Volume CXII No. 2 | December 2017

Christian Church In Kentucky | 1125 Red Mile Rd., Lexington, KY 40504 | 859.233.1391 | www.ccinky.org

2017 Christmas Offering for Regional MinistriesTaken in Congregations December 10 and 17 and Online Any Time

To paraphrase Disciples College of Regional Ministers’ President Rev. Cathy Myers Wirt’s words and sentiments from this year’s Christmas offering’s bulletin insert:

Regional Church ministries may not be your first thought when you ponder Advent and Christmas giving. After all, this is a season of miracles – not a fundraising season for an administrative ministry. We, the Christian Church In Kentucky, have seen miracles each week for all the many years we have been in ministry with some 230 congregations and 400 pastors, active and retired.

We see a miracle when we see a group of kids and adults show up at church camp one day, and several days later see them leave as transformed people embedded in a Christian community and faith.

We see a miracle when we visit a new church start and hear their testimony about God’s grace in helping them to find the Disciples of Christ church as their home.

the Christian

We see a miracle when groups of women and men from many different congregations throughout the region come together for a variety of retreats and conferences, singing praises to the Lord with our Women’s and Men’s Choruses weekend retreats; gathering at our Women’s Ministries Spring Conferences for full days of fellowship, worship, and education as a network of women committed to being justice seeking, compassioned focused women of God; and the building up of the body of Christ and transformation of hearts and minds with our women’s summer quilting, crafting and knitting, women’s fall retreats, and our men’s summer spirituality retreat.

We see a miracle when we participate in an ordination or commissioning service for a new pastor sent out after a few years of nurture from a Regional Committee on Ministry.

We see a miracle when pastors come together in one of our clergy peer groups, which helps them navigate complex ministry challenges and reminds them that they do not serve alone.

We see a miracle when the regional board and congregations can gather together to have intentional dialogue and develop relationships, while having the hard conversations of prevalent racism, and working to become an anti-racism, pro-reconciling region.

We see a miracle when Disciples come together at regional gatherings and recognize the Holy Spirit is among them moving

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Your gifts to the Christmas Offering support your

regional church ministries.

For when we give love we will receive

When we forgive love, we’ll find reprieveIt is in dying we’ll be releasedMake me an instrument of peace”

–Instrument of Peace, by Stephan Moccio, Marc Jordan and Amy Sky

This Advent and Christmas season, may God’s joyous song resound in us, the instruments of peace.

Amen.

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May God’s joyous song resound in us, the instruments of peace.

COJOURNERS by J. Gregory Alexander

O come, O come, Emmanuel,

And ransom captive Israel,

That mourns in lonely exile here,

Until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice!

Emmanuel, shall come to thee, O Israel.

The essence of Christmas - the celebration of Jesus’ birth and of God’s incarnational presence among

us - seems to have strayed more from it’s original context than the two millennia that have passed since Jesus was born would account for. Over the past few years, I have felt strongly the lament of those who cried out, “And ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here.” I feel distant from a seemingly growing number of people who claim to follow Jesus, but don’t exhibit any real connection between what they espouse and what I understand to be the “Gospel.” I have a keener sense than ever of what it means to live in exile. It may just be me.

My celebration of the birth of Jesus shines a light of hope and rings out with a call to follow the pathway he modeled for us all. The following hymn captures my feelings well. I offer it as my Christmas prayer.

“Where there is hatred, let me bring love

Where there is doubt, let me bring faith

Where there is falsehood, let me bring truthWhere there is pain, I’ll comfort you

Where there is silence, let me sing praiseWhere there’s despair, let me bring hope

Where there is blindness, let me bring sightWhere there is darkness, let me bring light

And with these words I speakGrant that I may not so seekTo be heard but to hearTo be consoled but to console,Not to be seen, but to seeTo be loved but to love

Merry ChristmasGreg, Linda, Beth, Dave,

Barbara, Terry, Glori, Carol, and Lon

May you be inspired by giving Changed by love

Filled with peace & Touched by miracles

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KENTUCKY DISCIPLES

WAYNE BARNETT to Interim Minister, Orangeburg Christian Church, Maysville, April 2

KEITH ODITT to Interim Minister, Simpsonville Christian Church, May 7

GABRIEL PFEFER to Minister, Shepherdsville Christian Church, May 14

DON CHASE to Interim Minister, Newtown Christian Church, Georgetown, May 7

RONN OREN to Minister, First Christian Church, Liberty, July 9

DOUG ALEXANDER to Interim Minister, Moorefield Christian Church, August 6

Ministerial Changes CHARLES BUTCHER to Minister, Bedford Christian Church, September 1

