• School for Congregational Learning - August 28, 2010
• What IF ...
• Regional Assembly Presents: Disciples Network Gathering
• Summer Camps Continue
• Around the Region
• Christian Womens' Fall Retreat (Oct. 1-3, 2010)
• Midwest Youth Worker Interchange
• Invitation to join Noelridge CC Mission Trip
• Ankeny Christian Church Golfers the Best of the Day
• Shared Spirit Story: "Art of the Covenant" at FCC Minneapolis

Registration Forms and Workshop listings are now online for the 2010 School for Congregational Learning

	Biography – Jose Morales, Keynoter		Registration Form
	Biography – Jose Morales, Keynoter		Registration Form
	Bulletin Insert – Registration Form		Workshop Descriptions
	Bulletin Insert – Registration Form		Workshop Descriptions
	Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)		8.5×11″ Workshops Poster
	Map		8.5×11″ Workshops Poster
	Promotional Ideas and Information
	Promotional Ideas and Information

Where: West Des Moines Christian Church (map)
When:

What workshops? Over 35 topics (36 to be exact) -- read more in the descriptions above.

How much: $20 (which includes breakfast, lunch, workshops, materials, worship, fellowship and more!)

How to register Fill out this form, preferably by August 9th.

Questions? Contact Connie Derby Dicks (Administrative Coordinator for Ministries) at (515) 255-3168 or cddumw@gmail.com

 

P.S. - A special thank you to Shelly Van Weelden at Drake Avenue Christian Church in Centerville, IA for crafting a "press release" for use in congregations' newsletters around the region.

	2010 SCL Press Release
	2010 SCL Press Release

Bill Spangler-Dunning
Lead Transitional Regional Minister and President

"The sabbath was made for human beings, not human beings for the sabbath" (Mark 2:27)

Changing structure does not guarantee spiritual balance and purpose; but, sometimes, our structure can get in the way of the flow of ministry.

Many times I have heard stories like the one above in which ministries arise from someone noticing a need and sharing it with others to help discern God’s calling. These ministries are often the ones that congregation members talk about with passion and energy.

What if we in the region had a structure that encouraged this same way of being church together? What if, when we made decisions about the ministry we do together, every church had a representative at the table? What if our board/gatherings always included time to listen for perceived needs and we spent time in discernment about what and where God might be calling us?

These are only some of the ideas I continue to hear bubbling up from the congregations as we all strive passionately to faithfully be church in this world. Let me know about what you think by sending me an email at bsdumw@gmail.com.

Your partner in ministry,
Bill Spangler-Dunning
BSD

We need congregations' help in hosting food booths for the "Disciples Network Gathering." Looking for a fundraising opportunity? Wanting to show off your cooking skills? Visit the regional website and download the food booth form and submit it.

The deadline for registering to host a food booth was previously June 1st, but was recently extended. If you have questions, please call Connie Derby Dicks at 515.255.3168

The assembly will be held on Saturday, October 9, 2010 at the Christian Conference Center (located just outside of Newton, IA).

In the Spirit of Disciples Together, we've planned a day of fun activities. Some of the fun activities include:

• Food booths hosted by various congregations around the Region
• Horse-drawn wagon rides
• Tours of the Christian Conference Center grounds
• Outdoor games & activities for adults, youth & children
• Live music all day
• Team Competitions (get your team together!) such as these races:
• Communion cup filling
• Setting up & taking down chairs & tables
• Lawn mower
• Worship in the Outdoor Chapel
• Workshops & demonstrations
• The annual Region-wide business meeting

PS - Click on the image above to watch a YouTube clip put together by the organizers of the event!

From Bert Berns, Regional Minister for Camp and Conference Center:

On June 29th we passed the 1000 camper registration mark!!! We're thrilled to help this many campers experience camp. Thank you for all you have done to assist campers in getting to Holy Ground this summer!! And it is still not too late to sign up. All camps still have space and we would love to see you or youth from your church this summer.

