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| November 2009 |
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Upper Midwest | |
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PROPINQUITY WITH GOD
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 I have always been one of those people who tends to envision what can be rather than what is at a particular moment in time. This trait has been helpful and humorous in my life. When Amy and I were preparing to be married I convinced her that we should buy this cute house out in the country for only $12,000. Despite its cuteness the house had a few things that needed to be fixed or remolded to make it a home. We simply needed to refinish the old wood floors, repair 3 of the ceilings, redo the bathroom, replace the kitchen counters, completely remodel the upstairs loft, replace or fix the ancient floor furnace, creatively deal with the dingy looking paneling throughout the house and paint everything. However, true to my nature I saw this place for what it could be and not what it was at the time. For 3 months leading up to our wedding I spent every evening and weekend working to bring the actual house to a condition that looked like the home I had envisioned and more importantly promised Amy it would become.
I recently spent a Sunday up in Estherville, IA and received advice and vision from an elder of that church. The advice was really a conversation in which we both learned from the other. Just the same, what I heard reminded me of the experience of that first house of ours. With great wisdom he retold the Estherville church story in such a way that it was clear that throughout its history there have been times when the people have gathered together and other times when they have drifted apart. He expressed that it was not so much that we all stopped coming to church necessarily but the drifting apart was more about not having a common purpose or challenge. The drifting apart started when what we saw was what was and not what could be!
May we continue to experience what can be and what will be in this house we call the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Upper Midwest.
Blessings BSD
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Quick Links to Information and News
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UMW Contacts
DisciplesWorld Online
As we continue through this transition of the region and difficult
economic times please take time to watch this latest Regional Update video focused on the most recent retreat for those who are interested
in exploring a call to ministry. This group is getting larger and they
have hope for the future. Let us hear what they are hearing... Please
pass this along to your members and encourage others who might be
feeling a call from God too...
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CONGREGATIONAL STORIES
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No Place to Call Home
 Last Saturday the high school youth group of Howard Street Christian Church, Colfax, IA, spent the night at Drake Stadium raising money for awareness and to help end teenage homelessness. We hauled in our boxes and tape, cut and constructed a house and covered it with plastic. Why plastic you might ask? Well, we watched as the rain clouds rolled in and sure enough, the rain came.
Yes, I slept on the cold, hard ground and was hungry and thirsty, but I had a home to go to. Reggie's Sleepout, has for the last 4 years, helped bring awareness and money to stamp out youth homelessness in Central Iowa. This year, over $160,000 was raised! Yes, we were a little inconvenienced but what an eye opener for our kids. A reminder of how blessed they are.
Marshalltown Pastor Receives Lilly Grant
Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has received a grant of $45,000 to enable its minister, Rev. Gail Johnson-Thiessen to participate in the 2009 National Clergy Renewal Program funded by the Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment Inc. It is one of 149 congregations across the country that will support their ministers in the program, which allows pastors to step back from their busy lives and renew their spirits for the benefit of their ongoing ministries.
 Woodburn Christian Church literally took the church into their community last week. Betty Heston was a member of the congregation who had not been able to attend church for a long time, so on October 25 the church went to Betty. It was an outreach of a special kind! The morning was wonderful for Betty and the congregation plus many others from the nursing home were able to join along with some of Betty's family. Betty seemed very pleased and enjoyed visiting with everyone. The congregation hopes to do it again.
RANDOM IDEAS FROM CHURCH NEWSLETTERS - "Things You Are Saying & Doing"
Anjeanette Perkins is from First Christian Church in Ames and is under ministry care in the UMW. Anjeanette in her final year at CTS, graduating in May, 2010. She's currently serving as a part-time student minister at Central Christian Church in Lebanon, IN. Click here to read her article on the DisciplesWorld website!
From the Christian United Methodist Church, Humeston Parish Newsletter
Judy McCart is getting started on the Christmas Memorial Ornaments. This is so exciting. Instead of Christmas poinsettias as memorials in the church, we are inviting our members and friends to purchase memorial ornaments which will be displayed in the narthex throughout the holiday season. Then, after the first of the year, the ornaments will be given (or mailed) to the donors for them to use in their family decorations in subsequent years. Memorial ornaments will be available for a donation of $15 each.
Creating birthing kits for underdeveloped countries.
CROP Walks to raise money for the hungry
Trick or Treat for UNICEF
Church World Service blanket Project
Week of Compassion
Is your congregation hosting or helping with a Free Thanksgiving dinners (feasts) on Thanksgiving Day for the community? Send us a photo and 50 words about that experience for the DT Express.
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DISCIPLES TOGETHER IN THE REGION
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Opportunities to Connect
CYF Assembly - Nov. 20-22, at the Christian Conference Center
Disciples Men's Work Reorganizational Meeting - Nov. 14, 9am-Noon at the Christian Conference Center. Email Don Hiscox for information.
2010 Ministers Retreat - "Preaching that Thing in the Middle."
Jan. 25-26 at the Christian Conference Center
"Preaching: that thing in the middle" is the theme for the 2010 Minister's Retreat, formerly called Minister's Institute. Dr. Christine Smith, Professor of Preaching at United Theological Seminary in New Brighton, Minnesota will be the keynote speaker. Dr. Smith begins her preaching classes by talking to the students about the fact that every sermon has to have a beginning and an ending but what about the "thing" in the middle.
Minister's Retreat is open to all ordained and licensed clergy and spouses. The registration fee has been REDUCED to help more to attend, plus there are scholarships available. The registration fee is only $45 for participants and $40 for spouses. |
YOUTH MATTERS -- Everything Youth in the Upper Midwest
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 Sometimes life deals you unexpected cards! Come worship, fellowship, and have fun with CYF youth from all over the region at the CYF Assembly! Living the Game of Life, Dealing with the Cards You're Dealt. November 20 (7:00pm) to November 22 (11:00am) at the Christian Conference Center.
Click here to download registration information.
Going ice skating? Having a regular youth group night? Having a lock-in? Why not invite other Disciple churches in your area to join you? What a great way to meet new friends and enrich your opportunities for worship! If you would like to invite youth from all over the region email your event information to Melanie and we will put it on the calendar. There are a number of events that are already happening around the region. There will be an Eastern Iowa JYF retreat on November 6-7, a Chi Rho Retreat in Colfax, and a Destination Unknown overnight experience with the Davis Street youth in Ottumwa, just to name a few.
The Chi Rho youth group from Noelridge Christian Church in Cedar Rapids came to share a night of Chi Rho fun with the youth from Marion Christian Church.
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BRINGING "DISCIPLES TOGETHER" TO LIFE!
Two Final Items; Your mission, should you choose to accept it:
1. PLEASE SHARE STORIES ABOUT YOUR CONGREGATION!!, This is your Regional newsletter; it is hoped that this paper will bring us together through sharing our stories. What is happening, how is God moving, what is working, what are you celebrating, new ideas, great programs, etc. If available, please attach pictures, links, YouTube URL's, etc. that can used to share the story!
2. PLEASE TAKE A PHOTO OF YOU AS "DISCIPLES TOGETHER"!!; (See photo at top of page as example) The picture could be in front of your church sign, at a significant event, in your sanctuary, on a mission trip, etc. These will be posted in each newsletter and be maintained on a webpage on our regional website: http://uppermidwestcc.org | |
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