What's in a Name?

Names are important. If you don't think this is true, just try calling someone by the wrong name. In biblical times, children were sometimes not given names until something of their personalities had emerged. Names often described the person or the person's role in the faith community.

Children Worship & Wonder is the name of the Disciples version of a program based on the book, Young Children and Worship, by Sonja Stewart and Jerome Berryman. Serious consideration was given to the naming of this program. Children come into this world already having a relationship with God. They instinctively know how to worship and praise God. Wondering about the mystery that surrounds God and wondering about the creations of God come naturally to children.

Worship and wonder are God‘s gifts to humanity. Unfortunately, many of us lose these gifts as we grow and mature. No one can "possess"the ability to worship God and to wonder about God. Even so, sometimes people refer to the program as Children's Worship & Wonder (Children with an apostrophe). That is why no apostrophe "s"is added to the word "Children."Children do not "possess"the worship and the wonder. It is a title that is meant to convey activity not possession.  Children Worship & Wonder is about creating a beautiful, welcoming, safe place where children can worship God and wonder about the stories of God. The "&"adds some playfulness to the title because play is very important to children and to life in spirit.

So, next time you consider a name to be insignificant, think about Children, Worship & Wonder.

One e-mail address links you to Family and Children's Ministries discussion

Family and Children's Ministries has an e-Group, docchildren@yahoo.com! The focus of this online discussion group is to encourage communication about issues and programs related to ministry with children and their families. It is primarily a place for Disciples lay people and clergy to share ideas, ask questions, offer suggestions, receive support, and communicate about programs and events.

Ten years ago, the Office of Family and Children's Ministries established the Disciples Care for Children Network to facilitate idea-sharing among Disciples congregation. Organizers are confident that this online discussion group will encourage more Disciples to become partners in caring for children. 

If you are interested in being part this e-Group, send your e-mail address, in the body of an e-mail, to Kaye Edwards, kayeedwards@ntelos.net, or simply visit http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/docchildren/ and click the "join" button.

If you are interested in having your church become a Partner in the Disciples Care for Children Network, contact Connie Metts, (888) 346-2631.

Is your congregation a transforming congregation?

How do you know if your congregation is in transformation? Transformation is a spiritual, systemic, and strategic journey traveled by a congregation urgently striving to realize what God has called it to be and do. Congregations in transformation now can share their goals and experiences with the broader church.

Our goal? 1,000 transforming congregations!

Become a transforming congregation and share your story:
https://secure.disciples.org/transformation/form/index.asp

What is your VBS Service Project?

Does your congregation need a service project for your Vacation Bible School? If so, then DHM's Refugee and Immigration Ministries has just the packet available for you.
The Kids to Kids "Fill the Backpack"packet contains information about refugees:

• Stories, Songs, Puzzles, and Games about Refugees;
  
• Recipes for Food Refugees Eat;
• Bible Stories and Prayers about Refugees.
  
• It also contains information on ways that kids can help refugees:
  
• Welcome Cards for Arriving Refugees;
  
• Backpacks for School;
  
• Funds to buy School Clothes.

"Fill the Backpack"is available on the Internet at www.discipleshomemissions.org/rim/KidsToKids.asp or by contacting Bill Culp at (888) 356-2631.

The new congress needs to hear your voice

Disciples Home Missions provides periodic e-mail Action Alerts on a few legislative issues through its Rapid Response program. You can sign up to receive these Action Alerts at www.discipleshomemissions.org/PublicWitness/RapidResponse.htm.

A current issue needing your input is the issue of material support as it relates to the admission of refugees into the United States. The USA Patriot Act and the Real ID Act have broadened the definition of a terrorist group and what constitutes support of terror. An effort was made to tighten up immigration laws so that no one who supports terror would be allowed into the United States. However, the laws are being interpreted to include restrictions against certain groups of refugees who gave support as insignificant as a cup of rice, even if they were forced to do so at gunpoint.

Refugees who supported American troops in Laos and Vietnam and refugees who were forced to aid Colombian and West African rebel groups are being prevented from resettling into the United States by these laws. Recently the Attorney General issued a waiver to the material support provisions to allow for the resettlement of Chin and Karen refugees out of Burma and Cuban freedom fighters. Thousands of other refugees around the world are being prevented from resettlement into the United States, even though they have proven that they qualify for resettlement under the U.S. refugee definition.

Congresspersons are reluctant to do anything that might be interpreted as being lax on issues of terrorism; they need to hear from their constituents that the American people understand the difference between a supporter of terrorism and a refugee fleeing persecution. Until Congress can be persuaded to make an exception for refugees, the Attorney General can use additional waivers to allow the resettlement of refugees who acted under duress or threat of violence, who gave support inadvertently, or who gave an insignificant amount of support. Sign up for Rapid Response today so you can receive alerts and let your voice be heard by Congress and the Administration.

Programs available to help Disciples "green" their congregations

With Earth Stewardship Sunday taking place April 22, Disciples of Christ congregations can observe this day by launching an initiative to "go green."Two programs are available for congregations that want to move toward a more environmentally-friendly sanctuary, building, and theology.

One of the programs, known as the Green Sanctuary program, is administered through the Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth. A congregation that has met certain standards is accredited for its efforts and certified as a Green Sanctuary. Disciples congregations can participate in the Unitarian initiative, according to the Rev. Katherine Jesch, director of Environmental Ministry.

"We would be pleased to certify non-UU churches as Green Sanctuaries,"said Jesch. "The program is broad enough that theological differences between faith communities won't matter."If Disciples congregations pursue the accreditation, they would be the first non-UU churches to participate in the program. (There is a nominal cost to participate in this program.)

Meanwhile, for congregations looking for more theological grounding in their environmental efforts, Seattle-based Earth Ministry offers the Greening Congregations program that is solidly grounded in Christian theology.
Congregations could easily work through both programs so that the structured step-by-step actions called for in the Green Sanctuary program would be balanced with the theological and worship resources offered by Earth Ministry.
About Earth Ministry's Greening Congregation's program

As people within congregations work to foster an awareness of the value of God's creation, and develop acts of care that reflect this awareness, Earth Ministry provides helpful tools for this important work.  The Greening Congregations Partners process offers a partnership with Earth Ministry and a flexible strategy for engaging congregation members in creation-care efforts.  The process also provides means for envisioning and celebrating the "greening" of a variety of congregational dimensions.

For more information about Earth Ministry's Greening Congregations program, visit www.earthministry.org/Congregations/greening_ resources.htm.

About the Unitarian Universalist Green Sanctuary program

A Green Sanctuary is a congregation that lives out its commitment to the Earth by creating a sustainable life style for its members as individuals and as a faith community. Sustainable living is not about our material comfort (though these choices are an important part of the overall life style); it is about choosing to live in a way that nurtures life, builds relationships, and rejects material consumption as the sole determinant of happiness. The Green Sanctuary Program includes a total of twelve activities in four program areas which are explained in detail in the Manual which is available for $25.

To learn more, visit uuministryforearth.org/grs_overview.htm.

Congregations that decide to pursue one or both programs should contact Angela Herrmann so DHM can recognize their efforts. Contact her at aherrman@dhm.disciples.org or (888) 346-2631.
(The Earth Ministry and Green Sanctuary information was taken from each program's Web site.)