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In This Issue
Upcoming
Events

July 6- 16 CEA JYF Camp at LBCR

July 8 Mission West Common Mission Board Conference Call 6 pm

July 9 HPA South Cluster 

July 9-11 TCMF Assembly in Houston at the Crowne Plaza Hotel

July 13-17 HPA JYF Camp at Ceta Glen

July 14 Documentation deadline for September interviews with Regional Committee on Ministry

 

July 20 TRA Border Cluster

 

July 16 HPA North Cluster


July 18-22 General Assembly in Columbus, Ohio: "Soar!" based on Isaiah 40 

 

July 23 CEA Big Country Cluster
 

July 27- Aug 1 CYLS (Christian Youth Leadership Seminar) of CCSW at Ceta Glen


 

August 6 HPA Executive Meeting Via Conference Call 7pm

 

August 8 Creating a Culture of Generosity, Bruce Barkhauer - Chalice Abbey, Amarillo, TX 9 am to 3 pm

 

August 13 HPA South Cluster Meeting


 

August 14-15 CCSW Regional Council Meeting
 

August 15 LBCR Board Meeting

 

August 20 HPA North Cluster Meeting

 

August 20-21 Mission West Common Mission Board Face to Face Meeting


 

August 22 A Sacred Trust: Boundary Issues for Clergy, Charlotte Hoppe - Westmont CC,  Lubbock 9 am to 3 pm
 

August 25 CEA Board Meeting

 

August 27 CEA Big Country Cluster


 

August 29 Creating a Culture of Generosity, Bruce Barkhauer - FCC Abline, TX 9 am to 3 pm
 


Prayer Requests
praying.jpg
Families and congregations who are suffering loss due the floods.

Please continue to pray for Chuck Fisher who is in California with his sister who is in hospice care. 

John Givens, pastor of Community Christian Church in Lubbock, suffered another cardiac arrest on Pentecost Sunday.  Please continue to pray for him and the congregation.  
Resolutions Packet for General Assembly Now Available
The Life of the General Assembly Resolution

The resolutions and reports forwarded to the General Assembly by the General Board are available on the   General Assembly business page . Scroll down to the tabbed information. The full docket including attendee information and worship is still in production.

Watch the video about the "The Life of a General Assembly Resolution."


Tell us about your ministry
Please  Email Karakay with   your ministry stories and experiences by the 25th of each month to be included in future newsletters. 
July 7, 2015

Please enjoy the July news with camp updates, how to order the Chalice Hymnal, and so much more. 
Chalice Hymnal is Back!

Chalice Hymnal is one of the most popular and best-selling hymnals ever produced. More than 620 easy-to-sing traditional and contemporary hymns, prayers, and liturgies make Chalice Hymnal the choice of churches all over the country and in many denominations.

 

By popular demand, we will produce another batch of the Chalice Hymnal pew edition -- but we have to sell at least 700 pew copies before Labor Day! 

Replace the much-loved copies at your church, or fall in love with this hymnal for the first time. Purchase copies for your entire congregation.


 

Order online today!


Mission West T-shirts for Camp! 
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At the January Meeting of Mission West Youth Leaders the decision was made to have one camp t-shirt this summer  to continue our path of working together to do more.  

After searching through many t-shirt companies and considering what was important, the decision was made to get Fair Trade t-shirts from
Visible Clothing .  We are raising money to help offset the cost as well as raise awareness and unity throughout Mission West. 

We've already raised $750 in increments ranging from $100 to $250 dollars, and would like to invite you to join in the fun! Please let Karakay know how much you would like to donate, your t-shirt size, and donate to your local area with a notation of Mission West T-shirts in the memo section of the check so it will be properly accounted.

We are working on a new Mission West logo which will be revealed later this year.  It includes the colors shown on the t-shirt: 
  • Blue represents the Central Area by their Big Sky's and Blue Waters found at LBCR
  • Yellow represents the Hi Plains Area by their yellow grasses found throughout the plains of Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas
  • Orange represents the Tres Rios Area by their Mountains and Deserts found throughout Texas and New Mexico.
The long time Disciples quote seemed fitting as we continue to live into what it means to be Mission West.  We hope you will partner with us in bringing awareness and unity to Mission West in this t-shirt fundraiser!
CYLS forms were due to Mission West Office June 24
Click Here  to download the 
Christian Youth Leadership Seminar (CYLS)
registration packet. 

