UPDATE
February 1, 2012
A Time to Dream:
It’s the time for seed catalogs to fill our mailboxes. It’s the time to plan the vegetable gardens for next year. It’s the time to dream of beautiful flowers and abundant harvests. Dreaming is one of the satisfying activities to do on a cold winter night as we sit toasty, close to the fire. But we all know that to make those dreams come true will take a lot of hard work, time on our knees, and daily commitment before those plants will flourish and the harvest will be realized.
It’s like that in our congregations and MO/ARK District, too. The Leadership Team is meeting soon to make plans for the coming year, the Program and Arrangements Committee is beginning the task of finding speakers, setting themes, and identifying schedules for our 2012 District Conference. And in our congregations, new officers have been put in place and programs are being planned for the next few months. All of this is dreaming for the work of following Jesus. We want to plan for our paths, using the teaching and examples he has shown us. But to reap the harvest of His Kingdom work will take not only dreams, but much diligence and persistence.
As we plan for this 2012 work, let us pray that each one will commit to a part of the task, leaders will give good guidance, and the Holy Spirit will walk with us through each step of the plan. Pray for a bountiful Kingdom harvest in MO/ARK in the coming year. Blessing on your journey each step of the way.
Carolyn Schrock
MO/ARK District Administrator
Cleanup Set for Camp Hammond Mill:
The Camp Board for Camp Hammond Mill met recently. They are struggling with finances to keep the camp running. Once way to cut costs is to have volunteers help clean up and repair things around the camp grounds. The Girl Scouts are organizing this volunteer work and have scheduled March 24 as the time to gather all willing workers to do a face lift to the camp grounds. (April 21 is the alternate date in case inclement weather makes the March 24 date impossible.
This is a good plan for the Church of the Brethren. March 23 and 24 are the dates for the District Women’s Retreat to be held at Peace Valley. Men from further away can come along with the women, spend the night, and work at Hammond Mill while the women retreat. I’m sure the hostesses at the retreat will be able to assist in accommodations/food for the men as well as the women.
Forms, Forms, Forms:
It’s that time of year again!! The Congregational Outreach Form was due on Dec. 9. Only 6 churches have turned that in as of January 19. They are Bethany, Cabool, Farrenburg, New Hope, Spring Branch, and St. Joseph. If your name is not on this list and you need another form, contact Carolyn at the District Office. 417-926-1112
We have done much better on the Form B which was due on December 31. Those missing are only Cabool and Messiah. Thank you to all who have done that one on time!!
The Statistical Form has recently been mailed to each congregation. These are due back on March 15. Already in hand are from Deepwater, New Hope, and Shelby County. Congratulations on a quick turn around on this form. Thank you.
Form A will be mailed out later and will be due back on May 15. Be watching for that one later.
Congregational delegate registration for Annual Conference opened on January 2.
Be sure to go to www.brethren.org/ac to register your congregation’s delegate. Non-delegate registration and housing reservations will open at 12:00 Noon central time on Wednesday, February 22, 2012. You will also be able to register for age group activities, purchase meal tickets and conference booklets, as well as sign up for choir and volunteering opportunities.
All information regarding Annual Conference in St. Louis, Missouri is now posted online at www.brethren.org/ac. Click on the “Information Packet” link. Congregations and delegates will not be mailed the Information Packet CD this year.
We look forward to seeing you in St. Louis! Jon Kobel, Conference Assistant AC Conference Office 800-323-8039, x229
Help for Taxes is Available:
There are two ways pastors can find help in figuring their 2011 taxes. Three copies of the booklet called “Minister’s Guide for 2011 Income Tax” are available at the District Office. If you would like to have one to use as you figure your taxes, let me know and I’ll mail one out to you.
There is also a Clergy Tax Seminar which will be held on Monday, February 20, 2012. Students, pastors, and other church leaders are invited to attend the seminar either in person, at Bethany Theological Seminary, or online through a collaboration of Bethany's Office of Electronic Communication and the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership.
The sessions will cover tax law for clergy, changes for 2011 (the most current tax year), and detailed assistance as to how to file the various forms and schedules that pertain to clergy (including housing allowances, self-employment, etc.).
Greatly appreciated by Bethany Seminary students, this seminar is being opened up to clergy and others across the denomination for the first time. It is highly recommended for all pastors and other church leaders who wish to understand clergy taxes.
Schedule for Monday, February 20, 2012: * Morning session: 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Eastern (Lunch on your own) * Afternoon session: 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. Eastern
Sponsors: This event is sponsored by Bethany Theological Seminary, the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership, and the Church of the Brethren Office of Ministry.
Registration and Cost: Registration is $15 per person (nonrefundable to keep your fees and our overhead low). Registration fees for current Bethany, TRIM/EFSM, or Earlham School of Religion students are fully subsidized (free!). Registration is necessary so that we may plan for your attendance. If you will be attending online, your registration will allow us to provide you with proper access to the online seminar; instructions will be sent a few days prior to the event. Registrations are not complete until payment is received. You will find a link to registration at www.bethanyseminary.edu.
Another Opportunity for Child Care Training:
There will be another Children's Disaster Services training workshop within reach of Missouri-Arkansas folks. This one will be held in Dallas Center, Iowa on March 9-10.
