Disciples Together
Regional News of the Christian Church in the Upper Midwest
November | 2021
|
|
 |
Save the date for the 2022 Ministers Institute! This annual event will be taking place in hybrid format this year with options to attend in person at the Christian Conference Center or virtually. Both options will include opportunities for clergy to learn (and earn continuing education hours), worship, fellowship, and relax. The event will begin on Jan. 24 and close on Jan. 25, with an option to stay through the 26th for an additional education session meeting the anti-racism/pro-reconciliation experience requirement. |
Who Is Your Neighbor?
Join the Upper Midwest AR/PR Action Team for a discussion on "Who Is Your Neighbor?"
We will be joined by Rev. Dr. Stanley-Rea, Director, Disciples Refugee and Immigration Ministries and Sara Zejnic with the Refugee Resettlement Program of the Catherine McAuley Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. They will share information with us for one hour and we will then have thirty minutes for questions.
We encourage you to join us for this important and timely discussion. For example, at this time 37,000 Afghan Refugees are arriving in the United States. The Upper Midwest Region can expect over 1,000 refugees. Join us as we discuss "Who Is Our Neighbor?" and the ways that we can welcome our new neighbors.
Use the link below to register. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
|
Operations Council Update
The Operations Council met on Oct. 28, at 7 p.m. via Zoom.
The meeting included all of the newly elected members along with those whose term is continuing.
Meeting highlights included reviewing the latest financial reports and receiving staff reports as well as the following motions:
- New Church Committee Grant to approve $15,000 to support Nerleb Likisap as he works to open a new Pacific Islanders congregation in Ottumwa, Iowa.
- New Church Committee Grant to approve $18,000 to support Sheldon Henderson as he continues his work with River Valley Disciples, a church in formation in Des Moines, Iowa.
- Approval of the 2022 Housing Allowance/Designation for Regional Minister, Joshua Patty, and Associate Regional Minister, Tiffany Williams.
- Approval of revised grant guidelines (the new guidelines are available on the regional website).
- Approval of a Reconciliation Ministry Grant to Norwalk Christian Church to expand their English Language Learners ministry.
Elections were also held for officers. Katie Hainline was elected as Moderator for a second term and Dennis Sanders was elected as Moderator-Elect for a second term. The election of Treasurer and Secretary was tabled until the next meeting.
The next Operations Council meeting will take place on Dec. 9, 2021 at 7 p.m. via Zoom.
|
Installation of Regional Minister
The installation service for Rev. Joshua Patty has been rescheduled for Sunday, May 15, 3 p.m. The service will be held at the Christian Conference Center with the ability to join remotely. Rev. Terri Hord Owens, our General Minister and President, will preach and lead the installation.
|
We Need Your Communion Photos!!
We would love to include pictures of your congregation's communion time in our All Region Worship on Dec. 26. Please send yours to the regional office by Dec. 3! |
|
|
|
All-Region Worship Services
December 26
Our Upper Midwest Region will provide a worship service for use by all congregations on Sunday, December 26. We want to show our appreciation and support for the efforts by ministers and worship leaders in 2021.
The full worship service will premiere on our region’s YouTube channel at 10 am on December 26. In addition, the service and its various pieces will be available for download to use for both in person and online worship services. Congregations and ministers will be able to access these files, and receive the YouTube link, by December 17.
|
Anti-Racism/
Pro-Reconciliation Team Documentary and Discussion
"True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality" follows 30 years of Equal Justice Initiative’s work on behalf of the poor, the incarcerated, and the condemned. The film won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Social Issue Documentary, and is the winner of the National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications’s 26th annual Vision Award and a Peabody Award. (From the eji.org description of the documentary)
The Anti-Racism/Pro-Reconciliation Team would like to invite you to a viewing and discussion of the documentary “True Justice” on Sunday evening, December 5. This event will consist of two parts online: a watch event at 5 p.m., followed by a 20 minute break, and discussion at 7 p.m. You can learn more about the documentary and even watch it prior to the event at eji.org/projects/true-justice/. To access either or both of the parts of the event you must register for free using the button below.
Prior to watching the movie, either on your own or as a part of our watch event, it might be helpful to think about these questions:
- How much do I know about mass incarceration and what it even is?
- What are my personal beliefs about why people are poor?
- What stereotypes and biases do I harbor about people who are or were formerly incarcerated?
- How have I personally, or as a part of my faith group or organization, been complicit in racial injustice?
- What are my feelings about the current state of the criminal justice system?
We look forward to seeing you on December 5!
|
Yearbook reporting time is, once again, right around the corner! Hopefully yearbook reports will be significantly easier for all of us this year as there are so many automated features in ALEX.
If you are not yet familiar with ALEX and not sure whether your congregation has a log-in established, please contact the regional office. |
Ordinations
Rev. Angelo Luis celebrated his ordination on Sunday, November 14 at St. John Lutheran Church in Carroll, IA.
An ordination service for Mike Kindred is scheduled on November 21, 2021, 3 PM at First Christian Church in Muscatine. The church is located at 700 Kindler Avenue. Clergy are invited to robe and wear red stoles. Your prayers are appreciated. Please note that we hope to make a link of the service available later for those who would like to participate in that way.
|
|
|
|
Upcoming Events and Resources |
|
Thanksgiving Offering
Received on Nov. 14 and Nov. 21, 2021
The Thanksgiving Offering benefits the Colleges, Universities, Seminaries, and Divinity Houses affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Higher education has been an important focus for Disciples since the very beginning of the movement. Throughout our history, Disciples have founded institutions of higher learning to educate students and form leaders to make a difference in the world. The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is still committed to higher education. Your gift to the Thanksgiving Offering helps support the education of thousands of students at our fifteen colleges and universities as well as our seven seminaries and divinity houses.
|
|
Received on Dec. 12 and 19, 2021
This annual special offering supports the work of the regional church. Regional ministry touches many aspects of our church lives. From assisting search committees, to paving the way for individuals ready to answer the call to ministry, to providing summer camp and other youth programming, the regional church walks along with all of the congregations in the Upper Midwest supporting our shared work as Disciples Together.
|
|
Sign Up to Receive Newsletters
Keep up to date with the latest news from our regional and throughout the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
|
|
Your financial gifts to the Christmas Special Offering and Disciples Mission Fund
support Disciples Together and other publications from the Christian Church in the Upper Midwest.
|
|
Christian Church in the Upper Midwest | http://uppermidwestcc.org
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
