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In This Issue
Upcoming
Events


 

August 20 HPA North Cluster Meeting FCC Pampa


 

August 20-21 Mission West Common Mission Board Face to Face Meeting Lubbock, TX


 

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


 

September 7 Mission West Office Closed for Labor Day


 

September 11-12 

Mission West Youth Meeting Cline Lodge Ceta Glen


 

September 12 Reflections of Disciples History and Polity in Church Today,  John Imbler - Los Altos Albuquerque
9 am to 3pm 

 

September 14-16 Regional Committee on Minisry (RCOM) UCC Ft. Worth


 

September 17-19 Adult Swim at Disciples Crossing

 

September 18 - 20 CCSW Men's Annual Retreat at LBCR
 

September 26  Reflections of Disciples History and Polity in Church Today,  John Imbler - Chalice Abbey Amarillo 9 am to 3pm 


 


Art & Writing Submissions from Children Needed for 2015 Light A Candle
This year Light a Can dle for Children  is being written / drawn / recorded by children and youth. 

See the submission form ( 2015 Light a Candle for Children Form - Weeks 1-6 ) and return to our office by this Friday, August 21st. 

Your submission can be by an adult and child working together, a child, or a group of kids together. We can't wait to see what you come up with! The completed devotional will be available in late August or early September for use in the 40 days leading up to Children's Sabbath on October 18th.


Light a Candle for Children Prayer Vigil & Children's Sabbath 

September 13 - 
October 18, 2015

Light a Candle for Children is an advocacy and prayer vigil for the five weeks leading up to Children's Sabbath each October. Churches and individuals can subscribe online to daily mediations contributed by fellow Disciples and our partners in the United Church of Christ.
 
Subscribe:
Twitter: @Pray4Children
Blog:  Light a Candle  (option to enter email to subscribe)
 
In your congregation:
See our brochure for guidelines on observing the Prayer Vigil in your church .


August 18, 2015

We hope you enjoy this mid month news.

On Sunday, August 16th the First Christian Church of Canyon, TX held a retirement service and luncheon honoring Debra Huffman for her service to the church and the community.  

Community Christian Church invites you to join them in a Best Wishes Reception to honor the retirement of Pastor John Givens, Sunday, August 23 at 3:00 pm at Community Christian Church, 3417 96th St., Lubbock, TX.
Reflections of Disciples History 
Polity in Church Today
Albuquerque Sept. 12, 
Amarillo Sept. 26, and 
Abilene Oct. 24th
Please don't forget to register for the September 12th class
"Reflections of Disciples History and 
Polity in Church Today"
with Dr. John Imbler from Phillips Theological seminary at 
Los Altos Christian Church, 
  11900 Haines NE,  Albuquerque, NM  87112
Class will begin at  9am and conclude at 3pm MT. 

Registration deadline is Saturday, September 5th.  

Contact the  Mission West office  to register by calling 806-358-9590 or  emailing  or register  online Event costs is $75 per participant. A spouse may register for $15. This includes cost for the program and a light lunch. Mail payments / checks payable to:  Mission West,  2717 Stanley St. Ste A,  Amarillo, TX 7910.

Come and learn about all that makes up a Disciples Congregation, Including:
 
Structures of the Church: 
Theology and Ecclesiology
(The Design, Cummins, Osborn)
Regional and General Church
Ecumenical Church

  Structures of the Congregation: 
Elders, Diaconate, and Lay Leadership
(The Design)
Congregational governance - yesterday and today
Boards, cabinets, committees

  Orders of Ministry: 
Commissioned and Ordained
(Policies and Criteria, Williams, The Design, Yearbook)
Certification and standing
Ministerial ethics
 
People of the Table: 
Sacraments and Worship
(Cartwright, Harrison and Duke, Williamson)
Campbell and Stone
Worship practices
 
  This class has four items as required reading including:  

1. Disciples: Reclaiming Our Identity, Reforming Our Practice by Michael Kinnamon and Jan Linn Chalice Press, 2009  from Amazon or from Chalice Press

2. The Disciples: A Struggle for Reformation by D. Duane Cummins, Chalice Press,  2009  from Amazonor from Chalice Press.

