January 9, 2009

connecting the Community of Christ staff community

WHAT'S GOING ON AT IHQ?

In an effort to make more connections throughout International Headquarters NewsPEACE will feature staff profiles and teams from a different enrichment group each month. Check out new staff and staff you may have known for quite awhile, and keep yourself up to date with what is happening on various teams throughout IHQ.

Web Updates and Maintenance Team
The Web Updates and Maintenance Team greeted 2009 by introducing a new look for the church’s website, www.CofChrist.org. Guided by the new Visual Identity Guidelines developed under the direction of the Integrated Communications Team, our new look offers a fresh new face to our website.  As part of that debut, we’ve collaborated with the Integrated Communications Team to introduce a new “Living Our Mission” page which shares stories of congregations and ministries living the mission of the church in unique and vibrant ways.  Check out the new online video featuring the Kids Peace Club, a peacebuilding ministry of the Tri City, Kentucky congregation.

In other recent developments, we’ve worked with Young Adult Disciple Formation Specialist Erica Blevins Nye to add a “survey of the month” feature to the Young Adult Emergence page and are currently adding newly developed educational and training materials to the Evangelists’ page.  The online hymnal survey sponsored by the Hymnal Project Team closed December 31, and we expect to post a summary of that survey’s results within the next few weeks.  E-subscriptions were piloted last fall and expansion is in the planning stages now.  Watch the web for news and changes.

Team Members: Lynda Roberson, Jenn Killpack, Kendra Friend, Pam Robison, and Jaylene O’Keefe, lead.

Technology Support Team
Globalization has caught up to Technology Support. We now service nearly 1500 users worldwide and many of these are mobile all the time. We provide equipment and service on more than 1000 computers and printers as well as operate a network facility that is available 24 hour every day. This has been a daunting task for a team of less than 10 people, but we love what we do. Last year we upgraded a lot of our equipment to provide new and creative services. These include a faster network, new Wi-Fi connections, and larger phone capacity. We also consolidated some equipment to make our services more economical. During the next year we will see more upgrades in Shelby and our financial software. Even though you don’t see us most of the time, we are very busy behind the scenes. Hopefully we are making technology better for everyone.

Team Members: Tracy Cahill, Larry Cain, Walt Deoring, Tom Domville, Ken Fann, Doreen Horsley, Margaret McDowell, Rick Wilton, and Steve McCrosson, lead.

WHO'S WHO @ IHQ

This month we’re introducing Greg Clark as the new Copy Editor on the Multimedia Production Team. We asked several questions to get to know Greg better, and here are his responses:

What are your favorite books, movies, and/or food?
I really like faction (fiction based on fact), but two books I’ve enjoyed recently are The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch and The Shack by William P. Young. I did not like Boom! by Tom Brokaw — too much politics. Oh, and how could I forget The Chicago Manual of Style? (Does that earn me brownie points with my boss?).

And movies, Ok, I admit it. I liked the oldest three Star Wars movies. Recently I’ve seen “Australia,” “Slumdog Millionaire” and “Marley and Me” (guess I’m just a sensitive guy). I admit a special fondness for jalapenos.

In your free time, what hobbies do you enjoy?
I enjoy fantasy football and baseball, though I’m still smarting from getting edged out of first place last summer. My teams adopted the nickname my son gave me years ago: Geezer

Do you have a personal hero?
I have many, and some actually have worked here at headquarters. I won’t embarrass them by divulging their names.

If you could spend the day with anyone, who would it be and why?
Hey, I work for a church. The answer obviously is Jesus.

What has been your greatest challenge?
Aside from my waistline? Giving up sports after ruining my knees.

....greatest joy?
It’s a bit cliché, but LIFE. I have been blessed with a family I adore. I revel in tropical sunsets, enjoy scenic mountain vistas (to the point that my wife once told me. “You have enough pictures, and if you’ve seen one rock you’ve seen them all!”). Also, I loved the 10 years I spent as a youth basketball coach and delight in spending a quiet weekend evening with friends, playing games.

And a bit about your family?
My wife, Sue, provides the leaven in my life. Without her, my mortal journey would be far duller. She recently retired after 28 years as a school nurse. Now she works part-time doing phone triage for NurseLine of St. Luke’s and as a school sub. My mother, Phyllis, lives with us. Though I spent 35 years at newspapers in Des Moines and Kansas City, she still can beat me in word games. My son, Brent, was married last Memorial Day weekend and works as the aquatics director for the city of Harrisonville. My daughter, Cristin, was married July 4 and works as a math teacher and volleyball coach at Van Horn High School in Independence. She’ll present us with a grandchild in early June.

