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At our recent General Assembly in Columbus, General Minister and President Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins introduced us to Mission First, a new way of looking at mission and what we are doing as Disciples.

Background

Addressing the 2014 General Board, General Minister and President Sharon Watkins set out a challenge:  “The time has come to lighten our load and tighten our focus – on mission!  I am inviting our church, in all its expressions, to join in a conversation on God’s mission for Disciples today.” (audio of address) (2014 Communique – PDF)

Since General Board, a group of Disciples from many professional and cultural backgrounds has been meeting about just how to find this new focus. The proposal called Mission First! was presented to the General Board in April 2015. It includes a call to mission and a pilot model for helping us identify a common direction in mission.

What Is Mission First?

Mission First! addresses the need to find a new shared focus in mission. We are not setting aside pro-reconciliation/anti-racism, new and transforming churches or leadership development. Mission First! seeks to help Disciples identify the next mission priorities God has for us as we move toward the year 2020 and beyond.

At the heart of this process are Mission Gatherings where we hope you and your leaders will participate in sharing what your congregation is passionate about doing in the mission field. These gatherings may take place at your 2016 regional or racial/ethnic assemblies or at camp or other places where Disciples gather. A Church-wide Mission Council will receive the information from the gatherings and identify a mission focus for a specified time.

Moving forward in this way would call for reorganization of our general church governance structures, so Watkins is asking for a provisional try – a trial run up until 2017. Based on what we learn, we would anticipate making some permanent changes at the 2017 assembly.

Here is Sharon’s address from General Assembly, which provides a deeper explanation of this new initiative.  You can also sign up for a Mission Gathering here.

We will launch our new Arts At First Performance Series with a concert by Beads On A String author and composer Dennis Warner.  Beads on One String started simply as an uptempo and fun song about how “We’re more alike than we are different”.  Then it became a beautifully illustrated children’s book by Alison Love Unzelman. Soon after, a curriculum was developed for elementary schools. (We present this book as part of every baby dedication at First Christian Church).

Performing in over 100 cities each year, Folk/Americana musician and entertainer Dennis Warner has established a well- deserved reputation for captivating audiences with his smooth vocals, distinguished songs, enthusiastic personality and stellar playing on both six and twelve string guitars. He has also found a niche as a popular guest speaker at various community gatherings throughout the United States and Canada. Warner’s ninth CD, Seeds, generated a lot of attention, being named one of the top CDs of 2012 in folk music based on radio play around the world. FOLK DJ also named him one of the top artists of 2012. Legendary Midnight Specialradio host Rich Warren tipped his hat to Dennis by designating Seeds as his “CD Pick of the Week” on his nationally syndicated show.

The concert will begin at 12:45 pm in the South Sanctuary and it’s FREE- invite your friends and join us!!!

Handbell and choir rehearsals start this week, and there is room for you!

Handbell rehearsals start at 6:30 pm in Lydia.  Choir rehearsals start at 7:45 pm in the sanctuary we are are currently in.

Want more information or want to join us?  Contact Music Director Leah Siltberg Froelich

Grab a friend and join us in the North Sanctuary as another season of Irreverent Movie Night begins!

What is Irreverent Movie Night, you ask?  Irreverent movies are those that present faith as a question or with a twist, and not as a cheerleader.

This month’s movie is Whale Rider.  Only males are allowed to ascend to chiefdom in a Maori tribe in New Zealand.  This ancient custom is upset when the child selected to be the next chief dies at birth.  However, his twin sister, Pai (Keisha Castle-Hughes) survives.  At age 12, she enlists the help of her grandmother and the training of her uncle to claim her birthright.  But to break with tradition, she’ll have to do the impossible:  win over her ultra-traditional grandfather.

Popcorn and child care are provided.  See you this Friday, 7:00 pm, in the North Sanctuary!

We will “kick off” our fall church season with our annual “Rally Sunday” Joint Worship Service on Sunday, September 13.  Children’s Sunday School will launch for the year at 9:15 am and adult studies will be available in Timothy and Esther.

Joint Worship will be in the South Sanctuary at 10:30; the Paraguay Mission Team will share stories and slides for us during the sermon time.

There will be special music by singer/composer Dennis Warner, author of the song and book Beads on One String. This book has been given to families at the last few baby dedications. After worship, there will be a lunch and that will be followed by a concert by Dennis Warner.

It will be an exciting start to the fall!

A new book study, led by Pastor Dan, will start on Sunday, September 13.  Pre-Post Racial America, by Sandhya Rani Jha.  From the book cover:

It’s hard to talk about race in America without everyone very quickly becoming defensive and shutting down.  What makes it even harder is that so few of us actually know each other in the fullness of our stories.  Sandhya Rani Jha recasts the difficult conversations about race and faith in a way that is grounded in real people’s stories.  

About the author:  Sandhya Rani Jha is director of the Oakland Peace Center, anti-racism/anti-oppression trainer with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), director of interfaith programs for Easy Bay Housing Organizations, and a public speaker and preacher.  She is the author of Room At The Table:  Struggle for Unity and Equality in Disciples History, and coauthor of And Still We Rise.

For those who can not make it on Sunday mornings, we will have a monthly gathering to discuss the book as we journey on this conversation.  Cost for the book is $14.00 – please see Pastor Dan to get your copy as we begin this important conversation.