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2020 Special Day Offerings share ‘Rejoice’ theme
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2020 Special Day Offerings share ‘Rejoice’ theme

Posted: 26 Feb 2020 12:01 PM PST

February 26, 2020

2020 Special Day Offerings share 'Rejoice' theme

While the timing and resources available will be unchanged for congregations, you may notice a theme emerging in the Special Day Offerings of Disciples Mission Fund (DMF) this year. “Rejoice” is woven throughout the Easter season’s lectionary texts, and as we celebrate the culmination of the 2020 Vision, we see so many causes for rejoicing throughout the year.

This theme provides opportunities for all supported ministries to share causes for celebration in their work. The logos will use the same theme but use different colors to differentiate between the offerings.

The participating offerings are Easter (supporting most general ministries), Thanksgiving (supporting higher education institutions) and Christmas (supporting regional ministries).

While these Special Day Offerings provide opportunities to highlight the work of specific ministries through Disciples Mission Fund, they are distinct from Disciples’ core support of DMF, which supports more than 70 ministries across the whole Church. Learn how your congregation’s gifts to DMF are distributed across the life of our Church.

Invitation to join in prayer

God, we know that change is part of living and growing. Please undergird the members of the Michigan region with a sense of your love and care as they move through transitions in their shared life as region. We thank you for the assurance of your loving presence. Amen.

National Convocation searches for interim administrative secretary

The National Convocation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Board of Trustees is searching for the position of Interim Administrative Secretary. The Interim Administrative Secretary will provide the leadership, management and vision necessary to undergird the ministries of the National Convocation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) (NCCC) and the National Christian Missionary Convention (NCMC) for a two-year period (Dec. 2020 – Dec. 2022).

Applications are due March 31.

Learn more

Disciples scouts invited to Bethany event

An exciting event is being planned in Bethany, WV, historic “Ground Zero” of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Bethany is where it all began over 200 years ago with the life and ministry of Alexander Campbell. We are inviting high school age Disciples Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts to come to Bethany June 26-28, for a great time of fun and adventure. The invitation is also open to non-Scouting Disciples youth who are of high school (CYF) age.

Featured activities will be tours of the Campbell Mansion, Bethany College and the Disciples of Christ Historical Society. All the recreational resources of Bethany College will be open for use, and there will be a cool service project that everyone can take part in. Sunday morning worship will be led by youth and will take place at the Old Meeting House, the very building where Alexander preached!

“Bethany Bash” will be open to only 50 youth and their adult sponsors on a first-come-first-served basis. There will not be a formal application form. Contact Rev. Scott Thayer to secure your registration. The cost of the event will be announced soon, but it will be modest. Contact Rev. Thayer right away to reserve your place for this once-in-a-lifetime event!

National Benevolent Association extends XPLOR 2020-21 application deadline

The NBA initiates ministries designed to establish and grow partnerships with health and social service supporters and providers. Drawing upon this rich history, NBA continues to assist Disciples to join systemic justice work with direct care and action.

In 2014, we launched NBA XPLOR, a prophetic movement of young adults who are considering lives of care and service. The Residency provides 10-month professional development and vocational discernment opportunities for 21- to 30-year-olds to live simply in community and engage in direct service and justice work. Through NBA XPLOR, we partner young adults with Disciples congregations, regional and general ministries, and wider communities—positively engaging neighborhoods, the congregations, and the young adults.

We are currently accepting applications for our 2020-21 cohort. Applications for this XPLOR cohort will be received until all spaces are full. Your applications are welcome and you will be contacted immediately with updated news on openings. For questions and more information, contact Rev. Ben Bohren. To learn more about the XPLOR program, visit nbacares.org/xplor.

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Upper Midwest opens search for new regional minister

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Upper Midwest is seeking to call an ordained minister with standing in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to the position of Regional Minister and President. A Regional Profile and Position Description are posted here.

All applicants are required to provide updated search and call paperwork in order to be considered. Furthermore, all applicants are required to submit a Letter of Interest to the Upper Midwest Regional Office by March 1, addressed to: Search Committee Chairperson, Rev. Suzie Moore, Christian Church in the Upper Midwest, 5064 Lincoln St., Newton, IA 50208.

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2020 Year Book reporting window open through March 15

The annual Year Book & Directory is all about connections between expressions of the Church. Congregations and clergy, general and regional ministries, and General Assembly reports and resolutions are contained in each issue.

