A message from Sharon
Advent joy - and dread - is overflowing, my sisters and brothers!
I'm sure you are all up to your clerical collars in the seasonal activities of your places of ministry. The children running up the aisles in holiday abandon. The wonderful smells wafting down the halls from the special dinners and treats. The warm generosity of the season softening the faces you meet.
But some of you are also confronted with the sorrow of the first holiday without a loved one. The family struggling to get by who you want desperately to help. The lonely who haven't found their way to a welcoming table.
I give thanks for all of you. You are the forward edge of mission, and I know that sometimes the work of congregational or chaplaincy ministry can leave you feeling fragmented as you walk alongside God's people.
I hold you in my prayers, asking that our bountiful God of abundance hold you safe and give you a peaceful sense of wholeness throughout this busy, busy season.
Blessings abound -
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Charitable IRA rollover season
With the end of 2013 on the horizon, congregations may want to remind senior citizen members about the qualified charitable distribution from a traditional IRA. Through Dec. 31 -- when this special provision expires -- donors can exclude a qualified charitable distribution from taxable income and count the gift toward the required minimum IRA distribution.
The transfer must go directly from the IRA administrator to the qualified charity, such as the congregation. To qualify as a qualified charitable distribution, the donor must be 70 � or older and complete the gift in calendar year 2013 for the 2013 tax year. There is a $100,000 limit. Persons interested should contact the administrator of their IRAs for instructions. Read more
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Heads up for Lent
There will be a six-week bible study with worship resources available online starting Feb. 1. The theme is "Living Waters." The bible study includes commentary, discussion questions, and supporting materials (stories, prayers and visual support). The Rev. Dr. Rick Lowery is the author.
This will be in addition to Calls to Worship, Children's Sermons, Minutes for Mission and Prayers. All of these resources will be posted by Feb. 1, 2014 at www.disciplesmissionfund.org
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Not too early to start thinking "report"
Year Book reports for local congregations will be mailed from regional offices in late December or early January. Included with the report form the congregation will be:
- instructions on how to fill out the form;
- electronic instructions on how to file the Year Book report online;
- an order form to preorder a copy of the 2014 Year Book to be published in mid-July.
The reports will be mailed to the mailing address that is currently on file for the congregation. In order for your congregational information to be included in the 2014 Year Book, the report must be returned to your regional office before March 14, 2014.
Year Book reports can also be filled out on line, but to do so you must have the PIN and current serial number for the congregation. Those numbers will be found on the top left of the Year Book report form. The PIN never changes, but the serial number changes annually as a security feature. You will be able to reach the Year Book online reporting system at www.disciples.org/yearbook after January 6, 2014.
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Resources and continuing ed
Events
- Razing/Raising Church, Jan. 3-5 in Julian, Calif.; Jan. 17-19 in Bruceville, Tex.
- 2014 Development Conference, Jan. 22-24, Phoenix, Ariz.
- Black Ministers' Retreat, March 3-6, Johnson City/Gray, Tenn.
- Elder/deacon retreat co-sponsored by Christmount and Lexington Theological Seminary, March 7-8, North Carolina
- Ecumenical Advocacy Days, March 21-24, Washington D.C.
- Disciples Youth Ministry Network conference, March 27-29, Corpus Christi, Texas
- Faith Forward Conference recommended by Family and Children's Ministries (not exclusively a Disciples of Christ gathering), May 19-22, Nashville, Tenn.
- Christmount's Week of Wonder adult work camp, May 25-30, North Carolina
- Disciples Women Quadrennial, June 25 - 29, Atlanta, Ga.
- Hispanic and Bilingual Assembly, July 16 - 20, San Diego, Calif.
- National Convocation Biennial Session, July 24 - 27, Columbus, Ohio
- NAPAD Convocation, Aug. 6 - 9, Chicago, Ill.
- Pastors Conference, Sept. 30 - Oct. 2, San Diego, Calif.
- For more events, see the calendar hosted by Chalice Press
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Featured links
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Christmas offering benefiting regions
Dec. 15 & 22
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New resources posted since Nov. 18
Advent video greeting from Sharon Watkins featuring moderators of the General Assembly
FAQs on immigration issues from the Justice Table
SALT project's
Magnificat video (partially sponsored by Hope Partnership)
Additional "wholeness" sermon under preaching tab on the identity page
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2014 applications now being accepted
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Need to change quantities on your standing Disciples Mission Fund (DMF) envelope order? E-mail
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Need a four-week study? Check the videos and study guides on the " Our Identity" page.
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General Ministries
Racial/Ethnic Ministries
Other resources
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Challenged by trying to explain Disciples Mission Fund?
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Office of General Minister and President's
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