In this issue:
- Thanksgiving Special Offering To Be Received Nov. 12 And Nov. 19
- Disciples Women Visit Haiti And The Dominican Republic
- Global Ministries Training Event Held In Indianapolis
- Volunteers Are Needed For Disaster Recovery Efforts In Texas
- Disciples Construct Houses At Habitat Blitz Builds
- Church Finance Council Takes Orders For Special Offerings
- Disciple Named Co-Chair Of National Student Ministry Group
- New Webmasters Forum Will Help Disciples Create Web Sites
- Disciples Relief Ministry Helping Victims In Darfur
- Transylvania University To Host Piano Concert, Raise Money For Needy
- UCCIB Earthquake Insurance Coverage Helps Churches In Hawaii
- Partners In Prayer Now Available For 25th Year
- NCC General Assembly To Convene In Orlando
THANKSGIVING SPECIAL OFFERING TO BE RECEIVED NOV. 12 AND NOV. 19
 ”Spirited Schools” is the theme of the 2006 Thanksgiving Special Offering, which will be received in congregations on Nov. 12 and 19. Your gift to this offering supports the Disciples colleges, universities, and theological institutions that educate students and create “spirited leaders” for our church. The offering benefits 14 colleges and universities and seven theological institutions. Each has pledged to serve and care for Disciples students and the church and to work in cooperation to produce leaders for the church.
A new PowerPoint presentation for use in worship is now available. For the presentation, more information and complimentary promotion materials, visit www.churchfinancecouncil.org/pages/dmf/tgiving06
DISCIPLES WOMEN VISIT HAITI AND THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
 A dozen Disciples women from the United States and Canada returned this week from a Woman to Woman Worldwide journey to Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Ministries from our doorsteps to the ends of the earth became a reality as the women visited religious-based groups and organizations supported by our denomination through the Division of Overseas ministries.
 The 12-day trip brought the women face-to-face with the realities of poverty in Haiti, as well as the resilient, resourceful people who live there and who maintain a deep understanding of Christ’s redemptive love. The women toured a seminary, grade school, nursing school, and community center for children in Haiti. In one of the greetings, the women were told that they surely brought blessings to the country, as the rains came when the visitors arrived.
In the Dominican Republic, the women visited a number of organizations, including the Caminante Center, which is supported in part by Global Ministries, and primarily reaches out to young people involved in the sex trade business. At the center, young people learn self-esteem and goal-setting and ways to develop skills that offer them hope for the future.
To learn more about the Woman to Woman Worldwide program, which is coordinated by the Office of Disciples Women, a part of Disciples Home Missions, visit www.discipleswomen.org
GLOBAL MINISTRIES TRAINING EVENT HELD IN INDIANAPOLIS
More than 100 persons met in Indianapolis on Oct. 19, to participate in Missionworks, a biennial event sponsored by FOCUS (Fellowship of Continuing Understanding and Support which is made up of former missionaries), and Global Ministries (GM). Through keynote speakers, workshops, panel discussions, small groups, and informal conversations, the 120 attendees benefited from an opportunity to grow in their understanding of God’s mission and to learn more about ways the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ are serving as a critical presence with international church partners.
Forty-nine of the participants received additional training by staying for a 24-hour Ministries and Mission Interpreters (MMI) training event marathon. During this time, they received the tools to conduct various presentations on the work of Global Ministries, as well as practical information about how local congregations can take steps to be directly involved in global mission through programs and projects offered by Global Ministries. At the end of the training, each MMI participant formulated an action plan and was commissioned to go tell the story.
Currently there are over 300 trained Ministry and Mission Interpreters who are using their gifts to tell the story of Global Ministries in 33 Disciples regions and 39 UCC conferences. To learn more about the MMI network, visit the Global Ministries site at: www.globalministries.org
VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED FOR DISASTER RECOVERY EFFORTS IN TEXAS
The Disciples Hurricane Recovery Initiative is currently seeking volunteers to travel to the Texas Mission Station in Port Arthur/Beaumont to work on homes that were devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. With more than 2,500 requests for help in that area, Disciples Volunteering needs as many people as possible that are willing to assist. If you would like more information, contact Tod Iseminger of Disciples Home Missions at: tiseming@dhm.disciples.org or by phone at: (888) 346-2631. You may also visit www.discipleshomemissions.org/DisasterResponse.htm
DISCIPLES CONSTRUCT HOUSES AT HABITAT BLITZ BUILDS
 Disciples volunteers from around the country recently traveled to Lake Charles, La., to be part of the first of two, "2 Houses in 2 Weeks Habitat For Humanity Blitz Builds." The build, which took place between Oct. 16 and 28, involved 45 people as part of the Disciples Hurricane Recovery Initiative. Another 40 to 50 Disciples will go to Beaumont, Texas, for a similar build Nov. 6 to 17. Partners in these builds include Week of Compassion, Disciples Home Missions’ (DHM) Disciples Volunteering, Calcasieu Area Habitat For Humanity, and Beaumont Habitat For Humanity.
The following congregations participated in the Lake Charles Build: Northwest Christian Church, Columbus, Ohio; First Christian Church, Wadsworth, Ohio; Crofton Christian Church, Crofton, Ky.; First Christian Church, Wadesville, Ind.; Continental Christian Church, Wildwood, Fla.; First Christian Church, Hagerstown, Md.; Downey Ave. Christian Church, Indianapolis, Ind.; First Christian Church, Mt. Vernon, Ohio; Broadway Christian Church, Columbia, Mo.; Central Christian Church, Indianapolis, Ind.; Southport Christian Church, Indianapolis, Ind.; Graceland Christian Church, Southaven, Miss.; Nameless Creek Christian Church, Greenfield, Ind.; and Grace Disciples Christian Church, Covington, La.
