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APRIL 2015
“Following Jesus - Loving With Christ - Together”
DISCIPLES TO DISCIPLES
Words for me in Lent have been gratitude and forgiveness.
I want each of you to know I am grateful for the ministries
you share! It has been a gift to me to get to work with
many of you and to celebrate your successes and talk
through the struggles.
VOLUME 39, ISSUE 5
Disciples of Christ
of Greater K. C.
www.facebook.com/ccgkc
We’re on the Web:
www.kcdisciples.org
In This Issue
Disciples Women’s Ministry 2
“One Last Craddock Story”
3
Faithful Servants
5
Hosting Conference
6
Association of Disciples
Musicians
7
Tall Oaks: Newsletter, Camp
Schedule, Acorn Dash, Bucket
List Retreat
Various Inserts
Regional Minister Search
Update
8
Rethinking Communion
8
Easter Special Day Offering 8
Bracken Retirement
Celebration Flyer
Insert
Tall Oaks Newsletter
Insert
The reality of there being 80+ congregations and about 242
clergy, including chaplains and retired clergy, means I am
not able to be there for your congregations, or for you as
much as you or I might like. I know I have not always been
able to be or do what you had hoped and even needed. For
that, I ask your forgiveness and extend my desire to keep working to do as much as
we can together in the time I have remaining as your interim.
For those of you who have been able to increase and/or maintain your congregational
and personal giving to Disciples Mission Fund, I extend my gratitude. The ministries
we share - Search and Call, New Church, Tall Oaks, Ordination and Commissioning,
General Church Ministries and Outreach, Women's Ministry, pastoral and
congregational support, leadership development and more, are dependent on your
gifts.
One of our new church pastors, Terrell McTyer, shared this link with our New Church
Ministry. It is potentially life and ministry changing! The presenter, Bob Lupton, is
the author of Toxic Charity, a book I strongly recommend you and your outreach
group read together.
Moving From Betterment to Empowerment
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIN3V5fEhn8
In the mean time, this 30 minute video, may help all of us to make some shifts that
could really make a difference in our communities. You will also find other
presentations by Lupton on YouTube.
As we continue in Lent and move into Easter, may Christ be very close to you and
those you serve.
Abundant Blessings to You,
Donna Rose-Heim
Intentional Interim Regional Minister and President
of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Greater K.C.
REGIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTOR’S MEETING - APRIL 27, 2015
The next Regional Board of Director’s meeting will be Monday, April 27, 2015, at
Tall Oaks (12778 189th St, Linwood, KS 66052) in the Lifelong Learning Center at
7:00 PM.
As a part of Regional Board, we will be blessing and installing those present whose
term will be ending on April 30, 2015, and those whose term will begin May 1,
2015 and extend through 2017.
The retirement celebration of Lyle and Sharon Bracken will begin prior to the
Regional Board of Directors’ meeting in the Lifelong Learning Center. The
celebration is from 5:30-6:30 PM with a special recognition at 6:30 PM.
The new Tall Oaks Executive Director, Kenny Funk and wife, Marlene will also be
introduced at the April meeting.
DISCIPLES TO DISCIPLES
Page 2
GREATER KC REGIONAL CWF
Women’s Seminar
Thursday, April 23



VOLUME 39, ISSUE 5
DISCIPLES WOMEN’S MINISTRY
Registration - 6:00 PM
Dinner - 6:30 PM
Program by Rev. Edith
Mendoza of Alta Vista
Christian Church
will follow dinner.
ALTA VISTA
CHRISTIAN CHURCH
1201 Cesar E. Chavez
Kansas City, MO
COST OF THE MEAL $6.00 pp
April 25, 2015
TALL OAKS CONFERENCE CENTER - LIFELONG LEARNING CENTER
12778 189th Street Linwood, Kansas
9:30 a.m. Registration

Materials will be provided to learn about resources
available for Disciple Women’s Ministries (CWF)

Study Material, service suggestions, leadership
hints, workshop ideas, and mission presentation
will be part of the program

Bring your Blessing Box offerings for dedication
RESERVATIONS are due no
later than APRIL 20, 2015.
CALL: 913-432-1414
EMAIL: [email protected]
2015 SPRING RETREAT (By Ginny Bottrell)
The Spring Retreat was held on March 1314, 2015. Keynote speaker was the Rev.
