Snowmass Chapel Mountaineer, July 24

Colorado is a magnificent place. Each of us likely has different favorite attributes that come to mind when we think of the Centennial State.

Whether the mountains, snow covered peaks, scree fields, the varying redness and earth tones of rocks and soil, crystal clear rivers, deeply carved canyons, rich blue skies, puffy white clouds whose shapes and forms are only found in the Rocky Mountain West, or the assortment of creatures great and small; all who experience Colorado’s splendor are tremendously blessed. I have long cherished Aspen trees. Whether it is the quaking leaves, robust green color, or the white bark, Aspens are special. But there is something about Aspens that intrigue me perhaps the most. Vast stands of Aspens can all arise from a singular root system making trees that appear to be unique, actually genetically identical.

Root systems often spread out over a large number of acres as shoots from the root system spring upward toward the light. Aspen groves are one of the largest living organisms on earth. While we may not see it on the surface, thousands of Aspens can be joined together as one under ground.

Often when I take a walk or a hike through stands of Aspens, I think about this reality. It causes me to wonder what life would be like and how communities might be transformed if more and more people recognized and embraced the truth that as human beings, we all share one root system.

Before and at the time when Jesus walked this earth, people understood humanity’s inherent interconnectedness. A person’s identity was, by definition, communal. The “I” was defined by the “we.”

In other words, long ago, people thought about themselves and their communities differently than most people do today. How one viewed the self was entirely dependent on the interdependence of people. I am afraid that in our era, often the “I” supersedes the “we”.

Groves of Aspen trees, I believe, are a God given image for how God intends for us to live as human beings. We all have the same root system (God). Despite surface differences, we are far more alike than different. What we have in common with others should be the starting point for managing conflicts with each other. When one person struggles or suffers, we all do.

Although some degree of self-sufficiency and ego strength are necessary for resiliency, we were made for interdependence upon God and one another.

Desmond Tutu once said something like the following. “Just as God is inherently about a relationship (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), as we were made in the image of God, we too are ultimately defined through our relationships and interdependencies with others.”

God never intended for any of us to have to go at it alone. We were created by God for each other. We were made by God to be defined by others. We were formed by God to live for and through others. Perhaps this is why one day Mother Teresa said that the greatest affliction or poverty of Western culture is loneliness and isolation.

Robert +

Charla is out of the office this week, offering up her leadership to 14 high school teens as they Surf & Serve their way around Southern California. Check out her blog to learn about the impact the teens are having on the world… and the impact the world is having on the teens! The group returns this weekend. Please pray for their safety while traveling. Click here to see pictures of the group in action.

Children, Youth & Family News & Events

Mother Daughter Retreat Aug 15-16, for high school juniors and seniors
Space is filling up! Reserve your spot today. This will be a very special retreat time for moms and teen daughters. Scheduled for Friday night and Saturday one week before school resumes, it’s a great way to start your school year off on the right foot! The retreat is facilitated by Kara Gilbert, Project 18 Program Leader, and Adelaide Waters, founder of Women’s Forum. It promises to be SPECIAL! Registration is $195 per mom/daughter pair. Space is limited! Reserve your spot today!

Bible Memory Verse – Play with a Full Deck!
Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me. ~ Matthew 25:40
You can find each week’s Bible memory verse here.

Join Pastor Robert for a July Bible study for all:
Romans Chapter Eight: Climbing to a Place of Confident Faith
Take a journey to a stronger faith! If you’ve ever had feelings like, “I’m never going to change,” or “Life is too hard,” Romans 8 is the chapter for you! Tom Holladay (the same Pastor who wrote the popular 40 Days of Love) teaches this video series beginning at the bottom and moving to the top of Saddleback Mountain to help us see clearly the journey from doubt to faith—from discouragement to hope—that God has for us. This class takes place after church service (10:30 to noon) and continues this Sunday, July 27.

Great Chapters of the Bible is a video-based small group series that will take you through some of the most life-changing truths in God’s Word. Each chapter of the Bible is great because God wrote it all. But there are certain chapters that speak to our hearts and minds in an especially deep way. Romans Chapter 8 is one of them!

Altar Guild Training this Sunday
Come learn an easy and beautiful way to help!
Our altar is consistently beautiful. It is a central piece of our worship and communion. It takes no more than ten minutes before and ten minutes after the service to set up and break down. Could you please join the dedicated team that does this important work? Arrive by 8:15 this Sunday the 27th and Sue de Campo will explain what’s needed and give fool-proof handouts about doing this simple yet meaningful task. RSVP is helpful so Sue de Campo (300-1223 or [email protected]) knows whom to expect. Thanks so much!!!!!

