Dear Friends,
It is with great joy and expectation that I come to the Christmas story. I realize that we are still deeply planted in advent and that the baby will not be “born” for a couple of weeks. Nevertheless, this will be the last time I write to you this year and I want to make a couple of Christmas observations.
This has been a rough year for so many of us. For a variety of reasons we have needed one another and we have relied on the kindness of friends, family and even strangers. Sometimes that kindness has been overflowing and sometimes we have felt alone.
The baby comes for us – in our pain and struggle.
This has been a good year for many of us, too. We have found connection in new ways, we have grown and changed in Christ, we have lived God’s mission in the world. Sometimes we have been grateful and sometimes we have forgotten to say “thank you”.
The baby comes for us – in our joy and celebration.
This has been a time of growth for us. We are not who we were a year ago. Our congregations have changed and we have changed too. Some of us have hope and some have doubt. Sometimes we have believed and sometimes we have questioned.
The baby come for us – in our uncertainty and wondering.
I love Christmas. Every year I take this time to reflect and, as I read the story of the Christ child each December I am reminded of the great and massive love of God for us, the world. I am reminded that the story, Christ’s story, our story, is truly just beginning.
Let us remember to take time this Christmas. To stop and be grateful. To share with our hearts open. To welcome the baby with song and prayer and story.
May you experience the joy of Christmas morning in community and with great expectation. Together, as a mission center, we look forward with hope and we know that God is present among us and that we can and will live Christ’s story with exuberance and the peace that, still, even today, passes all understanding.
May blessings be yours this holiday season,
Shandra Newcom
President
Rocky Mountain Mission Center
Office Closing:
The office will be closed December 23, 2016 -January 2, 2017. Please e-mail me with pastoral or oblation emergencies and I will reply with names and e-mails of folks who are on call. I will be unable to reply personally to e-mail from December 20, 2017 through January 1, 2017. I will also not be able to receive phone calls. I will try to check e-mail every other day or so.
Toronto Encounter World Religions Retreat:
The Toronto retreat over Memorial Day weekend will be for folks ages 21-50. We will leave Friday morning May 26 and return Monday night May 29, 2017. The cost for each person is $1000. This is all inclusive. The mission center plans to provide significant financial support. If you are planning on going we ask that you pay at least $200. If you can afford more, that is great. We need at least 10 people to go in order for the trip to happen. Please e-mail me right away of your are planning on going.
Ministry With Latter Day Seekers: An Introduction
This workshop which takes place at the Greenwood congregation will introduce Community of Christ priesthood, disciples, and congregations to ministry with Latter-Day Seekers. We will use a variety of resources and experiences to explore Restoration heritage, Mormon culture, and concerns of Latter-Day Seekers. Our intent is to deepen pastoral sensitivity, identity and process personal or denominational bias,and learn to effectively articulate Community of Christ identity, mission, message and beliefs. We will also review the basic fundamentals of community presence, hospitality, and welcome.
Where: Greenwood Community of Christ at 1695 E. Orchard Road, Greenwood Village, CO 80121
When: Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017
Time: 9 am-5 pm
Who: Apostle Robin Linkhart, Community of Christ
RSVP: Jana Horner : PastorJana@q.com
Community Call:
On January 24, 2017 at 7 p.m. we will have a community call during which we will open the discussion to those who want to talk about Camp Paradise and it’s future. There is no “agenda” behind this call. This is the time that was promised during Mission Center Conference for those who want their voices heard about this topic. Please watch Weekly Updates for call-in information. The call will last one hour and both Shandra Newcom, MCP and Steve Holloway, MCFO will be on the call to hear the thoughts of those who want to share.
Sr. High Winter Youth Retreat, January 20-22, 2017:
Save the date for this awesome winter retreat held in Buena Vista specifically for our Sr. High youth! Contact Jordan Wight with questions or to register for this event at: wight.jordan@gmail.com. Invite a friend along to join in the fun! Hope to see you there.
NEW! Front Range Nuts & Bolts Retreat, February 17-18, 2017, Fort Collins Congregation.
This retreat is for Pastors, CFOs, congregational leaders and ministers who want to learn more about how to run a congregation – the “nuts and bolts” of being a congregational minister. We will talk about invitation and hospitality, generosity, the “how- to’s” of leading a congregation (Priesthood calls, how to engage with the mission center and world church, leadership in the 21stCentury) and more! If you are wondering if this retreat is for you, the answer is: YES! **Pastors, please plan on attending this retreat or sending someone from your congregation. Alternately, this retreat will also be held in Grand Junction August 25-27, 2017. |