Forms and fees are due in the Mission West (2717 Stanley St., Ste. A, Amarillo, TX 79109) office by June 24th.

Please be in prayer for these amazing student leaders:

Albert Alaniz-FCC Brownfield;

Charlye Campbell- FCC Midland;

John Espino- FCC Midland;

Ariha Hernandez-FCC Spearman;

Carly Price- FCC Albany;

Ally Robinett -Westmont CC Lubbock;

Brendyn Rodriquez-FCC Brownfield;

Omar Sanchez-FCC Spearman;

Scotty Simmons-FCC Amarillo; 

Olivia Tyler-FCC Pampa; 

Jordan Waters- FCC San Angelo;

James Watson- FCC Abilene;

Emily Usry- FCC San Angelo.

FCC El Paso participating in Spiritual Practices while Pastor is on Sabbatical
Shared from FCC El Paso's newsletter
Along the Pilgrims Way by Leslie Dalstra

I will be taking one month of my sabbatical time from July 15 to August 15.  For the first part of my sabbatical, Dan and I are traveling to the United Kingdom.  We start in Scotland where we will walk the Great Glenn Way, 73 miles from Ft. William to Inverness.   We will take 6 days to complete the journey.

 It is customary for the congregation to join in a spiritual practice with the pastor who is on sabbatical.  I have compiled a devotional booklet for you to use, it has passages of scripture, along with a concept to meditate on for the day.  You can join me in walking as you contemplate the passage in your neighborhood, out in the desert, or by walking very slowly in your house. 
 
The devotions will also be posted on the church's facebook page as well as on my blog
 I am grateful for the gift of this sabbatical time and am looking forward to seeing you all upon my return.
What has your congregation done or is doing while a pastor is on Sabbatical?

CCSW Men's Annual Retreat
September 18-20, 2015 @ LBCR

May 6, 2015

 

TO:          CCSW Disciples Men

 

FROM:    Nathan Higginbotham (email =  nathan@ccsw.org)

 

re:           Current activities and September 18-20, 2015 Retreat Registration and Information

 

Our Regional Men's Mission Work Project this year continues for the Iglesia Cristiana La Roca Church in Dallas, TX. May11th was the fourth organized work week on this project since March 2nd due to Snow, Ice and Rain delays!  Jimmie Muckleroy led this project and donated many hours of his company personnel, building materials, equipment and supplies toward this construction.  Les Hodson, Tony Muckleroy, Jimmie's son and especially Pastor Daniel Guzman and his congregation members have made major contributions toward moving this new 40 x 92 feet church facility toward completion. Disciples Men donated $5000, mostly from the September 2014 retreat offering to this project.

       

 

Please consider being one of 200 congregations in the DOC to have a Cookin' for Mission fund-raiser this year to help replenish the fund supporting our four Disciples Service Centers( Inman in San Antonio is one) and projects for Kids and Youth around the USA. Contact me for more information.

 

At the Regional Men's cabinet meeting in January, plans were finalized for the Annual Retreat at Lake Brownwood on Sept. 18-20. Our two keynote speakers for this year are: Rev. Olin Fregia, Campus Pastor, Jarvis Christian College, Hawkins, TX and Rev. Hector Velazquez, Sr. Minister of Iglesia Cristiana El Redentor in Houston. Our theme for this year's retreat is "As Christ has Welcomed You (Diversity Within our CCSW Family)."

 

A pre-retreat Golf tournament on Friday before the retreat will be held. Please register your desire to play or contact Roy Horne at: rhorne@geosouthernenergy.com or me for more info.

 

Also, you must send registrations in together if you want to stay in the same Dorm.

 

See the Registration Form and other Retreat information. These Registration Forms, speaker publicity, schedule, etc. will soon be on the Disciples Men link from the CCSW web site at www.ccsw.org. Please give a copy of this Registration Form to your Church Secretary and your current Disciples Men/CMF President to assist with publicity for our retreat. This letter, without the photos, is also available for download. All registration fees had to be increased this year due to rising costs at LBCR. We have set a goal of 200 men in attendance. That should assure us of "breaking even" on costs. A First Time attendee fee is $75 and a Scholarship is available at $50. Register before the August 31st deadline to save 10 dollars.

