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Spring & Summer Opportunities
Connecting Disciples |
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Easter Blessing
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I have reached a point in my life and ministry that now has many more yesterdays than tomorrows. I have made peace with that. Quiet moments are often filled with reflections of the journey that is my life.
In these personal retrospectives, I am able to see the subtle changes my worldview underwent over the years. The platforms on which I took my stands in proclaiming the Gospel seemed to shift with the times. I am confident that the theological themes upon which I grounded my faith in those early years have remained pretty constant. They anchored me as all else around me changed. Through all the testing it seems I'm not too far now from where I began. It seems that those encounters never moved me off center. They just expanded my circle of understanding, compassion and hospitality. There is confident strength in such knowledge.
For me, the Easter story builds the same kind of confident strength. In the Christian witness the cross never moves from where it is planted, squarely in the center of Christian faith. It doesn't really matter how you perceive it, but you do have to deal with its centrality to the Christian understanding. I guess I have been on every side of it over the years. Sometimes holding it close, other times scratching my head over its real significance. The truth is, it has never moved from my center, either. In these personal retrospectives I just see an ever-expanding circle of understanding, compassion and hospitality around the centrality of the cross. I have never gotten beyond the boundaries of the circle.
In that circle one finds an empty tomb, the stories of Jesus, the betrayal of disciples, including my own betrayals of Jesus. There is triumph and tragedy. Healing and death. Promises broken and fulfilled. Prejudice fueled by hate. Prejudice driven away by the unconditional love of Jesus. Greed and the gracious economy of God. It's all there. At one time every scrap of my life was there, llying around the base of the cross, but now, through God's gracious activity, it has been knitted back together, redeemed by the love of God made known in one called Jesus. While still not perfect, I have made peace with me humanity, my ever-looming death because God's love for me and the world around me has empowered me to love myself, to the degree I am capable, as I am loved by God, warts and all. There is a confident strength in that love.
I know you know that confident strength, too and will be proclaiming it with all your heart, soul, mind and strength this Sunday. There is confident strength in that knowledge. Your company in the circle blesses me, blesses all.
Easter blessings!
Greg
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| Disciple Identity: Creative Disarray or Chaos |
The organizational design for restructure was approved in 1968. Since that time, the Preamble to the Design for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has become an affirmation of faith among Disciples. Much has changed in our nation and denomination during the last forty years. At the request of our General Minister and President, Sharon Watkins, a vision team is leading our movement on an exploration of "marks of identity" for Disciples in the 21st century.
Creative Disarray was how Disciples historian Ronald Osborn described ministry in the 1990's. He noted the changes in culture and the Church were challenging and stretching traditional models of ministry. He notes that the model of ministry for the Church today might be called Creative Disarray. The Peer 2 Peer event is for all Kentucky clergy (licensed and ordained). Download the information flyer and registration form to learn how you can register for this event.
P2P - April 22-23 (register by April 14. room block released on April 1 @ Holiday Inn Hurstbourne Ln)
Beargrass Christian Church
Rev. Dr. Newell Williams and Dr. Marcia Myers, presenting.
Click here to download information and registration.
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| Women's Ministry |
Each spring Disciple women in Kentucky gather at different sites across the commonwealth for an event called Spring Conference. These day long events provide a wonderful way for you to connect with other Disciple women, learn about their circles or care groups, worship, and attend a workshop in a variety of areas.
Linda Jones works with the Women's Cabinet to plan and lead Spring Conferences as well as Fall Retreats. Click the image to visit the Women's Ministry webpage and download a registration form.
Spring Conference
March 29
First Christian Church, Bowling Green
Spring Conference
April 5
Dry Ridge Christian Church
Spring Remix Leadership Conference
Rev. Dr. Cynthia Hale, pastor of Ray of Hope Christian Church, keynoting
April 12
Holiday Inn Conference Center, Lexington
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| DiscipleU Registration Open Until April 11 |
 DiscipleU is an online learning experience for adults of all ages. Courses are created for an online environment, so computer proficiency is needed to get the most out of a course. This spring the Region offers four courses. Two are instructor led and two are self study courses. Click the image to visit the DiscipleU webpage to learn more about the courses and to register. For more information or to ask questions email Rev. Maria Oliver, Dean of DiscipleU.
Registration is open until April 11. Courses begin on April 14 and last six weeks.
DiscipleU Instructor Led Courses are $30 each
Our Story: The History and Polity of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Rev. Dr. Ron Buck, Instructor
Celtic Spirituality: Touchstone to the Divine
Dr. Barbara Murray, Instructor
DiscipleU Self Study Courses are $20 each
How Do I Begin to Understand the Bible?
