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January 18^th, 2008	45^th   Weekly Edition                                                      2008 GRR CURRENTS
JOYS and PRAYER CONCERNS	Lucian George Lee III, son of Rev. Lucian Lee in Meridian, MS.  Lucian III was injured in a devastating fall on Thursday evening January 10.  Currently, he remains in the hospital. Polly Sharp, AR Disciples Women District Coordinator, lost her husband, Eugene Sharp. Cards may be sent to Polly at 419 Main Street in Newport, AR  72212. Rev. Rick Hamilton, Regional Pastor for GRR, and Family on the Death of his Grandmother, Elva Boren, of Arlington, Texas. Services were Thursday, January 17^th. Elva Boren died Sunday the 13^th at the age of 92. Bettie Duhon will be leaving the country on Jan 19 and asks for our prayers.  On Friday she will leave from New Orleans, LA and travel to Newark and then on to Tel Aviv.  She is asking that we continue to pray for her safe travel and continued good health. Hancel Bankesker, Pastor at FCC Vicksburg, MS, has been going back and forth to the doctor.  Please keep him and his family and church community in your prayers.  The church has also lost two members who have relocated to other parts of the country and beyond.  Rob Heltzel, son of Ann and Sam Heltzel, also members of FCC Vicksburg, will travel back to England to complete his educational pursuits. Please continue to pray for Northside Christian Church in West Point, MS as they continue their church renovation and expansion process.
NEWS	Parkview CC, Little Rock, AR. On Sunday, January 20, we will celebrate the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with "In His Own Words" by Carol Silverstrom. Pastor Dan R. Thornhill. Shirt Sale. We have a very limited number of Great River Region Logo shirts left and ON SALE! Yellow, Green, and Light Blue Polo style shirts in Men’s XL and Women’s XL and XXL sizes are available in limited quantities at the bargain price of $20 each! Please call the office for color availability as quantities ARE limited. (501) 562-6053 Program Director / Merger Staff for the National Convocation named for the Office of Disciples Women, Disciples Home Missions.  Sheila P. Spencer, laywoman from Los Angeles, California, has been called to the position of Program Director and Merger Staff in the Office of Disciples Women, reported Adonna Bowman, Executive Director of the Office.  Sheila will begin her new position April 1, stepping in to the position being vacated by Lonnie Graves on January 31. Congratulations and well wishes may be sent to Sheila at shespenc@aol.com. To preview the official press release click here. Pastors, This time of year one of the Scripture Readings is about Jesus' Baptism.  What a special time and great opportunity to highlight a critical time in the life of those being baptized. Here are seven things that can be done with baptisms: 1. Create and give the candidates invitations to invite family and friends to this special celebration.  2. Recruit a Host(ess) who will help them get ready, answer questions & help clean up afterwards.  3. Celebrate Communion as part of the event.  4. Celebrate the event as an eternity changing moment.  Take pictures and put in the newsletter and on the bulletin board, talk about it, etc. 5. Give a Certificate as a tangible sign of what they have received and a way to honor their decision. 6. Undergird the experience with prayer.  Pray as they are making the decision for the Holy Spirit's presence, power and leading.  Pray during the ceremony for God's blessing on them and for the communities calling to nurture them.  Pray for a designated time afterwards (tell them that you will lift them up each Monday for the next 50 days).  7. Help them move forward.  Don't let the excitement and power of this experience just fade away.  Instead develop a mentoring ministry (using Elders or others) who will regularly contact them, help answer questions and help them grow (contact me for a program example).  Remember that I am here to help you.  If you would like for me to provide a specific resource let me know or if you would like to find out about a person visit or consulting/training give me an email or call 501 217-9129. Steve Wallace, Wallace SC&W, www.wallaceresources.us.
