Your Mid-America News

Update December 3, 2025

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Upcoming Events

December

3 - Navigating the Holiday Season with More Hope, Peace, Love, and JOY!, 11:00 am, online

4 - 'Ozarks & Lakes' Clergy Christmas Party, 6:00pm, Faith CC Buffalo

7 - Ordination of Zane Whorton, 2:30 pm, First Christian Church Mexico

9 - Lectio @ 11, online

10 - Adulting 101: Things Nobody Taught Me About Money (part 2 of 3), 6:00 pm, online

14 - Christmas Special Offering for Regional ministries

14 - All Disciples Sing!, 2:00pm, FCC Hannibal

Advent Lectio @ 11

Wouldn’t it be great if ministers from around our region could gather weekly for a time of prayer and renewal? We think the answer is a resounding, “YES!”

Join us on ZOOM each Tuesday at 11am (November 25 – December 16) as we pray the Advent lectionary scriptures together.

Come and connect with colleagues! Come and connect with the fresh winds of God’s Spirit!

The clergy of the southwest will gather for a Christmas party on December 4. Learn more here>

Ozark Christian Church will be sharing its nativities from around the world again this year. Download the flyer with the dates and times here>

Congratulations to our Mid-America clergy celebrating milestone anniversaries of their original commissioning in December.

Janice Legg, 30 years

Sandy Browning, 20 years

Complete an online survey about Disciples Home Missions' Children Worship & Wonder today!

Christmas Offering Video

Our friends at First Christian Church in Neosho have produced a short (1:41) video in support of this year's Christmas Special Offering for Regional ministries. We are very grateful to them and share their invitation to all Mid-America congregations to include it in worship services this Advent. It can be streamed directly via our YouTube channel, or downloaded here.

Meal Ministry in Kirksville

On December 1st First Christian Church in Kirksville began a partnership ministry with the local Venezia Restaurant. The congregation has vouchers for those in the community that are in need of a meal. Pictured are church secretary Joy Feld and Venezia manager Melanie.

Upcoming Ordination

This Sunday, December 7th, Zane Whorton will be ordained at First Christian Church in Mexico. The service begins at 2:30 and a reception will follow. Congratulations!

RMN Spirituality Resources

The Rural Ministry Network is excited to share a new resource on their website. The new Spirituality tile on the home page will take you to short weekly reflections on the Advent season.

After Advent, they will continue to offer regular reflections and will welcome submissions for the site. Be looking for submissions information in the coming weeks.

Rev. Bill Nichols to Retire

Having served in ordained ministry since 1983, Rev. Bill Nichols will retire as of January 1. Here in Mid-America he served FCC in Walnut Grove, Gateway CC, and has been at First Christian Church in Bolivar since 2013. A reception is planned for January 4 and all are welcome. Learn more>

Tax Code Changes for 2026

Our Christian Church Foundation shares information about upcoming changes in tax code. The 2025 One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) will decrease the amount of a charitable gift, including those to church, that can be used as an itemized deduction in 2026.

The full amount of a gift made in 2025 is eligible as an itemized deduction for most taxpayers. Beginning in 2026, the gift amount that is eligible as an itemized deduction will be reduced based on the adjusted gross income of the donor(s). Read more>

From the Wider Church

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

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

The Christian Church in Kansas.

Whether your place of worship is lacking adequate insulation or its heating systems are out of date, Disciples Church Extension Fund (DCEF) can help you ensure that your facilities are warm this winter.

Your community of faith can receive up to USD $150,000 in DCEF’s green loans for:

· Replacing or repairing inefficient windows

· Rewiring or weatherproofing your sanctuary, fellowship hall, and other structures

· Improving operations that contribute to a more energy-efficient building

To learn how you can "go green,” contact your regional Building and Capital Services Advisor Jim Michel.