Great River Region Newsletter April 1, 2016

9302 Geyer Springs Rd, Little Rock, AR 72209 (501) 562-6053, (501) 562-7089 fax

Email: tina@grrdisciples.org, wendy@grrdisciples.org, and drnburton@grrdisciples.org for Youth Department: youth@grrdisciples.org or alisha.j.gourley@gmail.com

Great River Region Website: http://www.grrdisciples.org Disciples of Christ Website: http://www.disciples.org

Rev. Dr. Nadine Burton Interim Executive Regional Minister

Disciples Women are gearing up for a busy year in 2016! The

Disciples Women Joint Cabinet met in February at FCC, Vicksburg

and chose the theme: One River . . . Many Connections for this

year – based on John 7:38. The Cabinet has been working hard

since that meeting to create resources for Disciples Women across the Great River

Region – from study and worship to stewardship and service.

The study for this year’s Just Women focuses on the theme of Embracing Our Global

Sisterhood and the Spring Study magazine (now available) is about The Table and Beyond: Lavish Hospitality in the Bible. Written by Disciples Women, for Disciples

Women the magazine can be used in all areas of the church – Disciples women groups,

Sunday School, youth, and Bible study. The study issue includes leaders’ guides with

each lesson and is a great resource for anyone who leads study.

In addition to focusing on study at workshops, we will also talk about our upcoming

Service Projects (Global, Regional as well as state), Stewardship, Worship ideas,

Retreats (lots of neat workshops planned for Retreat this year) Regional Assembly, and

a lot of other information. It is a time of sharing of information, resources, and of

course, fellowship and fun!

Workshops start in Arkansas on Saturday April 2nd, then move to Louisiana on April 22-

23, and conclude on in Mississippi on April 30th. In addition, each or the State Cabinets

are excited to share with you that Ashley Sherard, Nearline Anderson and Wendi

Phillips will be the keynote speakers at Retreats this year (For specific information, see

Disciples Women dates below).

The Joint Cabinet also asked Anne Page from FCC Vicksburg to be our keynote speaker

at the Regional Assembly DW Luncheon. Anne will share with us thoughts and

reflections on her 2015 trip with Woman to Woman Worldwide to the Middle East.

Currents

Support Your Regional Annual Fund Drive donations can be sent to:

Great River Region

9302 Geyer Springs Rd

Little Rock, AR 72209

Position Announcement Executive Regional Minister

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of the Great River Region (Arkansas, Louisiana,

Mississippi) is seeking to call an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of

Christ) to the position of Executive Regional Minister. All applicants are required to provide

and/or update search and call profiles through the Office of Christian Vocation in order to be

considered. Furthermore, all applicants are required to submit a Letter of Interest to the Great

River Region Office addressed to:

SERM Search Committee Chairperson

Great River Region Christian Church (DOC)

9203 Geyer Springs Road

Little Rock, Arkansas 72209

The application deadline is NOW DUE

The Regional Profile can be viewed at www.grrdisciples.org under Regional Minister Transition tab.

SUMMARY of all GRR Info Gathering by Search Team

The summary of information gathered in the listening sessions held by the Regional Executive Minister Search Team during the month of November is available on the homepage of the GRR Website: www.grrdisciples.org

JOYS and PRAYER CONCERNS JOYS

First Christian Church Sherwood, AR. 2803 E Kiehl Ave, 501-835-5505, SherwoodFCC@aol.com www.sherwoodfcc.org. Pastor Jason Ferguson. Outreach Ministry. The American Red Cross has approved FCC Sherwood Chalice Hall as an American Red Cross Shelter and Disaster Relief Center.

PRAYER CONCERNS

Rev. Robert & Pat Palmer (Cross Street Christian in Little Rock) - Pat had outpatient surgery. She will not be able to put weight on her foot for two weeks. Rev. Joe and Nancy Jorgensen (First Christian in Benton) - Nancy as she continues treatments for cancer, and Joe for migraines.

Rev. Don Warren (Pine Bluff) - Going through physical therapy following surgery from last month. Rev. Kevin and Stephanie Robbins (First Christian-Pine Bluff) - Personal circumstances Rev. Holly Patton (Little Rock) - Health concerns Rev. Miles and Trela Cook, daughter Laura Cook, for cancer treatments

MISSISSIPPI FLOODS Even after the rain stopped, the waters continued to rise in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Heavy spring storms swelled rivers and streams across the South this past weekend, causing severe and sustained flooding. As of Monday, March 14, over 100 families in Clarksdale alone had been displaced from their homes, many of whom had never before seen flooding in their areas.

