Testimony on Hospitality

As I read this chapter all about food, eating together, lodging, guests, pot lucks, and the sort, I thought about how we handle our daily activities with everyone we meet.  Often when I need to discuss an issue with someone, we do it over a cup of coffee, a coke, and maybe even lunch.  Have you ever noticed when people get together to eat, that everything seems to get quiet and the time spent eating puts us in a relaxing atmosphere.  It gives us a time when we become aware of one another in a more personal way. 

I first read this chapter two weeks ago.  Jamie Maymon was to be our guest speaker that Sunday morning.  Since we are a small group, (or at least being a small group was our excuse) we had been taking our guest speakers out to lunch after church.  As I read this chapter I knew that I needed to change that for this particular day.  Rather than call all our members to do a carry in pot luck, I decided to surprise everyone and I prepared the meal including Chili, Vegetable Soup, Salad, Sandwiches, and deserts. 

As I often do, I brought 8 of my inmates to church and some of their families met us there as well.  There were 36 people in attendance for our class and worship service.  What an awesome experience we shared.

With the testimony of some of the inmates, their prayers, and Jamie's message, we were blessed beyond belief.  Jamie gave a wonderful message and brought us another step closer to the Hospitality of God.

Our service concluded at approx. 11:30am and we retired to the basement for lunch.  As I looked around at all the smiling faces, I was reminded of how Abraham must have felt when he ask Sarah to "Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes."  Abraham then ran to the herd, and took a calf, and gave it to the servant to prepare it.  Abraham then took curds and milk and the calf and set it before the

3 men and he stood by them under a tree while they ate.  What an experience that must have been and what an experience it was for me this Sunday morning.  The Spirit prevailed heavily upon our worship hour and his presence was overwhelming as we ate.  I was so excited.  I was seeing "Hospitality: Sharing God's Welcome" in progress!  You see, we had not done this for a long time and our congregation was  on the road to recovery, back to the Hospitality God wants us to share. 

So why do I know that this was a special occasion?  Because, our congregation never left for home until 2:30pm in the afternoon.  That was 3 full hours of lunch, fellowship and God Time!

Jerry Harbstreit

Pastor

Washington, IN, Congregation

Kentucky-Indiana Mission Center Educational Conference

10:00 – 11:00        Worship and Business Session

11:10 – 12:00        Session I: Role of Scripture
                                 Intitation: Jim Slaughter
                                 Ways of Discovering God's Will:
                                 Stephen M. Veazey
                                Discussion Groups: Val Brennan, Val Walker,
                                 Bob Rugg, Jamie Maymon, Facilitators

12:00 – 1:00          Lunch: Provided by Glenn Wood Hills
                                Board of Directors
                               (with proceeds going to GWH)

1:00 – 2:00            Finish up discussion from Session 1

2:00 – 2:10            Break

2:10 – 3:15            Session II: Role of Scripture
                                Using Scripture in Community of Christ:
                                Barbara Carter
                                Discussion Groups: Val Brennan, Val Walker,
                                Bob Rugg, Jamie Maymon, Facilitators

3:15                       Closing of Conference

Missionary Support Group Begun

In an effort to improve the missionary outreach in our mission center, a Missionary Support Group has been started.  Individuals who were known to have an interest in sharing their story of Christ with others were invited to come together in at meeting at the New Albany congregation and share in what that type of group would look like and what that might mean for the mission center.

Seventy Larry McGuire met with the group and led them through some worship and discussion to determine how the group would proceed.  Those who were part of the group were Ken Walker, Alicia Bauman, Jerry Harbstreit, Andy Ryder, Darrell Wagler, Jamie Maymon, and Don Maymon.  The group decided to study the book: Hospitality: Sharing God's Welcome by Tammy Lindle, follow a study schedule, write thoughts, stories, feelings about what they read or what happened to them as a result of their reading, and to pray the Daily Witnessing Prayer each day.  Each week, on Tuesday, group members would send out emails to the rest of the group sharing what is going on, thoughts, and feelings of the previous week.

We are not limiting the group to those listed, but have agreed to invite others as we are led to do so or accept individuals who are led to seek out the group and ask to be a part of it.

Daily Witnessing Prayer

"God, who's out there that you are wanting me to swap stories with?  I need to listen to their story and they need to hear mine.

God, bring me together with the person(s) that you'd like for me to be in a witnessing relationship with."

In Jesus' name, Amen.

Please pray for this group of individuals who are seeking to be missionary in nature and join them in praying the Daily Witnessing Prayer every day.

Bringing Civility into Our Political Process

Community of Christ International Headquarters 1001 W. Walnut St. Independence, MO 64050 USA
January 2012
Greetings in the Name of the Living Christ!

We are members of the world community where God views all persons equally, regardless of humanmade boundaries or borders. At the same time, we are also citizens of a particular nation.

Our Enduring Principles guide us in how we allow our “citizenship” in God’s kingdom to guide our actions and choices in our particular national citizenships.

The following statements from our Enduring Principles serve as guides for how we behave and
interact during state and national elections.

• We are called to make responsible choices within the circumstances of our lives that contribute to the purposes of God.
• Community of Christ is a diverse, international family of disciples, seekers, and congregations.
• God views all people as having inestimable and equal worth.
• …We commit to ongoing dialogue and lovingly uphold our common faith in Jesus Christ andthe mission of the church.

