As we continue to find new ways of being together when physical distancing guidelines prevent our gatherings, you're invited to join us for "Living Hope," a unique online Easter worship experience this year.

On Sunday, April 12 we will be hosting two online gatherings to share in Easter celebration and worship together.

Gathering 1 --- 4 a.m. (CDT)
Gathering 2 --- 2 p.m. (CDT)

By having two gatherings we hope to increase participation around the world and allow people to join in at a reasonable time of their day. Pick the time that best fits your day and worship with us through music, prayers, reflections from members around the world, and a homily by President Steve Veazey.

To provide opportunities for interaction as we all watch from home, we'll be broadcasting the worship on the church's Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram feeds. Viewers will be invited to share in the comments on Facebook and Instagram or by using #CofChristEaster on Twitter at several points during the worship. The broadcast will also be available at www.CofChrist.org/live-webcast and the church's YouTube channel.

Online Ministries

Here's how to get involved:

Although we’re not meeting in person during this difficult time, there are several ways to participate in the life of the church! The following meetings will be held online via Zoom which allows for easy, free, user interaction. Use zoom.us to learn more. All times are EDT.
 
Sunday – 10:00 am - Children’s Sunday School
Sponsored by Mid-Atlantic Mission Center
Click here to join     Password: 030348
 
Sunday – 10:00 am - Intergenerational Sunday School
Sponsored by Mid-Atlantic Mission Center
Click here to join     Password: 126681
 
Sunday – 10:50 am – Intergenerational Worship
Sponsored by Mid-Atlantic and Eastern Great Lakes Mission Centers
Click here to join     Password: 570764
 
Wednesday – 7:00 pm- Mid-Week Connection 
Sponsored by Michigan Mission Center
Click here to join     Password: 182469
 
Thursday – 7:00 pm – Sanctuary Online – Grades 9-12
Sponsored by Michigan Mission Center
For safety, we do not post the link publicly.
Email linda@cofchristmi.org for the link and to join the Facebook group.

Congregations are encouraged to consider using the Open Table model for building relationships with people seeking to transform their lives from poverty to relationship in and with the community.

Open Table’s faith-based model draws together the community and relationship life of congregations around the country. It provides technical support, training, structure, process.
Each Table is composed of a group of volunteers that make a year-long commitment to act–through relationship—as a team of life specialists, encouragers, and advocates. Over the course of a year, the Table works together to set goals, foster accountability, and implement a plan to create change.

Table members invest what they have learned on their life journeys and connect to their personal networks in their congregations and community to bring skill building, services and door opening to the plan.

2020 Faith Climate Action Week Kits are now available! These kits contain all the resources needed to put your congregation's love for the earth into action during Interfaith Power & Light's Faith Climate Action Week, April 17 – 26.

Faith Climate Action Week is IPL's annual program of climate-themed worship services and sermons that spans ten days of activities in celebration of Earth Month. This is IPL's premier event to create a mass movement of people of faith making the moral call for climate action. This year's Faith Climate Action Week theme, "Love Made Visible" is partially inspired by 19th century Lebanese-American poet Kahlil Gibran who said, "Work is love made visible". IPL invites your congregation to make their love visible by engaging in Sacred Activism to protect the people we love and care about who are most impacted by climate change.

The kit includes a Sacred Activism Guide on the importance of people of faith taking part in civic engagement, plus suggestions and tips for activism challenges including planning a prayer vigil, taking part in a rally or march, conducting a voter registration drive in conjunction with your local election officials, and more. Use the Sacred Activism Art Guide included in the kit to create eye-catching banners, placards, street paintings, and more with faith-based messaging.

Collect pledges to vote with the climate in mind using the provided printed Faith Climate Voter Pledge postcards and stickers for all who pledge. The kit also includes a "For Love of Trees" booklet with a tree planting ceremony, blessing, music, poem, and more.

This Earth Day let's joyfully do the sacred work of making the moral call for climate action.

Blessings,

Rev. Susan Hendershot
President
Interfaith Power & Light

Offering a course in your area? Let us know! mmcoffice@cofchristmi.org 

Did you know Michigan Mission Center youth camps operate solely on donations? It costs about $50 per day per camper or about $300 per week for junior and senior high and $200 per week for junior camp. Consider donating today to make this life changing experience possible.

Camps sponsored for each grade level are listed below. Campers will register by their expected grade in fall 2020. When youth register by June 1, 2020 there is no fee to attend camp. After June 1, 2020 restrictions and fees may apply. Space is limited at camps based on the number of beds and licensing restrictions, so please register as soon as possible to reserve a spot.