In some places, the water reached the tops of beds, and several people required evacuation by boat. Residents will not know the true extent of the damage until the waters recede, but many are expecting the worst. This damaging storm comes just months after the deadly tornado that touched down in Clarksdale two days before Christmas. The sequence of storms is adding additional strain on the community. According to Rev. Zedric Clayton, pastor of Real Faith Christian Church in Clarksdale, many of the local organizations and churches are simply running out of resources. This is a moment when the importance of our relationships becomes clear and the need for our support is evident. The congregation at Real Faith has already decided to redirect their usual Easter outreach projects to flood relief efforts. Week of Compassion is supporting these efforts and has provided grants to five families whose homes were flooded.

Though eventually they will need volunteers, at this time the best way to help is through offerings of prayer and monetary donations. With the people of Clarksdale, we take hope in God's faithfulness, remembering these words from the book of Isaiah: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you."

NEWS AND EVENTS

One River . . .

Many Connections

Disciples Women Workshops

April 2 Parkview Christian, Little Rock AR (registration begins 9:00 am) April 22 Kings Highway, Shreveport LA (registration begins at 12 noon) April 23 Jerusalem Christian, Lafayette LA (registration begins at 9:00 am) April 30 Covenant Christian Church, Byram MS (registration begins at 9 am)

Disciples Women Retreats July 22-24 AR Retreat @ Subiaco in Subiaco ~ Keynote Ashley Sherard September 16-18 MS Retreat @ Eagle Ridge in Raymond ~ Keynote Nearline Anderson October 14-16 LA Retreat @ Wesley Center in Woodworth ~ Keynote Wendi Phillips Retreat T-SHIRTS will also be available ($15 for short sleeve or $20 for long sleeve)

Mission First! Seeks to help Disciples identify the next mission priorities God has for us as we move toward the year 2020 and beyond. www.disciples.org Read About the Process What you can do now

Implementation Team has been hard at work testing and re-testing the model for Mission Gatherings. Some of the free resources readily available for download include:

Studies based on the Disciples of Christ identity statement

the Justice Primer and Devotion to Justice publications

REACH curriculum from Global Ministries

Mission Gathering Dates: May 1 – 2:00pm @ First Christian Church Fayetteville, AR - Ryan Pfeifer, Pastor

May 7 – 1:00pm @ First Christian Church Greater New Orleans, LA - Glen Schory, Pastor

Please RSVP to the Host Church if you are planning on attending.

We are still looking for volunteers to work with the Mission First Initiative. If you are interested in serving as a host church, please contact the Regional Office.

CONGREGATIONS IN TRANSITION

Congregations in Pastoral Search and Call:

FCC Blytheville, AR: assoc. pastor with potential to become senior pastor FCC Fort Smith, AR FCC Hammond, LA FCC Mountain Home, AR FCC Stuttgart, AR: part/full time pastor Park Hill CC, North Little Rock, AR

(the Search and Call list is updated weekly and can only be sent to the Committee Chair)

YOUTH NEWS Alisha Gourley, Youth Coordinator

youth@grrdisciples.org or alisha.j.gourley@gmail.com

Youth Commission 2016 – 2017: Active Disciples Youth (Sophomore/Junior as of May 2015)

Youth Counselor in Training 2016: Active Disciples Youth Ages 16+ Young Adult Intern 2016

Adult Camp Counselor 2016

These 4 Applications are NOW DUE

Magnolia Camp & Conference 2016 @ Roosevelt State Park, MS on JUNE 20th – 25th Completed 3rd – 12th Grade

(Josie McClorine, Magnolia Camp Director)

2016 Youth Camp Schedule @ Camp Couchdale in Hot Springs, AR (All Applications can be found on www.grrdisciples.org under the Youth tab)

CYF Conference on June 12 – 17 Completed 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th Grade

$375 or $400 after May 2nd

Discovery Camp on June 18 – 19 Completed K, 1st & 2nd Grade

$90 per attendee or $115 after May 2nd Parent/Grandparent/Guardian attendance requested per Camper

JYF Camp on June 19 – 22

Completed 3rd, 4th and 5th Grade $210 or $235 after May 2nd

Chi Rho Camp on June 22 – 26

Completed 6th, 7th and 8th Grade $260 or $285 after May 2nd

Fall Fandango Chi Rho Retreat in October 2016 (more details by August 1st)

Disciple Summer Mission is a grass roots mission experience. There are two trips that are planned to St. Louis and Central Texas.

