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August 31^st,  2007	29^th   Weekly Edition                                                      2007 GRR CURRENTS
JOYS and PRAYER CONCERNS	Rev. Linda White, Associate Pastor of Education, Park Hill Christian Church. North 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. Dana Hoover - His sister-in-law, wife of his oldest brother, was killed in a car accident in Ohio. Dana has accepted call to be pastor of FCC Ozark, AR. We don’t have a move-in date or address yet. Keep him in your prayers through this transition and loss. Rev. Donna Rountree, Pastor FCC Conway, AR for the loss of her Aunt on Monday.  This is the one for whom she’s been providing care over the past 6 years or so. Donna will be officiating the funeral.
NEWS	Disciples Women New Day Curriculum and materials for 2008-2009 are now available.  Download your order form now! (click on link) 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. FCC Berryville, AR & Christview Ministries issued a press release sharing their agreement. (click on link) From Rev. Dr. Todd Adams, our Associate GMP: “We need more young Families with Children”. (click on link)
EVENTS	GRR Disciples Women Executive Committee will be traveling to Oklahoma City, OK to participate in a 3 state training event, ROSES Inter-Regional IDWM Training.  This is one of the major leadership training events held every three to four years with Disciples Women from Oklahoma, Southwest and the Great River Region.  The event will be held on September 7-9, 2007 and is open to the public. 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 Disciples Women presidents, GRRDW 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 at www.grrcc.org.  Keynote speaker for this retreat will be Deitra Blackwell, Executive Director of Disciples Institute in Little Rock, AR.  Artistic presentations will be performed on Saturday by Greg Johnson and Dasha 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 at Tall Timbers Conference Center in Woodworth, LA. Keynote speaker for the Louisiana Retreat is Rev. Lucy Maier, former minister at FCC, Lake Charles.  This will also be the retirement celebration for Bettie Duhon. Registration forms and Pickering scholarship application may be downloaded at www.grrcc.org. Registration deadline is October 10, 2007! 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. Please contact Michael Elmore (michael@grrcc.org) if you would like to attend. 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. For more information, please contact SCSCY at 601-354-0983. 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. Click here for Flyer and application.  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: Happy Labor Day weekend! I’m at home this weekend for much needed unpacking and sorting of mail! For those of you who know what a bargain shopper I am, you know I’ll have to hit the “additional 20% off of the 75% off clearance racks”. I’ll worship at my home congregation: Park Hill CC. From Vivian Bryant:  Happy Labor Day weekend!  Stay safe and cool!! From Michael Elmore:  FCC Sulphur has begun search process. Rev. Frank Johnson is serving as Transitional Minister. I will be worshiping with Grace DOC this Sunday. From Lara Blackwood: 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.