RMMC Weekly Update
May 28, 2015
From Tim Ashburn
Greetings Rocky Mountain Mission Center!
Change knocks at our door; one could say that the recent World Church budget cuts scheduled to take effect in 2016 is both evidence and the result of a great change that is taking place in our culture. The latest Pew Research information has nothing positive to say about the state of Christianity in the United States. Trends in giving and participation continue to decline mimicking our own experience in Community of Christ. Certainty is what we might hope for, but it eludes our grasp, but certainty is not the substance of a fabric of faith. The comfort or certainty does not set our steps on a journey of discovery nor does it provide the seeds of new birth that brings life to a community seeking to be prophetic, however, the lack of certainty does provide ripe soil for dreams to emerge and for a community to rise found in the name Community of Christ.
“We also are continuing to become “Community of Christ!” Our future is full of possibility, necessary challenges, and hope as we continue to respond to the guidance of God, who has led the church from its beginning.” Sharing in Community of Christ, 3rd Edition, p. 7.
“Community of Christ,” your name, given as a divine blessing, is your identity and calling. If you will discern and embrace its full meaning, you will not only discover your future, you will become a blessing to the whole creation. Do not be afraid to go where it beckons you to go.” Doctrine and Covenants 163:1
Our faith resides in the one who calls us to community, whatever that community looks like. Our faith lives in the relationship with our creator, with our family, our friends and our neighbors. Even as change knocks at our doorstep, the way forward is to open the door and walk through. Our willingness to embrace change comes with the assurance of a loving caring God, who is not in trouble, who lives and continues to call us into the world.
Blessings,
Tim
MISSION PRAYER:
“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
ROCKY MOUNTAIN MISSION CENTER EVENTS: PLEASE SHARE THESE ANNOUNCEMENTS IN YOUR CONGREGATION!!!)
Big Spruce Junior/Senior High Camp (completed grades 6-12), June 6-12, 2015 (Saturday 6 pm to Friday 12:00 noon), Big Spruce Campgrounds, Cedaredge, Colorado, registration fee is $240.00, please contact Camp Director Naomi Barlow at nomebarlow@gmail.com or the mission center office at brussell@cochristrm.org to register. More information can be found at www.cofchristrm.org.
Big Spruce Junior High Camp (completed grades 3-5), June 12 – 15, 2015 (Friday 6 pm to Monday 12:00 Noon), Big Spruce Campgrounds, Cedaredge, Colorado, registration fee is $140.00, please contact Camp Director Shyree Kirkpatrick at shortiekirk@msn.com or the mission center office at brussell@cochristrm.org to register. More information can be found at www.cofchristrm.org.
Camp Paradise Junior/Junior High Camp (Jr: completed grades 3-8, Jr High: completed grades 6-8), Juniors – June 21-24, 2015 (Sunday 6 pm to Wednesday 12:00 noon), Junior High – June 21- 27, 2015 (Sunday 6 pm to Saturday 12:00 noon) Camp Paradise, Wheatland, Wyoming, Junior registration fee is $140.00, Junior High registration fee is $240.00, please contact Camp Director Beth Reilly at diamond7bar@yahoo.com or the mission center office at brussell@cochristrm.org to register. More information can be found at www.cofchristrm.org.
Camp Paradise Sr. High Retreat, July 9-12, 2015 (completed grades 9-12) (Thursday 6 pm to Sunday 12:00 Noon) registration fee $140.00, please contact Kat Palmer at katparmer@yahoo.com or the mission center office at brussell@cofchristrm.org to register. More information can be found at www.cofchristrm.org
Camp Paradise Reunion: Live, Love, Laugh, Share in Community, June 17 – 21, 2015. You’re invited to a time of renewal and rest, fellowship and fun, relevant learning and vibrant worship, and entering into deeper relationships with God, one another and ourselves.
Guest Minister: John S. Wight, John is field missionary coordinator for the North Central USA/Canada Mission Field and currently serves as president of the Quorum 10 and senior president of seventy.
Music Director: Jena Wight, Jena has served as a Temple tour guide at the Community of Christ Headquarters, a World Service Corps volunteer in Malawi, Africa, an intern with Outreach International, and a World Service Corps intern in Independence.
Graceland Rep: Bryan Tidwell , Bryan was very involved in Community of Christ Leadership Program, Res Life, he was a House President and also Apartment Manager at Graceland University.
Costs are as follows: $100 ages 12 and up, $75 ages 5-11, $50 ages 0-4 (Registration closes 6/15/15)
Go online to www.cofchrist.org to see schedule, details and to register. For questions please contact DeziRae Astle at dastle@cofchrist.org
Big Spruce Women’s Retreat: June 26-28, 2015! The theme for the retreat is “Jesus Calling.” Guest ministry will be women from the Farmington, NM congregation, who will talk about how some daily entries from Jesus Calling have affected their lives. For those who would like to purchase the daily devotional book, Jesus Calling is written by Sarah Young and published by Thomas Nelson Nashville, 2011. Irene Olive with have the Saturday afternoon activity involving a craft project to honor the big spruce that fell last year. This will be a very special event that will provide people with a visual memory of the giant spruce that stood for decades along the creek at the campground’s baptismal site. Registration and tentative schedule can be found online at www.cofchristrm.org.
