In this issue:

• Don't Miss Your Chance To Register For The January Congregational Transformation Conference
• Jarvis Christian College Receives Major Scholarship Gift
• Reconciliation Mission Names Transitional Minister
• Week Of Compassion Reflects On Anniversary Of The Tsunami
• Disciples Pastor Among Alumni Honored By Pacific School Of Religion
• Disciples Congregations Celebrate Their Heritage As They Mark A Century Of Worship
  
  

DON'T MISS YOUR CHANCE TO REGISTER FOR THE JANUARY CONGREGATIONAL TRANSFORMATION CONFERENCE
With the extension of the deadline until January 12, there is still time to register for the 2006 Conference on Congregational Transformation – Journeying the Good News Road. The conference is taking place because of the many contributions and efforts of Regions, Disciples Home Missions, the Division of Overseas Ministries, Church Extension, and numerous volunteers.  All have spent hours planning, locating resources, praying and working together.

The conference, which will take place Jan. 18-20 at the Wyndham Hotel in Arlington, Texas, has been planned as a different kind of gathering.  Biblical stories will serve to guide the design of the time, and worship is woven throughout the event.  Leaders and participants are both key to the process.  While the conference can't offer a completed map for transforming a congregation, it will offer tools and resources for those who will help draw the map for Disciples in every facet of the church.   The planning team is praying the event will be an experience of the transforming presence of God. To register go to:  www.homelandministries.org/ChurchTools/CongregationalTransformation.htm

JARVIS CHRISTIAN COLLEGE RECEIVES MAJOR SCHOLARSHIP GIFT
The widow of the man who helped develop the product now known as duct tape has left a gift through her estate that will provide scholarships for the Disciples-related Jarvis Christian College in Hawkins, Texas.  Lois Potter died earlier this year.  Through her estate plan with the Christian Church Foundation, she left about $500,000 to the only historically black college in covenant with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Read the complete story at:  http://www.disciples.org/ccf/About_Us/CCFnews.html

RECONCILIATION MISSION NAMES TRANSITIONAL MINISTER
The Reconciliation Mission Commission has named Jessica Vazquez as the Transitional Minister of Reconciliation Mission. Vazquez has had extensive training in the anti-racism process adopted by the church, and has served the Anti-Racism/Pro-Reconciliation Initiative for eight years, four of them as Associate Minister for Reconciliation Ministries.   T. Eugene Fisher, who had served as Minister of Reconciliation, recently announced that he will move into a new position with the Pension Fund as Director of Membership in early 2006.  For further information, go to www.disciples.org/dns/releases2005/0597.html

WEEK OF COMPASSION REFLECTS ON ANNIVERSARY OF THE TSUNAMI
Next Monday, Dec. 26, the world will mark the first anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami disaster that struck in the eastern Indian Ocean and impacted more than a dozen countries from Indonesia to Somalia.  The massive quake, measuring 9.15 on the Richter scale, killed 230,000 people and left more than 2 million people homeless.

Since the tsunami struck, the outpouring of generosity and concern from Disciples across the whole church has been remarkable. Week of Compassion, which enables Disciples to be part of a networking of caring and service that reaches out to people in the aftermath of natural and human disasters, has provided more than $1.4 million in tsunami response. Since the tsunami, Disciples generosity and caring has provided more than $2.2 million in direct gifts to WOC.  This has enabled Disciples to respond quickly and strongly to immediate relief activities and now to ongoing recovery and rehabilitation efforts that will continue for the next several years. One hundred percent of all designated gifts have gone or will go for Disciples response to the earthquake and tsunami. Visit WOC's Web site at:  www.weekofcompassion.org to read stories that tell more about the church's response to this and other crises around the world.

DISCIPLES PASTOR AMONG ALUMNI HONORED BY PACIFIC SCHOOL OF RELIGION
Wallace Fukunaga, an ordained Disciples minister with United Church of Christ (UCC) standing, is one of four distinguished alumni/ae to be honored by Pacific School of Religion (PSR), Berkeley, Calif., at the Alumni/ae and Friends Banquet on Jan. 25, 2006.  These annual awards are presented to graduates who have provided outstanding service in their ministry or profession and shown distinguished leadership in faith communities on a local, regional or national level.

A native of Hawaii, Fukunaga received a bachelor's degree from Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass., a master's degree in divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, N.J., and a doctorate of ministry from PSR.  Since his days as an undergraduate, Fukunaga has sought to connect his faith to matters of justice, tolerance, and peace.  In the 1960s, he participated in the civil rights movement, went to Vietnam at the height of the war with a delegation of the World Council of Churches, and served as president of the Hawaii Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.

Fukunaga's professional career includes serving as UCC campus minister at the University of Hawaii, a consultant for the Hawaii state legislature on matters relating to the poor, and president for nearly two decades of Northshore Resources.

DISCIPLES CONGREGATIONS CELEBRATE THEIR HERITAGE AS THEY MARK A CENTURY OF WORSHIP
The following congregations are to be commended for being engaged in vital church ministry for at least 100 years.

• Overland Christian Church, Overland, Mo., near St. Louis. Mo., observed its 100th anniversary with a yearlong celebration that included reviewing old pictures, memory statements, and having monthly updates.
• Arlington Christian Church, Lexington, Ky., also had a yearlong celebration in honor of 100 years of ministry.  The series included events, sermons by former ministers and associates, a banquet, a choir reunion, and a reunion for a 1970s youth group who wrote and performed a musical "Life of Christ" titled "He is Alive."
• Central Christian Church, Clarksburg, W.V., marked 100 years of ministry with an old time hymn sing, an anniversary luncheon, a memorial for all past members, and a centennial display that included baptismal dresses and old documents, pictures and member lists.
• Fairview Christian Church, Lynchburg, Va., celebrated its 100th anniversary with music from the new Carillon Bells, the children's choir and a recording from the "Fairview Four" gospel quartet from years past.  The chancel choir presented an original anthem "Disciples Making Disciples," specifically written for the centennial celebration.  Fairview also presented a check for $21,000 to Week of Compassion for hurricane relief.
• First Christian Church, Puyallup, Wash., recently celebrated 100 years of ministry and fellowship.  A year of monthly missions highlighting the number 100 culminated in a centennial dinner gala, a sing-along, and a harvest worship service.
• South Side Christian Church, Omaha, Neb., marked that congregation's 115th anniversary by honoring five members over the age of 90 who were present at worship.

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Please note: Because of the holidays, there will not be
a Disciples News Service posting next week.

Editor: Wanda Bryant Wills
DNS Writer: Kenethia Jackson
E-mail: news@cm.disciples.org

For more information and news about the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ),
please visit our web site at www.disciples.org.