February 26, 2010

              134^th    Weekly Edition                                     2010  GRR CURRENTS

JOYS and PRAYER CONCERNS

Laura Cook Update.  On Tuesday, February 16, following her regular infusion at Arkansas Children's Hospital, Laura suffered a Grand Mal Seizure about 2:00 p.m. while with Trela as they were leaving a store.  She was taken by ambulance to UAMS and she had another Grand Mal Seizure while in the ER and probably had additional small seizures.  They believe the seizures were the result of a decrease in her anti-seizure medication that began following a visit to her Neurologist at UAMS on Friday of last week. 

She was admitted to a room about 10:00 p.m. and started running fever which had been going off and on for the past few days.  Since Tuesday night they have done a CT scan, an MRI, chest X-Ray, and a Spinal Tap which was done this morning.  Lots of blood was drawn for labs as well.  Laura handled everything incredibly well being at a new hospital with new people and all of the sticks and procedures. 

A non-specific infection was discovered in her spinal fluid.  They believe this infection is a product of her immune deficiency and may have contributed to the seizures.  They have increased her seizure medicine and discharged Laura this afternoon with orders to see her neurologist within the next four weeks.  

The neurologists assigned to Laura during her hospitalization wonder if this is true multiple sclerosis, so they're doing another MS panel.  Once again, Laura's medical presentation is not that of a typical MS patient.  We should know the results of everything in the coming days and we'll let you know.   

Love to all, Miles and Trela Cook, Senior Minister, Park Hill Christian Church

Rev. Patrick and Dr. Kimberly Bentrott, our missionaries in Haiti, have been evacuated and are back in the United States.  To read their heart-felt story and reflections on their experiences of adoption, leaving behind their ministries in Haiti, and becoming the ones receiving care rather than giving care, their blog is a must-read...  especially in light of the missionaries that have been charged with trying to leave Haiti with children without proper documentation... http://kimandpatrick.blogspot.com/

Haiti Update; Ecu-Build in Iowa; 1,251 Refugees Resettled.  Greetings from Week of Compassion! As we continue to keep the people of Haiti in our prayers, we also continue to receive more and more news about the situation on the ground. Chris Herlinger, Church World Service Communications Officer, has filed a number of excellent reports that help further nuance what has been reported by U.S. news outlets.  Click here to see the latest updates.

Wendy White, the daughter of Rev. Linda White, is now out of the hospital, though we expect another surgery soon to install a second dialysis catheter, since her first cath isn't working properly. She is still on oxygen and high-powered antibiotics for the pneumonia, and she is very weak. We are deeply grateful for the prayers and concern of our friends throughout the region. Linda

NEWS and

EVENTS

Want to check your congregation’s giving?  Disciples Mission Fund has a new look online! The link below will take you to Disciples Mission Fund's website to view Comparative reports of offerings. www.disciplesmissionfund.org.

Foundation Course for Ministry.  The Foundations for Ministry Course which covers 24 topics over a 14 week period is scheduling a new session to begin in May.  If you would like to participate or to receive more information please contact: Rev. Stephen Wallace at (501) 217-9129 or swallacegs@aol.com.

Disciples Women.  As we continue to work on our Quadrennial Assembly service project to bring an end to human trafficking, I wanted to bring to your attention this new film, co-produced by George Clooney, that deals with the sexual exploitation of children.  Called “Playground,” we have written to the publicist of the film to see if there is a possibility of having a showing at the theaters across from the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro during QA next year.  Meanwhile, please help publicize this new film so if there is a showing in your area women might be encouraged to attend.  Adonna Boman.  http://www.nestfoundation.org/film/.

Click here to see the latest issue of ‘VOICES’ newsletter and ‘Umaja’ newsletter.

Quadrennial Assembly Pre-Event Opportunities. 

Wish someone would explain what the Disciples Mission Fund is and how it works? Want to become a Ministry and Mission Interpreter (MMI) for the church? Love to get your hands involved in mission and see tangible results?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you won’t want to miss the Quadrennial Assembly pre-events. Special note: Because these events are expected to fill up quickly, you MUST be signed up for these trainings by April 15, whether you have already registered for QA by then or not. Read on for more information and instructions on how to be sure you’re not left out.

QA Speakers, Preachers and Teachers.

Opening Night, Wednesday, June 23^rd   Bishop Vashti McKenzie serves as the 117^th elected and consecrated bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and is the first woman to reach this level of leadership. Bishop McKenzie is a former journalist and is often described as “an electrifying speaker.”

