Tag: Christian Church Disciples of Christ

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The Disciples Voice – July and August Edition

Mission & Ministry

 

July


18 7:00 p.m. Cincinnati Civic Orchestra


19 10:30 a.m. Taste of Faiths @ Islamic Center of Cincinnati


20 9:00 a.m. Leadership Retreat We will gather onsite to set direction, train leaders, and plan the year ahead. Please hold our administrative and spiritual leaders in your prayers as they discern and plan our congregational life for this year and the next.

21 Guest Speaker ~ Rev. Dr. Daniel Meister


21 – Aug. 4 Troy out of Office Pastor Troy will be attending the General Assembly July 21 -24th. He will follow that with a family vacation and return to the office on August 5th. Please contact the office at 513.754.0777 or 513.218.0525 and Debbie O will contact the appropriate person to follow up on your request.


20-24 General Assembly Delegates; Our delegates are Dave T., Abbey S., and Rev. Dr. Troy Sy. Thank you for holding them in your
prayers as they travel to Iowa and vote on behalf of our congregation.


27 Queen City Kitchen 3 more volunteers are needed for July 27. Thanks to our Special volunteers Laura D. and Deborah T. who will be our QCK Shoppers. Please see Kurt Fr. to volunteer.


28 Guest Speaker ~ Rev. Dr. Daniel Meister


30 5:30 p.m. Stepping Forward The next chance for Compass Christian to be a part of this Faith Alliance ministry is coming soon. We will meet at Faith Community UMC on Cox Road at 5:30 PM and partner with Bethany UMC to prepare and serve dinner to the deserving members of our community.
With gifts we have received, let us pay it forward to our neighbors in need. We need 12 friendly, cheerful, smiling, able-bodied volunteers. See Ed V. to add your name to the sign-up list. You will be blessed and God will be glorified.

August


4 Guest Speaker ~ Rev. Richard Walker; First Sunday of the month Blood Pressure Checks Lacey S. will be in the pantry area to check
blood pressure. Drop on by!


6 7:00 p.m. Elders Meeting


7 7:00 p.m. First Friday Female Fellowship – See Alice W. for details on our next outing


25 Come hear about our LaFWA mission trip during service

 

Helping Hands Outreach


Sunday School begins in September It’s not too early to consider being a teacher for any age! We can find a place for you whether you can volunteer for a month, once a month, or all year! consider being a Greeter or Storyteller for Worship and Wonder, too!

Current Project – Reach Out Lakota’s Back to School Program

It’s that time again…back-to-school shopping for 2019 Reach Out Lakota Back to School Program!


Find your sponsor card from the poster located at the church. Shop at the school sales in the area and return your donation to church no later than Sunday, July 28th. All donations should be new supplies and will be picked up Monday, July 29th 9:45-10:30 am.

 


Should you wish to contribute cash instead, please give your donation to Sarah Fe. This year the Reach Out Lakota organization simplifies the cards to better reflect the total cost to you. Therefore should you wish to donate a backpack, please pick up a $20 or $40 value card. You are always welcome to send additional supplies such as tissues and cleanser wipes.


Let’s make this a great year! Happy shopping! Places who have started their sales are Meijer, JC Penny, Target, Walmart, Dick’s, Finish Line, Old Navy, Staples, etc.

Eagle Scout Project


A Chance to Help If you have old instruments who need a home, bring to church and Andrew and Annmarie will make sure they get to Aaron
for his project.
Thank You!

A Letter from Interfaith Hospitality Network of Warren County 


On behalf of the Board of Directors of Interfaith Hospitality Network of Warren County, I want to thank you for your help during this past week.
Without the support of churches such as you, we would not be able to serve the people of our community who are in need and without a home.
Your generous support has touched many lives. The families that have stayed with you this past month speak well of their experiences. Each and
every person has their own unique story, and I’m sure they’ll never forget the hospitality you provided. More importantly, you have touched the hearts and lives of the children in a way that they will always remember.

Since our inception in October 1998 Interfaith has assisted more than 602 families in finding affordable housing, employment, and daycare. Our families come to us without homes of hope. When the family leaves, they have found housing, employment, education, and daycare. Mostly they have found the love of God through your time and kindness. Again, many thanks for your commitment and continued support of Interfaith Hospitality Network of Warren County. Linda Rabolt, Executive Director

Youth Corner

Camp Christian

  • For Ribbit campers Asher B., Matthew F., & camper Zach B.
  • For CYF campers Lora Br. & Carvens R., Rho camper Camryn Br.


Camps will be coming to a close in mid-August for week-long camps. Camp Christian does not completely close down for the year. You can join
them for the Disciples Fellowship Retreat on Labor day weekend and more. Yes, the mortgage is paid off but basic upkeep and programs still have needs.

For many ways to donate please check out http://www.ccinoh.com/camp-christian.aspx

Vacation Bible School


It was a great week of fun. VBS staff conquered power outage, technical difficulties and encouraged 40 + youth on Faith, Kindness, Thankfulness, and Hope.

For the generosity of VBS Children & Families raising $360.33 supporting Haitians via Global Ministries, Matthew 25 items incl. 40 quilts, placemats & singing @ Chesterwood!

Crestview Church of God in Germantown gave a gift toward Global Ministries for the donation of our stage set and props to their week of “Mars and Beyond.”


Our To Mars and Beyond was a BIG success! We had 45 children registered and 28 volunteers spend 4 days learning how they can “Go Beyond” with their faith, with kindness, with thankfulness, and with hope! We went beyond in our Mission work, too, by collecting donations to Matthew 25  Ministries, making placemats and taking them to Chesterwood Village, and collecting change for Disciples Global Ministries in Haiti. Our decorations were out-of-this-world!


We thank all of our volunteers! We also thank everyone who participated in the rocket and robot contest!


Our VBS continues to go beyond – Our decorations were donated to another church in Georgetown!

Congratulations to
our High School
Grad!

Way to Go Devon!

Good luck as you enter the next phase of life!

 

 

 

Membership News

Eagle Scout Project 


Awesome! The fence is completed and mulch is laid. Thank you Andrew L. and his Troop for all their hard work along with the many volunteers from CCC.

 

Member in the News

Fairfield considers lifting 13-year-old pitbull ban

Fairfield, for now, is the only Butler County community that bans pit bulls. City Council is expected to consider later this summer or in early fall a series of revisions concerning animals in the city, including possibly eliminating the 13-year-old ban on pit bulls and requiring all dog owners to carry at least $10,000 in liability insurance. “This is something we’ve been talking about for a long time, and there’s been a great deal of interest within the community regarding our animal control ordinances,” said City Manager Mark Wendling. City leaders have worked on updating the ordinances for the past few months, he said. “We really looked at overhauling a lot of the way we do things, and a lot of the ways things are controlled,” Wendling said. Besides proposing to eliminate the pit bull ban, the city’s animal ordinances overhaul includes strengthening penalties on dogs running at large, defining nuisance, dangerous and vicious dogs, and strengthening penalties against pet owners if a dog bites another dog or a person.


We looked at the state legislature and the city’s ordinances to identify inconsistencies, with the idea that we wanted to have our ordinances follow in line with state code,” said Fairfield city attorney Steve Wolterman. “We wanted to have as strong as possible requirements, penalties, and conditions related to owning dogs that might be a nuisance, dangerous or vicious dog.”


