116^th    Weekly Edition                                     2009  GRR CURRENTS

JOYS and PRAYER CONCERNS

Congratulations to Rev. David and Rinda Coleman at FCC Greater New Orleans, LA, on the birth of their newest granddaughter.  Avery Cecilia Capaci, born Sept 11^th.  She weighs 7 lbs.10 oz. and 19 inches long.  Mom, Dad, Big Brother Coleman, and all the extended family are fine.

Rev. Josh Baird has returned from Eagle, Alaska where he was working with Disciple Volunteering following flooding that occurred in the area.  Thanks to all for your prayers.

This weekend is HOMECOMING for First Christian Church of Greater New Orleans !

October 4 will be the Covenant of Call ceremony (Installation) for Rev. Kevin Robbins at First Christian Church in Little Rock, AR. 

NEWS and

EVENTS

Disciples Women.  The deadline for the next issue of the ‘Encourager’ is here.  Please submit your articles as soon as possible to the regional office, office@grrcc.org.  Thanks so much.

On September 18th and 19th First Christian Church of Sherwood (2803 East Kiehl, Sherwood) hosted a workshop on Spiritual Maturity.  This workshop looked at what spiritual maturity is and is not, misguided effort to reach it and tools to help achieve it.   

The East Percy Street Christian Church family located at 100 East Percy Street in Greenwood, MS invites you to our 89th Church Anniversary on Sunday, September 20, 2009 at 11:00 a.m.  Our guest speaker for that day will be Elder Ramier Clay from Temple of Deliverance COGIC in Memphis, TN.

Foundation for Ministry Course.  Next Session begins soon……

The Foundations Course for Ministry looks at 24 areas of ministry giving helpful perspectives and practical tools.  It is intended for licensed ministers, church staff members, and those discerning a call into the ministry.  The Course takes place over 13 weeks and is a combination of 12 weekly webinars (1¼ hours each) and two Saturday gatherings.  Topics covered include the Bible, Spiritual Disciplines, Connecting People to God, Ethics, Administration, Conflict, Worship, Stewardship, Group Dynamics, Counseling, Communication Skills, Theology, Preaching/Teaching, Learning Methods, Church History, Disciples of Christ, Pastoral Care, Goal Setting/Evaluating, Relationships, Wedding/Funeral & Special Services.

  Some of the comments from participants are:

       “These classes have been very helpful to me. I would recommend anyone considering the ministry to participate.”                                                         Pam Decker, FCC, Newport, AR

        “These classes are really very well taught and explained. I feel that I have learned a lot from them and am sure that anyone who takes these classes will have a much broader outlook on everything from Spiritual Discipline to the Bible. I am very happy to say I personally have learned a whole lot more than I expected in such a short time.”           Marilou Coins, FCC, Sherwood, AR

        “I think the variety of topics that are covered are very good. I like the pace that you go over the material. It never drags and the information is very good. I’ve learned a lot “

                                                                                              Karen Allen, FCC, Guthrie, OK

The Foundations Course is taught by Rev. Stephen Wallace and Dr. Julie Wallace (licensed psychologist). Cost for the entire course is $395.  To sign up or find out more email Rev. Stephen Wallace at swallacegs@aol.com or call (501) 217-9129.

Central Christian Church, Hattiesburg, MS on Sunday, October 11 will be celebrating their church's founding.  They will be having a group photo of members and friends of the church following the worship service.  Also a covered dish luncheon will follow the worship service.

FCC Meridian has a unique Raffle for Missions -- see attached -- tickets and a place to stay for the Arkansas / Ole Miss game on the Ole Miss 20 yard line...  Now, you realize here in the GRR, right here in the GRR (think "Music Man"...) we have LSU, Louisiana Tech, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, U of A, Arkansas State, UA/Pine Bluff, to name a few... and of course let's include TCU in the mix...  so I'm just sayin'... anyone who wins those tickets can wear whatever they want to the game and root for whichever team they want!!  It's for MISSION... and that's what we are about!  Barb

Martha Grace Reese, author of the highly acclaimed Unbinding the Gospel:  Real Life Evangelism, will direct research to discover, evaluate, and work with the dynamic of congregational transformation through faith development and faith sharing. The Lilly Endowment has awarded a major new four-year grant to support this second phase of the Mainline Evangelism Project, which will be called the Unbinding the Gospel Project.  The purposes of the Unbinding the Gospel Project phase are:

     1. to provide coaching that will support 1000+ congregations to use the Real Life Evangelism Series (Unbinding the Gospel, Unbinding Your Church, and Unbinding Your Heart) in the most systematic and effective way possible, and

     2. to encourage pastors and lay leaders in 1000 congregations to work together as "field researchers," in "Communities of inquiry," to help discover the dynamics of church transformation.

