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CHRIST'S MISSION, OUR MISSION
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Gateway USA Mission Center Newsletter: 4th Quarter 2017
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| "Make Room for New Life": Community of Christ 2017 Christmas greeting |
On behalf of the Gateway Mission Center Presidency Team, we send forth our heartfelt Merry Christmas and Happy New Year greetings to all of you. May the Son of God given to us be Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace not only during this Christmas season but all through the year! May He dwell in your hearts, minds and homes. We pray that God will continue to shower His blessing on all the loved families of the Gateway Mission Center. Praying that we all be granted an abundant entrance into the blessed New Year 2018 to make Christ's Mission Our Mission.
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Online Temple School Courses
January 16-26
World Church Leader's Meetings Independence, MO
January 21
Independence, MO or
via webcast
March 9-11
Camp Woodland Hills
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Hydration: Unfinished
Grades 4-12
December 30 - January 1
Brush Creek Campgrounds
If you are in grades 4-12, plan on celebrating the New Year Brush Creek style at the 2017-2018 Hydration Retreat.
Yuletide will be held December 30, 2017 through January 1, 2018 at
Brush Creek Campground. Check in is 3:30 - 5:30 pm at the main room of the lodge. Camp is over at noon on January 1st.
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E-Learning Opportunities
Now Available!
Community of Christ has agreed to support e-learning for their Ministry and Priesthood Temple School training as another means for their members to gain Temple School credit for ordination.
Developmetrics, LLC has a relationship with International Headquarters to provide the entire content of the Ministry and Priesthood classes in this online format. A book is not needed for the online classes; everything is self-contained in this e-learning format. Most classes last 8 weeks and cover about 1-1.5 hours of reading/writing per week. Once you complete the class, Developmetrics will email you a Temple School certificate and enter your class completion information into the Shelby Membership records within a week!
2018 Online Class Schedule
Ministry of the Deacon (MP 302)
Ministry of the Teacher (MP 303)
April 7 - June 2
Introduction to Ministry (MP 300)
Youth and Children Worker Certification
June 16 - August 11
Ministry of the Priest ( 304)
Ministry of the Elder (MP 305)
Sept. 8 - Nov. 10
Ministry of the Disciple (MP 301)
Introduction to Scripture (SS 400)
Others being planned
Latter Day Seeker Ministry Training
Pastor Training
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World Church
Leader's Meetings
January 16-26
We invite you to hold our
world church leaders in your prayers.
Special Temple Worship
January 21, 2017
7 - 8:30 pm
"Just Jesus" is a special Temple worship. Matt Frizzell, Seminary Dean, and Stassi Cramm, Community of Christ First Presidency, will speak on Jesus as our revelation of God's justice and what it means for our mission to "Invite People to Christ." Performances by the Graceland University Choirs, led by Graceland's Sara Blessing. Organist is Jack Ergo. Join us in person or online at www.CofChrist.org/live-webcast.
This service is a partnership between Community of Christ Seminary at Graceland University and Community of Christ. A Reception will follow.
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Gateway Mission Center
Fall Conference 2017 Wrap-Up
Gateway Mission Center Leadership extends their gratitude for each of you that were in attendance, in person and in spirit, at our annual Mission Center Conference on November 11 at the Kirkwood Congregation. We shared in a full day of worship, sharing, table ministry, and business.
You can review the final approved Mission Center budget
here
. We thank you for your continued generosity in sharing Christ's mission throughout the Gateway Mission Center and the World!
Mark your calendar now for the next Fall Conference scheduled for Saturday, November 10, 2018 at the Columbia Congregation.
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World Church Financial Updates
On November 16, 2017 the Presiding Bishopric shared with us the November Financial update. Read the
Full Report
to hear the two items of good news along with the
Frequently Asked Questions
or watch the Summary
video
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Giving Tuesday Contributions continue to be received by World Church. This update was shared on 11/29/17...
Although Giving Tuesday is primarily a social media event that functions through electronic gifts, checks are welcome, too. Several designated for the campaign have arrived in the mail, putting the total received at $397,448. The campaign total in 2016 was $312,500.
