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In This IssueCalendar

Agenda

Next Steps towards Unityfor Areas and MissionWest

News from Boards andCouncils

Seeking PastoralLeadership

Transitioning to a NewWeb Page

Help Shape Mission

Hope Partnership comes toMission West

Mission First

Tell us about your ministry

November 13­15Mission West FallRetreats at LakeBrownwood andBlack River. Onlineregistration

November 14 Welcome to theDisciples! Party fornew Samoan Churchin El Paso and TRAAnnual Meeting,Bethany ChristianChurch, El Paso

2015 Tres Rios Area November 14, 2015Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)in the SouthwestAnnual MeetingAgenda

* Call to order * Opening Prayer * Welcome * Financial Report * Staff Reports ­

Charlotte Hoppe, Mission West Lead MinisterKarakay Kovaly, Mission West Minister of Youth and ofCommunication

* Discussion item regarding TRA unity in ministry with MissionWest. * Action items

+Approval of new board membersModerator ­ Rev. Linda Mervine, FCC, Las CrucesModerator Elect ­ vacantSecretary ­ Dianne Goode, WMCC, AlbuquerqueTreasurer ­ vacantVoting Rep to Mission West Board ­ Jimmy Case, FCCAlpineVoting Rep to CCSW Regional Council ­ Rev. BobAubrey, MVCC, AlbuquerqueMembers at large ­ Kimberly Rogge Rogers, FCC,Carlsbad and Rev. Bill Pollack, BCC El PasoACOM Chair and Rep to RCOM (non board position) ­Rev. Matt Every, FCC, Ruidoso

+Recognition of Primera Iglesia Christiana Hispana ascongregation with full DOC status

*Adjourn/Closing Prayer

Quick LinksTwitterMW FacebookCEA FacebookHPA FacebookTRA FacebookMW Youth Facebook

Churchesseeking pastoralleadership

Youth DirectorAll CCDoC ABQ

ChurchesAlbuquerque, NM

Senior MinisterWestmont Christian

ChurchLubbock, TX

Senior MinisterCommunity Christian

ChurchLubbock, TX

PastorUnion Congregational

UCCFriona, TX

PastorFirst Christian Church

Big Spring, TX

November 25 Documentationdeadline for Januaryinterviews withRegional Committeeon Ministry

November 25­27Mission West officeClosed forThanksgiving

November 26Thanksgiving

November 29 FirstSunday in Advent

December 31Standing forms for2016 Due

RegistrationCalendar

CalendarThe Mission West calendaris being added to daily.

Please emailif you would like your eventadded to this calendar.

Central, Hi­Plains and Tres Rios Boards/CouncilsTake Next Steps Toward Unity in Ministry andMission

While experiencing exciting, energetic and innovative collaborativeministries together over the past year and to move towardmore efficiency, effectiveness and excellence in ministry planningand support ­ all three Area Boards/Councils have decided tobegin to move into the next stage of ministry together as MissionWest.

Very successful camps, conferences, clergy/lay education, andmore ministries have been the result of our Mission Westcollaboration over the past year. Conversations in many of theclergy clusters around all three Areas are supportive of this move.

The three Area Councils/Boards will be doing the needed legal,financial and structural research this fall and winter to propose thenext steps needed to unify the three Areas into one Area forministry within the Southwest Region. Legal identity of each Areacorporation may be preserved. However we hope to take legal,financial and structural steps with in the Christian Church(Disciples of Christ) to simplify our structure and unify ourresources for ministry. Approval of all changes by the threeAreas will be sought in the spring of 2016. Approval by the CCSWRegional Council and Assembly will be sought by the end of 2016. More conversation and sharing of information will take place asdefinitive steps become clear.

News from Mission West Common Mission Boardand Area Boards/Councils

Central Area Annual Meeting met at Brook Hollow CC, Abilene, October 17, 2015.

