Great River Region Newsletter March 11, 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

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they

found him, they exclaimed: Everyone is looking for you!” (Mark 1: 35-37)

I just returned where from the Black Minister’s Retreat, hosted by the Office of Black Ministries, Disciples Homes Missions and the MCMC (Mississippi Christian Missionary Convention) of the Great River Region!!! This was a historical event being the first time that the Retreat has been held in Mississippi. I want you to know that our pastors from Mississippi represented us well. Shout out to Russell Myers, Lester Brooks, Deborah Ward, Rena Baker, and Rufus Edwards. Tag Team Preachers Zedric Clayton, Real Faith CC and Ann Picket-Parker, New Generation Fellowship shut it down Thursday evening!!! (that means they did an outstanding job preaching the Word of God and leading us in worship). “The preachers from this Region carried a love and anointing that you could feel. There’s a deep history of overcoming down here that came through in their ministry. I’ll never forget it,” shared Rev. Monique Spells, Moderator for the Indiana Region and Admissions Counselor for Christian Theological Seminary. Our Pastors challenged us with Mark 1:35-37. For this is the only way that we can make a commitment to Ministry for the Long Haul: Self Care and Sustenance. How about you? How are you practicing your spiritual disciplines, or as Pastor Pickett-Parker shared, “Are we taking care of our bodies? Are we spending time with God? Are we spending some alone time to get centered and focused?” Special Thanks to R. Wayne Calhoun and his planning team for a job well done!

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 March 31, 2016

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

Mt. Sinai Christian Church, North Little Rock, AR, will celebrate their 115th Anniversary this Sunday, March 13, with worship at 11:00 a.m. Lunch following worship, and an anniversary service at 2:30 p.m.

PRAYER CONCERNS

Rev. Joe and Nancy Jorgensen (First Christian-Benton, AR), Nancy continues treatments for cancer Rev. Holly Patton (Little Rock, AR), health concerns Rev. Don Warren (Pine Bluff, AR), physical therapy following recent surgery Rev. Kevin and Stephanie Robbins (First Christian-Pine Bluff, AR), personal circumstances Rev. Miles and Trela Cook, daughter Laura Cook, for cancer treatments

Reminder: GRR Congregations please return your YEARBOOK forms

to the Regional office or you can Submit Online by March 15th. Also please send you updated Congregational Profile to the Regional Office.

NEWS AND EVENTS

Your gift to the Easter Offering helps bring life, love and learning through the general ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Ministries that receive funding from the Easter Offering include: the

Center for Faith and Giving, Central Pastoral office for Hispanic Ministries, Communication Ministries, Council on Christian Unity, Disciples Church Extension Fund / Hope Partnership for Missional Transformation, Disciples of Chris Historical Society, Disciples Home missions, Disciples Women, Division of Overseas Ministries/Global Ministries, Higher Education and Leadership Ministries, National Benevolent Association, National Convocation, North American Pacific/Asian Disciples, and Treasury Services.

First Annual Disciples Home Missions Virtual 5k! YOU are invited to join the first annual Disciples Home Missions Virtual

5K in support of the Disciples Mission Fund Easter Offering!

What is a Virtual 5k? A virtual 5K race is a 5km race that can be run at any

location. You can walk, use the treadmill, run outside, or join a local race

near you. (You can even break it up over time!) Share pictures with the

#disciples5k tag and we'll help cheer you on!

Why Disciples Mission Fund? This is an opportunity to share the passion

our church has to put mission first. DMF Easter Offering funds go to

support vital General Ministries like Disciples Home Missions, Disciples

Women, Global Ministries, Hope Partnership for Missional Transformation,

and many others. Learn more at disciplesmissionfund.org. Who's invited? Everyone! Individuals, Families,

Youth Groups, or any group or ministry is welcome! Need an activity for a retreat or mission trip? Your group is

invited, too! How do I sign up? Registration is open March 1-31. Choose from individual or group registration

options. Register now or read more about the registration options below. Contact the Jessica Kramer at

jkramer@dhm.disciples.org or call her at 317-713-2641.

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.