Please pray for the campers at:

July 12-17, 2010     ChiRho Camp #11
July 12-17, 2010     Junior Camp #4
July 19-24, 2010     CYF Camp #16
July 19-24, 2010     Mission Trip Prep Camp
July 26-31, 2010     Junior Camp #5
July 26-31, 2010      CYF Mission Camp #14
Aug. 2-7, 2010     CYF Camp #17
Aug. 9-14, 2010     ChiRho Camp #13, non-rustic

Want to send letters to campers? Write to them at:

Full Name - Camp Name

5064 Lincoln Street

Newton, IA 50208

Editor's note: These notes from around the region come from congregations sending their newsletters via post or e-mail (amfumw@gmail.com); they also come from individual congregation members sending me the announcements. Have good news or needs to share with fellow Disciples? E-mail me!

Congratulations for our newly ordained ministers in the region:

• June 6, Anjeanette Perkins: FCC Ames (Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis)
• June 19, Katie Carlson: Central Christian Church, Boone (Brite Divinity School, Ft Worth)
• July 10, Stasia Fine: Noelridge Christian Church, Cedar Rapids (Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington DC)

Glen Echo Christian Church celebrated the tenth anniversary of our wonderful pianist/organist, Patty Bellus on May 30th. Thank you for the best years of our lives, Patty. - From Dorothy Perry and the rest of your Glen Echo Church Family

Central Christian Church in Jefferson, IA is looking for a pianist/organist. Does anyone know musicians who are looking for a ministry setting? (Contact Pastor Deb Griffin at pastor4peace@netins.net or 515-386-4315)

We've noticed these uplifting statements from churches' newsletters and mission statements:

• "Church to the Rescue!" – FCC Burlington regarding summer Sunday School.
• "Where we become more like Christ everyday!" – FCC Panora
• "Welcome: adj. - received with hospitality and pleasure into one's company or home… When we say ‘welcome’, we mean it!" Lenox Christian Church, Lenox, IA
• "Our mission is to make disciples." – FCC Mason City
• "Serving Community Families with Christ’s Love; to help provide a brighter future for our children and everyone." – FCC Coon Rapids
• "Connecting friends and family of Central Christian Church with each other, the community, and beyond." – Central CC, Waterloo
• "Bless it Forward" – Finance Campaign from UCC Atlantic
• "Humble Acts of Kindness" – Thankfulness Campaign – FCC, Creston
• "As part of the family of God, we will be a positive enthusiastic force, committed to ministering with love and support to all persons, reflecting God’s love as revealed through Jesus Christ, our Lord." – Capitol Hill CC, Des Moines
• "God uniting us in the cross." – Winner-Ideal Parish, Winner, SD
• "A community where we work at belonging to God, knowing that God does not belong to us." – Spirit of Joy, Lakeville, MN
• "Come as you are, you belong." – FCC Ames
• "Better faith, better service." Peosta Worship Center, Peosta, IA
• "Reaching inward, outward, and upward." – FCC Red Oak, IA

Koronis Ministries Conference & Retreat Center
Paynesville, MN

Sanctuary in the Stories
**Telling stories of women throughout the Bible**
**Telling stories of women throughout our lives**

Women of all ages are invited to gather in a beautiful retreat setting to explore and experience ways in which extending a sense of sanctuary can be an intentional part of how we relate to each other, and to God’s world around us.

Cost: $100 - $150 (double occupancy)
Includes 2 nights lodging, program, 5 meals
Full & partial scholarships (at Retreat Center rate) are available through the Beth MacWhorter Fund.

* * *
Retreat Leader: Marti Stuessy
She is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and MacAllister-Petticrew Professor of Biblical Interpretation at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, where she has been teaching—and storytelling!—since 1988.

Retreat Chaplain: Deborah Lewis
Retreat Coordinators: Alison Phillips Robuck and Tammy Rottschaefer

	Retreat Flyer
	Retreat Flyer
	Registration Form
	Registration Form

Do you want affordable youth worker training? What if it was friendly and appropriate for volunteers, lay leaders, casual youth leaders, or anyone else who even talk with youth?

