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Dear Great River Region (churches, parents, etc) and Camp Staff,
We are just a days away from the first summer event: our intergenerational camp at Roosevelt State Park in Morton, Mississippi. As we look forward to a grace-filled month of ministry in these various settings, I want to encourage you and remind you that the training you have taken regarding boundaries and keeping campers safe, the preparations and plans directors and staff have made are all about setting an environment where children, youth and adults can come to know God’s love and grace more fully in their lives. You may feel a grumble come on as you think about driving your carload to camp – turn that into a prayer of thanksgiving for the experiences they will have with other mature Christians and the opportunity to see themselves in a context different than their daily setting. Camp staff may have a queasy stomach thinking of bunking in with 6 or 7 children… never fear, they don’t know you either but come respecting you for the commitment you have made to be there with them. Children coming to camp may be anxious or shy… every new event takes a little excitement and anxiety to jump into, and that’s ok! Grab a hand and bring that person along with you!
Our youth position was split this spring between two young women, Sara Rozzell and Jesse Lane. Sara has held the position for a year and a half on her own, and expressed interest in sharing the salary and the load with Jesse, also a former intern youth commissioner, camp counselor, steward, and camper throughout our program. Jesse is a student at UCA in Conway. Sara teaches at North Little Rock High School. They can be reached by sending email to youth@grrcc.org (forwards to both) or sara@grrcc.org and jesse@grrcc.org. Our camp interns are Nick Hudson and Brittany Hampton. They can be reached at interns@grrcc.org (forwards to both) or nick@grrcc.org and Brittany@grrcc.org.
Pray with me daily for a growing and fulfilling experience of Christian faith for all!
Rev. Barbara Jones
Note from Barb regarding standing and the 2010 yearbook: Keep in mind that the yearbook that comes out soon will reflect data as of 12/31/09, and what we received in standing forms by the fall due date. Contact your regional pastor, who has a current list, of your status. (Michael@grrcc.org, vance@grrcc.org, rick@grrcc.org). Many updates were not accepted due to our late receipt from pastors and our late submission to the yearbook office.
This year’s required ministerial continuing education will be on financial ethics and the minister’s involvement with money in the church. The course is being created for us, and we will offer it at least three times before the regional assembly at different locations around the region. It will be excellent, and one that we will all appreciate.
Disciples Women. RETREAT Schedule.
AR Retreat August 6-8 at AR 4H Center, Ferndale
MS Retreat September 25-26 at Lake Tiak-O’Khata
LA Retreat October 2-3 at Tall Timbers
Disciples Home Mission. As you know, the Young Adult Conference ‘Recharting Our Faith’ is fast approaching. The registration for the event is now open at www.docya.org. Click here to see attached flyer. For more information contact:
Lorna B. Hernandez, Administrative Assistant,
E-mail: lhernandez@dhm.disciples.org, Phone: (317) 713-2666 or (888) 346-2631,
Web Site: www.disciplehomemissions.org
New Rules Limits Use of Wireless Microphones. Businesses and organizations, including churches, using wireless microphones operating in the 700 MHz band must stop using them no later than June 12. These frequencies are now being used by public safety entities. Both licensed and unlicensed users must comply or face fines, according to the Federal Communications Commission.
The new rule affects only wireless microphones and similar devices operating between 698 MHz and 806 MHz. Systems operating at other frequencies are not affected. Users may find the spectrum in which their equipment operates by checking a label on the device. A list of affected microphones and other information about the rule is online at www.fcc.gov/cgb/wirelessmicrophones. Information is also available by calling (888) 225-5322 (CALLFCC) or faxing (866) 418-0232.
PENTECOST SPECIAL DAY OFFERING. Supports A New Church Start in Jackson, MS. Your giving to the Pentecost Special Day offering will directly support the launching of The Light of Grace Christian Church in Jackson, MS. This start, a joint project of the Great River Region and New Church Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) was born out of a vision cast at an African American New Church Summit in January of this year. Since that time, God has opened many doors, until now we are ready to place a church planter on site this summer to begin this new and exciting ministry. A two sided Bulletin Insert can be downloaded here and used in your congregation to promote the offering. The goal is a minimum gift of $200 per congregation in the region (but don't let that stop you from raising more!).
Please encourage generous and vibrant support of the Pentecost Special Day Offering, that the world may know the saving power of Jesus Christ.
