120^th    Weekly Edition                                     2009  GRR CURRENTS

JOYS and PRAYER CONCERNS

Laura Cook, daughter of Rev. Miles Cook, Park Hill CC, N. Little Rock, AR, has moved to the ICU step-down unit at Children’s Hospital in Little Rock.  A website is available to update her progress:  www.lauracookinfo.com.

Jim Thokey, long time member of FCC Greater New Orleans who was active in Louisiana Region and in our denomination lost his wife Maida. Keep Jim in your prayers.

Rev. Ron Rector of Mountain Home, AR is under care of Neurologists and is in need of prayer.  Though he was only the pastor at First Christian for less than a year, they have parted ways and their future is unclear.

Rev. Joe Wilson was admitted to the hospital due to dehydration, among other things.  He has been getting weaker each day so that he can hardly walk, even with his walker.  He's also very short of breath.  He's still on the high doses of cortisone, but we're hoping they will begin to taper that off.  It's really taken a toll on his body.  He's in St. Joseph Mercy Health Center in Hot Springs, Room 442.  www.saintjosephs.com.  If you go to that page you can click on "email a patient".  He always loves to receive those emails.  Even when he gets them at home, he reads, prints, and re-reads every encouraging email he receives. Means a lot to him! Jo Lynn Robinson

NEWS and

EVENTS

NEW BEGINNINGS, a process of congregational assessment and transformation led by Church Extension is off to a great start.  So far, we are aware of plans for consultations with Maumelle, Pulaski Heights and Parkview in metro Little rock, First in El Dorado AR, and Monroe LA.  Last report was that Pine Bluff were in discernment as well.  It's not too late . . . even if you didn't attend "Come and See" . . .  Rick Hamilton has application forms and can be reached at rick@grrcc.org

First Christian Church of Leesville, LA located at 400 North Fourth Street invites you to a dedication of a Louisiana State Historic Marker commemorating the history of the church.  This event will be held on Sunday, October 18^th, 2009 at 12:30pm.

You are cordially invited to a pastor’s appreciation service honoring 16 years of service for the Rev. Rita J. Richardson, Pastor of Central Christian Church. This special service will begin at 3 p.m. on Sunday, October 18^th at Central Christian Church, located at the corner of West Second Street and South Independence in Russellville, AR.  We plan to present a money tree to Rev. Richardson during the service.  If you or your congregation would like to make a contribution for the money tree, you may send a check for Rev. Richardson at P.O. Box 1963, Russellville, AR, 72811 and designate the donation for the “money tree.”  Or you may bring donations prior to the service that day to be added to the tree.  There will also be a special dinner in Rev. Richardson’s honor from 12:30 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. and a reception following the service.  For more information, please contact the program coordinator, Rachelle “Rockie” Richardson at 479-968-1413.  We look forward to seeing you there!

A Covenant of Call service will be held on October 18, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. at First Christian Church in Ozark, AR for Dr. Jim Mattson. Installation will be by Barb Jones and Rick Hamilton.  Service will be provided by Vance Moore.  A reception will follow.

FCC Fayetteville, AR located at 220 N. College Avenue will be hosting Congo Awareness Week October 18-24.  This is a global initiative led by students, churches and grassroots activists to educate the world community about the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to help support the people of the Congo in their quest for control of their land and their country.
Click here to see the flyer that contains all of the details. Congo Awareness Week is something already supported by Global Ministries.  Click here to read letter from Rev. Sharon Watkins.

We welcome Rev. Tim Schomp as Pastor of Braodmoor Christian Church, Shreveport, LA. He will be installed on October 25^th.

On Thursday, October 29^th from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm, there will be a celebration of the talents of 5 local artists with a fall exhibition, reception, and sale to benefit Our House and Pulaski Heights Christian Church.  This event will take place at Pulaski Heights Christian Church, 4724 Hillcrest Avenue, Little Rock.  The Exhibition will showcase fine art from Deborah Allen, Tanya Fitzgerald, Matt McLeod, Kathy Sanders, and Dan Thornhill.  If you cannot attend, but still want to preview the artwork, call 661-1370 to set an appointment.

The Great River Region and the First Christian Church of Greater New Orleans,

of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada 

cordially invite your presence and prayers for the Ordination to Christian Ministry of

 Diana Negrón-Valentín

on October 31, 2009 at 2:00 _PM

at the FCC of Greater New Orleans, 8121 Airline Drive, Metairie, LA 70003 

(Reception at the church, following service Please RSVP by October 23)

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. Congregations interested in being a part of the study may contact Reese at www.GraceNet.info.

