September Connection 1
September 1, 2026
DISCIPLES CONNECTION
AROUND THE REGION
Please RSVP for the installation ceremony of Rev. Dr. Lara Blackwood Pickrel in her role as our Regional Minister and President. This celebration is free and open to everyone in the Greater Kansas City Region and beyond!
DWM Fall Retreat
Our 2026 retreat theme is Lesser-Known Women of the Bible: You Are Seen and Heard Too.
Through inspiring keynote sessions, meaningful worship, and opportunities to connect with other women of faith, we’ll explore the stories of women whose lives remind us that God sees, values, and works through each of us.
We are blessed to welcome Keynote Speaker Dr. Debra Reid, Interim Executive Director of Disciples Women, who will lead us in inspiring sessions centered around our retreat theme. We will also welcome Guest Speaker Wanona Rogers Redd, President of the Disciples Women Executive Committee, who will share a special presentation with our retreat attendees.
Registration and check-in begin at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 17. The retreat will conclude at approximately 11:00 a.m. on Saturday,
September 19.
Register by Thursday, September 3rd.
Worship WednesdayEvery Wednesday, the Regional Office will spotlight a sermon from one of our churches. Whether you missed a Sunday Service or just need a mid-week spiritual reset, Worship Wednesdays allow everyone in the Greater KC Region and beyond to share in the good word. |
Racial Justice Summit Awards - NOMINEES NEEDED
The Becoming Beloved Community is looking for help with possible Racial Justice Summit award recipients.
Each year, two awards are presented at the Annual KC Racial Justice Summit at Intersect KC hosted by the Becoming Beloved Community Team of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Greater Kansas City.
Rev. Mary Lou Kegler and Rev. Bill Rose-Heim Award for Igniting Collaborative Action for Racial Justice
This award honors individuals in the Greater Kansas City region who have been instrumental in connecting people, organizations and causes in ways that promote action and movement toward racial justice.
Arc Bender Award
This award is given to individuals and organizations in the Greater Kansas City region who embody Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King’s claim that, "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." Rather than being a recognition of any single, dramatic accomplishment, it is a celebration of an ongoing commitment to advocating for justice for all people and working to bring about systemic change in our government and our culture. It is through their patient, unwavering, and sometimes frustrating efforts that the arc of the moral universe bends ever more slightly towards justice for all.
Please submit your nominees by Wednesday, September 9th.
UPCOMING REGIONAL EVENTS
"How a Practiced Religious Freedom Helps Christians
Respond to Rising Authoritarianism and Theocracy"
Amanda Tyler, ED of Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty Thursday, September 17 at 12 noon - 1 pm (Central time)
Religious freedom is more than a set of principles or constitutional protections. Religious freedom is a practice that requires discipline, particularly from a religious group that has majority status in a community.
Amanda will explain what a practiced religious freedom looks like and how it can contribute to a pluralistic democracy. She will point to examples of advocacy against rising Christian nationalism in public schools and threats to free and fair elections, giving actionable ideas for faith leaders to engage in some of today's most pressing challenges.
Faith, Politics, and the Common Good Event
September 22
Saint Andrew will be hosting a special event on Tuesday night
September 22 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm in the sanctuary. We are one of the national spots for the organization Vote for the Common Good. Faith doesn’t belong on the sidelines of democracy — and it shouldn’t be used to dismantle it either. This fall, 50+ cities are being visited to offer a better way forward. Faith, Politics, and the Common Good is a 2-hour gathering for everyday people of faith, local clergy, public servants, and neighbors who want to bring their whole selves — beliefs included — into public life without leaving democracy behind. You don’t have to check your faith at the door to be a good citizen. And you don’t have to compromise democracy to be a person of faith. The event will be a blend of presenters and small group conversations. Please make plans to come and be a part of this meaningful evening.
When Everyone Leads: Equipping Leaders for Anti-Racist Movement Ministry
Saturday, September 26
Reconciliation Ministry is hosting When Everyone Leads, a special online gathering designed to equip and strengthen ARPR leaders across the church as we continue the work of anti-racist movement ministry.
Regional Ministers are encouraged to share this opportunity with ARPR Team leaders in your regions. The event will take place Saturday, September 26, 2026, from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. CST (11 a.m.–6 p.m. EST / 8 a.m.–3 p.m. PST) and will be facilitated by Rev. Bill Rose-Heim.
