Christmas Day Camp In Review: A Great Success!

Escondido's Children's Day Camp: A Great Success!

Suzy Hawthorne created hands on activities to deepen the meaning of the Christmas story. The day started with learning about the advent candles and what they represented. Each child was given an advent calendar to take home. A star was to be placed on the calendar each day. We placed 14 stars to catch up with the date.

Then we discussed Christmas traditions: singing carols, reading the Christmas story, sending card, decorating cookies, wrapping presents, decorating a tree, putting up a nativity scene, lighting advent candles and then they proceeded to complete those tasks. The gift wrapped was a Rubix style cube with the Nativity story. Cards were created with stamps and personalized. Cookies were decorated, songs sung and stories read.

When discussing the trip Mary and Joseph made to Bethlehem, the children were given tasting plates with the types of food they would have carried on the journey. Smoked fish, dates, bread, goat cheese, pomegranates, almonds, olives and water. The group was divided into two teams. They packed their backpacks with water, food, cloth for swaddling the baby when he arrived and started on their journey (around the Escondido church).

For lunch, we had pizza, fruits and vegetables. We ended the day with a birthday cupcake and sang Happy Birthday to Jesus.

After lunch, they made a Christmas cookie tree and decorated it.

They played Nativity bingo and searched for the stars hidden in the sanctuary. Each activity had a matching story that told the Nativity story from a different perspective. When we talked about the three kings, there was a treasure box that contained gold flakes, frankincense, and myrrh. They were able to hold the gold container and touch and smell the frankincense and myrrh pieces and learn about their significance.

They last activity was painting a “stained glass” Nativity set. Each character had its own stand and each child personalized their Nativity.

It was a very enjoyable day. Lots of laughter and sharing with each other while learning about Christ's birth. Wonderful friendships were established and they look forward to being together again. 

- Marsha Rastle

We Remember: Honoring the Memory of those We've Lost and Tips for Managing Grief During the Holidays

In the midst of our Advent season, with lights, music, storytelling, and remembering; it can also be a time of profound and lingering grief. December 21st is named the “longest day” by the Alzheimer Foundation, but many others live with longest of days grieving on many other days.

As a community we want to remember loved ones that we have lost this year and name the mourning and the celebrating of lives of true blessings. The list of names come from our Shelby system, so if we have missed a name, contact me to work with Tonia for updated information and a new list by year end.

I am attaching a wonderful article about numerous ways to manage grief for your personal viewing or to share with others. Great grief comes from great love, and both great grief and great love started in a manger story that still guides us today. We honor the gifts of lives recorded, and Larry and his PSI Leadership Team continue to hold everyone in prayer and gratitude. 

Denise Leichter

Experiencing the holidays without a loved one can be profoundly challenging. While the winter holidays, including Christmas Eve, Christmas, and New Year’s, are traditionally times of joy and togetherness, they can also heighten feelings of loneliness, grief, and seasonal depression. If you or someone you know is coping with loss during this time, here are some thoughtful and practical strategies to help guide you through the next few weeks.

Honor Old Traditions that Bring You Joy

Keeping your loved one’s memory alive by continuing cherished traditions can provide comfort during the winter holidays. For instance, if your dad always dressed up as Santa or your aunt made her Hanukkah latkes, you can honor their memory by continuing these practices. You might consider passing the Santa costume to another family member or cooking together. These actions can bring a sense of continuity and connection, especially during Christmas and Christmas Eve.

Create New Traditions

While honoring old traditions is essential, creating new ones can also be healing. It’s natural to feel guilt or sadness when initiating new practices, but these new traditions do not replace the beautiful moments you shared with your loved one; instead, they add new layers to your holiday experience. For example, you might start a new holiday activity, such as volunteering, creating a memory book, taking a day trip, or organizing a new family gathering during the winter holidays.

Set Boundaries

There is no "right" way to participate in the holidays. You may feel pressured to attend all celebrations, but it's crucial to prioritize your emotional well-being. Determine what feels right for you and communicate your needs to family and friends in advance. Finding a balance between engaging with loved ones and honoring your limits is critical to managing grief and seasonal depression during the holidays.

