love even when you are at your breaking point.
Mission begins with encounter and, just as I encountered that sweet mama and child, we encounter God in our daily walk if we will simply look around. See that person opening the door for someone whose hands are full? See that woman making peanut butter sandwiches and sharing them with folks living on the streets? See that man listening as his teenage daughter tells him about her test that she passed? See that neighbor shoveling another’s driveway? See that friend writing a letter to congress to ask for leadership that will move to end poverty?
There’s an encounter of God.
So I’m going to keep going for 10,000 steps a day (which I finally achieved!) and I invite you to take the first step toward a deeper encounter with the Divine by looking around and seeing the beauty of God in the world.
Peace.
Shandra
MISSION PRAYER:
“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
ROCKY MOUNTAIN MISSION CENTER EVENTS: PLEASE SHARE THESE ANNOUNCEMENTS IN YOUR CONGREGATION!!!)
March 13-14th: Leadership Weekend, Fort Collins Congregation. Calling all Leaders! Apostle Ron Harmon will be attending the gathering this year. We expect this to be largely a time of spiritual renewal and inspiration for leadership. Online registration is now available!! $20.00 per person. Please contact Rebecca at the mission center office with questions, brussell@cofchristrm.org.
North Platte Congregation Closing Celebration, March 15, 2015, 10:30 a.m. North Platte, Nebraska. The celebration will be held at the AG Center located at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds: 5015 Rodeo Road, North Platte, NE 69101. Apostle Ron Harmon and the RMMC staff will be participating in the Celebration of the North Platte congregation’s almost 100 year ministry. Everyone from the Rocky Mountain Mission Center is invited to attend this celebration of ministry; lunch will be provided after the service. Directions can be found online at www.cofchristrm.org Please RSVP Rebecca, brussell@cofchristrm.org in the mission center office so we know how many to plan for.
April 10-12: Junior Retreat & Junior High Retreat, Fort Collins Congregation.
Big Peace Heroes Junior Retreat: 3rd – 5th Grade Using the concepts from Young Peacemakers Club for our learning and worship experiences and the movie Big Hero 6 as our adventurous backdrop we will explore what it means to be big heroes in peace for our selves, our families, friends, communities and planet. We will start our weekend out by making peace hero costumes and then join into teams to make big hero robots of our own in a challenge of teamwork and creativity. We will end the evening by watching Big Hero 6 of course! On Saturday we will delve deeply into the peace for me, peace for us, peace for everyone and peace for the planet concepts with hands on activities and vibrant, fun, kid focused and led worship; our service project will be to collect non perishable food for the hungry in a scavenger hunt challenge; a crazy obstacle course will bring a burst of energy mid day; and our evening mystery dinner will be surely be thrilling surprise. Sunday we will close with breakfast and an exciting worship full of God’s love for each child and affirmations of their ability to be Big Peace Heroes everyday.
We Are All In This Together: Junior High Retreat: 6th-8th Grade
Join us as we learn how to be in community with each other and with God. We will start our weekend in Madagascar as those wild and crafty penguins remind us that we are always with friends on our journey. Saturday we will experience God through learning about sacraments, taking some time to play outside and through community art. Saturday night we will enjoy a mystery dinner (that’s all I can say about that…). Sunday morning we will close with worship that will use everyone’s gifts in meaningful ways. Plan on fun having a lot of fun with your friends!
The cost for both retreats is $50. Questions? Juniors (3rd-5th grade) contact DeziRae at dastle@cofchrist.org and Junior Highs (6th-8th grade) contact Shandra at: snewcom@cofchrist.org
Sr. High Street Retreat is scheduled for April 24-26, 2015 in Denver, CO. Encountering the World on the Streets of Denver!!!
