This morning’s post is a forwarding referral to the Peace Blog of the Orange California Community of Christ. This writing, entitled “Is God Real?” was written by Katie Harmon McLaughlin, a fine young adult minister who now lives and works in Orange.
I first met Katie and her husband Zack when I was assigned as Campus Minister at Graceland University. They were both students and part of CCLP, the Community of Christ Leadership Program for which I had some responsibility. As a freshman, Katie impressed me with her deep spirituality, her gifted leadership and her soul’s deep desire to be in relationship with God. You will readily see all of that in her writing.
I encourage you to click on this link and enjoy Katie’s post. It is lovely.
Posted by Carman
Showing posts with label youth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label youth. Show all posts
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Team
This picture appeared on facebook this morning. You've gotta love all those red shirts and shining faces. This is our team, this week attending SPEC at the Graceland campus in Lamoni Iowa. (Click here to see what it's all about!)We were having a conversation just yesterday around our lunch table. It seems some of our children have heard about this "thing called Graceland" and were asking what it's all about anyway. It was one of those all-too-familiar conversations about these children of the children we knew way back when. Tim, the newest member of our team, recounted how he had traveled to Lamoni in the summer of "70-something" and had the most spectacular experience! All his kids have followed in his footsteps.
My own kids never did the SPEC thing, but we did fall under the spell of Graceland as two sons' academic careers tracked through that campus. And now I'm delivering one of their kids to junior high camp to see if there's a place for him on this team Canada. Of course there is!
The gang meeting that bus had such a fun time connecting back through the generations. Three couples waiting there had met at camp, years ago. Three others had directed camps this summer and were now putting their own progeny on that bus.
Picking them up again was a whole other matter. Excited campers (high on sugar and camp!) poured off the bus to give everybody one more hug while sorting out luggage and bags and sombreros and pillows from the mix. They're a team now, for sure. They may not yet realize that they're part of a bigger team than meets the eye. Who knows how many will make it to SPEC at some point.
We look at that picture and try to find the faces we might know. The archives are full of such pictures. But the heart of the team beats beyond those red shirts, as moms and dads, and grandpas and grandmas and former camp directors and counselors recognize a look or a smile or a goofy expression that looks just so familiar. It's our team!
Posted by Marion
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Restored
I have had the privilege of connecting with dozens of congregations in at least five mission centres. In eight of those congregations, I was a member, three I served as a pastor, while with several others I shared as a guest minister for varying periods of time.
Of all of those encounters, three stand head and shoulders above the others in my memory. Those three were the Chattanooga Community of Christ in Tennessee, Highland Manor Ministries in Independence, MO, and Victor Valley congregation in the High Desert of California. The reason these three stand out is because these are the congregations that I saw really making a difference in people’s lives. These congregations knew what their mission was, and they were about it. They became communities of hope for people who previously had very little to be hopeful about. Some of these people were the extreme, inner-city poor. A second group were kids and teens who had wretched family lives. They came to church seeking a source of meaning and order. Still others were people who needed help escaping drugs or other addictive behaviours. All of these found hope within the fellowship of those three communities. Lives were and are transformed and changed by the loving acceptance of people who really cared.
Of all the congregations I have known, these three give me hope that all the work we do to support the church really can make a difference. These demonstrate that it really is possible for a congregation to make a difference in the community and in the lives of people who live there. The members in these churches show me what it means to live out D. & C. 163:2b: “The restoring of persons to healthy or righteous relationships with God, others, themselves, and the earth is at the heart of the purpose of your journey as a people of faith.” When I feel discouraged because of the apparent absence of missional focus in many congregations, the memory of lives changed in these locations keeps me going.
