Circuit Rider Jesus Page 9
HAVE YOU EVER WANTED TO VOLUNTEER FOR
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY?
After the first of the year, 55 homes will be built in Southeast Aurora in the Tollgate Crossing Subdivision. For those interested in volunteering, please see Rev. Jim Reuteler for more details.
Our church works within the Loaves & Fishes Coalition of churches and others to provide volunteers and contributions to Habitat For Humanity projects. If you are interested in being involved with any of the Habitat projects discussed below, talk with Rev. Jim Reuteler or Lyle Stewart
GULF COAST PROJECT— Loaves & Fishes hopes to participate in a “Houses in a Box” build for Gulf Coast sites in 2006. Construction of frames will be done here in Denver and be shipped to sites on the Gulf Coast for assembly at appropriate Habitat locations. We will need volunteers for the construction here in Denver , as well as to send a team of volunteers to the Gulf Coast to help in the assembly of the houses. If anyone is interested in contributing to this effort, please speak to Jim or Lyle .
MEXICO— Loaves & Fishes is planning a Habitat work trip to Mexico-Valle de Santiago (1 hour by van North of Leon, Mexico), in late Jan./early Feb. ‘06. Total cost (including airfare on Frontier) is expected to be in the range of $1,000 per person. There are expected to be 3 work teams of 10 to 12 persons each that will build a Habitat house in the area over a three week period. Each team will spend one week in Mexico . Helen and Lyle Stewart , who did a similar trip two years ago expect to be on one of these teams. If you are interested in finding how these teams work, feel free to talk to them or Jim Reuteler, who went on the Mexico trip the last two years, or Jim Turner who went with Jim last year.
HABITAT METRO DENVER — Currently Habitat has 11 homes under construction in the metro area and we are greatly in need of volunteers. I was hoping that some of the Loaves and Fishes volunteers would be interested in helping out on other habitat projects. We are especially in need of volunteers who are available on weekdays. The projects in need of the most help are 4969 Umatilla St. , 32/34 Hazel Ct. and 1520/1522 Verbena Street . If you would like to sign up for a volunteer day please visit www.habitatmetrodenver.org and click on the volunteer link. From there you will click the link that says “sign up for volunteer projects online.” This online system will allow you to register to volunteer on the day or days of your choice. Also if you would like to bring a group of volunteers from your office, church, book club, sports team etc. we are able to accommodate volunteer groups of 10-15 people. Please contact Beverly Young 303-534-2929, ext. 120 or Beverly@habitatmetrodenver.org. or myself Jeanne Fischetti 303-534-2929, ext. 136 or jeanne@habitatmetrodenver.org, Director of Volunteers.
PEACE PILGRIMS TO ISRAEL AND PALESTINE
If you would like to meet people face to face in the Middle East , you are invited to join a Volunteer in Mission Peace Pilgrims Team October 24-November 8, 2006. This project is sponsored by the Peace with Justice Committee of the Methodist Church . The trip will cost approximately $2,200. Home stays will be arranged as well as visits to holy sites. Team members will be doing some work in schools and will talk with people in refuge and other places. Contact LeMerle Milsom 303-756-3648 if you are interested.
VOLUNTEER IN MISSION OPPORTUNITY IN KENYA , AFRICA
Another team will be led by Ann Fort (her 6th trip) to Kenya Methodist Projects in July. Clark Milsom was with Ann last summer and highly recommends this important connection with our brothers and sisters in Africa . If you are interested, contact Clark for more information; 303-756-3648
The Journey of a Covenant Disciple
By Marcel Doyon
As I look back on the past two years as a member of a Covenant Discipleship group, I find myself blessed and thankful for John Wesley's emphasis on its importance to Christian growth and Reverend Jim Reuteler's devotion to it. To explain its impact on me I need to briefly describe my religious background and personal spiritual journey.
I was raised in the Catholic tradition. It's a tradition that has served millions (like my parents) well. But somehow it didn't fit me. While still a teen I left the church and busied myself with other aspects of life. I worked, married, raised a family, and did the other incidentals that all people do. I still considered myself a Christian. I prayed most mornings, gave thanks (whenever I remembered to), and occasionally attended a Sunday service at different churches. In hindsight I recognize that I was a lukewarm Christian like the people of Laodicea referred to by John in Revelation (3: 14-16). At some point in my life certain events unfolded that led me to understand that I needed a community to worship with. So I joined Grace United Methodist Church . There I found a Christian family that I liked and felt a fellowship with. But I continued to maintain a lukewarm posture until I was invited to attend a Discipleship class. Fortunately, I thought I was attending a 2 or 3 week class and not making a life long commitment. Had I known that, I'm quite certain I would have passed on it and missed out on the most important and inspiring part of my religious journey. I would have continued to attend church on Sundays. But I believe that would have been the extent of my “Christian Experience”.
Instead, I've been compelled to look further within myself and grow as a Christian. I've learned to appreciate the warmth of writers like Joseph Girzone and conviction of martyrs like Dietrich Bonhoeffer. I find myself wanting to understand Scripture instead of just hearing it and I've enjoyed the challenge presented to me each week by my fellow Disciples. Because of Covenant Discipleship, my spiritual growth has been tenfold.
We each travel a different road on our journey to be closer to our Savior Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father. But I pray that many more of you will consider joining a Covenant Discipleship group and experience the possibilities it presents. It's has been one of the most important decisions I've ever made. Whatever your journey, may the Holy Spirit guide you. “I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith”. Romans (1:11-12).