Donna Rose-Heim and the theme was
“Picture It”. Cynthia Graves (Fellowship)
was the retreat leader.
One hundred and nine women were
present from thirty different
congregations. The youngest participant
was 13 and the oldest was 91. The
offering was $1,120.00, which goes to
help with the next retreat’s speaker. The
Fellowship of John at Foxwood Springs
received $119.50 from book sales and
$240.00 was collected for Haiti mission.
It was a great week-end, weather wise and
spirit wise. Donna did a great job of
challenging those present to picture their
lives and their church lives in a more
positive spin.
Cost: $7.00 (includes meal and materials)
--------------------------------
---------------------------------------
Women’s Seminar Reservation Form
$7.00 Per Person
Seminar Date: April 25, 2015
Send money with reservation form to the Regional Office
BEFORE APRIL 15, 2015
Check Payable to: Christian Church of Greater Kansas City
7600 West 75th Street Suite 6
Overland Park, KS 66204
LAST NAME_____________________________________________
FIRST NAME ____________________________________________
CHURCH _______________________________________________
Questions: 913-432-1414 or [email protected]
Page 3
“One Last Craddock Story” By Mike Graves, PhD
Those familiar with Craddock’s stories may recall the one about Molly Shepherd, the
Native American woman who, upon learning of the death of John F. Kennedy, wrote
in her local newspaper column that day, “Molly has no words for you today. Molly
has nothing to write today. Molly has no words today.” That’s something of how I
feel upon learning of Fred Craddock’s death. Here is all that I can muster at the
moment.
MIKE GRAVES
REGIONAL MINISTER OF PREACHING
So many of the high points of my career involve Fred Craddock. I stumbled onto his
classic 1971 book As One Without Authority while doing my doctoral work in
preaching. It was like discovering Elvis Presley for the first time when all you had
known before were old-fashioned crooners. Both of them shook up the world as we
had known it, the latter with his gyrations and the former by suggesting sermons
need not give away the ending too soon. In the ABCs of homiletical history, there
was Augustine, Barth, and Craddock. I introduced him that way one time. Over the
years I became something of a regular at introducing him here in Kansas City. He
once joked that my next book should be called Craddock Introductions. Each time I tried to find something
new to say, and to keep it short. When I put him alongside Augustine and Barth in terms of impact on
homiletical theory, he naturally deferred. It seemed true to me.
When it came time to find a topic for my dissertation, Fred’s model of inductive preaching was the obvious
choice. We had visited in person once during my studies when he lectured at the seminary. And so when I
wrote about doing a phone interview for my dissertation, he graciously agreed, which I not so graciously
screwed up because of the time zone difference. I still have the audio of that conversation, Fred chiding me,
before we talked preaching.
Not too many years later he was in Kansas City, speaking at a conference hosted by Church of the Brethren. I
would have registered for the conference but I was going to be out of town for all but the first night. In my
attempts to talk my way in, I told the man on the phone I had done my dissertation on Craddock and that I
would be bringing some students. He said it would be fine. That same man introduced Fred, noting that one
of Fred’s doctoral students was also present. When he called my name, my eyes got big as saucers. I feared
a public chiding this time. Instead, Fred graciously smiled and waved. I explained the misunderstanding
afterwards and we both laughed. We would remember that incident many years later as well.
The highlight of my professional life, however, came when Fred agreed to have me and Richard Ward edit the
collection called Craddock Stories. People have sometimes asked how that came about. It started when
Richard and I were leading a workshop for preachers and Fred was in the hospital with a serious lifethreatening illness. Several of the pastors had heard and inquired, which led to everyone sharing their
favorite Craddock story. Hardly any of us finished telling whatever story had occurred to us because
someone would interrupt before it was over. “Oh, yeah, I love that one. But what about the one where….”
That’s when the idea hit. I wrote to him later, suggesting how it could be done. We agreed to talk about it
the next time he was back in Kansas City. I still remember sitting at a red light on the way back to his hotel,
when out of the blue he said, “Let’s do that book of stories.”
