Do you find yourself asking these questions?
What happened to that young person I used to be?
Who do I talk to now that I've lost my conversation partner to death, divorce, disease?
Who are my friends now that I have moved to a new place, a new job, no job?
How do I make ends meet on a fixed income?
Whatever your issues, Senior Empowerment Conversations will include topics that are relevant. These will be held at Evergreen Christian church from 7-9 pm for 5 weeks.
There will be serious conversation, serious fun and games, serious music and serious snacks served.
Dates are: February 9, February 16, February 23 (a game/movie night), March 1 and March 8.
On February 9th at 7:00 p.m. a group of brave senior citizens will begin this five-week series about what is going on at this stage in their lives. Have you noticed an
invisible but prickly reminder that there are a many fun things left to do "out there"? On the other hand, are you focused on all the changes - such as no job or a new
job, or a different home, or no children or grandchildren clamoring for attention? Perhaps you are bothered by arthritis, or high blood pressure or other health issues.
Is care of the house exhausting, but you don't think you could sell right now? The group will discuss the physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges of the "Third
Phase of Life".
Whatever your issues, the topics will be relevant. For example, how do we accept changes in our lives and become optimistic and hopeful as we "grieve" for things that
are now gone? The meetings are for two hours with snacks, some reading, a video, music, and great discussions. If you have urges to try something new, this is an
opportunity to do just that. Why not just come and "play" like you are in a discussion group for four weeks? Participants may come to realize seniors are still
very much leaders in churches and communities, and that in the years ahead (to 80 or 90 yrs.) we may just do the things we've always wanted to do, but never had time to do.
Resources:
-The Gift of Years: Growing Older Gracefully, Joan Chittister, 2008.
-Lose Love Live: The spiritual Gifts of Loss and Change, Dan Moseley, 2010
-Movie clips, art, photography, music clips, poetry
Description of a typical 2-hour session: Snacks get acquainted conversation, facilitator presentation of movie clips, songs, art, poetry and questions to start t
he conversations. Participants will be given readings before the meetings in order to share their favorite quotes. The direction and depth of the discussions will
evolve from the group itself.
An example of a quote that will prompt discussion is from Moseley's book: "When we remember that we can only influence certain things and that many events are beyond our
control, then we can do well with what is our responsibility and not carry unusual expectations for ourselves. Many people miss the sheer delight of living because they
take on more responsibility that is theirs to take".
Please join us for these few weeks of discovery and empowerment for your senior years. If you like the conversations, there is an opportunity to continue them for another
10 weeks, but it is not a requirement.
Three people will be setting up, preparing and facilitating: Virginia White, Bruce Butterfield and Donna Killen. If you have further questions or if you would like to join,
please call (303) 674-7248 or email
virginiajwhite@comcast.com.
Outreach Report
November 13, 2011
Disbursements of $4500 of our outreach budget before the end of 2011:
1) $1000 to the Central Rocky Mountain Region of Christian Church Disciples of Christ.
2) $500 to EChO and $500 to the Mountain Resource Center. These two organizations form the backbone of social services for the mountain community. EChO is the food bank formed by a coalition of the Evergreen churches to have a central place that we could all support, rather than having individual pantries, etc. They also run the clothing and other goods distribution to families in need in our community. Mountain Resource Center is located in Conifer and does a lot of the same things for that community, as well as some job training, counseling, housing placement, credit counseling, etc. In this economy, the needs have overwhelmed both of these agencies and they are stretched to their capacity to give unless more is contributed from the community itself. We are a part of that community.
3) $500 to the Dominican Sisters Home Health Agency, which provides in-home nursing care and related services to the elderly and sick poor. They take no government funds but their services are free, so they depend solely on donations and philanthropy. As Christians, we have been instructed to tend to the sick, take care of widows and orphans and feed the poor. Their mission fits with our command.
