Connection - March 28th, 2008
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Camp Counselors Needed
-
Area Board Meeting this Saturday at FCC
in Cameron
-
General Youth Council
-
Year Book Reports
-
CRY 2008
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NW Area Women’s Spring Assembly
-
Camp Dates
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Calendar of Events
-
MSR Courses
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Week of Compassion Update
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CAMP COUNSELORS WANTED
We are looking for those amazing people who
are called to be camp counselors. We particularly need male
counselors for 123 Go, Junior and Chi-Rho. These are the people
who help kids to profoundly connect with God and they are among
the most highly respected and cherished servant/leaders in the
Church. If you would like to be a counselor at one or more of
the camps please contact Sue Jameson,
nwchurchcamp@yahoo.com
Camp Counselor training on Saturday, May 3,
2008 at Cameron.
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AREA BOARD MEETING
Continuing Education opportunity for you and a
team from your church!
On Saturday, March 29, 2008 from 10:00 a.m. –
2:00 p.m. we will have the semi-annual Area Board Meeting. Dick
Hamm, former General Minister and President of the Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ) will be speaking about transforming
churches to meet the challenges of our times and the coaching he
is doing in the Northwest Area. This meeting is a great one to
bring several leaders from your church. We will also have
updated information on the Pulliam land and the exciting
prospects this presents for the area.
We sent out packets to the Churches, Pastors
and Area Board Representatives that we have listed. If you get a
packet and are no longer the representative, please give the
packet to the correct person and notify the office so we can
update our records.
Each church may have 2 voting delegates, but
everyone is welcome to attend the meeting. Come and be a part of
the revitalization of the Northwest Area. If you are planning to
attend please notify the office by Tuesday, March 25, 2008, to
help us prepare for you. The meeting will be at First Christian
Church in Cameron at 4th and Pine.
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GENERAL YOUTH COUNCIL
The General Youth Council application kit is
now available online at
www.disciplesyouth.com.
This year we are encouraging all applicants to
download the kit and send it back electronically in order to
expedite the election process. Please note the application kit
is due no later than July 1, 2008. The selection
committee will meet at the conclusion of ICYF, which will be
July 27th of this year. Each region is asked to
select one candidate for the GYC. The GYC is hoping to select a
total of seven people (5 youth and 2 adults) to serve a two year
term beginning in January 2009.
The General Youth Council is comprised of a
wide variety of Disciples youth and adults from across the
country. Their major functions include developing activities for
youth at General Assembly in 2009 and providing a voice from a
youth perspective in the leadership of the general church. As
such, it is imperative that we have a diverse group of students
and adults in order that a variety of voices can be heard.
If you have any questions please feel free to
contact me at
tiseming@dhm.disciples.org or (888) 346-2631. Thank
you for your help on this important group of young people.
Peace,
Tod Iseminger
Director, Youth in Leadership Ministries
Anne Marie Moyars, Administrative Assistant
Office of Disciples Men
General Youth Council
Youth Ministry Commission
Young Adult Commission
Scholarship
amoyars@dhm.disciples.org
(317) 713-2666 or toll free (888) 346-2631
Fax Number: (317) 635-4426
Web Site:
http://www.discipleshomemissions.org
Mission Trips are available to the gulf coast
and Kansas that could transform your congregation. Call us,
let's talk!
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YEAR BOOK REPORTS
It is time for all churches that have not
completed your Year Book report form to get them sent in as
quickly as possible. Remember, “Your listing in the Year Book
and Directory is the basis of your 501(c)(3) tax exempt status.”
To date we have received the reports from
43
of our 67 churches. We really appreciate those of you who took
the time to get the report in promptly and look forward to
receiving the others very soon. If you are one of the
24
churches that have not responded, please take the time today to
do this report either by email or snail mail. Thanks so much for
your help.
To electronically submit your Year Book report
form go to:
http://www.disciples.org
scroll down and click on “Year Book Reports”
click where it says “Click here to login to
congregational report form”
It will ask who is submitting report – enter
your name
It will ask for your Church Pin and Serial
Number
Make corrections at this point if necessary.
You will need to fill in total membership,
etc. – dollar figures
The next page has questions regarding
membership and a space for you to describe one of those
ministries (this is not required) –
After getting to the bottom, click on submit –
and you have now submitted your information to the General
Office.
If you have any further problems, let me know.
