September 24, 2014

Dear Friends,

Consider this quote:

“When I hear people talk about what is wrong with organized religion, or why their mainline churches are failing, I hear about bad music, inept clergy, mean congregations, and preoccupation with institutional maintenance. I almost never hear about the intellectualization of faith, which strikes me as a far greater danger than anything else on the list. In an age of information overload, when a vast variety of media delivers news faster than most of us can digest—when many of us have at least two e-mail addresses, two telephone numbers, and one fax number—the last thing any of us needs is more information about God. We need the practice of incarnation, by which God saves the lives of those whose intellectual assent has turned as dry as dust, who have run frighteningly low on the bread of life, who are dying to know more God in their bodies. Not more about God. More God.”

 

Excerpt From: Barbara Brown Taylor. “An Altar in the World.”

 

This is a tough quote for me.  I think a lot –  about a lot of things.  I spend a great deal of time thinking about God.  I think about God’s love, about scripture and its place in my life.  I think about how to be God’s light in this often dark world.  I think about God’s call to mission and how to live into that call.  If I’m not careful, I can spend a lot of time thinking about religion.  And faith.  And spirituality.

 

I don’t think that thinking is bad.

 

But this quote by Barbara Brown Taylor reminds me that over-intellectualizing something, even God, may draw us away from the very thing, the very One, we think about.  I believe that she is saying that when we think too much and forget to connect our heads with our hearts, we may miss something powerful:  we may miss a relationship with the One who loves us most. God invites us into this relationship and, if we can respond from our head AND our heart, we can experience the movement of the Spirit in the world in amazing ways.

 

It is about connection.

 

Living as whole beings means thinking and feeling.  It means believing and acting.  It means mind and body working together to live Christ’s mission in the world.

 

For me, it means opening my heart in centering prayer.  It means walking the neighborhood.  It means listening before speaking.  It means doing more than thinking.

 

I believe, if we pay attention, that we will find opportunities all around us to “practice incarnation”.  May you see these moments in your life this week.  And may you respond – body, heart, mind, and soul.

 

Amen.

 

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!

 

 

 

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

 

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.)

 

Shandra Newcom Rocky Mountain Mission Center Community of Christ 303-426-5900