4) $500 to Friends of the Haven, a residential treatment center on the campus of Ft. Logan, for women who have substance abuse issues. They have 4 facilities for adult women: The Haven, with 38 beds for adult women; The Haven-Harmon House, with 25 beds for women, infants and toddlers; the Haven Mother's House, with 28 beds for mothers and infants; and Baby Haven, with beds for 14 infants whose mothers are in substance abuse treatment. Their success rate, according to statistics from the Colorado Dept. of Criminal Justice, is 96% after one year and 91% after two years. CU does not financially support the Haven, but CU contracts with the Haven to provide medical professionals for the program. They rely on donations for their programs.
5) $500 to Church World Service. CWS is part of our Global Ministries program and has representation in just about every suffering part of the world, as well as parts of the US that are hit with disaster. They "work together with partners to eradicate hunger and poverty and to promote peace and justice." They are our arms and legs of service in places where we cannot go. They extend hope to the hopeless, food to the hungry, shelter to the homeless, company to the lost and lonely. They live out the gospel as our representatives of the church.
6) $1000 to Phillips Theological Seminary. PTS is in the business of providing excellent theological education to the future leaders of the church. And as someone has said, "Jesus deserves a well-educated church. " We have had a longstanding relationship with the seminary.
For more information contact Evergreen Christian Church 303-674-3413.
Outreach
TENNYSON CENTER HAS ASKED FOR OUR HELP WITH THE DRESS A CHILD PROGRAM.
AS WITH OPERATION SANTA THERE ARE SEVERAL OPTIONS AVAILABLE.
IT COSTS APPROXIMATELY $165 TO DRESS A CHILD COMPLETE WITH SHOES. PLEASE CONTACT nancy.slyter@tennysoncenter.org OR CONTACT DONNA KILLEN FOR MORE INFORMATION.
Evergreen Christian Outreach Needs List for January, 2012 -
View here
Tennyson Center Needs List for 2012 -
View here
CROP Walk Up-date
This year we raised $540 for Hunger Relief through CROP walk. A big thank you to all those who walked and those who sponsored a walker.
Puppet Ministry
The ECC Puppet Ministry began in 1992 and continues to serve at the Lifecare Center, during worship at ECC, and throughout the community. The puppets and puppeteers have taken part in the Evergreen Town Parade, church retreats, wedding receptions and hospital visitations. The Puppet Ministry needs additional volunteer participants at the Lifecare Center once a month and NO EXPERIENCE IS NECESSARY. You may be a puppeteer, play an instrument, or sing along with the group.
To get involved, contact Nancy at
eccdoc@qwestoffice.net
Choir
Thursday practices will be held at 6:00 p.m. and at 9:30 a.m. on Sundays. Choir needs new members. Contact Jeanine through the church office at 303-674-3413 to join or more information.
Yoga at ECC
Yoga is offered at ECC. Contact Virginia at
yogaevergreendoc@qwestoffice.net
Information about the ECC yoga program can be viewed at
www.evergreenchristianchurch.com/yoga.htm
You may leave your name and phone number at ECC by calling 303-674-3413; Virginia will return your call.
Read the Church Statement on Anti-Muslim Actions
here
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN CHECKS MUST BE DESIGNATED AS SUCH ON THE BOTTOM OF THE CHECK. ALSO PLACE THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN CHECKS IN THE COLORED ENVELOPES
Alcoholics Anonymous meets at ECC every Tuesday at 6pm. We are pleased to be able to provide space for this service to the Evergreen community.
Alanon meetings will also be held at ECC each Tuesday at 6pm for familes of alcoholics, and Alateen (teenagers facing issues with drugs and alcohol).
Change for Change: the collection of coins is taken each Sunday for the Tennyson Center for Children.
Flowers for the Sanctuary: Would you like to put flowers in the sanctuary in honor or memory of someone special? If so, put $100 in an envelope and state the date you want the flowers in the sanctuary, who and what it is for. This envelope is to be put in the box at the entrance.
For more information and news about the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ),please visit our web site at
www.disciples.org
Please click on the link below to read the Central Rocky Mountain Regional of the Christian Church newsletter
www.centralrockymountaindisciples.org
