The Ensign. Zarahemla Branch Members of The Reorganized Churchof Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. June, 2004 Newsletter

Transcription

1 The Ensign Zarahemla Branch Members of The Reorganized Churchof Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints June, 2004 Newsletter Pastor s Corner Elder Bob Moore One of the cherished traditions of the Reorganized Church is Reunion. Many saints scattered by the Nauvoo apostasy believed the original tenets of the restored church delivered by the angel and organized by Joseph Smith. During the dark and cloudy days following the murder of the Palmyra Seer, many faithful saints were abandoned when most church officials migrated to Utah, where they mingled adultery, Masonry, and ambition with the Restoration message. Many of these stalwart believers stubbornly clung to the latter-day hope without the benefits and blessings of a local branch where they could gather for worship, receive instruction, and enjoy saintly fellowship. What a joy it must have been for those abandoned and scattered saints to hear the same gospel that years earlier stirred their souls and brought heavenly manifestations falling from the lips of missionaries from the Reorganized Church. The pristine and unadulterated doctrine that the Savior s apostles taught in Jerusalem on Pentecost and repeated by latter-day apostles in Kirtland again spoke to their ears. Unfortunately, the Reorganization remained in exile. Joseph III began his presidency in Plano, Illinois. It took the church over twenty years to relocate to Lamoni, Iowa, and about two more decades to settle back into the land of Zion. Many scattered saints, who longed for residency in a community of believers, had to abide their exiled conditions in small branches or in individual families. Some remained alone. Their longing for saintly fellowship found expression in Reunion initially a two-week camp for worship and instruction with fellow saints. The first occurred in Logan, Iowa, the site of the largest reunion ever held by the Reorganized Church. Over 8,000 people attended. Reunion became such a popular experience that eventually every district of the church met in yearly Reunion experiences where leading men of the church ministered to and worshipped with eager saints. These Reunions provided a wonderful opportunity for the faithful to gather out from the world, concentrated on devoted discipline, and receive spiritual blessings. The recent fragmentation of the church has scattered many believing saints into independent branches. With no one to lead the exiled portion, many believers of the Restoration find themselves isolated in an increasingly immoral and irreligious world. Reunions have offered an opportunity for Restoration saints to meet with fellow believers in concentrated worship, religious instruction, spiritual blessings, and day to day fellowship. The idea of our branch sponsoring its own Reunion began several years ago with a joint vacation of a few branch members to Colorado. Afterwards, the question arose, why not enjoy a vacation with any member and include an opportunity to worship as we enjoy each other s fellowship? The next year, in concert with South Branch, we sponsored a reunion at Nauvoo. The original idea was to vacation at the historic site, with its opportunities to see the place where the former saints lived and died, as we worshiped together. During the next two years we scheduled a more traditional Reunion camp at Stewartsville. This year, we are renewing the initial idea. By traveling to the Sacramento Mountains in New Mexico, we are spending time in a more exotic place with its sightseeing opportunities, but on a campgrounds specifically designed for worship. That place offers an added opportunity to minister to saints that have no other option for fellowship within the Reorganization but to meet in congregations of the Community of Christ. These three opportunities, concentrated worship with the saints, sightseeing in an exotic place, and ministering to scattered saints are good reasons for participating in this year s reunion. I hope that everyone can attend. Reunion is scheduled for July 18th through the 23rd.

