News Update for Mid-America Disciples

Update November 13, 2024

News Events Resources Groups Congregations About

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Upcoming Events

November

16 - ARPRJM Workshop - Voices of Arrow Rock, 10-3, Arrow Rock Federated Church

17 - Thanksgiving Special Offering for Higher Education

20 - How to Get to Joy: Honoring Loss During the Holidays webinar, 11:00 am

23 - Disciples Women Gathering, 9am, via Zoom

24 - Thanksgiving Special Offering for Higher Education

26 - Lectio @ 11, Advent Spiritual Journey, via Zoom

Opportunities

How to Get to Joy, NBA/Older Adult Ministries webinar, Nov. 11, 11am.
Help Week of Compassion support hurricane victims.
Applications are now available for the Disciples Women's Ministry Woman-to-Woman Worldwide trip to Kenya, Africa, September 3 - 18, 2025.
Pathways to Wholeness retreat Nov. 21-23 in St. Louis.
Disciples Church Extension Fund is offering two new investment rates! Learn more>
Get Imagine Together stewardship resources from the Center for Faith & Giving.
Pastor Partners is open to all clergy partners on the 1st Tues. of each month via Zoom.
Online clergy continuing education opportunities.

Items Available/Needed

Affton CC has a variety of banners available.

FCC in Lathrop has about 20 copies of the Chalice Hymnal available.

West Lake CC has a piano and a communion set available.

First CC in Troy has chairs to give away.

First CC in Maryville has chairs, some Veggie Tales event kits, and several photocopier parts and supplies.

Elkland CC has communion sets and table, high-backed chairs for chancel, and a pulpit/dias. Contact St. Louis office.

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Branson CC is interested in obtaining any handbells, bell supplies, or music that congregations may have but are no longer using..

Please Complete 5-Question Survey

Rev. Teresa Spear serves as Co-Chair of our Rural Ministry Ambassadors and is currently enrolled in a Master of Theological Studies program through Phillips Seminary. An intersection of these two endeavors is around the level of theological engagement within our adult Church School content. To that end, she has developed a survey to ascertain the rigor and breadth of Sunday School curriculum—from Bible to book studies to topical pre-packaged video series.

We invite you to complete this short 3 - 5-minute survey so we can understand more fully what our congregations are currently offering and what resources might better serve them going forward. The survey results will remain confidential, and the survey is voluntary. Thank you for participating in this important discernment.

Sincerely, Rev. Ron Routledge, CCMA Regional Minister

Disabled Clergy Connection

Disciples Access, a new support ministry dedicated to accompanying congregations and programs toward disability justice, is offering an invitation to join virtual Disabled Clergy Connection meetings and Disabled Clergy Covenant Groups! Their semi-annual clergy connection is designed to network those in the Disciples denomination (although welcoming of all disabled clergy) who identify with a disability. Disabled clergy covenant groups will gather twice-monthly for more regular discipleship, mutual support, and community development. If interested, fill out the form here>

Rev. Stephanie Himmel Commissioned

On Sunday, November 10, First Christian Church of Hannibal held a Commissioning service for the Rev. Stephanie Himmel. Members of the congregation (young and not-so-young) gathered with Stephanie’s family and clergy from around the Region and worshiped, prayed, and communed together; giving God thanks for the gifts of ministry in general and for calling Stephane in particular. David Woodard, Associate Reginal Minister, presented Stephanie with a copy of the Ministerial Code of Ethics and her Certificate of Commissioning.

Installations

Rev. Sharae Kelley was officially installed as pastor at First Christian Church in Fayette on Sunday, November 11, 2024. In photo, from left to right: Regional Minister Rev. Dr. Paul Koch, Kaisyn Henderson, son of Ministry Associate in the Springfield Regional Office Rebekah Routledge, Sharae Kelley, her daughter Aeryn Kelley, and Regional Minister Rev. Ron Routledge.

Broadway Christian Church in Columbia is delighted to invite all to the installation of new Lead Pastor, Rev. Dr. Sarah Taylor Peck, and Associate Pastor, Rev. Andrew Taylor Peck. This special service will take place on Sunday, November 17, at 10:00 am.

Anniversary Celebration

During morning worship this past Sunday the members of Centennial Christian Church in St. Louis celebrated the 17th anniversary of their pastor and first Lady, Derrick and Bridget Perkins (pictured here with their two sons). During the service Associate Regional Minister David Woodard presented the congregation with a Certificate of Appreciation for their long history of nurturing and cultivating ministers from within their congregation. Many Priscillas and Timothys have called Centennial their church home.

Free Events - Join us Online!

December 6 - Organizing for Peace in the Time of War (Gaza, Ukraine, Myanmar, Haiti). offered by the Center for Lived Faith & Organizing. Attend at Eden in St. Louis or online. Free through the Region's membership!

December 17 - SoulCare offered by NBA's Mental Health & Wellness. Share a moment to pause, process, and care for yourself this holiday season.

From the Wider Church

This coming week's Global Ministries prayer request is for Eswatini.

This week's College of Regional Ministers prayer request is for

The Thanksgiving Special Offering for Higher Education.

Breaking the Chains

2-Day Virtual Summit

Towards a world without rape & violence

Nov. 13 (TODAY) and

Nov. 20 at noon

Free webinar.

Learn more and register>

Communications Workshop for anyone responsible for church or ministry communications.

Thursday, November 14 (TOMORROW) 2:30

Free webinar.

Learn more and register>

For anyone interested in going through the Climate Ambassador Training with Blessed Tomorrow, there is a Zoom session on Saturday, November 16th that includes break-out rooms divided by denomination. Register now for a live virtual Christian Climate Training for a faith-based way to make a difference advocating for our climate. Join @BlessedTomorrow & The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in caring for creation.

GA-2343 was adopted at the 2023 General Assembly in Louisville, Kentucky.

The Implementation Team invites you to join a Town Hall meeting for an update on their work and recommendations:

November 20, 6 pm

December 10, 2 pm

The National Benevolent Association and Obra Hispana are partnering to offer a Grant Writing 101 webinar on November 19th at 7pm. This bilingual webinar will provide you with the essentials to grant writing. This is a free resource, but you must register in advance. Learn more and register>

As the guest on New Church Ministry’s webinar, Unpacking the Core Competencies of DisciplesNEXT: Faith-rooted Organizing, Elizabeth will share how she advocates for public policy that embodies the Christian value of loving your neighbor as yourself through equity and justice. Learn how she went from being a conservative evangelical to serving as the Volunteer State Lead for Pete Buttigieg's 2019-2020 presidential campaign.

To join her on Nov. 20 at 2pm CST, register.

Can’t attend? Sign up anyway! All registrants receive a link to a recording of the webinar.

Find previous IMPACT presentations here>