Mission First! Addresses the need to find a new shared focus in what God is doing in the world through Disciples of Christ. We are not setting aside pro-reconciliation/anti-racism, new and transforming churches or leadership

development. 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

Get re-inspired. You can watch (or share) General Minister and President Sharon Watkins' address from the 2015 General Assembly. Link to Video

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 due March 31st Magnolia Camp & Conference 2016 @ Roosevelt State Park, MS

Camp Dates: June 20-25 Eligibility: 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 Eligibility: Completed 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th Grade Fee: $375 or $400 after May 2nd Discovery Camp on June 18 – 19 Eligibility: Completed K, 1st & 2nd Grade Fee: $90 per attendee or $115 after May 2nd Parent/Grandparent/Guardian attendance requested per Camper JYF Camp on June 19 – 22 Eligibility: Completed 3rd, 4th and 5th Grade Fee: $210 or $235 after May 2nd Chi Rho Camp on June 22 – 26 Eligibility: Completed 6th, 7th and 8th Grade Fee: $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

Are you interested in Stewardship Education? Do you have a passion for the

discipline of stewardship? If so, The GRR would like to encourage your

participation in “Stepping into Stewardship,” March 30th-April 1, in Orlando FL,

sponsored by the United Church of Christ and the Center for Faith and Giving.

For more information, follow the link www.disciples.org/stepping-into-stewardship.

____________________________________________________________________________

Louisiana Interfaith Annual Assembly held in Shreveport, LA at Peaceful Rest

MB Church, March 7-8, 2016

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!

First Christian Church Newport, AR. 211 Third St, 870-523-3752,

firstccnewportar@sbcglobal.net

The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program will conduct a Walks through History Walking Tour in downtown Newport on Saturday, March 12.

It is co-sponsored by the Jackson County Historical Society.

The tour will begin at the First United Methodist Church and will include the Depot,

the First National Bank Building, the First Christian Church,

the First Presbyterian Church and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.

The tour should be completed by 1 p.m. There is no charge.

First Christian Church Sherwood, AR. 2803 E Kiehl Ave, 501-835-5505, SherwoodFCC@aol.com

OUTREACH MINISTRY. www.sherwoodfcc.org For the past two years the Outreach Committee has been collaborating with the American Red Cross in an effort to provide a

shelter for our community if and when the need should arise. On December 5, 2015 members of the American Red Cross visited our church to complete a final application process. Chalice Hall has now been approved as an American Red Cross Shelter and Disaster Relief Center. Rev. Jason Ferguson, Pastor.

Parkview Christian Church in Little Rock, AR. 15108 Kanis Rd. 501-225-5005 On Good Friday, Parkview CC will be doing ‘The Way of the Cross’ or ‘Stations of the Cross’ at 12 noon. Everyone is invited to join us to celebrate this meaningful experience. Rev. Stan McDougal, Pastor. stan.mcdougal@att.net

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.

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.

ARVOAD: Grant Funding Opportunity (Blue & You Foundation)

Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas - $1,000 mini-grants for health projects Deadline: March 31, 2016 Purpose: $1,000 mini-grants to fund any health-improvement program in Arkansas. While any health-related activity is eligible, the Foundation is also receptive to receiving applications to fund the purchase of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and related user training. Eligibility Criteria: Any 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, public school, church, or governmental organization in Arkansas is eligible. An eligible organization may receive only one mini-grant in a 12-month period, and any organization that has received a mini-grant or regular grant from the Blue & You Foundation in the last two years is not eligible to apply for a mini-grant. Applicants will be notified of mini-grant awards within approximately five days of your application. If a $1,000 mini-grant is awarded, the recipient will be asked to submit a one-page report of program results within six months. Expected number of awards: 200 Contact Information: Online application found at www.BlueAnd YouFoundationArkansas.org. Patrick O’Sullivan, posullivan@arkbluecross.com, 501-378-2221.

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, 2016. 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. Registration begins March 1, and the

course always fills up quickly. 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. To do so, they need to start the application process

now, to ensure that they can get their application, reference (from you is ideal!) 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 to apply for admission, I do not need references or transcripts, thus shortening the

process for them. I will still need the application and the application fee.

4. All students can begin the process on the website www.lextheo.edu by clicking on the link that

says “Start Your Journey.”

5. Please note that 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, 2016

Have you been considering a D. Min. degree? Lexington Theological Seminary offers a D. Min. in Leading Congregations in Adaptive Change. The next cohort will start in September, 2016 and applications are due by July 1! Now is the time to 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 more information, contact Erin Cash, Director of Admissions at 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. Barbara Bradfield is honorary chair and Elaine Kellam is event chair. 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

The Rev. Patricia Ann Parker Memorial Scholarship Fund is established to honor Elder Parker’s legacy and passion for youth development and education

for East Percy Street CC high school students entering college and/or seminary.

Please send donations to: Christian Church Foundation

P.O. Box 1986 Indianapolis, IN 46202-1986. (800) 668-8016

NOTE: Great River Region Churches, be sure to email your News, Conventions, Church Anniversary, or Special Events to: tina@grrdisciples.org. Thank you.

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME – Spring Forward

REMEMBER TO SET YOUR CLOCKS AHEAD 1 HOUR

SATURDAY NIGHT

MARCH 12th.