What would you like people to know about you?
I’ve been here just shy of two months. I know that I’m still on my honeymoon in this job, but I’ve now worked here long enough to have heard the gripes, complaints and fears of employees. So I do understand reality. Even so, I still think I’ve landed in heaven!

Greg is currently working on the March Herald and awaiting material for the 2010 Daily Bread and a resource on baptism. Greg’s office is located in the Auditorium, 4th floor, northeast corner. If you haven’t met Greg yet, stop by and say, ‘Hi.”

SHARE IN MUSIC

Moses Choi, a young Korean violinist who came to the USA during his school break last January, shared his talent with us during the Prayer for Peace. He has returned this month and will be sharing with us in the Prayer for Peace on January 9, 13, 15, 21, and 22. He will also be assisting in the 3:00 recital on Sunday, January 18 in the Auditorium. Take advantage of this opportunity to hear some beautiful music and support one of our gifted young church members who is far from home.

COMMUNITY CHOIR FOR MLK CELEBRATION

All are invited to join the Community Choir for the Independence Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Rehearsals will be Saturdays, January 3, 10, and 17 from 12:30-1:30 p.m. at Second Baptist Church 116 East White Oak, Independence, 64050. For information please call 816-392-1276 (leave a message and indicate you are calling about the MLK choir). The Independence Celebration is January 19, 7:00 p.m. at the Truman Memorial Building, 416 S. Maple. Everyone is welcome.

GENEROSITY’S CIRCLE

An adage says that “what goes around comes around.” Read a story and hear audio clips of kids like LaVaughsia (at left) from Chattanooga, Tennessee, share about their part in the Places of Peace: Russia to Ukraine. These are touching stories about being both receivers and givers in a circle of generosity we call Designated Giving.

WEIGHT LOSS SUPPORT GROUP

Please join us for a Weight Loss Support Group! We will discuss ways to live and eat healthier, do some exercise walking, and track our progress with a digital scale. Please feel free to bring your walking shoes and your lunch. We meet every Thursday from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. in Room 415 in the Auditorium. For more information, please contact Carolyn Bailey at extension 1415.

2009 HOLIDAY SCHEDULE

This is a list of approved holidays in the USA. Holiday schedules in some nations may vary and you will need to check with your Mission Center President for exact holiday dates in the nation where you are assigned. Mark your calendars!

• New Years Day, January 1
• Friday following New Years, January 2
• Martin Luther King Holiday, January 19
• President's Day, February 16
• Good Friday, April 10
• Memorial Day, May 25
• Independence Day, July 3 (the 4th falls on Saturday)
• Labor Day, September 7
• Thanksgiving, November 26
• Friday following Thanksgiving, November 27
• Christmas Break, December 24-31

INTERPERSONAL PEACEBUILDING

Opportunities are now forming for Interpersonal Peacebuilding classes for early 2009. Talk with your e-group leader and primary team leader to benefit from this development opportunity. Each training session consists of either two full days or five half day sessions. Please send questions or RSVP to Jan Marshall.

CHARACTERplus

RESPECT: It’s a word you will notice on billboards, marquees and signs around Independence throughout January. The Independence community is partnering with the Independence School District in support of CHARACTERplus.

CHARACTERplus is a program designed to help instill basic core values in today’s youth through empowering students with the knowledge of positive character traits. CHARACTERplus begins at the local schools and filters into homes, communities and businesses to sustain the impact of the message. The qualities have a familiar ring as they are similar to the Children’s Peace Pavilion ideas – peace for you, peace for me, peace for our community, peace in our world. Through partnerships and many conversations, the Children’s Peace Pavilion was a shining example to motivate and prompt actions to find opportunities to spread positive characteristics through our schools, our families and our communities.

CHARACTERplus originated in St. Louis and today is in over 130 school districts. Independence is the largest school district in western Missouri to embrace CHARACTERplus. The Children’s Peace Pavilion was honored to be a part of the school district’s kick-off lunch. As a large employer in the Independence community we are happy to support CHARACTERplus. We encourage all staff to share these ideals in their teams, with their families and throughout the communities they touch.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T from the Aretha Franklin song is one way many of us think of the word, RESPECT. Throughout Independence “Respect” is the word of the month through the CHARACTERplus program. Watch for billboards down Noland Road, 23rd Street, and 40 Highway. Each month Independence schools and community will lift up a new word. Where can you model respect? Pass it own.

RESPECT: To show consideration or thoughtfulness to self and others. “Respect is love in plain clothes.” Frankie Byrne

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