Dorothy, Administrative Assistant
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Missouri Judicatory Leaders:
Missouri IMPACT Legislative Briefing and Lobby
Day
Monday, April 7, 2008, 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m
Rickman Center (morning) & State
Capitol (afternoon)
Jefferson City, Missouri
Theme: Health Care and Medicaid Reform
Morning Session Speaker: Rep. Judy Baker,
Columbia
Afternoon: Lobby Visits with State
Legislators
Registration Fee: $15/person
See the attachment for full schedule,
registration form, and additional information.
To register use the attached
registration form or send name, address, email, and
religious affilitation with registration fee to:
Missouri IMPACT
P.O. Box 839
Jefferson City, MO 65102
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Get Ready for CRY - Christian Regional Youth -
2008
July 21-24, Columbia College , Columbia , MO
Registration Deadline July 10, 2008
Cost $200.00 if you register before May 16
After May 16th registration will be
$225.00
CRY is open to youth who have
completed grades 8-12
Workshops will be offered to help you
learn more about yourself and your faith
Keynote Speaker, Dr. Kris
Tenny-Brittian will speak to the entire group and is
anxious to share her faith and understanding of God with
you.
Each church is asked to bring an item
or items that can be used to create a worship center as
part of our time together in worship. (Fabric, cross,
chalice, candle etc)
There will be worship, singing, free
time and small group time with a Family Group
A talent show (come prepared to share
your talent). A talent show sign up sheet will be
available for you to schedule your audition.
There will be a dance and the theme
will be shared with you in the near future.
Youth must have an adult sponsor to attend
CRY! If you are the only one from your church attending CRY, you
are responsible for contacting a nearby church and asking if
they will sponsor you. Contact the CRY Coordinator if you need
assistance in finding a sponsor, 573-449-9974 or
machon3@aol.com . If your
church sends three or more youth, the church must send their own
adult sponsor. Do not send in your form without a sponsor’s name
OR the signature of your pastor.
All adults participating in the event must
have a complete set of Risk Reduction forms on file at the
Regional Office. Forms must now be renewed annually.
You must stay for the entire CRY festival
(Monday 1:00 p.m. to Thursday noon). We do not permit late
arrivals or early departures and absolutely no short-term
departures. Cars are to remain locked throughout the duration of
CRY.
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NW Area Women’s Spring Assembly
NW Area women will “Dare to Dream” together on
Saturday, April 19, 2008 at First Christian in Odessa . The four
workshops will include opportunities to share ideas/ministries
that are working in women’s groups. Good food, worship and
conversations will be awaiting you. Watch for more information
in upcoming NW Connections.
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CAMP DATES 2008
The dates for the camps are as follows:
(All camps begin and end at 10 a.m.)
1,2,3 – Go!
(Completed Grades K-2)
July 16-18 or July 24-26
Jr. Camp
(Completed Grades 3-5)
June 30-July 4 or July 11-15
Chi Rho
(Completed Grades 6-8)
July 6-10 or July 19-23
CYF
(Completed Grades 9-12)
June 24-29
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Calendar of Events
Area Board Meeting – Saturday, March 29 at
Cameron 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Women’s Spring Retreat Rickman Center
March 28-29
NW Area Women’s Spring Assembly – April
19, 2008 at Odessa
Camp Counselor Training Saturday, May 3,
2008 at Cameron
Summer Camps June 24 Through July 29 2008
Women’s Mini Retreat July 11-13, 2008
Sessions for Men July 17-20, 2008
C.R.Y. 2008 Imagine, July 21-24, 2008
www.mid-americadisciples.org
For more information on MSR courses email:
KrystalMSR@earthlink.net or
www.msr-crm.org
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Spiritual Well-being for Church Leaders
This course is an opportunity for church
leaders, clergy and laity, to consider their personal spiritual
well-being and growth. Stretched over several months, the small
group size provides an ongoing spiritual support system beyond
local congregations.
Understanding spiritual well-being to include
body, mind and soul, the course will consider a different aspect
of that health and growth in each session. Sapattu, the
home place of the instructors, provides an atmosphere conducive
to introspection, reflection and thoughtful interaction.
Course Objectives:
Explore various aspects of spiritual
well-being
Provide opportunity to experience inward,
outward and corporate spiritual practices.
Experience various aspects of prayer,
including contemplation and meditation.
Offer the opportunity for the establishment of
support and companionship for spiritual life.
