May April Steve Veazy s Address to the Church Deep Hunger, Deep Thirst, Temple, Independence MO

Transcription

1 Dear Brothers and Sisters of Midlands, I have decided I am teachable. Oh, I ve always considered myself a life-long learner, but a recent experience was truly transformative and to educators that is the true test of learning. It came at a most unexpected time, a memorial service a few months back. For the first time, I understood, really comprehended the idea of resurrection. Last Sunday, around the world, Christians joined in celebrating the resurrection of Jesus in various traditions. For many the resurrection was evidence that death cannot hold the grace covered believer, and Jesus gave living testimony of that. But, I ve learned, and it has been a powerful lesson, that God swirls in all kinds of resurrection in our daily lives, and it comes with great blessings. Let me explain. When my husband was diagnosed with cancer, all of the possible outcomes clouded my thinking and I was terrified. On the side of the road, frantically I met up with a girlfriend who prayed a powerful prayer of release from my fears. And I was resurrected to the person on whom my family relied at that moment. As Brian progressed through his treatment, he met with challenges, concerns and hopes. Only months after his diagnosis, he was resurrected to a more faith-filled man, anxious to get on to wherever God called him. You see, resurrection is more than coming back from the dead. It is daily co-creating with God many resurrected elements of our life. In that holy partnership we resurrect ourselves from brokenness, emptiness, loss, anxiety, and faithlessness. Next month, you are all invited to share in Mission: Learn, an opportunity to fellowship, worship and broaden your ministry tools for what matters most. You may be the catalyst for another s resurrection, or perhaps experience one for yourself. Truly this is a season of celebration as we move from Lent through the weeks following Easter. As you do this, be mindful that the resurrection didn t just happen 2000 years ago. It is happening today in your life. Hallelujah! Christ has risen from the dead, and you my brothers and sisters, can be made whole in your daily resurrections. God is the God of life! April N Platte Purchase Drive, Suite 116 phone Kansas City, MO fax: toll-free Steve Veazy s Address to the Church 8-10 Deep Hunger, Deep Thirst, Temple, Independence MO Jr./Sr. High Retreat, Camp Chihowa 16 Chihowa Work Day, Camp Chihowa 16 Evangelists and Spouses Gathering, Good Shepherd Congregation, Independence, MO 30 Mission: Learn, Olathe Community of Christ May Mother s Day 12 World Conference Delegate Mtgs (see newsletter) 14 Evangelists & High Priest Gathering, Shawnee Drive TWIST, The Highlands Congregation 30 Memorial Day Sara Tubbesing Midlands Mission Center Leadership Team

2 Registration is now open! Adults, Students June 3 June 11, 2016, Youth (ages 12-adult) $140 Adult ($175 after 4 April) $25 Adult weekend only (June 3-5) $65 Youth/Student $10 Youth/Student weekend only (June 3-5) $70 Off-site supporter (get access to all materials) Children (ages 6-11) $75 Conference Kids $65 Child delegate $5 Badge only Daycare (ages 6 weeks to 5 years) $225 Register online to sign-up an adult, youth, student, for Conference Kids, or for the daycare program. Register by hand using the printable PDF. Mail your completed PDF and check to World Conference Registration; 1001 W. Walnut St.; Independence, MO USA.

3 Jr/Sr High Retreat April Camp Chihowa Retreat starts at 7 PM Friday and ends Saturday at 12 PM. Eat supper before you arrive, and plan to have a Fun Friday evening. Saturday help make Chihowa beautiful! Central and Midlands MissionCenters Evangelists and Spouses Gathering Saturday, April 16, 9:00-11:00 a.m. Good Shepherd Congregation in Independence, MO Worship fellowship, discussion on words of counsel. Light breakfast snacks provided. Please contact Kris Judd ( ) if you have any questions. Big Work Day at Camp Chihowa April 16, 2016 Help us get ready for summer camps, retreats, and reunion. We ll start at 9 AM and work until??? Bring your gloves and work tools. Evangelist & High Priest Gathering Saturday, May 14 Shawnee Drive Congregation 4440 Shawnee Drive, Kansas City, KS 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Cost: $10 Spouses welcome Please contact Kris Judd ( ) or Stan Troeh ( ) if you have any questions.