CARLA D’ALESSIO to Interim Minister, Point Pleasant Christian Church, Eminence, September 10

KARA FOSTER to Minister, First Christian Church, Madisonville, September 1

DEBORAH PHELPS to Minister, New Union Christian Church, Versailles, September 1

RACHEL GANTHER to Minister, Pembroke Christian Church, October 1

LARRY SMITH to Interim, First Christian Church, Covington, September 20

PHIL COOK to Interim, Dry Ridge Christian Church, October 1

Ordinations SARA NAVE FISHER First Christian Church, Hopkinsville, June 17

DARRELL HATHCOCK First Christian Church, Barbourville, June 17

STEVEN STRAUB Beargrass Christian Church, Louisville, August 19

JOHN CULBERTSON First Christian Church, Georgetown, August 19

ELIZABETH DIOP Florence Christian Church, August 26

AMANDA SORENSON Twin Pines Christian Church, Lexington, October 14

them forward to becoming a part of the movement of wholeness for a fragmented world.

We see a miracle when our Green Chalice and Kentucky Appalachian Ministry partnership social justice ministries help Disciples churches become Green Chalice congregations, which are caring for creation in unique and inspiring ways and where family, friends, and visitors alike are welcomed and invited to “stay a while,” to enjoy the hospitality of the people and the beauty of the mountains.

We see a miracle when congregations install a new pastor after a regional minister coaches their search process.

We see a miracle when a regional board meets, and we listen to their hope for the future of not only the region but of the whole church.

We see a miracle when one church sees another church down the road doing a ministry in their community and says, “We could do that, too!”

Your generous support of the Christian Church In Kentucky’s ministries of miracles in this awesome season of miracles is much appreciated and needed as, together, we Care, Connect, and Equip churches and leaders to spread the Gospel into all the world.

The Christmas Offering will be taken in many congregations on December 10 and 17. However, your gifts for this special day offering are appreciated at any time.

Online giving can be made on the Disciples Mission Fund webpage at https://docgeneralassembly.webconnex.com/dmf.

(Christmas Offering ... Continued from Page 1)

God performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.

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Elizabeth Diop was ordained recently at Florence Christian Church. Pictured with Elizabeth on her ordination day is Bill Kinkaid, Interim President and Herald B. Monroe Associate Professor of Leadership and Ministry Studies at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis.

Amanda Sorenson was ordained on October 14, 2017, at Twin Pines Christian Church in Lexington. Pictured with Amanda are Dave Carr, CCK Staff Consultant to the Committee on Ministry; Tracy Parker, Disciples pastor and mentor and colleague to Amanda; Bennie Braddick, Pastor of Twin Pines CC; and Mary Edwards Gosik, Pastor of Canton Christian Church, Canton, MO and colleague friend to Amanda.

Beargrass Christian Church in Louisville ordained its Children’s Minister, Steven Straub, on August 19, 2017 at the church. CCK Associate Regional Minister, Linda Jones, represented the region at the ordination.

While it may be difficult to tell, that really is Steven Straub during the laying on of hands portion of his ordination service surrounded by the children to whom he ministers at Beargrass CC.

KENTUCKY DISCIPLES

Sara Nave Fisher was ordained at First Christian Church in

Hopkinsville on June 17, 2017. Shown with Sara is her spouse,

Jonathan Fisher.

Rachel Ganther was installed as Pastor of Pembroke Christian Church on October 1, 2017. Beth Dobyns, Associate Regional Minister for the West Area, represented the West Area and CCK at the installation.

Debbie Adams Phelps was installed as the Pastor of New Union Christian Church in Versailles, KY on September 24, 2017. Shown with Debbie on her installation day are her spouse, Dean Phelps, her niece Katherine Raley, and Christian Church in Kentucky General Minister, Greg Alexander.

and is a valued colleague and mentor to other Disciples pastors throughout the region.

Although he is admittedly not as active as he once was, Bish still plays in an over-40 soccer league. He also still finds time to play pickle ball with some church friends in the City Hall Gymnasium.

Besides the occasional soccer match or pickle ball game, Bish spends what free time he has following his grandchildren and has given little thought to retiring. “Anna and I are blessed to have the family that we have, both at church and at home,” he said. “Our church staff and congregation are second-to-none. Plus, I love to follow those grandkids and see what they are doing. I’m a very lucky man.”

Congratulations Bish and Cynthiana Christian Church. Here’s to 40 more years!

