JOYS and
PRAYER CONCERNS
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Please continue to pray for communities across the Region
that has experienced devastating tornados.
Stuttgart, AR. The city was hit by last week’s
tornado. Our prayer is for all the families and faith communities there
and that they might continue to grow in the midst of circumstances. God
blessed that there were no deaths as a result of this storm which ravaged the
city at 140 mph. Isn’t God good!!
Alice Brawner, AR DW Southern District Secretary, has
asked for our prayers after a heart catheterization. Doctors are still
looking for a diagnosis.
Infant Grandson of Rev.
Jim and Linda Looney, Marcel who is in the hospital.
Rev. Jeff Murphy’s wife, Carol is out of
surgery and everything went well. She will be in the hospital overnight, and
then back home. She should be up and around within a week.
Thanks for all the prayers. Peace.
Revs. Josh and Laura Fitt-Baird are expecting twins in
December.
Rev. Hancell
Bankester, Pastor of First Christian Church in Vicksburg, MS has returned to the
pulpit after surviving a stroke. Please keep him and Lois and FCC in
your prayers.
Rev. Curt Burge got a good report from
his tests and will not have to have surgery.
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NEWS
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FCC Stuttgart, AR was hit by a tornado on yesterday
evening. According to Pastor Horton, “The whole town is a mess!”. No injuries or damage have been reported although
many farmers lost crops. Reports of trees uprooted and falling on
carports.
FCC had
church service without power. National guard is there protecting
against looting.
Disciples Women E-Newsletter.
If there are suggestions for the name of the upcoming Disciples Women
E-Newsletter. Please submit suggestions to us at the Regional office
before May 29. Also
Congregations,
please remember to send in updated copies of your membership
directories. By doing so, our data bases and mailing lists are kept
current.
Spiritual Growth Aid.
What does it mean to mature spiritually? What are the key
elements that we are to focus upon in order to shine more of Christ through
our lives? Certainly there are certain actions that we are to do in
order to mature spiritual, but doing isn’t enough. We also need to have
more of Christ’s character. We also need to “be” more like our
Lord. At www.wallaceresources.us
you are invited to use a tool (“spirituality” tab) to help you reflect on how
you are shining like Christ and where there are areas needing attention.
By reflecting on 4-10 questions on each of 18 areas individuals are
challenged to identify successes, weaknesses and opportunities to shine
brighter. There are also suggestions for what to do to grow in each of
the areas. Check out this resource and see if it can help you “do” and “be”
more of what Jesus desires. Thanks,
Steve Wallace
St. Charles Ave Christian Church, New Orleans, LA. Our Minister, Rev. Frank Sherard will be celebrating his Covenant of Calling with
Rev. Dr. Michael Elmore June 22nd at 3pm in our sanctuary. All are welcome!
Ashley Sherard,
Secretary scacc@bellsouth,net
Christian Church Foundation is responsible for assisting
individuals, congregations, regions and other entities of the Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ) to discover the joy of sharing their resources
to further the work of Jesus Christ in the world. At this time, the Foundation is responsible
for over $436 million of the church’s money. Distributions from permanent
funds held by the Foundation benefit local congregations, regional ministries
and general units of the church.
Bobby
Hawley, Vice President, Christian Church Foundation, bhawley@ccf.disciples.org
and Marilyn Fiddmont mfiddmon@ccf.disciples.org
are available to consult with donors privately and confidentially about ways
to make gifts that will benefit themselves, their heirs, and the church
causes they care about. In addition, they are available to preach on
the stewardship of accumulated resources and do workshops on the following
topics:
- providing
seminars on inheritance planning, tax laws and charitable giving;
- training
clergy about the role of planned giving & the need for sound permanent
fund policies;
- working
with congregational leaders and trustees in developing permanent fund
policies;
- helping
congregations manage their permanent funds over the long haul, providing an
opportunity for growth of principal while distributing dollars for ministry.
Bobby
Hawley recently consulted with congregational leaders at FCC, Camden.
