September 18, 2014

RMMC Weekly Update

September 18, 2014

From Tim Ashburn

 

Greetings Rocky Mountain Mission Center!

 

“Radical hospitality,” “transformation,” “continuous change,” “growth,” “risk,” “challenge,” “new,” “invitation,” all words and concepts that we hear more and more about.  Words that are intended to convey who we are to become, how we are to be and descriptors of what it looks like or means to be disciples in the new landscape of Christianity.  In essence, we are bombarded with conceptsm, which at our core, stir us to such uncomfortableness that we shut down with the intimidation they bring.  Perhaps the unintended message being conveyed is that we are not good enough and if this is what it takes to be on the journey then maybe I will rethink my enlistment in the cause.  I suppose one could cling to the message that in order to be faithful one must be engaged in one of these zealous concepts of newness or change.

 

Without a doubt Jesus called the Jewish culture of his day to a radical shift.  Without a doubt, the call and witness of Jesus today calls us to be counter-cultural and yet I wonder if the message to be counter-cultural somehow reflects the very culture that we are countering.  If we are continuously challenged to be uncomfortable in our own skin, always seeking something more, not centered in who we are created to be, how will we authentically reflect the person divinely created?  I am not speaking here of simply being uncomfortable nor am I slamming the idea or the concept of personal and community growth.  I am advocating for each of us to embrace our own unique giftedness and calling and to live into that deeply.  There is not one cookie cutter way to be a disciple of Jesus. The gifts and passions we have each been given reflect a part of our souls born out of a divine place of being.  This is not a call for complacency, but a call to be authentic and real as individuals called into community where connection to others is essential and where miraculous healing can occur in genuine relationships between people.  The call is to be real, not to become something we are not gifted with, the call is to be connected to the divine, so that our giftedness can be fully embraced and shared with the world.

 

What if we lived out of a place of such confidence and connection?  Would “radical hospitality” not be so radical, but instead, simply be how we live each day of our lives?  Perhaps this is an exercise in “word smithing.” I am concerned that the idea to be “new” and “more” is out running our own authentic divinely created selves.  The most important task before us is to be connected to the divine and each other in a centered authentic way, whatever growth of being needed will occur in that encounter. If we are not careful, we could simply become the latest new thing pushed by the idea of “not being enough” in a culture that sends the message “we are never enough.”

 

 

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!!!)

 

Registration will be open SOON! Look for online Registration for the Rocky Mountain Mission Center Conference, November 7-9, 2014, YMCA of the Rockies, Estes Park, Colorado.  There has been a change in our guest ministry, Scott Murphy of the First Presidency will be joining us instead of Becky Savage. Zach McLaughlin, Missionary Coordinator and Daniel Harmon, Congregational Support Minister will still join us.  Zach and Daniel will be sharing their ministry of music with us.  Our theme is “Encounter.”  We will be exploring and providing opportunity for encountering the divine, each other, and community.  Please plan on joining us in Estes Park this November!  Conference information will be available by next week.  Look for it online and in your congregations!

 

4th Annual Retro Night- Saturday, September 20th 7:00pm at 607 Strong St, Brighton, CO 80601. The Brighton congregation would like to invite you to join them for a FUN and FREE evening of dancing, games, music, raffle door prizes, a costume contest, retro photo op and retro snacks. Come dressed up with your dancing shoes on- bring a retro snack and a friend! (some snack ideas may be Cool Ranch Doritos from the 80’s, Tang drink from the 60’s or even Tuna Noodle casserole with chips on top from the 50’s) Contact Mark Mauzey with any questions: 303-601-7853.

 

The Applewood congregation is celebrating its 50th year anniversary! Please come join the celebration on Sunday, September 21, 2014 for service at 11:00 a.m. followed by a pot-luck. The Applewood congregation has extended an invitation to anyone in the mission center who is interested in helping celebrate this special occasion.  The church is located at 3780 Ward Road, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033. Please contact pastor Tim Hakes for more details: applewood@cofchristrm.org.

 

The fall SITE (Seminars in Theological Education) class held September 26-28, 2014, will be: Christian Theology taught by Steven Hatch.  If you are interested in SITE, please contact Shandra Newcom at:  snewcom@cofchrist.org!

 

President’s Address October 5, 2014, 6:00 p.m. CDT

We look forward to being together through live webcast at 6 p.m. (CDT), Sunday, October 5, when you are invited to gather at churches and homes for the President’s Address on www.CofChrist.org.

On October 5, President Stephen M. Veazey’s address “will focus on the joy of generosity as a spiritual practice that draws one closer to God and others. I will also provide an official interpretation of the church’s teaching and practice of tithing to support Christ’s mission throughout the world.”

Following the address, President Veazey will answer your e-mail, Twitter, and Facebook questions live!

In preparation, please invite people to:

We look forward to this opportunity to discern together.

Live webcast testing: September 25-26 and October 3-4

 

ONLINE REGISTRATION IS OPEN!! Oct 24-26- Peace Colloquy and Jr./Sr. High Peace Colloquy Retreat.” The event will begin at 7:30 p.m. (CDT) Friday with the Community of Christ International Peace Award ceremony at the Temple in Independence, Missouri. Throughout the weekend we will explore many vital issues we need to understand to Abolish Poverty, End Suffering throughout the world. We will learn about root causes of poverty, poverty traps, and how our best intents may hurt rather than heal. Come learn how Community of Christ ministries and strategic partnerships can lead to approaches that work and are sustainable. The Colloquy will include programming for adults, junior and senior high students, and children in kindergarten through fifth grade. Learn more at www.CofChrist.org/peacecolloquy EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION ENDS SEPTEMBER 24TH!

 

Camp Paradise Women’s Retreat is being rescheduled for a later date and location.  Please watch for updated information on this event.  Please contact director Sandy Burkey at sandytwo@prairieweb.com or (308) 641-1275 with questions or to register. We hope to see you!

 

WORLD CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

 

Heritage Day is right around the corner—September 21. What will your congregation do for the annual Community of Christ Heritage Day service Sunday, September 21? Each year, your friends at the Community of Christ Historic Sites Foundation share a unique Heritage Day service for congregations to sample. The 2014 Heritage Day service complements reunion and Peace Colloquy themes as we focus on the Mission Initiative of Abolish Poverty, End Suffering. Check out the worship service along with plenty of other creative ideas (from hymn festivals and worship service outlines to sermons and testimonies) on the Foundation’s website: www.HistoricSitesFoundation.org. Make Heritage Day an opportunity to celebrate and share your congregation’s unique story.

 

We need photos of your congregation’s meeting place! Thank you to the many who have already responded. We are building the new find-a-congregation directory that will be part of a redesigned Community of Christ website (coming soon). The directory will include a photo of your location/church building along with the congregation information. Submissions need to be sharp, high-resolution photos, framed as a landscape (horizontal) with sky and ground showing. This will allow for any necessary cropping. E-mail photos along with your congregation’s name, address, mission center, and pastor name(s).

 

OTHER ITEMS:

10 Minute News: For more information from the World Church please go to

www.cofchrist.org/news/10min. The 10 Minutes News Report can be subscribed to electronically (see the side bar at the website titled E-Subscriptions.)