3. The Design  from www.disciples.org and


John Imbler serves as Associate Professor of the History of Christianity and Disciples Studies at Phillips Theological Seminary. An ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Dr. Imbler serves on the regional ministerial commissions of Kansas and Oklahoma. Executive Vice President of PTS, he is also the seminary's director of Disciples of Christ ministerial formation. He currently is chair of the committee on Religious Understanding of Tulsa Metropolitan Ministry and sits on the board of United Campus Ministry of the University of Tulsa. A member of the American Academy of Religion, the American Association for Higher Education, and the Disciples of Christ Historical Society, he joined the PTS faculty in 1993.

In addition to numerous scholarly articles, he is the author of several books including:
  • 60 year history of Phillips Theological Seminary...
  • "Disciples of Christ Hymnody" article and biographical sketch on Daniel B. Merrick in The Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology" ed. by J. R. Watson and Emma Hornby, 2013.
  • A Passion for Christian Unity, ed. (Chalice Press, 2009)
  • "The Council of Agencies" and "The Louisville Plan," in The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement, ed. Douglas A. Foster, et. al. (Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2005)
  • "Disciples of Christ Colleges, Universities, and Seminaries," in Religious Higher Education in the United States: A Source Book, ed. Thomas Hunt and James Carper (Garland Publishing, Inc., 1996), 
  • Discerning the Call: Advancing the Quality of Ordained Leadership, co-edited with Linda Plengemeier (Chalice Press, 1992)
  • Beyond Buffalo: Alexander Campbell on Education for Ministry (Disciples of Christ Historical Society, 1992) 
Degrees
  • BA, Butler University, 1967
  • MDiv, Christian Theological Seminary, 1971
  • STM, Christian Theological Seminary, 1981
  • DD, Columbia College, 1987
  • DMin, Phillips Theological Seminary, 2013
This class is also offered:
September  26 in Amarillo at Chalice Abbey and 
October 24th in Abilene at First Christian Church.
The Future of the General Assebly
Last updated on   August 17 
 
The Spirit in worship was palpable. The music moving. The discussion respectful even in disagreement. The education invigorating and horizon-expanding.

The 2015 General Assembly was, according to many on social media and anecdotally, a success in all ways save one. Attendance.

Associate General Minister and Vice President Todd Adams says, "The funding model we have been using is not sustainable at this level of attendance. We need some time to rethink how the General Assembly meets."

To that end, the Time and Place resolution ( GA 1532) was referred to the Administrative Committee rather than make a commitment to the dates projected for the 2019 event.   Read more...


From the Congregational Vitality Series from the New Mexico Conference of Churches
Leading Change in Congregations:  
Reaching Out and 
Avoiding Common Mistakes

Mark your calendar for October 23-24, 2015.  The Congregation Vitality Series conintues with the Rev. Scott Anderson of the Wisconsin Council of Churches talking about Leading Change in Congregations.  

Join the New Mexico Council of Churches for a reception on Friday night at NMCC's office at 1019 2nd St. NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102 and a day long event on Saturday about the nuts and bolts of leading change in your congregation and community.  More details to come when tickets go on sale August 23rd. Visit their website at http://nmchurches.org.
General Youth Council Seeking Applications
General Youth Council
General Youth Council Application Process is Open
The General Youth Council is accepting applications! Applications will be accepted until September 15, 2015. If you are an adult or a youth who is interested in serving on the General Youth Council please fill out and turn in your  application. The next term begins January 2016 and goes through December 2017.
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

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. 
Chalice Hymnal is Back! Order by Sept 7 to have in time for Advent

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, Chalice Press 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.

Adult Swim (A retreat for those who Minister to Young People at Disciples Crossing)
Mission West has been invited to join in the following retreat:

Adult Swim  (A retreat for those who minister to young people) 
COST:  $125
Where: Disciples Crossing 
When: Sept. 17-19

We're planning a retreat for YOU (No campers allowed)! If you minister to young people, ages 0 to 18, we would like to offer you a Sabbath weekend at Disciples Crossing. This weekend is for volunteers and paid staff members alike - all who feel called to work with young people are invited. It will feature keynotes, practical ministry workshops, and time to worship, pray, play and rest. Recover from summer, and gear up for the fall with some of your favorite people, in one of your favorite places, Disciples Crossing! The cost will be $125 per person, which will cover meals, lodging, and speaker fees. We hope to see you there.   Keynote Sessions:
  • Volunteer Recruitment
  • Time Management
  • Discipleship
  • Wild Card Keynote (a subject the participants would like to hear more about after getting to know Lesleigh)

Goals for our time together:

  • Sabbath
  • Training
  • Building Relationships with others who love kids

Our speaker for the weekend will be Rev. Lesleigh Carmichael.

