| Opportunities to serve: Pamlico County recovery Posted: 05 Feb 2020 12:02 PM PST Opportunities to serve: Pamlico County recovery | |
Disaster Recovery is all about getting the right people working together. From first responders providing early relief; to volunteers for long-term rebuilding; to local community partners all along the way, it truly takes a village to restore life following a disaster.
A perfect example is the ongoing recovery from Hurricane Florence in Pamlico County, NC. The storm – which devastated much of the state in the fall of 2018 – damaged roughly 40% of the homes in Pamlico County. By fall of 2019, nearly 500 homes still needed major repairs, with many of the homeowners unable to make their own repairs due to age, disability, or income. Being a small county with no major cities, Pamlico received little national media attention and few outside resources.
Disciples connected quickly in Pamlico County, however, through Camp Caroline, as staff and friends assisted affected neighbors and the camp facilities became a host site for volunteers. Through a partnership with the Pamlico County Disaster Recovery Coalition (PCDRC), we have been helping families get back into their homes. Beth Bucksot, a local official and leader with PCDRC says of the partnership: “We are very grateful for your wisdom, experience, and time. Now you are trying to help provide funding too. Wow! You are such a blessing.”
In Dec. 2019, Week of Compassion and Disciples Volunteering were awarded the Lowe’s Reconstruction Grant through National VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster). The grant provides $25,000 worth of building materials to continue supporting the rebuilding efforts with PCDRC. | | Week of Compassion special offering received this month
Each year in February, congregations across the United States and Canada collect a special offering for Week of Compassion. This year, these offerings will be received by many congregations Feb. 16 and 23.
Funds received through the offering allow the Church to respond to disaster when it occurs, enabling Week of Compassion to immediately provide grants for urgent needs like emergency supplies, water and food. Special Offering is a time when congregations come together to lift up and celebrate this important work that we do together.
A variety of resources are available to share in your congregation, like videos, bulletin inserts, children's activities, and more. | | | | Invitation to join in prayer
God of life and transitions, we pray for your people in the region of Kansas as they work through a season of change and explore new ways to be region together. Give them joy and hope in their future as they rest in you. Amen. | | | | 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. | | | | 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. | | | | 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! | | | | 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. | | | | Disciples Home Missions offers free Lent devotional resource
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. | | Additional resources and opportunities
| | | | Applications for NBA's 2020-21 XPLOR program are open
NBA XPLOR is a movement for young adults who are considering lives of care and service. The Residency provides 10-month professional development and vocational discernment opportunities for 21-30-year-olds to live simply in community and engage in direct service and justice work. We partner young adults with Disciples congregations, regional and general ministries, and wider communities—positively engaging neighborhoods, the congregations, and the young adults. If you, or someone you know would be interested in NBA's XPLOR program please consider applying on the NBA website. The deadline is Feb. 14. | | More opportunities to put ministry into action
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