Believe it or not, there would be an even better moment as the book was coming to completion. I had
listened to hundreds of sermon tapes, read every printed sermon I could get my hands on, and now we had
the stories collected. The problem all along had been how they would be organized. On this particular visit
to Cherry Log, Georgia, where Fred and Nettie had retired to, Richard and I sat on the back deck with him
after dinner. Then came the oral examination. “So, Mike, how do you propose we arrange this collection?” I
should add that he was never fond of the idea, not really. It seemed like way too much fuss over one
preacher’s illustrations. That’s what he said. “Who would want to read a book like that?” I bounced several
organizational ideas off of him that I knew wouldn’t work even as I suggested them. He agreed. I did recall
a collection of Robert Frost’s poetry in which the first poem stood for the whole collection, with the
remainder arranged at random. Before I could finish sharing that, I suddenly wondered if we might do
something similar but with a twist. “What if the first and the last story stood for the whole thing?” He liked
that idea, then added, “But which two stories?” He knew the answer already; that much was clear. I said,
“The two that are about your dad.” Test passed.
Continued on Page 4
DISCIPLES TO DISCIPLES
VOLUME 39, ISSUE 5
Page 4
“One Last Craddock Story” - Continued from page 3
We stayed in touch over the years, and not just when he was in Kansas City
with me to introduce him. I did one presentation with him at Candler School of
Theology, and what a treat that was. He and Nettie invited me to dinner that
evening. That was when we learned we shared the same wedding anniversary
date, June 9. In what turned out to be the last few months of his life I shared
how we were expecting our first grandchild, and they talked about their first
great grandchild. During the Christmas holidays and then again after the first
FRED BRENNING CRADDOCK of this year, I visited with Nettie on the phone, only to learn Fred was in the
hospital again. I said that maybe it was better I checked with her first anyway.
April 30, 1928 - March 6, 2015
I had this idea for a book, a sequel to the collection of essays I had edited some
years back, What’s the Matter with Preaching Today? Fred had contributed to that first collection, and
now I was imagining a companion volume, What’s Right with Preaching Today? I knew Fred would
appreciate the positive emphasis, and that his health would not allow him to participate. His
Parkinson’s wreaked havoc in many frustrating ways, interfering even with his ability to read. So I said
to Nettie, “What if I flew out, had a conversation with him about what’s right as he sees it, then wrote it
up as a kind of introduction to the book?” She wasn’t sure, but said when the time was right, she would
talk to him about it. She suggested I call back.
On the day Fred died, my wife surprised me with a dinner on the town, at which a dozen of our closest
friends were there. My newest book, The Story of Narrative Preaching, had just been released. They
were there to celebrate. When I had gone to Candler on my last sabbatical to work on the manuscript, I
had driven up to Cherry Log to see Fred and go eat some BBQ at the Pink Pig. I told him how it was not
only about narrative preaching, but was in the form of a narrative. He loved the idea. When I said I did
too, but wondered if I should break that mold at the end and offer some concluding remarks as author,
he chided once again. “No,” he said. “The thing about stories is that they either work or they don’t.
Leave it at that.”
Mike Graves, Regional Minister on Preaching
CHRISTIAN MINISTRY SCHOLARSHIP FUND DINNER
SAVE THE DATE - OCTOBER 13, 2015
RETHINKING COMMUNION
MAY 16, 2015
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Rev. Graves will be leading an
interactive workshop for clergy and
laity, focusing on the Lord’s Supper.
New Vision Christian Church
9101 E. Blue Ridge Blvd
Kansas City, MO 64138
Participants will think about the
biblical, historical, and theological
foundations of the sacramental
practice, including how over time a
meal of feasting became more like a
funeral. Like those earliest followers
of Jesus who ate their common meals
and Communion meals in the same
setting, at the close of the morning
together, the group will feast on
lunch, as they remember Jesus.
COST: $15.00 per person
(includes light snack and lunch)
RSVP deadline is May 1, 2015
Registrations are available through
the GKC Regional E-CONNECT, and
through the Greater KC Regional
Center. Call 913-432-1414 or email:
[email protected].
Keynote Speaker
REV. DR. MIKE GRAVES
Page 5
MAY - Continued
FAITHFUL SERVANTS - THANK YOU FOR YOUR MINISTRY
We lift all Faithful Servants up in prayer and
thanksgiving, and remember especially those who are
currently serving or residing in our region who were
ordained or commissioned during the months of
April and May.