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.
Link: www.disciplesinstitute.org Deitra Blackwell, Executive Director.
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EVENTS
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Southern District Ministers will have a lunch meeting on
Wednesday, May 21st, from 11:30-1:30 at FCC McComb,
MS. Rev. Michael Karunas,
FCC Baton Rouge, LA will present a program on his recent trip to the Holy Land.
GRRCC Disciples Women.
June 7 is the
date for the Region’s last Disciples Women Spring Workshop. The
workshop will be held in Fort Smith, AR at First Christian Church.
Registration will begin at 9:30 am and the workshop to begin at 10 am. See you there!
The Art Porter Singers in Concert.
You are cordially invited to enjoy the melodious voices of the Art
Porter Singers, as they perform spirituals, hymns, anthems and classics, as
well as other beautiful music, under the direction of Maestro Sterling
Ingram. The accompanists are Rita Robinson Bledsoe and Mary Zies. The
praise in song begins at 5:00
p.m. on Sunday, May 18, 2008, at
Cross
Street Christian Church, 1223
S. Cross Street, Little
Rock, AR,
telephone number 501-375-1306. Rev. Robert L. Palmer, Sr. is the pastor at Cross Street.
Again I say, if you haven't heard the Singers, ask
somebody about us. They'll tell you that you've missed a treat.
Refreshments will be served after the concert; so, please remain to
visit with the Singers and others. If you have questions or would like
additional information, please contact me.
Blessings, Barbara Leary Smith, 501-604-5172 office, 501-920-3828 cell.
Youth
Worker F.E.A.S.T. Rescheduled! The Youth Worker F.E.A.S.T. (originally scheduled for May 2-4, 2008) has been
moved to September 26-28. This new date will allow more GRR youth
workers and youth ministry teams to sign up for a time of Sabbath rest and
renewal and will also make it possible for many of our brothers and sisters
in the Oklahoma Region to join us for the event. The Fall event will
take place at the Lutheran Camp on Petit Jean Mountain (outside Morrilton, AR) and will cost $95.
Registrations are due with payment by September 10th. Revised
registration materials will be sent to all churches, senior ministers and
youth ministers in upcoming weeks. Please mark the dates (September 26-28) on your
church/personal calendar and encourage all who minister with Chi Rho/CYF aged youth to attend!! If
you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Lara
Blackwood Pickrel at 479-236-8295.
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. Our theme this year is “Strength for Today; Hope for Tomorrow”.
Building a Gifts-Based Church. Sign up now for the Spiritual
Gifts workshop taught by Rev. Frank Johnson on June 6-7 at FCC Baton Rouge, LA! This is definitely not an
attempt to fit people into pre-arranged church board slots! It is a process
designed to honor the integrity of congregation members’ abilities and
commitments to God’s work in their congregations. This is a train-the-trainer
format class. Ministers and church leaders who attend will learn how to
administer a spiritual gifts inventory, along with ways to identify
leadership styles, interaction styles, types of tasks that people enjoy
doing, and the ways they experience and approach God. With this information
in hand, ministers and leaders can help congregation members honor their
gifts and serve God. It is a process that has been tested and has evolved
within real congregations in real churches since 1988. Identifying spiritual
gifts can help to transform your congregation with the energy of people who
know they are bringing the first fruits of their lives to God each week and
making a difference in their communities with the gifts God has given them.
Thank you!
Deitra Blackwell, Executive Director Disciples Institute, 501-517-2474, deitra.d.blackwell@comcast.net
or www.disciplesinstitute.org
SESSIONS 2008 in Oklahoma City is going to be a huge event for
all Disciples Men from around the country. The event is going to be
held July 17-20, 2008 at First Christian Church in Edmond, Oklahoma. To find out more about
this important gathering of Disciples Men and how your life can come into
focus go to: http://sessions2008.org/
or contact Rev Tod Iseminger,
Minister of Leader Development at 800-346-2631.