Reflect on Your Feelings

The holidays can amplify emotions, making it difficult to simultaneously process feelings of grief and happiness. Allow yourself to experience moments of joy without guilt. It’s possible to enjoy holiday traditions while still missing your loved one. Be kind to yourself, and permit yourself to feel a range of emotions without judgment. Don’t forget about grief support groups. Sharing your story with others who are also navigating grief can be cathartic.

Find Healthy Ways to Manage Emotions

Prepare for the holiday season by creating a list of coping strategies you can use when feeling overwhelmed. Mindful breathing techniques, listening to calming music, or taking a walk are all simple yet effective ways to manage stress. Prioritize exercise, healthy eating, and getting enough sleep. Taking care of yourself with healthy ways to grieve and manage difficult moments can help make the winter holidays less stressful.

Share Your Feelings with Friends and Family

Grief can make you feel isolated, but reaching out to friends and family can provide much-needed support. Sharing your emotions with trusted individuals can help you feel less alone and more understood. If the holidays are particularly challenging, consider seeking additional support from a therapist or counselor who can offer professional guidance on dealing with grief, depression, or loneliness.

Give Back

Shifting focus from your grief to helping others can bring a sense of fulfillment and joy. Volunteering or participating in charitable activities can provide a meaningful way to connect with others and create positive holiday experiences. Helping others can also remind you of the good in the world and foster a sense of gratitude.

Be Kind to Yourself

It's essential to be gentle with yourself during the holiday season. Recognize that it's okay to have complex emotions. Grief is a circular emotion triggered by memories, scents, or societal pressures that increase during the holidays when people should be “happy.” Allow yourself the grace to navigate this season at your own pace, finding solace in the small moments of joy and connection during the winter holidays.

How to Help Someone Grieving Over the Holidays

Supporting someone who is grieving during the holidays can be incredibly meaningful. Here are some ways you can offer support:

  • Listen Without Judgment — Sometimes, the best way to help is simply to listen. Allow them to share their feelings without offering solutions or trying to cheer them up.

  • Include Them in Activities — Invite them to join holiday activities, but also understand if they decline. Let them know they are welcome without pressuring them.

  • Offer Practical Help — Grieving can be exhausting. Offering to help with holiday preparations, such as cooking, decorating, or shopping, can relieve some of their burdens.

  • Respect Their Space — If they need time alone, respect their need for solitude. Let them know you are available whenever they are ready.

Thoughtful Sympathy and Memorial Gifts

Exchanging gifts with someone who recently suffered a loss or managing the first holiday alone might require new ideas. Giving a thoughtful gift (or treating yourself to a memorial item that reminds you of someone special) is comforting. Consider these ideas:

  • Personalized Ornaments: An engraved memorial ornament with the loved one’s name or a special message can be a touching holiday keepsake.

  • Memory Books: A beautifully crafted memory book where they can compile photos, letters, and memories can be a therapeutic way to remember their loved one.

  • Keepsake Jewelry: Memorial jewelry, such as a locket with a photo of a loved one or a charm bracelet, can be a cherished memento.

  • Custom Candles: A memorial candle with a personalized message or the loved one’s favorite scent can provide a sense of closeness and peace.

Update on Swords into Plowshares Materials

The Swords Into Plowshares materials were field tested with the Anaheim Congregation last week, and we are awaiting course evaluations. We have added a new resource to the collection: a PDF of the PowerPoint presentation slides used during the course.

If you need the full PowerPoint file and videos, please contact Glenn Johnson at gjohnson@cofchrist-psi.org.

Nov. 22, 2024 Peace and Justice Series: Swords into Plowshares

“Swords into Plowshares” is the first installment in our Peace and Justice Issues Series from Pacific Southwest International Mission Center. The resource is designed to be used by congregations to shape discussion around important issues of peace and justice. Each issue in the series will explore a different peace and justice topic.  