MAY
APRIL
Gary Armour
Elizabeth Coleman
Roger Coleman
Denise Dugan
Monte Gravenstein
Lee Hankins
Tom Hawley
Jeffrey Hon
Don McCreary
Sherry McGlaughlin
Ryan Motter
Helen Nelson
James Nichols
Karen Palmer
Jerry Porter
David Thompson
- 1973
- 1968
- 1968
- 2012
- 1958
- 1954
- 1985
- 2006
- 1964
- 2006
- 2011
- 2006
- 1950
- 2007
- 1953
- 1999
www.facebook.com/ccgkc
Carla Aday
John Akinwale
Priscilla Barner-Hawkins
Lara Blackwood Pickrel
Gary Bondurant
Donald Brezavar
Timothy Brooks
Jacky Buck
George Campbell
Margi Colerick
Robert Colerick
David Culver
Joe Cunningham
Fred Daniels
Paul Diehl
Zachary Diehl
Herschel Dugan
Donald Dunn
Neil Engle
David Farris
Mindy Fugarino
Loyd Gentry
-
1988
2012
2014
2009
1975
1985
1980
1975
1952
1971
1971
1988
1964
1984
1974
2009
1956
1955
1981
1976
2001
1962
Robert George - 1981
Doug Gilpin - 1989
Clare S. (Suzi) Goldt - 2003
Laura Guy - 2005
Raymond Hankins - 2012
Mark Harmon - 2011
Cynthia Heller - 2000
Tabatha Johnson - 2011
Michael Josue - 2000
Johnny Lewis - 2000
Monica Lewis - 2012
Tim Mabbott - 1976
Robert Magee - 1962
Mary Linda McDonnell - 2007
Kassie Smith McKee - 2012
Clay McQuerry - 1987
Thomas Minges - 1967
Brian Morse - 2004
Suzanne Kerr Motter - 2004
L Forest Newheart - 1986
Ray Nixon - 1956
Ralph Nolan - 1991
Debbie Schwarz - 2012
Matthew Silvers - 2009
Greta Smith - 2014
Beth Ann Sonneville - 2003
Paul Southard - 1978
Erin Wathen - 2004
Mark Willis - 2005
Shandra Yost - 2014
John Young - 1981
Reina Zamora - 2014
REGIONAL MINISTER SEARCH UPDATE (by John Steinmetz, Regional Minister Search Team Chair)
The Regional Search Team has had a great response to our posting for the Regional Minister for the Greater
Kansas City Region. We have 21 applicants for the position from 14 states.
Search and Call papers are currently being organized for all of the candidates. An independent review/
scoring process will take place in the last part of March, to review each applicant based upon review criteria
created by the Regional Search Team.
By mid-April, the Regional Search Team will create a short list of applicants, and then begin doing
reference checks and interviews.
The team will then begin to narrow the list of candidates, and anticipates presenting a candidate at
the Regional Board meeting August 3 pending Regional Board approval at Overland Park CC, and extending
the call after Regional Board approval.
The Regional Search Team is excited by the diversity and strength of the applicants. We are confident that
God is at work and that we will find the exact right person to be our next Regional Minister.
DISCIPLES TO DISCIPLES
VOLUME 39, ISSUE 5
Page 6
HOSTING CONFERENCE - WELCOME
Hope Partnership, in cooperation and conjunction with our Region and Merriam Christian
Church, will be providing a seminar on hosting/nesting a new church. If your church is
currently hosting/nesting a new church, is considering this faith step, or if you are a new
church that is being hosted, we encourage you to come be a part of this learning and resource
-sharing event.
The conference will be on Saturday, June 13, 2015, from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Merriam
Christian Church. The evening will include information sharing, a dinner will be provided, and
a panel discussion with representatives of new churches in our Region. Contact Mark Willis
at [email protected] if you have questions or to RSVP by the June 1, 2015 deadline.
Merriam Christian Church is located at 9401 Johnson Drive, Merriam, KS 66203
MISSION-OUTREACH-SERVICE
www.TallOaks.org
WELCOME
KENNY FUNK
TALL OAKS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Phone: 913-301-3004
Email: [email protected]
Call it what you will...Please send a report
on how your Worshiping community
opens their hands, their hearts, their
time, and their pocketbooks to the least
of these--those in whom we see the face
of Jesus. As a way to share the results
with other Disciples Congregations in the
Greater Kansas City Region, your report
may be published in the E-CONNECT or
the next bi-monthly packet mailed/
emailed out from the Regional Office.
