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February 1^st, 2008	47^th   Weekly Edition                                                      2008 GRR CURRENTS
JOYS and PRAYER CONCERNS	Russell B. Myers, father of Pastor Russell H. Myers and Pastor of United Christian Church Jackson, MS is undergoing chemotherapy for cancer.  Pastor Myers has been in Indianapolis, IN visiting with his father for the last week.
NEWS	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 Disciples Institute Web Site. Check out the new Disciples Institute web site!  We have information about Disciples Institute and some of the course offerings and up-coming events.  Also check out the Bi-Vocational Ministers blog.  You will find news and wisdom for the special needs of bi-vocational ministers.  Check back often to see events as they are added.  Check back also for the Disciples Institute Survey.  We want to know how to offer the most valuable classes and workshops! Link:  www.disciplesinstitute.org Deitra Blackwell, Executive Director.
EVENTS	GRRCC DW Joint Planning Cabinet Meeting will be held February 29-March 2, 2009 at C.A. Vines Retreat Center in Little Rock, AR.  This is the planning meeting for all three Disciple Women Cabinets.  Our very special guests will be the IDWF Executive Committee.  Please mark your calendar to attend this monumental occasion.  Watch the mail for your informational packet and attendance reply card to be returned no later than February 15, 2008. FCC Meridian, MS. Our 45th Annual Kentucky Ham Meal for Missions! Will be held on Feb 12 and 13, 2008. Thousands of pounds of ham and eggs, red eye gravy and homemade biscuits and blueberries from the Robin Johnson Farm! We raise over $15,000 each year to support our missional church outreach locally and globally. Every member is a missionary at FCC and in this project we come together to offer a delicious meal, an invitation for others to worship and witness through FCC, and to become a Disciple of Christ! Thanks for all the prayers from the Great River Region. Tom Sikes, Pastor at Meridian, MS trsikes@aol.com. SESSIONS 2008. Disciples Men…don’t forget to plan now for 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. Partners in Ministry ’08 Workshop. Put this date on your calendar:  Partners in Ministry ’08, a workshop for ministers, church musicians, dramatists and visual artists will be held on Saturday, April 5, 2008 at FCC El Dorado, AR.  Ministers: bring your musicians and other creative people.  Musicians and other creative people:  bring your ministers!  You will receive lots of ideas for working together to make your worship services more meaningful and transformative for your congregation.  For more information, please contact Deitra Blackwell, Executive Director Disciples Institute at 501-517-2474 or at disciplesinstitute@grrcc.org. Plans are being made for the GRR Regional Assembly that will be held on November 7-9, 2008 at FCC Bentonville, AR. Mark your calendars and plan to attend.
STAFF UPDATES	From Barbara Jones: Will be on Study Leave January – March 2008. Rick Hamilton: Sunday I will be worshipping with the First Christian Church and Waterway Ministries in Bentonville, AR. Waterway has recently acquired a permanent facility and is in the process of making it over for church functions. This exciting new project will be highly visible and featured at the Regional Assembly in November. FCC Bentonville, AR is our host location. 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: Attended the Southern Christian Services for Children and Youth Board meeting on Wednesday and then went to Houston, TX on Thursday for the Disciples Women Staff Fellowship meeting. I plan to worship with Real Faith Christian Church in Clarksdale, MS on Sunday, February 3, 2008. From Michael Elmore: The Disciple Men's Retreat was a great success. It was held last weekend at Westside CC in New Orleans, LA with 25 men from Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas present. The men heard from Rev. Vance Moore about the Westside story concerning our Long Term Mission Center and its work of recovery in the New Orleans area. Rev. Steve Wallace led us in looking at Spirituality for Men in our world today. Rev. Lester Brooks, DM president led us in a business session and discussed future plans for our men. The food and hospitality and fellowship were great. Thanks to all who helped make this a wonderful event. Our next gathering will be at our Regional Assembly. I met with the members of FCC Pineville, LA this week to begin discussion about a transformation process for this congregation. This Sunday I will be preaching at Central Hattiesburg, MS.  From Lara Blackwood Pickrel: 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!