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From the President
In a quick series of snapshots, the first forty-five verses of Mark's gospel documents for us the activity of John the Baptist, Jesus' baptism, Jesus' temptation, and the beginnings of Jesus' activity in Galilee. I have always liked the first chapter of Mark because it sets the tone for what is yet to come in a context of quick engagement.
I know we like to wait for and wrestle with options at our disposal as we make decisions in the life of the church. We want to make sure we have turned over every rock and identified every hole in our proverbial sidewalks, lest something surprise us along the way or gobble us up. So we move with caution and calculate each and every move we make. We Disciples must come about it honestly since we are known as 'the thinking person's church.' But sometimes windows of opportunity are lost because of our inability to move into the mode of quick engagement. Mark is our tutor here. He teaches us that quick engagement need not be sloppy engagement, and has the ability to initiate a quiet revival or revolution. Note the story of the man with an unclean spirit [Mark 1:23-27]. Notice, first of all, that he was in the synagogue. He was in church! An observant church has the responsibility to engage with issues of mental health and mental illness for the sake of those within its care. The church is not the mental health professional, but can point a person to mental health professionals. Not only was the man with an unclean spirit in the synagogue, in the church, but the spirit that captured him was multiple: "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?" [Mark 1:23b]. It was plural. It was many. Isn't that always the case, that when troubles come they come in numbers? We pray that we want just a little trouble that we can get hold of, but instead it rains trouble. The roof leaks, the main water pipe breaks under the kitchen floor, the car will not start, you need a root canal and the dentist informs you of a great payment plan, $1,800.00 before the procedure and another $1,800 upon completion in two days. Troubles, in particular mental health troubles, are many and they affect every area of a person's life. Although the trouble was multiple, Jesus' response was singular. Jesus said: "Be silent, and come out of him!" [Mark 1:25]. Jesus did not yell, scream, manipulate, debate, harass, abuse, pretend, or ignore the man and his situation. Instead, with quiet reserve Jesus moves quickly to call out the unclean spirit(s). The text simply says, ". . . the unclean spirit . . . came out of him" [Mark 1:26]. I am so proud of our General Assembly meeting in Columbus, Ohio, July 18-22, 2015, where Sense-of-the-Assembly Resolution GA-1523, was adopted. GA-1523 calls on our church "to strive to become a people of welcome and support to all God's children despite their mental health status," and for "church leaders [to] become more knowledgeable so they can fight stigma, be supportive of recovery, and provide information about mental health, recovery and available resources for treatment." With Jesus' words of quiet confidence, "Be silent, and come out of him," a person was given a new lease on life, free of those things which had captured and divided him. I am sure the man had waited for and wrestled with options at his disposal, turning over every stone and identifying every hole in the sidewalk. But then came Jesus, who engaged his demons and with a hush restored his spirit. Silently and tenderly yours,
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Disciples Women
Woman-to-Woman Worldwide 2015 and Just Women
The participants have safely returned from their journey to the Middle East (Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, and Palestine). Please join us in prayers of thanksgiving for their safe return and for their discernment as they review and process the events they witnessed and the lessons they learned.
You will learn more about their journey beginning with the Winter 2016 Just Women issue. Be sure your subscription is up-to-date by renewing today.
Just Women
Beyond: Lavish Hospitality in the Bible is available for advance ordering. This is the third year the Bible study has been written by Disciples women scholars under the Just Women banner. The previous two issues sold out quickly. Please order by January 19, 2016 to insure delivery of extra copies for you and your group. Use the above link to learn more about the study's topics and writers and to place your order.
Other Disciples Women Resources
Offering envelope resource will be discontinued when the current supply is gone. If this is an item your group uses, please order now to insure availability.
CWU Publishing is having a going out of business sale. Church Women United will announce the new publisher in time for the 2016 materials.
Beginning October 20, all items are FREE for the cost of shipping and handling. Visit their site; select your items; enter FREE as the coupon code at check-out to receive your discount.
