April 8, 2015

Greetings,

I spent all last week in Orlando, FL for my son’s spring break. We spent 5 days at Disney and 2 days at Universal Studios. We had an amazing time. However sometimes in the rush to do every single thing that the parks had to offer I felt like we were missing something. And there were definitely days where we felt like Disney was not happiest place on earth but rather the most tired and stressful place on earth. Upon reflecting further when we got home I realized I fell into the trap of letting life get in the way of living. For me, when life is normal, calm and predictable I find it easier to maintain spiritual practices and to return my attention repeatedly to the present moment. But when life gets a little chaotic, if I’m feeling depressed, if I just got really bad news, if I’m sick, when I have too much work to do, when Disney becomes a mad dash I forget to take time to be with God, to nurture my soul, and to live in the present moment. So what would I do differently? Just 5 minutes of prayer and meditation first thing every morning with my son would set the tone for our day, instead of coffee, maps and supply packing. Creating an ongoing list of things we were grateful for each day and another for our favorite parts of each day will help us remember the best things about our trip and keep that gratitude going throughout the trip. And finally we will only do what we love at each park and remember to rest in the present moment and the pool (some of our favorite times were just hanging at the hotel pool).

 

Does your life ever feel like a mad dash? Do you find yourself constantly busy with little time to slow down and just be? What is just one way you can slow down and pay attention to God? You can find a variety of practices that help you to slow down and live more intimately with yourself, God and others at our Leading Congregations in Mission website under missional practices, explore them and find what works for you. It is essential that we take time to personally and corporately engage in spiritual practices that feed our souls and inspire our imaginations with new possibilities of God’s mission in our world.

http://missionalleaders.org/missional-practices/

 

By now if you aren’t already doing so we invite you to join us in praying the mission prayer daily:

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.

 

Blessings,

DeziRae Astle

Rockies Mission Coordinator

dastle@cofchrist.org

303-426-5900 x4

 

 

ROCKY MOUNTAIN MISSION CENTER EVENTS: PLEASE SHARE THESE ANNOUNCEMENTS IN YOUR CONGREGATION!!!)

 

April 10-12: Junior Retreat & Junior High Retreat, Fort Collins Congregation.

 

Big Peace Heroes Junior Retreat: 3rd – 5th Grade has been cancelled due to lack of junior registrations. (Parents of the two children registered with the office were contacted earlier in the week.)

 

We Are All In This Together Junior High Retreat: 6th-8th Grade is still a go, and starts tonight!!!

 

Questions? Juniors (3rd-5th grade) contact DeziRae at dastle@cofchrist.org and Junior Highs (6th-8th grade) contact Shandra at: snewcom@cofchrist.org

 

Denver Street Retreat ***NEW DATE*** May 1-3, 2015: Encountering the World on the Streets of Denver Join us as we explore world religions, food from around the world, poverty and peace across the world all on the streets of Denver! Highlights include: meal at Mataam Fez, 16th Mall Scavenger Hunt, visit to Jewish & Buddhist Temples, Rockies Run for the Homeless, laughing mob, freeze poverty demo and making music videos! Register by April 16th and cost is $125. Registration cost after this date will include price increase for hotel and may not be guaranteed if more rooms can’t be reserved. To register please send form and payment to mission center office. Once registered/paid refunds will not be issued because hotel rooms and other activities must be paid in advance. Contact DeziRae Astle at dastle@cofchrist.org with questions. Register with Rebecca at brussell@cofchristrm.org

 

The next SITE class will be taught by John Hamer. The class is: Community of Christ Scriptures. If you are interested in joining SITE and this class, please contact Shandra Newcom at: snewcom@cofchrsit.org by April 15.

