May 11^th, 2007	19^th  Weekly Edition                                                      2007 GRR CURRENTS
PRAYER CONCERNS	Karen Williams, wife of Rev. Mark Williams, FCC Camden AR, continuing to struggle with issues related to brain tumor. Byron Lasater's (FCC Paris) son is in Baghdad as a chaplain for the Marines Rev. Jim Roberts, FCC Osceola AR: Beloved wife Bonnie of 27 years passed from this life into the arms of Jesus on Monday April 30. Mary Early, wife of Rev. Neil Early of FCC Leesville, has been in the hospital hopes to be home this week. Jeannie Moore, wife of Rev. Vance Moore of Westside CC has rallied a bit and is out of the hospital and receiving hospice care at home. Cards can be sent to PO Box 740423, New Orleans LA 70174. From Rev. Loy Hoskins, FCC Bentonville, AR: Hello, friends.  I just wanted to inform you of the death of my mother. She died at St. Anthony's hospital in Oklahoma City.  She was admitted on April 18 for wound care on her leg.  She walked in with high spirits.  During her stay she developed a perforated gastric ulcer.  An operation on Monday seemed to fix it, but then her kidneys failed.  At the age of 80, her weight fell to below her age.  At 3:00 yesterday the meds and procedures were not helping, so we slowly began taking them off leaving only morphine and a stomach pump to ease the pain. Mom hasn't been the same, pretty much depressed, since Dad died three years ago on May 28.  She has said several times that she's ready to be with Dad again.  She was ready for this and I was too.  Mom was born and raised in England and met my dad when he was stationed there during World War II.  She was always a prim and proper English lady with lots of dignity and grace.  You can imagine how I and my ways drove her nuts quite often. LOY From Global Ministries: Dear colleagues, Please keep Renee Carter and her family, her husband John and sons and daughter (Miguel, Nicolas and Yvette) in your prayers and thoughts.  Renee has Lou Gehrigs disease and she is very ill.  The Carters served faithfully in Paraguay for three decades.  John and Renee live in Caacup, Paraguay. Notes of affirmation and support can be send to:    carter@supernet.com.py Thanks, Rev. Felix Ortiz-Cotto Executive, Latin America and the Caribbean / Ejecutivo, Amrica Latina y el Caribe Global Ministries /Ministerios Globales We learned that Rev. Susan Miller, Lakeshore Drive CC in Hot Springs AR lost her sister about a week ago. Her name was Ann Weathers. Services in Oklahoma this past week.
EVENTS	SUMMER CAMP AND CONFERENCE (click for details)  Completed K thru 2 — Discovery Camp June 16-17 at Camp Couchdale in Hot Springs, AR (For Discovery Camp, all churches are required to send adult sponsors with campers.  If a church sends both male & female Discovery Campers, both male and female adult sponsors are required.) Completed 3 thru 5 — Junior Youth Fellowship (JYF) Camp June 17-20 at Camp Couchdale in Hot Springs, AR Completed 6 thru 8 — Chi-Rho Camp  June 20-24 at Camp Couchdale in Hot Springs, AR  Completed 9^thGrade – F.I.S2H. Camp  (Fundamental Intro to Spiritual & Sexual Health) F.I.S2H. Camp June 24-30 at Camp Couchdale in Hot Springs, AR Completed 10 thru 12 — Christian Youth Fellowship (CYF) Conference July 1-7 at Camp Couchdale in Hot Springs, AR ALL AGES - Magnolia Conference  June 25-30 at Roosevelt State Park in Morton, MS NEW 07 This year's NEW will be a joint venture of the NEA, The Columbia Partnership and the New Church Ministry Team of Church Extension.  It has some top-notch speakers and presenters in three tracks...church growth, coaching, and new church establishment.  Dick Hamm is the coordinator for the event as the President of The Columbia Partnership. The website www.new07.org is the best place for registration information. Share the Feast:  Dear Friends, I am writing to invite your congregation to be a part of General Assembly in a unique way.  I hope you have already heard about this - if not – Attached is a letter from the group organizing the Chapel for General Assembly.  They have come up with a great way for every Disciple congregation to be 'present' at Assembly, even if you can't physically come.  I know you get a lot of mail about Assembly - and I hope you will take time to read this and send a chalice.  It is another means for us to connect as part of the Body of Christ and the CC(DoC). Thanks for your attention - I hope you can come to Assembly and send a Chalice. Please share this with any congregation - the more that participate – the more we have to share.  Peace, Dottie Cook
NEWS	THE ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL CHAPLAINS HONORS MISSISSIPPI CHAPLAIN JEFFREY MURPHY FOR OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP (Click here) We are excited to announce our new Web Site for First Christian Church at Lake Charles. The site should be up and running in about 7 days, and you will find it at www.fcclc.com. Check us out. Any other old addresses have been discontinued. The Regional Board will meet at First Christian Church in Vicksburg, MS, May 18-19.
STAFF UPDATES	From Barb:  This week I was in spiritual retreat with 6 colleagues. We have met twice a year for over 10 years now. This began as The Bethany Project and when it was over, we continued. One thing we discussed was the difference it has made for us to be in a covenant spiritual group while giving leadership in the church. Many issues have threatened and may have divided us over the years if we were not committed to our spiritual grounding together. I made a quick personal trip to Denver for more wedding planning with daughter Kim and got back Sunday at midnight to get ready for regional board this week. From Vivian Bryant:  All spring workshops for Disciples Women have been completed for 2007!  Additional study materials can be ordered through the regional office. From Rick Hamilton:  This past week was spent with the Ministers of Greater Shreveport and Bossier City, Louisiana. What a joyous time it was spending Sunday with the First Christian Church of Mansfield, LA. Sunday, May 13, Mother’s Day, I will be at church with Sara and our children.  Congregations in I’m working with in Search and Call: Jackson, MS:      First Christian – Pastor West Point, MS:  First Christian – Pastor Berryville, AR:     First Christian Ozark, AR:          First Christian All inquiries should be directed to me in confidence: rick@grrcc.org From Michael Elmore: This past week I met with a newly formed Visioning Team for FCC Slidell, Rev. Susan Lassalle Pastor, as they begin to look at a new vision for their church. Next week will meet with FCC Crowley and Bobby Hawley from Christian Church Foundation as we move forward on the closing of their church. Our Mission Stations at FCC Lake Charles, FCC Greater New Orleans, FCC Slidell, Grace DOC, Westside CC and FCC Gulfport continue to welcome volunteers from across our denomination as well as outside groups. Recovery continues at slow but steady pace. From Lara Blackwood: This weekend I will be traveling to Fort Worth to attend my sister's graduation from Texas Christian University (MA - Art History).  Next Wednesday I will be in Little Rock for the Committee on the Ministry and Friday/Saturday I will be in Vicksburg for the Regional Board meeting. Currently we have over 260 registrations turned in for the 2007 Camp and Conference season!!!  Please note that although the deadline has passed, you can still register children/youth for camp by turning in the registration form, regular fee and $50 late fee.  If you have any questions or a special situation that needs to be addressed, please do not hesitate to contact me at lara@grrcc.org or the regional office. Finally, it is not too early to begin thinking about International Affairs Seminar 2008.  If you have a youth who will be in 11th or 12th grade next year and you think they would benefit from this amazing experience, encourage them to begin fundraising now.  IAS will occur in March and will cost roughly $1500 per youth.  Exact dates and costs will be announced at a later date.