Focus on various visual and poetic images that
might offer insight for spiritual well-being and personal
relationship with the Divine
THIS COURSE IS NOT A THERAPY GROUP. PERSONAL
AGENDA WILL FOCUS ON SPIRITUAL DIMENSIONS OF LIFE.
Third Thursdays: April 17, May 15, June 19,
July 17, August 21, September 25*, October 16, 2008
*one exception
Time:
1:00 p.m. concluding no later than 5:30 p.m.
Location:
Sapattu, near Jefferson
City (Directions sent prior to sessions)
Cost:
$125 For all sessions
Attendance:
Participants are expected to
attend all the sessions. Continuity of participation is
necessary for the establishment of the desired support community
Instructors: Roger and Nancy TannerThies
Phone: (573) 634-3770
For a registration form or more information
contact: Krystal Jacobs, 573-635-1187.
Spiritual Well-being; Living Life in the
Presence of God
This course is an opportunity for individuals
to consider their personal spiritual well-being and growth.
Stretched over several months, the small group size provides an
ongoing spiritual support system.
Understanding spiritual well-being to include
body, mind and soul, the course will consider a different aspect
of that health and growth in each session. Sapattu, the
home place of the instructors, provides an atmosphere conducive
to introspection, reflection and thoughtful interaction.
Course Objectives:
Explore various aspects of spiritual
well-being
Provide opportunity to experience inward,
outward and corporate spiritual practices..
Experience various aspects of prayer,
including contemplation and meditation.
Offer the opportunity for the establishment of
support and companionship for spiritual life.
Focus on various visual and poetic images that
might offer insight for spiritual well-being and personal
relationship with the Divine
THIS COURSE IS NOT A THERAPY GROUP. PERSONAL
AGENDA WILL FOCUS ON SPIRITUAL DIMENSIONS OF LIFE.
Saturdays after the 3rd Thursday: April 19,
May 17, June 21, July 19, August 23, September 27*, October 20,
2008
*one exception
Time:
10:00 a.m. (including lunch) Concluding no later than 3:00 p.m.
Location:
Sapattu, near Jefferson
City (Directions sent prior to sessions)
Cost:
$150 For all sessions including lunch
Attendance:
Participants are expected to
attend all the sessions. Continuity of participation is
necessary for the establishment of the desired support
community.
Instructors: Roger and Nancy TannerThies
Phone: (573) 634-3770
For a registration form or more information
contact: Krystal Jacobs, 573-635-1187.
Order of Ministry Constituency
Sisyphus and the Boulder of Hope
April 24-26, 2008 - $150 with lodging, $100
Commuter
Rickman Center, Jefferson City
Pressure to "grow" is a constant, and
mounting. The church needs more people, more money, more energy,
more visibility, more momentum. The church down the street is
doing "sexier" ministry, with more sophisticated technology, and
are now building an addition to the youth wing. And now clergy
are charged with the ominous responsibility for "leading
transformation." And Sunday comes around with "ruthless
regularity." We push the rock up the mountain one day, only to
find it back at the bottom the next. Ministry, today, is
tiresome, confusing, at times disillusioning, and often devoid
of much that feels like "ministry" at all. Through stories,
music, shared experiences and reflection, our conversations
together in this workshop will focus on wellsprings of
hopefulness in ministry. We will not so much look for motivation
to keep "pushing the stone up the mountain," but rather
concentrate on ways to remain spiritually healthy and pastorally
vital. This time will be less about conducting the "business" we
are /hired /to do, and more about contributing ourselves to the
ministry we are /called /to do.
Timothy Cap Diebel is, in every sense of the
word, a child of the church. Reared in West Texas as the younger
son of a Disciple minister and his Christian educator wife, he
grew up quite literally among the pews. After graduating from
high school in Abilene, TX, Tim earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts
degree from Texas Christian University, a Master of Divinity
degree from Brite Divinity School, and later a Doctor of
Ministry degree from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary.
Formative work relationships have included ministry with
congregations in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Corpus Christi and
Waco, TX as student internships, and full-time ministry in
Houston, Athens and Lufkin, TX, and since 1993 Des Moines, Iowa.
Tim’s wife Lori is an educator in the West Des Moines Community
School District, having earned her PhD from Iowa State
University in Educational Leadership. Two adult children, Merryl
and Christopher, live and work in Des Moines. Tim and Lori are
certified instructors in Couple Communication, and have
conducted “Romance” and communication workshops in Iowa,
Missouri, and Texas integrating what one participant described
as “a broad and somewhat disturbing musical collection.”
