NewsNuggets – Page 89 – Rocky Mountain Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

17 Jun

WYOMING CAMP MEETING RETURNS TO MILLS SPRING RANCH

By Jon Roberts – Casper, Wyoming … Adventure awaits at Mills Spring Ranch, July 13–18, during the Wyoming camp meeting.

The five-day gathering will not only refresh and reenergize your soul; it will also provide fellowship, new friends, and plenty of time to explore the natural beauty of Wyoming.

The event theme “Fearless” will include feature presentations by Tom Lemon, vice president of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and former president of the Mid-America Union Conference. The gathering will also have daily seminars on men’s ministry, sharing ministry, and stewardship.

The afternoon is available to explore Mills Spring Ranch and the wide-open spaces of Wyoming’s nature. Suggested activities include fly fishing, photography, hiking, and rock climbing. Dr. Scott Grivas from A Pattern Lifestyle Center will also be providing afternoon seminars on health.

Ensuring that the physical body doesn’t go without nourishment, chefs Debbie and Dennis Pumford return to provide attendees with culinary masterpieces.

Sabbath will be a day of togetherness beginning with a Sabbath School discussion led by Wyoming pastors followed by Lemon providing a thoughtful message. Later in the day, attendees can enjoy a concert that will be sure to satisfy the soul.

Go ahead and request time off from work, pack your bags, and take a road trip this summer to Mills Spring Ranch to enjoy what has been missed in the Zoom world from which we have finally emerged–togetherness with human interactions and nature.

To register for camp meeting please click here https://static1.squarespace.com/…/WYCampMeetingReg.pdf or email wycampmeeting@yahoo.com

–Jon Roberts is RMC communication / media assistant; photo by Rajmund Dabrowski

17 Jun

Opinion: In Defense of “Normal” Worship

By Nicholas Zork … Throughout much of the pandemic, I have bristled at the frequents mentions of getting “back to normal.” COVID-19 further revealed profound, longstanding societal issues in North America and around the world.

The pandemic did not create a world in which access to health care, food security, job security, and more were so unevenly distributed. But the crisis was revelatory for many of us. It brought underlying inequities, racial injustices, and social tensions into undeniably sharp relief. And if a return to “normal” means our vision becomes once again unfocused enough to ignore what we’ve seen and continue embracing the status quo, then “normal” should be avoided at all costs. We need a bold vision of a new world and not blurry nostalgia for an unjust past to propel us forward.

And yet when I think about what kind of world, church, and worship practices I intend to help cultivate as we emerge out of the pandemic, I find myself realizing just how important some “normal” aspects of life truly are. What I’ve missed most over much of the past year were not the extraordinary, novel—and, in that sense, abnormal—dimensions of worship. It was the regular stuff that became most palpably absent over time. As my congregation prepares for a return to in-person worship, I’ve immensely enjoyed the sound of the church’s most experienced singers once again singing in harmony. I’ve appreciated incredible speakers who’ve been able to join us online from wherever they were located. And I haven’t taken for granted my church’s unusually large paid team of audio engineers, videographers, musicians, and platform developers, who make our hybrid in-person and online worship practices possible.

But what I’ve most missed are things that those resources can neither create nor replace: the varied sound of “ordinary” vocalists singing in the pews and in our no-audition-required choir, the after-worship embrace of a friend I haven’t seen in ages, serendipitous encounters with a worship guest from out of town who knows one of my family members (a very normal occurrence for Adventists). I miss trying to talk my young children into eating an amazing entree at the fellowship meal, eventually giving up and eating it myself, and just being glad they get to play with their friends while I talk with mine. Jesus left us with few clearer worship instructions than the importance of eating together. And sadly, a “normal” large shared meal will likely be the last aspect of the worship experience to be recovered.

I have come to more fully recognize that worship—in its most essential form—is not actually an extraordinary event at all. Rather, worship is a transfiguration of the ordinary that helps us more fully appreciate God and our community, rehearses ordinary life as a liturgy of love, and gives us new eyes to see how God is always present to us and how we can be more present to one another.