2015/16 officers elected were:

Moderator ­ Rev. Mike Hunter, FCC, MidlandVice Moderators ­ vacantSecretary ­ Rev. Shannon Grubbs, FCC, StephenvilleTreasurer ­ Rev. John Pennington, FCC, Richland Springs

Other Council members include:Big Country Cluster ­ Rev. Don Wilson, FCC, AbileneLBCR ­ Stephen Hicks, CHCC, San AngeloCYC ­ Rev. TJ York, FCC, Midland

Mission West Common Mission Board met for their annualface­t­face meeting at Westmont Christian Church in Lubbock onThursday, August 20 and Friday, August 21. The agenda andsupporting documents can be found at missionwestccsw.org.

Moderator­Rev. Leslie Dalstra FCC El Paso Moderator Elect­ vacant Secretary ­ Rev. Paul Carpenter FCC LubbockTreasurer­Rev. Randa Reeves FCC BrownfieldCentral Area Board Liaison­ Rev. Don Wilson FCC AbileneHi Plains Area Board Liaison­Rev. Paul Carpenter Tres Rios Area Board Liaison­ Jimmy Case FCC AlpineNon voting Member CCSW Regional Council­Rev. Sterling LentzFCC Brownwood

Pastor/New ChurchPlanter

First Christian ChurchSanta Fe, NM

PastorFirst Christian Church

Hooker, OK

Pastor First Christian Church

Plainview, TX

Associate Minister ofYouth and Small

Group DevelopmentFirst Christian

Church, Perryton, TX

PastorFirst Christian

Church, Miami, TX

Youth MinisterFirst Christian

Church,San Angelo, TX

PastorFirst Christian Church

Canyon, TX

PastorFirst Christian Church

Albany, TX

PastorFirst Christian Church

Stratford, TX

Inquiries for moreinformation should be

directed to:Rev. Charlotte Hoppe

Lead Minister,Mission West

Where in the Westis Charlotte? To see where

Charlotte is travelingover the next fewmonths, see ourcalendar page

Members atLarge TRARev. LaurieLewis MonteVista CCAlbuquerque CEARev. PennyBiddy BrookHollow CCAbileneHPA vacant

Tres Rios Area Board met by conference call on September 22. The agenda and supporting documents for the meeting areavailable at missionwestccsw.org. Nominations for new officersand members are being approved today at the November annualmeeting (see agenda above).

2014­15 Officers include:Moderator­Rev. Patrick Crocker, Las Cruces (2015)Moderator­Elect­VacantSecretary­Rev. Lana Covington, FCC, Alpine (2015)Treasurer­vacantMinistry Council Convener­vacant

Members include:Marta McLaughlin­FCC, El Paso (2015)Rev. Keith Lewis­United Church of Los Alamos (2015)Rev. Linda Mervine­FCC, Las Cruces (2016)Diane Goode­West Mesa CC, Albuquerque (2016)Jim Case­FCC, Alpine (2016)

Hi Plains Area Annual Meeting met on October 10, 2015. Newboard members are:

Moderator ­ Dick Snyder FCC AmarilloVice Moderator ­ openSecretary­ Dick Snyder (acting) FCC Amarillo2nd Vice Moderator ­ Rev. Dan Anderson FCC PerrytonTreasurer ­ Linda Pitman FCC CanyonAssistant Treasurer ­ Monty Winders FCC CanyonMembers at large ­ Darlene Ford FCC LiberalRev. Paul Carpenter FCC Lubbock ­ rep to MW CMBRev. Dan Kovaly FCC Spearman ­ rep to CCSW Reg Council

Transitioning toNew Web Page

We are working totransition to a newweb page pleasesend a picture of yourcongregation toKarakay for the newweb page byTuesday, October 13.

Would you like to help shape Mission West ministries and mission?

The governing boards for all three Areas and for Mission West are busy this year working to unify our structure andgovernance. But what about our joint Mission West ministries and mission? You can share in the creation and action ofthese ministries! If you would like to serve on planning and/or action teams for the following ministries and mission,please contact Charlotte or Karakay.

Youth, Young Adult and Children's Ministries ­ camps, retreats, and other eventsSchool for Ministry ­ education events for commission and ordained clergy and lay leadersShepherds ­ supporting the caring ministry for pastors and congregationsCommunications ­ newsletters, web site, social mediaFund Development ­ for our mission and ministriesTres Rios Welcome Party ­ for the new Samoan congregation, Nov 14, El Paso

P.S. A lot of work can be accomplished via phone and web meetings!

