CHRIST'S MISSION, OUR MISSION
Gateway USA Mission Center Newsletter: 1st Quarter 2017
Date: March 18, 2017
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (lunch provided)
Location: Community of Christ Temple
Guest Ministry: Steve Veazey, Scott Murphy, Steve Graffeo, Michelle McGrath, Janné Grover, John Wight, Barbara Borkowski
Event Details: Please join us for a day of worship, vision, and encounter as we share together in our understanding of the vision and mission of the church today.

Encountering Mission events are being planned throughout the USA mission fields, and Central Mission Field has the unique opportunity of gathering for t his event at the Temple. There will be informational "Lunch and Learn" sessions, as well as opportunity for dialogue with the First Presidency, Presiding Bishopric, and field leaders. Online registration is active, and early registration is encouraged. This is a wonderful opportunity to energize disciples of all ages for mission, especially young adults! 



Upcoming Events

March 18
Encountering Mission
Central USA Field Event
Independence, MO

March 25
Gateway to Peace Museum
Informational Session
Bel Nor Congregation

March 25-26
Lock-In (Grades 1-6)
Twin Rivers Congregation

April 2
Spring Mission Center Conference
Bevier Congregation
Guest Minister: Janné Grover

April 7-9
Encountering God at Home: 
Family Spiritual Retreat
Independence, MO

April 22
Annual Women's Luncheon
Columbia, MO
Guest Minister: Jan Kraybill

The Peace Museum Needs You!
 
The Peace Museum is at a crossroads: our organization needs to decide if we will grow or devote ourselves to other projects. We need the community to help us decide! To move forward, we need devoted Board Members and volunteers that can give the Peace Museum their labor, time, and knowledge (specifically in the areas of k-5 education, curriculum development, peace programming, and the creative arts). If you are interested in helping us grow forward, please join us for an informational session on Saturday, March 25, 2017 at the Bel Nor Congregation located at 8324 Natural Bridge Rd. We will open for refreshments and conversation at 9:30 am, then begin our session at 10 am. Please RSVP to us at [email protected]. We hope to see you there! 
 
March 26-27, 2017
Twin Rivers Congregation

All children in grades 1-6 are invited to this FREE event. The Lock-IN will start with dinner at 6:00 pm.  Please plan to stay through the youth focused worship service on Sunday morning. More details of activities to come but we know getting this great group of kids together is going to be fun! A signed event release form is required at sign-in of event.

Questions? Email LeAnn Kitchen 
Mission Center Children's Minister
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April 22, 2017
Columbia Congregation
 
We are excited to tell you that Jan Kraybill, Community of Christ organist, has accepted an invitation to our Saturday luncheon on April 22, 2017 at 11:30 am. The luncheon will be held at the Community of Christ congregation in Columbia, Missouri. Jan is an amazing dynamo of talent and enthusiasm! She will not only bless us with her music but will teach us and lift our spirits through her ministry. 

Women's Retreat: October 27th - 29th
Guest Minister: Apostle Linda Booth

2017 Women's Ministry Coordinators:
Lana Gilbert & Patti Kome Howell

"We encourage our ladies in each congregation to plan simple gatherings for a meal or other activity to deepen your friendships where you can invite others to join you too." ~Patti
 
Encountering God at Home

A Spiritual Retreat for the Whole Family!
April 7-9, 2017
Independence, MO
 
The Spiritual Formation Center is hosting a family retreat to discover ways to practice spirituality in and with families of all kinds. Participants will explore household blessings, spiritual practices for children and youth, sacred rhythms for family life, and experience meaningful inter-generational worship and practice. All ages and people are invited to attend, whether you have children yourself or desire to learn more about nurturing the families you know and love. Childcare is included for children under age 3 in the registration fee for children. Pre-K and older are invited into their own time of retreat which will intersect throughout the weekend with the primary sessions and worships.

Registration Deadline: March 10, 2017
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Twin Rivers Congregation

February 7th and 28th
March 14th and 28th

Time: 6:30 pm

All skill levels are welcome.  
We play for fun!