Tell us what you do by sending your
report to Bev Sherwood.
[email protected]
SAVE THE DATE
NOVEMBER 6, 2015
Rev. Dr. Clark L. Hargus (Lee's Summit,
MO) passed away on February 13, 2015.
TALL OAKS GALA
ARROWHEAD STADIUM
Visitation will be at 12:00 PM, Saturday,
April 11, 2015 at Lee's Summit Christian
Church (800 NE Tudor Road, Lee's
Summit, MO 64086.
A memorial service will follow at 1:00 PM.
Page 7
AMAZONSMILE PROGRAM
Did you know when you shop at AmazonSmile,
Amazon donates 0.5% of the purchase price to the
Christian Church Disciples of Christ of Greater
Kansas City. If you will bookmark the following link
you will support us every time you shop:
http://smile.amazon.com/ch/44-0558472
Promotion Sunday
May 17, 2015
Please note: The docket for the
2015 General Assembly will be
distributed electronically this year.
ASSOCIATION OF DISCIPLES MUSICIANS
2015 NATIONAL ANNUAL CONFERENCE
JUNE 23 - JUNE 28, 2015
Churches will not receive a CD-ROM.
A USPS letter with an order form for
a paper copy or resolution packet
will arrive in congregations this
month along with voting
representative information.
CONGRATULATIONS
To: Rev. Nancy Cook
Ordained February 21, 2015,
at First Christian Church Blue
Springs, MO.
William Jewell College
Liberty, Missouri (NE of Kansas City
Association of Disciple Musicians (ADM) is offering a special pricing
opportunity for Greater Kansas City churches. These "sponsorships"
will be recognized at the conference. You can honor or memorialize
special musicians in your church. Perhaps you have present or
former members of ADM you'd like to recognize! Contact Kirby
Gould for the sponsorship form.
Volunteers are also needed for the upcoming ADM Conference!

GOLF CART DRIVERS: Kirby Gould is looking for a group of
people to be our "golf cart brigade!" Because of the distance
between the buildings where the conference is being held and
the dorms, we like to offer as a courtesy to our attendees golf
cart shuttles. If you or other folks in your church could give us
several hours for a day or two, we will put them to work!

DANCERS: Powershift Church is inviting interested liturgical
dancers to join them in creating a dance for the worship service
on June 27. Contact Kirby Gould if you have anyone interested.
To: Rev. Gabriel Pfefer
Ordained February 25, 2015, at Community
Christian Church, Kansas City, MO
LaVetta Hall will be ordained in a Service of
Ordination of Christian Ministry on Sunday,
April 19, 2015 at Community Christian
Church, Kansas City, MO.
The service will take place at 10:45 AM and
everyone is welcome to attend.
Contact Information
Kirby Gould
Phone: 816-665-8446 (cell), Email: [email protected]
WE NEED YOUR HELP
We are seeking to be good
stewards of the earth. We hope
you will consider joining us in
this effort.
If you participate in sending and
receiving emails online, we
would like to encourage you to
take the bold step of requesting
to receive the “Disciples to
Disciples” newsletter online via
email.
Send an email to the Regional
Office, [email protected]
with the subject line E-NEWS,
and request the regional
newsletter to be sent to you via
your desired email address.
Your change will be initiated
and take effect for the
upcoming “Disciples to
Disciples” E-News published and
emailed on June 1, 2015.
Have you signed up for the
E-Connect published on the 2nd
and 4th Wednesday? Just email
the Regional Office your
request.
Thank you for your help to
reduce our carbon footprint.
SAVE THE DATE
Children Worship & Wonder Training
July 10-11th, 2015
Overland Park Christian Church
(Our Regional Training Center)
7600 W. 75th Street
Overland Park, KS 66204
For more information contact:
Jessica Kramer, Ministry Associate
(317) 713-2641
[email protected]
OR
Lisa Engelken, CW&W Trainer
913-645-5434
[email protected]
It’s simple, really. Your gifts to
the Easter offering travel as far
and fast as a tweet. We are partners
in mission from your doorsteps to
the ends of the earth - around the
corner, around the globe and
around the Church.
Most churches will receive
the Easter Offering on
March 29 and April 5, 2015.