Walking a labyrinth. Taking deep breaths. Centering ourselves in the quiet. Communing with nature. Spiritual practices often invoke within us visions of serious adults, engaging in serious discernment for serious reasons. Because how else could God communicate with us unless God could see how seriously we’re taking this? But in Community of Christ, we express…
Spiritual Practice Presented at GPNW MC Conference 2022 Pastors and Staff Breakfast By Ashley Whitham This morning, I’ll invite you to sit comfortably with your feet on the floor, and preferably with support against your back. Close your eyes. In your mind, imagine yourself in a large circle. If there were a target on the…
Spiritual Practice presented at GPNW Mission Center Conference 2022 during the Business Meeting By Ashley Whitham How had you moved through your life as a disciple? This weekend’s theme is courage, but they all have different actions paired with courage, because the courage of a disciple inspires us to move. So as we pause this…
MC Conference 2022 Opening Worship Written by Carol West, Cowlitz Valley Pastor Team Member Father,We quiet our minds in this moment to let go of concerns, worries, stresses, pains and agendas. We seek Your wisdom and courage to see what you have laid before us as congregations, as Community of Christ, but also as disciples….
By Ashley Whitham Recently we experienced the Autumn Equinox. Because the earth is tilted on its axis compared to its rotation of the sun, the Autumn Equinox is one of only two days of the year when the earth is not tilted, but facing straight to the sun. On that day, the sun shines directly…
“Our Stories” – A reflection by Ashley Whitham When we’re tots and toddlerswe live in our parents’ stories.Their lives are our worlds. When we’re full of wonder and questions,stories from books, tv, moviesexpand our imaginations to an even bigger world. When we start to live our stories,we trip and fall,stumbling over ideals and expectations. When…
by Ashley Whitham Please sit comfortably, with your eyes closed. You’re sitting on the floor. You’ve been sitting here for… days? Has it been a week yet? Time doesn’t really matter here. You’re with friends, but it’s hardly a party. Everyone is just sitting, staring at the floor. You’re all just exhausted from the emotional…