Lesleigh is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).  For more information view the event on the Disciples Crossing website.

A Sacred Trust: Boundary Issues for Clergy and Spiritual Teachers - August 22nd
Please don't forget to register for the August 22nd class  A Sacred Trust:  Boundary Issues for Clergy and Spiritual Teachers with Charlotte Hoppe at  Westmont Christian Church,  4808 Utica Ave,  Lubbock, TX  79414.  Class will begin at 9am to  and conclude at  3pm.   Registration deadline was August 15th, contact Charlotte if you haven't registered yet.

  


This Seminar covers the fundamental principles of healthy boundaries in pastoral and teaching relationships:


 

* To increase awareness of the need for healthy boundaries in the clergy-congregant or teacher-student relationship


 

* To provide clergy and spiritual teachers with guidelines for appropriate boundaries and self-care strategies


 

* To illustrate the impact of appropriate vs. inappropriate boundaries in promoting effective ministry.



Charlotte Hoppe is Lead Minister for Mission West, Christian 

Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Southwest and Area Minister for the Central, Hi-Plains and Tres Rios Areas.


 

Contact Charlotre by  calling 915-525-1209 for late registration.   Event costs is $25 per participant. A spouse may register for $15. This includes cost for the program and a light lunch. Mail payments / checks payable to:  Mission West,  2717 Stanley St. Ste A,  Amarillo, TX 7910.

This is the only offering of this class in Mission West.  
It was previously offered during Brite's Minister's Week.


Creating a Culture of Generosity in your Congregation

Please remember to register for the final offering of Creating a Culture of Generosity with Bruce Barkhauer

 

Abilene at the First Christian Church 1420 N. Third, Abilene, TX 79601

August 29, 2015 from 9 am to 3 pm CST                 Registration Deadline is August 22 

 

This seminar is specifically designed and priced for congregation groups to attend together. A flier has been created for your to share in your congregation download  it now.

We will encourage and promote the understanding of stewardship as a faith discipline and life practice in response to a generous God. Christian stewardship is grateful and responsible use of God's gifts in the light of God's purpose as revealed in Jesus Christ. Christian stewards, empowered by the Holy Spirit, commit themselves to conscious, purposeful decisions. 

 

Stewardship is lived out in: 

        • living and telling the Good News
        • sharing God in seeking justice, peace, and the integrity of creation in an interdependent universe
        • wisely employing God-given human resources, abilities, and relationships
        • sharing the material resources we hold and giving them in service, justice, and compassion
        • providing for future generations
        • sharing in the life, worship, and responsible stewardship of the Church and of its mission both for the individual and for the community, stewardship is a joyful act for the sake of God's world.

Bruce A. Barkhauer was called as the first "Minister for Faith and Giving for Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada" in 2010.
For twenty-five years he has led congregations in Ohio and Indiana in achieving high levels of financial support for local and global missions and he now shares his experience across the life of the whole church.

His energy, vision, and entrepreneurial spirit enhance gifts in both business and ministry. He brings a biblically based understanding about stewardship combined with theological integrity and weds them to the current trends and best practices related to spirituality and money. In his workshops and writings, Rev. Barkhauer also talks about the multiple understandings about stewardship in the biblical witness as they touch the whole life of a person of faith.

He is a graduate of Ohio University (Athens), Christian Theological Seminary (Indianapolis), and did Doctor of Ministry studies at Ashland Theological Seminary (Ashland, OH). He is married to Laura and they share three grown children and one grandchild.


Registration Information

Each event costs $75 per participant. A spouse may register for $15. This includes cost for the program and a light lunch. 

The Creating a Culture of Generosity events are specifically designed and priced for congregation groups to attend together. The first registration costs $75. Each participant from the same congregation after that, will pay $15.

Please register no later than one week prior to each event.

Contact the Mission West office to register by calling  806-358-9590 register online, or via email  missionwest@ccsw.org. Please  mail payments/checks payable to  Mission West,  2717 Stanley St. Ste A,  Amarillo, TX 7910.

Those attending events at Chalice Abbey who want to arrive the day before can receive a discounted rate at the nearby Holiday Inn Express. Call the Mission West office at 806-358-9590 and ask for Angeline. 

