NOTE ADDRESS CHANGE!!! Mailing Address: 9302 Geyer Springs Rd, Little Rock, AR, 72209

Transcription

1 Great River Region Newsletter September 12, 2014 Rev. Barbara E. Jones, Regional Minister NOTE ADDRESS CHANGE!!! Mailing Address: 9302 Geyer Springs Rd, Little Rock, AR, Phone: (501) Website: (general inquiry) JOYS Let the People of God Rejoice at the Installation of Dr. Keith Hearnsberger as Transitional Pastor. Sunday, September 14 at 10:30 a.m. First Christian Church, 600 W Main Street, Blytheville, AR The Rev. Barbara Jones, Presider, Regional Minister, Great River Region Christian Church (DOC). Luncheon will be held 12:00 noon in Carney Hall. If you are unable to attend the service, please join us for the luncheon as we celebrate this special occasion in the life of our church. Rev. Leon Gray, Youth Director Jessie Gray's husband, is now the Interim Minister of First Christian, Little Rock, AR. Rev. Jeff Murphy, pastor of FCC Vicksburg and Chaplain at University Hospital in Jackson MS has been nominated to the Board of Directors for the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education. Rev. Linda White is now serving as Acting Minister of Park Hill Christian Church. Linda brings many gifts of leadership to this position. The Personnel Committee is actively seeking candidates to serve as full time Associate Minister with an emphasis in Children s Ministry and Youth Ministry. Contact Barb@grrdisciples.org if you are aware of an appropriate candidate! CONCERNS Prayer request from Pat Barnard, First Christian Little Rock, Disciples Women. Pat & Bob's granddaughter, Brittney, her husband's mother, Karen Hall, had brain surgery at St. Vincent's hospital. Please keep them all in your prayers. Prayers of support, condolence and healing for Rev. Shannon Speidel (Protestant Parish Education Coordinator at the L.R. Air Force Base Chapel), her mother, Peggy Momsen, and family in your prayers following the death of Shannon's Step-Father, Wayman Momsen. Funeral services were held in Guthrie, Oklahoma.

2 Please keep Anderson (A.J.) Pollard in your prayers as he's having surgery today. A.J. is the grandson of Sara Rudolph-Pollard (Associate Minister of Mt. Sinai Christian Church in North Little Rock). According to Sara, "This will be the final step in mending his broken leg. The rods are being removed. The doc said he should have 100% recovery." Arnetta Pritchard at St. Vincent in Little Rock who is in MICU, bed 13. Arnetta is the daughter of Peggy Prose and the late Norman Prose (former minister of FCC, Russellville). DISCIPLES WOMEN Disciples Women Retreats Mississippi September 20th - 21st (Eagle Ridge Conference Center, Raymond) Keynoter: Tunja Smith, Life Coach from Jackson, MS Theme: We Call Ourselves Disciples Louisiana October 10th - 12th (Wesley Center, Woodworth) Clergy Retreat September 22-24, 2014 Subiaco Abby, Subiaco AR Formed in Christ Through Word and Spirit Keynote Speakers: Revs. John and Judy Turner Registration forms are available on website: SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE: ALL CLERGY PLEASE COME!! Regional Assembly 2014 November 7-9 Park Hill Christian Church North Little Rock, Arkansas (Registration forms & Brochure are available on website: under Regional Assembly tab) PRE-ASSEMBLY EVENT FOR CLERGY On Friday, November 7, from 9 am 3 pm based on

