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By Disciples Church Extension Fund staff
 It's a classic story of a church that started many years ago, grew in its heyday and then found itself struggling more recently with an unclear purpose in an aging building with a large mortgage. However, the story of Shawnee Park Community Christian Church (formerly Shawnee Park Christian Church) in Shawnee, Kansas, doesn't end there. Theirs is a story of a courageous congregation that "got it!" Realizing that the church is not the building, they went through the intentional process of discernment about their future (with the help of Hope Partnership's New Beginnings), resulting in a bold decision to sell their property and relocate to a rented space (with the help of Disciples Church Extension Fund's relocation service). A year ago, they moved into their new Holy Place, starting over as a new church (Pastor Johnny Lewis is a former Hope Partnership Leadership Academy participant). In their new leased Holy Place, they're dedicating themselves and their resources to mission for their neighbors in need. Moreover, nothing illustrates their story better than how they plan to celebrate their first anniversary as a congregation. On Sunday morning, they will worship and then partner with the local Youthfront's Something to Eat™ program in a Feed the Need Food Packing Event to package meals for hungry neighbors near and far
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Applications open for the General Youth Council
If you are a youth who is interested in serving on the General youth Council you may click here to download a PDF version of the application, or here to download a Word version of the application. If you are an adult who is interest in serving on the General Youth council you may click here to download a PDF version or here to download a Word version of the application. Applications are being accepted from now through Sept. 30, 2016 for terms beginning Jan. 1, 2017 and ending Dec. 31, 2018. |
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Get get a running start - use Oct. 30 for a 5th Sunday promotion. Encourage folks to wear red or Chalice gear and take a selfie and post in social media with the tag #DOCWeAreOne. A video and other promotional tools are available on the assembly website. (Polo shirts will be on sale again the first two weeks in October.)
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Order this T-shirt in one of five colors by Sept. 15 and it will ship the last week of September. Ten percent of the cost is donated to Disciples Mission Fund. Go to http://store.disciples.org for this and other shirt options. |
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| News in the Church Other News |
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WEBINAR: Becoming a Welcoming Church: Safe Sanctuary Protocols
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
1:00 p.m. CST / 2:00 p.m. EST
Live webinar online via Fuze
Presented by National Benevolent Association Prison and Jail Ministries Affinity Group
 In today's world, those convicted of sex offenses are our modern-day lepers. The crimes committed by those labeled sex offenders vary widely. Truth be told, a significant number of people convicted of these crimes are eventually released back into our communities. How does the church welcome and receive these modern-day lepers? How do we create safe sanctuaries and communities that can effectively minister to these children of God?
In this webinar, you will learn from a legal expert the conditions and restrictions applicable to those convicted of sex offenses, and from a pastor, how to establish protocols and procedures that make it possible to welcome them into your faith communities.
Presenters:
- Rev. Dean Bucalos, Mission Specialist, NBA Prison and Jail Ministries; Coordinator, Mission Behind Bars and Beyond
- Nicholas Haynes, Attorney, Darby and Gazak, P.S.C.
- Moderated by Rev. Monica Wedlock Kilpatrick, Director of Disciples Care Exchange and Affinity Group Ministries
Register
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Elder Emeritus, Deacon Emeritus and other products available
Go to disciples.org's Disciple Shop for links to these pins sold by the Office of Christian Vocations and other Disciple supplies, such as Disciples Women's materials and Discover the Disciples brochures or chalice stickers. You can also find a link to the vendor for clothing. Shirts are available for order the first two weeks of the month with shipping the last week of the month.
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Did you know?
 Disciples Mission Fund provides much of the funding for the ministries mentioned in today's Disciples News Service. Included are ALL the regions, Hope Partnership for Missional Transformation, National Benevolent Association, Disciples Home Missions' Disciples Volunteering and General Youth Council, and Communication Ministries (publisher of this newsletter). You can give online or through your congregation.
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Mission Teams needed to serve in South Carolina and Texas
 Communities in South Carolina and Texas are recovering from disaster and your help is needed. Please consider scheduling a mission trip to these mission stations in support of those whose homes were
damaged or destroyed. Together, Disciples can bring hope, healing, and a helping hand to our neighbors in need of assistance.
Servant Leadership Training
Disciples Volunteering supports a wide variety of mission opportunities and service projects with congregations, regions, and ecumenical partners. This support is made possible through the incredible service of long-term volunteers, who often spend a month or more on location. A joint training is being offered Sept. 27 - Oct. 6, in partnership with the United Church of Christ and the Church of the Brethren, to prepare servant leaders for mission. Read more here and contact Josh Baird if this training might be for you.
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If you are interested in advertising in future issues of the Disciples News Service, please contact Fred Jones
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| Events, Resources and Ministry in Action |
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 Events |
Find more events on the calendar hosted by Chalice Press
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 Resources |
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We are instruments
We are called to action in the face of violence. A page of resources and possible actions has been posted on disciples.org.
You are encouraged to access the Injustice Anywhere documentary hosted by the National Benevolent Association's website and the accompanying study materials specifically for interracial understanding. The film was produced in response to the troubles in Ferguson, MO, that began in August 2014.
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 Ministry in Action |
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You can find ways to plug into mission and more through these ministries.....
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Get ready for YOUR
Mission Gathering!
Use the videos and other materials online to brush up on the identity statement. Global Ministries also offers an adult curriculum called REACH (3 sessions) and a new book about mutuality in mission, Restoring Hope. Join the prayer effort and receive weekly prompts for prayer and action. Find out more and sign up for information on the Mission First! page. You can also share your stories of mission on the Mission First! Facebook group. |
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The Disciples News Service, also known as The DiscipleŽ, is distributed weekly or as needed by Communication Ministries. For changes to your subscription options or to subscribe to this newsletter, please visit:
disciples.org/dns/subscribe-to-dns/
If you are interested in submitting news for distribution in the Disciples News Service, please review our "Guidelines for Submitting News and Information to Disciples News Service":
disciples.org/dns/submitting-news/
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The next deadline to submit news for consideration
in the Disciples News Service:
Friday, September 2, 2016
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