Thurman Family Update

Dear Christ Church Anglican family,

We hope this short note finds you doing well. By the time you read this we will already be in Europe. We wanted to take a moment to share with you what we will be doing in Europe over this next year and also to communicate our deep gratitude for you in our lives.

We came to CCA six years ago and before we stepped into the Sanctuary, we were greeted with the warm and genuine smile of Grant Weicht. This warm welcome has never waned but only grown over the years. You have walked closely with us in many ways, such as helping us establish our fledgling work of Apprenticeship to Jesus. You have supported our family through sickness and through hard times. CCA, you are our family and we thank God for each one of you. You have been a tangible touch point of the love of God to us. James Bryan Smith says it this way, “God has created a world in which we are the ones who care for one another.  To put it another way, God cares for us through one another.”

A2J Gathering on June 4, where we were prayed for and sent out. Fr. Chris sent a wonderful prayer and blessing for us on behalf of CCA and Don and Genie Street were there along a handful of other CCA members.

 

We value your prayers

We left for Europe on Tuesday morning, June 7. Click here to read a short history of or involvement in Europe and also our purposes for moving there. We feel for the most part ready for this life-changing move. We have been astounded by God’s love and provision through our family and friends. When we slow down we are acutely aware of not only how excited we are but also the fears and concerns for the challenges ahead of us. It has been hard not to be affected by the constant reminders in the news lately, on the heightened terror threats in Europe. We ask specifically for wisdom in how best to communicate these real risks to our children and how to prepare them to handle such a difficult scenario.

Itinerary for our first two months

Rome, Italy – Three day meetings with the John 17 team culminating in a private meeting with Pope Francis on June 10th at the Vatican to fellowship and pray together.

Wittenberg, Germany – Participating in the fifth of six international gatherings.  The goals of Wittenberg 2017 are:

+ The removal of hostility between followers of Jesus
+ The healing of damage caused by centuries of hostility
+ The deepening of reconciled diversity

Trieb & Darmstadt, Germany – connecting with different Wittenberg 2017 team members including the Evangelical Sisters of Mary (the same sisters who started Canaan in the Desert in Phoenix).

Berlin, Germany – Connecting and serving with Antioch Network team members who live there.

Lodz, Poland – Supporting George and Hanna Miley, who have been invited to testify to the power of Christ to heal and transform in the very place Hanna’s parents were held in the ghetto just before their deaths on May 3, 1942.

Taize, France – connecting with the Taize community who have deeply influenced our understanding of reconciliation and prayer. We hope to encourage some of the brothers of Taize to be involved in Wittenberg 2017.