The Seed Newsletter: January 8, 2023
Dear Christian Temple Family,
Church consultant, Bill Ireland, says, “We wouldn’t be anywhere without our dreams. Whatever our dreams and whatever our visions—well, they motivate us and get us going…What’s true for individuals is also true for churches—dreams and visions keep us alive. Thriving congregations are always asking, ‘What’s next?’” In other words, a church’s collective imagination keeps it alive. As we enter into 2023, a new year with lots of newness around us, we must challenge ourselves to use our collective imagination, inviting us to lean in to our curiosities and creativity, asking “What’s next?”
Every Sunday, at the beginning of worship, we take a moment to remind ourselves of who we are and what our goal as a congregation is. “We are Disciples of Christ, a movement of wholeness for a fragmented world,” proclaims the leader. The people respond, “As a part of the one body of Christ, we welcome all to God’s table, as God has welcomed us.” We aspire to re-member ourselves and our world.
Life was meant to be lived with wholeness, yet our fragmentation seems to be growing. Between polarized politics and frantic, overscheduled lives, our world is fragmented in so many ways. People seek out Christian Temple because it is a place that truly values wholeness. It is a place that seeks to put the fragments of life back together through a holistic approach to spirituality and congregational life. Sometimes we are great at this. Other times we encounter challenges and roadblocks.
Perhaps our roadblocks and challenges preventing us from creating wholeness, though few and far between, are a result of an under-engaged imagination. So, how will we engage our imaginations this year? What does that look like to you personally? And what might it look like as a congregation?
May your dreams be bright and your hearts full,
Katie
*We hope you can join us for worship this Sunday. We will be holding an in-person service at 11 AM, and also streaming the service live on YouTube. Once the service is over, you will still be able to watch it on YouTube or Facebook at your convenience.
Click Here to go directly to Christian Temple's YouTube Channel.
CHRISTIAN TEMPLE WOMEN'S GROUP IS BACK!
We are going to re-gather our monthly women's group next Monday night at 6:30pm on Zoom. The Zoom information is below. We will be reading Sue Monk Kidd's Book of Longings over the course of two months (January and February). If you can--NOT REQUIRED--read the first half of the book. Section XXXI around page 243 is a good stopping point.
Zoom Information
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89127047856?pwd=dTBzVitZUUxxcE1TbWlpb25xSlcvQT09
9 O'CLOCK FORUM
In the new year, we hope you will consider joining our 9AM Sunday Forum for thoughtful discussion and reflection. Please look over our January schedule of topics:
January 8th- The Liturgical Year (Katie Callaway)
January 15th- The Liturgical Year- Seasons (John Callaway)
January 22nd- The Liturgical Year- Symbols (Bonnie Ouellette)
January 29th- Understanding Immigration (Vaughn Ouellette)
A SPECIAL THANK YOU NOTE FROM EDUARDO
CLICK HERE TO VIEW!
2023 Christian Church Capital Area's Annual
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Tribute Service
Sunday, January 15, 2023
3:00pm
- GUEST SPEAKER
Rev. Joan Bell-Haynes
Executive Regional Minister for the Central Rocky Mountain Region, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
- PRESENTATION OF THE ANNUAL BRIDGE BUILDER AWARD
- SPECIAL MUSIC AND MORE..
In person:
Shepherd Park Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
7900 Eastern Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20012
(Parking in the church lot is limited. There is some street parking and a Public parking garage nearby)
Virtually - Zoom Link
Refreshments will be provided after the service.
For more information contact Rev. Charles Lucas, Jr., Immediate Past Director, Commission for Congregational Life.
pastor_chasljr@hensonvalleycc.org
CATONSVILLE FARMERS MARKET
Wednesday, January 18th
10:00 am to 12:00
STOP By for your FARM FRESH, producer only, seasonal products
The Market is now every other week, 10:00am - 12:00pm through March.
The market accepts Cash, SNAP, Credit and Debit cards. We are Matching SNAP dollars again with incentive tokens.
The Children's Choir will be meeting on January 8th (10:15 am)! Hope to see you there!
Transformers will also be meeting this Sunday, January 8th. Kids will leave to participate in the program right after the Children’s Moment during our worship service. Kecia Johnson is the Education Coordinator for Christian Temple who also leads this group. Kecia will be happy to answer any questions you might have regarding the Transformer program and schedule.
DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO ISN'T RECEIVING THE SEED?
If you know of anyone who isn't receiving the J&C and/or The Seed, please ask them to let the office know. Contact Robin at 410-747-2041 or at office@christiantemple.org. Thank you!
ZOOM LINKS!
Nine O' Clock Forum, Sundays (9 AM), Zoom Sessions Only
https://zoom.us/j/91547210479
We hope you will consider joining our 9AM Sunday Forum for thoughtful discussion and reflection. The topic for January 8th is The Liturgical Year. Rev. Katie Callaway will be leading the discussion.
Wednesday Bible Study (9:30 AM), Zoom Sessions Only
https://zoom.us/j/94040874646
Beginning on Wednesday, November 2 and for the next 24 weeks the Wednesday Bible Study group will begin a new study on “Understanding the New Testament.” The course is led by Professor David Brakke, Ph.D. This is a 24 lecture series that takes us behind the scenes to study not only the text of the New Testament, but also the authors and the world in which it was created. The course explores Jewish lives under Roman occupation, reflects on the apocalyptic mood of the first and second centuries A. D., witnesses the early Christians’ evangelism beyond the Jewish communities, and witnesses the birth of a faith that continues to shape our world today.
There is no need to purchase books or course materials, as the WBS coordinator distributes appropriate reading materials and a Zoom link each week for each lecture. Please join us this fall in learning about our Christian faith, its scriptures and authors. If you have questions, please contact Vaughn Ouellette at 410-313-9661 or email: vaughn.ouellette@verizon.net.
PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS POLICY UPDATED
The Official Church Board updated Christian Temple's Pandemic Preparedness Policy to more accurately reflect the current realities of the pandemic. Anyone who would like to see the policy as it now is written may CLICK HERE.
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