…. The city’s process included input from the Humane Society of the United States. Wolterman has been provided sample legislation from Kurt Freimuth, a district leader volunteer with the Humane Society. “One of the big things here that I wanted to do, or that I strongly suggested we do is move the responsibility from the animal to the owner,” he said. “I think if you look at the changes, we effectively have done that.” One of the new proposed codes is a “strict liability” provision, which means the fault of the dog owner would be presumed.


“What that means if a nuisance, dangerous or vicious dog were to attack someone or injure someone, that person would not have to prove the liability of the owner of it in trial or a civil claim,” Wolterman said. “It would be just about the damages element of the claim.” From Journal News
Please see this link for the whole article
https://www.journal-news.com/news/local/fairfield-considers-lifting-year-old-pit-bull-ban/HIoI5D0Xhv2XqK3hBK9RzL/

Church Work Day was Sat., June 29th

Thank you goes to all who came out and volunteered that day. Volunteers were removing brush, roof patching, mulching, sidewalk clean up, repair and paint ramps, weeding and more. Thank you for stewarding the resources of the campus God has entrusted to us for sharing that love.

Final Thoughts – Waypoints

I pray that you may have the power to comprehend…the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:18-19

Since our last issue, we shared our “Becoming Who We Are” sermon series. Insights and questions were solicited for discussion about what being open-minded, open-hearted, and open-tabled means for us as a church. Here they are:

Insights

*In reference to religious dogmas (settled doctrinal truths), some would say there’s no room for open-mindedness as it’s a settled matter.

*God can, and has, changed His mind. When He does, it’s because of mercy.

*Give opinions much love and understanding; listen and learn.

*We can learn more about our faith by practicing it open-mindedly.

*“In Christ is hidden all wisdom and knowledge.” Therefore we need to know Him to become wiser and more open-minded.

*I hope that open-mindedness includes equality (not a hierarchy!) between “clergy” and “laity.” We are church together.

*Disagreement does not constitute closed-mindedness. An open mind can find more than one conclusion. With open-mindedness comes the freedom to accept differences. Just because it’s different doesn’t mean it’s wrong. Matters of faith (unity) vs. matters of opinion (diversity). Different ideas are not wrong. They make you think.

*Despite our 3 historic divisions [Church of Christ, Christian Church, and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)], the table is there as part of worship.

*Hospitality is a mark of discipleship—this was new to me.

*There are blatant examples throughout church history of people putting restrictions on Jesus’ teachings on who can come to the table. Our Luke 14:16-23 parable of the great dinner argues for a broad welcome of known and unknown, good and bad.

Questions

*Why is this threatening to some?

*Is God testing us to be open-minded & inclusive?

*What are the Living Oracles?

*Why does the DOC not have a larger place in the Christian community? We should be a larger player.

*What are the essentials? How do we determine what they are? I think the distinction between “essentials” which require unity and “opinion” which has room for liberty is critical to having an open mind. The smaller the “essential” set is, the more open-minded we can be by giving others liberty.

*Why historically do people get caught up in trivial issues (circumcision vs. non-circumcision, sprinkling vs. immersion baptism)?

*WWJD?

*Open hearts and open minds should not accuse, should they?

*What about infant baptism vs. believer’s baptism?

*Why are Disciples of Christ more comfortable with Campbell than Stone?

*Why does the human brain prefer judgment over love? How do we achieve a balance of open hearts and open minds? Why split the two most important parts of being human?

*What actions as a congregation can we take to open doors to welcome others? How do we behave differently now as a congregation in light of this insight into our roots?

*How do we “make visible the unity of all Christians?” This seems to go beyond the table; can’t think of any other answer but love! Matthew 5:44 says to “love your enemies.”

*Why do other Protestant churches not have weekly communion?

*We invite all to the table, no matter if they believe, or do we still say they need to believe in Jesus to be allowed. (Is this really an open table?) We say, “All those who believe Jesus is our Lord & Savior are welcome to come and partake.” Or don’t we say this anymore? If you are unchurched do you have to truly believe in Jesus before you are welcome to the table? Can’t you be an
unbeliever/seeker who learns about Scripture? Is a profession of faith necessary before coming to the table? “All who trust Jesus are welcome to the table”—what does that mean? What comes
first?

*What do we need to be doing in order to grow?

 

The initial answers to these questions may be found at the back
table. These three sermons have been to create a framework for an
ongoing conversation, undergirding our work of answering some
key questions for our church moving forward: What actions/
different behaviors can we take as a congregation to become
more open-minded, open-hearted, and open-tabled? If you’d
like to be part of this continuing dialogue, discovery, and
discernment, please let moderator Steve Seitz know.

Categories
Newsletter

The Disciples Voice – October 17, 2018

To view the PDF version click HERE

Guest Leader on October 14

We welcomed Rev. Richard Walker as guest speaker. His message was “God Hears”.

Thank you for your worship leadership!

To hear Rev. Walker’s sermon click HERE

 

 

The Bible and Homosexuality Tuesday Oct 23, 30, & Nov 6 @ 7 p.m.

Our own Rev. Pete Smith, CCC member, and former DOC Regional Minister will be leading us into a discussion over three weeks.

Session 1, October 23. Rev. Pete will share how his own upbringing, understanding of Bible passages, and cultural attitudes toward this and other related issues changed over time and how God “nudged” him to new places. Others will be encouraged to share how their culture shaped their own thinking and faith.

Session 2, October 30 will address: Does the Bible teach more than one thing about homosexuality? How our Disciples of Christ founders approached Bible study, and how Rev. Pete does.

Session 3, November 6 will examine several denominational statements about homosexuality, issues with narrow fundamentalism, and class member issues.

As preparation for these sessions, Rev. Pete recommends reading the following:

https://www.christianbiblereference.org/faq_homosexuality.htm

BACKGROUND on Disciples of Christ and Inclusion:

Formed in the early 1800s in response to the practice of Christian denominations acting in exclusion of each other rather than collaboration, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) have a history of reaching out to other traditions.

LGBTQ EQUALITY

ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION & GENDER IDENTITY

At the General Assembly in 2013, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) voted to affirm and welcome LGBTQ people in all aspects of church life, including leadership. While the resolution does not dictate policy for individual congregations, the denomination actively encourages congregations interested in becoming more inclusive.

ON MARRIAGE EQUALITY

Same-gender marriages are celebrated by many congregations of the Christian Church.
In response to the Supreme Court’s decision in favor of marriage equality, Rev. Sharon Watkins, former general minister and president, noted that individual congregations would maintain their autonomy but added that “ministers whose consciences call for them to conduct weddings for couples regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity may now do so legally in every state.”

ON NON-DISCRIMINATION

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) voiced its support of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act since the earliest days of the debate. As stated above, the church’s 2013 resolution calls for full inclusion of LGBTQ people in the church, including in administrative and leadership roles.

ON ORDINATION

As with other issues of policy, decisions regarding ordination remain in the hands of congregations and regions. However, several regions and many congregations of The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) now ordain LGBTQ clergy. Women have been ordained in the church since the 1880s.

RESOURCES

Disciples LGBTQ+ Alliance, a national organization working toward just and inclusive church that welcomes persons of all gender expressions and sexual identities into the full life and leadership of the church.

Urgent Volunteer Opportunities and Missions:

CCC Food Panty Needs: The pantry needs crackers and egg noodles for the boxes they put together for those in need.

Thank you for your support.

