You Are Invited!

 The men of the West Virginia Region have joined with the men of five adjacent Disciples Regions in co-hosting a major men’s event next summer. Much successful effort has resulted in an exceptional opportunity for men to experience spiritual renewal, inspiration, and fellowship, and also gain first-hand knowledge about the historical beginnings of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Planning for this event has been accomplished with the encouragement and full support of Disciples Home Missions and the General Conference of Disciples Men. You are invited and encouraged to take advantage of this unique opportunity.

 The Event: “XTREME FAITH-Bold Action: A Gathering of Disciples Men”

 July 13-15, 2012 at Bethany College.

 The Gathering includes inspirational presenters, a timely and engaging array of workshops, and tours of the historic areas, sporting events, a pig roast, and important hands-on mission work in support of the historic areas for willing volunteers.

We Would Appreciate Your Help… 

First, we encourage you to personally register now. Early Bird registration with reduced rates ends January 9^th. There is also a further reduced rate for men 35 and under.  For complete information about the Gathering, and for on-line or mail-in registration forms go to: http://www.gathering2012.org.

You can also help by getting this article about our Men’s Gathering included into your church’s next newsletter. If your church does not have a regular newsletter, please distribute this to the men of your church by whatever means you have available.  This is a unique opportunity for you and the men of our church. I would appreciate your efforts to have your church well represented.

I am hoping to see you there!

Please remember that in order for your congregation’s giving to be credited to 2011 in our Yearbook,  Jan. 9 is the last day for Disciples Mission Fund gifts (including your Christmas Offering) to be received at the Church Finance Council office in Indianapolis.  For those who wish to send any such funds through our Regional Office, we must receive it by Jan. 6.  We will be happy to assure that the funds are passed along to the proper entities and that proper credit is given to your congregation for the Yearbook, as we do with all of your Christmas Offering gifts for regional ministries.  You must mail them in time, however! 

 Our mailing address is CCWV, 1402 Washington Ave., Parkersburg, WV  26101.  Be sure to include your CFC remittance form or a note to us explaining where you wish to direct your funds, or we must assume they are all for Christmas Offering. 

God bless you in your generosity, and may your coming days be filled with joy in the celebration of the Savior’s birth!

Your Regional Staff

Questions?  Contact Kevin, or call the Regional Office at 304-428-1681.

The paper version of the booklet can be downloaded for print (5 sheets, 8.5×11), beginning next week, from our website, and a master copy will be mailed to those congregations who do not “opt out” via the email that will be forthcoming. 

 The online version (which includes the scripture readings) may be read daily on our Prayerscapes site, where email subscription are now available.  The daily readings will be posted in the early hours of each day of Advent through Christmas Day, and will be delivered to all subscribers.  They will also be available for reading on our Facebook page.

We are grateful for the creative work of God at work in our Region’s clergy, and the gift they bring us in this effort each Advent and Lent!

In cooperation with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in West Virginia

presents:  

The Bible in the Pastor’s Life

Rev. Dr. Larry Grimes

Rev. Dr. Victor Hunter

November 9 and 10, 2011

Mountainside Conference Center, Bethany College

Wednesday, November 9:    “Red Bible, Blue Bible—How Interpretative Lenses Shape Our Reading of the Bible and Impact the Preaching and Practice of Wholeness in a Fragmented World”   –Rev. Dr. Larry Grimes

Thursday, November 10:  “Bible Study, Pastoral Care—Exploring the Relationship, Strengthening the Connection, Empowering Our Pastoral Ministry”  –Rev. Dr. Victor L. Hunter

 Sessions from 9-noon and 1-4 each day

Meals Included in Registration Fee ($35/day)

Please register on-line at http://www.bethanywv.edu/about-bethany/church-relations/buffalo-seminary , then click on “Workshops and Events.” 

If you cannot register on-line, call Dr. Grimes at 304-559-8213

 Overnight Accommodations Available at Mountainside ($65/night + tax)

For room reservations call 304-829-4343—Driving Directions: http://www.bethanywv.edu/index.php?cID=79

 Detailed Program Will Be Available On-Line.

