Missional Dispatcheshttp://centralwoodward.org/missional-dispatches/en-US2012-02-18T03:46:18ZSquarespace Site Server v5.11.81 (http://www.squarespace.com/)A Pastoral Letter from The Rev. Sharon Watkinshttp://centralwoodward.org/missional-dispatches/2012/1/18/a-pastoral-letter-from-the-rev-sharon-watkins.htmlBob Cornwall2012-01-18T21:11:44ZEconomy Mission Pastoral Letter Pastoral Letters Sharon WatkinsDear Disciples,

Today as I sit to write, it is the anniversary of the massive earthquake that shook Haiti two years ago. We have experienced the shock of other tragedies since then: the earthquake in Japan, storms across North America, and the on-going drought and starvation in the Horn of Africa (to name a few.)

]]>What is the Hope of Advent?http://centralwoodward.org/missional-dispatches/2011/11/30/what-is-the-hope-of-advent.htmlBob Cornwall2011-11-30T14:48:08ZAdvent Disciples of Christ ReflectionsWe are on a journey toward Christmas. It is a season called Advent. It invites us to consider our callings as the people of God, to look inwardly and consider what distractions and issues need to be dealt with so that we can love God and love neighbor. In the spirit of Advent, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) offers a brief video message. It features, among others, the thoughts of Sharon Watkins, our General Minister and President, as well as, the elected leadership of the church. I invite you to watch, consider, and offer your own thoughts about the hope of Advent. What are your hopes for this coming year as we walk the path set before us. As John the Baptist shouted, taking his cue from Isaiah: "Prepare the way of the Lord: Make his paths straight." (Mark 1:3; Isaiah 40:3 CEB).

]]>CNN story about Fred Craddockhttp://centralwoodward.org/missional-dispatches/2011/11/28/cnn-story-about-fred-craddock.htmlBob Cornwall2011-11-28T21:48:30ZDisciples of Christ Preaching ReflectionsAs Disciples one of the treasures that we take great pride in is Fred Craddock, one of the best loved preachers of our time. If you've heard him preach you know why he has received such renown -- despite the fact that he's never built a mega-church or gone on grand preaching tours.

CNN has published a profile of Fred's life that is quite worth reading.

Take a look here: http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/27/us/craddock-profile/index.html

]]>A Video Conversation with Steve Knight about being Missionalhttp://centralwoodward.org/missional-dispatches/2011/11/17/a-video-conversation-with-steve-knight-about-being-missional.htmlBob Cornwall2011-11-17T21:18:57ZDisciples of Christ Hope Partnership Reflections missionalSteve Knight, a Disciple and a consultant working with Church Extension in developing the Hope Partnership invited my to have a video conversation via skype. We talked about being missional in a more traditional context. It's an interesting conversation that touched on Disciple history, CWCC, and the future! I invite you to check it out and offer your thoughts.

]]>November 2011 Dispatch -- Stewardshiphttp://centralwoodward.org/missional-dispatches/2011/11/3/november-2011-dispatch-stewardship.htmlBob Cornwall2011-11-03T13:46:04Zdispatches stewardship thanksgivingIt’s November, which means it’s time for us to take time to give to God for the many blessings that have been shared with us. We’ll do this as a nation, with a national day of Thanksgiving, but we’ll also do this as a congregation and with two other community opportunities to share together words of thanks. One is interfaith and the other is ecumenical.

]]>Missional Dispatch -- September 2011http://centralwoodward.org/missional-dispatches/2011/8/30/missional-dispatch-september-2011.htmlBob Cornwall2011-08-31T00:06:48ZInterfaith Memorial Remembrance dispatchesThis month marks the tenth anniversary of the attacks of September 11, 2001. Those attacks have left their mark on our nation, our world, and our own individual lives. The way we live and see the world has changed since that day. Americans who had felt largely in control of their destiny, and were reveling in the new post-Cold War status of sole super-power, were left feeling more vulnerable than ever before. Even though no more attacks of the magnitude that brought down two of the tallest buildings in the land, struck the Pentagon, and had not a group of passen-gers brought down the fourth jet in a Pennsylvania field, perhaps either the capitol building or the White House could have been hit, Americans were left feeling afraid and uncertain. The desire for revenge and retaliation led our nation to launch two wars that continue to this day. Fear of fur-ther attacks led to ever tighter security at our airports, making travel more expensive and more inconvenient. On a more positive side of things, we began to pay more attention to the Middle East and to the Islamic faith, which is good. But, on the other hand, much of this attention has led to greater fear and mistrust rather than greater insight and understanding.

]]>Missional Dispatch -- April 2011http://centralwoodward.org/missional-dispatches/2011/4/2/missional-dispatch-april-2011.htmlBob Cornwall2011-04-02T20:24:46ZEaster Lent Sermon on the Mount dispatchesLiving within the Reign of God: Sermons on Matthew’s Sermon on the Mounthttp://centralwoodward.org/missional-dispatches/2011/1/24/living-within-the-reign-of-god-sermons-on-matthews-sermon-on-1.htmlBob Cornwall2011-01-24T15:46:03ZKingdom of God Reflections Sermons

The “Sermon on the Mount” is the best known and perhaps most challenging speeches/sermons from the Gospels. It’s not a mere compilation of sayings attributed to Jesus, but in the hands of Matthew it becomes a tightly organized and powerful speech that lays out for us Jesus’ vision of what life in God’s Realm should like. ]]>Split Ticket -- A Book Reviewhttp://centralwoodward.org/missional-dispatches/2010/10/26/split-ticket-a-book-review.htmlBob Cornwall2010-10-26T20:24:39ZDisciples of Christ Faith Reviews politics young adultsSPLIT TICKET: Independent Faith in a Time of Partisan Politics. Edited by Amy Gopp, Christian Piatt, and Brandon Gilvin. St. Louis: Chalice Press, 2010. viii + 184 pp.

If the reports are to be believed, young adults are leaving the church, either because it has become too politicized or because institutional religion has become corrupt and moribund. They are, for instance, turned off by their perception that churches tend to be anti-homosexual. And if truth be told, they’re probably correct in this perception, for at most, a majority of churches have followed the lead of the military and have instituted a policy of "don’t ask, don’t tell." In other words, stay in the closet.

]]>October 2010 Dispatchhttp://centralwoodward.org/missional-dispatches/2010/10/12/october-2010-dispatch.htmlBob Cornwall2010-10-12T23:09:06ZBible Study Church Vitality dispatches

It is October and the leaves are starting to turn. The burning bush in my back yard is turning red, which must mean that God is speaking again! With autumn at hand and time flying by quickly, it is good to keep an eye on the calendar. The organ has been dedicated and Alex McCauslin has been commissioned as our intern minister, the WOW study has begun and the Wednesday Bible Studies (Ephesians) has also begun. As busy as September has been, October will be even busier. There is the Bible Seminar with Ron Allen on October 9-10, the commissioning of Stephen Ministers on the 17th, SOS from the 17th to the 24th, Heidi Michael sharing about the Diversity Training in Washington, D.C., a gathering for prospective new members, and the beginning of our Stewardship emphasis (both on Halloween – what a spooky idea!). Oh, and Alex is beginning the conversation with young adults about the rebirthing of the young adult ministry. Yes, there is much happening, but its not just busyness; it’s a sign that God is moving in our midst.

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