Hope Partnership comes to Mission West alongside Central and Hi Plains Annual Meetingsand in Tres Rios as a stand alone event

In October, two different events, "Dare to Lead" and "Come and See", were presented by Hope Partnership forMissional Transformation across Mission West.

The New Beginnings Process at Come and See New Beginnings is a process designed to help congregations make bold decisions about their future ministry. Designedprimarily for small congregations, this process has helped hundreds of Disciple, UCC & Presbyterian churches makebold decisions that allowed the congregation to move from "getting by" to thriving in God's mission.

The introduction gives congregations 6 weeks to decide if you want to engage in the process.

http://www.hopepmt.org/transform/new­beginnings/

Churches represented at these meetings were: FCC Spearman, FCC Pampa, FCC Liberal, FCC Midland, Church onthe Journey Midland, FCC Big Spring, Brook Hollow CC Abilene, FCC Abilene, FCC Stephenville, CCC Lampassas,FCC Brownwood, FCC Richland Springs

Jeff Knighton from FCC Pampa tells us whyhe and 4 members attended: We in FCC of Pampa find ourselves, as withmany other churches of all denominations,wondering, "What happened?" when we makeour Sunday worship attendance count. Where iseverybody? How did we miss the memo aboutthe change coming, and how to prepare for it? So we find ourselves now praying we can find away to catch up with this century, and rebirthourselves in a way that meets the needs of ourCongregation, and the Congregation we hope tobe for many years to come. The "Come andSee" offering is, for us, something well worthchecking out, and we plan to be in Spearman onOctober 10th!

The Journey at Dare to Lead

The Journey is a 2 year process thatdevelops NEW kind of leaders for yourchurch. Helping leaders becomeTransformational leaders, movescongregations from old ways of measuringsuccess, towards congregations that make adifference in the lives of people and theircommunities. At the end of the process, thecongregation will have clarity about its futureministry and specific call.

The introduction gives your congregation 6weeks to decide if you want to participate inthe Journey.

http://www.hopepmt.org/transform/the­journey/

State of the Church's Mission: Mission First Video

Churches represented at this meeting were:FCC El Paso, Bethany CC El Paso,Northgate CC El Paso, FCC Las Cruces

A Call to Prayer for Mission First!

Prayer will be a major part of our preparation for a mighty movement of God. So ...Disciples, let us pray! Let's open our spirits to the Spirit of God as we seek to make a difference through MissionFirst! Mission First! prompts Disciples to listen for God's call to mission in the 21st century world. It is also a 2­year pilotof a model for identifying shared mission for our entire Church and working in partnership to fulfill it. At the heartof Mission First! are Mission Gatherings which will take place in 2016. All Disciples are invited to participate andshare their congregation's particular passion within God's larger mission as well as be inspired to action by thestories of others. As we prepare and implement Mission Gatherings, let's listen to the Spirit. Let's pray for a shared sense of callwithin God's larger mission; that we will identify ways to work together that we may never have dreamed ofbefore. Let's seek God's inspiration and leadership as we put God's Mission First! among Disciples. Let us batheMission First! in intentional prayer and action. Beginning in October, you will receive a weeklye­mail prompt for prayer and action. Thank youin advance for your participation through prayer.Click here to learn more about MissionGatherings near you or more information aboutprayer teams and other ways to support! Sign up for weekly prayer prompts

Watch the Video from General Assembly

At the heart of this process are MissionGatherings where we hope you and yourleaders will participate in sharing what yourcongregation is passionate about doing in themission field. These gatherings may take placeat your 2016 regional or racial / ethnicassemblies or at camp or other places whereDisciples gather. Sign Up now.

Tell us about your ministryPlease Email Karakay with your ministry stories and experiences by the 7th and 25th of each month to be included in future newsletters which are

published on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays. We are bound together through our congregations and the stories they have lived. Please help us share whatyour congregation is doing and learning.

Mission West | missionwest@ccsw.org | www.missionwestccsw.org2717 Stanley St. Ste AAmarillo, TX 79109

Copyright © 2015. All Rights Reserved.