 

I will see you in September, if not before.

 

Quick Links
Churches seeking pastoral leadership
Pastor
First Christian Church
Big Spring, TX

Pastor/New Church Planter
First Christian Church
Santa Fe, NM

Pastor
First Christian Church
Lampasas, TX

Pastor
First Christian Church
Hooker, OK

Pastor 
First Christian Church
Plainview, TX

Associate Minister of Youth and Small Group Development
First Christian Church, Perryton, TX

Pastor
First Christian Church, 
Miami, TX

Youth Minister
First Christian Church,
San Angelo, TX

Pastor
First Christian Church
Canyon, TX

Pastor
First Christian Church
Albany, TX

Pastor
First Christian Church
Stratford, TX

Inquiries for more information should be directed to:
Lead Minister, Mission West
Calendar
The Mission West calendar is being added to daily.  Please email if you would like your event added to this calendar.
Where in the West is Charlotte? 
To see where Charlotte is traveling over the next few months, see our calendar page

Children Can Help Nepal through VBS, Camp and in Worship
Children Can Help Nepal  Vacation Bible School, Camp, and in Worship  

 

Whether your church is climbing Everest, going to Nazareth, finding the G-force, blasting to the past, or finding out how your kids are "gifted" this summer. . . we should all spend time taking God's presence to those in need.  

 

The people of Nepal and surrounding Mt. Everest areas are struggling with a much bigger task than climbing Everest as they begin rebuilding their lives after an earthquake that hit the area in April.


Week of Compassion and  DHM Family & Children's Ministries have partnered together to provide you a way to incorporate stewardship and giving into VBS, camp, or summer events.

PDF Version can be downloaded from the  Family & Children's Website .

Additional Resources:

Please consider exploring this mission option within your VBS this summer.

Curriculum on the Church 
"Piecing it  Together" not just for General Assebly
Are your youth discovering they are part of a larger Church? Then it is time to help them start Piecing it Together! 

For youth attending the 2015 General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Columbus, OH this summer, Piecing it Together will help them hit the ground running. For those who will not attend, but want to better understand their Church, this is a great introduction to the working pieces of the body we call Church. 

The curriculum is divided into four lessons:   Exploring Your Church,  Gathering As Church,  Assembling as Church,  We Are the Church

Each session includes an opening, learning opportunities for time together, a challenge or reflection to keep your youth thinking ahead, and a closing prayer. 

This is a downloadable, printable PDF from Chlice Press.  Purchase and download it hereLeaders can access the lessons on tablets or e-readers while having access to printouts for activities included in the learning opportunities.

Thank you 2015 Camp Volunteers!

As camps have started, let us take a moment to recognize and thank the volunteers who will be giving their time, talent and energy to make it a fun, safe and amazing week for the campers!


 

Central Area CYF Camp

34 Campers and 15 Adults Participated

 

Co Directors: Ben Hubert, FCC San Angelo; Jonna Russell FCC San Angelo/Lubbock; TJ York, FCC Midland

Keynoters: Suzanne Castle, Interim Senior Minister at Jacksboro Parish, Minister Chica at Refuge at Sanctuary Ft. Worth, and Creative Director at Unglued Creative; Arthur Stewart, Senior Minister Midway Hills CC, Dallas, TX. 

Nurse: Elaine Herweck, FCC Abilene.

 

 

Sponsors: Brazos Condra, FCC Abilene; Hannah Fish, FCC San Angelo; Drew Fish, FCC San Angelo, Cherie James, FCC Wichita Falls; Laura Pittinger, FCC Midland; Elaine Reyes, FCC Abilene, Chris Reynolds, FCC Midland; Jim Reynolds, FCC Midland; Muffy Watson, FCC Abilene.
 

Mission West Chi Rho Camp

45 Students and 11 Adults Participated 

 

Co Directors: Khrysti Bair, FCC Midland, Chesna Riley, Brook Hollow CC, Abilene; Reba Underwood, FCC Lubbock.

KeynotersScott Hall, FCC Lubbock; Penny Biddy, Brook Hollow CC, Abilene; Reba Underwood, FCC Lubbock; Dawn Weaks, FCC Odessa; TJ York, FCC Midland. (in the order of day of speaking)

Worship Leaders:  Brazos Condra, FCC Abilene; Don Wilson, FCC Abilene.

