Greetings WAC Community,
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. – Ecclesiastes 4:12
Reminder: Early bird registration ends October 3rd for the WYOMING ASSOCIATION OF CHURCHES’ 40TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATING WYOMING’S DIVERSITY OCTOBER 13-15, at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Casper. Register now.
Also, now open for registration sponsored by WAC’s Spiritual Life Team:
Cultivating Inter-Religious Dialogue: A Christian & Buddhist Exploration with guest leader, Rob McNamara,Integral Dharma Holder and Buddhist Zen Monk, Saturday, November 12, 2016, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), 520 CY Ave., Casper, 9:30am – 3pm, $35, includes lunch. Download PFD flyer here. Register here.
2016 Election Resource Now Available: Faith in Public Life’s Voter Reflection Guide, Faith, Values and the 2016 Election: Toward a Politics of the Golden Rule. Click here to download a PDF copy. Printed copies will be available at our October 13-15 event in Casper.
A couple of weeks ago I answered the question, “What does WAC do for Churches?” From responses, I obviously did not cover enough. The purpose of the Wyoming Association of Churches in WAC’s bylaws is “to empower Wyoming’s congregations for spiritual growth to promote social and environmental justice in Wyoming through prayer, discernment, leadership, advocacy and service.” We have three volunteer teams and a board of directors who carry out the organization’s work. Like the three woven strands described in Ecclesiastes, churches together are more effective in advancing the Kingdom of God.
Opportunities to serve:
1. The three teams are: Sacred Ground Team, Peace & Justice Team and Spiritual Life Team. If you are interested in becoming a member of one of these teams and not already, please consider joining. You may let me know of your interest by emailing me at chesie@wyochurches.org.
2. The two offices of Secretary and Treasurer are up for election at our annual business meeting on October 14th. If you are interested in serving in one of those positions, let Rev. Doug Goodwin, the chair of the nominations committee, know at pastordoug@sheridandisciples.org.
What more does WAC do or should be doing?
One reader’s response to my September 11th message was, “I would add that WAC offers us a chance to work with other denominations and faiths as partners.” Amen to that!
Another reader had suggestions for what WAC could be doing, some of which WAC has done or is doing.
Organize an ecumenical service for observing Thanksgiving, or other holidays with a spiritual emphasis. (This works best at the community level through your local ministerial association. If your community does not have a ministerial association, let me know and I can help you organize one.)
Provide a one-day retreat with an appropriate leader, for pastors to talk about the struggles of leading churches in a state with low population density in an indifferent society, especially during times of economic struggle.
Promote ecumenical church camping, since some denominations have given up their camps in Wyoming. (The American Baptist Church has a campground in Casper Mountains that is available.)
Develop and share seasonal worship resources for special days such as Earth Day or Indigenous Peoples Day. (This has been done in the past for Earth Day. Many denominations also provide resources for special services.)
Promote ecumenical short-term mission trips, perhaps to the Wind River Reservation. (WAC has been doing this the past 3 years in Fort Washakie. Let me know to of your interest to schedule when you can come!!!)
Provide resources for making churches more eco-friendly, like Rebekah Simon-Peter’s book, Green Churches, and perhaps include group buys with discounts of supplies.
As the song goes, “I am the church; you are the church; we are the church together.” Whatever your faith perspective, we invite you to join us!
If you have not already, see The Bridge exhibits now in Laramie, Rock Springs, Lander and Powell!
Fear not. Be bold. Do justice.
Blessings,
Chesie Lee
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