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Mission West | 2717 Stanley St. Ste A | Amarillo | TX | 79109

Page 1 of 4

REPORT FROM ASSOCIATE MINISTER FOR YOUTH, YOUNG ADULTS, AND COMMUNICATIONS TO

TRES RIOS ANNUAL MEETING 11/14/2015

YOUTH

2015-2016 Camps

o 2015

Mission West Winter Rally Session 1 (G 6th-12th) Nov 13-15, LBCR $90 per person

Mission West Winter Retreat Session 2 (G 6th-12th) Nov 13-15, BRCL $90 per person

o 2016

Mission West Mid Winter Retreat Session 1 (G 3rd-12th) Feb. 5-7, BRCL $90 per person

Mission West Mid Winter Rally Session 2 (G 3rd-12th) Feb. 26-28, LBCR $90 per person

YAM (Young Adult Mission) (First year out of High School to 27 years old and 28+ as Sponsors) May 24- June 2

Partnership with Building Cultures Mission Ecuador (dates may fluctuate) Mission West

Grand Beginnings June 10-12 Lake Brownwood (4 years old to 3rd G with Parent/GParent

Mission West CYF & Chi Rho (Grades 6th-12th) June 13-18, Ceta Glen

Mission West JYF (Grades 3rd to 5th)Session 1 June 20-24 Black River

Mission West JYF Session 2 June 26-30 Lake Brownwood

"8ers" Created to be me, June 26 to July 2, Disciples Crossing

CYLS, July 24/25-30, Disciples Oaks, Gonzales, TX

Next Mission West Youth Meeting is scheduled for January 22-23, 2016 at Ceta Canyon/Glen (Updates on fall retreats, work

together on planning Mid Winter Retreats, Training for Adult Sponsors,)

Events outside of Mission West that may be of interest to you

o Orange Tour Nov 3 Austin, Tx Nov 6 Dallas, TX

o NCYM (National Conference on Youth Ministry) January 4-7, 2016 Colorado Springs, CO

o Progressive Youth Ministry, February 18-20, Dallas, TX Cathedral of Hope

o DYMN (Disciples Youth Ministry Network) Disciples Crossing, Athens, TX March 29-April 1st

o Orange Conference Atlanta, GA April 27-29

o DSM There will be two trips at different times,

St. Louis June 27-July 1

Hill Country/Central Texas July 4-8

Page 2 of 4

MISSION WEST YOUTH MEETING NOTES 09/11-12/2015

Friday Night 9:00 pm Gathering time 9:30 pm worship 10 pm mission west youth afterhours

Saturday 8:00 am breakfast 8:30 am Meeting 12:30 pm Lunch, we will break when appropriate from the list below 3:00 pm latest time we will finish

What we will cover

o Review Directors Best Practices and Misc. Discussions

Addressing Retreats & Rally's in the Best Practices Booklet- camp directors did not refer to the booklet. Do we

need to have the same type of booklet for retreats and rally’s? Yes, would be helpful for the people coming in not

having directed a camp with mission west before. Heather volunteered to work on it. The rally and retreat

additions would be the time suggested time line for the planning aspect for the retreat. Heather will work on it and

send it off to TJ for revisions.

Dress Code (swim suits, short shorts, tank tops, spaghetti straps) – clarification of specifications. Parents

complained about needing to buy another swim suit for just to camp to have a one piece. Tankini’s are

appropriate. Leave the dress code to the discretion of the camp leaders/directors not the general adult’s sponsors.

Spaghetti Straps: if they are walking around in a swim suit, then should it matter if they wear it.

Ages for sponsors for CYF & Chi Rho combined events. Where do we put those who want to serve their first few

years after high school that do not meet the 4 year gap between the oldest camper? Can we still have them on

campus and working with Chi Rho alone? – Central suggested 22- unless employed by a church. HPA- worked with

the one year out of high school to work with the Chi-Rho. Mission West- Do we have a process to evaluate from

the director. If they don’t make the 4 years older than the oldest camper break. If they don’t make the cut, send

them to grand beginnings and JYF.