Victor L. Hunter earned his master of divinity at Union Theological Seminary, specializing in religion and psychiatry, and his doctor of ministry at Phillips Graduate Seminary. He has served as the dean of the Theological Education Institute in Denver, CO, and has taught at Phillips Theological Seminary as adjunct faculty since 1996. He retired from working at Evergreen Christian Church in Evergreen, CO, where he had been the pastor since 1985. He recently ended his retirement to become minister of First Christian Church, New Martinsville, WV. He is the author of several books, including Desert Hearts and Healing Fountains: Gaining Pastoral Vocational Clarity (Chalice Press).

 Larry Grimes earned his B.D. from Yale Divinity School specializing in theology and culture and his Ph.D. from Emory University in theology and literature. He recently retired from his professorship at Bethany College where he held the Perry E. and Aleece Gresham Chair in Humanities, and from a 15 year ministry at Community Christian Church in Beech Bottom, WV. He is a poet and literary scholar whose work has focused on the intersection of religion and literature. Presently he serves as Director of Church Relations at Bethany College.

UP-COMING EVENTS—SPRING 2012

 January 13, 2012 10:00 am – 2:30 pm

First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 521 Maple Avenue, New Martinsville, WV

 “Marcellus Shale Summit: A Conversation of the Church”

Rev. Gary Kidwell and Rev. Darwin Collins (The Christian Church Foundation)

Dr. William Kiefer, Esq. (Bethany College) and a Panel of Experts

½ CEU

March 8-9, 2012 Mountain Conference Center

“Preaching and Praying Holy Week”

Rev. Dr. Bonnie Thurston

1 CEU

March 26-27, 2012—Mountain Conference Center

Oreon E. Scott Lectures – “The Challenge of Being Church in the 21st Century”

Rev. Dr. Sharon E. Watkins

1 CEU

• Individuals who want to grow in faith and learn to be more effective in their ministry for God
• Church Leaders who want to be more effective at pairing people with ministry and helping the Body of Christ become more healthy
• Congregations who want to experience transformation

Presented by Church Revitalization Consulting, LLC at Mountainside Conference Center at Bethany, WV.  Rev. Steven Smith, Rev. Rosetta Smith, and Dr. Kevin DiGregorio are the featured leaders.  Space is limited.  Visit http://www.bethanywv.edu/about-bethany/church-relations/   Click on Buffalo Seminary.  Select the Spiritual Gifts Workshop and register.  If you cannot register on-line, call Larry Grimes at 304-559-8213.

You can learn more, download printable forms, or even register online at our Men’s Ministries page.  Questions? Call the Regional Center at 304-428-1681 or contact Joel Potts, Men’s Ministries Coordinator  (304-266-0054).  Rooms in Holt Lodge are nearly gone.  Register now!

For those who missed the opportunity to see her in action in our 2011 Camps and Conference, meet Kelly Puckett, our 2011 Tad Fitzsimmons Youth Minsitry Intern, as she is introduced to you by Associate Regional Minister for Youth and Young Adult Ministries, Rev. Kevin Snow.

Within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Kelly Puckett is what Malcolm Gladwell would call a “connector.”  She has a passion for the Gospel, which translates into making connections and building bridges among people of faith.  A lifelong member of Beargrass Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Louisville, Kentucky, Kelly has been living out the Mission and Vision of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) since kindergarten. 

Kelly grew up an active participant in youth group, mission trips, X-Committee (the KY Region’s youth ministry cabinet), and CYF Camp Co-President.  After high school, Kelly stayed connected by attending Kentucky’s COW Retreats (College Outreach Weekend), and establishing connections as a camp counselor for the Kentucky and West Virginia Regions. 