Thursday, June 24^th   Joanne Kagiwada is a native Californian and retired attorney. Her law degree led her to direct Disciples work in international affairs and to represent the Disciples at the National Council of Churches. She was instrumental in lobbying for the official government apology to Japanese Americans who were interned during World War II. Her late husband, David, is remembered on David Kagiwada Memorial Sunday for his leadership of Disciples Asian American ministries.

Friday, June 25^th   Rev. Evelyn Nieves is a native New Yorker and former elementary school teacher. Evelyn and her husband, Moises, also a Disciples pastor, founded the Christian Family Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Bronx in 1996.

Saturday, June 26^th   Rev. Amy C. Gopp is also a Disciple who serves as the Executive Director for Week of Compassion, the relief, refugee, and development ministry of the Disciples church. Amy served for four years as a peace activist in Croatia and Bosnia.

Sunday, June 27^th   Rev. Dr. Sharon E. Watkins, General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) will serve as the closing speaker. The Rev. Watkins has served as a pastor and missionary in Congo (the former Zaire.) She was recently recognized by President Obama as one of America’s most influential religious leaders.

Daily Bible Study will be led by Dr. Sharyn Dowd, Pastor for Spiritual Formation and Mission Engagement at First Baptist Church of Decatur, Georgia. Sharyn is a New Testament scholar and author of two books on the Gospel of Mark. She taught New Testament and Greek at Lexington Theological Seminary (KY) and Biblical Studies at Baylor University (TX).

Be at QA…you don’t want to miss any of these outstanding women!!

Disciples Institute.  Disciples of Christ – 19^th Century Roots – 21^st Century Mission.

One-Day workshop at Park Hill Christian Church, Saturday, February 27, 2010, Dr. Amy Artman, Instructor.  As Disciple churches across our nation are looking at redefining their mission and ministries, all of us would probably be surprised to learn the similarities between today’s issues and the issues our founders faced.  We would probably also be impressed by the ways they addressed those issues.  The things we take for granted as Disciples:

·         RESTORATION of NEW TESTAMENT CHRISTIANITY

·         CHRISTIAN UNITY

·         PRIESTHOOD of BELIEVERS

·         OPEN COMMUNION

·         BELIEVER’S BAPTISM

have been part of us from the beginning!

Are these things that the world needs?  If your people could share this good news, would your church be a more vital, more effective, more transformed?  Of course it would!  Take a moment to consider the difference it will make when your people can build on their heritage as they follow God’s Spirit into the future!  Then plan to bring your entire congregation to this workshop!  Each church can bring its entire congregation for a single fee of $200.00!  Contact Deitra Blackwell – 501-517-2474 or deitra.d.blackwell@comcast.net – for more information.

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.

FCC Slidell, LA is building a Community Center on their site in March 2010. The facility will be used as a mission outreach to the community. Disciples Volunteering is sponsoring the Blitz Build. If your church is interested in participating in the build, you can call Brenda Tyler at 317-713-2642 or go to

www.disciplehomemissions.org/Volunteer/SpecialProjects/SpringBreak.htm 

FCC is asking for materials donations form churches, individuals, or companies.

Click here to see the list of materials needed. Contact Josh Baird at 985-778-6915 or at joshbaird@hotmail.com if you can donate. Also, for more information, you can call Rev. Susan Lassalle at 985-643-8623.

Disciples' Bicentennial History Book and Workshops.  There are less than two months left during the Disciples’ Bicentennial Anniversary!   We would like to take this opportunity to remind you of the publication of The Disciples: A Struggle for Reformation, our bicentennial history (2009) authored by D. Duane Cummins.  It is the successor to Journey in Faith, written by McAllister & Tucker in 1972.  The reviews for Cummins' new volume are highly favorable, strong and solid.  
To view more information about Dr. Cummins’ new book, follow your browser to
http://www.chalicepress.com/The-Disciples-Deluxe-Edition-Leather-Hardcover-P169.aspx.  
The Disciples: A Struggle for Reformation is available in a leather hardcover edition and paperback.

cumminsdd@gmail.com, 255 Sears Lane, Swanton, Maryland 21561, 301-387-8088.

FREE DEMOGRAPHIC UPDATES ARE READY!   We know it's possible, with everything going on at the beginning of a new year, you may have forgotten Percept's Annual Data Update! But, for us, it's a big production. We regenerate tens of thousands of custom studies and demographic reports, then store them on our servers so that when you want the latest data for your ministry area, all you have to do is click. You can sign on to Link2Lead and, within a minute, get the latest FirstView or 10 Facts report instantly, for your county, ZIP Code, or a radius around your church.

