November 25, 2015
Watkins installed as chair of NCCC   

Watkins with NCCC Secretary Jim Winkler
Watkins with NCCC Secretary Jim Winkler
During a ceremony Nov. 17, General Minister and President Sharon Watkins was installed as the chair of the board for the National Council of Churches of Christ (NCCC) for 2016. Watkins has been serving as vice chair for the past year. The Rev. Dr. Rick Lowery preached the sermon.

"I am honored to join a long line of Disciples who have been leaders in the Council," Watkins said. "Recent years have brought fresh initiative and focus. I'm excited for the opportunity to be part of the renewal."

Watkins served on a task force from 2011 to 2013 that reorganized the work of the NCCC.

Disciples have been an integral part of the National Council from the 1950s to today. J. Irwin Miller of Indiana was the first layman to serve as president of the NCCC (1960-1963). The Rev. Joan Brown Campbell served as general secretary for a decade (1990-2000). And more recently, Dr. Michael Kinnamon, served as general secretary from late 2007 to December 2012. Full story 
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Darwin Collins prepares for retirement
collins The Christian Church Foundation Board of Directors honored the Rev. Dr. W. Darwin Collins upon his upcoming retirement as a vice president with the Foundation. Collins in his 39-year ministry has worked  in all expressions of the church - local church pastor, regional minister and general church development officer. He received the Honored Minister's Pin from his wife, Rachel. Full story
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Disciples Home Missions offers Advent book for download 
devotion cover The 2015 Advent Resource includes Information and meditations to facilitate your observance of this year's season of Advent. Lectionary based meditations for each day beginning on Thursday, November 26th through Christmas Day were written by Rev. Dr. Beth Rupe, Senior Minister at FirstChristian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Moline, IL.

Global concerns

Disciples speak up for Syrian refugees turned away from Indiana

Global Ministries is offering a webinar Dec. 9 with Walter Brueggeman on his book Chosen?: Reading the Bible in the midst of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Efforts by Global Ministries and other Disciple ministries are ongoing on behalf of Syria and her people.


Find out more: General Minister and President Sharon Watkins introduced the Mission First! pilot project at General Assembly.

How you can prepare

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Resources for Dec. 10-14

Gun Violence Sabbath 

 

GA 1521 - 2015 General Assembly resolution on gun violence 

News in the Church                                   Other News                          
Summer mission announces 2016 locations, registration deadlines
Disciple Summer Mission gathered more than 500 youth and adults this past summer and for Year Six, they are shooting for 600.

Started in 2011 by four youth ministers, the first trip was to Midland, TX to rehab houses. In 2016, the growing group is repeating this year's two-site model and targeting St. Louis (June 27-July 1) and central Texas (July 4-8) with a hoped-for 300 adults and youth at each location.

The project grew from the first trip for 80 to 140 youth and adults in 2012 when they targeted northwest Arkansas and Joplin, MO. In 2013, 326 youth and adults traveled to New Orleans with Disciple Summer Mission. By 2014, the location was Oklahoma City and totaled 350 youth and adults from 28 churches in seven states who painted the exteriors of 30 homes.
The summer of 2015 was a leap of faith for Disciple Summer Mission in planting two trips in different locations. The Albuquerque and Nashville, TN groups organized a combined 520 youth and adults. Community organizations were the focus of both trips in helping in community gardens, food banks as well as organizations that help adults in recovery and children in impoverished communities.

If you are interested in joining the 2016 trips, cost will be $275 per person. The deadline to reserve spots by filling out the online group registration form is March 1 and a deposit of $75 per person is due at the time the registration is submitted. The remaining balance and individual online forms are due on May 1. St. Louis questions: Jessie Gray (501)993-8263. Central Texas questions: Alex Smith (512)971-9411. More information on the web
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NBA XPLOR accepting applications
for 2016-17
 
Early Decision Deadline: Dec. 4, 2015
Cornerstone Deadline: Jan. 15, 2016
Extended Deadline: Feb. 19, 2016
NBA XPLOR is committed to cultivating a diverse population for our 2016-17 cohort of 25+ residents. You may know a young adult who would be interested in the XPLOR experience. An ideal applicant is any young adult (21-30 years old) with an open heart and open mind, who is ready to ask, what did God create my soul to do? Learn more  | Read the latest stories from NBA XPLOR residents
 

Kentucky church hosts event to raise awareness of homelessness

 

Interim president named at Eureka

 

Kentucky church organizes prayers for persecuted Christians

 

Disciples among advocates at Indiana statehouse

 

Kentucky Disciples speaks up for the incarcerated

 

Global Ministries joins in celebration of Chinese hospital's founder

 

Kentucky church takes movement for wholeness to local school

 

Business journal covers changes in Pension Fund leadership

 

Radio station reports on Disciples support for refugees

 

Kansas churches have half-century of ecumenical tradition

 

Michigan church joins ecumenical meal

 

Iowa church preps big meal

 

Florida church turns 140 

 

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Order 2016 Just Women Bible study
Just Women magazine is accepting advance orders for non-subscription copies of the 2016 Bible study, "The Table and Beyond: Lavish Hospitality in the Bible". Ordering before Jan. 19. for $12 per copy will save the shipping and handling costs associated with later orders. This Bible study is part of a standard subscription. 
  • To place your 2016 Bible study order online - click here
  • To renew or start your subscription - click here
  • To learn more about the Bible study and the other 2016 issues - click here

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From Disciples Center for Public Witness
Encourage those without health care to investigate their options and sign up by the end of January. More information

Advertising



If you are interested in advertising in future issues of the Disciples News Service, please contact Fred Jones 
Events, Resources and Ministry in Action                                                   
Events
Dr. Walter Brueggemann webinar, Chosen, Dec. 9

Remind & Renew conference on race, Tulsa, OK, Jan. 13-14



Black Ministers Retreat, Jackson, MS, March 8-10

Stepping into Stewardship, Orlando, March 30-April 1

Hispanic Assembly, Coral Gables, FL, July 14-16

Association of Disciples Musician's Conference, Evansville IN, July 17-22

National Convocation Biennial Session, Overland Park, KS (KC area), July 21-24

National Youth Event with United Church of Christ, Buena Vista, FL, July 26-30

NAPAD Convocation, Oakland, CA, Aug. 3-6

Find more events on the calendar hosted by Chalice Press
Resources
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Information on Disciples and UCC responses to the Syrian refugee crisis

Resources for Dec. 10-14 interfaith gun violence Sabbath available

Theme announced, order form provided for Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (Jan. 18-26)




Center for Faith and Giving Measuring What Matters stewardship program available


Ministry in Action
You can find ways to plug into mission and more through these ministries.....
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
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
Download the PDF from the Family & Children's Ministry website. This resource has been created in partnership with Week of Compassion and DHM's Refugee & Immigration Ministries.

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Friday, November 27, 2015