In 2011, after traveling abroad throughout Central America and Europe, Kelly accepted a position as Tad Fitzsimmons Youth Ministry Intern for the West Virginia Region.  Kelly used this role to counsel West Virginia Chi-Rho camp and CYF Conference, before traveling back to Kentucky to counsel two more weeks of camp.  In her role, Kelly lived out the love and inclusivity of Christ by taking interest in each individual camper, while making connections across age, gender, and racial lines.  The West Virginia region was blessed to have her as part of our staff during the 2011 summer camp and conference season.

You are cordially invited to the
West Virginia Council of Churches Annual Assembly

Opening Worship, Sunday, October 16, 7:00 p.m.
(Community Invited without Registration)

Monday, October 17, 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Blessed John XXIII Pastoral Center, Charleston

Theme: Christian Unity in the 21st Century
Refocusing the Vision

Opening Worship Speaker
The Rev. David K. Shumate
District Executive for the Church of the Brethren Virlina District, Roanoke, Virginia

Prayer Breakfast Speaker
The Rev. Dr. William Wilson
Director of Connectional Ministries
West Virginia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church

To Register: Go to www.wvcc.org or contact the Regional Minister

A Day of Prayer and Reflection for Religious Women and Men, Clergy, and Laity of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston will be held on Tuesday, October 11, 2011, at Blessed John XXIII Pastoral Center in Charleston. Program time is 9:45 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. with registration/coffee beginning at 9:00 a.m.   Join presenter, The Rev. Bonnie B. Thurston, Ph.D., as she speaks on the theme “An Introduction to the Gospel of Mark.”

Program cost (including lunch): $20. Overnight accommodations are available for an additional charge. Early registration is requested by October 3. For more information or to receive a program flyer/registration information contact Karen Muenze at (304) 233-0880 X268 / Email:kmuenze@dwc.org.  The day is sponsored by the Delegate for Consecrated Life Office – Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston.

DISCIPLES CRUISE ALASKA

MAY 24 – JUNE 2, 2012

The Senior Adult Ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Florida

Invite you to join them on Holland America’s beautiful Westerdam leaving from Seattle for a spectacular 7-night cruise through Alaska’s Inside Passage.  Ports of call include Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, Victoria, British Columbia, and Glacier Bay, returning to Seattle.   Costs range from $699—$1469.

 Bible study and/or worship services will be held on board when the ship is “at sea”.  Celebrate Pentecost Sunday by worshipping with Disciples from around the country on board ship in this beautiful setting. 

The Alaska Cruise is the fifth cruise sponsored by Florida’s Senior Adults, and we do hope you will consider being a part of this exciting voyage.

Please make your reservations through our travel agent to receive the red carpet treatment we have come to expect and enjoy!

For questions about the Disciples programming, contact Rev. Roslin Springer: rsprin1@tampabay.rr.com.

To make your reservations or receive more cruise information, please contact:  Dean Skinner, CTC, Indian River Travel, 11951 U. S. Highway 1, North Palm Beach, FL 33408  Call Toll free 877 626-6110    or email:  dean@indianrivertravel.com

Disciples Women and Disciples Men have grand gatherings planned for this fall.  The retreats are being publicized in your church, aren’t they?  Be sure your congregation knows that rooms are filling up fast, and there are new folks planning to attend, so they need to reserve their space now!  Deadline for Women’s retreat is a little over a week away (Aug. 20).  The links above will connect you to the page where you may either download registration material, or register online.  Do it now!

Ministers around the region are reminded that we will soon begin the solicitation process for their creative hands to produce reflections for our daily Advent devotional guide, Prayerscapes.  We hope you’ll be ready to say “yes,” when the call comes forth!  If your minister is not readily connected by email or other electronic means, please get this word to them, and we’ll be grateful to you.

Finally, we hope that as summer winds down (and hopefully cools off a bit), you’ll be eager to share your congregation’s news with the wider church.  Please send your news items to dchafin@wvdisciples.org for inclusion in upcoming posts and print media.  The current publication of the News is ready for your reading online, while we await its processing by the printer and all the hands that fold and tape and stuff and mail in our office.  It’s a rather large pdf file, so you’ll need Acrobat or another pdf reader:  Read it now!