Sometimes sadness and grief can overtake the joy of the holiday season. The bustle and craziness of preparations turns into a feeling of just going through the motions in order to survive. Naming the sadness and loneliness and finding ways to honor it can bring joy back to life. Ideas for how to find joy in sadness will be shared and invited. Join us!

This free webinar is brought to us by NBA Older Adult Ministries.
Learn more and register here>

The Thanksgiving Offering benefits the Colleges, Universities, Seminaries, and Divinity Houses affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Higher education has been an important focus for Disciples since the very beginning of the movement. Throughout our history, Disciples have founded institutions of higher learning to educate students and form leaders to make a difference in the world. The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is still committed to higher education. Your gift to the Thanksgiving Offering helps support the education of thousands of students at our fifteen colleges and universities as well as our seven seminaries and divinity houses.
Learn more>

Storytelling is a valid and important way to convey knowledge. In this workshop, participants will explore how personal narrative can acknowledge racial injustice, work to eliminate it, and create empathetic understanding by working through a Moral Map and Growth Continuum. After exploration of the Map and Continuum, participants will view and discuss episode five of Voices of Arrow Rock, titled Ignore the Shadow, which explores mixed-race identity. A working lunch will be included, followed by a tour of the historic village of Arrow Rock where we’ll visit the African American Museum, the State Historic Site Museum, and buildings related to the voices we discuss.

Presented by Michael Kateman, PhD
Pastor, Arrow Rock Federated Church
Creator and Producer, Voices of Arrow Rock

The Commissioning Ministry Team of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Mid-America, upon her successful completion of a rigorous process of preparation, has approved Stephanie Himmel as a Commissioned Minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)! She joins a long list of distinguished Timothys of First Christian Church of Hannibal. (A Timothy is a member of a congregation who becomes a minister.)

We will celebrate and affirm her commissioning in a special service on Sunday, November 10 at 4 pm at First Christian Church. Please plan to worship and party with us!

Regional Board Secretary Nancy Rogers and Regional Minister Paul Koch will be co-leading this training focusing especially on how pastors and churches can better understand mental health issues in our communities with a close focus on adolescent mental health.  Youth ministers and lay leaders are especially invited to attend.  

Lunch is provided.  If a pastor wants to attend for their initial boundary training, they need to contact Paul Koch to discuss or otherwise take the Lewis Center training additionally.

 Consult other known training opportunities.

Registration due by midnight on Wednesday, November 6. Register now>

Due to health issues and scheduling conflicts we will unfortunately have to cancel the last of our Last Monday Meditations. Thank you, to all who participated.
Keep a look out for information regarding our upcoming Advent Lectio Divina!!

Join together via Zoom on the last Monday of the months of August, September, and October at 11am as we pray the scriptures and find meaning in the deeper well of life. Connect now>

Join us from the comfort of your home, church, wherever you can grab a cup of your favorite brew, sharing our lives and our churches and having a wonderful Bible study led by our Judi Linville! Remember to mark your calendars for our December gathering when we will be joined by Rev. Sarah Renfro Assistant Vice President of Client Relations Pension Fund of the Christian Church and author of Considering Consumption, Compassion, and Contentment, Just Women. 

This month's great Bible study from the Just Women is brought to us by: Kaylee Allen, Women Need Women Mentors. scripture reference: Ruth 1. Key verse 1:16 

Kaylee's questions to ponder: 

1.  How can you keep your eyes set on the future in a world that often encourages following traditions of the past that may no longer be relevant to our success? 

2. Is there a woman in the Bible You can relate to? If not, how would you reimagine existing stories to fit your idea of a strong woman? 

3. What does an ideal mentor look like for you? How would these characteristics mold you? What are the most important traits to learn from a mentor in the church? 

4. Do you have a mentor in the church? If not, is there a leader you are drawn to? How can you move forward in your relationship with her? 

By the way, you can purchase the 2024 Just Women at a reduced price right now. And the 2025's are on pre-sale. Call Regina 317-635-3100

Learn more about our Disciples Women’s Ministries here>

Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 820 2350 3046 Passcode: 615850

We threaded some joy at our Rural Ministry Network workshop this spring and everyone’s participation was greatly appreciated. The feedback was positive and together we are on our way to actively supporting our rural churches. The input was invaluable!

Our spring gatherings identified five themes for additional exploration that will be the focus for this follow-up event:

1. Disciples History & Identity

2. Growing Engaging Disciples

3. Intergenerational Collaboration

4. Civil Conversations around the Table

5. Transitions with our Buildings

Please join us for this important gathering. Find more details in this event flyer>
Lunch will be served. The event is free but we ask that you register online by October 1.

We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 2 Cor. 5:20

If you are looking for a new way to serve in Christ’s Church, we invite you to consider becoming a Rural Ministry Ambassador. This ‘ministry in the flesh’ will provide resources and networking for our rural congregations in close proximity. If you have a heart for the rural church, we invite you to prayerfully consider contacting us. The Rural Ministry Network is in formation stage (ruralministrynetwork.org) and we welcome your gifts. Click here for a list of characteristics>

Ambassadors are led by Rev. Randy Robb and Rev. Teresa Spear under the umbrella of the RMN Task Force. They will be available on an ‘as needed’ basis and placed on the website for folks to contact when they have a specific need. Any one Ambassador need not have all the knowledge to navigate any particular need, but will have access to ‘point’ the concern to the appropriate place/ person. For more info, contact us at rmn@ccmadisciples.org

Funds generated by the Reconciliation Offering are used throughout the year to provide grants to ministries and congregations actively developing and implementing programs that promote our Church’s Pro-Reconciliation and Anti-Racist identity.  These programs and efforts seek to reveal, re-educate, and remove systemic and structural barriers in our communities that serve to deny the image of God and human thriving based on race.