Last week I saw the same kind of hope finding expression in the lives of several campers at Sr. High camp. In this community which gathers for only one week per year, lives were touched and encouraged. Here, people knew they were loved. In this environment they came to believe it was safe to expose their hearts, even for a brief moment, and trust that they would not be hurt. Here, perhaps for the first time, some found people who would love and accept them in the name and spirit of Jesus. For a while at least, they were, indeed, restored. It is amazing thing to see, and awesome to be a part of.
And so, in addition to the three congregations mentioned above, I can add a fourth fellowship to the list that gives me hope; our own Senior Hi Camp. It is a community that lives love and makes it real in the lives of people. Thank God for such a place, and for the incredible lives it blesses.
What gives you hope?
Posted by Carman
Of all of those encounters, three stand head and shoulders above the others in my memory. Those three were the Chattanooga Community of Christ in Tennessee, Highland Manor Ministries in Independence, MO, and Victor Valley congregation in the High Desert of California. The reason these three stand out is because these are the congregations that I saw really making a difference in people’s lives. These congregations knew what their mission was, and they were about it. They became communities of hope for people who previously had very little to be hopeful about. Some of these people were the extreme, inner-city poor. A second group were kids and teens who had wretched family lives. They came to church seeking a source of meaning and order. Still others were people who needed help escaping drugs or other addictive behaviours. All of these found hope within the fellowship of those three communities. Lives were and are transformed and changed by the loving acceptance of people who really cared.
Of all the congregations I have known, these three give me hope that all the work we do to support the church really can make a difference. These demonstrate that it really is possible for a congregation to make a difference in the community and in the lives of people who live there. The members in these churches show me what it means to live out D. & C. 163:2b: “The restoring of persons to healthy or righteous relationships with God, others, themselves, and the earth is at the heart of the purpose of your journey as a people of faith.” When I feel discouraged because of the apparent absence of missional focus in many congregations, the memory of lives changed in these locations keeps me going.
Last week I saw the same kind of hope finding expression in the lives of several campers at Sr. High camp. In this community which gathers for only one week per year, lives were touched and encouraged. Here, people knew they were loved. In this environment they came to believe it was safe to expose their hearts, even for a brief moment, and trust that they would not be hurt. Here, perhaps for the first time, some found people who would love and accept them in the name and spirit of Jesus. For a while at least, they were, indeed, restored. It is amazing thing to see, and awesome to be a part of.
And so, in addition to the three congregations mentioned above, I can add a fourth fellowship to the list that gives me hope; our own Senior Hi Camp. It is a community that lives love and makes it real in the lives of people. Thank God for such a place, and for the incredible lives it blesses.
What gives you hope?
Posted by Carman
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Leaders
In no particular order, let me share a few names with you.
Renee, Grant, Sarah, Andrew, Kevin, Heather, Annie, Joe, Derek, Keira, Alysa, Rachel, Bryce, Karen, Aaron, Kyle, Lija, Lauren, Lisa, Serenity, Duane, Christopher, Rebecca, Meredith, Marc, Jordan, Ryan, Robyn, Matthew, Irena, Taffia, Adam, Kristin, Scott, Dariq,
Tamara, Alfredo, Mark, Natasha, Rachel, Jon, Christine, Shawn…
These are but a few of the names of young adults we have observed leading, and wanting to lead, in Canada East Mission. The list is no where near a complete list. These young leaders are honing their skills, helping where they can, and looking for places they can fit in to offer their ministry. They are exceptional, outstanding young leaders. They do not know everything, but then again, who does? They have ideas, energy, enthusiasm, and a willingness to try. You will, no doubt be able to think of more names when you put your mind to it.
(Young Adults, if you don’t find your name here, the fault is mine, not yours. We have not forgotten you!)
Young adult leaders also have frustration. Some have grown disillusioned, reporting not being listened to in their congregation, and sometimes not even being seen. Some have quit attending church, but will travel long distances to serve in our camping community, often at great personal sacrifice.