"The most important point of the Unbinding the Gospel Project will be to help churches and their leaders slow down and pray. We believe with all our hearts that if we will ask Jesus to use us, and if we follow humbly and simply, that Spirit can use us to reach tens of thousands of people who do not have a conscious relationship with Christ, or who are not part of a loving faith community. The gifted coaches who will be working with churches are praying. I'm praying. We are looking for pastors and leaders who yearn to be part of something new, something real, something powerful for God." Congregations interested in being a part of the study may contact Reese at www.GraceNet.info.

Church Law and Tax Update.  Does a church have a legal right to keep people from coming to church? Let's say an individual disrupts your worship service to the extent that your members fear for their safety. You ask this person to leave the church and not return, but the following week he comes back. How should your greeters or ushers respond? Can you legally prohibit him from accessing the church's property?
Our new download, Dealing with Dangerous People, takes a long look at this topic, arming you with practical information to help you act decisively when threatening situations arise. Richard Hammar also offers a legal perspective on the topic on our newest site, TheYourChurchBlog.com. Also in this issue:  Protecting Your Church's Tax-Exempt Status

• Do house churches need to apply for tax-exempt status? Richard Hammar addresses this topic in a new video.
• Coming in Church Law & Tax Report: What the IRS will look for when they audit ministers.  Subscribe today to receive the November/December issue!

Union Avenue Christian Church:  DOES YOUR CONGREGATION HAVE STUDENT(S) COMING TO ST. LOUIS?  Union Avenue CC, located in the heart of the St. Louis area, would like to be a church home away from home for students at Washington University, Saint Louis University, St. Louis College of Pharmacy, UM St. Louis, etc.  All visitors, including Cardinals, Rams and Blues fans, are welcome.  If you know of someone coming to St. Louis, please help us to reach out to them.   Send contact information to Suzanne Webb, Senior Pastor at: swebb@union-avenue.org or call 314 361 8844.

New Generation Christian Church.  2811 Martin Street, Pascagoula, MS 39561

Pastors, I need your assistance in our search for transportation for the church.  We are in need of a van or small bus to enhance our community ministry.  I am asking for you to reach out to the churches in the region and inquire as to whether they have a van or bus for sale or donation.  Any assistance in this matter would be greatly appreciated.  Also, the new sanctuary is wonderful.  The church is excited about its new location in Pascagoula and we are also as excited about reaching out into the highly diverse community in which we are located.  We are looking forward to all the things that the Lord has in store for us.  We are also planning to have a dedication service in the near future as soon as it is not so hectic with regard to scheduling. Thank you once again and God bless each of you.  Yours In Christ, Rev. James "Jay" Green.  www.newgenerationchristianchurch.com.

ONLINE Certificate in Pastoral Ministry Courses.  The Missouri School of Religion has four online Certificate in Pastoral Ministry Courses offered this year.  You now have the option of registering for a course online with a credit card.  Just click on the Register Online button.  Please remember that if you order text through Amazon, to use the link on the Missouri School of Religion website, they donate 4% of your sale to us, with no charge to you.  For more information, feel free to contact me.  Krystal Jacobs, Office Administrator, Missouri School of Religion, Center for Rural Ministry, P.O. Box 104685, Jefferson City, MO 65110-4685, Phone:  573-635-1187, Fax:  573-636-2889, Email:  krystalmsr@earthlink.net;  New web:  www.missourischoolofreligion.org

Available Now from Chalice Press: A Travel Guide to Christian Faith (by Dawn Weaks) has three components. The Before You Go booklet gives first-time seekers an easy-to-understand synopsis of the Christian faith. If they wish to learn more, the Traveler's Edition serves as a student workbook, while the Tour Leader is for the instructor.
This group package offers a 25% discount off the regular full price, and includes:

            ·one (1) copy of the Tour Leader

            ·ten (10) copies of the Traveler's Edition

            ·ten (10) copies of the Before You Go

To order, call 1-800-366-3383 or click here:  A Travel Guide to Christian Faith Group Package.