To find out how you can participate in upcoming builds, contact Carl Zerweck
czerweck@dhm.disciples.org in the DHM Office of Disciples Volunteering at
(888) 346-2631.
CHURCH FINANCE COUNCIL TAKES ORDERS FOR SPECIAL OFFERINGS
 Church Finance Council (CFC) is encouraging congregations to verify their standing orders for Special Offering materials. Special Offerings include Easter, Pentecost, Thanksgiving and Christmas as well as Reconciliation and Week of Compassion. CFC continues to enhance efficiency and reduce costs through an online process.
Disciples congregations that receive Special Offering materials should go online to verify shipping addresses and quantities of items to be shipped for each offering. For more information including login instructions to check standing orders, go to: www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2006/06149.html
 DISCIPLE NAMED CO-CHAIR OF NATIONAL STUDENT MINISTRY GROUP
Catching up with Trayce Stewart is tough, and not just because she competes on Hiram College's track team. In addition to student teaching four days a week and carrying a full load of classes, Trayce is involved in campus ministries at Hiram and serves on the Student Ecumenical Partnership's Leadership Team. Next year, she'll add another task to her to-do list: She will serve as the student co-chair of the Council for Ecumenical Student Christian Ministries (CESCM) through 2007. See what's driving Trayce's passion to serve at www.helmdisciples.org/helm/06/HELM-Stewart.htm.
NEW WEBMASTERS FORUM WILL HELP DISCIPLES CREATE WEB SITES
Communication Ministries (CM) has launched a new service aimed at giving webmasters, both experienced and novice, a forum to discuss ideas, find technical help and create relationships across the United States and Canada. The Disciples Webmasters Online Discussion Forum is a free service offered to anyone interested in online ministry. CM hopes this service will become a resource of help and advice for church website managers and developers. To become a member of the forum, see: https://secure.disciples.org/discuss/webmasters
DISCIPLES RELIEF MINISTRY HELPING VICTIMS IN DARFUR
 Week of Compassion (WOC), the relief, refugee and development fund ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), continues to focus its attention on addressing the ethnic cleansing in the Darfur region of Sudan, a Muslim-governed country located in northern Africa where horrendous human suffering has occurred.
WOC is urging Disciples to encourage their congressional representatives to act against the genocide that is taking place in Darfur daily. WOC also is asking congregations to join the “Dear Sudan Campaign,” www.dearsudan.org, a grassroots effort to ease the suffering of the 2.5 million displaced Sudanese and end the indiscriminate killing there. To get more details about this effort, go to www.weekofcompassion.org
TRANSYLVANIA UNIVERSITY TO HOST PIANO CONCERT, RAISE MONEY FOR NEEDY
 Two events planned by Transylvania University in the coming weeks will help usher in the holiday season. In the first, noted pianist David Northington will perform at the university’s Carrick Theater on Nov. 13 in a free concert open to the public. Northington, who has played in Europe, Canada, China, Russia and the United States, will perform the Complete Waltzes by Frederic Chopin. For more information, contact Gregory Partain at (859) 233-8177.
Ceramic potters from across Kentucky are expected to participate in the “Empty Bowls Project,” from Dec. 1-8. Potters will make bowls that then will be sold to benefit the needy residents of Fayette County, Ky. To learn more, visit: www.transy.edu/morlan, Transylvania, which is affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is located in Lexington, Ky.
UCCIB EARTHQUAKE INSURANCE COVERAGE HELPS CHURCHES IN HAWAII
Last month’s earthquake that rumbled through the Hawaiian Islands severely damaged a number of churches. The United Church of Christ Insurance Board (UCCIB) reports that the Kalahikiola Congregational Church in Kapaau is facing more than $1.1 million in repairs. Because the church carried optional earthquake coverage, repairs will be covered by insurance, reports the UCCIB.
The UCCIB is a nonprofit corporation that administers a property and liability insurance program serving the United Church of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) churches and related entities. To read more go to: www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2006/06150.pdf
PARTNERS IN PRAYER NOW AVAILABLE FOR 25TH YEAR
The Christian Board of Publication has released its annual devotional, “Partners in Prayer,” written this year by General Minister and President Sharon Watkins and her husband Richard Lowery, a Professor of Old Testament at Phillips Theological Seminary. The devotional has been used for many years as a resource for congregations and individuals during the Advent season. The daily devotions take readers from the first Sunday of Advent, Dec. 3, through New Year’s Day. Partners in Prayer is sold for $2.50, with quantity discounts available for 25 or more copies. To order, go to www.cbp21.com. For more information, see: www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2006/06151.pdf
NCC GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO CONVENE IN ORLANDO
The National Council of Churches USA (NCC) and Church World Service (CWS) will gather in Orlando, Fla., from Nov. 7-9 for the General Assembly, the highest decision-making body of both groups. Each day will begin with worship to help delegates explore the theme, “For the Healing of the Nations” (Revelation 22:1-2). In addition to worship, bible study, celebration and action will be a part of the annual gathering of the country’s oldest national ecumenical body. Delegates from Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican, historic African American and peace churches will represent 45 million Christians from 100,000 congregations. To read more, go to:
www.ncccusa.org/news/061102generalassemblyupcoming.html
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Editor: Wanda Bryant Wills
E-mail: news@cm.disciples.org
If you are interested in submitting news for distribution in the Disciples News Service, please review our "Guidelines for Submitting News and Information to Disciples News Service":
www.disciples.org/dns/dnsguidelines.pdf
(in Adobe PDF Format)
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