Nurse: Elaine Herweck, FCC Abilene.

Sponsors: Brazos Condra, FCC Abilene; Mark Denton, West Mesa CC Albuquerque; Heather Reed, FCC Amarillo; Randa Reeves, FCC Brownfield; Alex Smith, Westmont CC, Lubbock; Dawn Weaks, FCC Odessa.
 

 

HPTRA CYF Conference

26 Students and 11 Adults Participated   

 

 

Co Directors: Heather Reed, FCC Amarillo, Dan Kovaly, FCC Spearman, Karakay Kovaly, Mission West. 

KeynotersChesna Riley, Brook Hollow CC, Abilene.
Sponsors:  Clinton Day, Monte Vista CC, Albuquerque; Wayne Muncrief, Westmont CC, Lubbock; Jane Nabours, FCC Fritch; Randa Reeves, FCC Brownfield; Alex Smith, Westmont CC, Lubbock; Jonathan Tyler, FCC Pampa; Joe Weaks, FCC Odessa.


 

Central Area Grand Beginnings

50 Participants with 3 of them Being Staff  

This section will be updated in the mid month's news so we can properly recognize all those that helped make the Central Area 2015 Grand Beginnings a success.

 

When you see one of these folks be sure to thank them for 

their hard work and dedication to God and the children of God in Mission West. 

 

CEA JYF began yesterday on July 6 and will conclude on July 10.  HPTRA JYF is July 13-17.  Please continue to pray for these camps, their directors, the campers, and the campgrounds. As those camps complete updates and thanks will be given to make sure we don't leave anyone out.

 

 

Area Business and Hope Partnership Come together In October in Mission West
Two different events, "Dare to Lead" and "Come and See", are presented by Hope Partnership for Missional Transformation that will take place across Mission West in conjunction with most area meetings in October, please see the information below and mark your calendars.  Registration information will be coming soon.

 
Watch this short video to see what people are saying about The Journey Experience.
Watch this short video to see what people are saying about The Journey Experience.
Watch a June 2014 Webinar About New Beginnings
Watch a June 2014 Webinar About New Beginnings

Come learn about DARE TO LEAD THE JOURNEY.  

 

The Journey is a 2 year process that develops NEW kind of leaders for your church.  Helping leaders become Transformational leaders, moves congregations from old ways of measuring success, towards congregations that make a difference in the lives of people and their communities.  At the end of the process, the congregation will have clarity about its future ministry and specific call.

 

There will only be a small cost to attend to cover the cost of the meal.  

 

The introduction will give your congregation 6 weeks to decide if you want to participate in the Journey.  Bring your key leaders so they can hear it first hand!

http://www.hopepmt.org/transform/the-journey/

 

After these meetings, an annual meeting for each area will take place in the appropriate locations.

On Sunday, October 11 

First Christian Church, 901 Arizona Ave,

El Paso, TX 79902 

2:30 pm MT Gather 

3:00 to 5:00 pm MT Hope Partnership

Come and See: Learn about the New Beginnings Process

 

New Beginnings is a process designed to help congregations make bold decisions about their future ministry.  Designed primarily for small congregations, this process has helped hundreds of Disciple, UCC & Presbyterian churches make bold decisions that allowed the congregation to move from "getting by" to thriving in God's mission.

 

There will only be a small cost to attend to cover the cost of the meal.   


 
The introduction will give your congregation 6 weeks to decide if you want to engage in the process.  Bring your key leaders to this event and discover.

 

http://www.hopepmt.org/transform/new-beginnings/

 

After this meeting an annual meeting for the Central Area will take place.

 

 

Saturday, October 10 
First Christian Church, 29 S. Bernice Street, Spearman, TX 79081
9 AM CST gather
9:30 - 11:30 AM Hope Partnership
11:30 AM - 1 PM Lunch/HPA Annual meeting
 

Saturday, October 17 

Brook Hollow Christian Church,  2310 South Willis, 

Abilene, TX 79605

9 AM CST gather

9:30 - 11:30 AM Hope Partnership

11:30 AM - 1 PM Lunch/CEA Annual meeting

 


Mission West | missionwest@ccsw.org | www.missionwestccsw.org
2717 Stanley St. Ste A
Amarillo, TX 79109