Dear Friends,
I have been blessed this week by watching President Steve Veazey’s World Conference closing sermon on the Community of Christ World Church website. I am, in particular, moved by these words: “Our name, Community of Christ, calls us to keep going. It is moving us toward a future God wants for us. That future involves being more and more like Jesus, who loved indiscriminately, gave freely, forgave, and advocated for peaceful reconciliation instead of vengeful retribution. Our name urges us to be a faith community through which Christ’s healing and salvation flow freely into a suffering world.” (Steve Veazey, June 2016)
I love the idea and truth that God has a future for us – that we are moving toward that future as we live into our name, Community of Christ. And I’m happy and honored to be sharing that journey with you.
So how can we be ” a faith community through which Christ’s healing and salvation flow freely into a suffering world?” I think about this a lot. I believe that we cannot do this alone. I also believe that it takes practice to live this journey. As the saying goes: Fall down seven times, get up eight. We live into Christ’s mission through our congregation and community by reaching out to those who may never come through our church doors. We try to build relationships and connections. We seek to do justice. But we don’t always live the way we are called to live. What’s important, in those moments when we’ve let ourselves down, is that we get back up and try again. That we reach out one more time. That we stop and listen and love.
This isn’t about living perfect lives. That’s impossible. It is about living lives of imagination and hope. That’s our call.
Out of imagination and hope will come action. Out of action will come connection. Out of connection will come God’s Reign on earth. Ours is an amazing task and we are ever on the journey.
What a gift, then, that this journey has found us all here – together – praying and loving and singing and working for the Kingdom. May our work be blessed is always my prayer. You can find Steve Veazey’s sermon on the World Church website: www.cofchrist.org. Check it out. And then let me know how you are moved and inspired. I look forward to hearing from you!
With love,
Shandra Newcom
President
Rocky Mountain Mission Center
ROCKY MOUNTAIN MISSION CENTER ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Women’s Retreat, September 9-11, Camp Paradise, Wyoming: The Woman at the Well: A Study in Living Water. Barbara Gardner of Casper, WY will provide guest ministry and Karen Hutchinson of Loveland, CO will be the retreat director. Please contact Karen with questions or to register for this event.
In the middle of a hot, sunny day at a dusty village well in Samaria, Jesus meets a woman. He asks her for a drink of water. “Ah;” you say, “the story of the woman at the well. I know that pretty well.” But wait, not so fast! There is a lot more to it than you might think.
The story of the nameless Samaritan woman at the well, recorded only in the Gospel of John, is a revealing one, full of many truths and powerful lessons for us today. We will explore many of them during the weekend. We’ll learn more about the author of the book of John, we’ll examine the meanings and nuances of the story, we’ll share about the story, we’ll experience the story, and we’ll live the story. Come travel with us on this extraordinary journey!
Karen Hutchinson’s e-mail is: kthutch.hutchinson@gmail.com
Men’s Retreat: September 16-18, Camp Paradise, Wyoming. Jim Smith will be directing this fun weekend camp themed, “The Journey”. On Friday evening, dinner will be on your own and we will gather together for an evening worship at 9pm.
Saturday morning there will be an open discussion class followed by some afternoon free time to enjoy the beautiful campground. There will be an ATV onsite to give tours of the grounds and see some of the new tree restoration project. At 6pm we will come together for dinner followed by at 7:30 evening worship.
Sunday morning we’ll have a dedication service at 9am and then we will pack sack lunches before camp comes to a close. The cost to attend is $40/per camper which includes lodging and meals. Please contact Jim Smith with questions or to register for this event: smiths.villa@hotmail.com.
SITE: September 23-25, 2016. The topic for September’s class is: Spirituality and Mission taught by Shandra Newcom. Spots are still available! Our text will be: Soul Feast by Marjorie J. Thompson. Please register by contacting Rebecca Russell at the Mission Center Office: brussellcofchrist@gmail.com.
Ft. Collins Congregation 100th Anniversary Celebration, October 15-16, 2016: All are invited to share in the activities celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Ft. Collins, CO congregation! This will take place October 15-16 at the church in Ft. Collins. Activities start at 2:00 PM on Saturday in the Activity Center with a slide show, sharing of experiences, honoring past leaders, and refreshments. A banquet will be held in the evening at 6 PM (call in reservations to Marilyn Garner970-493-4137 orgarner.marilyn@gmail.com). Sunday activities will begin at 9:45 AMwith an information Q&A session with President Steve Veazey, followed by a worship service at 11:00.
Rocky Mountain Mission Center Conference, November 4-6, 2016, Estes Park, CO. Join alongside 200 members and friends for the biggest event of the year at the 15th Annual RMMC Conference in the heart of the Rocky Mountains! We will gather again at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park for what is sure to be a spirit filled weekend. The theme for the weekend is “Be Transformed”. We will be talking about transformation through Christ as we become a community that lives, loves and shares together. Our guest ministers will be: Bill McFarlin (teaching and preaching), Dave and Dustee Heinz (Dave will lead music and Dustee will be our spiritual companion) and Kinsey Horringa (youth ministry). Registration for this event will open mid September. We can’t wait to see you there!
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! ***UPDATE*** In the first six months we have raised over $3850 and we expect to continue earning more the coming months! If you would like to purchase a grocery card, please contact Phyllis Modica at 303-426-5900 x-1. |
