The second annual publication of Prayerscapes for Advent, the daily devotions prepared by our region’s ministers (and mission partners) is ready for email subscription at the Prayerscapes site, and now also for downloading on our Publications page.

Individuals and congregations wanting to use a convenient full-season booklet which may be freely distributed, will find instructions there (booklet prints on 4 sheets of letter-size paper, 2-sided).  A weekly version is available, as well, for those who wish to feature each week’s collection on 1 sheet of letter-size paper (2-sided) as a bulletin insert, or to print for personal reading.  Visit the site for full details and download links.

If we can be of any help in this process of sharing this gift with your congregation (including printing assistance for congregations who may not be well-equipped for that), please do not hesitate to contact us.

We are pleased to announce a Stewardship Bible Study to be offered this Tuesday at 7 p.m., led by the Associate General Minister, Rev. Dr. Todd Adams.   Some space remains.  Reserve your seat.   A confirmation email will follow with instructions on how to join the meeting.   We hope you’ll join us.

            First Christian Church, Weirton, West Virginia has received a grant of $47,150 to enable its minister, Rev. Kevin L. Bowers, to participate in the 2009 National Clergy Renewal Program funded by the Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment Inc.  It is one of 149 congregations across the country that will support their ministers in the program, which allows pastors to step back from their busy lives and renew their spirits for the benefit of their ongoing ministries.

             Rev. Bowers will be going back into the history of our country and the church as well as personal history.  He will be visiting historical as well as growing congregations.  His congregation in Weirton will celebrate their past, with a 180^th anniversary celebration, and plan for the future.  Many special speakers will grace the First Christian Church pulpit during Rev. Bowers’ absence.

           Now in its 10th year, the program invites Christian congregations and ministers to consider and plan a period of intentional reflection and renewal. It provides a time for ministers to take a break from their daily obligations and gain the fresh perspective and renewed energy that a carefully considered “sabbath time” of travel, study, rest and prayer can provide.

            Each congregation is eligible to apply for a grant of up to $50,000. Up to $15,000 of that amount can be used to fulfill pastoral duties during the minister’s absence and for expenses related to the congregation’s own renewal. The 149 grants this year total $6.2 million.

            This year’s group includes congregations in 36 states. Almost two-thirds of them see between 100 and 300 at Sunday worship services. Twelve congregations have more than 1,000 at worship. The group of pastors counts 40 women, four of them members of clergy couples.

            The 2009 class of grantees brings to 1,290 the number of congregations that have received clergy renewal grants since 2000. “We have heard wonderful stories from these pastors who already have experienced their sabbaticals,” said Craig Dykstra, Endowment senior vice president for religion. “Their time away has freed them up to pursue personal interests and needs in ways that have given them new energy for ministry – and their congregations have discovered that they didn’t fall apart without their minister around. Indeed, they too experienced refreshment and a new-found sense of their own strengths.”

            The Endowment’s larger goal is to bolster the good work that America’s pastors and congregations accomplish day in and day out and to reinforce and build upon important work being done on both sides of the pulpit. “In our religion grantmaking, we hope to strengthen the efforts of today’s excellent pastors because it is no secret that pastors who have reconnected themselves to the passions that led them to the ministry in the first place are more likely to lead healthy and vibrant congregations,” Dykstra said.

And still today we see as our unique calling the quest for Christian Unity.  The signs are evident and we continue the legacy given to us by our founders.  A few of the regional signs of our ecumenical work are:

• The well deserved honor that Betty Beeson (of United Disciples of Christ in Charleston) received last week at the annual assembly of our West Virginia Council of Churches. She was awarded the 2009 Mary Virginia DeRoo Service award for Ecumenism. Betty is the third member of our regional church to share this honor (Bonnie Thurston and William Allen being the other two.) Because of her life, work and Christian witness the unity of the church is made evident.
• At the same assembly mentioned above, I believe that the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) was the most represented communion at the Council of Churches event. We were present indeed.
• On October 4, 2009 several of our flock gathered in Washington, Pennsylvania for the celebration of the 200th anniversary of Thomas Campbell’s Declaration and Address. Several of our ministers participated here and in Bethany the day before.
• This month the region received several gifts for the William B. Allen Fund for Ecumenical Ministry. Honoring two years of the fund’s existence and the ministry its namesake, members of the church committed precious resources to this invested fund in order that the ecumenical witness would be made possible into the future. 5% of the fund is used annually for ecumenical ministry.

The signs are evident.   Christian Unity remains our polar star.   May our Regional Church be a leader on this journey.

