Dear Pastor:
A Defining Moment: What it means for you and your congregation
is a new online video resource. It organizes President Steve
Veazey’s April 5 address into chapters with thought-provoking
questions to guide your exploration of what it means to become who
God is calling us to become. Use this resource in retreat settings,
for personal meditation, and for church school classes. View or
download the chapters, questions for discussion, and links to other
resources at
www.CofChrist.org/presidency/AprilAddress/april0509/resources.asp.
“Facing Our Challenges: Questions and Answers (Part Two),”
with President Steve Veazey is in the July Herald and
online. As promised in his April 5 address, “A Defining Moment,” the
two-part interview delves further into issues including church
history and restoration scripture. Download the April 5 address and
read both interviews at
www.CofChrist.org/presidency/sermons.
Due to the $4 million World Ministries budget reduction,
several Community of Christ staff around the world were told in June
that their positions were eliminated. For specifics, follow the
updates at
www.CofChrist.org/worldministries/update/MondayMessages.asp. In
these challenging times, we trust in God and community to support
and sustain us. Sustainable giving is needed. We receive God’s
generous grace, and our discipleship includes responding by giving
consistently and generously, according to our true capacity.
Contribute online and stay informed about World Ministries
contributions at
www.CofChrist.org/worldministries.
World Church Finance Board approved a World Ministries
budget of $24.73 million for fiscal year 2010. Read more at
www.CofChrist.org/news/2009/june/wcfb.asp or in the August
Herald.
The Presidency wants to hear your thoughts on conditions of
membership by November 30. Select from the discernment
resources at
www.CofChrist.org/CofM/ to participate in the worldwide church
process. Please send your response by November 2009 to
presidencyresponse@CofChrist.org or mail to International
Headquarters, c/o World Church Secretary Andrew Shields. All
responses will be considered by the First Presidency who will
provide guidance before World Conference 2010.
You are invited to World Conference, April 10–17, 2010.
The “We Share” theme will focus us on what we share with one another
as members and participants in Community of Christ and our call and
commitment to share our witness, ministries, sacraments, resources,
and message with the world. We will celebrate the 150th anniversary
of the 1860 conference, where Joseph Smith III accepted his
prophetic calling, and explore guidance from the First Presidency
regarding conditions of membership. Join in that discernment process
now using resources at
www.CofChrist.org/CofM/.
Come to International Headquarters to participate in worship,
discernment, and decisions for our future All approved legislation
must be submitted by December 11, 2009. Watch
www.CofChrist.org/wc2010
for more.
Justice for Women, Dignity for All, the 16th annual
Peace Colloquy, will be held October 23–25 at the Temple in
Independence, Missouri. At
www.CofChrist.org/peacecolloquy you will find:
• A printable event brochure and poster.
• Information on the children’s program, youth retreat, and
prayer retreat.
• Details about keynote speakers and retreats.
• Online registration with a discount through September 25.
Contact Jeanette Hicks at
jhicks@CofChrist.org or ext. 2224 if you have any questions.
The next live webcast will be the Community of Christ
International Peace Award ceremony on October 23 at 7:30
p.m. CST. Halima Bashir, medical doctor and activist for women and
children in Darfur, will be honored with a sculpture and a $20,000
grant (sponsored by Bank of America) to support the charitable peace
and justice organization of her choice. Visit
www.CofChrist.org/broadcast/upcoming.asp for webcast details and
www.CofChrist.org/peaceaward to learn more about Halima.
The Tangible Love/World Hunger Committee approved over
$492,000 in grants for projects around the world. Your Mission
Tithes are helping fund nutrition and education programs in Africa,
Haiti, and India. Your Oblation contributions are helping support
Tangible Love projects that reach out in communities in the United
States, Bolivia, Zambia, and Sri Lanka.
Grants are available to congregations and mission centers. Get
details at the World Hunger and Tangible Love Web sites:
www.CofChrist.org/hunger/applyingforfunds.asp and
www.CofChrist.org/tlove/apply.asp. Applications must be to your
apostle, mission center president, and mission center financial
officer by September 1 for their review and letter of support.
Follow up by sending the application to Marsha Brown at
mbrown@CofChrist.org (ext.
2216) by October 1.
Shelby Systems has introduced a new upgrade to the IHQ
Ministry Information Systems (Shelby) software, to be
implemented in mid-July. Most user interface remains very similar to
the current version with only a few moderate changes. The Technology
Support Team at International Headquarters has been conducting
intensive testing of the new software, with help from mission center
and congregational users in the field, to ensure all data is
transferred properly and the program functions correctly before the
official switch to the upgraded software in mid-July. A Shelby TEST
system was created allowing all registered users to explore the new
version of Shelby to become familiar with it before the upgrade. If
you have any questions about Shelby and the upgrade, please contact
Technology Support at
infosys@CofChrist.org or call the Help Desk at ext. 1234.