Michele McGrath, director of finance, reported that the number of contributions through eTithing was three times what it was last year.
Thank you so much for your generosity! Your contributions make a difference in the lives of people in many nations. We especially thank the generous families who provided matching funds for our Giving Tuesday campaign.
Invitation shared on 12/11/17....
You Can Help Us Reach Our Year-End Worldwide Mission Tithes Goal
The holidays are busy with activity and celebration. We invite you to slow down, breathe, and reflect on God's blessings in 2017. As we review the year and look to 2018, we are grateful for the many mission experiences that were made possible by the generosity of the church. We are also mindful of the many opportunities that still exist to share Christ's mission and make a difference around the world.
May each of us prayerfully consider how our generosity can help make that possible. Making a contribution to Worldwide Mission Tithes is as simple as a few clicks through eTithing or by giving through Mission Tithes envelopes.Together, we can reach our $3.5 million goal for November and December and look expectantly to the future.
Want to receive these announcements, World Church Mission Stories, and News in your inbox? Sign-up
here
!
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Fall Highlights
Women's Retreat 2017
Nearly 50 women including 5 wonderful men, who came as our cooks, attended our recent most memorable annual Women's Retreat! We were most fortunate to have as our Guest Minister,
Apostle Linda Booth
, who brought a wonderful ministry! Read more.
Fall Youth Retreat 2017
Together, 19 youth and 11 staff discovered the importance of being a signal community and shining their lights bright! The retreat began with some typical "get-to-know-you" type icebreakers which led into the first learning session about reflecting Christ's peace.
Read more.
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Fulton Congregation
This past summer Fulton received $600 from Gateway's Mission Center
Missionary Grant Fund to build a "Blessing Box" for their community. The box is stocked with food and supplies for their community, who can access the box 24/7. The congregation is preparing fliers to share with neighbors about the "Blessing Box".
The congregation has involved the youth by engaging them in conversation about what items maybe important to keep in the box. The youth will also be keeping inventory and shopping for replacement supplies.
Members of the community will not only be encouraged to take what they need, but to also share of their surplus using the box with the slogan "Take What You, Give What You Can." Read article from Jefferson City News Tribune.
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Santa Shop
Bevier Congregation
Bevier Congregation and The Cinderella's Boutique hoste
d the 3rd annual Santa Shop using donations of new or slightly used toys. The Dollar General Store in Macon, MO provided some toys and a donation box for new toys. A Secret Santa's generous donation of $500 was spent on new toys and 12 hams given away in a drawing. Another generous soul donated 9 used bikes that he had completely overhauled. Parents and grandparents came and got toys for 88 children. Remaining toys will be donated to Bevier Elementary for gift exchanges in each class. Some of the extra toys may be donated to the local Foster Parent Program as well.
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Christmas Around the Mission Center
As your Community of Christ Gateway Mission Center congregation enjoys Advent & Christmas, we invite you to capture your memories in photos and share them with us! You can email them to us at [email protected]
Community of Christ also invites you to capture your memories in photos and share them with the Herald. Some photos may be featured in next year's magazine. To submit pictures, email them and a brief caption, event info, and photographer's name to [email protected]. Photos must be 1MB or larger.
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 Spring Family Retreat
Camp Woodland Hills
A Weekend Family Leisure Camp has been scheduled in March at Camp Woodland Hills. What would you like this camp to look like? Do you have thoughts or ideas for our young families, youth, or mature adults? Would you like to plan an inter-generational service, devotion, campfire, or recreational activity? If so, we would like to invite you to be a part of the planning committee! Contact Linda Andrae.
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Mission Center Contact Information
If you have a event, photos or information you would like shared with mission center, please send to LeAnn at
[email protected].
The following individuals may be reached through the Mission Center's phone system: (314)930-3680
Jamie Varvaro: x103
Matt Britt: x105
Amy Hoercher: x102
Gateway to Peace Museum: x110
Camp Woodland Hills Caretaker, Collin Barbour: x108
Gateway Mission Center Mailing Address:
PO Box 309
Villa Ridge, MO 63089
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