 

Family in Need:

Lakisha Jackson has been with Queen City Kitchens for over a year, she started out as our chef assistant and has worked hard to obtain QCK’s Kitchen Manager position in November 2017.  But most importantly, she has been a friend to all whether staff or volunteer and has become a loved member of the QCK family. On Monday, October 8, 2018, Kisha was diagnosed with cancer in her breast, spine, and lungs. Kisha is the sole provider of four beautiful children; two girls and two boys and has been advised she will need treatment that will place her out of work for a lengthy time. Kisha is only 34 years of age with the world on her shoulders at the moment. She has asked that we continue to keep her in our prayers. This will be a uphill battle that Kisha and her QCK family is ready to fight.

The QCK family is collecting donations for Kisha and her family to assist with monthly bills, medical expenses, and food for her children while they stay with family while she is hospitalized. You can donate through this GoFundMe page or through a jar that will be in the QCK Walnut Hills location.

If there is any other assistance that you would like to give please respond call us at 513-961-1983.

We would love to have someone adopt Kisha and her family for Christmas, if anyone would like more info please see Tia or email her at Director@QueenCityKitchen.org

Please make checks payable to Lakisha Jackson.

Feeding the Hungry in our Community:

Queen City Kitchen Sat., October 27

Volunteer now to help serve on October 27th.  See Linda H. or Kurt F.

Click HERE to find out additional information on Queen City Kitchen

STEPPING FORWARD  DINNER

Tuesday, October 30th, 5:30 p.m.

 

The next opportunity for Compass Christian Church to be a part this Faith Alliance ministry is coming soon.  We will meet at the Faith Community United Methodist Church on Cox Road in W.C. about 5:30 p.m. and partner with Bethany UMC of Liberty Twp. to prepare and serve dinner to over a 150 deserving members of our community.

Using the gifts we have received, let us pay forward to our neighbors by serving their needs.  Please  see  Ed  V.  to  add  your  name  to  the  sign-up  list.  You will be  blessed and God will  be glorified.

 

Click HERE to view Google Maps

Upcoming:

Angel Tree Program – Reach Out Lakota Holiday Program

Dear Compass Christian Church;

We are grateful for your support again this year!We are currently in the process of registering our families for the 2018 program with an enrollment deadline at the end of this month. Once I have completed our list of children, I will be happy to deliver a packet of 40 cards for 40 children.

Andrea

This holiday season you can make a difference for those in need in the West Chester and Liberty Township communities.  These gifts insure there are gifts under the Christmas tree for needy children in our communities; thanks in advance for your support of this holiday ministry!

Holiday Giving Program is one of the many services that Reach Out Lakota provides to the community. The Holiday Program consists of a toy program and a food program. For the toy program in 2017, Reach Out Lakota had approximately 745 children from 244 families that live in the Lakota Local School District registered to receive Christmas toys. Each child was provided with two gifts valued at $25 each. Gifts are donated by various individuals, business groups, social groups and church groups. In addition to the gifts, each child receives a bag of stocking toys valued at $5 – $10 each. For the food program in 2017, 253 families registered to receive food. Each of the families received boxes of food to feed them for the full week of Christmas. The food is provided by members of St. John Catholic Church and St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church.

Member in Mission Spotlight

Cozy Comforts for Kids     Cozy Comforts for Kids was born out of the quilt making service project of the Hiram College Alumni Volunteer Day that CCC hosted for 3 years.Because I enjoy the creative process of quilt making & had leftover material, I wondered how to use my talent & treasure.

Our church has several outreach projects for adults, but not one exclusively for kids.  After much thinking & praying over my idea of making quilts for kids, I brought it to the Women’s Bible Study. With their eager support & Pastor Troy’s approval, I was encouraged to start Cozy Comforts for Kids.

 

Each time I think, “I can’t do this because . . ” something happens that shows me I can & should continue this ministry.  When I get low on supplies, someone brings me a bag (sometimes 2) of material. When I think no one needs these quilts, I hear of a child who loves the quilt he/she received.

So here we are. Almost a year later and over 50 quilts made & given.  If you’d like to help with this ministry, you can

a.)  donate material – fleece, flannel, cotton/cotton blends in kid friendly patterns or neutral color thread,

b.)  cut the cotton material into 8″ squares,

c.)  make a quilt! – It’s easy & I can teach you how.

d.)  give a quilt to a child,

e.) pray for those receiving the quilts. 

Christmas is coming, and I would love to blanket our community with a tangible gift of our love.      Maureen M.

 

 

New Ministry ; Plarn Ministry Kickoff!

Monday, November 12 at 7 p.m. at CCC

What to Bring:

  • Plastic bags
  • Scissors                   
  • Crochet needs (size I or J) if you plan to crochet
  • Enthusiasm for service to our Lord Jesus Christ
  • Love for our friends in need 

Watch the weekly updates for more information. Hope to see you there!

 

Thanksgiving Offering Nov 11 & 18

 

The Thanksgiving Offering supports Disciples colleges, universities and theological institutions. Disciples have a long history of post-secondary and theological education. This offering provides a direct connection to 14 colleges and universities, 7 seminaries and theological programs. Gifts from this offering continue the Disciples tradition of developing leaders for our communities and the Church.

Get Reacquainted with Disciples Higher Education! from HELM on Vimeo.

Thank You!

Bakers…

A big Thank You to the bakers for World Communion, Ruth Phillips, Lacey Stewart, Sarah Ferguson, and Sally Engle. Breads were made from Russia, India, Australia, China, and the Middle East.  Thanks from the Worship  Team.

Workers…

Thank you to the following for all their hard work on Saturday’s work day. Bill & Alice A., Layle & Laura D., Don & Ruth P., Dave & Nancy T., Rich & Sally E., Steve & Daun S., Gerry W., Ed V., Kirk T., Mike L., Alice W. & Mairi H.

Painters…

A thank you to all who participated in the Paint Nite which brought in over $450 for the Dominican Republic 2019 Mission Trip!!

Thanks to our Regional Assembly Representatives!

We appreciate the prayers of many, and the presence of Jane & Linda H., Daun S., Troy S., Ed V., and Wilma W. who traveled to Gender Road Christian Church to represent CCC in the business                        sessions involving our future as a region.

Youth Corner

CAMP CHRISTIAN

 

We are so excited to share with you the 2019 Summer Program Schedule for Camp Christian. As you can see there will be two opportunities for Grandparents Camp in 2019 the first being on June 7th & 8th.
The dates for the second one have yet to be determined, but will be later in the summer. We are also going to have Chi Rho Camp Damascus and CYF Week #3 at Camp Christian at the same time.  The Directors of these two Camps are working together to share the space in new and creative ways.
You will also note the two Disciples Fellowship Retreats which are open to all ages.

We are planning to have fees and registration materials for the Children, Youth & Young Adult Camps and Conferences ready by Thanksgiving, so keep an eye out for that. http://www.ccinoh.com/camp-christian.aspx

Camp Christian Concert Fundraiser 

 Sat. Nov. 17, 7 p.m. “A Night with Noah & Jessi!”

Award winning guitarist, Noah Wotherspoon and Jessi Bair will be sharing their immense talents onstage at Camp Christian.  Noah and Jessi have been collaborating since they met in central Pennsylvania in 2009. Together they weave an ethereal musical tapestry of Americana, alt/country, and Appalachian blues. In 2012, they released their first EP as a duo entitled: “Carolina Songs”.

