Gifts for the Christ-child

We began Advent just a few days ago. A four-week journey of reflecting on God ‘s gift to us of God’s self in the person of the Christ-child. Immanuel (Hebrew), Emmanuel (Greek)…

“Emmanuel, Emmanuel,

His name is called Emmanuel.

God with us, revealed in us,

His name is called Emmanuel.”

In and through Christ, God makes God’s home with us – the gift of God in Christ to us for all our days. With grateful hearts for such a gift, I pray during our four-week Advent journey to Bethlehem, you will give gifts to the Christ-child so the ministries of this Region will continue to support and resource you, your congregation, and the communities where your congregation serves. It is through such giving that “God is with us, will be revealed in and through us.” Please give generously to the 2024 Christmas Special Offering and see how God's love is made visible through ministries of the Christian Church in Georgia because of you and with you!

Advent Blessings and Merry Christmas God’s Beloveds! 



With grace and gratitude,

Rev. Joan

Dear Friends:

On behalf of all the members of your Regional Minister Search Committee, please  know how much we appreciate and need your continued prayers. Thanks to your input via our Listening Sessions and the survey, we have been able to move ahead with the process to search for a new Regional Minister. We have officially announced the position, and we are now waiting to hear from possible candidates to begin this next phase of the process.  Notice of the search has been shared through many different outlets, including our own website.  Please feel free to check out and share the Position Announcement here.

Please continue to pray that God will lead us to find the person who will lead our Region in the ways that God would have us to go.

Grace and Peace,

Rev. Douglas M. Ivey, MSW, MDiv

Chair, Regional Minister Search Committee

You are invited to give generously to the 2024 Christmas Special Offering, which makes God’s love visible in so many ways for Georgia Disciples. Your gift is critical support, for 100% stays in the Region, supporting Regional Youth Assemblies at Epworth, summer camp programming for K-12, retreats for Disciples women and men, resources for new and existing congregations, assistance to churches and families after disasters, nurturing clergy and seminarians, providing workshops, learning and life-changing opportunities, and so much more!

Through our gifts and our ministries, the power of all of us together truly helps make God’s love visible. Please make your gift today or during December, and be sure to indicate “Christmas Special Offering” and the name of your congregation when you fill out the giving form.

To help share the many ways “God’s Love is Made Visible” in the Georgia Region, we invite you to use and share the following short video in your church’s worship, newsletter, and social media.

Registration Open for Disciples Women Retreat

Registration is now open for the Disciples Women’s Retreat, rescheduled for February 21-23, 2025. Although Hurricane Helene changed the Disciples Women’s fall retreat plans, we are excited to be going to Little Ocmulgee State Park and Lodge. If you have never visited or stayed in a Georgia State Park, you will be amazed at these hotel-style accommodations! Disciples Women will gather for fellowship, worship, learning, and service, plus some creative activities inspired by our peaceful outdoor setting. Keynoter Rev. Daniel Claire Brower will lead us around the theme, “The Story Continues with Crazy Love: Sharing Stories of Jesus," and Rev. Nancy Oliver will lead us in music. Learn more and register here. Download a flier to post in your church or in your church newsletter or social media here. Deadline for registration is February 5, 2025. 

Register by Jan. 6 for Regional Youth Assembly

Disciples youth and friends from across the state of Georgia are invited to gather January 31-February 1, 2025 for an inspiring 2025 Regional Youth Assembly. Featuring Keynoter Rev. Allison Bright, Associate Minister at First Christian Church, Chattanooga, TN, the Assembly will be an incredible opportunity for the youth of the Christian Church (DOC) in Georgia to come together for fellowship, worship, and personal growth. Don’t miss out on this chance to deepen your faith and build lasting connections! Adults and youth can learn more and register here. You're invited to post this flier in your church or include it in your church newsletter, Facebook, or Instagram. Deadline to register is Jan. 6, 2025. 

Registration Open for 2025 General Assembly

Registration and housing are now open for the 2025 General Assembly, a four-day gathering from July 12-15, 2025, that you will not want to miss. Disciples from across the US and Canada are invited to journey “BEYOND” into the vast expanse of God’s limitless love as we gather in Memphis, TN. Join us for worship, workshops, opportunities to explore Memphis, mission projects, and the sacred work of the church for children, youth, young adults, and adults across the life of the church. Learn more and register here.

As the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) prepares for the 2025 meeting of the General Assembly, business resolutions are now being received. Deadline for submission of resolutions is January 13, 2025. Learn more here.  

News & Reminders



• Advent Resources: You’re invited to check out some Advent 2024 resources, including 2024 Christmas Special Offering materials, prepared for Georgia Disciples here.
• Advent Devotional: Disciples Home Missions has a free Advent devotional for 2024 available here.
• Clergy Standing: Standing Renewal notices will be sent out to Georgia clergy next week and must be completed and received by January 23, 2025. Questions? Contact The Regional Office at 478-743-8649.
• Covenant Project Town Hall: Amendments to the Design of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) GA-2343, was adopted at the 2023 General Assembly in Louisville, KY. The Implementation Team tasked with this work invites you to join an upcoming Town Hall meeting on December 10, 2024 at 3 pm EST for continued updates on their work and recommendations. Register here.
• Disciples Women Connect: Sign up for regular emails from Disciples Women Connect here and stay informed about news, programs, and events impacting Disciples Women across North America.
• Disciples Peace Interns: Disciples Peace Fellowship is accepting applicants for the 2025 DPF Peace Intern Program. Each year DPF selects three young adults (21 and older) to serve as Peace Interns.  This is a 12-week, paid, summer internship ($3,000 stipend) that allow interns to serve as advocates for peace and justice in many different ways and in several different formats. Learn more about the program and apply here; applications are due January 31, 2025. 

Learning Opportunities

• Holiday Soulcare: The National Benevolent Association will host a free one-hour “Soulcare” event, focusing on wellness practices for the holidays, on December 17 from 7:30-8:30 pm EST. Learn more and register here.
• Spirituality & Practice Workshop: “From Burnout to Motivation: Applying Spiritual Wisdom for Thriving Individuals and Teams” is a 6-hour Zoom workshop for clergy to be held February 15 and 22, 2025. Learn more and register here.
• New Church Course: New Church Ministry is now offering a virtual, asynchronous version of Leadership Academy. Learn about starting a new church, without traveling and at your own pace. This course is ideal for those who work during the week or are bi-vocational. Access to this course never expires. Learn more here.
• Festival of Homiletics: This annual preaching conference will take place May 12-15, 2025 in Atlanta, GA. This year’s theme is “Preaching to Heal the Divide.” Learn more and register here. 

Prayers & Celebrations

Prayers 

• Prayers for the Regional Minister Search Team of the Christian Church in Georgia, in their work on behalf of the Georgia Region.
• Prayers for First Christian Church, Watkinsville, in their search for a settled pastor.
• Prayers that our churches will lead in sharing within our communities the hope, peace, joy, and love of the Advent season.

Celebrations

• First Christian Church of Decatur is hosting their 17^th Annual “Friend and Fundraiser” Christmas Tree and Wreath Sale. Proceeds benefit church and community ministries, including the Toy Park next door to the church. Learn more here. 
• Peachtree Christian Church has called Rev. Aaron Smith as its new Executive Pastor. Prior to this, he served as the Area Director for the Pension Fund for 12 years.