Our new hymnal project has generated submissions of
cross-cultural songs from around the globe. Sound recordings have
been received from members in 12 countries and 15 languages for
possible inclusion in the 2013 hymnal. This new resource will
include the languages, cultures, and understandings of a worldwide
church. Visit
www.CofChrist.org/hymnal to hear samples and learn more about
the hymnal project. More than 2,500 selections are being considered.
If you are interested in organizing a group to help sing, review,
and provide feedback on new hymn texts, please e-mail project
administrator Lauren Hall at
lhall@CofChrist.org.
World Service Corps is celebrating 10 years by sending
volunteers to Korea, India, Ukraine, Fiji, Caledonia, Canada, United
Kingdom, Zambia, Missouri, Michigan, and Peru. After training, 19
volunteers left International Headquarters in May to offer service
and ministry in cultures they have never experienced through August.
Visit
www.CofChrist.org/WorldService or contact
WorldService@CofChrist.org or ext. 2241 to learn more about this
program and opportunities to volunteer or host.
Four young adults from Russia are participating in the 2009
International Guide program through August. Elena Martikina
(Voronezh, Russia) and Sergey Motorin (Borisoglebsk, Russia) are in
Kirtland, Ohio. Julia Plutinskaya (Borisoglebsk, Russia) and Julia
Kostrikina (Moscow, Russia) are in Nauvoo, Illinois. After one month
the teams will switch locations.
The seventh annual Health and Spirituality Workshop,
“In Times of Pain, Where is God?” will be held August 21–22 at the
Temple in Independence, Missouri. Registration is $50 for those 65
and younger and $45 for those older than 65. College students 25 and
younger are eligible for buy-one, get-one-free registration at $25.
Continuing nursing-education credit will be available for a small
fee with approval. Register by August 7 or add $10 to your
registration. For more information contact Health Ministries
Association at ext. 1262 or
HMA@CofChrist.org. See the event brochure at
www.HMACofChrist.org.
Join us for the marvelous adventure of “where in the world”
your Mission Tithes impact lives… July generosity stories
feature Apostle Ron Harmon’s Central USA Mission Field. PowerPoint
presentations are included for each week except June 14. Read more
stories in the July Herald “Sharing in the Field” section. If you do
not receive the monthly stories directly, check with your mission
center financial officer or find them at
www.CofChrist.org/generositystories.
The Investment Committee (US) serves an important function,
assisting the Presiding Bishopric with management of the
Investment Portfolio for the World Church and our jurisdictions. The
committee meets quarterly to offer counsel and assist in
decision-making relative to investment policies and guidelines.
The committee currently has an opening for one person to serve a
three year term. While this opening identifies an immediate, need we
hope to develop a list of potential candidates that we can update
annually. The committee member profile is at
www.CofChrist.org/CFO/fiscal/MembersProfile.pdf. If you or
someone you know has interest and expertise in this area, please
send your suggestion to Diane Martin, Executive Assistant to the
Presiding Bishopric:
dmartin@CofChrist.org; ext. 3013.
Do you have the desire to volunteer? Community of
Christ historic sites need passionate volunteers interested in
helping share and preserve the history of our unique faith movement.
Find opportunities in Nauvoo, Illinois; Lamoni, Iowa; and
Independence, Missouri. The need for help is especially great in
Kirtland, Ohio, for autumn 2009. For more information and available
dates, contact Lachlan Mackay, Community of Christ Historic Sites
coordinator at (440) 339-6398 or
lmackay@CofChrist.org.
It may be time to kick off your shoes and wiggle the toes
in green grass but have you really looked at your feet lately?
Community of Christ Health Ministries Association has a new bulletin
insert on “Foot Care” noting medical problems affecting feet and
ways to treat feet right. Go to
www.CHM.HMACofChrist.org
to print and make copies for your congregation or e-mail
HMA@CofChrist.org.
Please share the following information with book stewards
and others who are serving in a capacity to share information
about resources and coordinate group orders through Herald House.
Remind your congregation they can always shop Herald House online at
www.HeraldHouse.org
- 2009 Daily Bread - For about 5¢ per day you
can enjoy uplifting stories from church members and leaders
around the world for the rest of the year! Don’t miss this
special opportunity to fill the second half of 2009 with
testimonies of God’s love. On sale for $8.99! 9780830914159
- Walking with Jesus is a collection of 11
easy-to-read chapters offering insight to various areas of
Community of Christ participation. For new members, it can be
presented at baptism and confirmation, or it can be used for
individual devotion or group study.
- Members Guide: 9780830911059 $9.95
- Study Guide: 9780830911677 $4.95
Celebrate Emma Smith’s birthday with a hymn festival.
Programs are just over an hour and include readings about
significant events in Emma’s life, and hymns from her lifetime and
her hymnals.
- Kirtland, Ohio, July 13 at 7:30 p.m. at Kirtland Temple.
Tickets must be reserved. Call (440) 256-1830.
- Independence, Missouri, September 27 at the John Whitmer
Historical Association’s annual conference. Visit
www.jwha.info.
- Your congregation: Download materials at:
www.kirtlandtemple.org/hymns. Please let us know where you
plan to host a similar event by e-mailing
info@kirtlandtemple.org.
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