One of the opportunities we have in the United States is the right to choose those who represent us as
leaders of the country. Every four years that includes a Presidential election. It is a right not
available to all persons around the globe and we should not take lightly this opportunity. As apostles
for the church in the United States, we urge members to exercise this right of citizenship.

As you engage in this process, we encourage you to look to the Enduring Principles as a guide.

Make responsible choices by taking time to study the issues and understand the positions of each
candidate. Recognize we are a diverse community and good people can have different ideas of what
is right for the country; in these circumstances seek to find unity in diversity. Find ways to be a
living testimony of the “worth of all persons” by expressing personal viewpoints in ways that do not
demean another whose opinion might differ. As we share our various viewpoints and opinions, let us
speak and listen with mutual respect and Christ-like love for one another.

In recent years the political rhetoric in the country has become very disrespectful and caused many to

feel divided and unheard. This should not be the case. As members of Community of Christ and
citizens of the United States, let us be engaged in the political process; but let us do so with the same
principles that shape and form our journey as disciples. Let our lives be a testimony of how “

We are called to create communities of Christ’s peace in our families and congregations and across villages, tribes, nations, and throughout creation”

(www.CofChrist.org/ourfaith/faq.asp).

In Christ’s Peace,

Linda L. Booth, Barbara L. Carter, Stassi D. Cramm, Ronald D. Harmon Jr., and Rick W. Maupin
USA Team of Apostles

Young Adult Minister Position

Human Resource Ministries is accepting applications for the attached position. An application form is available on the church web site:  http://www.cofchrist.org/hr/jobs.asp
Submit interest letter, resume and application to:

Human Resource Ministries

1001 W Walnut
Independence, MO  64050  USA
Tele: 816-833-1000 ext 2266
Fax: 816-521-3085
Email: HRM@cofchrist.org

e3 Information

The following is the name of the book for the January  e3 class.  It will be facilated by Matt Frazell.  The dates of the class are January 28, 29, 2012.  You can still register until January 23rd.  After that you will no longer be able to register for the e3 classe.

Jesus: Uncovering the Life, Teachings, and Relevance of a Religious Revolutionary by Marcus Borg

e3 Information

Online courses for e3 begin the first full week of February.

REGISTRATIONS are being accepted NOW.

Registration deadline: Monday, January 23rd.

Registration forms are online at signalcommunities.org/e3 (it's the same form as the "live" class form).

Registrations should be sent directly to Blake Smith at 1586 Statten Ct., Painesville, OH.

Cost for participation in the Virtual Community format of e3 is: $15 – program registration, and $10 per course.

Temple School Credit costs an additional $10.

First Course - Encountering God: Practices of Renewal and Discernment

Pastors'/CFOs'/Leaders' Workshop

January 14, 2012

New Albany Congregation

9:30 a.m.      Gathering, Fellowship, Announcements

9:45              Aligning Congregational Budget with Mission Initiatives—Ron Ross

10:45            Break

11:00            Aligning Congregational Budget with Mission Initiatives continued

12:00            Lunch

1:00              Youth Worker Registration—Alisha Bauman

1:45               Break

2:00               Mission Center Youth Ministry—Alisha Bauman

2:45               Break

3:00               Guest Ministry, Utilization of Evangelists in the Mission CentePlans for  
Priesthood Ministry, Missionary Outreach Team, Spring Mission Center Conference, Priesthood Retreat in April, e3 Class in January, etc.—Don Maymon

Mission Center Conference

The 2011 Fall Mission Center Confernce was held at the New Albany Congregation on Saturday, November 19, 2011.  Visiting ministry was provided by Craig Martens, Field Consultant, Northeast Field and Ron Ross, Northeast Field Financial Officer.  The conference will began at 10:00 a.m. and ended at approximately 3:00 p.m.  A Glenn Wood Hills Campground Board meeting followed and ended at around 5:00 p.m.

Don Maymon was sustained as the Mission Center President for 2012 and Ron Ross was sustained as the Interim Mission Center Financial Officer for 2012.  Other officers that were approved were the Leadership Team and the Mission Center Council.  New members to the Glenn Wood Hills Camp and Retreat Center Board and Community Youth Camp Board were elected.

Other business was done as needed.

e3 Courses & Dates

Courses & Dates
Course Title	Date	Instructor
Encountering God: Practices of Renewal and Discernment	Sept 10-11, 2011	Marvin Rice
Jesus: Messiah, Rabbi, Revolutionary, and Mystic	Jan 28-29, 2012	Matt Frizzell
Sacred Texts, Revelation and Mission: The Bible	Apr 21-22, 2012	Mark Euritt
Sacred Texts, Revelation and Mission: The Bible	Sept 8-9, 2012	TBA
Followers of the Way	Jan 26-27, 2013	Blake Smith
Community of Christ: A Journey of Faith and Discovery	May 4-5, 2013	Lach Mackay
The Gospel and Contemporary Issues	Sept 7-8, 2013	Katie and Zac Harmon-McLaughlin
Holistic Evangelist: Being in Relationship with God and Others	Jan 25-26, 2014	Larry McGuire
Becoming Signal Communities of Christ's Peace and Justice	May 3-4, 2014	Ron Harmon, Jr

Page Updated: Monday, July 4, 2011 8:31 PM
We Proclaim Jesus Christ, and Promote Communities of Joy, Hope, Love and Peace