Several months ago I shared through various communications how we would approach the mission center budget as we made our way to the December 2010 mission center conference. Here’s an update on the six step process:
1. Visioning and Discernment for Mission Center Priorities by the Mission Center Council and Other Leaders – Completed in May 2010
2. Creation of Mission Center Budget around Mission Center Priorities - Completed
3. Review and Adjustment of Mission Center budget by Mission Center Leadership Team and Mission Center Financial Team – Completed
4. Review and Adjustment of Mission Center budget by Mission Center Council – Completed, September 11, 2010
5. Presentation of Mission Center Budget to each congregation at a business meeting prior to decision about their contribution to it – In Process
6. Consideration of Mission Center Budget - Mission Center Conference – December 4
Diana Hansen and I are working on visits to each congregation. We are trying to get this done between October 10 and November 21, so each congregation can review the budget, ask questions, and participate in the process prior to the December 4 mission center conference at Mesa.
Our schedule includes: October 10 – Thunderbird West; October 17 – Prescott; October 24 – Phoenix Central and Chandler; October 31 – Mesa; November 7 – Verde Valley; November 14 – Saguaro Heights and Tucson Central; November 21 – Yuma, with Show Low and Cochise congregations having arrangements pending.
If you have any questions, please let one of us know. Thanks for your continued ministry and support.
WELCOME
Sharing Good News
Sharing news of any type is difficult. We are bombarded by so much information, for something to sink in we have to encounter it several times, in different ways. Media companies know this—it’s why TV stations have web pages, blogs, newsletters, and are on Facebook, with messages repeated. And that’s why the mission center has the monthly bulletin (what you’re reading), the Weekly Update (sent out as e-mail, PDF, and Links) and a blog. It’s also why information is repeated—today we read messages when we want to read them. While messages can be sent, its when we turn our focus to them that they become communicated—when we open the e-mail, or read the bulletin, or visit the blog. We read things when and if we want to.
The choices of what to share are also important. I tend to be a future-oriented person, concentrating on what’s going to happen, not what has happened. Inadvertently, I can overlook sharing some of the “good news” that needs to be shared. For instance, about twenty people gathered for the third installment of DiscipleshipNOW the first weekend in October. They represent seven of our eleven congregations. Recently, the Adult Ministry Team met to discuss future events, how to make them viable, affordable, and meaningful viewed as an expression of congregational life (how they bless you in your congregation). Before that, the Youth Ministry Team met to develop a plan to revitalize youth ministry in all congregations which will be reported at Mission Center conference December 4. So, if you’re reading this, it’s good news. And be watching for even more good news coming your way, in one form or another, very soon.
The choices of what to share are also important. I tend to be a future-oriented person, concentrating on what’s going to happen, not what has happened. Inadvertently, I can overlook sharing some of the “good news” that needs to be shared. For instance, about twenty people gathered for the third installment of DiscipleshipNOW the first weekend in October. They represent seven of our eleven congregations. Recently, the Adult Ministry Team met to discuss future events, how to make them viable, affordable, and meaningful viewed as an expression of congregational life (how they bless you in your congregation). Before that, the Youth Ministry Team met to develop a plan to revitalize youth ministry in all congregations which will be reported at Mission Center conference December 4. So, if you’re reading this, it’s good news. And be watching for even more good news coming your way, in one form or another, very soon.
Exploring This Week's Scripture: Luke 17:11-19
from Worship Resources Year C, Beginning Advent 2009 up to Advent 2010, "Live Generously, Love Courageously"
The story of the ten lepers (Luke 17:11–19) is more than a story about healing. It is about what one receives and how one responds. It has parallels with the stories of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29–37) and the healing of Naaman (II Kings 5:1–14). The key in all three of these stories is that when we rise and go, we must go responding to what we have received.
In the story of the Good Samaritan, the priest, the Levite, and the Samaritan all receive an opportunity to serve. This occurs when they “see” the injured man along the roadside. Only the Samaritan responds to what he sees. Our story today begins with Jesus “seeing” the lepers and responding. Then later, the story ends with the Samaritan leper “seeing” that he was healed and responding to God’s generosity while the other healed lepers did not respond. These instances demonstrate how we often look without seeing through our faith and, in turn, fail to respond. How we respond when we rise and go will depend on our faith and what we notice through our seeing.