Big Spruce Reunion, Live, Love, Share, July 4-11, 2015, Guest Ministry Tom and Vicki Morain, Ministers in Lamoni Heartland Mission Center. Experience, Tie Dyeing T-Shirts, All Camp George Party, Fine Arts Classes, Outreach International Focus Day, Yoga and other opportunities for recreation and fellowship. In years past, the reunion has focused on a country or culture of the world, this year the cultural focus evening will be “An American Experience.” Come dressed as your favorite American in History!, Share your family’s American story, Explore American Culinary Treats, Play Pioneer and Pilgrim games. For more information and to register, check the mission center website at www.cofchristrm.org (Information should be up soon) or contact Bill Grimes at 8 Garden Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80904 or call 719-635-9439.
SPECTACULAR 2015, July 16-26, Teenagers who have completed 9th-12th grades are eligible to attend. The early registration deadline is June 15th. Please go to www.cofchristrm.org to view all the information on the largest Community of Christ youth camp.
Rocky Mountain Mission Center Family Camp, July 29th thru August 2nd 2015,To be held at Peaceful Valley Ranch located near Estes Park, CO 475 Peaceful Valley Road (Hwy 72), Lyons, CO 80540
Theme: LIVE, LOVE, SHARE: Visibly One in Christ
Guest Ministers: Mark Sherer, Church Historian; Barb Walden, Executive Director of CofChrist Historic Sites Foundation; GU Rep: Sara Mongrain; Music Director: Andrew Murphy
Classes with Mark from his books “The Journey of a People” & “Restoration Reorganization World Wide Community”
Classes with Barb: A Hymn Festival Celebrating Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, The Storytellers: An evening of Tales with Friends Explore the Five Mission Initiatives from a church history perspective. Come join with us to “Live, Love and Share”
On-line registration forms: cofchristrm.org/RMMCFamily Camp
Attention all you 14er Summit Climbers, from Outreach International comes the 2015 Summit Challenge! “We want to invite you to hike one of Colorado’s 54 14ers and participate in our first annual mountain climb charity –the 2015 Summit Challenge…The Summit Challenge is taking place in colorful Colorado this summer on the date of the participant’s choosing….Challenge yourself individually, or get a team together. Invite your family, friends, coworkers, congregation, school or sports team to join you. People of all ages are welcome – especially mountain-climbing enthusiasts!” Want to learn more about the challenge? Check out our website at www.outreach-international.org/summit
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE SYMPOSIUM Restorative Justice and Forgiveness?
(For more information please contact Dorcas, Wilkinson at dorcas.w@comcast.net)
Thursday, September 24 & Friday September 25, 2015, Beth-El Mennonite Church.
Join us for deeply moving, interactive presentations on restorative justice. Dr. Mark Umbreit, Professor and Director of Center for Restorative Justice & Peacemaking, University of Minnesota, School of Social Work, will deliver the keynote address Thursday, September 24on The Energy of Forgiveness: Lessons from Those in Restorative Dialogue. On Friday, September 25, State Representative Pete Lee will discuss restorative justice legislation in Colorado and his passion for bringing change and healing to those whose lives have been affected by violence. Then meet Patty Kiefer, Jessica Kuhn and Andy Ulferts; listen to their stories and the power of restorative justice in their lives. An inspiring and interactive circle presentation about High Risk Victim Offender dialogue you won’t want to miss! 12 Contact Hours for Educators 10 General CLE credits REGISTER NOW a registration form is attached to this Weekly Update.
WORLD CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS
STATEMENT TO THE CHURCH:
President Stephen M. Veazey made a statement to all worldwide ministries staff about the financial situation of the church during a meeting on May 18.
That statement is also addressed to all Community of Christ members. In the course of your ministry, please share it with others to give a clear picture of the challenges we face as a worldwide church and what that means for our journey and future.
Video and text of the statement will be posted at www.CofChrist.org/announcements, text will be shared in the July Herald, the 10-Minute News (sign up for the e-subscription at www.CofChrist.org/subscribe), and other media.
If you are interested in a Masters of Arts in Religion (MAR) take a look at Community of Christ Seminary. You can enroll in the Masters of Arts in Religion program or you can opt to take one or two classes as continuing education or audits.
For those seeking a degree, a new cohort starts every August. To enter the cohort, a person needs to apply for admission to the Seminary by 31 May.
Information is available at http://www.graceland.edu/seminary/ or by emailing Seminary@Graceland.edu.
Spiritual Formation Retreats at the Independence and Kirtland Temples, please see below for more information about 2015 retreats. “You can find more information about what we offer at www.spiritualformationcenter.org.
A SPIRITUAL VENTURE: SPIRITUAL RETREAT
What: A spiritual retreat with President Stephen M. Veazey exploring the connection between Spirit and Mission. For more information: 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.
OTHER ITEMS:
Announcements: For more information from the World Church please go to www.cofchrist.org/announcements You may also subscribe to the following blogs and resources to receive them in your email: Daily Bread Blog, Evangelist Blog, CofChrist News, CofChrist Announcements, Commentary Series, Music Matters, and the High Priest Newsletter. You may select which information sources you receive, just go to www.cofchrist.org then from the “Connect” drop down menu click on “Subscribe” and select which items you would like to receive.
Tim Ashburn
President/Financial Officer
Rocky Mountain Mission Center
800-783-6760, ext. #2