So as we continue to determine what the “new normal” of our worship practices will be, may we take time to appreciate the normal, ordinary things that will increasingly be available to us: human contact, conversation, and food. And may we ask not merely what new practices we can create but, more importantly, how we can make what we already have more accessible, inclusive, and equitable. Ordinary life is a miracle too splendid not to be shared. We are all guests at God’s table; and there is room for everyone. May we live into that new normal together.

–Nicholas Zork is the editor of Best Practices for Adventist Worship, an email newsletter published by the North American Division and minister for worship and the arts at Church of the Advent Hope in Manhattan; photo by iStock

This article was originally published on the NAD Ministerial Association website

16 Jun

GVR READY TO WELCOME BACK SMILES, HUGS, AND LAUGHTER

RMCNews with John Boone — Ward, Colorado … After a lonely, quiet summer in 2020, Glacier View Ranch is ready to once again welcome the laughter, smiles, and adventure that summer camp brings.

The GVR staff began arriving on June 9 and has been busy preparing the camp to welcome youth and young adults to the site.

The staff is glad to be back at GVR and to enjoy the picturesque setting.

Last year, even though there was no camp, a small group of dedicated workers were able to complete several upgrades and new attractions.

A brand-new corral and Shredders’ pump track, an adventurous mountain bike track, were put in and awaits camper exploration this summer. Among these new attractions, the campers will enjoy a remodel of the camp store and aquatics locker rooms.

Nathaniel Sanchez, GVR mountain bike director, is expectant as he waits for the campers to try out the new track. “The pump track is going to be a really cool vessel to connect with campers in different ways!” he comments.

Very soon, the campfire worship, nature exploration, and youth hugging old friends and making new friends will fill the grounds.

The summer camp season begins Sunday, June 20, with Explorer camp. The good news is that spots are still available for future weeks. To reserve a spot or be placed on a waiting list, please visit www.rmcyouth.org/camp

— RMCNews with John Boone, GVR’s camp PR and marketing intern; photo supplied

15 Jun

How to Boost Kids’ Mental Health Through Food and Activity Choices

By AdventHealth –The benefits of healthy nutrition and exercise reach far beyond physical appearance, especially when it comes to kids. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), children who exercise regularly and eat healthfully are likely to:

Feel good about themselves, their bodies and their abilities
Cope with stress in a healthy way
Regulate their emotions better
Have improved self-esteem

Eating healthy foods and maintaining regular physical activity can also help prevent chronic illnesses that could come later in life, like obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure, while protecting against common childhood illnesses.

Of course, it can be very challenging as a parent to find ways to incorporate healthy foods into your kids’ lunches and make sure they’re exercising, especially if they’re in school for most of the day.

We want to help find ways for families to make the healthy choice a little easier in this busy world. Here are ways to positively impact your child’s mental health through small diet and exercise changes.

Meal Plan as a Family

Before you head to the grocery store, take a few minutes each week to sit down with your family and brainstorm some healthy meals.

Start With the Familiar

In this brainstorm, your kids may put in a pitch for the familiar, like mac and cheese or pizza, but starting with meals like these can actually be helpful. When you’re introducing kids to new foods, it’s best to take it slowly by taking something they already like and tweaking it to make it healthier.

Whole-wheat macaroni or thin-crust pizza (bonus for replacing the crust with cauliflower) are small steps on the path to healthier eating. Also, when kids help pick the meals, they’re more likely to try new foods, even the healthier ones.

Prepare Food Together

If kids are getting involved in planning and buying food, it only makes sense for them to start learning about how it actually gets made. Cooking also provides opportunities to show children how food is grown. Starting a garden or even growing a small herb in a pot to put in a dish can spark a child’s interest.

Think About Habits, Not Diets

Ultimately, the goal is to make healthy nutrition a habit, like brushing your teeth. There’s no one path that works to get there.

AdventHealth for Children Dietitian Christopher Schnell explains, “A growing amount of evidence is showing a link between eating pattern and mental health or mood. Eating patterns that are similar to a Mediterranean diet may have positive effects towards mood and stress related disorders. Daily intake of a variety of foods including legumes, fruits, vegetables, fish, whole grains, nuts and seeds should be included.”

