Join Beth-El Mennonite Church for a summer series that will enable us to foster connections with other faith communities who are cultivating peace in their local contexts. Our hope is that these connections will be a wellspring of community, encouragement, and inspiration for us and for the communities we are a part of.
Check out the schedule and speaker lineup below:
June 1 – Merv Birky of Beth-El
June 8 – The Art of Peacemaking
June 15 – Yuliana and Luciana of Roca de Refugio
June 22 – Latina Equity Foundation
Coffee and conversation to follow
June 28-29 – Randy & Edith Woodley
Saturday:
5-6pm Beth-El dinner and conversation. RSVP
6:30-8 Event open to the public
Sunday:
10am Service at First Congregational Church, 20 East Saint Vrain Street
July 6 – Peace with Creation
July 12-13 – Ched Myers & Elaine Enns
Saturday:
TBD
Sunday:
9:30am Service at Beth-El
July 20 – Paul & Erin Adlerstein
Coffee and conversation to follow
July 27 – Rachel Harding
Coffee and conversation to follow
August 3 – Mountain States Mennonite Conference Annual Assembly, Glenwood Springs
August 10 – Osheta Moore
Coffee and conversation to follow
August 17 – Michael Williams
August 24 – Mike Martin
August 31 – Father John Dear
Coffee and conversation to follow
September 12-14 – Shane Claiborne
Beth-El church retreat @ Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp
Why this summer series?
Beth-El has received a clergy renewal grant and is bringing in speakers to help us grow in our understanding of bringing peace to our congregation and community. Since being a Mennonite congregation in Colorado Springs can sometimes be a lonely experience, the funds from Beth-El’s grant will be used to foster connections with other Christian faith communities who are cultivating peace in their local contexts.
Our hope is that these connections will be a wellspring of community, encouragement, and inspiration for us and for the people/communities we’re able to partner with. So this summer will feature a series of ministers and practitioners locally and around the US to teach about peace and to share how their faith community is actively cultivating peace.
The congregation and community suggestions helped to identify a few aspects of peacemaking to focus on for this summer series:
- Learning more of what Scripture has to say about the connection between peace, reconciliation, and salvation.
- Growing as bridge builders who are able to connect with people that we do not agree with.
- Providing creative alternatives to militarism and christian nationalism.
- Gaining practical tips and training on how to provide trauma-informed care.
This is sure to be an exciting, formative journey. Your participation in each step of the way is not only appreciated, it is essential. Please continue to be in touch with anyone on Beth-El Leadership Team or on the summer’s planning team with questions, wonderings, feedback, and the like that you have about the grant. The planning team is Pastor Hannah, Pastor Jordan, Jerry Martin, Beth Birky, and Sarah Ackerman. Please also be praying for our whole congregation, that we would be attentive to the movement of the Holy Spirit and the way of Jesus as we foster connections with others and continue to cultivate Christ’s peace in our corner of creation.