The summer of 2015, was a big step for Disciple Summer Mission in planting two trips in different locations with a combined 520 youth and adults. Community organizations were the focus of both trips in helping in community gardens, food banks and worked with

multiple organizations that help men and women in recovery and children in impoverished communities.

The locations for the trips will be St. Louis, Missouri and Central Texas. Each location will accept 300 youth and adults per trips. Cost will be $275 per person.

St. Louis trip will be Monday, June 27 - Friday, July 1st Central Texas trip will be Monday, July 4 - Friday July 8th

Remaining balances and individual online forms are due on May 1st St. Louis trip’s contact person: Jessie Gray at (501) 993-8263 Central Texas contact person: Alex Smith at (512) 971-9411

www.disciplesummermission.wordpress.com

First Christian Church Hot Springs, AR. Will be having a Deacons Workshop from 10:am to 12pm on Saturday, April 9, 2016. Please call the church office if you and/or your Diaconate will be attending. 1-501-623-3389. Or you can email fcchs@hotsprings.net. Contact person is Pastor Donald Naftz.

First Christian Church Little Rock, AR. 1500 N. Mississippi. 501-225-5656. FCC Little Rock has some SONGBOOKS which includes about 25 Junior Song Books to give away. Contact Pat Wright at: nanapatsyw@sbcglobal.net.

First Christian Church Sherwood, AR. 2803 E Kiehl Ave. 501-835-5505. SherwoodFCC@aol.com. FCC’s Trash and Treasure Sale will be held on Saturday, April 23, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. We are accepting all items on the Flea Market list as well as jewelry, furniture, working electrical/electronics, exercise equipment and other household items. We are not accepting clothes, shoes or bedding.

First Christian Church Baton Rouge, LA. 8484 Old Hammond Hwy. 225-926-4175, www.fccbrla.org, churchoffice@fccbrla.org, Rev. Dr. David Chisham, Pastor. CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) Abused and neglected children need caring adults to speak up for them. You can help a child reach a safe, permanent home with a forever family by becoming a Court Appointed Special

Advocate volunteer. Capital Area CASA needs volunteers to continue serving every child who needs a voice in our com-munity. Brief orientation sessions are held weekly to provide more information. Learn more by calling: (225) 379-8958, visit www.casabr.org or email vol-unteer@casabr.org.

To my many clergy friends in ministry near and far, Clergy Renewal is something you should consider as a spiritual resource for you and your congregation. Associate pastors, you are not excluded. Up to $50,000 grants are available for seminary trained pastors. Visit the Center for Pastoral Excellence at Christian Theological Seminary http://www.cpx.cts.edu. See what is possible with

the help of this grant opportunity! http://www.cpx.cts.edu/renewal/apply/national-program

REGIONAL ELDERS

The ministry of our Regional Elders function much like congregational Elders with shepherding groups, offering pastoral support and friendship to all ministers and their families in the region, as well as support to the Executive Regional Minister. Regional Elders Home City & State Area of Support to Ministers Rev. Miles Cook Sherwood, AR Central Arkansas Rev. Sherry Horton Tupelo, MS Northeast MS Rev. Randy Jay Ft. Smith, AR Arkansas River Valley Rev. Susan Miller Hot Springs, AR Southwest Arkansas Rev. Russell Myers Jackson, MS Central Mississippi Rev. Ryan Pfeiffer Fayetteville, AR Northwest Arkansas Rev. Ann Pickett-Parker Moss Point, MS Southeast Mississippi Rev. Graham Riggs Shreveport, LA North Louisiana Rev. Glen Schory Metairie, LA South Louisiana & South MS Rev. Lucian Lee Camden, Arkansas Northeast Arkansas Rev. Ashley Sherard Lafayette, Louisiana Southwest Louisiana In Christ's service,

Rev. Miles Cook, Coordinator, Regional Elders, milescook@outlook.com.

Oreon E. Scott Foundation. The Individual Trustees of the Oreon E. Scott Foundation are inviting grant requests from regional ministries, general ministries, and institutions of higher education affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Grant application guidelines are attached. Grant requests must be submitted by May 1. www.facebook.com/christianchurchfoundation

IP 570 – Disciples History & Polity I

May 2nd – 28th

Now is the time to encourage your candidates for

ministry to enroll in the Introductory Disciples

History & Polity course. For your students to enroll

in this course, they must apply for Admission. If your commissioned, licensed, or Under Care

ministers need to take this course, please have them follow these steps:

1. If your region requires students to take the course for credit, they will need to be ready to

register within the first week of March. Start the application process now, to ensure that they

can get their application, reference and transcripts to me in time. For credit students Under

Care will pay $240 in tuition.