The course is grounded in the belief that when everyone leads, we can make progress on our toughest challenges and that everyone should be equipped and supported to exercise their leadership capacities.
Register for When Everyone Leads and help spread the word among leaders in your region.
Dementia Q&A
Tuesday, Sept. 29, 1:00-2:30 p.m.
North Oak Christian Church is sponsoring a Dementia Q&A with Dr. Laura Janusik, Dementia Communication Specialist. This is a free seminar, open to the public. Please invite others to this informative opportunity. You can learn more about Dr. Janusik here.
Leadership Institute 2026
More than 1,000 church leaders from across the country have registered for Leadership
Institute 2026: MOMENTUM, taking place September 30 – October 2 at Resurrection.
In-person and online registration remain open. Standard pricing: Online $159, In-Person $299, In-Person with Pre-Conference $399. Register at li.cor.org.
Group discount: Code LIGROUP provides $25 off per person for groups of five or more.
Student discount: Code LISTUDENT provides $100 off any in-person registration.
Leaders who cannot attend in person can register online to participate in all Keynote and Featured Sessions from anywhere, individually or as a group watch party. Every online registration includes six months of on-demand access and CEU credits.
Still available to register for:
All five Keynote Sessions, including opening and closing sessions with Adam Hamilton
Featured sessions on AI in ministry, reaching the next generation, faithful innovation, and denominational renewal
Pre-Conference Workshops on September 30 — 40+ hands-on workshops across seven ministry tracks (in-person only)
Register at li.cor.org
Regional Assembly
October 9 and 10
Every two years we gather as a region for fellowship, worship, regional board elections, and discussion of any other pressing issues for the Greater Kansas City Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
2026 is extra special with leadership from our new Regional Minister, Rev. Dr. Lara Blackwood Pickrel and an Installation Service for our Regional Youth Cabinet.
As we reflect on Being the Body of Christ, we're reminded that it takes all of us - lay members, lay leaders, ministers, and regional ministry leadership to do the work of Christ in our congregations and in our communities.
Our Regional Assembly builds on this by offering a laity and family focus on Friday evening with a Regional focus on Saturday.
FROM THE GENERAL CHURCH
DCEF features Smithville and Rev. Laura Guy
"Rev. Laura Guy knows what it is like to lead a new congregation. While in seminary, she started Living Water Christian Church (LWCC) in Parkville, MO and was its pastor from 2004 to 2021.
In 2025, when Rev. Guy was called to serve as senior pastor at Smithville First Christian Church in Smithville, MO, she was faced with not only caring for a faith community that traced its roots back almost 200 years, but also caring for a building that was almost 100 years old itself.
With our help, Rev. Guy and her team have learned how to keep this historic building strong and beautiful for generations to come."
Read the full article on Disciples Church Extension Fund's partnership with FCC Smithville here.
Disciples Mission Week
September 8 - 13
The goals of Disciples Mission Week are to educate and create awareness around the issues that congregations are addressing and care deeply about; inspire volunteer action through a day of service and volunteering in Disciples
communities across the U.S. and Canada; and to celebrate and worship in our congregations as we recommit ourselves to continued mission.
September 8-11: The week begins with four evenings of compelling and engaging webinars on key topics that are critical to understanding how
congregations can engage in local missions to address some of society's most pressing needs. To participate in any of the webinars, you will need to register. The good news is they are all FREE! You can choose the webinars that are of most interest to you, or you can sign up for all of them!
September 12: A Day of Volunteering and Service in Disciples communities across the entire church. Congregations are encouraged to organize volunteers for one-day projects in their churches, communities, regions, with a local partner, with a DHM partner site, and/or with other local congregations. These activities can be in support of existing ministries or be a stepping stone to getting one started. Tell us your plans for the day here!
September 13: Disciples congregations are invited to celebrate the good work they have been doing and continue to do in their churches and communities. DHM has FREE downloadable resources for worship and the scripture for Disciples Mission Week 2026 is Isaiah 58:6-10.
Visit www.disciplesmissionweek.org for more information!
We look forward to seeing Disciples in Mission: Everyone. Everywhere.
Reconciliation Offering: Beyond Restoration: Hope in Action
The 2026 Reconciliation Offering will be received on September 27 and October 4, inviting Disciples to move Beyond Restoration: Hope in Action, inspired by Psalm 85:6-11.
This year’s offering calls us to consider what it means to move beyond restoration toward active hope, justice, reconciliation, and the work of building beloved community.