Please join us as we enjoy great music, good food and fun.  For those interested, we will have an “open mic” after Noah and Jessi’s performance. This is a family friendly event.

Tickets are $25. You may also choose to add an overnight option at Camp Christian for an additional $25 per person.  100% of the proceeds will go to Camp Christian.

Help us raise money to “Keep the Bell Ringing!”

 

Coins for Camp With $1104 from coins & $4146 from commemorative coins, 2 gift checks (anonymous & Nancy Pigg memorial gift), a grand total of $5250 from CCC was dedicated at the Oct. 6 Regional Assembly! Thanks for everyone’s generous support!

 

 

Pizza / Craft Party – November 4th 

Ohio CYF invites high-schoolers to join in engaging with faith and politics

CYF abbreviation for “Christian Youth Fellowship”

Posted on October 5, 2018 at 3:22 pm.

Disciples News Service

Submitted by Rev. Alan Dicken

Religion and politics – two things you are not supposed to talk about at dinner. And yet, it is always important to know how your faith informs the rest of your life. Deciding to follow Jesus means following Christ in the classroom, at work, and in the community. Now more than ever, it is important to know how our faith shapes policies made in this country and around the world.

hat spirit, that the Ohio CYF embarks every two years on a “UN Seminar” trip. For a week, high schoolers from around the state travel to New York City and Washington D.C. to explore how faith and politics impact one another.

While in the Big Apple, students tour the United Nations Building (technically leaving U.S. soil briefly)! We meet with representatives of Church World Service and the Nation Council of Churches. In our nation’s capital, students have a chance to meet with congressional representatives, and sometimes even one of the senators of the Buckeye State. The UN Seminar participants have the opportunity to visit the Holocaust Museum, the National Museum of African American History, and many other fascinating places of learning.

While there are many opportunities for education and chances to interact with decision makers in our country, there are also a lot of other experiences to be had on the UN Seminar! Throughout the week, participants participate in a service project, see a play, go to the top of the Empire State Building, take in a Broadway musical, worship in some of our nation’s important Disciples churches, and go sightseeing all over!

Traditionally, this has been an experience reserved for Ohio high schoolers, but we would like to take this opportunity to invite anyone and everyone from high schools all over the country who would like to join us on this once in a lifetime trip! We’ll be going from Feb. 22- March 2, 2019 and all are welcome to apply!

Go to https://disciples.org/youth/ohio-cyf-invites-high-schoolers-to-join-in-engaging-with-faith-and-politics/

Focus on the Youth – Books to Read ; Books can be loaned from our library

School’s back in session, so this month we focus on our youth and how we can help them in their faith journeys.

You’ve heard of extreme sports? In Burn by Thomas Nelson, publishers, we’re shown how to live with extreme compassion – the compassion Jesus had. This is not for the casual Christian, but for someone looking to really get involved.

 

 

 

Our youth can’t develop on their own. Author of more than 30 books, George Barna, explores how adults can develop a more effective ministry for children in Transforming Children Into Spiritual Champions.  Anyone who cares about & for our church kids will discover what Barna feels is necessary to help transform them for Christ.

 

 

If You’d Been There in Bible Times by Abingdon Press really makes Bible stories come alive!  The colorful pages combine the story with information on what life was really like when it happened.  What kind of homes did people live in?  What did they eat & wear? How did they travel? Kids (and parents) can deepen their understanding of Bible times in a fun & interesting way.

 

 

These and other great books await you in the Library Corner.

Waypoints

We all live off his generous bounty, gift after gift after gift. We got the basics from Moses, and then this exuberant giving and receiving, this endless knowing and understanding— all this came through Jesus, the Messiah.                 John 1:16-17

Native American farmers practice companion planting with corn, beans, and squash. Flat mounds of earth 1’ high and 20” wide are formed at whose center several corn kernels are planted. When the corn plants are about 6” tall, bean and squash seeds are planted alternately around the perimeter. Native Americans call these three plants the “Three Sisters,” each of whom has a role to play. Sister Corn is the leader, Sister Bean is the giver, and Sister Squash is the protector.

The corn provides the poles for beans to climb, the beans provide nitrogen for corn and squash, and the squash leaves block sunlight to reduce weeds, create a microclimate to retain moisture, and their prickly hairs deter pests. Corn lacks essential amino acids the body needs, but beans contain both and these three together provide the complex carbohydrates, essential fatty acids, and all 8 essential amino acids we need to thrive. The Brooklyn Botanic Garden website says, “Each is part of a cooperative, symbiotic plant community, a circle of interdependence, giving and receiving.”

A key component of Christian community is “mutual  upbuilding” (Rom 14:9) where different spiritual gifts equip the Church for ministry. This upbuilding is marked by grace, pleasing one another, encouragement, and consolation. This love helps each part work properly together, promotes the body’s growth, and whose purpose is building up the Church. Its goal is the unity of the faith, the knowledge of God’s Son, and spiritual maturity. The Three Sisters build each other up.

The origin of Christian community is within the Trinity itself, the tri-unity shared among Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It’s found in Jesus’ prayer for the Church in John 17:21-26 where the unity, glory, and love that Jesus shares with the Father is shared with us. This is so the world may believe the Father sent Jesus and that the Father loves us. Our community life witnesses to the world the unity and relationship of the Trinity.

The Greek word for this relationship is perichoresis from peri which means “around” and chorein which means “to make room for, go forward, contain.” It’s often visualized by three figures holding hands in a circle, dancing without end, a circle of interdependence, of giving and receiving.

Our September fall launch shared:

There is no more urgent task for our time than the

rebuilding of community among our scattered families, anonymous neighborhoods, competitive workplaces, (anti)social media, and partisan politics.

The Church, at its best, represents a transnational movement for wholeness whose shared and primary loyalty to Christ creates a united community despite the differences that might otherwise divide.

Might a planting technique help us imagine the community we’re called to create?

Regional News

Regional & Camp Christian Financial Reports ; Regional Finances

 At the end of August last year we had a negative Cash Bank balance of ($148,319).  In contrast, as of August 31 of this year we have a positive Cash  Bank balance of $19,603! The same date last year we owed the Office of General Minister & President $19,207.  As of August 31, 2018 we owe the OGMP $5,933.  This amount will be paid in full by the end of the year, according to the Treasury Services projection, assuming we continue in the positive trend of holding down expenses and increasing income.  We need a generous Christmas Offering to finish out the year in a strong financial position.

Camp Finances

 The Camp Christian section of the financial report is not as strong, primarily due to the lower number of campers and the lower numbers than anticipated in Camp Facilities & Meals from retreats and other non-summer rentals at Camp Christian. And, our expenses are under budget by $17,231! Almost all of this reduction is due to saving in the Food & Kitchen expense line. Our Camp Christian net deficit was($13,793) as of August 31.

The Total Income was helped by the Gifts of $71,294. These were gifts toward paying down the balance on the loan with Disciples Church Extension Fund. These figures were updated at the October 6 Regional Assembly. Camp Superintendent Al Channell reminded folks the 2013 mortgage was $389,000. In May of 2018 it was $212,000. As of September 28 it was $113,000. Between September 29 to October 5, it was $77,000. Nancy Pigg’s Memorial gift along with CCC’s spare change, collectible coins, tee-shirts, calendars, and an anonymous gift came to $5,250, 36% of the Regional Assembly Camp Christian offering  of $14,500! As of October 6, the new mortgage has now been reduced to $63,000! And to top it off, the IN Regional Assembly, meeting the same day as ours, took up an offering for the Ohio region.