The 20th
Biennial Session of the National Convocation will be held in Memphis, TN on July
25-28, 2008.
The theme for the Convocation is God, Our Weapon in Spiritual Warfare.
II Corinthians 10:3-5. GRRCC clergy interested in attending this event
are encouraged to contact the Regional office concerning scholarship
assistance.
Disciple Home Mission is planning five area church
transformation workshops beginning in September of this year. The one for our
area is planned for January 16-18, 2009 at Oklahoma City. Michael Elmore, Regional Pastor
is working with the area committee and planning the event for our area. A
flyer can be found at http://www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2008/08025.pdf.
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STAFF
UPDATES
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From
Barbara Jones: Mothers day in Texas was a blessing to me! This
week I was at one church that is entering its last year of ministry and a
church contemplating adding a new worship service. Today I'm working
with my rotary group in Lacomb, Louisiana; back home tonight. Our
club has filtered over 275000 into north shore recovery with worktrips on an average of every six weeks. By the
time we are done, NSDRI will have received 1/2 million through our
club. My contribution was getting them hooked into NSDRI instead of
creating the same thing for rotary.
From
Rick Hamilton: Sunday I will be at Elm Tree
Christian Church in Bentonville, AR.
As we continue to prepare for Regional Assembly 2008, watch for
announcements by mail and online.
Search
Committees I am currently supporting:
 Lakeshore Drive CC, Hot Springs, AR
FCC Jackson, MS
FCC Little Rock, AR
Parkview CC Little Rock, AR
FCC Mammoth Spring, AR
FCC Mountain Home, AR (Sr. and Assoc.)
FCC Rogers, AR
FCC Russellville, AR
FCC West Memphis, AR
Please
contact me directly and in confidence to inquire about any of these ministry
opportunities.
From
Vivian Bryant: I will worship at Thomastown Christian Church in Thomastown, MS this Sunday
May 18, 2008. Ray Bardin is the Pastor.
From
Michael Elmore: Sunday I will be worshiping with Grace DOC in
New
Orleans,
LA and Sunday evening I will be
meeting with FCC Greater New Orleans discussing church transformation.
From
Lara Blackwood Pickrel: DEADLINE FOR SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATIONS COMING SOON!! Please encourage every family in your congregations to fill out
their camp forms as soon as possible. The
registration deadline is Wednesday, May 21st. All forms arriving
at the Regional Office must include payment; late registrations will be
subject to the late fee and this fee should be included with the payment. If
you have any questions, please contact me at 479-236-8295. Let's make
this a great summer for the camping program by encouraging every youth and
child to participate!
2008 Summer
Camp Dates/Locations/Directors/Costs:
CYF Conference
June 15-21 Camp
Couchdale Jennifer Mikesell
$250 ($300 after 5/21
deadline)
Magnolia Conference June
15-21 Roosevelt State
Park Josie McClorine
$110
Discovery Camp
June 21-22 Camp
Couchdale Brian
& Wendi
Phillips
$80 ($130 after 5/21 deadline)
JYF Camp
June 22-25 Camp
Couchdale Marilyn
Pickrel
$190 ($240 after 5/21 deadline)
Chi Rho Camp
June 25-29 Camp
Couchdale Loy Hoskins &
Chuck Pickrel $200 ($250 after 5/21 deadline)
FISSH Camp
July 6-12 Ferncliff
Camp
Carol Renee Eakin
$260 (310 after 5/21 deadline)
Youth
Worker F.E.A.S.T. Rescheduled! - The Youth Worker F.E.A.S.T. (originally scheduled for May 2-4, 2008) has been
moved to September 26-28. This new date will allow more GRR youth
workers and youth ministry teams to sign up for a time of Sabbath rest and
renewal and will also make it possible for many of our brothers and sisters
in the Oklahoma Region to join us for the event. The Fall event will
take place at the Lutheran Camp on Petit Jean Mountain (outside Morrilton, AR) and will cost $95.
Registrations are due with payment by September 10th.
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!
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