3 Dr. Boring s latest book, An Introduction to the New Testament: History, Literature, Theology. Registration required. Guest Speakers: Eugene Boring, Professor Emeritus, Brite Divinity School Zedric Clayton, Real Faith Christian Church Dick Hamm, The Columbia Partnership Sharon Watkins, General Minister and President Congregations in Pastoral Search and Call: FCC Slidell, LA: part/full time pastor FCC Greater New Orleans, LA: part time pastor FCC Blytheville, AR: Dr. Keith Hearnsberger is being installed as Transitional Minister! Pulaski Heights CC, Little Rock, AR: part time pastor FCC Little Rock, AR: Rev. Leon Grey has been called as Interim Minister! FCC Pine Bluff, AR: part/full time pastor FCC Sulphur, LA: Has called Bobbie Yellott to serve as their Pastor! Congrats! Park Hill CC, N Little Rock, AR: Actively searching for a full time Associate minister with emphasis in Christian Education and Youth. Please send all inquiries to barb@grrdisciples.org who will forward them to the committee. From Regional Minister Barbara Jones: barb@grrdisciples.org: Greetings to everyone! We had our Regional Board meeting last weekend in preparation for the Regional Assembly s Annual Meeting. Friday night began with a Devotion on Isaiah 43:1-7 and and sharing what each heard in three different readings of the Word. After Introductions were made, Stan Parks, CPA, discussed the draft version of our 9/ /31/2013 financial review. QA followed his presentation. Will Thurman, from Gadberry Financial Group, was present and discussed the financial report and history of the Disciples Walk Youth Fund. Reports from Regional Elders, Pinnacle Outreach Ministry, Disciples Women, Disciples Men, Disciples Youth, Mississippi Christian Missionary Convention, Arkansas State Fellowship and the Regional Commission on Ministry were heard which concluded the evening. Saturday morning began with a report from the Regional Administrator about what happens in the office to help the board understand the behind the scenes support for our Regional activities. I began my report noting that we had documented the lack of a second full board meeting in 2013 and moderator Jennie Gregory addressed upcoming changes in the Bylaws to enable the Board the same ability to conduct business as it does the Executive Committee. I then shared my General Board Report and how I articulate the priorities of the CCDOC within our ministries. We do not organize our ministries around those priorities, but I report them around them. I also included a memo to all partners in the last mission station from Hurricane Rita as an example of conflict management happens on its on schedule and must be dealt with regardless of whatever else is going on. Moving on, I based my activity report on the Marks of the Faithful Regional Church. I also covered the property issues and items that were in the docket for documentation sake. New Church Starts included an update by conference call and Powerpoint from Ashley Sherrard sharing the excitement of Jerusalem CC

4 in Lafayette, LA. Barb shared about the new church start in NW Arkansas being housed in FCC Rogers, Pacific Islands Christian Church. Both are Congregations in Formation. Old Business included: A positive update on Real Faith Chrisitan Church and the partnership being formed with WOC, Volunteers in Mission, Disciples Home Missions, DCEF and the GRR. Hardy Community Christian Church in Hardy, AR, has closed since we last met and finally in old business, the formal request of First Christian Church, Meridian, MS, to leave the GRR and join affiliation with the region of Alabama/Northwest Florida. This will go to the Regional Assembly as the last step we take, and then on the the General Assembly in New Business included: Operating Guidelines and Bylaws Revisions A. Removal of Vice Moderator from By-Laws and Operating Guidelines B. Add RCOM Chair 1) Bylaws: Section X A. 3 and 2) Operating Guidelines: Section II, 3. C. Operating Guidelines Section II. B. 2. Current Wording: Time and Place of Meeting: Regular Meetings of the Regional Board shall be held at least twice annually at times and places to be fixed by the executive Regional Minister and the Moderator of the Board, except that one meeting shall be held not more than 60 days nor less than 21 days prior to the beginning of the regular meeting of the Regional Assembly. These meetings rotate through the region. Special meetings of the Regional Board may be called under extraordinary circumstances by the Executive Committee. Change to: Regular meetings of the Regional Board shall be held at least twice annually. The meetings may be face to face, telephone conference, discussions with decisions or electronic conferencing, The time, methond and place will be determined by the Executive Reigonal Minister and the Moderator. One Board Meeting shall be held not more than 60 days nor less than 21 days prior to the regular meeting of the Regional Assembly and shall be face to face. The location of nay face to face meeting will rotate through the Region to the extent possible. Special meetings of the Regional Board may be called under extraordinary circumstances by the Executive Committee. Pinnacle Outreach Ministry. Pinnacle Outreach Ministry is very pleased to sponsor a visit from one of the world's finest New Testament interpreters and scholars, Dr. M. Eugene Boring, I. Wylie Briscoe Professor Emeritus of New Testament at Brite Divinity School, Texas Christian University. Dr. Boring will lead a one day (Friday, November 7, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.) pre Regional Assembly learning event based on his newest book, An Introduction to the New Testament. In addition to ministers, we are also inviting elders and lay leaders of our congregations who have regular or periodic responsibility with preaching/teaching/worship leadership. This event will include lunch and is free of charge. Dr. Boring will also be leading two different workshops on Saturday afternoon of the Assembly, open to everyone. Pinnacle Outreach Ministry is an extension of Pinnacle Structures, Inc. of Cabot, Arkansas, and the Great River Region. Our mission is "Helping Equip the Faithful for the Work of Christ" and our main focus is outreach in nature with congregations and secular organizations that are reaching out to meet the needs of people. As Director of Pinnacle Outreach Ministry, I'm also honored to be serving as Regional Elder Coordinator as well as one of our 13 regional elders. I look forward to seeing you at the Great River Regional Assembly, November 7-9 at Park