Join us as we explore world religions, food from around the globe, world poverty and what it means to be Christian peacemakers in the world. Highlights include: Friday dinner at Mataam Fez where diners eat with their hands, seated on the floor and shoes off, while beautiful music plays, a belly dancer and tea pouring trickster entertain. Saturday a Graffiti Run where participants dressed in all white run, dance, skip or walk to the finish line as they get doused with vibrant bursts of colored powder – youth are encouraged to get sponsors to donate money for the 5K which we will donate and split between Health Ed Connect and Outreach International. We will visit Temple Emanuel, Krishna Temple and Denver Buddhist Temple to gain a deeper understanding of our fellow friends in faith and their beliefs and practices. Of course we cant forget the favorite activity every year, the 16th Street Mall Scavenger Hunt! The grand finale of the weekend will also take place on the 16th Street Mall, starting with an orchestrated laughing mob on the shuttle ride, where we hope to spread smiles, giggles, laughs and joy to everyone that rides; a freeze mob on the sidewalk where we will hold signs with statements and statistics on world poverty; a music video performed, filmed and edited by youth and leaders; and an agape meal with the needy. Cost is $135 and includes lodging, meals from Friday dinner through Sunday lunch – including meals at 3 amazing Denver restaurants, the Graffiti Run, all other materials for classes and activities, transportation and staffing. PLEASE ask your congregation or the mission center for financial assistance if needed, we want all youth to be able to attend these important disciple forming opportunities. Contact DeziRae Astle at dastle@cofchrist.orgwith questions. Register with Rebecca at brussell@cofchristrm.org
Attention Pastors and CFOs: Congregational Grants and Annual Congregational Audit Reminder. April 30, 2015 is the due date for both Congregational Grant Applications as well as the 2014 Congregational Audits. Please go to www.cofchristrm.org for more information on both of these items. If you have questions please contact Tim at tashburn@cofchrist.org
2015 Festival of Homiletics – Denver, CO, May 11-15, 2015. “Preaching from the Mountain: Heralds of Good Tidings” The 2015 Festival of Homiletics is coming to Denver this May. This is a great opportunity for all pastors and ministers in Community of Christ to experience education on public ministry and preaching skills from some of the world’s leading Christian speakers and professors. Here are some of the presenters: Walter Brueggeman, Will Willimon, Brian McLaren, Diana Butler Bass and many others. The 2015 Festival of Homiletics will be hosted by three churches all located in the heart of downtown Denver and representing vibrant faith communities. Early bird registration per person for the week of the festival is $270 by February 16th afterwards, $285. Early bird groupregistration is $255 by February 16th afterwards $270. Single Day Registration will be available beginning Monday, April 13, 2015. Select the single registration option. The ability to select single days will be presented on page 2. (Cost Monday and Friday $75 per day, Tuesday through Thursday $100 per day). Registration Includes: all lectures, worships and workshops, as well as all scheduled evening events. Travel, lodging and meals are the responsibility of the individual. If there is enough interest the RMMC can facilitate the group registration and possible housing with local church members. Go to www.festivalofhomiletics.com for more information on the festival. Please send an email to Rebecca at brussel@cofchristrm.org if you are interested in pursuing the group rate.
Young Adult Retreat May 22-25 in Boulder, CO. The theme for this year’s retreat is: One Voice in the Crowd. We will be experiencing a peace, justice and spirituality retreat together this year. Cost is: $120 per person. Everyone ages 18-35 is invited to join us. We start Friday night at 6 p.m. and go through Monday at noon. (If you’re interested in running the Boulder Boulder, we will be in the perfect spot for it!) Questions? Contact Shandra Newcom at : snewcom@cofchrist.org
Giving Voice to Your Legacy Program to take place during Rockies Family Camp, July 29 – August 2, 2015 (On a day of the camp).
Some of us have planned for our financial security in our retirement years, but find we are outliving our plans. Some of us have had significant changes in our health and family dynamics, and still some of us haven’t planned much at all. We might also have minor children, and don’t yet have a Will in place in the event guardianship is needed. This program will cover how to get started in establishing a complete estate plan that would include a living trust, will, power of attorney for financial and health care decisions and a living will. We will also explore ways to potentially increase your income through charitable gift planning. The program will be presented by Denise Jensen of IHQ Mission Funding department. You can sign up to attend when you arrive at Reunion or for more information or to schedule a private visit beforehand, please give Denise a call at 1-800-884-7526, option 3 or email djensen@cofchrist.org.
Emergency Preparedness Training in 2015. What would YOU do if an Emergency/Disaster hit Church – Home – Work – Community? Know how to plan for an emergency; Learn basic response skills focusing on emergency/disaster training and safety. This is an opportunity to provide training, information and service for the communities in which our congregations reside. The Denver Office of Emergency Management has been working with David Cook, a priesthood member and Seventy living in Castle Rock. The Denver OEM wants to run a pilot program in emergency/disaster training preparation in which communities where we have congregations. (Workshops can be 1-2 hours, depending on the interest of the congregation). The congregation would serve as a location and host for the community to receive such training. Please contact Rebecca, at the mission center office if your congregation is interested in being a part of this community project. brussell@cofchristrm.org Dave Cook is available to provide ministry upon request.
When registering for an event using the RMMC website please note!: In order to receive an email confirmation of registration for an event, please make sure your SPAM manager setting allows you to receive emails from cofchristrm.org. If you are still not able to receive a confirmation of registration please contact Rebecca in the mission center office, brussell@cofchristrm.org
WORLD CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS
Letter of Counsel Regarding the Presiding Quorums go to http://www.cofchrist.org/letter-of-counsel to read the recent Letter of Counsel.
President Stephen M. Veazey looks forward to interacting with you on April 12, 2015. Join the worldwide church in an interactive, webcast-only event April 12 at 6:00 p.m. (CDT). The focus will be on oneness and equality in Christ (paragraphs 10-14 of the words of counsel presented to the 2013 World Conference). An update on giving trends, budget numbers, and steps being taken to balance the budget also will be shared.
OTHER ITEMS:
Announcements: For more information from the World Church please go to www.cofchrist.org/announcements You may also subscribe to the following blogs and resources to receive them in your email: Daily Bread Blog, Evangelist Blog, CofChrist News, CofChrist Announcements, Commentary Series, Music Matters, and the High Priest Newsletter. You may select which information sources you receive, just go to www.cofchrist.org then from the “Connect” drop down menu click on “Subscribe” and select which items you would like to receive.
Shandra Newcom Rocky Mountain Mission Center Community of Christ 303-426-5900