August, 2016
THE DISCIPLES DISPATCH
THE NEWS AND HAPPENINGS OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH (DOC) IN MONTANA
Ruth
They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; national shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
(Isaiah 2:4b)

I had fun watching Team America break barriers during the Rio Olympics--speed barriers, strength barriers, but also racial and social barriers.  I particularly enjoyed learning the stories of the women athletes.  Together they looked like the multi-cultural America of the 21st Century--African-Americans, Jewish Americans, Puerto Rican-Americans, Filipino Americans, European Americans, and Muslim Americans.

That picture of America frightens some people.  It does not frighten me.  I'm excited that this summer little girls all over the United States saw in the faces of Katie, Simone, Sarah, Aly, and Ibtihaj something resembling their own faces.  They watched women win and imagined that they could win too.  They saw women realize their dreams and dared to believe that, with hard work and determination, they could make their dreams come true as well.

The women on Team America were good role models--not just in how they won medals, but in the ways they showed their values, spoke up for justice, and encouraged one another.  They proved they were champions, not just by how they completed, but by the ways they demonstrated character and built community with one another.
           
What do children see when they look at us?  Do they see fear, hate, anger, judgment, conceit, envy?  Or do they see the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, and self-control?  You can be sure they are watching and learning which qualities to emulate. 

Faithfully,

Ruth Fletcher
Regional MInister

Elders & Congregational Leaders Seminar
UPCOMING DATES
Aug. 19-21 - iCamp - CRW
Sept. 17 - Elders & Church Leadership Seminar - Missoula
Oct. 7-9 - Quilting in the Pines - CRW
Oct 17 - Kairos Workshop - Missoula
Oct. 18 - Kairos Workshop - Great Falls
Oct. 19 - Kairos Workshop - Bozeman
Oct. 20 - Kairos Workshop - Billings
Oct 20-21 - MAC Connect - Butte
Nov 4-5 - Regional Board & Commission Meetings - Great Falls
CONTACT US
Regional Office Phone:
(406) 564-1887




Regional Office Hours

The hours for Regional office are Tuesday - Thursday from 8:00am to 4:30pm. On Friday, the office is open from 8:00am to 2:30pm.
A seminar "Boosting the Immune System of the Body of Christ" will be held on September 17 from 10:30am to 3:30pm at First Christian Church, Missoula. Regional Minister Ruth Fletcher will be facilitating. 

Disciples Elders and other congregational leaders will learn to develop healthy patterns of living together as the Body of Christ, especially in time of rapid change. Those who participate can expect to develop their confidence to lead calmly and thoughtfully and to move the congregation through conflict toward healthy functioning.

Cost for the seminar is $7.00 which includes lunch. Registration deadline is September 3rd. Registration forms were sent to church offices in July and you can also download a from here.

Welcome Rev. Dr. Ed Combs
Welcome to Rev. Dr. Ed Combs and his wife Loren as they begin their ministry at Grand Avenue Christian Church on September 1, 2016.

Dr. Combs has a Master of Divinity and a Doctorate of Ministry from Texas Christian University, Brite Divinity School, in Fort Worth, Texas. He is an ordained Disciples minister and has served churches in Texas, Florida and Arizona. For the past sixteen years he has been a Pastoral Counselor in Arizona.

Kairos in Montana
It is confusing to watch the news from the Middle East. The conflicts are complicated and long-standing. Loyalties and enmities have been forged over generations. Yet, Palestinian Christians believe this is a kairos  moment, an opportunity for peace to be forged in Israel-Palestine. Inspired by the document calling for the end of apartheid in South Africa, they have written their own Kairos document as a cry to the world. It lays out a roadmap to peace based on an end to the occupation and the practice of non-violence.

During the week of October 17-23, our Region along with other ecumenical brothers and sisters will have the opportunity to hear from some guests from Global Ministries to talk about the situation in Israel-Palestine and to suggest how we might participate in the movement for peace. 

Workshop Locations:
Monday, October 17 - Atonement Lutheran Church, Missoula
Tuesday, October 18 - First United Methodist Church, Great Falls
Wednesday, October 19 - Pilgrim Congregational UCC, Bozeman
Thursday, October 20 - Central Christian Church, Billings

Rev. Russell Myers
The Rev. Russell (Russ) Myers died on July 26, 2016 in his assisted living room in
Beaverton, Oregon. Russ was a retired Disciples Minister who served congregations in Oregon, Washington, Montana and Indiana. He was the pastor of First Christian Church in Billings from 1980 to 1994.  He served as the Regional Moderator in Montana and Oregon and was very active in the Kiwanis Club. 

He leaves behind Cathy Myers Wirt, Regional Minister in Oregon and three sons: David, Chris, and Paul. A memorial service for is planned for Saturday September 3, 2:00 p.m. at Portland First Christian Church. The service will be followed by a reception at the church.
 
Portland First Christian is located at 1314 SW Park Ave. in Portland, Oregon

Condolences can be sent to Cathy at:
0245 SW Bancroft Street, Suite F  
Portland, OR 97239

Please read the entire obituary here
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Disciples Seminary Foundation
The Disciples Seminary Foundation would like you to be in the know! They invite you to sign up for their newsletter to hear about the latest events and happenings. To be added to their newsletter list please signup here: DFSinfo 
Help Wanted
First Christian Church, Helena is looking for a new 20-hour/week office manager who is highly organized, willing to learn, and possesses excellent interpersonal and communications skills. Strong PC computer skills in Microsoft Word, Outlook, Publisher, and PowerPoint, along with secretarial skills are required for this $11/hour position.

See CraigsList Ad for more specifics:  FCC Secretary Ad
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Montana | 406-564-1887 
www.montanadisciples.org
1019 Central Ave
Great Falls, MT 59401