That is much better than one year ago, but must continue to improve.  Treasury Services projects, based on 8 months of actual numbers and 4 months of budgeted numbers, we should reach a positive cash balance of $1,112 as of December 31, 2018.

 We are making significant strides and progress to insure the good work of Camp Christian continues for future generations of our children and youth.

For full report click HERE

Regional Assembly Decisions

The following decisions were approved by the 350+ members at Gender Road CC on October 6:

#1: Recovenanting as Ohio Disciples was approved as amended, dropping “Ohio Disciples” as our “Doing Business As.”

#2: Vacancies on the Regional Church Council were filled with nominees from the floor across the 5 areas of our region.

#3 Resizing & Streamlining the Regional Church   Council to be no more than 21 members & the Executive Council to be no more than 10.

#4 Regional Transition Team to create a process     whereby we can move forward & take next steps.

Health Ministry

Focus on Health: Medicare Part D

 Some changes to part D are coming in 2019. Just as a reminder, Medicare part D is the prescription drug plan part of medicare. Before going deeper into what the changes for the 2019 plan year are let’s discuss some terminology.

 Deductible: A deductible is the out of pocket cost you are responsible for before your coverage kicks in.

 Doughnut Hole or Coverage Gap: The doughnut hole or coverage gap is a period of time in your part D coverage where your medication costs go up after you spend over a certain threshold. This threshold is considered the bottom of the doughnut hole and is calculated by adding the total amount paid by you and your insurance company for your medications. The top of the doughnut hole, the threshold you need to meet so you no longer have to pay those higher drug costs, is calculated by adding the amount you paid out of pocket to get into the doughnut hole and what you pay out of pocket while in the doughnut hole.

 Catastrophic Coverage: Catastrophic coverage is on the other side of the doughnut hole and is where your copays go back down from the coverage gap levels.

Now that we’ve reviewed the terminology, let’s look at the specifics for 2019. The maximum out of pocket deductible for this year is $415 which is slightly higher than last year. The coverage gap or the doughnut hole thresholds are also changing. In 2019 the initial coverage limit or bottom of the doughnut hole is going to be $3820 and the top of the coverage gap will be $5100. Remember paying $3820 between both you and your insurance will put you in the gap and paying $5100 out of pocket (including what you paid before you got into the gap) will get you out of the gap. While in the gap you will pay 30 percent of the cost of brand-name drugs, and 37 percent of the cost of generics this coming year.

As always, if you have questions please see Lacey S. Also, don’t forget to stop by for the Health Ministry’s monthly blood pressure checks after church in the pantry area!

 

October PRAYERS

 Local:   For resources to heal infants and children in the opioid epidemic.

 Regional:  For upcoming election results & their effect on all Ohio residents.

 Global:  For aid workers in natural and human-created international disaster areas.

 

Calendar of Upcoming Events

Unless otherwise denoted all events are held at  Compass Christian Church, 6771 Tylersville Rd, Mason, OH 45040, USA

  • Awakenings October 21, 2018 at 9:00 am – 9:30 am 
  • Adult Study October 21, 2018 at 9:30 am – 10:10 am 
  • Worship October 21, 2018 at 10:30 am – 11:30 am 
  • Healing & Anointing October 21, 2018 at 11:20 am – 11:35 am 
  • Women’s Bible Study October 23, 2018 at 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
  • The Bible & Homosexuality October 23, 2018 at 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
  • Handbell Practice October 24, 2018 at 6:30 pm – 7:00 pm
  • Adult Choir Practice October 24, 2018 at 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm
  • Ablaze Choir October 25, 2018 at 7:00 pm – 7:30 pm
  • QUEEN CITY KITCHES IN OVER-THE-RHINE October 27, 2018 at 9:00 am – 2:00 pm 1620 Vine St. Cincinnati OH 45202 We will prepare and serve a meal for about 300 people – cooking starts at 9 a.m. service is noon to 1 p.m.
  • Interfaith Hospitality October 27, 2018 at 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
  • Awakenings October 28, 2018 at 9:00 am – 9:30 am 
  • Adult Study October 28, 2018 at 9:30 am – 10:10 am 
  • Worship October 28, 2018 at 10:30 am – 11:30 am
  • Women’s Bible Study October 30, 2018 at 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
  • Stepping Forward Dinner October 30, 2018 at 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm Faith Community United Methodist, 8230 Cox Rd, West Chester Township, OH 45069, USA Volunteer to help serve.
  • The Bible & Homosexuality October 30, 2018 at 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
  • Handbell Practice October 31, 2018 at 6:30 pm – 7:00 pm
  • Adult Choir Practice October 31, 2018 at 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm 
  • Pastor @ Panera November 1, 2018 at 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Panera Bread, 7725 Voice of America Centre Dr, Westchester, OH 45069
  • Ablaze Choir November 1, 2018 at 7:00 pm – 7:30 pm

  • Awakenings November 4, 2018 at 9:00 am – 9:30 am 
  • Adult Study November 4, 2018 at 9:30 am – 10:10 am 
  • Worship November 4, 2018 at 10:30 am – 11:30 am 

  • General Election November 6, 2018
  • Elders November 6, 2018 at 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm 
  • The Bible & Homosexuality November 6, 2018 at 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
  • Handbell Practice November 7, 2018 at 6:30 pm – 7:00 pm
  • Adult Choir Practice November 7, 2018 at 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm
  • Ablaze Choir November 8, 2018 at 7:00 pm – 7:30 pm
  • MLT & Board November 13, 2018 at 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
  • Live Nativity Build November 17, 2018

  • Consecration Sunday November 18, 2018 – a light meal of soups following service 12 pm
  • Live Nativity December 8, 2018 at 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm 
  • Cincinnati Civic Orchestra December 13, 2018 at 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm 
  • Christmas Cantata December 16, 2018 at 10:30 am – 11:30 am 
  • Christmas Eve Service December 24, 2018 at 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm

 

Google Maps Link: 6771 Tylersville Road Mason OH 45040

 

Categories
Newsletter

The Disciples Voice Newsletter August 16, 2017

You can read the PDF version of this newsletter (which is a little different than this one) by clicking here

Following events free and open to the public ; 

No need to register. Just show up:

New Education Opportunity for the Community – Christianity & Islam

Where we will discuss frankly the similarities and differences between the two in order to have a greater understanding of each.  

You do not have to be a member of this church, faith or any faith to attend all, one or many of these sessions.

at Compass Christian Church 6771 Tylersville Road Mason Ohio 45040

Day / Time : TBD

 

  5th Annual Butler County Social Services Resource Expo

This event is free and open to the public!

No need to register. Just show up!

      Learn about the wide range of services and resources available to support Butler County families with over 70 organizations present. The organizations will be split into four main categories:

¨ Basic Needs

¨ Disability Services

¨ Mental Health/Substance Abuse

¨ Family Supports/Education/Employment

There will be door prizes, a resource directory, re-usable bags, a food truck and much more!