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Eureka College
The Disciples Leadership Program (DLP) at Eureka College is awarded to first-time freshmen based on leadership, service and academic excellence, and the commitment to explore during college a life of faith-based servant leadership. Seminary-bound students interested in our pre-ministry track are encouraged to apply, but all qualified DOC students of any major and vocational aspiration with exceptional leadership and service will be equally considered. DLP Fellows receive full tuition plus two on-site mentorships exploring service and vocation anywhere in the world, a $6,000 combined stipend for travel-related expenses. The DLP is a top-tier scholarship at the college, and is awarded to only two candidates per year with the academic preparation to maintain a 3.0 or better in college. (Qualified students are also encouraged to apply for the Reagan Leadership Program. Go to www.eureka.edu for more information.) For more information contact Chaplain Bruce Fowlkes at bfowlkes@eureka.edu, or call (309) 467-6429, or go to www.eureka.edu/admissions/doc/.
Review of DLP Applications begins December 1.
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Family & Children's Ministries
Intergenerational Advent Resources
Kids to Kids: Syrian Refugees
Our latest Kids to Kids project helps kids understand more about the Syrian refugee crisis and how to show God's love through hands-on mission:
- Help understanding what "refugee" means
 - Information on Syria
- Basic human rights
- Books to read
- Missions ideas
Children Worship & Wonder Story Teller Trainings
November 6-7, 2015
First Christian Church ~ Riverside, CA 
November 13-14, 2015
Washington Ave Christian Church ~ Elyria, OH
More trainings are in the works! See our schedule for updates. Questions on hosting a training? Contact Jessica Kramer.
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2016 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute (GEII), a ministry of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement, has announced that themed materials for the 2016 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity are available for order. The theme for 2016 is "Called to Proclaim the Mighty Acts of the Lord". The attached announcement explains the history of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which had its roots in Servant of God Fr. Paul of Graymoor's Church Unity Octave in 1908. It also discusses how the theme from cf Peter 2:9 was selected.
Congregations can plan their prayer services for the week of January 18-25, 2016 and pre-order materials from GEII by phone or online. I hope you will share this information widely to encourage participation and understanding of Christian Unity. Please contact me if you have any questions or would like to learn more about the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Linda Grassia Communications and Public Relations Manager  Graymoor, PO Box 300 Garrison, NY 10524 Office Phone: (845) 424-2140 Mobile Phone: (845) 260-1873
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National Benevolent Association
Webinar: A Call to End Solitary Confinement:
A Conversation with National Religious Campaign against Torture
Join us to discuss the challenging realities of solitary confinement and explore how the Church should respond to this practice. This webinar is the third in a series focused on congregational and general church involvement in prison and jail issues, and is offered in response to the 2015 General Assembly resolution GA-1525 Item for Research and Reflection: A Call to End Solitary Confinement. Webinar co-sponsored by: NBA Prison and Jail Ministries, Disciples Center for Public Witness, Disciples Justice Action Network, and Reconciliation Ministry.
"A Call to End Solitary Confinement: A Conversation with National Religious Campaign against Torture" Thursday, Nov. 5, at 8 p.m. EST Live Webinar via Fuze Presenters: Rev. Dean Bucalos, Mission Behind Bars & Beyond, NBA Prison & Jail Ministries; Rev. Laura Markle Downton, National Religious Campaign Against Torture; and Mr. Johnny Perez, Urban Justice Center's Mental Health Project Moderated by Rev. Monica Wedlock Kilpatrick, Director of Disciples Care Exchange and NBA Affinity Group Ministries
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Refugee & Immigration Ministries
Mark Your Calendars NOW for: Welcome Weekend
NOVEMBER 13-15
WELCOMING REFUGEES thru worship, education, & ACTION!
Mark your calendars now to join faith communities around the country on Sunday, November 15th - or anytime during the weekend - to show  your support for refugees! Stay tuned for resources asap from Disciples Refugee & Immigration Ministries to help your congregation highlight the needs and contributions of refugees in the U.S. and around the world.
Worship materials, background for teaching about refugees, and exciting ways your community can engage in advocacy to support refugees will be provided!! For more information, contact: Sharon Stanley-Rea or call 202-957-7826.
Disciples Refugee & Immigration Ministries (DHM), in partnership with the Middle East and Europe office of Global Ministries, submitted the following statement this week to inform the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee members of some of our key values related to Syrian refugee needs. Read the full statement.
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Gifts to the Disciples Home Missions Annual Fund  are directed to our most valuable asset - congregations and their leaders!
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