Join the Gospel Choir!
A note from Music Director, Paul Dankers-
They say that the Early Bird gets the worm–only I’m hoping that in this case, the early bird gets lots of talented singers! I’m writing to you to let you know that I will be directing a gospel choir again this year at Snowmass Chapel. Rehearsals will be August 10 & 17 from 10:30 to noon and August 14 & 21 from 7 to 8:30 PM. We will sing on Sunday, August 24 at 9 AM at Snowmass Chapel. I’m writing to you early because I know how busy your summers are and I want you to get these dates on your calendar. Please plan to join us to perform this especially fun music! RSVP to [email protected] or 300-1330. Thank you!

Shop on Amazon? Help the Chapel by using Amazon Smile! Log on to Amazon Smile (for free, with your regular Amazon log in) and select Snowmass Chapel. By doing so, and shopping this way, you will be helping the Chapel earn money. For each “eligible” sale, 0.5% will donated to the Chapel! So shop away and benefit the Chapel. Click here to get started! If you have any questions or want help, feel free to contact Caroline. Keep up with the Chapel through Video Did you like something you saw this Sunday and want to share it with somebody who needs it? Are you going to be away for a Sunday and don’t want to miss? Are you a second home owner and you want to be able to check in with us from your other home? Do you sometimes have to work on Sundays, but want to catch up with us when you get home? Snowmass Chapel now features live streaming of our Sunday Services. You can watch the entire service live at 9 AM on Sunday morning, or you can view it later in its entirety. The live stream can be watched from our YouTube channel or directly from the Snowmass Chapel website. Just go to http://www.snowmasschapel.org/worship/worship.html#stream and choose between the current/upcoming live stream or last week’s live stream. If you don’t want to see the whole service but just want to catch the sermon or music, we edit and post all of the sermons and most of the music by the end of the week. You can find this also at our YouTube channel or by going to http://www.snowmasschapel.org/worship/sermons.html. We have been uploading our sermons and music since July 15, 2012, so you can even find older sermons and music that you might have missed. You can help us get the word out by sharing our content (both live streams and archived sermons and music) on Facebook. You can also leave comments and “subscribe” to us on YouTube and “like” us on Facebook If you have any questions or ideas for our online presence, don’t hesitate to contact Music & IT director, Paul Dankers at [email protected]. Thanks for watching!

The Hiking Group is Hitting the Trails – Join Us!
Weekly hikes take place in and around Snowmass and usually last 1-3 hours. The group has hiked up Government Trail, up Snowmass Mountain to Elk Camp, and the Rim Trail to name a few. Please join us – the more the merrier! Contact Sally Sparhawk to get on the list and receive weekly hike updates. Happy Trails! Contact Sally Sparhawk or call 970-618-1442.

The Story Bible Study – hosted by Robert and Oz Mandel
Summary: “The Greatest Story ever told”; God goes to great lengths to rescue lost and hurting people. That is what The Story is all about—the story of the Bible, God’s great love affair with humanity. Condensed into 31 chapters, The Story sweeps you into the progression of Bible characters and events from Genesis to Revelation. Using the text of the NIV Bible, it allows the stories, poems, and teachings of the Bible to read like a novel. When: Thursday evenings at 6:30pm. Now-August 4th, 2014. Where: Gnarnia at Snowmass Chapel. Free to attend. Drop ins welcome and encouraged! (Also, children and families are invited to attend.) Purchase The Story new or used on Amazon.com. For more information, please contact Robert Mandel at (970) 923-4429.

Thursday, July 24

AA Meeting 12 Noon – 12:45pm “Lunch Crunch” meeting in the Fireside Room

“The Story” Small Group 6:30pm in the Gnar-nia Room

Sunday, July 27

Christian Worship 9:00am in the Chapel
This week we have Blythe Gaissert singing, accompanied by Karen Roethlisberger Verm and Blythe will be leading the singing.

Fellowship/social time with refreshments 10:00am following Sunday morning service

Bible Study – Romans Chapter Eight: Climbing to a Place of Confident Faith 10:30am – 12Noon

Thursday, July 31

AA Meeting 12 Noon – 12:45pm “Lunch Crunch” meeting in the Fireside Room

“The Story” Small Group 6:30pm in the Gnar-nia Room

So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

Romans 12:5