Dallas Center Church of the Brethren
1207 Ash Avenue
Dallas Center, IA 50063
Contact – Carol Hill, 515-677-2389 (h), 515-240-6908 (c)
or
Children’s Disaster Services, 410-635-8735, or 800-451-4407, option 5
One Great Hour of Sharing Coming in March:
The theme for the 2012 One Great Hour of Sharing offering materials continues to be
Sharing Brings Joy, and this year the focus is sharing joy with others.
The suggested offering date is Sunday, March 18.
Envelopes, bulletin inserts, and a poster will be arriving in your mailbox soon, and in lieu of a printed leader’s guide this year, all such materials are available online at www.brethren.org/oghs. Children’s activities, sermon starts, orders of service, and many other ideas for creating a dynamic worship service are available at the click of your mouse.
If you would prefer a printed copy of these materials or if you have any questions, e-mail offerings@brethren.org or call Mandy Garcia at 847-742-5100 ext. 305.
Bethany Seminary to Hold 2012 Presidential Forum;
“Joy and Suffering in the Body: Turning toward Each Other” is the theme of Bethany Seminary’s 2012 Presidential Forum, to be held April 13-14 at the Bethany campus in Richmond, Indiana.
As a complementing event to the Forum, a Pre-Forum Gathering is planned for April 12-13, sponsored by Bethany’s Alumni/ae Coordinating Council.
Continuing education units are available for both events. Those attending the Pre-Forum Gathering can earn 0.5 CEUs, while Forum attendees can earn up to 0.6 CEUs. Participants must attend all sessions on a given day to receive credit. Forum and Pre-Forum activities will include worship services and a concert by the band Mutual Kumquat. The Forum will also feature the artwork of Earlham School of Religion graduate Melanie Weidner, whose painting Between Us is serving as the feature piece of the Forum.
The Pre-Forum Gathering will begin with dinner and fellowship on Thursday, April 12; the Forum will likewise begin with dinner and worship on Friday, April 13. Discounted rates are available for students. For a complete schedule and session descriptions, registration information, and housing options, visit www.bethanyseminary.edu/forum2012. For further questions, contact forum@bethanyseminary.edu. Registration will be capped at 150 participants.
There is financial assistance available from the District through the Building on the Foundation Funds for conferences such as this (and the one described in the next article). Contact Carolyn Schrock for an application form.
New Church Development Conference Registration Open:
Registration for the New Church Development Conference opened online Jan. 17 at www.brethren.org/churchplanting/events.html. Conference information including a schedule, workshop list, and logistical details, is available now at the same web address.
The conference takes place May 17-19 at Bethany Theological Seminary in Richmond, Ind., on the theme, “Plant Generously, Reap Bountifully.” Scripture theme is from 1 Corinthians 3:6: “I (Paul) planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.” Onsite registration and pre-conference activities begin May 16. Sponsors are the New Church Development Advisory Committee and Congregational Life Ministries, with Bethany Seminary serving as host.
The conference is for church planters, those considering church planting, core team members, district leaders, churches planting churches, and anyone interested in considering how to further God’s mission through new communities of worship and service. Keynote leaders are Tom Johnston and Mike Chong Perkinson of the Praxis Center for Church Development (www.praxiscenter.org ).
An early registration fee of $169 is available through March 15. After March 15 and until the conference begins, registration is $199. Students registered for either the Brethren Academy course or the Bethany Seminary course M245 “Foundations for Church Growth” can register for $129. Lodging is not guaranteed for registrations received after May 5. Lodging for the nights of May 16, 17, and 18 is included in the registration fee, as are breakfasts and lunches. The Quality Inn provides double occupancy accommodations. Single rooms are available for an addition fee. Breakfasts and lunches are provided in the fee.
Mother of Stephanie Sappington Passes:
Frances Doylene "Dodie" Rathke, age 76, passed peacefully into the hands of our Lord on January 28, 2012, surrounded by her loving family at her home.
Dodie was born on October 3, 1935, in rural Essex, Missouri to Doyle Fowler and Fern Frailey Fowler. She was the oldest of four children and was preceded in death by both parents, her sister Dixie and her husband James Edward. Dodie's surviving siblings are Charles Fowler and wife De of Ft. Morgan, Colorado and Donnie Ann VanSteenbergh of Springfield, Missouri.
Dodie graduated from Parma High School in 1954 and went on to graduate from nursing school at the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 1957. That same year, she married James Edward Rathke. They have three children: Stephanie A. Sappington of St. Louis, MO, James M. and wife Donna Rathke of Columbia, MO, and Susan C. Rathke. Dodie is also survived by four grandchildren: Erin and Lucy Sappington, Nicholas Alshoufi, and Joshua Bowman. She was a life-time member of The Church of the Brethren
Memorial services will be held at Memorial Funeral Home in Columbia, MO. Visitation will be held Friday, February 3, 2012 from 5:00-7:00 pm with an Eastern Star Service at 7 pm. The funeral service will begin at 11:00 am on Saturday, February 4, 2012. Memorial gifts may be made to the Broadwater Church of the Brethren or charity of your choice
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