May 8, 2020

CHURCH LIFE AND WORSHIP AFTER COVID-19

By Jon Roberts – Denver, Colorado . . . Sitting in my usual spot for worship on Sabbath, March 7, the pastor gave the closing prayer, and while the worship team played, the pastor said, “Have a great week, everyone–see you here next Sabbath!”

However, the week that followed was anything but normal. We went to bed in a semi-normal world on Wednesday night, March 11, and woke up Thursday morning to a society and way of life that came to a screeching halt. 

LAY PASTOR TRAINING BROUGHT PARTICIPANTS TOGETHER VIA ZOOM

By Nate Skaife — Grand Junction, Colorado … “The training is very helpful to me. It makes me think on a much deeper level than ever before. I read the Word with added enthusiasm,” said Jean Coren from Grand Junction. She was one of 24 participants in the third Rocky Mountain Conference Lay Pastor Program training event for Western Slope, May 1-3.

Social distancing did not stop the program which began in the Fall of 2019. Meeting by Zoom “allowed these trainings to continue in spite of not being able to meet in person,” said Pastor Nate Skaife, senior pastor of Grand Junction Church, and principal trainer.

LIFESOURCE YOUTH ENGAGE WITH COMMUNITY OUTREACH THROUGH DRIVE-BYS

By Seth Day —Denver, Colorado … The LifeSource Adventist Fellowship youth group decided they were all Zoomed out and needed a break from a virtual setting. So, what did they do?

They decided to bring a little hope to the church through a drive by ministry effort. Practicing social distancing, each youth stayed with their parents and no one was allowed to carpool. 

CAMPION PASTORAL CARAVAN DRIVE-BY

By Ardis Stenbakken — Loveland, Colorado … “Hey, some of us are meeting in the church parking lot at 5:00 to have a drive-by to encourage our pastors.” That was all it took for at least 23 cars to line up and drive by the Campion Church pastors’ homes, waving signs and posters, and dropping off cards, food items, and cheering gifts.

MHA THANKS TEACHERS DURING TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK

By Karrie Meyers — Highlands Ranch, Colorado … If teachers had been asked at the beginning of the 2019/20 school year about plans for the weeks leading up to Mile High Academy’s graduation, responses would have included classroom parties, the annual Senior Walk, field trips, completing lessons and preparing final tests. Instead, the hallways are empty, void of laughter and displays of recent student work. But other than the new normal of “seeing” their students through a Zoom classroom, MHA teachers are hard at work looking for unique ways to make remote learning fun while still providing an exemplary, Christ-centered education from a distance.

IN APPRECIATION OF OUR TEACHERS

By Lonnie Hetterle – Denver, Colorado …We live in challenging and, in many ways, uncharted times. I thought the world was changing rapidly during my younger years, but that was nothing compared to the last two months. The changes that we’ve been forced to accept would have been considered “crazy speculation” even as we welcomed 2020.  

By Miloš Tomić — Now, that our favorite travel destinations include a brisk walk to the shed or a romantic stroll to the fridge, it’s nice to recall some pleasant memories of real travel experiences. So, here is one.

Italy! As we were trekking Florence, a man on the street reaches to us offering something. I just wave my hand brushing him off. So many of them. Everywhere! 

by Rajmund Dabrowski — Living in Colorado continues to be engaging and full of wonder for me, offering the awe of nature and the discovery that neighbors here are not as aloof as those we’ve encountered in other parts of the world.

We live in a blue-collar neighborhood among nice neighbors. We’ve discovered that a barter economy is well accepted—my wife grows lavender and other fragrant flowers; in exchange, we get jars of honey from two neighbors living next to us.

MENTAL HEALTH IN ISOLATION TACKLED AT YOUTH GREATER SUMMIT-CONVERSATIONS

By Brent Learned — Denver, Colorado … The RMC Youth Department hosted their first Greater Summit: Conversations event for our youth and young adults on May 1. This virtual event featured mental health expert, Dr. Tiffany Llewellyn from Johns Hopkins University, who gave a TED talk-style presentation followed by a live Q and A session on the topic of “Mental Health in Isolation.”

ELL STUDENTS CONTINUE PRACTICING ENGLISH OVER ZOOM

By Theron Treat — Loveland, Colorado … This past month, staff and student volunteers have assisted English Language Learning (ELL) students by holding Zoom meetings with them so they can continue to grow their English skills. Sami Hodges, a student volunteer, described her meetings with Airi, who is currently in Japan, “Every Monday and Wednesday evening, I set up a Zoom meeting and we just talk for about 20-30 minutes. Sometimes we use sample conversational prompts, but other times we just spend time visiting and getting to know each other more.” Despite not being paid for helping, the volunteers plan to continue to spend time faithfully with the ELL students over the rest of this school year.

RMC VOTES PLAN FOR CHURCHES TO REOPEN IN THE NEAR FUTURE

Denver, Colorado … On Tuesday, May 5, during the weekly meeting of the Rocky Mountain Conference Administrative Committee and departmental directors, a decision was taken to provide guidelines allowing churches to resume their services. RMC churches are currently closed until May 31.

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