Still, they are here, they are willing, and they are able. They are the reason Young Adult Leader Empowerment (YALE) is the number one goal of Canada East Mission in the coming decade. It is number one in importance, not merely first on the list. We are blessed with a wealth of fine, young adult leaders. They may think, act, and dress a little differently than you (or not), but we definitely need their energy and ideas.
At Canada East Mission, we are looking hard for the young adults who will lead us into the next decade. We will be giving them important assignments, even if it seems they’re not really ready. Don’t be surprised. If you believe in this goal, we’ll need you to back us up. Out loud, and with real commitment.
We believe the future, under their leadership, will be amazing. Are you ready to give them a chance? Who are the young adults you are mentoring to fill your leadership roles?
Renee, Grant, Sarah, Andrew, Kevin, Heather, Annie, Joe, Derek, Keira, Alysa, Rachel, Bryce, Karen, Aaron, Kyle, Lija, Lauren, Lisa, Serenity, Duane, Christopher, Rebecca, Meredith, Marc, Jordan, Ryan, Robyn, Matthew, Irena, Taffia, Adam, Kristin, Scott, Dariq,
Tamara, Alfredo, Mark, Natasha, Rachel, Jon, Christine, Shawn…
These are but a few of the names of young adults we have observed leading, and wanting to lead, in Canada East Mission. The list is no where near a complete list. These young leaders are honing their skills, helping where they can, and looking for places they can fit in to offer their ministry. They are exceptional, outstanding young leaders. They do not know everything, but then again, who does? They have ideas, energy, enthusiasm, and a willingness to try. You will, no doubt be able to think of more names when you put your mind to it.
(Young Adults, if you don’t find your name here, the fault is mine, not yours. We have not forgotten you!)
Young adult leaders also have frustration. Some have grown disillusioned, reporting not being listened to in their congregation, and sometimes not even being seen. Some have quit attending church, but will travel long distances to serve in our camping community, often at great personal sacrifice.
Still, they are here, they are willing, and they are able. They are the reason Young Adult Leader Empowerment (YALE) is the number one goal of Canada East Mission in the coming decade. It is number one in importance, not merely first on the list. We are blessed with a wealth of fine, young adult leaders. They may think, act, and dress a little differently than you (or not), but we definitely need their energy and ideas.
At Canada East Mission, we are looking hard for the young adults who will lead us into the next decade. We will be giving them important assignments, even if it seems they’re not really ready. Don’t be surprised. If you believe in this goal, we’ll need you to back us up. Out loud, and with real commitment.
We believe the future, under their leadership, will be amazing. Are you ready to give them a chance? Who are the young adults you are mentoring to fill your leadership roles?
Monday, August 3, 2009
Kindness
Lots of good stories collected from that past week at reunion (Erie Beach). Much processing to be done.
But I can tell you about a "secret" group of senior high age girls who formed a Conspiracy of Kindness. Their objective was to affect the tone of the reunion by committing random acts of kindness, anonymously, in the hope that others would feel good, and potentially become kinder themselves.
From my perspective it really worked! The mood of the attendees, adults and children, became noticeably more upbeat. Children ran to get chairs for seniors; youth handed open songbooks to latecomers; lunch trays and empty dinner dishes were swooped out from under us with expressions of "let me take that for you."
Better than that, one heard once-cynical adults commenting on the many good kids and expressing genuine hope and optimism for the future!
This is a very good word!
But I can tell you about a "secret" group of senior high age girls who formed a Conspiracy of Kindness. Their objective was to affect the tone of the reunion by committing random acts of kindness, anonymously, in the hope that others would feel good, and potentially become kinder themselves.
From my perspective it really worked! The mood of the attendees, adults and children, became noticeably more upbeat. Children ran to get chairs for seniors; youth handed open songbooks to latecomers; lunch trays and empty dinner dishes were swooped out from under us with expressions of "let me take that for you."
Better than that, one heard once-cynical adults commenting on the many good kids and expressing genuine hope and optimism for the future!
This is a very good word!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
