You may recall that the very first priority recommendation from the Envision Committee was to hire an Executive Director as part of a shared leadership team. The leadership team’s mandate is to further develop our organizational effectiveness, our connections with each other, our spiritual growth, and a culture of stewardship. As the former chair of the Envision Committee and a member of Session, it is my pleasure to introduce to you our new Executive Director, Tilman Adair.

Click here for the Daily Worship Booklet.

The booklet can also be picked up at the church.

This booklet is intended to infuse Advent with a meditative focus.  Each day’s words include a Bible text from the Revised Common Lectionary, readings which we share with many Christians in many parts of the world.  Some of these readings are used in Sunday worship services each week.

The readings begin on Thanksgiving Day and continue through Epiphany, January 6^th, 2012.

People of all ages might enjoy using an Advent Wreath, with candles for each of Advent’s four Sundays and a central candle for Christmas Day.

For each day there is a stanza or two from a hymn to be sung or read together.  If you would like a Presbyterian Hymnal or a Sing the Faith Hymnal for your home, please call (800) 227-2872.

A note to parents:  Since most of us do not feel qualified to teach theology or Biblical interpretation to our children, we tend to avoid that kind of discussion altogether and hope that “experts” will perform that function.  The “For Children” sections for each day are intended to empower us parents and to engage our children at the level of the story itself.  Feel free to adapt the words in a way which will be helpful for your own children.

Rather than describing Biblical dates with the language of BC and AD, this booklet uses the phrases, “before the common era” and “common era,” abbreviated BCE and CE.

Heartfelt wishes for a meaningful celebration of Advent and Christmas.

~Peter Hulac

http://www.montview.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Advent-Booklet-2011-web.pdf

First Sunday Supper

Welcome Rev. Peter Tibi from South Sudan, the world’s newest nation

The Rev. Peter Tibi, Visiting International Peacemaker for the Presbyterian Church in the United States (PCUSA) will be visiting the Presbytery of Denver  from October 13- 17 of 2011.  Rev. Tibi works in the area of conflict transformation among the peoples of South Sudan, the world’s newest country.

After two decades of a brutal civil war that killed 2 million people and displaced millions more, Sudan split into two nations following a constitutional referendum.  Now, how will the people of these two nations hold tight to the peace?   Following wars that have occupied the great portion of two  generations’ lives, how can such a traumatized people break a cycle of violence that seems to have become ingrained within the culture itself?  In the midst of such ravaged infrastructure, where communication and interaction with other communities and government are so difficult, how can the people obtain the civic education needed to be effective members of a democratic society?

The churches of Sudan asked these exact questions and responded with the creation of RECONCILE. Rev. Tibi has served as the Executive Director ofRECONCILE, International, since November of 2009.  He received his Bachelor of Divinity from Bethany Divinity College in Dothan, Alabama; his B.A. from the University of Gloucestershire, UK; and his Masters in Theological Studies from Bethany Divinity College and Theological Seminary. Rev. Tibi has served as the Principal at Imatong Bible College in Juba, Sudan. He served as an administrator and Assistant Executive Secretary for Africa Inland Church-Sudan, and worked within AIC for 13 years. After this, he moved on to the New Sudan Council of Churches, where he served as the Deputy Executive Secretary; at the end of the war when the councils merged, he worked with the Sudan Council of Churches as Acting Executive Secretary and General Secretary, all over a span of five years.

Please come hear Rev Tibi speak about Sudan, about peacemaking, and about his personal experiences, at one of the following times

Friday 10/14/11, 10:30AM – 12:00 PM, at the Presbytery Centre, Rev. Tibi will share in-depth discussion of his work as well as talk about Christian Conflict transformation.

Saturday 10/15/11, 10:00AM-12:00PM, Rev. Tibi will share stories about the conflict in Sudan and peacemaking efforts at an event hosted by RASI at Presbyterian Church of the Covenant.

Sunday 10/16/11, Rev Tibi will preach at Green Mountain Presbyterian church and have a discussion with people over lunch.

Habitat Home Dedication – October 29

The duplex that Montview has helped to sponsor at 800/804 S. Patton will be dedicated on Saturday, October 29th at 11:00 am.  You are invited to join this moving experience as the Kased-Ruhaif family cuts the ribbon on their new Habitat home.  After the short ceremony you can meet the family and tour the wonderful home we have helped to build.

9/11 Interfaith Service Reactions and Comments

Montview on Colorado Public Radio