Dear Friends,
I want to share with you some words from my friend the Rev. Scott Gunn (with some of my own additions):
“In Philippians 1, St. Paul makes it clear that his leadership is infused with prayer. He prays for those he serves, and it is clear that they pray for him.
Everything begins, continues, and ends with prayer.
Too many congregations are places of maintenance and preservation, not transformational ministry. I have to wonder how the hearts of our leaders (and our hearts) might be changed, and what might happen if our leaders’ hearts (and our own) came alive with the Spirit. As I speak with pastors and leaders, I often hear weariness and a sense that they’re being ground down by the tasks of running the church. But that’s not how it was meant to be. We need more time to pray.
If you are a church leader and/or Priesthood member, are you making enough time to pray? Are you asking those whom you serve to pray for you? If you are a member of a congregation, are you praying for your leaders daily? What can you do to help them have more time in prayer?”
These words by Scott are especially important now for Community of Christ. We could easily move into a time of fear brought about by uncertainty with our financial future. We could expect our leaders to work harder, give more, take on new tasks – but really what we need to be asking is that our leaders, Priesthood, and members spend more time in prayer.
How can you spend more time in prayer?
From our hymnal:
“Let us pray for one another
that our minds and hearts may blend
as we grow in love and mercy,
day by day, til life shall end.
We can see how others need us;
may we also dare to say
that in love we’ll share together;
for each other let us pray.”
Amen.
Love,
Shandra
ROCKY MOUNTAIN MISSION CENTER ANNOUCEMENTS:
The First Presidency and World church leaders want to share financial updates and related information with the church. Please visit www.cofchrist.org to learn more about the financial situation facing the church at this time. If you have questions, concerns or comments, please contact Mission Center President, Shandra Newcom, at: snewcom@cofchrist.org.
Leadership Weekend– March 4-5, 2016– Fort Collins Congregation: 220 East Oak St, Ft Collins, CO 80524. We invite you to join us for the upcoming Leadership Weekend- the theme this year is: Generosity: Call and Respose. Our guest ministers are: Robin Linkhart and Craig Perryman. The retreat starts at 7 p.m.on March 4 and ends at 5 p.m. on March 5. The cost to attend is $30. Online registration for this event is available at cofchristrm.org .You may also register for this event by contacting Rebecca Russell at: brussellcofchrist@gmail.com.
Junior & Jr. High Retreat, April 8-10, 2016: Community IN Christ. We invite YOU to join us for a weekend adventure! We will explore relationships with one another and Christ using exciting team building activities, unique youth focused worships, meal times and fun fellowship to build a deep and meaningful community, together, In Christ. The event will be held at the Ft. Collins Community of Christ located at 220 East Oak St, Ft Collins, CO 80524. Check in begins Friday at 6:00 p.m. and the retreat ends at noon on Sunday. The cost to attend is $40 per camper. To register, please contact Rebecca Russell at the Mission Center office: brussellcofchrist@gmail.com. Register before April 1st to avoid a late fee. Please contact DeziRae Astle (dastle@cofchrist.org) with questions regarding junior campers, and Cherry Newcom (jcnewcom@comcast.net) with questions regarding Jr. High campers. See you soon!
Sr. High Street Retreat, April 22–24, 2016. Join us for an adventure on the streets of Denver. We will explore poverty as well as the use of art as self expression and social commentary by those in poverty. We will stay in a downtown hotel and do a service project benefitting a local shelter. We will also attend Denver Urban Ministries Urban Education Day, go on a walking art tour in the Rhino & Santa Fe Art Districts, walk/run the Denver Retro Graffiti Run, plus there will be fun activities on the 16th Street Mall. Cost: $150 (please speak to your congregation or the Mission Center if you need financial assistance to attend). Contact DeziRae Astle (dastle@cofchrist.org) with questions or Rebecca Russell (brussellcofchrist@gmail.com) to register for this event.
Developing Disciples to Serve is an important ministry of the Mission Center. Grocery cards are available for sale to support this initiative. When you use these cards at King Soopers, City Market or Safeway, you help earn FREE MONEY for ministry. The Mission Center is selling grocery cards for $10 (they are preloaded with that amount). Every time you buy groceries, you can add funds to the card for your purchase. The stores then donate 5 percent of your purchase back to the Mission Center. It is fast, free to you, easy, and a very effective way to raise money for our ministries in the Rocky Mountain region! In just the first month, we raised $463. We expect to earn much more in the coming months. If you would like to purchase a grocery card, please contact Phyllis Modica at 303-426-5900 x-1, or pmodica@cofchristrm.org.
The Mission Center staff are updating and revising some of the forms and policies used by the Mission Center. Please refer to the web site each time you need to access the latest versions. When traveling for the Mission Center, please be sure to use the current expense reimbursement request form posted at: cofchristrm.org under MC Forms.
Shandra Newcom
President
Rocky Mountain Mission Center
Community of Christ
“The final word is love.” -Dorothy Day