If you are interested in having a booth for your organization, please contact perryl@bcesc.org

Lauren Perry, FCFC Training Coordinator

Butler Co. Family & Children First Council

400 N. Erie Blvd. Ste. A, Hamilton, OH 45011

513-785-6770 (office) / 513-869-9797 (cell)

SING OUT AGAINST POVERTY MUSIC FESTIVAL

When Sat, September 30, 2017, 12 pm – 5 pm
Where The Square at Union Centre, 9285 Centre Pointe Dr, West Chester Township, OH 45069, USA (map)

Free admission and open to the public! Four local Christian bands will play with STAR 93.3 and DJ Julie Pierce kicking off the festivities! Free food and beverages offered along with door prizes and the Hauser Air Kid Zone featuring games & prizes, corn hole, face painting, coloring contest, and a Cool Zone tent! Donations go to support programs helping neighbors in need with food, meals, educational supplies and Reading Programs.

 

 No Cost, but must Preregister: 

Family-to-Family

Click “Register for Classes” below to be added to the contact list, so we can let you know when our next Basics class is scheduled.  Register for Classes

 

Day: Thursdays
Start Date: August31, 2017
Time: 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Location: NAMI offices inside Mental Health Board offices, 5963 Boymel Drive, Fairfield, Ohio 45014
Registration: Call 513-860-8396 or send an email to info@nami-bc.org to register.
Last Day to Register: Sept 14, 2017

Topics include:

  • Basics of brain biology and mental health conditions
  • Exploring the subjective experience of coping with a mental illness
  • Getting through a crisis
  • Coping skills/Self-care
  • Communication skills
  • Locating services and support
  • Latest medications and therapies
  •  Helping your loved ones without enabling them

Members Corner:

The Dailey Family reports on their mission trip to Wooster Ohio:

On July 2, Dave Tietsort was commissioned to serve as the Compass Christian Church representative to the Disciples of Christ 2017 General Assembly in Indianapolis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

One Article from the following newsletter disciples.org:

Read additional newsletter articles on our General Assembly and other service works by Disciples of Christ Ministries :                                                                                       http://disciples.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/GA17-News.pdf

Daily Devotional :

The Upper Room Disciplines 2018

Electronic version

Kindle
  • Publish Date:9/1/2017
  • Product Number:K1626
  • ISBN978-08358-1626-7

cost for e-books is $9.99

If you want an actually book then Donne will order for you to consolidate the shipping charges. Cost is $10.50

Books will be ordered after payment is received;      Deadline to pay:  Oct 6.

OVERVIEW of Disciplines 2018 from the publishers:

Faithful users appreciate this best-selling devotional guide as an insightful, grounding, and must-read  devotional for spending daily time with God.  Fifty-three writers from diverse Christian backgrounds invite you to immerse yourself in scripture and apply its truths to your daily life.

Each daily reading offers

  • a selected Bible reading drawn from the Revised Common Lectionary
  • a thoughtful reflection on the scripture passage
  • a prayer or suggestion for reflection
  • In addition to a weekly overview of scriptures and questions for small-group or individual reflection,  Disciplines contains an appendix of the lectionary readings for 2018 as well as morning, midday, and evening prayers.

Leadership Retreat Report

On August 12, our Board, Elders, and Open Table graduates gathered at a meeting room in David Broz’ workplace to explore why place is   important in the Bible, that God is  operative outside the boxes we create, and how we can begin addressing questions of what God’s up to locally.

By gathering to share our faith stories with fellow church members and becoming more present in the neighborhoods we share, we’ll discover that God is already ahead of us, operating in ordinary places and everyday times of regular people who live near us. You’ll be hearing more about this in the coming weeks.

 

Christian Church in Ohio Upcoming Events:

These events and more can all be found  http://www.ccinoh.com/regional-calendar.aspx

For more information, contact Jennie Stoddart Bernard at jstoddartbernard@ccinoh.org or 614-433-0343 Ext 4.

 

Youth Corner:

Our youth are involved in choir, worship & wonder, service to the community and more…  For more information please visit here

YOU ARE A MIRACLE, ENTIRELY UNIQUE;

There has never been another with your combination of talents, dreams, desires and hopes.

You can create. You are capable of love and compassion.

You are a miracle. You are a gift of creation to itself.

You are here for a purpose, which you must find.

Your presence here is sacred – and you will Change the world.  –   David Krieger

“Helping Every Child in Need Succeed”

– Backpack and School Supply Program

Compass Christian Church goes over and above again! What an amazing outpouring of love!

This year we collected 33 filled backpacks ~ that’s three more than cards taken! In addition, we supplied Reach Out Lakota with 4 extra empty backpacks, $65.00 in donations, and 3 bags of extra supplies!

Not to mention those secret church mice who donated   directly to Reach Out Lakota upwards of $400 ~ Bringing our total church giving to  approximately $1900.00!

To all things give God honor and praise!

Other Outreach Opportunities:

A word regarding Charlottesville

From General Minister and President Terri Hord Owens –

Sisters and brothers, my heart breaks at the violence this weekend in Charlottesville – the loss of life, the dishonoring of children of God, the vile insults hurled and the wounds of history reopened. I pray for the family of the woman who died. I pray in praise of the peaceful demonstrators. We cannot take backward steps fueled by hatred. We cannot be silent when the humanity of black persons is being assaulted and terrorized.

The commandment in 1 John 4:20 calls us to account: “Those who say, ‘I love God,’ and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.”

And so let us love one another as we love God. With such love, we are compelled to stand for justice, and walk in peace.  Terri

 

So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. So then, let us work together for the good of all.                                                                      Galatians 6:9-10

 

What happened in Charlottesville, VA, this past weekend wasn’t an isolated incident, a foreign element introduced by outside  agitators. It was simply the latest example and natural consequence of America’s love affair with white supremacy. Many residents posted online #NotMyTown to distance themselves from the KKK, Neo-Nazis, white nationalists, alt-right and other racists that had converged there. Racism has been woven into American life since August 20, 1619 when slaves were brought to Jamestown, VA; there is no “NotMyTown” where we can distance ourselves from it.

 

Racism infects our history as a nation, our legal and judicial systems, zoning ordinances and urban planning, hiring decisions, school system disparities, local, state, and national politics, and even churches. Denominations divided over slavery into northern and southern branches in the Civil War.

 

Thomas Jefferson, whose university was the site of this weekend’s violence, penned “all men are created equal” yet owned slaves himself. This contradiction would be addressed, but not resolved, by the Emancipation Proclamation, the U.S. victory over the   Confederacy, and the 13th, 14th, and 15th Constitutional  Amendments. Reconstruction enfranchising former southern slaves was overturned by state legislatures enacting Jim Crow laws. Those laws were upheld by Supreme Court decisions,  effectively undoing these rights until 1965.  Federal Civil Rights Acts to restore these rights started in 1957 and continued in 1960, 1964, 1965, 1968, 1987, and 1991. With President Obama’s 2008 election there was talk that America was now a “post-racial nation.” President Trump’s election in 2016 gave the lie to that, one painted in vivid colors on the streets of Charlottesville. 

 

Racists proudly marched with torches at night, faces bared for all to see, boldly revealing white supremacy’s ugliness.  As Dr.    Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote in his 1963 “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”:  “Like a boil that can never be cured so long as it is covered up but must be opened with all its ugliness to the  natural medicines of air and light, injustice must be exposed, with all the tension its exposure creates, to the light of human conscience and the air of national opinion before it can be cured.”

 

King confessed his grave disappointment in white moderates “more devoted to ‘order’ than to justice” and with white churches. While thankful for the few whites and clergy that stood with him, he realized that “few members of the oppressor race can understand the deep groans and passionate yearnings of the oppressed race, and still fewer have the vision to see that injustice must be rooted out by strong, persistent and determined action.