Questions? 
Temple School Course Opportunity
The two courses below will be taught in February by John Williams at the Bel Nor Congregation.
 All are invited to join. If interested, email  [email protected]
Gateway Mission Center

During Fall Conference, a resolution was passed to fund a Mission Center Missionary Grant with the proceeds from the sale of the Imani Mission Center. The mission of Jesus Christ is what matters most for the journey ahead. (D&C 164:9f) Grants will be considered based on alignment with the 5 Holistic Mission Initiatives which are:
  • Invite People to Christ
  • Abolish Poverty, End Suffering
  • Pursue Peace on Earth
  • Develop Disciples to Serve
  • Experience Congregations in Mission
The grant application includes details on the application and selection process. 

Invitation, Hospitality, and Witness
by Linda Andrae, MC Invitational Support Minister

"There are many lives waiting to hear the redeeming words of the gospel, or to be lifted from hopelessness by the hands of loving servants. But they will be lost to you without the generous response of disciples who share from their own bounty that others may know the joys of the kingdom." -Doctrine and Covenants 162:7a

As disciples of Jesus Christ, when we read this scripture, what do we hear it saying to us individually and as congregations? As disciples of Jesus Christ, how do we respond to this scripture, individually and collectively?  Continue Reading

Congregational News
Stay in touch with our congregations around the Mission Center!










Dittmer Congregation

Amy Hoerchler, our Mission Center Finance Officer and member of the Mission Center Presidency Team, will be ordained to the office of Elder on February 26th at the Dittmer Congregation. 

Priesthood members holding the office of Elder particularly minister with congregations to build sacred community and engage in Christ's mission, promote community by serving as ministers of mission within and beyond the walls of the congregation, and create ministry partnerships with leaders within the church.

Boonville Congregation

On Wednesday nights, for well over a year, the Boonville Congregation has been coming together to watch Andy Stanley videos. Andy is the son of Charles Stanley and pastors a church in Atlanta. He has a very unique way of presenting the gospel. These videos have stretched the congregation to understand more fully our mission as followers of Jesus Christ.  His style is humorous (at times) and humbling.  They begin the evening with a simple shared meal where we all squeeze around one round table to catch up on one another's lives.

Fall Mission Center Conference Update

 

Gateway Mission Center Fall Conference was held on November 12, 2017 at the Fairview Congregations in Columbia, MO. At the conference, two resolutions were presented and passes. Information regarding these resolutions along with approved budgets, board members, and 2017 leadership can be found online at:

 

http://cofchrist-gateway.org/index.php/fall-2016-conference-information 
2017 Gateway Mission Center Reunio n
June 9 - June 15
   
Fully Awake and Ready to Respond
Directors: Allen & Janine Williston*
Guest Ministry: 

Daily Themes: Awaken to God's Invitation, Awaken to Spiritual Transformation, Awaken to Unfolding Mission, Awaken to Sacramental Living, and Awaken to Living Sanctuary
*Our directors are looking for help with worship planning, recreation, and a craft class teacher. Please contact them at [email protected] if you are able to volunteer.

Special offerings for Reunion will be held in congregations on February 12th and March 12th.
New Communications Associate
   
The Mission Center Presidency Team is excited to announce the addition of LeAnn Kitchen as Communications Associate to our Mission Center staff.  

LeAnn holds the priesthood office of Priest and is a member of the Cross Street congregation in Shiloh, IL. She has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from MS&T. LeAnn worked as a process engineer for Honeywell FM&T for five years, but has been blessed with the opportunity to be at home full-time with her family for the past eight years. She currently lives in Troy, IL with her husband Kris and three daughters: Kaylee, Megan, and Kendall. With encouragement from friends and family, LeAnn began directing Gateway Mission Center camps four years ago. She is also in her second year serving on the Mission Center Council in the role of Children's Minister. Grateful for the ministry provided by the church and the Gateway Mission Center, LeAnn is excited about the opportunity to improve communications with the hope to draw us closer together as a community.

 If you have a congregational or board event that you would like to share with others in the mission center, please provide LeAnn with all of the details, flyers, posters, etc., and she can help distribute the information. She can be reached at [email protected].

We look forward to the expansion of ministry that LeAnn will provide to Gateway.