Learn more about the Special Offering here>

Learn more about our Mid-America Anti-Racism/Pro-Reconciliation Justice Ministries here>

Join us at Drury University to join in conversations with author, historian, and public theologian, Diana Butler Bass (and local panelists). This event actually starts on Friday evening - learn more here>

There are three registration options for Saturday: (register online here)
(Please register by September 25 if planning to eat with us.)
General admission - free (no lunch served)
General admission with lunch - $15
Continuing Education for clergy (includes lunch) - $35

Find more information here>
See the event flyer here>

Join us at Drury University to join in conversations with author, historian, and public theologian, Diana Butler Bass (and local panelists).

The event’s schedule for Friday night is as follows, and continues on to Saturday.
6:00-7:30pm - optional welcome reception with Diana and heavy hors d'oeuvres ($25, register here by September 25 if possible)
7:30-9:00pm - Diana’s lecture (free, register here)

Find more information here>
See the event flyer here>

Older Adult Ministries’ webinar offers several tested models of ministry for those seeking ideas and ways to minister with older adults. Each presenter will describe details of their ministry model, then invite dialogue and sharing. Tools and steps to implement these models will be given. Join us for an hour of inspiration and how-tos. Register now>

Led by: Abby Coles-Johnson, PT, CHC, Older Adult Ministries Coordinator, Community Christian Church, Kansas City, MO

Pastor Lois Kelley, MDiv, Senior Chaplain at Hillcrest Christian Church, Silvercrest Ministry, Overland Park KS

Jan Aerie, MS, Gerontologist and Coordinator of Older Adult Ministries

Join together via Zoom on the last Monday of the months of August, September, and October at 11am as we pray the scriptures and find meaning in the deeper well of life. Connect now>

Funds generated by the Reconciliation Offering are used throughout the year to provide grants to ministries and congregations actively developing and implementing programs that promote our Church’s Pro-Reconciliation and Anti-Racist identity.  These programs and efforts seek to reveal, re-educate, and remove systemic and structural barriers in our communities that serve to deny the image of God and human thriving based on race.

Learn more about the Special Offering here>

Learn more about our Mid-America Anti-Racism/Pro-Reconciliation Justice Ministries here>

Join us via Zoom for our monthly gathering!

"Women Lead as Mentors" by Jennifer Allen. Scripture from Ruth 1, key verse Ruth 1:14. 

Her questions for consideration: 

1. Would you have been like Ruth or Orpah? Would you have run to the past or toward the future. 

2. When you consider the stories in the Bible about dysfunctional families, how is your understanding of the biblical text and contemporary families impacted? Is there a story in the Bible that helps you better understand your own familial relationships? 

3. Have you ever felt "unnamed" when you have actually been the main voice? 

4. In this lesson, we considered Martha, Mary, and Ruth in the biblical context who is / was your Martha, Mary, and Ruth; how has knowing them impacted your faith? When you have been a Martha, Mary, and/or Ruth? 

Learn more about our Disciples Women’s Ministries here>

Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 867 9846 2561 Passcode: 363576

Join Pension Fund as we explore our products and programs that will span the length of your ministry. Retirement is not a one-size-fits-all solution. We want to walk alongside you in your career to help you find your place at Pension Fund, and education is a key element in helping to plan your future. Our Client Relations team will be covering topics including retirement readiness, Ministerial Relief and Assistance programs like Parental Leave Grants and Emergency Aid that can assist during your career, and individual products that can help diversify your savings. 

No matter what your goals are, Pension Fund has a product or program that can work for you. Your Client Relations team member will be available at the end to answer any questions you might have about these valuable products, programs, and tools. Don't miss it, register today! 

All sessions will be recorded. Even if you can't attend, please register to receive a replay link. 

Disciples Mission Fund makes it possible for us to do more together than we can alone. Because of DMF, lives are transformed and ministry happens across the church and around the world.

Congregations are stronger when they participate in Disciples Mission Fund because they are part of something much larger than themselves – DMF makes it possible for Disciples to do ministry in places far beyond their own community.

Plus, congregations benefit from DMF in tangible ways as well: support from their regional minister through the search and call process, sending kids to church camp, ministry interns from Disciples seminaries, global mission partners, and so much more.

How has your congregation been impacted by Disciples Mission Fund?

On September 12, 2024, we will host live events, share stories and resources, and have a worshipful time of prayer in gratitude for the difference that the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is making. We will celebrate the work we do together as church because of Disciples Mission Fund. Find the full schedule here>

Please make a gift on DMF Day in celebration of all we are able to do together.

For ministers, connecting with our peers and colleagues is vital, but sometimes those opportunities do not fit into our work/life schedule. That’s why we created an opportunity to gather virtually with colleagues from across our Region for nurture and support.

If you’re not involved in a clergy cluster, or if you want to connect with other ministers across the region, join us on Zoom!

Join together via Zoom on the last Monday of the months of August, September, and October at 11am as we pray the scriptures and find meaning in the deeper well of life. Associate Regional Ministers Rev. Jennifer Long and Rev. David Woodard will be leading our first session on August 26. Connect now>

Our next Bible study is titled authentically me: owning our narratives by Miseon Choi.

Genesis 2:7. 

Her questions for discussion:

1. What are the significant values that drive your life? 

2. What does it mean to breathe with God for you? 

3. When do you experience the " living dead " in your life? Are there any people who are experiencing the " living dead " around you? How can you bring them to " life " again? 

Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 814 5710 0170 Passcode: 732036