Peace and Justice Minister Glenn Johnson, who is working towards a Master of Arts degree in Peace and Social Transformation from Community of Christ Seminary / Graceland University, is available to meet with congregations online or in person to lead discussions based on the resources. As additional resources are released, we will feature them here in the update. Feel free to contact Glenn at gjohnson@cofchrist-psi.org if you have any questions or would like to get Glenn on your schedule.

En Español

A medida que formulamos un programa de ministerios de paz y justicia para el centro de misiones, una serie de estrategias y enfoques están entrando en foco para nuestros esfuerzos de paz y justicia en el Centro Internacional de Misiones del Suroeste del Pacífico. Todos estos se basan en la vida y las enseñanzas de Jesucristo. La semana pasada, en la actualización, incluimos un enlace a un nuevo enfoque que llamamos la "Serie de Problemas de Paz y Justicia". Estos están diseñados como recursos congregacionales.

Los recursos incorporarán el Modelo de Concienciación, Defensa y Acción, que es un modelo común para las actividades de paz y justicia. Los pacificadores participan en la creación de conciencia, abogan por el cambio y toman medidas que conducen a un futuro más pacífico.

La serie se basa en una Fundación de Principios Duraderos. Los nueve principios duraderos de la Comunidad de Cristo guiarán nuestra exploración de cuestiones y decisiones para la programación de paz y justicia. Como recordatorio, los nueve principios duraderos son:

Gracia y generosidad.

Sacridad de la Creación.

Revelación continua.

Valor de todas las personas.

Todos están llamados.

Elecciones responsables.

Búsqueda de la paz (Shalom).

Unidad en Diversidad.

Y bendiciones de la comunidad.

También estamos prestando atención a las Seis Lentes para Entender la Voluntad de Dios introducidas por el Presidente Veazey hace varios años. Elegir las mejores vías y enfoques para el ministerio de paz y justicia implica discernir la voluntad de Dios para nuestro ministerio congregacional y las prioridades del centro de misión. Como recordatorio, las Seis Lentes para Descubrir la Voluntad de Dios son:

Razón y conocimiento.

Tradición.

Experiencia personal y comunitaria.

Revelación continua.

Escritura.

Y consentimiento común.

Debajo de este vídeo, proporcionamos un enlace. Recientemente lanzamos Swords into Plowshares como la primera entrega de nuestra serie Peace and Justice Issues. La serie está diseñada para proporcionar un breve documento de estudio que se puede utilizar para explorar e introducir cuestiones de paz y justicia en un entorno congregacional. A medida que construimos este recurso, también esperamos proporcionar una presentación de PowerPoint para acompañar el resumen del tema, así como una guía de estudio para adultos para el libro The Nonviolent God de J. Denny Weaver, así que mira la actualización para obtener recursos adicionales en el tema Swords Into Plowshares, así como nuevos temas que seguirán en la serie.

Invito al liderazgo congregacional a que se ponga en contacto conmigo para que pueda visitar su congregación en persona o a través de Zoom para ayudar a presentar estos recursos. Que seas continuamente bendecido en el nombre de Jesús, el pacífico. ¡Paz!

English Transcript

As we formulate a peace and justice ministries program for the mission center, a number of strategies and approaches are coming into focus for our peace and justice efforts in Pacific Southwest International Mission Center. All of these are founded in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Last week in the update, we included a link to a new approach we’re calling the “Peace and Justice Issues Series.” These are designed as congregational resources.

The resources will incorporate the Awareness, Advocacy, and Action Model, which is a common model for peace and justice activities. Peacemakers engage in awareness building, advocate for change, and take actions that lead to a more peaceful future.

The series is based on an Enduring Principles Foundation. The nine enduring principles of Community of Christ will guide our exploration of issues and decisions for peace and justice programming. As a reminder, the nine enduring principles are:

Grace and Generosity.

Sacredness of Creation.

Continuing Revelation.

Worth of All Persons.

All Are Called.