Senior High Camps (Grades 10, 11, 12, Just Graduated)
June 20-26 at Sanford – Director Ben Crowley
June 27-July 3 at Park of the Pines – Director Jamie Lis
July 5-11 at Blue Water – Director Rich Allen

Junior High Camps (Grades 7, 8, 9)
July 12-18 at Blue Water – Director Shannon Mueller
July 19-25 at Sanford – Director Amber Billman
July 19-25 at Park of the Pines – Director Megan Hacker

Junior Camps (Grades 3, 4, 5, 6)
June 21-25 at Blue Water – Director Alley Lentz
July 5-9 at Park of the Pines – Director Falissa Richter
July 11-15 at Sanford (Late Junior – Grades 5,6) – Director Lisa Moler
July 15-18 at Sanford (Early Junior – Grades 2,3,4) – Director Lisa Moler

Blue Water Campground – 7291 County Farm Rd, Lexington, MI 48450
Park of the Pines – 4094 Beach Rd, Boyne City, MI 49712
Sanford Campground – 3500 N West River Rd, Sanford, MI 48657

Questions can be directed to Winnie Johnston, Youth Camp Coordinator, at (231) 340-1849.

Register for 2020 Family Camps

Community of Christ members and friends often gather together in fellowship and learning experiences called reunions or family camps. This relaxed and casual atmosphere provides space for spiritual growth, personal discernment, incredible amounts of fun, deeper commitment, new and renewed relationships, and so very much more!

Family Camp at Sanford Campground – June 26 to July 1, 2020
Directors: Erica Nye, Adam Bouvertte, Dan Nowiski
Guest Ministers: Charmaine & Tony Chvala-Smith, Community of Christ Seminary and Theology

Family Camp at Blue Water Campground – June 27 to July 4, 2020
Director: Tim Ross
Guest Minister: John Wight, Senior President of Seventy

Family Camp at Park of the Pines – July 10 to 17, 2020
Director: Ruth White
Guest Minister: Scott Murphy, First Presidency

Family Camp at The Woodlands – July 29 to August 2, 2020
Directors: Kevin White & Lori White
Guest Minister: Mike Hoffman, Graceland University Campus Minister

Detroit Hope

Detroit Hope is currently not accepting donations of food, clothing, or other items.  Thanks to all who have supported these ministries in the past!

Mission center officers are administering the Detroit Hope Emerging Congregation at this time.  Please contact Dan Nowiski if you have questions or would like to be involved with this ministry.

Campground Sales Update - March 2020

A six month listing agreement extension with Michigan Whitetail Properties, LLC was entered into effective December 22, 2019 to market and sell the Woodlands with an asking price of $1,250,000. The realtor has reported on marketing efforts, inquiries about the listing, and parties visiting the property. No offers for purchase of the property have been received. Ongoing dialogue and exploration will continue to determine how to best market the property and accomplish a sale after the expiration of the current listing agreement on June 21, 2020.

Additional information about the campground sales process and previous updates can be found online at CofChristMI.org/campground-sales.

Blue Water Campground Board

Park of the Pines Campground Board

Sanford Campground Board

The Woodlands Campground Board

Waiting in Faithfulness - 3/30/2020
www.youtube.com/watch

This week, President Steve Veazey asks us, "How are you doing? Are you getting impatient? Are you grieving the cancellation of activities and events? Are you frustrated or angry about not knowing how or when this situation ends?"

President Veazey acknowledges that in challenging times he sometimes feels like yelling at God, "Enough already!" Can you relate to this in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic?

In his weekly message, he shares his insights into the Book of Habakkuk in the Hebrew scriptures and provides words of encouragement in these turbulent times.

CONNECT ONLINE
Visit the Community of Christ WEBSITE: www.CofChrist.org/
Like Community of Christ on FACEBOOK: on.fb.me/1HP6feZ
Follow Community of Christ on TWITTER: bit.ly/1w1joZS
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A Lenten fast gives us an opportunity to make space in our lives so that God can live in and through us. It’s a time to evaluate what we hunger for most and what we consume. This year, you're invited to tithe as a spiritual practice by setting aside $40 during the 40 days of Lent.

If you are participating, pay attention today to the dollar you have given. What might you have done with that dollar otherwise? How does Lenten generosity invite you to reflect on what is “enough” in your life? Who might you invite to join you in this practice? How might your gift be magnified by the many others responding to the same call?

You can make your $40 offering anytime during the Lenten season online or through your offering envelope for Worldwide Mission Tithes.

app.securegive.com/cofchrist/world-church-/donate/category

eTithing Cards

A Smooth Way to Model Giving

These durable cards, which come in packs of five, are ideal for people who tithe online but still want to participate in the congregational practice of giving during worship. Each reusable card highlights all five Mission Initiatives. When the offering plate comes around, our eTithing contributors can have a tangible way to participate in this important practice.

Some congregations place cards in each pew and others have a basket centrally located where eTithing givers can pick up a card before worship begins.

Purchase a set for your congregation today! Available at www.HeraldHouse.org.