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Disciples Home Missions Updates




February 8, 2015

In This Issue
*From the President
*Black Ministries
*Chaplains & Specialized Ministries
*Disciples Women
*Family & Children's Ministries
*Christian Graphic Arts
*Young Adult Commission

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July 18-22, 2015
Columbus, Ohio
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From the President

Last August, John Buchanan, Editor/Publisher of The Christian Century, wrote about his retirement from parish ministry. He and his wife kept their Chicago residence and each day he walks by the church he served on Michigan Avenue. He says, "Every time I do, something tugs at my heart."

 

I suspect that for most of us who are involved in the professional leadership of the church, there is a frequent tugging of the heart that occurs. It may be when we walk by that physical facility we served, or for me, more often as I reminisce about the folk I served, the babies I dedicated, the youth I baptized, the homes, hospitals, nursing homes, and prisons, I visited. And of course, the saints I was privileged to lay to rest, who went on to that place Cicero once called, "That somewhere beyond the stars."

 

There is something about leadership in the church that gets under your skin and into your blood. It pumps and rushes. It stills and quietens. It captures not only your imagination, but also your heart and intellect. It drives you upward and onward while at the same time downward and deep into the center of your soul. It drives you to stand in solidarity with the poor, the lame, the broken, the lost, and the forgotten. And you just cannot get it off of you, away from you, or out of you. It is integral to who you are, how you think, and what you do.

 

Buchanan writes:

"One thing I have learned from this experience is something I should have learned long ago:


Ministry is not my personal possession. Ministry belongs to the church, the congregation I served for a while, the denomination of which it is a part - and to the whole church, holy, catholic, apostolic. In the painful process of letting go I am learning to let the church continue to be the church, performing a ministry that began before it allowed me to serve and continuing after I left."  


 

When the time comes to 'let go' of your ministry and service to the church, I pray that you will do it with charm and grace, remembering that the church was here long before you or I arrived on the scene, and will be here long after we are gone. We might walk by the church facility every day, or reminisce about it in our minds, or miss the dickens out of it, but when all is said and done: the church is God's church; God will take care of it; and, God will take care of you!

 

Passionately yours,

 


Black Ministries

Black Ministers Retreat 2015 Schedule and Speakers announced

Black Ministers Retreat 2015 is fast approaching! Many of you have asked about our schedule and other speaker details. You may now view the retreat schedule, continuing education descriptions, and info about our preachers, clinician, and presenters on our website.

Please consider joining us for this time of worship, fellowship, and education; March 3-5 in Montgomery, ALRegistration is open through February 20th.


Chaplains & Specialized Ministries

2015 Chaplains and Pastoral Counselors Retreat

"Care & Repair of Souls"

All Chaplains and Pastoral Counselors are invited to attend the 2015 Retreat in Columbus, Ohio.  We will gather July 16 - 18, 2015 at the Red Roof Inn, Downtown Columbus, OH.  Our retreat is sponsored by the Chaplains Office of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and Disciples Home Missions.  CEU's will be offered for those who attend the retreat.  Click here for retreat details and registration. 

Disciples Women

Patchwork of Ponderings

Detours - How do we see along the detour that we would have missed going our own way?

Disciples Women  

Woman-to-Woman Worldwide 2015 Israel & Palestine

Applications are now being accepted. Please apply through your regional women's staff person or constituency representative. Deadline is March 15, 2015. Reviewing and meeting Candidate Guidelines are part of the application process.

 

General Programs are posted.


Family & Children's Ministries

Lent & Easter Resources

Check out our website for a compilation of Lent & Easter ideas for use at home, at church, or wherever you find yourself engaging in the Lenten journey. You can also follow our Lent & Easter board on Pinterest.

 

Summer Is Coming!

The weather may still be cold, but it's time for many us to start planning for summer activities. Rev. Lee Yates, Minister of Faith Formation for the Indiana Region, offers us some tips on choosing VBS and other summer curricula.

 

Children Worship & Wonder Story Teller Trainings

March 6-8, 2015

Kingsway Christian Church ~ Germantown, TN (Memphis area)

 

March 13-15, 2015

Guyton Christian Church ~ Guyton, GA

 

Register now or contact Jessica Kramer with any questions.

 

Upcoming Interdenominational Events

And The Children Shall Lead Them: February 21-22, 2015 ~ Chapel Hill, NC

An Inspiring Model of Ministry for intergenerational faith formation brought to you by the UCC Faith Formation team and the United Church of Chapel Hill

 

Progressive Youth MinistryMarch 19-21 ~ Chicago 

(Disciples leaders will have a fellowship gathering as a part of this event. If you plan to attend, contact Randy Kuss.)

 

Faith Forward 2015: April 20-23, 2015 ~ Chicago

Bringing together children's and youth ministry leaders for collaboration, resourcing, and inspiration toward innovative theology and practice. (Disciples leaders will have a gathering as a part of this event. If you plan to attend, contact Jessica Kramer.)

Christian Graphic Arts

The Rev. Robert L. Whiteley of Christian Graphic Arts, LLC., has in stock certificates for Baptism, Dedication to New Life, Christian Marriage, Servant Leadership, Membership, Thank You Notes, and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Name Badges.

 

He produced these certificates for Christian Board of Publication at which time his product lines were shifted to Cokesbury. Cokesbury no longer markets these certificates. The certificates are high quality cover stock for the embossed covers, and high quality stock for the printed text. The certificates are boxed 12 per box with envelopes. The price per box of 12 certificates is $20.00. Visitor Badges come 100 to a packet for $6.00 each package. Note cards are 25 cards to a box for $8.00 per box. Or you can get a Visitor Folder with a sampling of 10 items for $8.00 per folder.  

 

If you are a congregation in need of replenishing your stock of certificates, please contact Christian Graphic Arts, LLC., today! Order by Fax: 772-569-9769 or email: [email protected].

Christian Graphic Arts, LLC is located at: 1906 33rd Avenue, Vero Beach, FL 32960 For more information call: 772-569-9769.


Young Adult Commission

Young Adult Commission Application Process Extended

If you are interested in connecting and empowering Young Adults to engage in the ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), you can fill out an application to serve on the Young Adult Commission. The next of service for which applications are being accepted began January of 2015 and will go through December of 2016. The applications process has been extended until March 15, 2015.  Go here to see the expectations for those who serve on the committee. Come serve with us!


Be sure to look for the latest issue of the Disciples Advocate online.

 

Also, check out the Disciples Home Missions Web site

for more congregational resources.

 

Rev. Ron Degges 

President

Disciples Home Missions
Phone: (317) 713-2684