Midwest Youth Worker Event

Who: Mark Riddle (http://www.markriddle.net/) speaking, ANY youth worker should attend
When: September 10-11, 2010 (Friday, Saturday)
Where: Christian Conference Center in Newton, IA
How much does it cost?:

• $20 if you just want to attend Saturday’s sessions ($20 includes meals)
• $45 (for Friday night extended learning time, hotel room, meals, event registration)

Mark Riddle is author of "Inside the Mind of Youth Pastors" and "The (un) Official Church Staff Manual: Youth Pastor Edition."

Please direct questions to Dan Mayes (dan@spencerdisciples.org), pastor of First Christian Church, Spencer, IA and member of regional youth unit; or, Melanie Van Weelden (melanie4399@gmail.com), Regional Minister for Youth Ministry.

Noelridge Christian Church in Cedar Rapids is going on a multi-generational mission trip to Cass Lake, MN Indian Reservation the week of August 1 through August 5.

There are two openings for attendees to a multi-generational mission trip at the Cass Lake, MN Indian Reservation the week of August 1 through August 5. The mission trip is sponsored by YouthWorks and members from five multi-denominational churches in Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa and Missouri are attending.

Two openings have just been made available and we want to try to fill them ASAP. The cost is $228/attendee and background checks must be completed on all adults. Other forms will need to be completed prior to attending. Attendees are parents, grandparents and youth ages 12-19.

The mission work focuses on repairing homes and a Kids' Club activity. This is a great opportunity to get involved with mission work as a family.

Unfortunately since this is a last-minute opportunity to add attendees, we need to know about interested attendees within the next several days if possible. Questions and interest should be directed to Walt Hargraves, Noelridge Christian Church, 319-929-9967.

On June 30th, 46 golfers from congregations around central Iowa met at the Countryside Golf Course in Norwalk, IA for a day of fellowship and sport. With a forgiving "Shotgun start - four person best ball" format, a team from Ankeny Christian Church "won" with a score of 16 under par. Don Hiscox, Regional Minister for Congregational and Clergy Care, commented "that's really, really good." Congratulations to the team from Ankeny CC.

If you want to get the dates for next years' regional golf outing -- or want to help plan or participate in similar fellowship events, please e-mail Don Hiscox at dh@uppermidwestcc.org

Editor's Note: This story comes from a minister at First Christian Church in Minneapolis, MN. Look for more stories in future issues of the DT Express or on our Shared Spirit page -- and, please submit your own stories

Author: Dennis Sanders

[At First Christian Church] we are trying to find out how to make what was once a big downtown church into something that fits the current times. I can’t speak for anyone else, but I do know that it seems difficult to find an easy answer. We sit and pray and talk and wonder and so on. In some ways it seems like we are just plodding along and trying to see what works. Some people at the church think that the congregation’s best days are behind it and wonder if it is time to just give up.

At the same time, something else was quietly happening. One of our members, Deb Murphy, was a little bit upset about the fact that there was no children’s program going on at the church. One of the things that can happen when a congregation is in decline is that certain things tend to get left by the wayside. The children’s ministry was one of those things that got left aside. Well, that got to Deb. She is an artist and has worked for years in the Twin Cities theatre community. After some thought, she came up with an idea of using arts to teach children about the Bible.

Come September of 2009, Deb started her class called Art of the Covenant. It was kind of amazing: kids started coming to the class. A friend from work ended up bringing her daughter to the program. A couple started bringing their three grandsons. A woman who had stopped attending started coming back after her two adopted sons were eager to attend the class. Little by little, Deb’s class is making a difference. On Easter Sunday during the children’s sermon, there are fourteen children who came forward, It was a wonderful scene.

Deb’s action was one of love and service. In all the questions regarding how First Christian transforms, we had forgot about one simple thing: that we were called to love people. Deb remembered. She remembered to love the children.

[To read more Dennis Sanders' sermon about the "Art of the Covenant" program and its modeling of the missions of the church, go to: http://fccminneapolis.org/2010/06/22/shared-spirit-young-trees/]