Thaddaeus B. Allen

The following news items were gleaned from the congregational newsletters and other communications as received in the Regional Center.  Please direct your congregation’s news to us for possible inclusion in the next update, and for our regional newsletter.  Be sure to keep us in the loop for items of immediate interest that we may help you publicize, as time and space allow.

Beckley, First (Don Snyder, Pastor).  Youth are preparing a Christmas Play for Dec. 6.  Choir will perform The Splendor of Christmas on Dec. 13.  Women are planning a basket auction for November. 

Bethany, Memorial (Scott Thayer, Pastor).  The pastor will be installed at a special service, planned for Nov. 15 at 2 p.m.  Former member Carol Cook will be ordained in Baltimore on Nov. 14, and the church will host a celebration and recognition of the event on Sunday, Nov. 22 at 2 p.m.  Carol will also be preaching at the 10:45 service that day.  The church will house the annual costume judging following the village parade (at 5:15 p.m.) on Halloween.  www.bmcdisciples.org.

Bluefield, First (Aaron Watkins, Pastor).  A bake sale will be offered at the Nicaragua Fundraiser Dinner, Nov. 14 at 5:30 p.m.  Pastor’s Open House will be Dec. 11 from 4-7 p.m.  Halloween Party is planned for Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m.  http://www.citlink.net/~firstchristian/

Cameron, Big Run & Fork Ridge (Andrea Brownlee, Pastor).  Worship is led monthly at the Cameron Nursing Home.  Men continue to meet for breakfast and Women for dinner.  Vespers are held Wednesdays at 7 p.m. at Big Run.  A new roof will be installed at Big Run. 

Charleston, United (Steven Smith, Pastor).  A “Holy”ween Party was scheduled for Oct. 16.  Progress continues on the new property acquisition.  More at www.uniteddisciples.org.

Fairmont, Central (Joshua Patty, Pastor).  Fall Yard Sale is Nov. 6-7 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the gym.  Book Goup is reading Signs and Wonders by Philip Gulley.  Pastor will continue a 13 session introduction to the New Testament on Nov. 3 and 17.   Vocal Tapestry will perform annual Christmas Concert Nov. 29 at 3 p.m.  Reception will follow.  http://web.centralchristianfairmont.org

Huntington, Madison Avenue (Jamie Gump, Pastor).  Minister was honored with a new stole in celebration of Pastor Appreciation Week.    Judy Lambert, organist, was honored recently in worship for over 40 years of service.  College Class is collecting food for the local pantry and City Mission.  Financial Peace program is being offered on Mondays.

Logan, First (Kenny Hardway, Pastor).  Church enjoyed a Family Bowling Night on Oct. 17.  http://www.orgsites.com/wv/fccoflogan/index.html.  The pastor will be installed at the 11 a.m. service on Nov. 1.

Mannington, First (Lynn White, Pastor).  Special music is planned for the Nov. 1 worship, which will follow a time of refreshments at 10:30.  Monthly dinner is planned for Nov. 22.

Matoaka, Matoaka (Craig Hammond, Pastor).  Pastor Appreciation Dinner was celebrated Oct. 4.  Matoaka fall festival is Oct. 31.  Church is looking for a back-up keyboard.

Morgantown, First (Rick Howard, Pastor).  Scouting program is active in the church.  Pot-luck dinners are enjoyed on the 2nd Sunday of each month.  Church office provides “Last Wishes” forms for members to complete, assisting the church and family in planning for celebrating the member’s life.  www.morgantownwvdisciples.org.

Parkersburg, First (Sandy Downs, Pastor).  Tim Graves, a seminarian at Lexington and member of the Wheeling First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), has begun an internship in the congregation as a student associate minister.  Fall Festival will be held Nov. 7, including vendors and crafts from around the area.  The Disciples Coffee Project will also be available for purchases.  Church will offer their annual free Thanksgiving Day dinner at noon, which draws many from the church and community for fellowship.  Visit www.movpdoc.org.

St. Albans, First (Bill Pollack, Pastor).  Building improvements continue.  Fall Harvest Fellowship is planned for Oct. 30 at 7 p.m.  Ladies Night Out was Oct. 17.   http://www.saintalbansdisciples.org/

Weirton, First (Kevin Bowers, Pastor).  Church landscaping is being renewed.  Week of the ministry was celebrated Oct. 25.  Fall Bash is planned for Nov. 1, including a “Pie Buffet”.  Plans are well underway for hosting the 2010 Regional Assembly.  www.weirtondisciples.org.

