Hello Everyone 🙂
Over the last few months I have had the opportunity to share with several friends and even a few strangers some of the missional practices that have been introduced in LCM. In one case I ended up chatting with a server as I waited on a friend to show up. I said he looked tired and he admitted he was burnt out and working too many hours. I asked him what he was doing to deal with the stress and he told me “nothing”. I suggested he meditate, starting with just 5 minutes every morning. I described centering prayer, several breath prayers and recommended journaling as well. He said he felt like he really needed something like that in his life and thanked me. In another case one of my very good friends called and shared she was dealing with some confusion around a decision and also some depression. I asked her how she was connecting with God and herself. She admitted “nothing” despite what she described as a “deep need to listen to God and herself”. Again we talked about meditation, prayer, and journaling. I also suggested a phone app that Shandra had mentioned to me one day for meditation (omgmeditate.com). My friend called me 5 days later to let me know she loved the app, had bought a journal and was doing the breath prayer before bed. A year ago these kinds of conversations did not happen regularly. In the last 3 months I could tell you of at least 10 conversations with friends and strangers that are yearning for a deeper connection with God but don’t know how to get it. There has been a shift in me since regularly engaging in my own spiritual practices like the mission prayer, dwelling in the word and meditation. I’m more present to the opportunities to share and more willing to take the risk. I invite you to commit to engaging in a new missional practice in these last few months before the end of 2015. I can promise you it will change your life and the lives of those you connect with if you let it.
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.
DeziRae Astle
Rockies Mission Coordinator
dastle@cofchrist.org
303-426-5900 x4
ROCKY MOUNTAIN MISSION CENTER ANNOUCMENTS:
THANK YOU to everyone who participated in your congregation’s annual business session to elect your delegates for the upcoming Mission Center Conference and vote on your 2016 Generosity Funding for the Mission Center. We greatly appreciate your cooperation, willingness to serve, and generous funding response!
Rocky Mountain Mission Center Conference: November 6-8, 2015, YMCA of the Rockies, Estes Park, Colorado. Mark your calendars for this fall’s conference. The theme will be “Discover Deep Joy.” Our guest ministers will be Apostle Ron Harmon, Dave Nii, and Lauren Hall. Along with the budget and other possible items for our conference agenda we will also be electing delegates to the 2016 World Conference. Registration for this event is now open and can be found online at www.cofchristrm.org<http://www.cofchristrm.org/>. You may print off the registration form and mail to the mission center office, or use our online registration. Looking forward to seeing you there!
Please note: Rebecca Russell, the Rocky Mountain Mission Center’s Administrative Assistant and Recorder has a new e-mail address! You can reach her at: brussellcofchrist@gmail.com
WORLD CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS:
A SPIRITUAL VENTURE: SPIRITUAL RETREAT
What: A spiritual retreat with President Stephen M. Veazey exploring the connection between Spirit and Mission. For more information please visit: http://spiritualformationcenter.org/news-and-events/a-spiritual-venture-spiritual-retreat/
WHEN: October 23-25, 2015
WHERE: Spiritual Formation Center 7809 Joseph St. Kirtland, OH 44094
COST: $50.00
Registration Deadline: October 1, 2015
If you have any questions or would like to schedule spiritual retreat or pilgrimage to the Kirtland or Independence Temple, please feel free to contact Katie Harmon-McLaughlin at khmclaughlin@cofchrist.org
WORLD CONFERENCE: One in Christ—a Worldwide Community
Can you imagine an international reunion? Worship, learning, games, and fellowship—all wrapped around World Conference. Mark your calendar for 4-11 June 2016, and plan to be in Independence, Missouri.
You may think this is just World Conference, but it will be so much more. Experience a picnic on the lawn, stay for fellowship at the Canteen after evening worship, be part of a worldwide community that is “One in Christ.”
Delegates will spend time in deliberation, intentional listening, and making decisions that will move the church forward in its mission with Christ.
And if you aren’t a delegate, you’ll still have much to choose from—educational opportunities exploring the theme and elements of peace and justice, acts of service for our host community, time in Celebration Village, walks in the new labyrinth, time spent in reflection and contemplation, many fun opportunities to volunteer, and much more.