5 Hill Christian Church in North Little Rock, Arkansas. Rev. Miles Cook, Sherwood, Arkansas. REGIONAL ELDERS In our three state Great River Region, it became obvious that one minister on staff, Barbara Jones our Executive Regional Minister, could not regularly visit with all of our ministers. Thus, the 2012 Regional Assembly in Baton Rouge initiated a new model of regional elders. We now have 13 regional elders in place, with each one shepherding a group of ministers within a geographical area of where each lives: Rev. Donald Dick: McComb, Mississippi; Rev. Lewis Godby: Mountain Home, Arkansas; Rev. Sherry Horton: Tupelo, Mississippi; Rev. Randy Jay: Ft. Smith, Arkansas; Rev. Frank Johnson: Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Rev. Lucian Lee: Camden, Arkansas; Rev. Russell Myers: Jackson, Mississippi; Rev. Bob Palmer: Jonesboro, Arkansas; Rev. Patricia Parker: Itta Bena, Mississippi; Rev. Ann Pickett-Parker: Moss Point, Mississippi; Rev. Graham Riggs: Shreveport, Louisiana; Rev. Judy Turner: Eureka Springs, Arkansas; Rev. Miles Cook: Sherwood, Arkansas In recent months we have better organized our efforts including stated responsibilities and participate together in monthly conference calls. Our purpose is "to serve the Great River Region as pastoral leaders, supporting the Executive Regional Minister and offering support and friendship to all ministers and their families in the region." We are honored to be serving our region in this way, and we thank you for your prayerful support. In Christ's service, Miles Cook, Regional Elders Coordinator From Melanie Willis, Youth Coordinator: youth@grrdisciples.org: Youth Commission. The GRR Youth Commission meeting has been rescheduled to September 26 th and 27 th at Park Hill CC, North Little Rock, AR. I hope your groups will be able to join us at some of our events! Young Adult Retreat, Fall Fandango, and Regional Assembly. YAR and FF are also on the youth page of the website: Regional Assembly registration can be found on the Regional Assembly tab on the website. Below is more info and as always, don't hesitate to reach out with questions! Here is a brief run-down of the bigger events: Young Adult Retreat (YAR) - $85 September 19-21, Camp Couchdale Ages ***Note the expanded age range*** Theme is Take Two: Second Chances we ll be exploring forgiveness of others and self. (Registrations due in regional office Sept 5 th ) Fall Fandango - $125 October 17-19, Camp Couchdale Grades 6-9 Theme is Jesus Hearts You Chuck Pickrel, who grew up in the Rogers church, will be keynoting and talking about the amazing love of Jesus. (Registrations due in regional office Sept 26 th )

6 B.A.M! Being About Ministry! October 31-November 2, 2014 Brite Divinity School at TCU is offering this unique weekend for juniors and seniors in high school thinking about ministry. Please take a minute to check it out! Let me know if you have any questions or aren't able to access the links and I will get you in touch with someone who can help. To Register: Brochure: Regional Assembly. November 7-9 Park Hill CC Grades 6-12 Basic Registration - $35 ***Covers Heifer Ranch and Altitude Trampoline Park*** Friday night dinner add l $15 for one person (also a family option) Saturday night dinner add l $20 for one person (also a family option) (No formal registration deadline) Theme is Lord, Teach Us to Pray. Below is a tentative schedule for the youth portion of the assembly: Friday 7:00pm All Assembly worship Rev. Zedric Clayton preaching - Park Hill CC (optional) 9:00pm Welcome and Ice Breakers FCC Sherwood 10:00pm Free Time/Get Ready for bed 11:00pm Lights Out Saturday 7:00am Wake up/breakfast 8:00am Depart for Heifer Ranch 12:00pm Sack lunch at Heifer Ranch 2:00pm Return from Heifer Ranch to FCC Sherwood Free Time *There are afternoon workshops and more info will be made available to you with options for activities during this time 6:00pm All Assembly Dinner Park Hill CC 8:00pm Depart for Altitude Trampoline Park 10:00pm Return from park 10:30pm Worship 11:00pm Free Time/Get ready for bed 11:30pm Lights Out Sunday 7:00am Wake Up/Pack Up/Breakfast *Breakfast will end the youth portion of the assembly. Sunday morning worship will be up to your group. You are welcome to stay at FCC Sherwood or worship with the greater assembly at Park Hill CC.