Wheeling, First (Magdalyn Sebastian, Pastor).  The pastor addressed the Washington, PA gathering in celebration of the 200th Anniversary of the Declaration and Address.  The Bentrotts (our Global Ministries Partners in Haiti) partnered with the congregation in worship on Oct. 4 (World Communion Sunday).  Faith Formation Class (preparation for baptism celebration on Palm Sunday) begins Nov. 1 at 4:30 p.m.  Thanksgiving Baskets are being prepared by Outreach.  The Pumkin Patch continues to operate through the end of October.  Details on the website:  www.bigroundwindow.com

Wheeling, Island (Judy Bennett, Pastor).  The church will celebrate VIP Sunday on Nov. 22, with the Rev. Dr. William B. Allen, Regional Minister Emeritus, as preacher; a fellowship dinner will follow.  A book club has begun.  Prayer and Sharing Group meets Mondays at 9:30 a.m.  More at http://www.island-christian-church.org/.

CONASPEH Update :  October 15, 2009

National Spiritual Council of Churches of Haiti (CONASPEH)

Spring 2009 Report

CONASPEH expresses their gratitude to the United Church of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) for their “acompañamiento” to the Haitian people in particular to CONASPEH. It is always a source of blessing for the churches of the National Spiritual Council of Churches of Haiti.

In the past six months, CONASPEH has provided scholarships for a total of 166 kids; 116 at Saint Andre College (equivalent to K-12) and 50 at College of Petion-Ville (K-12). “Food for Learning” programs provide food for many children so that children are not only able to attend school but also have the mental energy to concentrate and learn. General programming and literacy programs continue at Port-de Paix and Cape Haitian.

Scholarships have also been provided for students at the Karen School of Nursing. In February 2009, 18 graduated from the Nursing School and were honored at the CONASPEH Congress. Of the graduates, 16 were women and two were men.

Also during the CONASPEH Congress in February 2009, 35 graduated from theology school and 75 pastors were ordained. Two of the seminary graduates were women.

Two recent extension programs of the seminary have provided access to classes for 90 additional theology students. The first seminary extension opened at Leogane and the second extension opened at Jacmel.

Cape Haitian also provided access to a farming cooperative for more than 20 families. This provides cooperative grain storage and the availability of a mill. Artibonite also has a portable mill so that people are able to gring the grain they have grown. Plateau Central provides a program to receive seeds on credit with 2-3% interest. Over 80 families participated by borrowing money to purchase and plant seeds, and then repaid the money with earnings so that others can then borrow and buy seeds.

Other advances include an electricity installation project at the CONASPEH Regional Center in Artibonite, which also serves the school.

The challenge continues to be having the funds to meet all the needs for education, food, training, etc. Plans for the next year remain basically the same — to continue to work hard to provide needed services and guidance. Each year, CONASPEH tries to be innovative to do more with less and make projects stronger. They also strive to find ways to participate more in the national setting in Haiti.  In this respect, CONASPEH is an important resource to churches and to the Ministry of Religion in Haiti. 

Kimberly and Patrick Bentrott are Global Ministries partners of the West Virginia Region, serving in Port-au-Prince.

The work of becoming and Anti-Racism/Pro-Reconciliation church continues in the life of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in West Virginia.  To that end, the Reconciliation Team will be meeting this Saturday at the Regional Center in Parkersburg. 

The 18-member team – which is designed to help team members, congregations, and the Regional Church deal effectively with the sin of racism and the call of Christ to reconciliation – meets periodically to explore creative ways in which to do their work.  A portion of the church’s Reconciliation Offering is retained within the region to facilitate their work.  The group will be convened by Rev. Chafin.

Please be patient in accessing our WV Disciples Photo Pool at our Flick’r site.  There are issues beyond our control that will hopefully be cured in the next day or so.

The annual Assembly of the West Virginia Council of Churches was held on Monday, Oct. 19 at the Blessed John XXIII Pastoral Center in Charleston.  In addition to a productive and inspiring time of worship and networking, the Council recognized the ecumenical commitment and work of Betty Beeson, long-time regional leader and member of the United Disciples of Christ Church in Charleston.

Betty received the Mary Virginia DeRoo Ecumenical Award, a gesture of great respect and appreciation for her many years of dedication to the work of the Council and to the cause of Christian unity and interfaith efforts.

Rev. Thaddaeus B. Allen, Regional Minister, spoke of the powerful impact of her life upon the cause of Christian Unity, and the award was presented to her by her pastor, the Rev. Steven Smith.  Congratulations came from the Executive Director of the Council, Rev. Dennis Sparks, also a Disciples minister and member of the United congregation.  

The Disciples delegation was augmented by a number of Betty’s family and friends who attended the luncheon.  The Regional Church celebrates this honor with her.   See more photos on our Flick’r site.

Many of our communities are looking forward to celebrating the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Jan. 18-25, 2010. 

The Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute offers many resources for this observance.  Orders must be placed before Dec. 15 for guaranteed delivery in time for your use.  Visit their page to view and order materials.

Please advise us of unique ways in which your congregation celebrates the unity of the faith and works to live the prayer of Jesus, “that they all be one…”   We will share that information with others in the region, as space and time allows.

We are pleased to announce a Stewardship Bible Study to be offered as a webinar on Tues., Nov. 3 at 7 p.m., led by the Associate General Minister, Rev. Dr. Todd Adams.   Space is limited.  Reserve your seat.   A confirmation email will follow with instructions on how to join the meeting.   We hope you’ll join us.

This Sunday marks the end of the week lifting up the offering for Reconcilation Mission, a priority ministry of our church. 

As we celebrate the diversity of God’s creation and of Christ’s church, we also are called to accept the work of God’s reconciling love at the Table, and in our whole community life. 

Read more of one great way that the Reconciliation Mission of the church is going to touch the life of people in the West Virginia Region, and plan now to give as generously as you can. 

50% of your giving to this offering will remain in the Region to support our regional Reconcilation efforts.

from The President’s Letter, Bethany College, the following mention is made of the school’s rich heritage:

…This sense of continuity and community leaves an indelible mark on those who live and learn on this magnificent campus, chartered by the Commonwealth of Virginia so many years ago. From our home in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains, we are now boldly charting our future.

Our future is enriched by our founding ideals. Bethany is proud to participate in the October bicentennial commemoration of Thomas Campbell’s Declaration and Address which inspired unity among Christians throughout the nation. The College honors the educational vision of his son, Alexander Campbell, the founder of our institution. His faith in the intellectual freedom of students who enroll here remains our call to action as a community of scholars; support for this timeless mission continues to grow among alumni and friends of Bethany. Our campus celebration is being led by Dr. Larry Grimes, our recently appointed Director of Church Relations, longtime faculty member at Bethany, and pastor of the Community Christian Church in Beech Bottom, West Virginia.

The hymn “O God, our Help in Ages Past” speaks movingly about “time…like an ever-moving stream.”  Bethany’s rich heritage and tradition are like that, with alumni and friends from seven decades and three generations or more—families such as the Athols and Bados—continually refreshing and revitalizing that stream.   Read President’s Letter in its entirety

You can view a beautiful video slideshow prepared for Homecoming at their website.

from Disciples Home Missions:  Applications are now being received for serving on both the Young Adult Commission and the Youth Ministry Commission. 

The Young Adult Commission takes applications from young adults between the ages of 18-33 with an active interest in the future of young adults in our denomination.  The application could be filled out by printing the attached form and mailing it once completed, or by going to docya.org to fill out an application online.  The interest in this ministry is strong and growing and we are looking for people to help take this ministry to the next level.  The application deadline is October 1, 2009. For more information contact Tod Iseminger at tiseming@dhm.disciples.org or Jack Knox at jbkrew@hotmail.com.The Youth Ministry Commission seeks to empower and connect volunteers who minister to the youth. This organization supports those adults who volunteer their time with youth ministries around the country by supplying Bible study series, conference and contributing to the Youth Ministry Backpack.  The application deadline is October 9, 2009. For more information or further questions, please contact Tod Iseminger, Youth Ministry Liaison, at tiseming@dhm.disciples.org  or (888) 346-2631, ext 2649.

Children Worship and Wonder at Parkersburg:  Children Worship and Wonder storyteller training is coming to our area Oct. 23-25 (hosted by First Christian Church, Parkersburg).  Watch for a release on that along with a poster for congregational use on our NewsWire within the next week.  Meanwhile, you can register online at https://secure.disciples.org/cwwtmain.asp?assemblyid=67 or download a pdf registration form to mail in.  Learn  more about the program here.

from Virginia Theological Seminary:  Applications are now available for the Summer Collegium, a project in support of small congregations at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia.  Clergy (and their spouses or partners) from 25 small churches of all Christian denominations are invited to spend nine days at Virginia Seminary for encouragement, education, rest and renewal.  All expenses, including travel, books, meals, lodging, child care at home and pulpit supply, are paid by a grant from the Lilly Endowment.  

        The theme of the Summer Collegium this year is Leadership in the Small Congregation.  Our keynote speaker will be Alice Mann, a prolific writer on congregational ministry, and John Bell from the Iona Community in Scotland will join our worship team for the conference.   The dates for the Summer Collegium are June 23 – July 1, 2010.  Application forms are on our website, www.vts.edu/education/collegium, or will be sent in the mail by emailing SummerCollegium@vts.edu or by calling 703-461-1760.  Applications must be postmarked by December 15, 2009, to be considered.