In general, shop for these foods:

Fruit
Healthy protein
Low-fat dairy
Vegetables
Whole grains

And try to stay away from:

Butter, potatoes and high-fat gravy
High-fat dairy products
Processed foods
Red and/or processed meat
Refined grains (non-whole grains that are missing one or more key parts of the grain, like white flour and white rice)
Sweets and desserts

It’s not as if these foods are, by themselves, harmful. But a diet centered around them can be, so try to help your children adopt healthy habits early on.

Get Outside

When you and the kids have free time, take a quick walk or bicycle ride around your yard or neighborhood. Instead of filling time with a television show or video game, encourage physical activity.

If you have swings, a trampoline or playground equipment, let your children play and use up some energy. Or, invest in some inexpensive equipment, such as hula hoops, exercise balls, a Frisbee or jump ropes.

Schedule Longer Exercise Sessions

In addition to short breaks, try to schedule a longer activity break in your family’s daily routine, perhaps after their school day is done. Each family member should aim for at least 60 minutes of activity every day. Keep in mind, you can break this time up into smaller segments.

Here are some ideas for keeping your kids active for longer stretches:

Set Up a Schedule for Chores

Vacuuming, dusting, cleaning the kitchen and bathrooms, mowing the lawn and taking out the trash are all ways to keep kids busy. Schedule age-appropriate chores for each member of your family at least once a week. Not only will you keep your kids active, but you’ll enjoy a clean house as well.

Practice Sports

If you have athletes in your family — or your kids play a sport as a hobby — encourage them to practice drills, such as running or lifting weights.

Watch Your Words

Talking about weight and healthy eating can be a minefield. Thinking ahead of time about the words you’ll use can mean the difference between an optimistic discussion about achieving health and a negatively focused talk about weight. The words you use now will matter a lot to your child’s mental health now and in the future.

Here are three words it’s best to find replacements for:

Weight: In general, it’s best to talk about eating in terms of health, not weight. Weight can add negative emotions like shame, which can make kids and teens retreat into unhealthy habits.
Diet: When nutritionists and doctors talk about a diet, they usually mean the kinds of foods a person usually eats. But many people talk about diets in terms of foods to avoid to lose weight or help treat or avoid certain diseases. These sorts of restrictive diets are difficult to maintain over time. It’s better to talk about the health goals children should aim for.
Restriction: Children respond better to positive reinforcement than rules about what they “can’t” eat. If you substitute unhealthy foods with healthier options — like fruit-infused water instead of soda — the “can’t” foods will slowly get phased out naturally.

For more tips to help support your child’s mental health, click here. For more information or to schedule an appointment with our weight and wellness team, visit AdventHealth for Children: Weight and Wellness.

–photo supplied

This article was originally published on AdventHealth’s website

10 Jun

SADDLE UP FOR COWBOY CAMP MEETING

By RMCNews – Montrose, Colorado … Buckaroos! Cowboy camp meeting returns to the Uncompaghre National Forest near Silver Jack Reservoir, an hour outside of Montrose, Colorado, July 7 through 11, featuring a chance to reconnect with God while enjoying the mountains with family and friends.

Whether you arrive by horse, four-wheeler, or RV, you will instantly feel at peace in the surreal beauty that awaits and, yes, you will be unplugged from the world as the campground is located near the end of an hour-long drive on a well-maintained gravel road with no cell phone service or internet to distract you.

Refresh and reconnect with God as you enjoy seminars throughout the event featuring Dick Duerksen, Oregon Conference storycatcher and storyteller; and Nathan James, pastor of the Moab, Utah church. Music for the gathering will be provided by Folk Mountain Gospel featuring Don and Donna Mohl.

Items to pack for the adventure include: housing (tent or camper and bedding); solar showers (no shower facilities exist at this campground, but porta potties will be available); drinking water (the nearest potable water is three miles away; food (personal meals for the week and something to share for potluck on Sabbath; camp chairs (everyone provides their own seating during tent meetings); appropriate attire (warm jackets/clothes for cool evenings and sun screen for warm, high-mountain days; it is not unusual to have rain); outdoor recreation Items (horses, ATVs, hiking boots, fishing gear, canoes, etc.

If you are bringing horses, keep in mind that you must provide a way to confine your animals, feed must be certified weed-free, and there is a creek and reservoir for water.

Also be prepared for high altitude as the campground is above 9000 feet.

