In this issue:
OKLAHOMA DISCIPLES BUILDING HABITAT HOME IN THREE WEEKS
Disciples Churches in central Oklahoma are building a Habitat for Humanity home in three weeks. Disciples from 12 Oklahoma churches have volunteered to work on the home and other Disciples congregations are contributing financially. The project is being coordinated by First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Edmond, Okla.
The home is being built for a man who has polio, and once lived in an Indian orphanage that was run by Mother Teresa. "It is a great way for us to come together as one body in Christ around a central project," said Greg Bunton, associate pastor of First Christian Church in Edmond. To find out more, go to: www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2007/07144.html
RECONCILIATION OFFERING NEXT TWO SUNDAYS
Disciples can contribute to the cause of justice and have a significant impact on their region through the 2007 Reconciliation Ministry Special Offering, which will be received this Sunday, Sept. 30, and next Sunday, Oct. 7. At least 50 cents of every dollar from this offering remains in the Disciples region where it is received to fund local initiatives aimed at eradicating racism from its roots, as well as to support the work of regional teams.
The scripture for the Reconciliation Ministry Special Offering is Luke 16:19-31, the story of the rich man and the beggar Lazarus. To learn more about this special offering, see: www.reconciliationmission.org/offerings
MARYLAND CONGREGATION TAKES AT-RISK CHILDREN TO CAMP
For the fourth summer in a row, a Maryland Disciples congregation has taken a special group of children to camp. Hyattstown Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Hyattstown, Md., took 18 children, ages 8-11, to camp for four days in August. The campers were taken to Camp Mary Mac, a Disciples campground in Sharpsburg, Md., which is located in the Capital Area Region. At least one parent of each child was incarcerated.
"The joy and smiles that are visible on these children's faces when they touch a horse, go on a hayride, create a beautiful seed mosaic, or squeal at a fish is a wonderful and blessed moment that impacts not just the campers but also the hearts of the counselors," said Pierrette McIntire, camp administrator. For more, see: www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2007/07143.html
CALLING ALL DISCIPLES YOUNG ADULTS!
The Young Adult Commission of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is now accepting applications for new
members. Young adults who are interested, or feel that God is calling them should take the time to read and submit a completed application.
To be eligible, applicants need to be between 18-33, an active member of a Disciples affiliated church and have a strong passion for young adult ministries. The application deadline for filling the current openings is Oct. 1. All of the information needed can be found on the front page of the application. To download an application, go to: docya.org. For questions, contact Tod Iseminger at 888-346-2631 or tiseming@dhm.disciples.org
WASHINGTON D.C. CONGREGATION RAISES OFFERINGS, PRAYERS FOR JENA SIX
The Board of Michigan Park Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Washington, D.C., voted to take offerings over three consecutive Sundays for the Jena 6 legal defense fund. Tens of thousands of students rallied in Jena, La., on Sept. 20 to protest a case involving six black teenagers.
"Our youth ministry took the lead in presenting this to the congregation," stated Delores Carpenter, pastor of Michigan Park Christian Church and former president of the Board of Trustees of the National Convocation. The church collected $1,000 on just one Sunday for the defense fund, reported Carpenter. Kenny James Jr., 13, was asked by Carpenter to pray over the offering. Kenny ended his prayer by saying "Lord, help us to bury racism once and for all." For more about Michigan Park Christian Church, see: www.mparkchurch.org
DISCIPLES JOIN MOVEMENT TO FURTHER REGULATE TOBACCO PRODUCTS
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has given its support to the campaign to help reduce the use of tobacco in America, particularly among children and youth. Representatives of the General Office joined the Hoosier Faith and Health Coalition in an effort to persuade Congress to support regulation of tobacco products by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The announcement of the Church's involvement was made Sept. 26 at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis. A representative from Faith United Against Tobacco was joined for the announcement by Associate General Minister and Vice President Todd Adams, and Indiana Associate Regional Minister Carolyn Reed. To learn more, read: tobaccofreekids.org/campaign/faith
INDIANA CHURCH BEGINS BUILDING HOME; HOLDS CARNIVAL
More than 100 volunteers gathered at Allisonville Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Indianapolis on Sept. 22 to begin construction of a Habitat for Humanity house that will be a new home for a single mother and three children when completed. The volunteers constructed the frame of what will be a four-bedroom, 1,200 square-foot-home and later participated in a family carnival that featured music, food and children's entertainment.
The carnival attracted dozens of people who were drawn by the music of the praise band for "Now Everyone Worships" (NEW), a new contemporary service at Allisonville Christian Church. "We are a faithful community that likes to help out others and likes to have fun," said Michael Hamm, student associate at Allisonville and minister for NEW. For more, go to: www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2007/07146.html
HIGHER EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP MINISTRIES RELEASES QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
The quarterly newsletter published by the Higher Education and Leadership Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) contains a report about the second Disciples Leadership Institute gathering, photographs from the General Assembly and a story about Eureka College music professor Jan Wanack, who was awarded the 2007 T.A. Abbott Award for Faculty Excellence.
To download the HELM newsletter, visit:
www.helmdisciples.org/helm/07/TLT-September07.pdf (PDF)
FORMER IRELAND PRESIDENT TO SPEAK AT TRANSYLVANIA UNIVERSITY
Former Ireland President Mary Robinson will deliver the fall Kenan Lecture at Transylvania University on Oct. 2. Robinson, the first woman president of Ireland, will speak in Haggin Auditorium. She is chair of the Council of Women World Leaders, president of the Ethical Globalization Initiative and an outspoken human rights advocate. She served as president of the Republic of Ireland 1990-97.
Robinson was the first leader of a country to visit Rwanda following the 1994 genocide there, which took the lives of more than 500,000 people. She became the United Nation's high commissioner for human rights in 1997. Transylvania University is associated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and located in Lexington, Ky. For more about the Kenan Lecture, see: www.transy.edu/news/new_story.htm?id=363&obj=index
MISSOURI SCHOOL OF RELIGION OFFERS EDUCATION EVENT ON END OF LIFE ISSUES
The Missouri School of Religion Center for Rural Ministry will host an event in October entitled "Using Spiritual Strengths in Coping with Illness, Loss and Grief." The Mid-Missouri Partners in Continuing Education event will take place Oct. 4 at Broadway Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Columbia, Mo., and feature Kenneth Doka, professor of gerontology at the graduate school of the College of New Rochelle and senior consultant to the Hospice Foundation of America.
The gathering will also feature breakout sessions on bereavement groups, end of life spiritual care, family perspectives, hospice and palliative care and support groups for the dying and their families. For more information, contact the Missouri School of Religion at 573-635-1187 or 800-626-5924 toll free or krystalmsr@earthlink.net
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