Friends,
This is our 3rd week of our last trimester of Peacemakers at McMeen Elementary for the 15/16 school year. This go around we have kindergarten and first grade. We have been focusing on “Peace for Me”, reading and discussing books, practicing different breathing techniques and yoga, coloring mandalas and sharing about our day to day lives as well as deeper experiences. We are now watching the movie Inside Out with discussion, crafts and other activities focusing on identifying and dealing with feelings to follow (a favorite game is always Feelings Bingo). These are only a few of the things we will learn together this trimester.
Yesterday I came across an article about three areas of learning that are missing in most classrooms across our country: meditation, dealing with feelings and proper nutrition. I realized that there is one more area we need to add to our curriculum, proper nutrition. “Peace for Me” requires peace for the body in the form of proper food choices, real, local organic food grown from the earth as well as learning ways to cook and eat it. We occasionally bring Girl Scout cookies as a special treat, I promised the kids that next week we would start to try different veggies, I got mostly groans š But I’m excited to help them discover new foods and the beauty of fresh, local produce, hopefully get their parents try some new recipes too!
If you are interested in helping out with and/or learning about starting your own Peacemakers please email me. We hold Peacemakers Mon, Tue & Wed from 3:15 to 4:15 in southeast Denver. Sign up for a day, we would love occasional drop in help. I’m also happy to visit with you or talk by phone if you want more information on starting a club at a local school or neighborhood. If you live too far or are unable to help out please pray for us and for all the children in the world who face challenges to peace in their inner lives, relationships, countries and on their planet.
Blessings of peace to you and yours,
DeziRae Astle
Rockies Mission Coordinator
dastle@cofchrist.org
303-426-5900 x4
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.
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 22ā24, 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.
Leading Congregations in Mission, Saturday, April 30, 2016: Colorado Springs will be having its first Leading Congregations in Mission āMini-retreatā. We feel the best way to āshareā the LCM experience is to provide a condensed version for our congregation. Since Apostle Ron Harmon is coming to lead this event, we are opening it up to folks in the RMMC. It would be best if you come as a group with others from your congregation. Date: Saturday April 30, 2016 from 8am to 5pm. [lunch and snacks provided]. Preparation: read the book āIn The Name of Jesusā by Henri Nouwen. Please sign up with Jandy Barentine by April 20th at mjbarentine@comcast.net.
Graceland University Choir Concert, May 5, 2016:The Graceland University Choir will be performing at the Fort Collins Community of Christ Church, located at 220 East Oak St, Fort Collins, CO 80524. The choir will be presenting a concert to the congregation on the evening of Thursday, May 5th at 7:30 p.m. This performance is open to all in the mission center who would like to join. Hope you can make it!
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