Interested in more information please contact camp meeting coordinator Adam Smith by email greeleyfrontiersman@gmail.com or visit https://cowboycampmeeting.org/

Saddle on up and enjoy a trip in time to an era where cowboys and cowgirls ruled the land. Just remember when you arrive to greet each other with “Howdy, partner” and tip your hat.

–RMCNews; photos by Rajmund Dabrowski and Ed Barnett

10 Jun

FRANKTOWN YOUTH EXPLORE MOAB AND THE UTAH WILDERNESS

By RMCNews with Michael Luchak – Moab, Utah … Franktown church youth recently spent a weekend in the wilderness to reconnect with their Creator God and enjoy fellowship with each other.

According to Michael Luchak, associate pastor at Franktown, the trip was planned as part of the culture the church is aiming to create for their congregation. “At Franktown, we are trying to create a culture where fun, community, and spiritual growth can come together. I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my weekend than rafting, rock climbing, and off roading with my youth group.”

After planning for their overnight trip to Moab which included rafting the river on Sabbath, they set off on their adventure, off-road vehicles filled with excited youth.

The group assembled under the stars for Friday worship with David Asscherick, pastor of Castle Rock church, before retiring to their tents and sleeping bags to enjoy an evening out in the middle of nowhere.

Sabbath morning found the youth rising early to make the rafting trek down the Colorado River to find a secluded peaceful spot to rest and spend time in God’s Word. For the worship service one of the rafting guides used stories to illustrate ways God communicates with us. The favorite transportation mode down the river was a ten-person paddle board.

After spending the day on the Colorado River, it was time to explore the rocks and mountains by rock climbing and off roading. As the sun began to set on their adventure-filled weekend, the happily exhausted youth were filled with memories of an exciting trip.

“Our physical and spiritual strength were renewed,” Luchak added.

— RMCNews with Michael Luchak who is the associate pastor of Franktown chgurch; photos by Jamey Houghton

09 Jun

MHA BASEBALL EVENINGS STRIKE UP COMRADERY

By MHANews – Highlands Ranch, Colorado … The Mile High Academy sports fields came alive June 7 when third through fifth graders were joined by families and friends, to enjoy an evening of the national pastime, baseball.

The evening activities involved dads and moms helping coach students though drills while other parents watched and enjoyed the fellowship.

Among the parents enjoying the evening was Dana Tikker who originated the pick-up games, and who commented on the gathering, “Monday evening was a great kick off to the summer. I really enjoyed being outside with the kids playing baseball and catching up with the families and am looking forward to more time together.”

The kids were divided into groups to work through a series of catching, hitting and base-running drills.

The gathering was made sweeter by ice cream treats distributed by MHA teachers, Denae Yuros, Sherri Francis and Taryn Clark.

It was a win for all who gathered to enjoy the interactions between classmates, friends, and families, an enjoyable event in a year where nothing has seemed normal in any aspect of life.

The third through fifth-grade baseball pickup games will continue through August 9 every Monday evening beginning at 6:30 p.m. at MHA.

–MHANews; photos supplied

08 Jun

LITTLETON CHURCH KICKS OFF YOUTH-FILLED SUMMER

By Jon Roberts – Littleton, Colorado … The RMC priority of engaging youth and young adults is more than just a catch phrase at Littleton church; it is a way of life for the multi-generational congregation.

With more than 60% percent of the church family budget going to support Mile High Academy, the church is actively involved in engaging youth and young adults during the school year.

For Alise Weber, children’s and families pastor at Littleton, the summer filled with youth events, was the only choice. “With the world opening back up, there are youth and young adults that we are seeing at church once again. I feel like this summer is a unique opportunity to re-engage, reinvest, and recommit to this special group. For those that haven’t been able to attend church services or special events, we want to let them know that they have been missed and we are here for them.”

The first gathering of the summer occurred on June 4–less than two weeks from when school let out–with a Friday Vespers at Chatfield Lake where High schoolers enjoyed an evening of swimming, water sports, food, fellowship, and worship. The weekend wouldn’t be complete without an event for the Middle schoolers, who on Sunday evening enjoyed an evening of bowling competing against Chris Morris, Littleton’s associate pastor, at Bowlero in Lone Tree.