4 Mission: Learn A Midlands Educational Event April 30th, 10 am 4 pm Olathe Community of Christ Cost: $10 with donation for lunch Workshops Technology in Worship Kat Hnatyshyn Latter-day Seekers Lach Mackay Young Adult Outreach Craig Hidy Reinventing Congregational Life Jenne Grover World Conference & Delegates Linda Booth & Barb Borkowski All are invited to Mission: Learn An event to build community, learn about mission, and collaborate together as Midlands Mission Center so we can explore new ways to Live out Christ s Mission. Youth Worker Registration Kyle Joyce 4 pm -- Mission Complete (Or is it?!?!) Join us at 9 am: Informal Gathering 10 am Mission: Learn begins Lunch: Campership Fund fundraiser (Kids who help get to split proceeds)

5 Mark Your Calendars! TWIST Canoe Trip July Details coming soon! Attention all Junior High & Senior High Students Our second TWIST weekend is coming up quick. We hope to see you there! When: 7:00 pm on May 13 12:00 pm on May 15 Where: Why: The Highlands, 7615 N Platte Purchase Rd., Kansas City MO (816) Service and Fellowship Questions?: Contact Allen Keehler (816) , Donna Fletcher (316) , or Kat Hnatyshyn (816) Please let us know if you plan on attending so we have a head count. We will need the Event Registration Form (found on-line at filled out by May 13. Historic Sites Bus Tour 2016 October 3-16, 2016 For Everyone Born: A Place in the Story is back by popular demand! After last year s bus tour, Barbara Walden and Peter Smith agreed to repeat the 14-day tour 3-16 October Explore the diverse people and experiences within the Community of Christ story, witnessing our 185-year history of practicing Unity in Diversity and the Worth of All Persons. Worship in the Kirtland Temple and Palmyra s Sacred Grove. Learn about the history of Nauvoo, Plano, and Lamoni. Visit the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center; Women s Rights National Historical Park; Gettysburg; Washington, DC; Colonial Williamsburg; and much more! Tour price is $1,799 per person for double-occupancy, $2,599 per person single occupancy. Price includes luxury bus transportation (from Independence, Missouri, area), lodging, tour fees, and most meals. Reservation forms and a full tour itinerary are available on the Community of Christ Historic Sites Foundation website, or contact Linda Etchison at (217) Seating is limited. Reserve your place today! Suggested donation: $15

6 Scholarship Offered By Professional Educators Association The Community of Christ Professional Educators Association will award two $500 scholarships to church members entering their junior or senior year of college/university and majoring in education. Find information on the association website. Applications are due May 1. Please share this information with members of your congregation who might be interested. For more information, Visit the association on Facebook at Professional Educators Community of Christ. ATTENTION WORLD CONFERENCE DELEGATES!! There are two meeting we d like all Delegates to attend, all are welcome. April 30, Mission: Learn, Olathe Congregation 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM and also, World Conference delegate preparation meetings will be held in the following four locations on: President s Address- Q&A-Financial Update 3 April 2016 Join sisters and brothers around the world for the April 3 President s Address, starting at 6:00 p.m. (CDT), followed by a live Q&A and the latest financial update. Explore paragraphs of the 2013 words of counsel that President Steve Veazey describes as emphasizing the intrinsic relationships of spirituality, discipleship, and mission. Send your questions about these paragraphs to AskSteveVeazey@CofChrist.org or post to social media with #AskSteveVeazey. Steve will answer as many as possible during the live Q&A. Have you had trouble with our live streams in the past? Since the last President s Address, CofChrist.org has been moved to an upgraded server to accommodate the high volume of traffic we experience for live webcasts. Thursday, May 12th at 7:00 PM * Highlands 7615 N Platte Purchase Dr, Kansas City, MO * Shawnee Drive 4440 Shawnee Drive, Kansas City, KS * Olathe S Ridgeview Road, Olathe, KS * Wichita 3500 S Webb Road, Wichita, KS Midlands Mission Center Mission Center Leadership Team presidentteam@midlandsmc.org

7 Camp MITIOG CampMITIOG.com Announcement Camp MITIOG has been accepted as a recipient of matching funds from the Camps for Kids organization in This means that for every dollar donated, Camps for Kids will match the donation up to $1, per donation m ade before July 31, This is a fantastic opportunity for the campers, because even a $20.00 donation will go twice as far in providing a quality, American Camping Association accredited camp. Camp MITIOG has $17,000 designated in matching funds this year. Please help us match all of that money. If you are contemplating making a donation to this wonderful cause NOW is the time to maximize the benefits of your donation. 1.) Please send all donations made payable to: Camps for Kinds-MITIOG Looking for willing people for Camp MITIOG Counsel I am looking for people to help fill the Camp MITIOG counsel. If you have a passion or would like to see if you have a passion to help us gather the funds each year to support this wonderful mission, please contact me to discuss volunteering for the Camp MITIOG counsel. I have found it rewarding and a great opportunity to be a servant leader. If you are aware of any organizations or individuals who would like to sponsor Camp MITIOG in fundraising efforts, please let me know and I will sent out our 501c3 letters and our professionally prepared brochures and will support the event. I can be reached at or at AD.Laughlin@Yahoo.com Thank you for your grateful consideration and God Bless. Have a wonderful summer! Aaron Laughlin, Chair Camp MITIOG Counsel 2.) Mail the contributions to: Camp MITIOG C/O Camps for Kids 8014 State Line Road Suite 103 Leawood, KS ) Write in the Memo section of the check or money order, For Camp MITIOG.