Cyrus N. White, President and Publisher, CBP/Chalice Press/Lucas Park Books

Disciples Benevolent Services.  Employment opportunity that is currently available with Disciples Benevolent Services.  Advertisement and job description for the position are attached.  We have begun the nation-wide search this week. If you have any questions about the position, please do not hesitate to contact me.  I can be reached at cgraber@nbacares.org.  Sincerely, Cheryl A. Graber, Director of HR Services.

Religious Worker Visas - new rules for employers.  Attached are new rules for employers of religious workers who are here in the United States on R-1 visas.  Rev. Jennifer Riggs, Director

Refugee and Immigration Ministries, jriggs@dhm.disciples.org, (888)346-2631 toll free or

http://www.discipleshomemissions.org/rim.

STAFF UPDATES

From Barbara Jones:  Spent Monday - Wednesday in Seattle doing a Regional Minister orientation for their new RM, Sandy Messick.  Will be with the Disciples Women at FCC Pine Bluff speaking on the Dominican Republic Monday night, and then will be on vacation until September 30.

From Rick Hamilton:  This weekend I will be preaching at FCC Monroe, LA then offering a congregational Stewardship Workshop.

Search Committees I am currently supporting:

FCC Harrison, AR (Assoc/Youth)

FCC Sherwood, AR

Please contact me, in confidence, to inquire about any of the above Ministry Opportunities

From Vivian Bryant:  Preparing for the DW LA Retreat to be held at the Tall Timbers Retreat Center in Woodworth, LA on October 2^nd – 4^th.

From Michael Elmore:   I would encourage you to check out the web page for The Academy of Spiritual Leadership, it is a wonderful program that has been developed over the past 12 years to develop Leadership, lay and clergy, in our churches http://www.la-umc.org/ssl/asl.php

Sunday I will worship at FCC Greater New Orleans in Metairie, LA as they celebrate their homecoming.

Search Committees I am currently supporting:

FCC Leesville, LA  

FCC Vicksburg, MS

FCC Lake Charles, LA

FCC Gulfport, MS

Broadmoor CC, Shreveport, LA

From Vance Moore:  On Friday I stopped by the Disciples Women Retreat at Duncan Gray Center in Canton MS.  I enjoyed a wonderful visit with Loma Sullivan.  She filled me in on what the OK Region is doing in the Dominican Republic.  My preparation for Global MMI training in October and my first trip to the Dominican Republic in January are the next steps for outreach to that area.  Loma brings a powerful message of a great need for Christ and His compassion/love in a place so close yet so far. I look forward to representing you and to your involvement as we become “vessels” of His compassion/love to the street children.

     Now, I gotta tell ya,  :) it was about 9:15 pm or so when I was leaving; most of the women were in a “meeting?”.  I heard all sorts of laughing, giggling and just plain ole’ carrying on. Someone told me that they were in a business meeting!  Seems to me they were having way too much fun for just a plain ole’ “business” meeting.

     Saturday morning I stopped by to bring GRR greetings.   Guess what? Now there were twice as many of them, but they were still laughing, giggling and just plain ole’ carrying on.  Now ladies, the guys don’t “carry on” when we meet?  :)

     This Sunday morning I’ll preach and worship with FCC in Blytheville, AR and then on Sunday afternoon travel on up to the Mammoth Spring/Hardy, AR area to speak/fellowship with those churches.

Search Committees I am currently supporting:

     Highland Drive Christian Church—Jonesboro, AR

From Sara Rozzell:  Fall Fandango registration forms are DUE on September 23.  Forms are available at www.grrcc.org on the youth page.

Fall Fandango will be held October 2^nd-4^th for grades 7^th thru 9^th at Camp Couchdale outside of Hot Springs, AR.  Registration fee is $55. per participant and $110. after deadline.  Send all forms to the regional office at P.O. Box 192058, Little Rock, AR, 72219.

(All youth must be accompanied by adult sponsors).