Rev. Diane Zehr, Co-Pastor, Florence Christian Church, author
Beginnings, Generations, Identity: The Book of Genesis
Rev. Dr. Rodney Werline, Associate Professor of Religion, Barton College, author
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| Light the Fire Tell the Story: Youth and Outdoor Ministry |
The Kentucky Region offers an active spring and summer program schedule for children, youth, and adults each year. Here are a few opportunities to connect with other groups.
This spring bring your Chi Rho group (junior high) to Camp Wakon' Da-Ho, April 25-27, for a weekend at camp. The theme for the year, Light the Fire Tell the Story, will guide our weekend with keynotes by Rev. Micki McHugh (FCC, Hopkinsville), and leadership from the X Committee (your Regional Youth Council). On Saturday afternoon youth groups will help get WKDH ready to welcome summer guests.
Click here to download registration information.
In May bring your Chi Rho and CYF (high school) youth groups to Kum-Ba-Ya, May 2-4, for Work Retreat Weekend. Groups will help get KBY ready to welcome summer guests as well as worship together. The West Area Youth Council plans and provides leadership for this weekend at KBY.
Click here to email the West Area office for information.
The summer camp season opens May 30 at KBY with Discovery Camp for first and second graders and a parent or guardian. On May 31 the summer season opens at WKDH with Camp 101a for first and second graders and a parent or guardian. The weeks following offer a camp experience for all ages including adults. Click the Outdoor Ministry logo to visit the website.
And speaking of adults, why not start your spring by attending Adult Weekend Extravaganza at Wakon' Da-Ho, April 18-20. This weekend is designed for adults ages 30+ and is directed by David Ransdell (member at Erlanger CC) and KJ Elkins (member at Clintonville CC). David and KJ have been a part of the Outdoor Ministry program as director or counselor for many years and look forward to welcoming you to WKDH next month. The cost is $60 per person. Click here to download a registration form.
Does your minister, youth minister or youth sponsor(s) receive the Kentucky Youth Ministry Collaboration?
Each week Michael D sends a brief newsletter via email to persons who serve in youth ministry or are responsible for their congregation's youth ministry across Kentucky. Like the KY Youth Ministry listserv, this is another way to stay connected to program news, ideas, and issues in Youth Ministry.
To join the KYYM Collaboration click here to visit the Region's website and type your email address in the 'join the Friends of CCK email list". Click go and when the next page opens check the KY YM box in the list and complete the information on the right side of the screen.
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| Men's Ministry |
There are several opportunities for Disciples Men's groups to fellowship this spring and summer. Ed Huckleberry provides leadership along with the Men's Cabinet for these events. Click the image to visit the Men's Ministry webpage.
West Kentucky Men's Mentoring Session
1st Christian Paducah
Saturday April 5th 9am to 3pm
Kentuckiana Men's Mentoring Session
Jeffersontown Christian Church
Saturday April 12th 9am to 3pm
Spiritual Life Retreat - click here for registration information
July 11-13
St. Meinrad
"It would be hard to describe how important the retreat to St. Meinrad's Archabbey is to me in my spiritual life. The Archabbey seems to me to be under a special dispensation of silent meditation from which the word of God emerges with unusual clarity. The fellowship, the time away, all empower me in a way nothing else I do during the year does." Stew Schneider, Ashland.
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The ministry of the Christian Church In Kentucky is your ministry. It is our ministry, together. The Resurrection sermon that Stephen Earle will preach in Middlesboro, or that Tanya Tyler will preach in Smithfield, or that Tom Martin will preach in Cadiz or Brian Gerard will preach at Louisville, First, or Trish Standifur will prach in Bullittsville or Bennie Braddick wil preach at Lexington, Twin Pines carry messages of hope on all our behalf. The hearers of the messages may be a counselor or camper with you this summer in camp because they heard the Disciples message of hope. The woman sitting in your small group at one of the fall Women's Retreats may share that same story. The couple visiting the Discples church in the community where their son and daughter-in-law live may suddenly appear in worship at your church, the Disciples congregation in their hometown, because of the message of hope they heard proclaimed by Disciples in another place.
We are brothers and sisters in Christ who share a common heritage, a common language, a common set of values, and who speak with a unique voice in proclaiming Gospel. I may not be able to write down these things in a bullet point list, but I know them when I see them and experience them. You do, too.
This Sunday I will be praying for our oneness to grow ever stronger. I will pray that our voices grow louder and our message more relevant. I will pray for our compassion, hospitality, and commit to a more just and sustainable world be more evident in all that we do. I will pause in prayer to give thanks to God for allowing me to be part of such an amazing collection of followers of Jesus who are bold enough to claim the name, Disciples of Christ.
God bless!
 J. Gregory AlexanderChristian Church In Kentucky
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