2. For students whose region allows them to audit the course, the timeline is a little more flexible.

Because auditors are allowed to enroll in a class that is full, the March 1 registration date is not

critical. However, auditors must still go through an admission process (outlined in step 4), and

so need to be in conversation with me by the end of March. Auditing students pay $120 in

tuition.

3. For auditors, no references or transcripts, thus shortening the process. I will still need the

application and the application fee.

4. Begin the process on the website www.lextheo.edu by clicking on the link that says “Start

Your Journey.”

5. This is a 1-credit, 1 month course. If your region requires students to take 3 credits of History

and Polity, they will also need to complete the 2-credit course offered during June Intensives.

Students can complete the 2-credit course with only 3 days of travel to Lexington.

Doctor of Ministry Cohort Begins September. Lexington Theological Seminary offers a D. Min. in Leading Congregations in Adaptive Change. The next cohort will start in September and applications are due by July 1! start the application process. Candidates for the D. Min. will have an M. Div. from an ATS accredited school with a GPA of 3.0 or higher and 3 years of ministry experience after graduation. For information contact Erin Cash, Director of Admissions ecash@lextheo.edu or (859) 280-1249

Mid-America Center for Ministry Below is a schedule of courses for 2016. Some courses may require prerequisites. Click here for

the program flyer for dates and instructors CPM Brochure

History and Polity of the Disciples of Christ: April 26 to June 20 http://center4ministry.org/history-and-polity-of-the-disciples-of-christ/

Mission of the Church April 26 to June 20, 2016 History and Polity of the UCC June 21 to August 15, 2016 Communication June 21 to August 15, 2016 Spiritual Development June 21 to August 15, 2016 Proclamation of the Word** August 16 to October 10, 2016 Worship August 16 to October 10, 2016 Overview of the Bible August 16 to October 10, 2016 ** Prerequisites: Overview of the Bible and either Introduction to the Old or New Testament

As we get closer and closer to July of 2016, your Association of Disciples Musicians

Planning Council wants to make sure you’ve saved the date for the 2016 ADM Conference.

Family and Children’s Ministries Disciples Home Mission Registration NOW OPEN for Disciples & UCC Youth Event, July 26-30

Faith is the confidence that what we believe will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. - Hebrews 11:1 Join 4,000 or more Disciples and United Church of Christ youth from at least four continents at Walt Disney World’s Coronado Springs Resort in July 2016!

Register between now and May 27th at http://nye.uccpages.org. Who's invited? All Disciples and UCC youth, aged 13-18 (and their families, leaders, and ministers). NYE is a youth-centered event but seeks to serve all ages who are attending to support their youth. Where can I find out more? The UCC NYE page has information on pricing, speakers, schedules, meals & lodging.

Juliette Fowler Communities will host their annual Visionary Women luncheon on May 3 at the Dallas Omni Hotel. Virginia Chandler Dykes has been named the 2016 Visionary Woman and will be honored at the luncheon. The award celebrates the vision of Juliette Peak Fowler and honors individuals who embody her compassionate spirit and use

their visionary leadership to make a difference in the lives of others. Dallas Junior Forum and

Hannah Canterbury, a senior at Texas Christian University, will also be honored. All proceeds benefit Juliette Fowler Communities One Heart Fund. For tickets and sponsorship please call 214-515-1342 or go to www.fowlercommunities.org

We are honored to be teaming up with the Pension Fund (www.pensionfund.org) to lead a FULL DAY Workshop on Church Administration topics. EventBrite Registration Page

As the date approaches, we will send a survey to registered participants so that we can customize this workshop to the unique needs and questions of those who are attending. Topics discussed could include: Designated Funds Bookkeeping Basics Human Resources in the Church Managing Volunteers Job Descriptions Managing Staff Benefit Basics - including retirement benefits Clergy Financial Literacy Church Communications Hope to see you there! Rev. Mike Hunter, CCA & Rev. Micah James, CCA

NOTE: Great River Region Churches, be sure to email your News, Conventions, Church Anniversary, or Special Events to: tina@grrdisciples.org. Thank you. (Don’t forget to post the Currents Newsletter for your congregation to read!) Also please send you updated Congregational Profile to the Regional Office.