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

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.

FCC Slidell, LA is building a new building on their site to be used as a community center/missions building. The center will be used to provide various ministries and outreach opportunities for the people of FCC to serve their community. Disciples Volunteering is sponsoring the Blitz Build which will take place from March 1-April 3, 2010. If your church is interested in participating, you can call Brenda Tyler at Disciples Volunteers, 317-713-2642 or go to the web site at www.discipleshomemissions.org/Volunteer/SpecialProjects/SpringBreak.htm

Also, for more information on how you can participate in or donate funds to the project, you can contact Rev. Susan Lassalle at 985-643-8623.  Click here to see the list of needs.

Journey of Faith: A Pilgrimage of Discernment for Ministry.  On behalf of Columbia Theological Seminary’s Center for Lifelong Learning, this special program will allow pastors to make a unique pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Traveling to the roots of our faith, participants may deepen their spiritual journey, clarify their call to ministry, and gain valuable insights.  Please consider this opportunity for yourself and share this information with others who may be interested in participating.

Cost.  Participants will pay a $500 registration fee. The only other costs will be personal expenses and possible transportation to and from Atlanta if you live within 200 miles of Atlanta.

Dates.   
April 19 - 21, 2010, Orientation (Columbia Seminary)

April 21 - May 5, 2010,  Pilgrimage

July - August, 2010, Reflection Process 

November 19, 2009 is the deadline for completed applications. Participants will be notified of acceptance by December 18, 2009.

Requirements for Participation.

·         Pastors of any denomination are eligible to apply

·          5 years of ordination

·         Current service in a congregation

·         Completion of application, including 2 letters of reference

Information and Application Materials.  Journey of Faith brochure and application

Journey of Faith news release

Questions. Natasha Nichols, Staff Associate, 404-687-4577,  journeyoffaith@ctsnet.edu

STAFF UPDATES

From Barbara Jones:  Gilligan (my beloved companion and the regional dog) was quite happy that I returned from Kansas City on Monday without puppies.  I have checked on the daily episodes of the “Ricky and Lucy Show” unfolding at Mom and Dad’s… My favorite so far is “Lucy and Ricky visit Mom’s 98 year old friend Melba”.
I’m also working on legal issues regarding the Pea Ridge Church and Cemetery Association and preparing for annual meeting at Regional Board on October 23-24 in Byram, MS.  This weekend I’ll drop by Rita Richardson’s anniversary celebration and head on over for the Covenant of Call service at Ozark.

From Rick Hamilton:  This weekend I will be preaching the Covenant of Call Service at First Christian Russellville, Participating in the Renewal of Call Service at Central Christian Russellville, then participating in the Covenant of Call service at Ozark.

Following the three service Sunday, I will join the Central Arkansas Ministers for lunch and Fellowship at Maumelle on Monday.

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: 

From Michael Elmore:   I will be preaching at FCC Baton Rouge, LA and installing Rev. Laura Phillips as Associate Minister.

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

Search Committees I am currently supporting:

FCC Leesville, LA 

FCC Vicksburg, MS

FCC Lake Charles, LA

FCC Gulfport, MS

From Vance Moore:  I enjoyed 4 days of vacation in Crystal Springs, MS the first part of last week. Then on Friday I went to Cleveland, OH to the MMI training. Information packed and fun best describe these three days.  I met Disciples and UCC folks that make up Global Missions and found them to be informative, committed and standing ready to partner with us as we step up to the challenges of “global” mission.  We’ll hear from Feliz Ortiz-Cotto at Regional Board next week. Felix is the Latin America and Caribbean Area Executive and will be speaking to us about the Dominican Republic.  He’ll be out of the country and will speak with us via teleconference.

On Sunday of this week I’ll worship with H.C. Varnadore and the folks at FCC Paris, AR and then participate in the installation service for Jim Matson at Ozark, AR.  We’ll have a “time”.

Search Committees I am currently supporting:

     Highland Drive Christian Church—Jonesboro, AR

Westside Mission:  We had ten hard working dedicated volunteers from Livingston, TN this week.  We worked on several projects including Coach Bennett’s house on Pauger Street.  We’re close now.  Maybe one or two more weeks and Coach can get the U-haul (maybe we’ll help there too!)

     We’re booking groups for late spring and summer 2010. Come on down, there’s plenty of work, fellowship and opportunities to serve!

WHERE DID YOU SEE GOD TODAY?

From Sara Rozzell:  Youth dates available on the youth page at www.grcc.org.