The Central Rocky Mountain Region of the
Christian Church  (Disciples of Christ)

2950 Tennyson St., Suite 300
Denver, CO 80212
Phone: (303)561-1790
Toll Free: (866)276-7362
Fax: (303)561-1795

Welcome to Central Rocky Mountain Region website.  We are a part of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada.  To find out more about us, click here.

This website is designed to keep you up-to-date and in touch with the Central Rocky Mountain Region.  We hope you find it informative and helpful.  Most pages have a “Comments” section for you to let us know what you think. Please do so!  We’d love to hear from you!  If you are eligible and want to post on password protected pages, please e-mail Sandra at CRMR_CTO@crmrdoc.org to obtain the password.

This is where we will be posting upcoming Regional, District, and Local Congregation events which are open to all.  (You will find church addresses and websites under the “Who We Are” tab.)  Click here to go to the CRMR Calendar of Events.

Upcoming Events:

Save the Date:  May 4 – 6, 2012: Spring Feast (formerly Regional Assembly).  See the Spring Feast Tab above for more information as it becomes available.

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Below, you will find the most recent “Word (or two)…” from our Transitional Regional Pastor, José F. Morales Jr.  We hope you enjoy your visit to your website!  Let us know if you have suggestions which will improve this site.

A Word (or two) from our Regional Pastor…
(see below for Jose’s message in Spanish)

The Great Paradox starts at his birth.

The Christian tradition asserts that it is in and through Christ that God’s Reign-God’s Great Paradox-is ushered into our midst. And it has been said that this Reign of God is a paradox in that it turns everything on its head.

To make their point, Bible scholars point to the irony of a King on the Cross to speak of the Great Paradox. And this is true: the Church historically has pointed to the Cross as a demonstration-ironically!-of God’s power (not power over, namely, domination and oppression; but power under, that is, a power to sacrifice, to serve, to live and die for others). Others point to Jesus’ earthly ministry of walking with the “least of these” as a demonstration of the Great Paradox. Again, this is true: kingdom faith, according to Jesus, was embodied in a widow’s two pennies, in an “unclean” woman, and in children.

But the Great Paradox starts when Jesus is still in the womb. Luke’s birth story begins with some major namedropping: “In those days Caesar Augustus …when Quirinius governed Syria.” (Luke 2.1,2) But just when you think this is a story of “the rich and the famous,” Luke does a great reversal and makes the most unlikely characters, in the most unlikely town, the center of divine activity: Joseph, Bethlehem, Mary, a manger, shepherds working the third shift! These supposed “nobodies” become the leading protagonists in God’s salvation drama. These small town folk from good-for-nothing Bethlehem, who were no match for the “wise” and “powerful” bureaucrats of Jerusalem, were precisely the ones God uses to initiate his paradoxical Kingdom through Christ. Wow!

The power of Christmas is that there are no “nobodies” in God’s saving work in the world. We all have purpose and power in God’s scheme of things. And we don’t have to wait until the Cross or the Resurrection to see the gospel taking full affect in the lives of people. All the transforming potential of the Kingdom can be found ironically cradled in a manger.

The Christmas message is simple yet compelling: “You’re not a ‘nobody’! You matter to God!” Now, if that isn’t good news, then I don’t know what is!

¡Feliz Navidad!

José F. Morales Jr.
Transitional Regional Minister

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La Gran Paradoja empieza con su nacimiento.

La tradición cristiana afirma que ese Reino-esa Gran Paradoja-se inicia en nuestros medios en la persona de Jesucristo. Y se dice que el Reino de Dios es una paradoja porque pone todo de cabeza.

Los estudiosos de la Biblia dicen que la ironía de un Rey en la Cruz demuestra que el Reino es una Gran Paradoja. Y esto es verdad: a través de la historia, la Iglesia ha visto irónicamente en la crucifixión el poder de Dios demostrado-un poder no para oprimir, sino para servir; no para dominar sino para dar vida. Otros ven esta Gran Paradoja en el ministerio terrenal de Jesús, durante cual el acompañó a los desechados y despreciados del mundo. Y esto también es verdad: la fe basada en el Reino de Dios, de acuerdo a Jesús, fue encarnada en las dos monedas de la viuda, en la mujer con el flujo de sangre, y en los niños.

Pero la Gran Paradoja comienza cuando Jesús está todavía en la matriz. San Lucas comienza su versión del nacimiento de Jesús con mencionando gente de poder e influencia: «…en aquellos días que salió un edicto de César Augusto…cuando Cirenio era gobernador de Siria…» (Lucas 2.1,2) Pero lo que empieza como una historia de los poderosos y ricos termina siendo una historia que gira todo de cabeza. En esta historia navideña, los supuestamente «cualquieras» o «nadies» (José, María, y los pastores en el campo) de un pueblito insignificante (Belén) son hechos los protagonistas claves del drama de salvación. Personas de ninguna consecuencia, de un ranchito pobre, son los escogidos de Dios y forman parte del núcleo de la actividad redentora de Dios. ¡Gloria a Dios!

El poder de la Navidad es que en los ojos de Dios, no somos unos «cualquieras», no somos unos «nadies». Todos tenemos poder y propósito en el esquema divina de Dios. Y no tenemos que esperar a la Crucifixión o la Resurrección para ver el evangelio tomar efecto en las vidas del pueblo. Podemos encontrarnos con el poder del Reino en su totalidad acostado irónicamente en un pesebre.

El mensaje de la Navidad es sencillo pero profundo: «¡Usted no es nadie! ¡Usted es importante para Dios!» ¡Eso sí son buenas nuevas!

Merry Christmas!

José F. Morales Jr.
Ministro Regional Transicional