Go to www.link2lead.com and provide some simple sign in information. In minutes you will know more about the community you are called to serve than you did before. Link2lead data will tell you about the age, income, spiritual priorities, church going habits, and more in YOUR ZIP code. Or, the region can help you generate a custom report. The fees are prepaid through a partnership with the region and Church Extension.

Dear Friends of Council on Christian Unity.  I want to share a quick note with you regarding some recent postings on the CCU website.  Here’s what’s new: 

· There are two new resource materials related to our 100^th Anniversary “Worship Resources throughout the Year”:  February 14 (Transfiguration Sunday in connection with African American History Month); and, March 14 (Fourth Sunday in Lent).
Ron Allen and Linda McKiernan-Allen are offering some excellent worship resources and notes on the lectionary texts that we hope will be of use to congregational pastors and worship committees. (Go to http://www.disciples.org/ccu/100thAnniversaryResources.html) 

· In that link, you will also note that we have listed all of the dates that will be included in this year-long program.  I hope in having the dates in advance that you might anticipate making use of these resources in your congregations.  We hope to post the materials at least four weeks ahead of the Sunday identified. (Go to “ Planning for the Future: Sundays when resources will be offered” on that same webpage) 

· Detailed information is now available for the April 27, 2010 dinner to celebrate CCU’s past and to honor the 25-year ministry of Dr. Paul A. Crow, Jr., as we name him “President Emeritus of the CCU.”  (Go to http://www.disciples.org/ccu/100thAnniversaryResources.html) 

· Christian Churches Together (CCT) has posted its latest Newsletter reporting on its meeting in Seattle on January 13-15, 2010.  This was a very interesting and exciting meeting.  (Go to “Latest Newsletter from Christian Churches Together”  under the “What’s New From the Council” on CCU home-page: http://www.disciples.org/ccu/ )

I do not plan to send out notices every time I update my website.  However, I hope you will go to this website often.  I am trying to keep our website updated and “fresh” with news and resources related to what’s happening in the Council on Christian Unity and the ecumenical movement today.  And, as always, I deeply appreciate receiving your comments and response!

In Christ’s love, Robert Welsh, RWelsh@ccu.disciples.org.

STAFF UPDATES

From Barbara Jones:  Attending the ROSES meeting in Oklahoma City.

From Rick Hamilton:  This weekend I will be at FCC Bentonville for the early service before traveling to Oklahoma City to meet with the ROSES fellowship. ROSES (Regions of the Sun, Equipping and Serving), is the staff fellowship group for Great River, Oklahoma and Southwest Regions.

Search Committees I am currently supporting are:

     Bentonville First (Associate)

     Mountain Home First (Not currently accepting profiles)

     Sherwood First (Not currently accepting profiles)

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

From Michael Elmore:  I will be leaving Sunday for ROSES meeting in Oklahoma City.

Search Committees I am currently supporting:

FCC Leesville, LA 

FCC Lake Charles, LA

FCC Gulfport, MS

From Vance Moore:   I went to Real Faith Christian Church in Clarksdale this week and spent time with Rev. Gene Lawson. Things are HAPPENING in Clarksdale. The new church building is under construction and will be a blessing when complete.

       On Friday Gwen and I will attend the Disciples Women cabinet meeting in Louisville, MS. Hope to see you there!

Search committees I am currently supporting:

       FCC Newport, AR

       Community CC, Hardy, AR

Westside Mission:  Projects we’re working on:

         Al Brown                 625 S. Miro             complete renovation

        Margaret Banks       3639 Bruxelles         complete renovation—groups from West VA and Frankfort KY worked hard this week finishing the electrical and plumbing rough ins. They also repaired some of the outside wood siding and installed new windows on the first floor. We’re on the way. Mrs. Banks is soooooo excited!!!

         Marilyn Joseph        1679 Humanity         complete renovation

         Rose Gueringer       1856 Carnot             New house build—groups from West VA and Frankford KY finished the piers and started installing floor joists and sub floors. We hope to finish sub floors and start raising walls next week.

         Greater New Jerusalem

         Missionary Baptist Church

         Transition House       2004 Alabo              finishing renovation

Looks like we could use some more help. Why don’t you give us a call and “come on down”.

Dianne and Eddie are in the process of moving into the parsonage. Dianne is “taking the reins” as Chaplain of Westside and the volunteers love her care and compassion.

BY THE WAY—WHERE DID YOU SEE GOD TODAY?

From Sara Rozzell:  

For more information see the youth page at www.grrcc.org .

2010 Summer Camp Dates:
June 13-19    CYF
June 19-20    Discovery
June 20-23    JYF
June 23-27    Chi-Rho