Pastors and Communication contacts:  As mentioned before, I’ve set up an account for Church Updates for the Mission Center and have added a couple of news items (which I’ve already sent out previously) so you can see how it looks.

Please add yourself as a member, as shown under the Add Members paragraph below.  Please advise all of your members of this so they might be able to receive the information if they so choose.  Once all congregations are represented I’ll use Church Updates for all news and prayer requests. Each congregation can also add news and prayer requests, as shown in the first paragraph below.  I only ask that you keep your items reasonably brief and set their expiration dates at a reasonable length, as well.  You will automatically receive an email notification each week showing how many items you have not seen.  You can also log on at any time during the week and review the items.

Let me know if there are any questions.

Vern

Online Temple School Classes

Two “Ministry and Priesthood” Temple School classes will be available online for those finding it difficult to attend live events. Each elearning class lasts 6-weeks during which students proceed through readings, videos, and quizzes together. Students may access each week’s class 24-hours a day, 6-days a week (minus one day for grading) providing flexibility in class schedules. 

Please note the letter below (PDF) regarding an additional assignment for Keith.  He will continue to be the President of Seventy assigned to our Mission Center but will be spending a great deal of his time in Arizona after the first of the year.

Blessings,

Vern

Keith Communication to SE and SC Fields

Greetings, Pastors, CFO’s and Communications contacts:

Mission Center conference on Saturday, Nov. 11, at Shawnee congregation at 11:00 am.  Business meeting at 11, followed by pizza lunch.  We will have inter-generational  table activities after lunch.  I had previously advised that Craig Lenfestey would be our guest minister for the day.  I have been advised Craig will be leaving church employment in November and transitioning back to Maine, thus he will be unable to be with us.  While his last official day is December 22, he will be using accumulated vacation for December.

The November conference will be the last time to submit any proposed legislation for the 2019 World Conference, as the deadline for submission of legislative items is before our next fall  conference.

Church Updates is a church communication tool developed by church members in Independence.  Bountiful Mission Center uses it as does the Grove City congregation.  This is a free program, allowing communications in four categories – News, Pray, Serve and Give – for the information of all who have signed up for it.  I’ve been subscribed to the Bountiful program for two years or so and I can keep up with their prayer requests, activities in congregations and MC and service needs.

I’m wondering if this would be a good addition for Western Ohio. Each congregation could add their own activities,prayer requests, etc., to the site and it would go to all who have signed on for it.  I get an email every Thursday advising of how many new items are available or, in the case of today,advising there are no updates from last week. While it wouldn’t eliminate the emails I send out, it would reduce them quite  a bit.

If you would like to take a look at it, go to churchupdates.org and check it out.  Let me know what you think.

Blessings,

Vern

We have hired Doug Altman as our next campground manager. He will start  January 1.  Work is still continuing on the manager’s residence so we don’t know for sure when they will be able to move.  While we are paying Doug a small stipend until they sell their house, he is essentially a volunteer manager.

We’re having a week long welcoming party for Doug & Connie January 6-12.  Please bring food, tools and bedding and help work on repairing the water damage in the sleeping rooms behind the kitchen, the kitchen itself and the drain and floor in the dishroom.  (I know this sounds like a work week, which it is, but it sounds more impressive to call it a welcoming party!!)

Blessings,

Vern

Greetings, Pastors and Communications contacts:

I’m forwarding an email which has already been sent to the CFO’s, but wanted to be sure it is in the hands of as many as possible,as it contains some specific information and ways each congregation can help with the current tithing issues we’re having.
As I mentioned at our recent meeting, and will discuss again at our next meeting at Shawnee on Oct. 15, I am proposing that the mission center donate $10K this year from our AIP fund, then $10K per year for the years 2018-2020, also from the same fund.
I invite all of you to review your current financial situation and see what you might be able to contribute,as well.

Blessings,

Vern

The First Presidency was asked by the World Conference of 2013 to study and provide a policy regarding use of intoxicants.  This has been completed and will be published in the September/October issue of the Herald.  It will also be posted on the church website at www.cofchrist.org/official-announcements

Keith McMillan (President of Seventy) asks for prayers for his sister, Frankie Wall, and brother-in-law, Steve Wall and family:

Last Sunday after church in which his daughter was ordained an Elder and I spoke, we started noticing some symptoms in my brother-in-law Steve that resembled a stroke. He had written the ordination prayer for his daughter Jennifer because he was worried about remembering it. We took him to KU Medical Center for tests right after church. After many tests, he has been diagnosed with Cushfeld-Jakob disease, a rare brain disease that affects only 300 per year. It is not treatable and is incurable. He is quickly losing the ability to talk and have motor functions. He is aware of the prognosis of 3-6 months to live and is struggling as is my sister Frankie and family. We just pray that he feels the love of his community around the world. They are members of the Olathe Community of Christ. Steve sang in the Messiah choir for over 30 years. He is only 66 years old. We are asking for prayers for Steve, his wife Frankie and their kids Jennifer and Steve Jr. as well as their 4 grandkids who had just seen their grandpa healthy and happy and now this.

Keith:  kmcmillan@CofChrist.org