2 Congregational Tidbits The congreation is invited to an open house on June 12th from 5:00 to 8:00 celebrating Ruth Hinderk s graduation from high school. The open house will be held at the Jim McKay home. Ruth plans to move into an apartment in the next month or so and then will be attending cosmetology school in the fall. Dohn and Cynthia Ford Harold and Joan Sharkey Harold was born in Clayburg, NY and raised in rural NY near Plattsburg. Joan (Stacker) was born in Beach, ND and raised in Halliday, ND. They met on a blind date in Warrensburg, MO where he was stationed at Whiteman AFB and she was a student at CMSU. They were married on June 4th, 1960 at the Liberty Street congregation. Harold is a retired computer technician and Joan is retired from teaching 35 years. She taught physical education, health and American history. She played high school and college basketball and enjoys sports, traveling, camping, biking and reading. Harold also likes camping, biking, traveling and reading in addition to hiking, water sports, and landscaping. Harold holds the office of teacher. They have 3 children: Scott Sharkey, Karmen Davenport and Kim Sharkey. Their grandchildren include: Sydney Sharkey, Harrison, Brandon and Grant Sharkey. Joan s mother, Ruby Stacker attended this congregation until recently when health problems prohibited her from attending. Devotion Schedule for June June 6th, 2004 Patrick McKay family June 13, 2004 Lloyd Stilwell family June 20th, 2004 Bob Moore family Dohn was born in West Plains, MO and moved to Independence at the age of 6. Cynthia (Culter) was born and raised in Independence. They met at Hill Park in Independence and were married in 1966 at Walnut Park Congregation. Dohn serves the congregation in the office of priest. He works as a fabrication supervisor and she works in the Buckner school cafeteria. Cynthia enjoys antiquing, cooking, reading and they both like to camp. Dohn also likes to spend time fishing, hunting, and 4-wheelin. They have three children: Michelle Bennett, Michael Ford and Marcus Ford. Their grandchildren are: Spencer Barrett, Ian Bennett, Nate Bennett, Katie Ford, Ethan Ford and Remington Ford. Relatives atttending our congregation are: Michael and Jennifer Ford, Katie and Ethan and Marcus and Stefanie Ford and Remington. MEMORY VERSE FOR JUNE I John 1: 5-7 This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.

3 ZION S LEAGUE NEWS June 19th 20th Camping and canoe trip June 27th at 4:00 meeting at the church June 6th June 13th June 20th Evening June 27th June 13th June 20th Musical Schedule Worship Linda Drown Evening Jeri Gault Worship Evening Jeri Gault Worship Jeri Gault Worship Debbie Bellville Evening Sylvia Thomas Special Music Schedule Linda Drown Debbie Bellville Heather Gault The following passage is from a sermon by John Hagee of Cornerstone Church in San Antonio: I want you to close your eyes and picture in your mind the soldier at Valley Forge, as he holds his musket in his bloody hands. He stands barefoot in the snow, starved from lack of food, wounded from months of battle and emotionally scarred from the eternity away from his family surrounded by nothing but death and carnage of war. He stands though, with fire in his eyes and victory on his breath. He looks at us now in anger and disgust and tells us this... I gave you a birthright of freedom born in the Constitution and now your children graduate too illiterate to read it. I fought in the snow barefoot to give you the freedom to vote and you stay at home because it rains! I left my family destitute to give you the freedom of speech and you remain silent on critical issues, because it might be bad for business. I orphaned my children to give you a government to serve you and it has stolen democracy from the people. It's the soldier, not the reporter who gives you the freedom of the press. It's the soldier, not the poet who gives you the freedom of speech. June 27th Sylvia Thomas It's the soldier, not the campus organizer who allows you to demonstrate. If you have anything to submit for the newsletter, please call Marilyn ( , cell or work ) OR it to Marilyn (mholey1@comcast. net), put it in the NEWSLETTER BOX OR give it to me at church. Deadline for the July Newsletter will be June 20th, This Newsletter will be distributed on Sunday, June 27th, 2004 Thank you for supporting the congregational newsletter. Marilyn It's the soldier, who salutes the flag, serves the flag, whose coffin is draped with the flag that allows the protester to burn the flag!!! "Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Amen."

4 ACTIVITY CALENDAR Zarahemla Branch JUNE 2004 S M T W Th F S Dean Falconer 6 9:30 10:30 Sacrament : Patrick McKay Preaching: Jim Faith 6:00 Business Meeting : Bob Moore 13 10:30 Worship : Jim McKay Preaching: Bill Anderson Potluck after church 6:00 Youth : Dean Falconer Ren Thomas Vern Drown :00-8:00 Ruth Hinderks Graduation Open House :00 Miniature Golf at Kool Krest on 40 Highway Zion s League Camping and Canoe trip Through Sunday 20 10:30 Worship : Ren Thomas Preaching: Tim Canfield 6:00 Religio : Bob Moore Brad Gault :30 Worship : Cliff Herod 4:00 Zion s League Preaching: Fred Brown, Jr 6:00 Family Enrichment Bob Moore

5 Zarahemla Branch Members of The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 502 Southwest 17th Street Blue Springs, MO 64015