The gatherings over the weekend were attended by individuals who don’t normally attend church events when they are offered or who are not actively involved with their schools.

The rest of the summer includes baptismal classes beginning on June 9, Vacation Bible School planned for early August, vespers throughout the summer on various weekends, and many more events.

The church is also planning an event for the entire multi-generational family, a night of joy on June 12, which will not only be a chance to fellowship with games and root beer floats, but also enjoy Hebrew dancing, and the evening will conclude with a movie to finish the current sermon series on Joseph.

Rajmund Dabrowski, RMC communication director, appreciated hearing about churches in the Conference leaving zooming events behind. He remarked that “it is great to see churches recognize what has been lost over the past year, the human interactions, hugging, hand shaking, smiling without masks. This is vital to the existence of the church. It seems we have zoomed ourselves to near death.”

Littleton congregation continues a vision of building a healthy multi-generational church while engaging youth and young adults in the church family and supporting Adventist education.

–Jon Roberts is RMC communication/media assistant; photo supplied

08 Jun

COLORADO NORTHEASTERN CAMP MEETING FOCUSES ON HOPE

RMCNews … Loveland, Colorado – A refresher on the meaning of hope was the main feature of Colorado’s Northeastern 2021 Camp Meeting, June 5-6. Karl Haffner, Vice President for Student Experience at Loma Linda University, was the speaker and the “author of a bunch of good books,” as the event’s program describes.

Haffner parsed the weekend’s theme of “We Have This Hope,” intro three topics dealing with the seasons of salvation, Scripture, which allows us to encounter the living God, and a chief topic of Adventism’s mission, the Second Coming of Christ.

Haffner is known for telling stories. “He told us stories which touch the heart,” commented Ed Barnett, Rocky Mountain Conference president for whom attending the 2021 series of camp meetings will likely be his last as he is retiring in August after seven years of leadership ministry in Colorado, Wyoming, and New Mexico. He will take with him memories of “meeting fellow believers from 17 congregations again and again and seeing how they have been soaking in the Word. It was exciting time to see everybody,” he said.

For Haffner, being invited to this meeting was “nourishing for one’s soul, not only in coming to Colorado, but also coming to a camp meeting he has not attended in two years,” he remarked. Known for inspiring stories he told NewsNuggets that “there are not enough good stories, and I run out [of them] all the time.” The Sabbath morning sermon featured Scripture with Haffner illustrating his spiritual journey from four different family Bibles–his grandmother’s, father’s, his daughter’s, and his own. “The pages are worn out as they were so often read and studied,” he said. “Read your Bible daily,” he admonished the congregation.

The 2021 Camp Meeting weekend was attended by a somewhat smaller group of church members as the one before the the pandemic hit the world. But you could see smiling faces, people enjoying meeting their friends whom they have missed seeing and hugging for nearly two years.

“I enjoyed Haffner’s messages, especially the one on the Bible. It was powerful and inspiring,” said Don Lopes, pastor of the Northeastern district. He added that “it was so good to be together. We will continue to build up [the event] again next year.”

A similar thought was expressed by Mickey Mallory, RMC ministerial director. “It was great being back together again,” he commented “I am glad the area pastors didn’t give up on making this happen. It definitely was a tremendous blessing for all those who were able to attend.”

With good church music, inspiring messages, meeting friends, the NE Camp Meeting is back!

–RMCNews; photos by Joyelle Worley

07 Jun

Connect Your Church to the Community for Effective Ministry

By Jerome Hurst — Collaboration is not just a buzzword these days. It is a necessity for successful ministry in today’s world. We live in a world with many challenges, a world in which everyone is looking to see how the church will respond. The truth is, community problems and issues are far too complex for any church, agency, or organization to tackle. It is imperative that the church partner with others in bringing solutions to the issues faced in the communities we serve. “Collaboration is the key that reduces the duplication of our efforts, maximizes the impact of our ministries, and strengthens the credibility of our witness for Christ.”1

The challenge, of course, is not that people are opposed to partnership in principle. Few people we have ever met would say that Christians should not work together. The messages of the Scriptures in support of practical collaboration are clear. Following is just a few:

First Corinthians 12:12, 13: “For example, the body is one unit and yet has many parts. As all the parts form one body, so it is with Christ. By one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Whether we are Jewish or Greek, slave or free, God gave all of us one Spirit to drink” (GW).