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MCMC 2010 – Disciples Standing on the Solid Rock.
Join your fellow Disciples at United Christian Church in Jackson, Mississippi on Wednesday, July 21 for a day of information and inspiration as Steve Wallace leads us in two workshops: How to Connect with God and Spiritual Maturity and Spiritual Disciplines. Registration for the entire day is $35.00. If you can’t come for the whole day, you can register for just the morning session for $25.00 or for just the afternoon session for $15.00.
Registration is from 8:30 – 9:00 am
Morning session is 9:00 - noon - How to Connect with God
Afternoon session is 1:30 – 3:30 – Spiritual Maturity and Spiritual Disciplines
Morning Session “One Size Fits All!” - a claim often made, but rarely, if ever, accurate. The product may “work” for everyone but not in the most effective way. When we talk about how we can grow spiritually, we can get into the one size fits all mindset. One method of prayer, one style of Bible Study, one sort of worship is to touch each of us in the same powerful way. Yet all too often that is not what happens.
How to Connect with God is a seminar that helps explain how one size doesn’t fit all. Instead God has created us with differences and those differences sometimes need different pathways to lead us closer to God. In this seminar we will look at 9 of those pathways, their characteristics, and how we can utilize them to grow spiritually. As we examine these pathways, many of the conflicts and misunderstandings among people as they reach out to God will be seen in a new light. This can lead to greater appreciation for one another and more effective ministry in our churches.
Afternoon Session “Do more…Do More…DO MORE!” Is that the message you hear when you think about Spiritual Maturity? We want to grow in our faith but it can be exhausting to keep up with the escalating time and energy we feel is demanded. But is “more” really the answer? Are we just supposed to “do more” praying, “do more” worshipping, “do more” giving, “do more”…. Or are these actions supposed to be used in a way that actually does help us mature spiritually?
Come to the Spiritual Maturity & Spiritual Disciplines workshop and find out what it takes to grow spiritually and how much more fulfilling and enjoyable your spiritual journey can be for you.
CONASPEH -Haiti Recovery Plan. Knowing your interest and concern for Global Ministries partners in Haiti, we want to share with you the latest information on the Recovery work of CONASPEH and a brief outline of its plans for Reconstruction that is published now that CONASPEH is concluding its Emergency Response work and moves into Recovery: CONASPEH Recovery Phase II.
For information on the work and situation since the January 12, 2010 earthquake, please visit the Global Ministries Haiti Earthquake Update page at: Haiti Earthquake Response.
Thank you for your care and concern for our partners in Haiti.
Sarah Riester, Program Associate for Resource Development, Tel: (317) 713-2564,
Email: sriester@dom.disciples.org, www.globalministries.org.
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REGIONAL ASSEMBLY:
MANY FACES OF MINISTRY – NOVEMBER 5-7, 2010 in McCOMB, MS
Keynoters: Johnny Wray, former director of Week of Compassion (Friday night) and Bob Shebeck director of Global Mission Partners from Division of Overseas Ministries (Saturday morning). Worship Sunday featuring Revs. Donald Dick and Barbara Jones.
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.
The CHRISTIAN CHURCH In KENTUCKY'S MINISTRY SCHOOL will be held June 21-25 at Lexington Theological Seminary. The purpose of the Ministry School is to equip leaders to serve the church and provide Licensed/ Commissioned Ministers a forum for collegial support. The tuition is $125. The classes offered this year are: Worship: A People of Word and Table; The Christian Canon; and A People of the Table. For a registration form or for more information, please contact the Regional Office at 859-233-1391. This is an EXCELLENT program and the region has scholarship funds to help!
The Association of Disciples Intentional Interim Ministers will be hosting The Intentional Interim Minister training the week of September 20th - September 24th at Christmount Christian Assembly. This training is being provided by the Interim Ministry Network, Inc. (www.imnedu.org) utilizing two Disciples trainers and is for those who have already completed the Fundamentals of Transitional Ministry training or its equivalent. Applicants must also apply through the IMN prior to attending. The registration cost, at a significant discount, includes lodging, meals and training fees and will be $1000 for ADIIM members and $1100 for Non-Members. (A $100 deposit will be requested to hold your place.) There are grants for up to $1000 available for Disciples Ordained Ministers through DHM.
For more information please contact James Cotten at pastorjamesc@gmail.com. To request an application packet please call the Ozarks Lakes Area Office at 417.865.0850.
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