7 First Christian Church, Tupelo, MS, Mission Weekend Cancelled. The response to the tornado in Tupelo has been swift and overwhelming. The work available at this time is limited to clearing large debris and rebuilding of the kind that is best left to the professionals. We have decided to cancel the Labor day mission trip. Thank you all for your support and Rev Sherry Horton and FCC Tupelo thanks you as well! We will continue to update the region on their progress. You can also like First Christian Church (DOC) Tupelo, MS on Facebook for more updates and pictures! Their modular unit is in place up on the hill and they are moving right along! Please continue to hold them in your prayers. Thank you! International Affairs Seminar. Welcome to the International Affairs Seminar 2015 sponsored by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Great River Region. Join director Ronny Nowell and Co-Director along with other high school juniors and seniors from Disciples of Christ congregations visiting two amazing cities Washington DC and New York City, during Spring Break. March 21st-28 th. How Will We Get There? We will meet Saturday, March 21, 2015 to fly as a group to Washington DC. From Washington DC we will travel by passenger train to New York City. We will return by air from New York City on Saturday, March 28, Transportation to and from the airport is not included. How Much Does It Cost? The Seminar cost is $2000 which includes airfare, Amtrak from DC to NYC, local transportation, insurance, lodging, materials, speakers, and the Broadway musical and all meals. Participants will need a minimum amount for souvenirs and other items not included in the registration fee (shopping, sightseeing, etc.) Many participants have their trip costs covered through fundraising activities in their local church and local civics groups. A $500 non-refundable deposit is required by November 15, The balance of $1500 and your assignments, recommendations and other forms are due by January 31, 2015 in order to complete your application and be accepted as a participant on this trip. Applications are also available on under the Youth tab. For More Information Contact: Rev. Ronny Nowell at or ronny@fccrogers.org National Benevolent Association: XPLOR Residency: NBA XPLOR is a faith-based, 10-month, congregationally-hosted residency program designed for 21 to 30 year olds looking to explore lives of care and service giving them the opportunity to unleash their own potential, while positively impacting their community. We encourage you to check it out! It is time for another round of the Foundations for Ministry Series. This 3-4 month course, which is used by several Regions to train Commissioned Ministers, covers 24 ministry topics in 32 hours of instruction which is done online in live sessions. (It is also offered in Spanish through online recordings). It is meant to give practical tools to help church leaders and staff be effective in serving Christ. Some of the topics include: pastoral care, worship, conflict, connecting people to God, stewardship, Bible, church history and many more. Find out more at: or by ing me at swallacegs@aol.com. Cost for the entire series is $395 but if we have at least 5 in the class it drops to $350. I would love to have you as part of this session so drop me a note! Rev. Stephen Wallace, (405) , Wallace SC&W, 1701 NW 193 Circle, Edmond, Oklahoma

8 Great River Region. National Disciples of Christ. Lexington Theological Seminary. Missouri School of Religion courses. Global Ministries. Week of Compassion. Week of Compassion is the relief, refugee and development mission fund of the Christian Church (DOC) in the United States and Canada. We seek to equip and empower disciples to alleviate the suffering of others through disaster response, humanitarian aid, sustainable development and the promotion of mission opportunities. Disciples Home Missions. Christian Education/Faith Formation Donors; Refugee and Immigration Ministries DHM is Disciples Hands-on Missions! Current Issue (Click here) Disciples Mission Fund is the common fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Disciples Mission Fund supports 72 ministries of wholeness as close as your local congregation and reaching around the globe. As a Global Mission church, we understand that equipping congregations for mission includes learning from, learning with and offering support to our partners beyond the borders of the United States and Canada.