These three stories also express the common theme from Jesus’ message: It is often the one who the culture views as the “least” who is the “greatest” in their faithful response. Why did the priest and Levite, who were trained to love through their knowledge of the Torah, fail to see how God’s love transcends all other rules? Similarly, Jesus asked where the other nine lepers went after they were healed. Did they expect healing and not sense a gratitude for an undeserved gift of a loving God? In contrast, the Samaritan saw he was healed, returned to Jesus, and gave glory to God. His actions were similar to Naaman’s who, when healed, returned to the facilitator of his healing, Elisha, and gave glory to God. Like the Good Samaritan and Naaman, who were both foreigners and seen by the world as the “least,” it is the Samaritan leper who truly saw and responded in faith with glory to God.
The story ends with Jesus telling the Samaritan leper to rise and go as his faith has made him well. What about the other nine lepers? Were they not also healed? We can interpret that all ten lepers received physical healing from a loving God, but it was only the leper who expressed his faithfulness who received true wholeness. Through expressing his gratitude, the Samaritan leper expressed humility and dependency on God. Thus, gratitude was expressed through the Samaritan’s faith. Jesus named this faith as being the source of wellness—a wellness that likely extended beyond this momentary healing into a life of wholeness experienced through faithfully responding to a loving God throughout one’s journey as a disciple.
As we rise and go, our faithfulness will help us see two ways of responding to God’s generosity. First, may we see the times when a loving God has healed us and respond like Naaman and the Samaritan leper by noticing, returning to Jesus, and giving glory to God. Each is “loved with an everlasting love that delights in each faithful step taken. God yearns to draw you close so that wounds may be healed, emptiness filled, and hope strengthened” (Doctrine and Covenants 163:10a). Second, may we see the opportunities to respond as faithful disciples helping out those who we see have needs. Let us respond like the Good Samaritan and Jesus sharing Christ’s peace with all of God’s children. Rise and go: “You are called to create pathways in the world for peace in Christ to be relationally and culturally incarnate. The hope of Zion is realized when the vision of Christ is embodied in communities of generosity, justice, and peacefulness” (Doctrine and Covenants 163:3a).
The story of the ten lepers (Luke 17:11–19) is more than a story about healing. It is about what one receives and how one responds. It has parallels with the stories of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29–37) and the healing of Naaman (II Kings 5:1–14). The key in all three of these stories is that when we rise and go, we must go responding to what we have received.
In the story of the Good Samaritan, the priest, the Levite, and the Samaritan all receive an opportunity to serve. This occurs when they “see” the injured man along the roadside. Only the Samaritan responds to what he sees. Our story today begins with Jesus “seeing” the lepers and responding. Then later, the story ends with the Samaritan leper “seeing” that he was healed and responding to God’s generosity while the other healed lepers did not respond. These instances demonstrate how we often look without seeing through our faith and, in turn, fail to respond. How we respond when we rise and go will depend on our faith and what we notice through our seeing.
These three stories also express the common theme from Jesus’ message: It is often the one who the culture views as the “least” who is the “greatest” in their faithful response. Why did the priest and Levite, who were trained to love through their knowledge of the Torah, fail to see how God’s love transcends all other rules? Similarly, Jesus asked where the other nine lepers went after they were healed. Did they expect healing and not sense a gratitude for an undeserved gift of a loving God? In contrast, the Samaritan saw he was healed, returned to Jesus, and gave glory to God. His actions were similar to Naaman’s who, when healed, returned to the facilitator of his healing, Elisha, and gave glory to God. Like the Good Samaritan and Naaman, who were both foreigners and seen by the world as the “least,” it is the Samaritan leper who truly saw and responded in faith with glory to God.