Taken from an article in the local newspaper, the Cythiana Democrat.

Cynthiana Christian Church

How many people do you know who have held the same job for 40 years? Of those, how many have the same vigor and

love of that job today that they had when they started? Dr. Larry Bishop is a winner in both of those categories.

“Bish,” as he is better known to his flock and friends, recently celebrated 40 years as the minister of the Cynthiana Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

That’s 40 years of heart-felt sermons, joyous weddings, somber funerals, visits to the sick in hospitals, Christmas plays by the youth, baptisms, vacation Bible schools, and any number of other duties that impassioned pastors might have.

“When we moved here in 1977, we fell in love with the community, and there has been no reason for us to want to leave,” Bish said in a recent interview. “Cynthiana is close enough to the big cities that you can get there if you want the cultural things they might offer, but it still has that small town feel that is so important to us.”

Bish attended Lexington Theological Seminary, where he obtained his doctorate in 1972.

He was a youth minister at First Christian Church in Paris, KY, for five years before being called as pastor for the Cynthiana church in 1977.

“It’s really kind of neat how things have worked out,” he said. “Some of the kids that I had as the youth minister in Paris are now part of the congregation as adults at Cynthiana Christian Church.” Bish has been active in regional ministries and camp and conferences in the region since he began his ministry

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KCMC

Kentucky Christian Missionary Convention officers were installed

during KCMC’s annual Prayer Breakfast, which was hosted by the High Street Christian Church in Mt. Sterling on September 29, 2017. The Reverend Reginald Smith, far left, Pastor of the East Maple Street Christian Church, Nicholasville, will serve as president through July 2019.

Larry, “Bish,” Bishop and his family celebrate his 40 years of ministry with the Cynthiana congregation.

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Kentucky Representatives Inspired by NBA Incubate Initiative SENT Seminar

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) National Benevolent Association met with Disciples leaders from across the U.S.

for the 2017 SENT Seminar: Equipping Social Entrepreneurs for Leadership and Change.

Held in Leavenworth, KS, the event involved leadership coaching and workshops on fundraising, legal foundations for non-profit ministries, Facebook and social media, story-telling for mission, planning for future development of non-profit ministries, and a deep orientation to the NBA Incubate Initiative. Rev. Yvonne McCoy described her experience of the Seminar as such: “The NBA SENT Seminar was truly sent by God - no pun intended! God had given me an enormous assignment to perform. There was no way that I could do it alone, and all I could think of were my many limitations. However, I submit-ted and yielded to God’s plan, and God opened the door for the accomplishment through the DOC and NBA. The NBA Incubate Initiative provided me with community, motivation, inspiration, education and resources for the achievement of an otherwise daunting and formidable task. Coming soon – Oasis Retreat and Wellness Center! Thank you, NBA Incubate Initiative!”

Camp Summit 2017

Several Kentucky representatives met with DOC leaders from across the USA and Canada to share passions and challenges,

hopes, and resources for camping ministries. The event was hosted and held at the Christian Conference Center, Newton, IA, the camping program of the Upper Midwest Region of the Christian Church (DOC).

KENTUCKY DISCIPLES IN ACTION

Kentucky Disciples in attendance were: Olivia Bryan Updegrove, Independence CC; Mike Gatton, Hurstbourne CC; Dave Carr, CCK staff consultant; and Steven Straub, Beargrass CC and chair of the Camp Wakon’ Da-Ho Site Committee team.

Kentucky representatives, from left to right, are Joanne Flowers, a Louisville native and founder of Flowers Ministries, Johnson City, TN; Rachel Nance Woehler, Pastor of Potluck Christian Church in Madisonville and Co-Chair of the CCK New Church Team; Yvonne McCoy, The Transformation Institute of Louisville; Susan Bernauer, developing a spiritual care ministry for the home-bound adult, Louisville; and Syvoskia Bray Pope, New Century Fellowship Christian Church’s Empower Hope Center, Louisville, and Co-Chair of CCK New Church Team.

On Becoming an Anti-Racism, Pro-Reconciling Church

Members from the CCK Board and CCK Reconciliation Ministries Team met in September at Kavanaugh Retreat

Center in Crestwood, KY for an overnight retreat to have intentional dialogue about the sin of racism, develop deep spirit-fed relationships, and be open to being led by the Holy Spirit to be moved to action to determine how issues of racism can best

be talked about and dealt with in our congregations, communities, and the larger church. The retreat was sponsored and facilitated by the CCK Reconciliation Team. More such retreats are being planned for 2018.