EVENTS	First Christian Church Hermanville, MS will be celebrating their pastor and wife anniversary on Sunday January 20, 2008 at 3 o'clock pm. GRR Disciples Men Retreat will be January 25-26, 2008 at Westside Mission Center in New Orleans, LA. Rev. Steve Wallace will be our leader. The theme will be "Spirituality for Men." Cost will be $50.00 a person. Registration forms have been sent to your congregation. SESSIONS 2008. Disciples Men…don’t forget to plan now for next year’s SESSIONS 2008 event to be held July 17-20, 2008 in Oklahoma City, OK.  Our General Minister and President, Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins, Rev. Dr. Rick Lowery, Mark Briley and Rev. Bill Lee will be the featured speakers.  What a wonderful Christmas/birthday gift for the man in your life.  There is also a discounted registration fee for young adult men. International Affairs Seminar:  Now is the time to begin fundraising for IAS 2008.  The weeklong trip to Washington D.C. and New York City will take place March 15-22 and will cost approximately $1500.  The trip is open to High School Juniors and Seniors and is a powerful way to help older teenagers connect their faith with major issues in the world.  If you are interested, know of a youth who should attend, need fundraising ideas or would like more information, please contact IAS Director Ronny Nowell (ronny@arkansas.net) or visit the website:  www.iasdisciples.com.
STAFF UPDATES	From Barbara Jones: Will be on Study Leave January – March 2008. Rick Hamilton: Attending the Regional Board Meeting this weekend in Covington, LA. I plan to attend Elm Tree Christian Church in Bentonville, Arkansas on Sunday. Search Committees I am currently working with: Lakeshore Drive CC, Hot Springs, AR FCC Jackson, MS FCC Mountain Home, AR (Assoc) FCC Rogers, AR FCC Stuttgart, AR FCC West Memphis, AR From Vivian Bryant: Attending the Regional Board meeting this weekend in Covington, LA. I plan to attend FCC in Hermanville, MS this Sunday to celebrate the anniversary of Rev. and Mrs. Robert Cox.  The service is at 3 pm. From Michael Elmore: Attending the Regional Board meeting this weekend at Grace DOC Church in Covington, LA. Bettie Duhon, former Disciple Women Director for Louisiana will be traveling with a group on a tour of Tel Aviv. She will be traveling with Rev. Jeff and Janet Wright. Jeff is the former pastor of FCC Mandeville/Covington CC, LA. Rev. Bill Norton, FCC Pineville, LA will be on sabbatical beginning this month. I will be meeting with FCC Pineville on Tuesday to help with arrangements while Bill is away. Disciple Men's Retreat will be January 25-26 at Westside CC in New Orleans. Cost is $50.00 if staying overnight $25.00 if driving in. We will begin with dinner on Friday night at 6:00 and conclude by 3:00pm on Saturday. If you want to stay until Sunday you can do so but you are on your on for meals. Let me know if you have any questions. From Lara Blackwood Pickrel: MIDWINTER MISSION WEEKEND:  Over Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend (January 18-21) youth and adults from around the region will come together at Westside Mission in New Orleans, LA for the purpose of mission work, worship and fellowship.  Please keep these youth and adults in your prayers as they travel to and from New Orleans! SNOASIS:  This event for CYF-aged youth (formerly named CYF Midwinter) will take place at Camp Couchdale in Hot Springs, AR over the weekend of February 22-24.  Forms will be mailed to your congregation soon so that all are able to meet the registration deadline of February 11.  The theme for the weekend focuses on transformation and our keynoter is Randy Kuss!!  Please mark your calendar and plan to attend this exciting event! Youth Workers, Mark Your Calendars!!!  In May (2-4), the Great River Region will host our second F.E.A.S.T. event.  This weekend retreat for adult youth workers will be keynoted by Randy Kuss and is a great opportunity to renew your spirits and energies for youth ministry!!!  Be on the lookout for registration materials! Camp & Conference 2008 brochures are heading your way soon!  Keep an eye out for these important registration materials. Deadlines for Counselor/Steward/Youth Commissioner/Intern applications is April 14th.  Deadlines for camper registrations is May 19th. Check out the youth page on the regional website (www.grrcc.org).  We have added the new youth event calendar, information on a great retreat for adult youth workers and links to many youth ministry resources!