Responsible Choices.

Pursuit of Peace (Shalom).

Unity in Diversity.

and Blessings of Community.

We are also paying attention to the Six Lenses for Understanding God’s Will introduced by President Veazey several years ago. Choosing the best avenues and approaches for peace and justice ministry involves discernment of God’s will for our congregational ministry and mission center priorities. As a reminder, the Six Lenses for Discovering God’s Will are:

Reason and Knowledge.

Tradition.

Personal and Community Experience.

Continuing Revelation.

Scripture.

and Common Consent.

Below this video, we are providing a link. We recently released Swords into Plowshares as the first installment in our Peace and Justice Issues Series. The series is designed to provide a brief study document that can be used to explore and introduce peace and justice issues in a congregational setting. As we build out this resource, we also expect to provide a PowerPoint presentation to accompany the issue brief as well as an adult study guide for the book The Nonviolent God by J. Denny Weaver, so watch the update for additional resources in the Swords Into Plowshares topic as well as new topics that will follow in the series.

I invite congregational leadership to contact me so that I may visit your congregation in person or via Zoom to help introduce these resources. May you continually be blessed in the name of Jesus, the peaceful One. Peace!

ATTN: Young Adults: Join The Circle!

Calling all young adults and youth/young adult leaders!

Parker Johnson, PSI Communications Specialist has created a new online community for young adults called The Circle.

This space is intended to provide young adults- as well as leaders working with youth and young adults- with a “third space” to gather.

“Third space” is a sociological term and essentially refers to the social surroundings that are separate from the two usual social environments of home ("first place") and the workplace ("second place").

The Circle is intended to be a space for networking, socializing, theologizing, planning, collaborating, mentorship, and even asking if you can crash on someone’s couch while you’re on a road trip.

Community of Christ members are some of the kindest, most generous people many of us have ever met, and one of the most valuable aspects of membership/affiliation with the church is access to its passionate people.

A few housekeeping items to be completely transparent from Parker:

🆓 This space is 100% FREE.
🌳 The Circle is an initiative offered by Cottonwood Creative, a cross-border marketing agency I started in 2021. I use my agency’s resources to give back wherever I can to social impact organizations and my own denomination: Community of Christ.

If you'd like to join, just complete the form to get started!

Peace and Justice Series: Swords into Plowshares

“Swords into Plowshares” is the first installment in our Peace and Justice Issues Series from Pacific Southwest International Mission Center. The resource is designed to be used by congregations to shape discussion around important issues of peace and justice. Each issue in the series will explore a different peace and justice topic.  

Peace and Justice Minister Glenn Johnson, who is working towards a Master of Arts degree in Peace and Social Transformation from Community of Christ Seminary / Graceland University, is available to meet with congregations online or in person to lead discussions based on the resources. As additional resources are released, we will feature them here in the update. Feel free to contact Glenn at gjohnson@cofchrist-psi.org if you have any questions or would like to get Glenn on your schedule.

INPUT NEEDED: DRAFT Statement on Nonviolence

Draft Statement on Nonviolence

 

Since the 2019 World Conference, the church has explored nonviolence in response to WCR 1319, utilizing the alternative common-consent process.  At the 2023 World Conference, delegates addressed the question: Should the First Presidency continue to develop a statement on the role of nonviolence in the pursuit of “peace on and for the Earth” (Doctrine and Covenants 165:1d) and in the life and mission of the church?

Given the overwhelming support from delegates, the First Presidency has crafted a draft Statement on Nonviolence. The statement is presented to the church for feedback, with a deadline of 28 February 2025. 

Your input is important. Read statement here.

You are invited to provide feedback on the “Introduction,” “Statement on Nonviolence,” and “Further Context” sections. The survey is provided in English, French, and Spanish. Choose the language of your choice in the upper-right corner of the survey available here: https://forms.office.com/r/FQcZpPzchL

In March 2025, the First Presidency will review the feedback and update all three sections as necessary. The latest versions of the “Introduction,” “Statement on Nonviolence,” and “Further Context” will be distributed to the church by 1 May 2025.

