RMMC Weekly Update
May 15, 2014
From Tim Ashburn
Greetings Rocky Mountain Mission Center!
About 2 years ago I took up running. It was then and is now a way for me to care for myself, to deal with stress, to take some time to think, meditate, yes one can meditate while running, and to simply be more physically healthy. It also gives me a chance to challenge myself. At one of the Leading Congregation’s in Mission (LCM) formational retreats a video was shown featuring the “mission prayer” (found below) and a runner. It was a do over type of video. At first the runner puts on his runner clothes and shoes and heads out the door, ear phones on, listening to his favorite music. On his run he passes several people along the way, a mom pushing a stroller, a person working on a lawn mower and a lady who is carrying vegetables she has just picked from her garden. He passes each one by, giving them little notice. He is listening to music and in his own zone. On the second time around, an alternative possibility happens; he stops and reads the mission prayer before departing on his run. As a result, he stuffs the ear phones in his pocket and heads out. This time he waves to the family with the stroller, he peers longer at the person working on the lawnmower and he stops and helps the lady with the basket of vegetables and engages in relationship with her. They sip lemonade and share pictures of their family on her front porch. The video is called “Open Your Eyes.”
It challenges me, as I find myself running around Lake McIntosh in Longmont, about a 3.5 mile loop. People abound on this trail, some are walking, some are walking their dogs, some are running and some are riding their bikes, but the chance for encounter is overwhelming. On more than one occasion, my eyes meet the eyes of a stranger; we exchange a friendly “hello.” I have yet to “re-play” my run around the lake such as in the video, but I find that the call to be present and open to the Spirit….to have my eyes open and be fully awake is an unfolding challenge of possibility. What lies ahead in the chance encounters of our daily lives? What blessing is waiting to be shared? What relationship is waiting to be healed? May we have courage to risk something new, to encounter the other and in turn be a blessing of the divine in the midst of our world. It is our mission. The video can be found at www.missionalleaders.org. Please visit the new tab on the Rocky Mountain Mission Center website titled “Encountering Mission.”
Blessings,
Tim
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
ROCKY MOUNTAIN MISSION CENTER EVENTS: PLEASE SHARE THESE ANNOUNCEMENTS IN YOUR CONGREGATION!!!)
Young Adult Retreat: May 23-26, 2014 at Peaceful Valley Ranch. There is still time to register! The costs to attend are: Adult (ages 18-35) – $120, Child (ages 4-17) – $90, or Small Child (Ages 0-3) -$37.50. Registrations after May 5th will be an additional $25. 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 information. Registrations and payments can be made online at www.cofchristrm.org.
Camp Paradise Family Camp: June 18-22, 2014. The theme for this year is Do We Know How to Show Christ’s Love? Guest ministry will be Central Mission Center President, Barbara Borkowski, and LCM Coordinator Rob Borkowski. The camp schedule is available online at www.cofchristrm.org. For more information and registration, please contact Jim Smith at smiths.villa@hotmail.com.
Street Retreat and IYF Preparation Gathering: These two events will happen together the weekend of June 20-22. Everyone grades 9-1st year college are welcome to attend both.
Street Retreat will go Friday evening through Sunday morning.
IYF Preparation Gathering will be June 21 from 9-noon in Denver. All people attending IYF are expected to attend. There will be a possibility of Skyping in so you don’t have to drive if you live far away. But if you can make it, please do! We will be getting to know each other and preparing for IYF by learning info and sharing in fellowship. Please note: You do not have to attend the whole Street Retreat in order to come to the IYF Prep gathering. (But we encourage you attendance!) STREET RETREAT INFO BELOW
Sr. High Street Retreat, ABOLISH POVERTY, 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 – 1st Year College; Cost: $100 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
International Youth Forum (IYF): July 15-18, 2014 at the Community of Christ Temple in Independence, MO. Early registration deadline is June 10, 2014 and the theme this year is Courage. The cost to attend is $210, with transportation and delegation costs approximately $300 per person (transportation fees combine if attending both IYF and SPEC). Eligible students will have completed 9th grade through the first year of university (approximate ages 15-19). We are now accepting online donations for those wanting to support youth attending IYF at: www.cofchristrm.org.
Spectacular: July 18-26, 2014 at Graceland University. Expanded age range for this year; campers who have just completed 9th, 10th, 11th or 12th grades are invited to attend! The early registration deadline is June 10, 2014. The cost is $380 – sibling and first time friend discounts apply. Transportation will be coordinated by the mission center and will be approximately $300 (transportation fees will combine if attending both IYF and SPEC). Don’t miss this amazing opportunity to gather with nearly 1000 youth from around North America!
WORLD CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS
Order the new Jack & Jenn “Lights! Camera! Action!” for your Vacation Church School or camp. Join Jack and Jenn through this moviemaking-themed adventure that explores the Enduring Principles. The kit includes
New videos with accompanying lessons.
Director helps with sample schedules, craft ideas, and games.
Original music on CD to accompany videos and lessons.
T-shirt, banner, and publicity-material templates.
Order yours from Herald House at 1-800-767-8181 or www.HeraldHouse.org for $17.95 plus postage and handling.
New process for Registered Children and Youth Worker applications is now in effect. To become a Registered Children and Youth Worker, your application must be received by Legal Services at least two weeks before applicant proposes to begin working with children and youth. Processing cannot be guaranteed outside this timeframe. An applicant is not a Registered Children and Youth Worker until Legal Services has authorized and confirmed them as such. Neither completion of training nor submission of an application guarantees registration. Legal Services looks forward to working alongside you on this. For more information, contact Karen Waring, executive assistant to general counsel.
Plan to attend 21st annual Peace Colloquy October 24–26 on the theme, “Poverty: God Weeps.” The event will begin at 7:30 p.m. (CDT) Friday with the Community of Christ International Peace Award ceremony at the Temple in Independence, Missouri. Throughout the weekend we will explore many vital issues we need to understand to Abolish Poverty, End Suffering throughout the world. We will learn about root causes of poverty, poverty traps, and how our best intents may hurt rather than heal. Come learn how Community of Christ ministries and strategic partnerships can lead to approaches that work and are sustainable. The Colloquy will include programming for adults, junior and senior high students, and children in kindergarten through fifth grade. Learn more at www.CofChrist.org/peacecolloquy.
Please submit 2016 World Conference legislation by May 31, 2015. The principles and steps of the common consent process (www.CofChrist.org/wc2013/official/CommonConsentAdvisoryTeamReport.pdf) will be implemented 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, mission centers are encouraged to submit items by May 31, 2015. All legislative items submitted by the final deadline (February 5, 2016) will be placed on the World Conference agenda. A form for submitting legislative items (proposals) for 2016 World Conference consideration is at www.CofChrist.org/wc2016. The form can also be obtained from World Church Secretary Sue Sloan.
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.)