SAVE THE DATE Regional Assembly of the Christian Church In Kentucky October 19-20, 2018 at Beargrass Christian Church, Louisville, KY.

More information to follow.

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First Christian Church, Madisonville

On Thanksgiving Sunday, members of FCC, Madisonville, held a

catered dinner and fundraiser to raise money to go toward purchasing a new Caretaker’s home at Camp Kum-Ba-Ya. The church raised $2,000. Pictured is their unique and fun offering box.

District 7 Ministers Gathering

Walter Brueggemann, one of the most influential Bible interpreters

of our time and author of over 100 books and numerous scholarly articles, was a guest at a recent monthly gathering of District 7 ministers.  District 7 is made up of Northern Kentucky Disciples congregations.  Dr. Brueggemann makes his home close by in Cincinnati. Needless to say, this is one for the records for Kentucky Disciples District Ministers gatherings!

Pictured with Dr. Brueggemann is Susan Ward Diamond, Senior Minister at Florence Christian Church.

Kentucky Disciples Women’s Fall Retreat

Approximately 75 women gathered at Barren River Lake State Resort Park the first weekend in November for the annual fall

Disciples women’s retreat. Erin Miller Cash, Director of Admissions at Lexington Theological Seminary, keynoted the inspiring retreat with the theme of “Sisters: Flowing through our Phases, Places, and Spaces.” Pictured are Hattie Buckner, Deborah Garr, Margaret Nichols and Laverne Warfield, all from Seventh Christian Church in Paris, with CCK Associate Regional Minister, Linda Jones.

Approximately 50 women gathered for the Kentucky Disciples Women’s Ministries sponsored Quilters, Knitters, and Crafters retreat in July at Kentucky Leadership

Center in Jabez, KY. This retreat has become a popular event for both Disciples women and women from other faith communities. Petie McLean facilitates the retreat.

Photo by Sterling Staggs

Regional Youth Gathering for Disciples for the Dream Worship January 14, 2018 3:00 p.m. Central Christian Church, Lexington Dinner included

West Area Ski Thing! January 26-27, 2018 For information, contact the West Area Office, 270-821-1332

Kentucky Regional Men’s Chorus February 2-4, 2018 General Butler State Resort Park, Carrollton

Quilters, Knitters, and Crafters Retreat

Kentucky Disciples Women’s Chorus Retreat March 9-11, 2018 Jeffersontown Christian Church

Spring Work Weekend March 16-17, 2018 Camp Wakon’Da-Ho

Kentucky Disciples Women’s Spring Conferences April 21, 2018 Location to be determined April 28, 2018 First Christian Church, Frankfort

Quilters and Knitters Retreat July 9-12, 2018 Kentucky Leadership Center, Jabez

UPCOMING EVENTSFor further information contact the regional office at 859-233-1391.

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Kentucky Regional Ministry Team

J. GREGORY ALEXANDER

General Ministergreg@ccinky.net

LINDA JONESAssociate Regional Minister

linda@ccinky.net

BETH DOBYNSAssociate Regional Minister for

the West Area Mbeth.dobyns@bellsouth.net

LON OLIVERKentucky Appalachian Ministry

lonoliver@mac.com

CAROL DEVINEMinister for Green Chalice and

Editor, CCK Newscarol@ccinky.net

DAVE CARRMinisterial Staff Consultant for

Committee on Ministry and Interim Consultant on Youth

and Young Adultsdave@ccinky.net

2017-2018 CCK Moderators

ERIN MILLER CASH

Moderator

NATHAN BROWN 1st Vice Moderator

TOMMY COOK

2nd Vice Moderator

Kum-Ba-YaYoung Disciples .......................... June 1-3 Junior ............................................ June 4-8Discovery ...................................... June 8-10CYF Sailing .................................. June 11-15 Chi Rho Sailing ........................... June 18-22 CYF .............................................. June 24-30 Chi Rho ......................................... July 2-7

OUTDOOR MINISTRIES Camp Wakon’Da-HoMini Camp .....................................June 1-3CYF 1 ..............................................June 4-9Eighter’s Camp ................................June 10-16Junior 1 ............................................June 18-22Camp 101A ......................................June 22-24CYF 2 ..............................................June 25-30Chi Rho 1 ........................................July 2-7Chi Rho 2 .........................................July 9-14Junior 2 ............................................July 16-20Camp 101 B ....................................July 20-22Y’All Camp ......................................August 31- September 2

For further information, contact the West Area Office at 270-821-1332

For further information, contact the CCK office at 859-233-1391

2018 CAMP DATES