 

Human progress never rolls in on wheels of inevitability; it comes through the tireless efforts of men willing to be coworkers with God, and without this hard work, time itself becomes an ally of the forces of social stagnation.

 

We must use time creatively, in the knowledge that the time is always ripe to do right. I hope the church as a whole will meet the challenge of this decisive hour and come to the aid of justice. I have no despair about the future because the sacred heritage of our nation and the eternal will of God are embodied in our echoing demands.

 

Let us all hope that the dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass away and the deep fog of misunderstanding will be lifted from our fear drenched communities, and in some not too distant tomorrow the radiant stars of love and brotherhood will shine over our great nation with all their scintillating beauty.”

Other Regional News:

 

Categories
Sermon

“The Fruit of Self-Control” (2 Peter 1:1-11; Galatians 5:23)  Sunday July 9, 2017

Call to Worship

L: God has planted within and among us the seed of the gospel.

P: And through baptism and the Holy Spirit irrigated it with living waters.

L: Parents and family, teachers and friends, pastors, counselors, and churches have each cultivated us.

P: Yet it was always God who gave the growth!

U: May the fruit of self-control ripen among us and be shared so others taste and see that the Lord is good!

Scripture (2 Peter 1:1-11; Galatians 5:23) 

Our first reading comes from the second letter of Peter. 

1Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith as precious as ours through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:
2May grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
3His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
4Thus he has given us, through these things, his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of lust, and may become participants of the divine nature.
5For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge,
 6and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness,
7and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love.
8For if these things are yours and are increasing among you, they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
 9For anyone who lacks these things is nearsighted and blind, and is forgetful of the cleansing of past sins.
10Therefore, brothers and sisters, be all the more eager to confirm your call and election, for if you do this, you will never stumble.
11For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.

Our second reading comes from the letter to the Galatians.

23The fruit of the Spirit is self-control.

Here ends our readings. May God bless our understanding.

“The Fruit of Self-Control”

Sermon Video:

Sermon Slide Video:

Announcements:

Some pictures from VBS Vacation Bible School after Sunday’s setup:

Categories
Newsletter

“The Disciples Voice” Newsletter April 19, 2017

To view the PDF version of this newsletter go HERE

Rev. Richard Walker ~ April 23

 

While Troy is on the Pastor’s Class Trip to Nashville with CCC Youth, Rev. Richard Walker will return as our  guest minister. 

His sermon title is “What’s A Christian Follower to Do?” 

Come hear his answer & make him welcome!

 

Youth Corner: 

April 30, Youth Sunday

 Come engage with us in a very special worship service on Sunday, April 30, 2017,

when CCC youth will be leading our praise, which will be all about Jesus!  Our topic is “Loving Difficult People” and our theme is Jesus on the Beach!
Join with us that morning for amazing singing,  sermons, scripture, dance, musical solos & ensembles, art and a few laughs ~ all brought to you by the youth of CCC!
This service will serve as an antidote to the notion that the whole world is going downhill!!!

—Laura,  Rhonda, & the CCC Youth

CCC Youth Announcements

PRACTICES for YOUTH SUNDAY ~ All youth will meet after worship on Sun., Apr. 23, from 12:00-2:00, and there will be additional practices on Wed., April 26 and Saturday, Apr. 29.  See Rhonda G if you have questions.

1) RAFFLE TICKETS ~ Next Sunday, April 23, we begin the annual raffle ticket fundraiser which will last until June 4. Raffle tickets cost $1 each or 6 for $5; prizes include restaurant gift cards, King’s Island tickets and items from Trades of Hope.

 

2) NO YOUTH BAKE SALE. This year, May 2 is a   Special Election Day and the Warren County Board of Elections will NOT be using our church.

 

 

 

In December, the CYF packed a box of gifts for Alexis, the little girl we met on the mission trip last summer. We wanted to surprise Alexis with some PJs and slippers, art kit & supplies, a cross necklace and edible goodies!

Some CYFers and Chi Rho youth also drew beautiful designs that included scripture! We pray this will be a bright spot and a token of God’s love from fellow sojourners!

(This great photo & story were sent to The Disciples’ Voice editor after the December newsletter deadline, and she forgot to include it in the January newsletter. ~ Apologies!)

 

 

Vacation Bible School (VBS) July 11-14

Pastor’s Class Trip to Nashville ~ April 21-23

Each year we take 5th-8th graders to connect with our denominational and national history, share fun experiences along the way, and learn more about God and each other. This year we’re heading to Nashville, TN for a three-day weekend.
Please keep these young travelers and their chaperones in your prayers for a safe, fun, and enriching journey.

Pictures from March 19

Ablaze Choir Sings “Do Something”

solo’s by Jackson F. and Luke B.

 

Parents & Youth Leaders to Meet May 21

On Sunday, May 21, from 12:00-2:00 p.m., all parents are invited to meet with Youth Leaders to give feedback on this year’s Bible Study and to help plan Sunday school for next year.
We will also discuss a plan for Youth Activities for the coming year (and maybe at least one event this year). We’ll order lunch delivered to the church, and older youth have volunteered to babysit the younger ones with pizza and a movie while parents are in the meeting.
Watch for upcoming announcements. Contact Carol Y for more info.

Reach Out with Helping Hands: 

Habitat for Humanity Volunteers

On April 1, X-Day, Compass CC  volunteers worked at the Habitat for Humanity Re-Store in Hamilton.

Some demolished old dishwashers and stripped out the metal so it could be recycled; others swept and dusted the store.

At the church, Mike, Sarah, &   Matthew L. dispersed five gallons of Roundup around the property to eliminate weeds.

Bill A., Bob P., Don P. and Mike L. (after he finished the  Roundup gig) worked on the new storage barn.

They also picked up, delivered & unloaded paving stones to construct a walkway from the sanctuary to the new barn. 

Annmarie L., Sarah F. and Marlene P. prepared lunch for the CCC volunteers.

Over-The-Rhine &

Walnut Hills Kitchens & Pantry

“Nourishing the body, mind and spirit”

 ANNUAL REPORT 2016

Dear Friends,

This has been an eventful year in getting the Over-The-Rhine Kitchen fully functioning after the fire in October last year.  Over-The-Rhine &  Walnut Hills volunteers and staff made box   lunches at the WH Kitchen and served them outside the Over-The-Rhine Kitchen during the five months of building restoration.

 

In the Pantry, beyond regular groceries, our gracious pantry supporters responded to the Clean Challenge by donating hygiene items    sufficient to allow us to offer each of our 360 monthly pantry households a precious hygiene bag in September, November, and December! Our guests expressed heartfelt enthusiasm and many echoed blessings for our donors.

 

The Over-The-Rhine Kitchen was honored as a     Champion of Mercy by Catholic Charities Southwestern Ohio, who referred to the work of the Kitchen as “humbling” and “inspiring.” The mission of the Kitchens and Pantry is consistent with Catholic Charities’ focus on engaging our community to see God’s love for the poor; serving and inviting the community to serve the poor; and empowering the community so all God’s children rise from spiritual and material poverty.

 

The Kitchens and Pantry maintained our accredited charity status with the Better Business Bureau through meeting or exceeding the BBB Wise Giving Alliance   standards in governance, finances, fundraising practices, website disclosures, and donor privacy.