 

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 and woold love to see you there!. 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. Please note: (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

 

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

 

Nuclear Weaponry Development

 

The World Church Peace and Justice Committee is conducting a project to gather the stories of people who have witnessed or been affected by the development of nuclear weapons. This includes :

  • People with knowledge of the development of nuclear weapons •People who were affected by testing of nuclear weapons •People who have knowledge of or were affected by accidents involving nuclear material •People who have knowledge of the political and policy processes and decisions associated with the authorization, deployment, security, or training related to nuclear weapons

WHO: Community of Christ adults and teens (members and friends)

WHERE: Health and Wholeness Team Page www.CofChrist.org/health-and-wholeness-teamTwo survey options are available. (Links to online and paper surveys are available at the Health and Wholeness Team page listed above.) 2. Paper— www.CofChrist.org/Common/Cms/documents/Health-and-Wholeness-Survey.pdf   Community of Christ—Health and Wholeness Survey 1001 W. Walnut St. Help promote the importance of health and wholeness of body, mind, spirit, and relationships in our lives. Download several hard copies to share with members who may not have access to online options.Thanks for your help!

 

WORLD CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

THIS SUNDAY 4/12/2015

President Stephen M. Veazey looks forward to interacting with you on April 12. 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.

 

Following the address, President Veazey will answer your e-mail, Twitter, and Facebook questions live.

 

In preparation:

 

 

 

  • Mark your calendar for last two president’s addresses on the words of counsel: October 4, 2015, and April 3, 2016.

 

All addresses will be webcast live in English, French, and Spanish.

 

MAYORS FOR PEACE

Calling nuclear weapons “a grave threat to the Earth and existence of life,” the 2013 World Conference authorized WC1303 Action toward Nuclear Weapons Abolition.

 

But what action? How can members or congregations foster “the responsible reduction and eventual eradication of nuclear weapons?”

 

The Community of Christ Peace and Justice and Earth Stewardship teams have a specific suggestion:

 

Urge your municipality to register as a Mayors for Peace (MFP) city.

 

More than 6,200 cities in 160 countries have joined Mayors for Peace in the goal of “lasting world peace through inter-city solidarity around the globe, promoting efforts to raise public consciousness of the need to abolish nuclear weapons.”

 

Representing more than three-quarters of a billion people, Mayors for Peace cities include more than half of the world’s most populous communities and capitals. They’re joined in an effort to protect citizens from nuclear war.

 

The Vision 2020 campaign of Mayors for Peace has four action goals:

  • Immediately “de-alert” all nuclear weapons.
  • Immediately start substantive negotiations toward a universal nuclear-weapons convention.
  • Conclude a convention by 2015, comprehensively banning manufacture, possession, and use of nuclear weapons.
  • Destroy all nuclear weapons by 2020.

 

Mayors for Peace and the church became linked in 2013, when the Community of Christ International Peace Award was presented to Tadatoshi Akiba, former MFP president and mayor of Hiroshima, Japan. For its peace efforts during Akiba’s tenure, MFP received the 2004 World Citizenship Award of Nuclear Age Peace Foundation.

 

So how can an individual or congregation further MFP’s efforts? Becoming a member is straightforward. Obtain a letter from your mayor or city council, stating that your city supports the Program to Promote the Solidarity of Cities toward the Total Abolition of Nuclear Weapons and would like to join Mayors for Peace. Mail the letter to Mayors for Peace Secretariat 1-5 Nakajima-cho, Naka-ku, Hiroshima 730-0811 Japan. A certificate of membership will be sent by return mail. There are no fees or costs.

 

Contact…

 

Mayors for Peace represents a significant grassroots effort by citizens worldwide to urge governments toward a nuclear-weapons-free world. To report your city’s MFP registration or obtain further information, e-mail the Peace and Justice Team.

 

HEALTH & WHOLENESS SURVEY

The First Presidency chartered the World Church Health and Wholeness Team in response to 2013 World Conference Resolution 1305 Wholeness and Well-being. This resolution directs the church to renew emphasis on health and well-being of body, mind, spirit, and relationships.The resolution also says the church needs to develop support and resources for health and wholeness.

 

We invite you to take a short survey about health and wholeness. The purpose of the survey is to gather information. The survey results are not intended to change World Church policies. We will use the information to create resources that encourage health, wholeness, and well-being for Community of Christ members and friends.

 

The survey takes about 8-10 minutes to complete.Your survey will be anonymous and confidential. Your responses will be combined with others response and cannot be associated with any one individual.

 

Thank you for your participation, World Church Health and Wholeness Team