For further course questions, please contact Charlotte Hoppe at choppe@ccsw.org 

This class was offered at Los Altos Christian Church in ABQ on January 31.

 


CCSW Men's Annual Retreat  September 18-20, 2015 @ LBCR
August 9, 2015

TO:          CCSW Disciples Men
 
FROM:    Nathan Higginbotham  (email =   nathan@ccsw.org )
 
re:           September 18-20, 2015 Retreat Registration, Information, and nominations
 
Here we are in the Dog days of Summer! After getting 44 + inches of rain in Houston through June( a whole years worth!) we have only had 0.44 inches since! I see the rest of Texas and lots of New Mexico is the same.

So, we are six weeks away from our weekend at Lake Brownwood...lots to do for several of us and I am asking for your help again. I have nominations for layman and minister of the year for the BBA, CPA and NTA but nothing from the other Areas, unless I missed an email someplace. Therefore, if you think your Area has a layman or minister who has been supportive of Disciples Men and active in his/her congregation, community, Area, etc., please consider them for this award and get your nomination write-ups to me before the last week in August.  I here are Guidelines that can be used for these awards.

Also, I am still getting phone calls asking where my letter is announcing this year's retreat? As you all know, we spent $750 last year with this region-wide mailing and our cabinet decided we could not afford to do that this year. Our attendance may suffer this year due to no mailing, but we had to cut someplace. I am asking again to contact churches or men who you may know about that do not have computer access. I have sent out over 40 personal letters to faithful retreat attendees who I knew did not have email/computer access.

Thanks to everyone for your assistance. The CCSW web page announcements along with the Disciples Men web page with Registrations forms and info has helped. I appreciate you Areas sending out notices and publicity also! 

Blessings,
 


Disciples Men's Annual Retreat at Lake Brownwood on Sept. 18-20. 
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.

Fishing Tournament fundraiser on behalf of the Southwest Good Samaritan Ministries
T he Lower Rio Grande Valley District is supporting a fishing tournament fundraiser on behalf of the Southwest Good Samaritan Ministries.  As you know, this ministry was begun by Feliberto Pereira to minister to political refugees, people whose plight is at best desperate, plus other ministries.  You may go to the web page  www.swgsm.org  for further information on the Ministry and its projects.

 

 

The date of the tournament is October 17.  The place will be at the fishing pier at Pirate's Landing, 501 E. Maxan, Port Isabel, Texas 78578.  The time of the tournament is check-in - 8:00 A.M.  Weigh-in-4:00P.M.

 

Although most people will not be able to attend the tournament because of time and distance, church(es) are being asked to sponsor it financially at one of three levels: Angel - $300; Saint - $200; Partner - $100.  Needless to say, whatever you may be able to give will be deeply appreciated.  Individuals who may not be able to attend and who want to support the tournament are encouraged to contribute.

 

Also, please contact businesses who would sponsor and/or give prizes. 

 

The goal is to raise at least $5000 for the Ministry.  You may send your contribution to the following address:

            Southwest Good Samaritan Ministries

            28259 Pereira Compassion Road

            P.O. Box 273

            Los Fresnos, Texas 78566

Please designate on your check that it is for the fishing tournament.

 

The registrations are as follows:  EARLY BIRD-by Sept. 7-Individual - $40 Family - $50 (Early Bird registration will get the person/family a free t-shirt); Deadline-Sept. 22 - Individual - $50 - Family - $60; LATE REGISTRATION - after Sept. 22-Individual - $60 - Family - $70.

 

Beside door prizes, the first place prize will be $300; second prize will be $200, and third prize will be $100.

 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at 956-720-3270 or by

e-mail at samuelsimon1941@yahoo.com.

 

Thank you very much for your help and support.

 

Yours in Christ's service,

 

Dr. Samuel Simon - Lower Rio Grande Valley District Fishing Tournament Director

Pastor  - First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

                410 West University

                 Edinburg, Texas 78539

 

Hope Partnership comes to Mission West

In October, 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.  

 

For HPA and CEA this will be in conjunction with area meetings.  TRA's annual meeting will take place on November 14. Please see the information below and mark your calendars.  Registration is available online or by calling the office at 806.358-9590 or emailing missionwest@ccsw.org. 

 

 

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 be a $5 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 the Hope Partnership presentation annual meetings will take place for the Hi Plains and Central Areas.

 

 

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

 

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 be a $5 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/

 


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


Annual Meeting November 14, 2015.  More information to come.

 

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