Proverbs 27:17: “As one piece of iron sharpens another, so friends keep each other sharp” (ERV).

Hebrews 10:24, 25: “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (ESV).

Ecclesiastes 4:9: “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil” (ESV).

The real challenge is the gap between the stated values and the actual practice of Christian organizations. Unfortunately, many believe that interaction betrays their own biblical distinctiveness. I regret that more than a few of my fellow Seventh-day Adventists fall into that exclusivist mindset.

Invariably, [we] quote Ellen G. White in holding [ourselves] aloof from fellowship with the larger Christian community. It’s true that Ellen White initially was a separatist who shared the “shut door” mentality of ex-Millerite Sabbatarians. But as she matured in her theology over the years, she extended herself into connectivity with the wider Christian community.

For example, in the 1880s, Ellen White joined forces with the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, a group of Protestant prohibitionists. She spoke at their rallies and even recommended that some of our best Adventist talent should work for that organization.2

She gave this additional counsel: “The Lord has His representatives in all the churches.”3 “We should unite with other people just as far as we can and not sacrifice principle.”4

“It should ever be manifest that we are reformers, but not bigots. When our laborers enter a new field, they should seek to become acquainted with the pastors of the several churches in the place. Much has been lost by neglecting to do this. If our ministers show themselves friendly and sociable . . . , it will have an excellent effect, and may give these pastors and their congregations favorable impressions of the truth.”5

“Light has been given to me that there are those with most precious talents and capabilities in the Women’s Christian Temperance Union [W.C.T.U.]. Much time and money have been absorbed among us in ways that bring no returns. Instead of this, some of our best talent should be set at work for the W.C.T.U., not as evangelists, but as those who fully appreciate the good that has been done by this body. We should seek to gain the confidence of the workers in the W.C.T.U. by harmonizing with them as far as possible.”6

I believe that the main reason we have experienced this gap between stated values and actual practice is that most Christian leaders simply do not have the hands-on skills to collaborate. In the remainder of this chapter, I will share, from my personal experience, some tools and techniques that I have used.

Before meeting with those outside our organization, there must be an understanding of self by both the leader and the church. Each leader must confirm God’s calling upon his or her life and on the ministry of the church. In order to reach our community, we, as leaders and church, must love the community. We can never reach a community that we do not love. We will never reach people whom we are unwilling to love. We must see those in the community as people whom God loves, and whom Jesus died for, not merely as potential members of our church.

Find your community’s needs

After looking at the leader and the church, consider the needs of your city and community. Some needs in your city might be obvious, such as a newspaper headline that shouts, “Local Stabbing Connected to City’s Gang Growth.” Some needs in your community may only be a whisper, such as staggering numbers of infant mortality or children suffering from lead paint poisoning. In order to connect with the community, the church members must know the community you want to help and the people groups you need to serve.

You can find information about your community by reviewing the statistical data available at the official US Census website, factfinder.census.gov. This website is filled with various levels of reports. You will find more than population data. There is information about social, economic, and housing characteristics. You can also discover data about how many people are out of work due to disability, how many are divorced, or how many people live below the poverty level, and much more. This information will assist you in the development of your outreach ministry.

Beyond the statistical data, I recommend you speak with individuals who live in the community. Be intentional about taking the time to get to know and understand the community and the people whom you are called to reach. There are simple ways to do this:

• Porch talks. Go house to house in the community and talk with the residents. You can use a survey to direct the conversation.

• Block associations or street clubs. Some communities have groups of people that meet regularly to discuss issues and solutions that pertain specifically to their locale. A representative from the church should hold membership and attend those meetings, and the church could host meetings.

• Community hot spots. Go to the places where people from the community hang out, such as barber and beauty shops, coffee shops, parks, fast-food restaurants, or diners. Just start hanging out with the people and get to know them.

–Jerome Hurst is the senior pastor of the Ethnan Temple Seventh-day Adventist Church in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, and the Community Service and Public Affairs and Religious Liberties director for the Allegheny West Conference; photo supplied.

This article is an excerpt from the newly available book Multiply.

This article was originally published on the NAD Ministerial website.

NewsNuggets Page 89