August 24^th,  2007	28^th   Weekly Edition                                                      2007 GRR CURRENTS
JOYS and PRAYER CONCERNS	AR, MS and LA Disciples Women as they plan and attend Fall retreats, Cabinet meetings and our Inter-Regional Event.  These activities will complete our 2007 year.  Please pray for our women’s organization, their families and faith communities. Rev. Paul Elliott (Elm Tree CC in Bentonville AR) is receiving treatment for a thyroid tumor which is malignant.  Prognosis is very good and Paul is in great spirits. Karen Williams, wife of Rev. Mark Williams (FCC Camden, AR) Rev. Linda White, Associate Pastor of Education, Parkhill Christian Church. Little Rock, AR will be on leave for a month while recuperating from surgery.  Cards may be sent to her home at 2123 North Maple Street, North Little Rock, AR 72114 Rev. Joel Sweat, Pastor of FCC, Blytheville, AR as he continues to wrestle with illness.  Our prayers continue for him and his family as he leaves full time ministry. August 31 is his last day at Blytheville and once they sell the house, they hope to return to Tupelo.. Percy Terrell, Pastor of King David CC and St. Elmo CC in Hermanville, MS.  His mother, Ms. Lula Mae Terrell, was hospitalized three weeks ago and is recuperating very well at home.  Cards may be sent to Pastor Terrell at 1065 Torrey Road, Utica, MS 39175-0488.
NEWS	Pastor Gene Lawson and Real Faith CC are celebrating the building and dedication of five homes in the Community of Clarksdale, MS.  What a faith and evangelism witness to the community! Disciples Home Missions Makes Interim Appointments.  (click on link) FCC Baton Rouge is participating in VIPS program (volunteers in public schools) with the East Baton Rouge School System. They will have volunteers who help students with reading, etc. The Christian Church in Kansas has openings for 2 Associate Regional Ministers.  If you would like Barb to give their Regional Minister your name, contact her directly and privately at barb@grrcc.org.
EVENTS	GRR Disciples Women executive committee will attend the ROSES Inter-Regional Event in Oklahoma City, OK.  This is one of the major leadership training events held every three to four years with Disciples Women from Oklahoma, Southwest Texas and of course us—the Great River Region.  The event will be held on September 7-9, 2007. FCC Paris, AR has hosted furloughed missionaries from Kenya this summer.  Pastor H.C. Varnadore has partnered with the Messiah Tribe’s Lyn and Dori Cazier of Kenya for yet another year.  The church’s Old Timer’s Club will also host a Pancake breakfast on September 8, 2007.  Contact Pastor Varnadore at 479-963-2351 for details. His email address is THVarne@aol.com. Mississippi Disciples Women’s Retreat will be held on September 22-23, 2007 at Duncan Gray Retreat Center in Canton, MS.  Letters have been mailed to presidents, cabinet, and pastors with registration forms, Pickering Scholarship applications, wish list for Southern Christian Services for Children and Youth (SCSCY) as well as reminders for the retreat.  Applications and registration forms can also be downloaded from the GRRCC website.  Keynoter for this weekend retreat will be Rev. Deitra Blackwell, Executive Director of Disciples Institute in Little Rock, AR.  Artistic presentations will be performed on Saturday by Greg Johnson and Tasha Teelin-Johnson of Oxford, MS.  Register early to insure your space.  Remember application deadline is September 14, 2007 and there are no part-time registrations this year. Louisiana Disciples Women’s Retreat will be October 20-21, 2007.  Letters of invitation have already gone out to remind us all of the retirement celebration to be held at this event for Bettie Duhon.  The Retreat will be held at Tall Timbers Retreat Center in Woolworth, LA.  Register early! Disciples Men Retreat is being planned for January 25-26, 2008 at Duncan Gray Conference Center, more information later. Spiritual Life Retreat for Ministers will be held at St. Mary of the Pines Retreat Center at Chatawa, MS September 17-19. The theme Compassion Fatigue: Seeking Spiritual and Emotional Renewal. Leaders are Dan Moseley and Bernie Lyon from Christian Theological Seminary. Let me know if you plan to attend.  Michael Elmore World Council of Churches:  Dear Friends of Christian Unity, I wanted to pass along information, and encouragement, to you about participating in the International Day of Prayer for Peace that is coming up on September 21.  The news release (click on link) from the World Council of Churches gives some information about this important event that lifts up the concern for peace in our world as part of its program on the Decade to Overcome Violence, and provides a link to worship resources that can be downloaded to help in planning a local celebration either on September 21 or the Sunday preceding or following that date.  With best wishes,  Robert Welsh Education for Ministry is a new program that will begin in September with groups in Meridian MS and central Arkansas.  (Click to see details)  This program is perfect for lay leaders and teachers Deitra Blackwell, Executive Director Disciples Institute. Southern Christian Services for Children and Youth is now planning for their annual benefit dinner—BottomLine for Kids.  Tickets can be purchased through SCSCY.  The Event will be held on Thursday Sept. 20, 2007 at the Country Club of Jackson in Jackson, MS. Arkansas Disciples Women Cabinet will be meeting September 28-29, 2007 at the Regional Office.  Cabinet please watch your mail for your letter and reply card.  We look forward to hearing from you! The Office of Disciples Women is sponsoring the first ever Women’s Blitz Build.  Partnering with the Office of Disciples Volunteering and Habitat for Humanity the women of CCDOC will help build a house in Beaumont Texas.  Flyer and application are attached.  The dates for this event are January 20-24, 2008 in Beaumont, TX.  The event is open to any woman interested in attending.
STAFF UPDATES	From Barbara Jones: Your regional ministry staff team met with the ministry committee on Thursday and Friday.  My son Kristopher’s wedding is on Saturday this week. From Vivian Bryant:  Southern Christian Services for Children and Youth presented one of the best continuing education events I have ever attended.  2007 Lookin’ to the Future conference was held on July 11-13 at the Riley Center in Meridian, MS.  The conference was held in conjunction with the Mississippi Department of Human Services and the Mississippi Permanency Partnership Network.  The Presenters were top-notch, the workshops were professional and relevant and the Friday lunch keynoter was exceptional to say the least!!  This is one educational event that everyone would do well to attend—it’s held every year! Sunday I worshiped with the United Christian Church family in Jackson, MS. The Rev. Russell Myers is the Pastor. This weekend I will be celebrating yet another birthday!  Isn’t God awesome! From Michael Elmore: FCC Lake Charles is in the final stages of the New Beginnings Process with the Board of Church Extension. I attended their Town Meeting where they discussed their findings and talked about future plans. FCC Sulphur is beginning the search process for a new minister. I will be meeting with them on Tuesday. Our Mission Stations along the coast continue to host volunteers from around the country. Some are taking a summer break and will start back in the fall. Johnny Wray Director of WOC was in our area this week visiting our Mission Stations. We are grateful for the support of WOC and all the volunteers who continue to come. From Lara Blackwood:  Vacation. If you know of any youth (juniors and seniors) who are interested (or should be interested) in International Affairs Seminar 2008, please direct them to www.iasdisciples.com where they can find more information on this exciting learning opportunity!  The dates for IAS 2008 are March 15-22, 2008 and the initial deposit of $500 is due on November 1, 2007. Rick Hamilton is on Sabbatical through October.