Community of Christ - Michigan Mission Center

08/08/2026

Join us for a one day camp for kindergarteners-second grade!

You're invited to special overnight camp for those in grades K-2 and their grown up (siblings welcome). This camp helps to introduce kids to youth camps by creating camp memories with a grown up and experience a day at camp.

Learn more and register here: michiganyouthcamps.org/k-2-camper-adult-overnight-camp/

Mark your calendars for:
August 21-22, 2026 - K-2 Child & Adult Overnight Camp @ Blue Water Campground, Camp Contact: Nancy McClellan

September 19-20, 2026 - K-2 Child & Adult Overnight Camp @ Park of the Pines2, Camp Contact: Grace King

K-2 Camper & Adult Overnight This camp is specifically designed to introduce kids to the youth camping experience in a fun and family-friendly environment. It is for kids who will be entering Kindergarten, 1st, or 2nd grade in the fall along with their parent/guardian. Additional adults and siblings...

07/21/2026

When Immigration and Customs Enforcement (also known as ICE) ramped up their presence in Minnesota, the Apple Valley congregation sprang into action delivering food to people who were afraid to leave their homes.

Their generosity spread through out the larger community and became a beacon of hope to folks who needed help.

Read more from Connie Lane Lindeen here: https://cofchrist.org/article/i-met-an-angel-at-the-grocery-store/

06/19/2026

Reminder: If you won't be at Sanford Campground, you can join the Juneteenth Celebration online via Zoom at 4:00pm today. Register here to get the meeting link:
us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Pk_JZXq4S9WxKgj2W8t8cQ

06/18/2026

A celebration of the Juneteenth holiday hosted by the Naming, Claiming, and Acting the Change (NCAC) team will be held on Friday, June 19 starting at 4:00pm. You can participate in-person at Sanford Campground (3500 N West River Rd, Sanford, MI). This is the opening day of the family camp at Sanford Campground and dinner options will be available at the canteen following the event.

You can also view the event online via Zoom by registering at this link: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Pk_JZXq4S9WxKgj2W8t8cQ

06/06/2026

Courageous compassion, prophetic witness, and faithful engagement in a hurting world are all a part of being a disciple of Jesus, the Peaceful One. Join Blake Smith and Linda Stanbridge in a conversation that explores difficult questions surrounding advocacy, empathy, media attention, and the call to stand with vulnerable communities while affirming the worth and dignity of all people. Grounded in Christian discipleship and peacemaking, the discussion offers practical ways to move beyond awareness toward meaningful action.

🎧 Listen on your favorite podcast app or on our site: https://www.faithunfilteredpodcast.org/grounds-for-peace-a-letter-to-the-michigan-mission-center/

06/03/2026

It's always Pride Month in the Michigan Mission Center! We are proud to highlight our 12 congregations who have completed a program to become intentionally welcoming to and more educated about the LGBTQIA2S+ community.

In 2013, Community of Christ in the United States voted to approve same-sex marriage and ordination of people in same-sex relationships. Some congregations have entered into an intentional process with our partner organization, Harmony - Advocacy, Education, Resources to become an official Welcoming and Affirming Congregation.

Thank you to each of the congregations who have completed this program with Harmony:

Bay City
Beyond the Horizon (online)
Big Rapids
Blue Water
Capital Area
East Lansing
Kalamazoo
Mt. Pleasant
Riverview
Spiral – A Space of Welcome
Waterford
West Branch

Learn more about our commitment to inclusion by visiting our website: https://cofchristmi.org/inclusivity/

05/31/2026

🕊️One who breathes peace, you promised us the Holy Spirit, and today we celebrate its presence among us in this very place! Thank you for this Helper, whose closeness we sometimes see, sometimes feel, but always know.

As winds signal the change of seasons,
as fire warms the cold,
as breezes carry butterflies on their migration,
as embers hold the hope of renewal,
inspire us to bring peace wherever it is needed.

As peace flows in every language, open our eyes to the small corners in need of peace. Open our arms to hold another, quiet our voices to listen in the commotion, and strengthen our shoulders for the hard work ahead.

In the gentle and just name of Jesus, Amen.🙏

05/27/2026

In early May, Linda Stanbridge (MCP) and Angel Foster (Mt. Pleasant) traveled to the Churches for Middle East Peace Joint Advocacy Summit in Washington, DC. In this new episode of Faith Unfiltered Podcast, Angel, Linda, and two other Community of Christ attendees, Steve and Bob, share their experiences at the conference, visiting with their legislators, and their perspectives on current advocacy opportunities for Palestine.

You can listen to that episode here:
https://www.faithunfilteredpodcast.org/838-grounds-for-peace-cmep-advocacy-summit-26/

To learn more about the crisis in Gaza and how to faithfully discuss this concern, please check out resources made available by the Michigan Mission Center (Repost from March):
https://cofchristmi.org/2026/03/06/crisis-in-gaza-resources-for-engagement/

We are sharing these resources as part of a broader effort to engage with current events where they intersect with our enduring principles, especially worth of all persons. Further episodes in a series about the genocide in Gaza and conflict across the middle east are forthcoming and will be shared when available.

For more information
-See the World Church’s Peace and Justice Team statement on Gaza, which can be found here: https://cofchrist.org/news/excerpt-of-statement-on-gaza/.
-See the link letter from Churches for Middle East Peace addressing the war in Gaza which the church signed. (https://cmep.org/july-2024-global-bishops-letter/)

05/27/2026

Check out these great photos from last year's K-2 Youth and Adult Overnight camp at Sanford Campground! We're so excited for this year's upcoming camps and we hope you'll join us for a one-day camp for kindergarteners-second grade!

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What is the K-2 Youth and Adult Overnight Camp?

This camp is designed for our youngest campers (kindergarten through second grade and their family) with the hope of introducing them to their first camping experience. This one-night camp allows parents and campers to make memories, play games, and meet new camp friends!

Campers and their adult guardian share together in a typical day at camp, take classes, and spend one night at camp. This allows campers to build confidence and excitement about summer camp!

Bring a kid in your life to come and experience camp for the first time!

https://michiganyouthcamps.org/k-2-camper-adult-overnight-camp/

June 6-7, 2026 | Director: Tammy Morford
Sanford Campground, 3500 N West River Rd, Sanford, MI 48657

August 21-22, 2026 | Director: Nancy McClellan
Blue Water Campground, 7291 County Farm Rd, Lexington, MI 48450

September 19-20, 2026 | Director: Grace King, Kimberly King
Park of the Pines, 4094 Springwater Beach Rd, Boyne City, MI 49712

05/23/2026

Experience a moment of peace with "Not Alone," a short guided meditation and original poem for Pentecost.

“Not Alone" was written and narrated by Chizaso Chunga and produced at Community of Christ's International Resource Summit 2026 in the Philippines. This short spiritual practice invites you to pause, breathe, and remember that you are never alone.

Use this meditation in worship, small groups, or your personal devotional time.

Experience a moment of peace with "Not Alone," a short guided meditation and original poem for Pentecost.“Not Alone" was written and narrated by Chizaso Chun...