The Chinook Blog

Spiritual Practices Have No Age Limit

Walking a labyrinth. Taking deep breaths. Centering ourselves in the quiet. Communing with nature. Spiritual practices often invoke within us visions of serious adults, engaging in serious discernment for serious reasons. Because how else could God communicate with us unless God could see how seriously we’re taking this? But in Community of Christ, we express…

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Spectacular (SPEC) 2024: Plan now to attend!

“SPEC” (Spectacular) is an annual week-long worship, leadership, sports, music, and arts camp held on the campus of Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa. It is sponsored by Community of Christ and will be attended by high school students and staff from around the U.S. and Canada. This is the largest gathering of youth in Community…

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Community Connections to Host Follow-Up Discussions to CIMM Sessions

CIMM Sessions The Center for Innovation in Mission and Ministry (CIMM) will be offering one-hour, bite-sized theology sessions on Zoom. These free, live presentations will be offered Wednesdays at 5 pm Pacific. Click here for more information. Registration for these events is required – it only takes a simple email. The first three sessions focus…

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Prayer for the Blessings of Community

Offered by Ashley Whitham on January 14, 2024 at Community Connections Online Worship God of handshakes, God of fist bumps, God of back-slapping hugs and forehead kisses, We invite Your Spirit of relationship to join with us tonight as we celebrate the blessings of community. Whether we frequent a church building, meet friends in the…

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Western Field Retreat: A Time of Dreaming

Submitted by Ashley Whitham Last weekend, six church employees who live in the Pacific Northwest joined with other Community of Christ employees and lay ministers who work in the Western field at Buckhorn Campgrounds. Under the leadership of Apostle Shandra Newcom and guest ministers Shane and Alli, we did the very hard work of visioning…

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I am God’s Work: A Centering Moment

A Centering Moment written by Ashley Whitham (she/her) and presented at ‘Coming Out Monologues 6’ held October 11, 2023. At this time, I would invite you to sit comfortably, stable and connected to what is beneath you. And close your eyes if that feels safe to you. Let’s take a few breaths in and out,…

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Small Group at Judy’s

Submitted by Donald Welch Once monthly we met at Judy’s house.  It was easily the night of the week I would most look forward to.  On the way, we would always stop at Great Harvest Bread Company to see what bread we might bring to the gathering.  That was our thing.  We brought the bread. …

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Discernment Should be Fun

by Ashley Whitham Discipleship Development Minister This may seem weird to some, but I’m a firm believer that discernment can and should be fun. Too often ministers make it too serious, and the process becomes heavy and burdensome. We make it too hard. What gets in the way of discernment being fun? First our own…

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