March 10, 2006

connecting the Community of Christ Mission Support Ministries community

Redesign News

The World Church Leadership Council will be reviewing updated recommendations for the new Mission Support Ministries design on March 15. Given the high degree of interest in this important process, there will be an all-staff meeting held on March 16 at 3:30 p.m. in the Continents Room.

Although the final organizational design is not yet complete, the purpose of this meeting will be to receive and discuss updated information regarding the general design, what is being hoped for, where we are in the process, and what the “next steps” will be.

It will be broadcast live via webstreaming for all who are able to view it. Watch your e-mail next Wednesday, March 15, for instructions about logging into Thursday’s meeting.

Normally it is the intention of headquarters to make every effort to translate materials. However, this particular webcast will not be translated. This information is regarding staffing and organizational design with positions in the state of Missouri.

A pastoral support/listening group for staff assistants will be held on Tuesday, March 21 at 3:30 p.m. Location will be announced. At the request of some potential participants, we have limited this group to those with like responsibilities, and at their request will have Charlie Browne of staff pastoral services lead the group. This group will allow for expression of needs, concerns, questions, etc.

Groups for staff executives and for coordinators are being considered and will be held if there is sufficient interest. If field persons would like to be included via a phone network, please notify Rich Kohlman.

Worship Ministries is in need of a volunteer to provide backup on the weekends for the Daily Prayer for Peace services at 12:30 p.m. This would involve having a name and phone number listed as an emergency contact on the Saturday and Sunday services. When a coordinator or reader has an emergency and can’t fulfill their assignment, this person would be contacted to pinch-hit. This volunteer needs to be in fairly close proximity to the Temple. If you or someone you know might be available to serve in this capacity, contact Jane Gardner in Worship Ministries or at extension 1426.

Thursday, March 9, President Veazey’s letter was received by e-mail, and NewsPEACE would like to reprint that here for your convenience and information.

Earlier this week headquarters staff was introduced to three new WorldService Corps volunteers. They will be here in Independence through April before traveling on to share at the Joseph Smith Historic Site in Nauvoo, Illinois. Elena will then return to Russia, and Sally and Paulina will continue their experience at the Kirtland Temple, Kirtland, Ohio.

Elena Bezgina is 24 years old and from Voronezh, Russia. She is married to Sergei. She and her husband were baptized in 2003 by Stanislav Gladish...(read more)

 

 

Paulina Joe is from Fiji and has been a member of the Community of Christ since she was eight years old when her entire family was baptized. She serves in the office of priest. (read more)

 

 

 

“My name is Sally Norton and I am from Wales in the United Kingdom. I am 18 years old. I live with my Mum and Dad, Sue and Paul, at Dunfield, the church grounds in the UK. (read more)

Q. I’ve heard that Herald House will no longer exist in the new organizational design. Is that true?

A. The functions that have been accomplished by the stand-alone entity known as Herald House are being integrated into the new Mission Support Ministries redesign. Herald House, as a publishing house and as a brand name, is an important part of our identity and helps move us into the future. It is as important as ever that we have a need to get information, material, and resources into the hands of our members around the globe. Herald House is the name that our members recognize and turn to for this support. So as functions become integrated, Herald House will continue to exist to support the mission, identity, and to share the message around the world.

The second quarterly issue of the international Herald was released in March. The first issue went out in December 2005. This is a quarterly publication and the first issue was translated into 14 languages. The international Herald is low-tech and portable. There are four articles from three previous Heralds. This eight-page publication has been translated into 17 languages. Subscriptions have risen from about 3,000 copies to over 4,000 in the current issue.

Have you taken a few minutes to read through the offertory helps provided each Sunday? These are available on the Web site at www.CofChrist.org/offertory. Each Sunday’s helps provide a wonderful testimony of generous disciples and their efforts to make a difference in this world. The second Sunday helps for each month provide an update regarding World Ministries Mission Tithes contributions. March offertory stories are from the Michigan USA mission field and coincide with the Sharing Your Witness and Resources pages in the March Herald. April shares testimonies from the Southern USA mission field. Sandra Ferguson would like to hear feedback regarding these offertory helps.

Last Friday a new Ricoh 3025SP copier was delivered and installed on-site for preliminary testing and evaluation. Today, March 10, key operators of this new multi-functional equipment will receive training, and on Tuesday, March 14, Phase One of the Ricoh multifunction systems will be delivered and installed in Fiscal Services, Worship Ministries, Peace and Justice Ministries, the Council of Twelve, First Presidency, Presiding Bishopric, Temple School, and the International Field Support Office. Brief copier training for users will take place after set-up. Each of these offices will receive additional training next week. The next phase is being prepared for other offices here at headquarters. If you have questions, contact Records and Information Management Services (RIMS) at ext. 1234.

Post-Retirement Benefits have changed recently. This change was approved December 2005 by the World Church Human Resource Committee. Be sure to click here and read about these changes.

Apostle of the Poor: The Life and Work of Missionary and Humanitarian Charles D. Neff, authored by Matthew Bolton, was recently released through John Whitmer Books. Church historian, Mark Scherer, recommends that this significant historical piece is a good explanation of how the church moved from a remnant mind-set to who we are today. The book is available through John Whitmer books at www.jwha.info/publications/JohnWhitmerBooks.asp.

Have you ever sent out an appointment only to later find out that you forgot to include someone or had the wrong date and time? Maybe you have been asked to add more people to the meeting or change the location. What do you do?

Many people may just delete the old appointment and then start a new appointment. There is a better way. You can use the “Resend” option to change an appointment and automatically send an update to everyone. You can take the following steps:

1. Right-click the item you want to resend and click “Resend” from the menu.

2. If the item was an auto-date item, click “This Instance” or “All Instances.”

3. Make any changes to the item, and click “Send” on the toolbar or menu.

4. You will be prompted if you wish to retract the original item. Clicking “Yes” to this question will have the effect of deleting the old appointment and replacing the appointment with your updated appointment. OR…Click “No” to leave the original item.

If you have any questions about this procedure, please contact the Help Desk or at extension 1234.

If you like community theater, this weekend there will be an excellent opportunity to take in the comic opera The Pirates of Penzance at the City Theater in the Sermon Center, Truman and Noland Road. Performances are March 10, 11, and 12 at 2 and 8 p.m. Adults $8; seniors $7. OR…

On March 16, bring your children or grandchildren to see Cinderella produced by the Independence Young Matrons. The Independence Young Matrons have been producing children’s theater since 1956, and is a wonderful Independence tradition. The evening performance is at 7 p.m. at the William Chrisman High School Auditorium and is free and open to the public. OR…

Independence Symphony will be in concert at the Community of Christ Auditorium on March 18 at 7:30 pm. Featured will be Verdi, Beethoven, Winners of the Young Artists Competition, Overture to Nabusso, and Symphony no. 7. The concert is made possible in part by the Muriel McBrien Kauffman Foundation. Tickets are $10 at the door, no advance purchase necessary. Children 12 and under are free. For additional information, call (816) 350-2644.

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