Please Support the Christmas Special Offering for Regional Ministries

This Sunday is the first of two where many congregations will receive the annual Christmas Special Offering for Regional Ministries. We ask that all congregations promote this offering during worship, other gatherings, and in regular publications like newsletters, reminders, and bulletins.

Our friends at First Christian Church in Neosho have produced a short (1:41) video in support of this year's offering, and churches are encouraged to share it as often and widely as possible. It can be streamed directly via our YouTube channel, or downloaded here.

This offering is vital to our Regional ministries which include preparing and nurturing new pastors (see ordination story below!), staying connected with the larger Church (Regional Minister Paul Koch has just returned from gathering with the College of Regional Ministers in South Carolina!), and assisting churches in calling new ministers (our Open Pulpits list was just updated yesterday with one church calling a new pastor and a different one being added to the list as needing one!).

Your contribution to the Christmas Offering helps to make these activities of growing the Church possible! 100% of funds donated in Mid-America remain here for use locally. Please give as you are able. Thank you!

Rev. Zane Whorton Ordained

Congratulations to Rev. Zane Whorton who was ordained last Sunday at First Christian Church in Mexico. He is pictured here (courtesy of Eric Mattson photography in front and center-ish wearing a beautiful stole made from the camp t-shirts of years gone by!) with many gathered colleagues and friends. Zane serves as both pastor of FCC in Mexico and as our Regional Coordinator of Youth & Outdoor Ministries.

Congratulations, Ekklesia!

Ekklesia, an inclusive ecumenical campus ministry at Missouri State University in Springfield, has been awarded a Fall 2025 Mission & Ministry grant from the National Benevolent Association for their Wayfinding Leaders Cohort. Learn about other grant recipients here>

Disciples Making a Difference

Last month the Disciples Mission HUB highlighted Centennial Christian Church's Sherrill Jackson as a Disciple Making a Difference. For many years she has been dedicated to life-changing work with women in St. Louis as they face breast cancer. She founded The Breakfast Club which provides education, support, and awareness, helping countless women. Read the full story here>

I'm in a Mood to Pray

Dr. Devoree Clifton Crist has written a new book of prayer exploring the adage that one should and can pray ceaselessly - in any and every mood. I'm in a Mood to Pray contains prayers for times of joy, anxiety, sadness, and even anger. Devoree is a member of Webster Groves CC and serves as a Spiritual Director at Eden Theological Seminary.

RMN Message for 2nd Week of Advent

Be sure to check out the Spirituality tile on the Rural Ministry Network website. In this week's Advent moment, Regional Minister Paul Koch, connects us to ancient words in the book of Isaiah and helps us discover what is new!