Adult Sponsors/Volunteers-Paying or Not Paying – Most churches pay for their adults to go to camp. Do we raise

the kids cost to supplement the fees for the adults cost? Paula- the idea that the adult fee would come out of the

church rather than the cost coming out of the area. Central- a couple years ago had the adults had to pay for their

rally and be covered for summer camp and must be asked to participate. We are paying the fee no matter what, in

the student fee or the adults. TJ- at least for this year adults are required to pay and the individual churches are

responsible for that.

No more outside visitors to camp period (not even for Senior Night and Installations)? – Heather- not allowing

parents to come for installation would be a joy for the parents/grandparents in this big event in their lives. Central

had issues with kids and parents wanting to attend senior banquet. We have built this community and we now

have outsiders and break the community. The adults need to leave so that the kids can be comfortable with

worship. Senior night closed to visitor on the last night. Installation is open to other kids. What about the parents

who want to come hear their senior students who aren’t being installed. Different camping system. NO OUTSIDE

VISISTORS except for installation on Saturday on pick up.

No cell phone rule, enforcement, is it important that all camps are consistent with no cell phone? – TJ enjoys the

policy of not having the cell phone over the whole week and see’s the benefit of the youth not having to their cell

phones for the week and the weekend. What do we do for the students that need music to fall asleep? What do

we do with the kids who need to be able to have the physical item? Recommended policy- Cell phones will be

collected at registration, adults would be expected to respect the policy.

o Proposal to make 3 areas one mission west, creation of a team to communicate with Area boards, work on

Bylaws, and presentation at January Meeting. – JYF do we continue the separate the HPTRA and CEA JYF rather

than a MW JYF. Accounting would be easier, but logically would it be good for the camp itself. HPTRA doesn’t have

a grand beginnings, CEA hosts grand beginnings and invites HPTRA. TJ suspend area council and form MW council

that would have at least one member from each camp and the council will be doing the work of planning the

camp. (2 meetings a year) 6 council members 1 from each camp and 2 at large members. ( CEA grand beginnings,

CEA JYF, HPTRA JYF, MW chi rho/CYF) The MW chair would be someone who has directed a camp and would be

Page 3 of 4

elected from within. 2 year commitment. Serving in leadership: 1 year is learning and watch. 2 year leading with

guidance. 3 leading fully. The new leadership will start 2016-2017. Karakay will write the proposal, TJ would review

and it will be available before the January meeting for group approval.

o Rotation of Camps for the next three years? - JYF will merge in 2017 to MW.

MW Grand Beginnings JYF JYF MW Chi-Rho/CYF

Y1- 2016 LBCR June 10-12 LBCR CEA June 26-30 BRCL HPTRA June 20-24 CETA June 12-18

Y2- 2017 CETA June 9-11 LBCR MW June 26-30 BRCL June 12-17

Y3- 2018 BRCL June 8-10 CETA MW June 25-29 LBCR June 11-16

(Dates listed are tentative. We are waiting on confirmation from all of our camp grounds, check back later for final dates.)

o Online Registration – Camp Brain, Camp Doc, Constant Contact, and through the website. Camp Doc- $4 per person

with login and password for each person. Camp Doc could allow directors and youth ministers would be able to see

their kids and monitor them. CAMP DOC WAS APPROVED.

o Motivational Speaker-who would we like to hear and when? CEA has $1000 set aside for this – CYC CEA’s intent to hire

a professional to come in and train children and youth workers. August 6 (preferred) and August 13 (back up). Day

workshop starting at 9 or 10. Someone who will come do children and youth worker training. Alex will contact Dr.

Steven Bonner and ask if he would be interested leading a seminar on Youth and Children leadership in congregational.

o 2014-2015 Camp Evaluation Reports

Please submit a detailed written report to your committee chair, the office at missionwest@ccsw.org and cc

me at kkovaly@ccsw.org. Please provide a summary oral report to the group) A template will be provided. –

Mission West CYC will take care of the camp evaluations.

YOUNG ADULTS

Working with Alex Smith of Westmont CC on YAM (Young

Adult Mission) (First year out of High School to 27 years old

and 28+ as Sponsors) May 24- June 2 Partnership with

Building Cultures Mission Ecuador

COMMUNICATIONS

Working on Website Redesign From This

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To This:

Continued work on the Newsletter Twice a Month.