 

Thank you for continuing to join us in the fight against hunger in our community – one person at a time.

 

Sincerely,

Patricia Wakim

Executive Director

To sign up your team for the Hunger Walk, go to http://www.cincinnatihungerwalk.org/2017/, fill out the registration, and list Over-The-Rhine Kitchen as your beneficiary.

Hunger Walk & Run

May 29

Here are some photos of volunteers who worked the recent OTR Soup Kitchen: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
“Feed our Neighbors” Drive Makes Big Impact

 The 5th Annual Faith Alliance “Feed our Neighbors in Need” Food Drive surpassed its goal of 25,000 pounds and collected more than 26,300 pounds of food to feed our  hungry neighbors.

 

17 local congregations participated  during one weekend in March. We donated to 11 different food pantries in Butler, Warren and Hamilton Counties. The impact of this collaborative event is estimated to have provided enough to feed 630 people over 6 weeks for an estimated 52,920 meals.

 

Over 5 years, this effort has collected nearly 126,000 pounds of food for those in need. Faith Alliance thanks God for the many volunteers & donors, including Kroger, who made this event such a success.

CCC FOOD PANTRY Our Food Pantry is full!  All credit goes to the overwhelming response of our congregation to the “Feed Our Neighbors in Need” Food Drive, March 4-5.  We now have a problem of storage–a new but great problem–and are using around-the-wall space in the Pantry to store food items because all shelves and bins are full.  Hours for distribution of boxes have expanded to include     Thursdays as well as Tuesdays, but with our current amount of food we should have an adequate supply for some time.

Many, many thanks to all who contributed to our rich bounty!

~ Ruth and Marlene

Mothers Day Blankets

Members Corner:

REGIONAL LISTENING CONFERENCE

Monday, May 8, 2017 @ 12:00pm

Carthage Christian Church in Cincinnati

 The Christian Church in Ohio is holding several Listening Conferences around the Region.  These conferences are in conjunction with the District Clergy gatherings, but are open to lay persons as well.  If you wish to attend the one at Carthage CC, no need to  register ~ just show up!

for more information see the Waypoints section.

 

New Storage Barn at CCC 

In March, the New Construction Team (Bill A., Bob P., Don P., Lindsay B., & Steve Se.) acquired the necessary materials, constructed the foundation, and arranged placement of the new Board-approved, 24′  x 12′ Amish-constructed storage barn.

 In addition to its 12′ x 24′ floor area, the barn has two lofts where infrequently used but necessary items can be stored (i.e. Christmas & Live Nativity materials, Vacation Bible School props, etc.).  The extra space allows us to  remove clutter from our sanctuary and eliminate overcrowding of existing storage rooms where vacated shelving can be organized for easy access and more efficient usage.

 Since the Property Team requires more space than they had in the existing shed, the new barn has two doors , one on either end, and the Property Team will use an 8′ x 12′ space on the west end for tools, lawn mower, etc.  A  partition will separate these items from the clean 12′ x 16′ storage area. 

 

THANK YOU, CCC CONGREGATION, for your Capital Pledges which make new capital improvements possible!

 

PRAYERS FOR THE MONTH OF MAY

 

Local

For a solution to the heroin epidemic destroying lives and families.

 

National

That all the people of this country learn to live as one nation with everyone’s best interests at heart.

 

Global

That a spirit of world tolerance instead of world domination be instilled in everyone’s heart.

Waypoints – Disciples News: 

In the past weeks we’ve been praying for our Regional Church at Regional Moderator (RM) Tom Stephenson’s request. Rev. Dr. Bill Edwards retired as Regional Pastor & President effective March 24. That retirement was accepted March 25 at the Regional Church Council (RCC) meeting.

 

At that meeting thirty-four pastors, in or connected to the OH region, composed and sent a number of letters  requesting an investigation into allegations both personal and financial. Those allegations were of unethical personal behavior and the misdirection and/or misuse of designated funds. The content of those letters was shared, and the RCC’s response was compassionate and prayerful.

 

Rev. Stephen Bentley is our sole Acting Regional Minister (¾ time Regional & ¼ time General). The RM is working with General Minister and President Sharon Watkins to find an Intentional Interim from outside of Ohio to address issues of concern.

 

The RCC is being advised by legal counsel. The RCC, recusing those with conflicts of interest and with close oversight from the General Church, will investigate allegations of unethical personal behavior. The RCC’s Finance Committee is soliciting bids from a number of audit firms to do a full and independent audit, a forensic audit to establish whether the Region’s fiduciary interest was served, and whether new policies and  procedures are needed to restore fiscal trust.

 

On April 4 the RM sent a letter to all Ohio clergy inviting them and laity to a series of listening sessions where these issues of concern will be discussed. Carthage Christian Church will be hosting this area’s listening session on Monday, May 8 at noon. If you’re unable to participate, you may email or call Revs. Bentley or Stephenson.

 

The Region is currently running an $84,000 deficit in the operating budget; it became necessary to redirect funds to meet the operating budget. I quote from that letter, “We are experiencing a time of great financial uncertainty. I am  asking each congregation as well as individual donors to   consider a sacrificial gift to the Leadership Fund of the Christian Church in Ohio.” Such gifts would close the   deficit and prevent funds from being redirected in the future. Please remember that the Region’s financial challenges do not impact our congregation directly.

 

Besides the financial and ethical areas of concern and prayer, please keep Regional and General leadership in prayer. The RCC needs your prayers as many representatives are new and tasked with responsibilities incurred by their predecessors. It has taken great courage for them to remain and work toward corrective action where healing can begin and a broken system be mended.

 

While prayers for courage, wisdom, and endurance are still very much needed, it is important to be transparent about what has occurred. To that end, I have called an informational meeting for Sunday, May 7th immediately following worship. I will be sharing further information from the Regional Council’s March 25 minutes, reports, and financial documents made public by the RM on April 13. At that meeting I hope to answer as many questions as possible.

Pastor Troy

REGIONAL WEB SITES

You can learn more about each regional ministry by visiting their web site:

Alabama-Northwest Florida www.alnwfldisciples.org
Arizona www.Azdisciples.org
California, Northern-Nevada www.ccncn.org
Canada www.disciplesofchrist.ca
Capital Area www.cccadisciples.org
Central Rocky Mountain www.centralrockymountaindisciples.org
Florida www.fldisciples.org
Georgia www.gadisciples.org
Great River www.grrdisciples.org
Illinois and Wisconsin www.cciwdisciples.org
Indiana www.indianadisciples.org
Kansas www.kansasdisciples.org
Kansas City, Greater www.kcdisciples.org
Kentucky www.ccinky.org
Michigan www.michigandisciples.org
Mid-America www.mid-americadisciples.org
Montana www.montanadisciples.org
Nebraska www.disciples-ne.org
North Carolina www.ncdisciples.org
Northeastern under revision – e-mail maglover1@aol.com
Northwest www.disciplesnw.org
Ohio www.ccinoh.org
Oklahoma www.okdisciples.org
Oregon and Southwest Idaho www.oidisciples.org
Pacific Southwest www.disciplespswr.org
Pennsylvania www.padisciples.org
South Carolina www.scdisciples.org
Southwest www.ccsw.org
Tennessee www.ccdctn.org
Upper Midwest www.uppermidwestcc.org
Virginia www.ccinva.org
West Virginia www.wvdisciples.org
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