The reporting window for the 2020 Year Book is open through March 15.

Visit disciples.org/yearbook to download instructions, answers to frequently asked questions, instructional webinar for congregations, PDF forms in English, Spanish, Korean, and French, and to submit your report online.

The Year Book serves as an invaluable resource for church staff and members, as well as the official record of a year in the life of our Church – and it’s not complete without you!

Learn more

Applications open for HELM scholarships

The Leadership Fellows program is a leadership development program for Disciples undergraduate students. Each of the four years of undergraduate education has a different focus: Community, Transformation, Global Awareness, and Mentoring. Click here to learn more about the Leadership Fellows program and to access the online application.

For Disciples students pursuing a PhD in the field of religion, HELM offers two scholarships, the William Gilbert and Florence Leonard Jones Scholarship and the Ann E. Dickerson Scholarship. Click here for more information on these scholarships and to access the online application.

All application materials for both the Leadership Fellows Program and PhD scholarships must be received by April 30. If you have questions, please contact Jon Barnes.

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Feb. 26-28: College of Regional Ministers meeting, Indianapolis, IN
March 1: Warren Avenue Christian Church, Dallas, TX
March 9-10: Black Ministers Retreat, Nashville, TN
March 14-15: South Eastern Regional Fellowship (SERF) Women's Retreat, Christmount, NC
March 17-24: World Council of Churches, Geneva, Switzerland
March 28-29: First Christian Church, Keokuk, IA

Other News

GMP reflects on General Board meeting as we approach Lent (video)

Applications open for Phillips University Legacy Foundation Scholarship and Leadership Development Program; due March 16

Interim administrative secretary sought for National Convocation; applications due March 31

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To advertise in Disciples News Service, contact Cherilyn Williams.

Disciples Home Missions offers free Lent devotional resource

The 2020 Lent Resource is available on the Disciples Home Mission website. The Rev. Dr. Betty M. Green and the Rev. Dr. Irvin W. Green are the writers for this year’s Lenten meditations.

The season of Lent is the period prior to Easter. The period, which lasts from Ash Wednesday to Easter, extends for 40 days (excluding Sundays). The observance of Lent varies greatly among Christians, both in denominational participation, and according to personal practice.

Lent is regarded as an opportunity for reflection, as the time approaches to commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The contrast of experience and emotion, in recalling these two events is to be expected. It would not be exaggeration to think of Good Friday and Easter as the best and worst events in history. This tension affects the nature of the reflection that believers engage in.

Download

Additional resources and opportunities

Palestine/Israel Alternative Pilgrimage for Disciples and UCC clergy and seminarians (Sept. 30-Oct. 11)

Disciples Home Missions offers free worship resource for African-American History Month

Find resources for treasurers and worship leaders from Disciples Mission Fund

Center for Faith and Giving offers resources for congregations' annual campaigns

Creation Care and Lent: A Q&A with seminary professor Leah Schade

With Lent and Easter coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Earth Day this year, Rev. Leah Schade, a professor at Lexington Theological Seminary and a climate activist, had the opportunity to combine her passion for the Earth with a powerful and practical devotional resource for congregations. The result is For the Beauty of the Earth: A Lenten Devotional, which features daily devotions and spiritual practices focused on caring for God’s creation, as well as a bonus section called "50 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day during the 50 Days of Easter."

“Creation care is an urgent concern for Christians today,” says Schade. "The climate emergency and environmental crises we face directly impact the people of God. Farmers in our congregations deal with increased flooding and droughts. Children in our churches suffer from asthma due to air pollution. Churches in areas hit by catastrophic storms fueled by global warming minister to people in the aftermath of the devastation. And as we watch the extinction of so many of God’s creatures, we are called to advocate for 'the least of these' within our Earth community.” Read the rest of the interview, which includes how to use the devotional as a congregational resource for Creation care this Lent, here.

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More opportunities to put ministry into action

Discover your congregation's calling with Hope Partnership

Plan a short term volunteer experience with Global Ministries

Poor Peoples' Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival updates

Disciples News Service (DNS) is distributed by Communication Ministries, in the Office of the General Minister and President, and is supported by your gifts to Disciples Mission Fund. To change your subscription, or submit news for consideration in DNS, visit our website.