For a registration form or more information
contact: Krystal Jacobs, 573-635-1187.
Dates for the 2008 Boundaries training have
also been sent contact me for a registration form.
For registration forms or more information
contact:
Krystal Jacobs, Office Administrator
Missouri School of Religion
Center for Rural Ministry
P.O. Box 104685
Jefferson City, MO 65110-4685
Phone: 573-635-1187
Fax: 573-636-2889
Email:
krystalmsr@earthlink.net
Web: www.msr-crm.org
Week of Compassion Updates
Hope Through Partnership in Bangladesh
Blessed are those who have not seen and yet
come to believe. (John 20:29)
At times, I can relate to Thomas. He is
reprimanded by Jesus in this week's lectionary text for doubting
that it is Christ who has risen from the dead. In my recent
experience, traveling to Bangladesh to hear about international
development programs I have never seen, heard, smelled or
touched, I entered with suspicion or doubt. But time and time
again, when I witness the work of Week of Compassion, I feel
like Thomas putting his hand in Jesus' side. I learn that this
really is good news! I learn that resurrection is really
happening through the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)!
Throughout the week, our group visited
villages and met with families attempting to pull themselves out
of poverty: young women going to college (the equivalent of U.S.
11th and 12th grade), people trying to make it through
small-scale enterprise, and mothers learning about human rights.
A group of staff from the Christian Commission for Development (CCDB),
Week of Compassion's major implementing partner in Bangladesh ,
met with myself and four colleagues on a Saturday morning in
order to tell us stories of hope. In 1991, after over 300,000
people were killed from a massive cyclone, it was recommended
that the Bangladesh government build 5,000 cyclone shelters, but
only 69 were built. Further complicating the problem was lack of
communication about the location of the shelters and how to
evacuate. Since the recommendation, CCDB has built 44 additional
cyclone centers/shelters, which house 5,000 people per shelter.
CCDB has taken a holistic approach by educating communities
about evacuation and integrating disaster preparedness into
development programs.
In Bangladesh , where there are over 40,000
Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs), CCDB stands out in
the crowd. Micro-lending has become popular, NGOs and
micro-lending institutions have gained financial wealth, and
CCDB is trying to work itself out of a job. Rather than
persuading members to increase their number of loans or to apply
for higher loans, CCDB encourages individuals and communities
to become self-sufficient. I spent the week looking at
various poverty reduction programs throughout Bangladesh , but
it was when I met our partners through Week of Compassion that I
found hope that we might not only reduce poverty, but eliminate
it! Brothers and sisters, let us believe in the work that Week
of Compassion is doing overseas!
- Megan Severns, WOC Intern
Heavy Flooding Hits U.S. Midsection Once Again
Heavy rains have brought record flooding to
communities throughout the central U.S. Streams and rivers from
Arkansas to Ohio are at flood stage, forcing thousands of people
from their homes. Missouri has been especially hard hit, with
some 70 counties affected.
Week of Compassion has contacted regional and
area Disciples offices and local congregations. Thus far we have
not learned of congregations or members needing assistance, but
we continue to follow the situation closely and would appreciate
receiving any information that might assist us in responding.
Church World Service Emergency Response Specialists are on alert
and contacting local faith- based responders in the region. CWS
is shipping clean up buckets and other material resources to
impacted communities. Indeed, CWS has issued an emergency appeal
for clean up kits, as its stock has been depleted. Click below
for more information.
CWS Clean Up Kits
It's Not Too Late to Register
There are still spaces available for Disciples
to participate in the upcoming WeekEnd of Compassion. The April
11-13 event in Nashville , TN , will offer great preaching,
incredible music, imaginative worship, opportunities to learn
about more hands-on mission opportunities from WOC partners, new
and creative ideas on WOC promotion and much, much more. Click
below for more information and registration details.
WeekEnd of
Compassion
WOC Map/Poster
Click below for the latest additions to the
WOC interactive map/poster. For a complimentary copy of the
map/poster for your congregation, call the office at
317.713.2442 or send an e-mail to
ecleveland@woc.disciples.org .
Map for Congregations
Have a Blessed Day,
Jan Shrewsbury
Northwest Area Administrative Assistant
816-632-2237
www.nwareacc.org |
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