The story ends with Jesus telling the Samaritan leper to rise and go as his faith has made him well. What about the other nine lepers? Were they not also healed? We can interpret that all ten lepers received physical healing from a loving God, but it was only the leper who expressed his faithfulness who received true wholeness. Through expressing his gratitude, the Samaritan leper expressed humility and dependency on God. Thus, gratitude was expressed through the Samaritan’s faith. Jesus named this faith as being the source of wellness—a wellness that likely extended beyond this momentary healing into a life of wholeness experienced through faithfully responding to a loving God throughout one’s journey as a disciple.
As we rise and go, our faithfulness will help us see two ways of responding to God’s generosity. First, may we see the times when a loving God has healed us and respond like Naaman and the Samaritan leper by noticing, returning to Jesus, and giving glory to God. Each is “loved with an everlasting love that delights in each faithful step taken. God yearns to draw you close so that wounds may be healed, emptiness filled, and hope strengthened” (Doctrine and Covenants 163:10a). Second, may we see the opportunities to respond as faithful disciples helping out those who we see have needs. Let us respond like the Good Samaritan and Jesus sharing Christ’s peace with all of God’s children. Rise and go: “You are called to create pathways in the world for peace in Christ to be relationally and culturally incarnate. The hope of Zion is realized when the vision of Christ is embodied in communities of generosity, justice, and peacefulness” (Doctrine and Covenants 163:3a).
Celebrate Messiah! Theme for Mission Center Conference, December 4
Plan now to join the mission center for our annual conference, beginning 9:30 a.m., Saturday, December 4, at the Mesa congregation, 150 North Sulleys Drive, Mesa. Apostle Scott Murphy and David Nii, Apostolic Assistant will both bring ministry during the day-long event. Sharon Davids is coordinating worship and music, in celebration of Advent, using the theme “Celebrate Messiah!” Business at the conference will include the election of two members to the 2012 National Conference Advisory Team, reports from various teams including one on the Sustainable Youth Ministry initiative approved at last year’s conference. Lunch will be included—a fundraising event for the youth attending Spectacular in 2011. Mark your calendars. The official agenda will be shared in congregations during November.
Book of Mormon Seminar by Apostle Luffman Set for November 13 at Thunderbird West
Join Apostle Dr. Dale Luffman as he shares in “The Book of Mormon: A Nineteenth Century Reading,” beginning 9:00 a.m., Saturday, November 13, at the Thunderbird West congregation, 5035 West Paradise Lane, Glendale. Four areas of study include: Orientation to the Book of Mormon; Characteristics and Sources Contributing to the Book of Mormon Text; Thematic Concerns Expressed in the Book of Mormon Witness; and Letting the Text Speak for Itself. This is a follow-up seminar to the one in 2009, and the intent is to “go deeper” into the sources, message and significance of the text itself - - discovering what the text had to say to its first readers, and what might it be saying to our contemporary environment. Coffee, juice, and donuts will be available before the seminar which will conclude at 4:30 p.m. Lunch is included. The cost is $15.00 per person as you are able to contribute.
Whispering Pines Work Weekend Cancelled
Good news! The Whispering Pines Work Weekend, scheduled for November 5-7, has been cancelled. An outside group booked the weekend!
Youth Retreat to Be Very Noisy!
The youth of the mission center are invited to attend “Make a Joyful Noise,” beginning Noon, Saturday, October 16 and ending at Noon, Sunday, October 17, at Phoenix Central, 4224 N. 44th Street, Phoenix. Youth, in grades 3-12, are invited to bring their instruments, their voices, and their friends to a great time. During the Sunday morning service youth who play an instrument will be invited to play in an ensemble. Practice time will be included in the Saturday schedule. Barb Bear is coordinating the event, 602-620-0036. The cost is $15.00 and includes lunch and dinner on Saturday, and breakfast on Sunday. A registration form can be found on the mission center web site, www.azcofchrist.org. or attached to this Weekly Update.
Celebrate Advent with Temple Event
Join in continued advent celebration via the live webcast “Glad Tidings We Bring: Lessons and Carols” from the Temple at www.CofChrist.org, Sunday, December 12 at 6:00 p.m. MST. The service will combine Advent-themed scripture readings with seasonal music from the Voices of Peace Symphonic Choir, Emporia State (Kansas) Faculty Brass Quintet, and Jan Kraybill on the organ. President Steve Veazey will offer the homily.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)