The common mission board decided that a Quarterly Paper Newsletters Starting January 2016 would not be cost effective.

Logo Design done pro bono by Julie Every, spouse to Matt Every,

pastor at FCC Ruidoso with the communications team of Art Tambur,

FCC El Paso; David Theel, FCC Spearman; and Randa Reeves FCC

Brownfield. Yellow represents the Hi Plains Area with the yellow

grasses that are prevalent throughout the Hi Plains. Orange

represents Tres Rios Area with the mountains and desert found

throughout. Blue represents the blue waters at LBCR and the big

blue sky found the Central Area.

1

Welcome to the Disciples!

Tres Rios Area of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Southwest

Saturday, November 14, 2015

Opening our Hearts Welcome Rev. Bill Pollack Bethany Christian Church, El Paso *Call to Worship

Come together, everyone Rev. Patrick Crocker and bring your stories Moderator, Tres Rios Area and sing your songs and share in the Spirit Let your feelings paint the sky Rev. Linda Mervine like a rainbow of banners. Moderator Elect, Tres Rios Area Let your thoughts fill the air and come to life in bodies of sound ringing out like a song to which the whole world will be dancing. And let even the silence speak Jimmy Case with a thousand voices TRA Board and Mission West

in tribute to our loving, living God Common Mission Board member and in celebration of our lives – The priceless gift God has given us. *Hymn of Praise Come Christians Join to Sing p. 90 Morning Prayer Rev. Faatua Lago Pastor, Samoan Congregational Christian Church Welcome to the Samoan Congregational Rev. Charlotte Hoppe Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Lead Minister, Mission West *Tres Rios Area: Reaffirming our own faith in Jesus the Christ,

We gladly welcome you into this community of faith enfolding you with our love, and committing ourselves to your care.

We promise you our friendship and prayers as we share the hopes and labors of the church.

2

*All: With the power of God’s Spirit let us mutually encourage each other to trust God and strengthen one another to serve others,

That Christ’s church may in all things stand faithful Special Music The Samoan Congregational

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Gathering At the Table

Scripture John 2:1-­‐11 Rev. Charlotte Hoppe The Offering Please share what you can. This offering will cover the cost of our noon meal today, for hosts

and guests! Doxology Praise God from whom all blessings flow; p. 48 praise Christ, all creatures here below; praise Holy Spirit evermore; God, triune, whom we adore. Invitation to the Meal Who is the Host? Who is the Guest? Communion Hymn We Come as Guests Invited p. 386 The Meal

Charlotte: God in Christ breaks down the walls that make us strangers to ourselves and divide us from one another. We are the body of Christ. Around this table, we enact our faith. The body broken is restored to wholeness; lifeblood poured out brings healing to our world. Passing the Peace Charlotte: At this table we receive God’s peace made flesh.

What we receive, we now share.

The people may share God’s peace with each other in their own words and gestures. Communion Prayer Rev. Lana Covington Leader: We dream, O God, of community, Secretary, TRA Board But in waking hours we forget such hopes Our dreams we call “alien”; Our sister and brother we call “stranger.”

3

People: You call us by name. With arms outstretched as on a cross, You call us to yourself, And you name us your own people. Leader: So with arms outstretched, we now embrace New friends and forgotten dreams. The body broken and lifeblood poured Transform our fears, revive our visions. People: Renew us, O God, with your Spirit, That we may receive this mystery of our body, Embracing its manifold gifts and needs, Shouting an “Amen!” that resounds through our world. The Words of Institution Sharing the Bread and Cup Prayer after Communion Leader: All praise is yours, O God. You bring us to this table as sisters

and brothers. Lead us now through each of our moments, to that glorious day when all your children will gather as family. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ.

People: Who is our peace made flesh. Amen!

Going Out to Serve *Closing Hymn Go Now in Peace p. 437 Benediction May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify God and our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 15:5-­‐6) Worship Resources Chalice Worship. Colbert S. Cartwright and O.I. Cricket Harrison. Chalice

Press. St. Louis. 1997

www.practicingourfaith.org Touch Holiness, Resources for Worship. Ruth Duck and Maren Tirabassi.

Pilgrim Press. New York. 1990