The delegates of the 2025 World Conference will consider just the section titled, “Statement on Nonviolence” using elements of the alternative common-consent process. Plan to be part of this historic experience.

Online Doctrine and Covenants Available

As we approach Christmas, International Headquarters shares a special gift that will enrich our spiritual journey and deepen our connection to the scriptures.

An online searchable version of the Doctrine and Covenants is now available in English, French, and Spanish on CofChrist.org.

Although G-5 Universal Scripture Access was not approved at 2023 World Conference, the First Presidency supported the desire to provide greater access to our sacred scriptures. As a result, the Communications Team has been working since conference to bring this gift to life.

May this gift be a source of inspiration, reflection, and joy during the festive season and throughout the coming year.

Advent, Communion Video Messages Available

Community of Christ officials and others are featured in a diverse and inspiring new release of “Witness the Word” videos, available now on the Community of Christ YouTube channel and through Herald House.   

Three members of the Council of Twelve Apostles share sermons: “Creating Community” from Shandra Newcom; “Christ is Our Hope,” an Advent message from Catherine Mambwe; and “Come, Share the Table/Vengan, compartan la mesa,” a Communion message in Spanish from Angela Ramirez with English translation by Geri Silva.   

The new release also offers three Disciples’ Generous Response moments. Kees Compier shares a message regarding “The Gifts of Generosity,” Diane Maupin offers thoughts on “Growing Generous Disciples,” and Ken McClain provides a story of “Extravagant Generosity.”   

“Witness the Word” videos are available:  

  • On the Community of Christ YouTube channel “Witness the Word” sermon playlist.  

  • On the Community of Christ YouTube channel “Witness the Word” DGR playlist.  

  • As free digital video file sermon downloads on HeraldHouse.org.  

  • As a free digital video file DGR Moment downloads on HeraldHouse.org. 

  • Soon for sale on DVDs featuring both sermons and DGR moments on HeraldHouse.org.  

To read auto-translated captions in your language, hover your cursor near the bottom of the video frame, click on the Settings button (looks like a gear), click “Subtitles/CC” on the list that pops up, then “Auto-translate” and the language you want to read.

Reunion 2024 Theme Details Released

The Reunion 2024 theme is "Heal the Earth: A Restoration Imperative."

DESCRIPTION

In response to World Conference Resolution 1325 Climate Emergency adopted April 25, 2023, Community of Christ declared a climate emergency. Reunion 2024 is an opportunity for education, formation, and a call to action based on this World Conference Resolution. Through classes, worships, and additional invitations for reunion directors and planning teams, communities will be invited to explore the many intersecting issues of justice and peace that find root in the climate crisis. Created by members of the Community of Christ Earth Stewardship Team, Formation Ministries Team, and members of Climate Justice Teams around the global church, these materials invite us to find our place in the web of life with humility and urgency as we pursue God’s vision of shalom for all creation. The authors of these resources lean deep into the restoration tradition and the call to restore and heal as an imperative for climate action today.

DAILY THEMES

Day 1

The Earth, Lovingly Created - Area of Focus: Introduce the effects of carbon and provide scriptural, spiritual, and theological foundations for our response to the climate crisis.

Day 2

Immersed in Creation - Area of Focus: Protecting our oceans and sacred water sources while growing in awareness plastic pollution, particularly in the oceans.

Day 3

The Stewardship of God’s Goodness - Area of Focus: Noticing how our everyday choices, including what we choose to eat, can impact the planet. This will include a focus on food and methane, while making connections to Christian hospitality, sacrament, and an invitation to God’s table.

Day 4

Finding Our Place - How are people being impacted now by climate disruption? We will explore the connections between the environment, poverty, and racism.

Day 5

The Imperative to Act - While starting simple and small, we will consider concrete possibilities for urgent response while keeping faith in the ceaseless spirit of God’s goodness.

SCRIPTURE FOUNDATIONS