Regional Ministers are encouraged to share the Reconciliation Offering creative and help create awareness throughout their regions. We also invite you to share stories from your region that demonstrate reconciliation, hope in action, and the work of building beloved community. These stories, along with your images, can help bring the offering to life and show Disciples how their generosity makes a difference. Please send stories and images to reconciliation@disciples.org.
Apply for an NBA Grant
The National Benevolent Association is now accepting applications for Fall 2026 Mission & Ministry Grants!
This program provides grant funding for projects serving older adults, educating at-risk children and youth, and intergenerational projects serving both educational purposes for at-risk children and youth and older adults.
Applications will be accepted through September 30th.
Proclamation Project
2026 Disciples Preaching Retreat
Registration is now open for the 2026 Disciples Preaching Retreat at the Franciscan Renewal Center in Scottsdale, Arizona! Participants often come for the first time to hone their craft and return for the opportunity to be renewed, refreshed, and connected with fellow preachers.
Regional Ministers are encouraged to invite preachers in their regions to participate. This year’s retreat features keynoter Pablo Jiminez, worship with Jonli Tunstall, and an all-star lineup of Disciples preachers.
We Call Ourselves Disciples
The Proclamation Project is thrilled to release our eagerly anticipated Disciples Identity curriculum. A companion to the book We Call Ourselves Disciples, this resource is designed for congregations to grow deeper in their identity and connections within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The multimedia resource is adaptable for a variety of contexts, featuring six weeks of materials that can be used as a sermon series, a small group study, a new member class, and more.
SAVE THE DATES
Brite Divinity School President Open House
Saturday, October 17
Dr. Stephen Cady, President of Brite Divinity School, will be in town the weekend of October 17-18. Saint Andrew Christian Church has agreed to host an Open House Event for the Greater Kansas City Region as a meet-and-greet for those who want to learn more about Brite Divinity School and meet their seminary president.
For those who attended the General Assembly in Memphis, you may remember
he gave one of the sermons in evening worship. He is both inspiring and a fantastic preacher. The Open House Event will be on Saturday October 17 from
10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Coffee and light snacks will be provided. Dr. Cady will make a short presentation at 10:30am. All are invited to come and meet him and learn what is happening in one of our Disciples of Christ seminaries. Dr. Cady is
from Olathe, KS and grew up in the Kansas City area.
Note: Please RSVP to Pastor Chris Wilson of your intent to attend to make sure we have enough refreshments for people. You may reach out to him at chris@sacchome.org.
ARPR 3.0 Training
Saturday, October 24
This workshop is intended to support the work of clergy and lay leadership who are already aware of the harm of systemic racism that continues to hurt us all in the Church and in our communities and frustrate the mission of Jesus.
Co-facilitators Rev. Dr. Dionne Boyice and Rev. Rose-Heim are pleased to announce that Rev. Dr. Chris Wilson will present the Becoming and Anti-Racist Congregation process that he helped to design and test.
We will also introduce and practice the Transformative Community Conferencing method for re-examining the narrative that drives the stories we tell about ourselves and others.
We will learn from the KC Reparation Coalition how any individual and congregation can take action locally to take part in the unresolved justice work of reparation for documented historic harms committed in their communities. We will provide registrants with links to advance reading opportunities; however, this workshop will include small- and large-group activities.
2026 Racial Justice Summit
The 2026 Annual KC Racial Justice Summit gathers neighbors, organizers, and partners to confront the realities of racial inequity in Kansas City.
With Keynote speaker, Rev. Dr. Hanna Broome and 8 local racial justice leaders sharing workshops, we learn, share concrete tools, and engage in the work of building communal power and dignified relationships.
Tall Oaks Gala
Saturday, November 14th
Save the date and buy your tickets for the annual Tall Oaks Gala!
Reserve your seat at:
Table Assignments are made in the order in which reservations are received, so get them in early!
Reservations are $75 per person, $600 to host a table of 8, and $900 to host a VIP table of 8.
Auction Donation Suggestions:
We are celebrating over 50 years of camping at Tall Oaks. This year’s Tall Oaks Gala, the annual fundraising event, will be on November 14th, 2026, at Tall Oaks. Thanks to all of you who have supported the Gala in the past and we hope you will continue to do so. The following are guidelines for auction donations for the event. The suggestions are not meant to be all-inclusive; we urge you to use your creativity. Your donations will help to make this an amazing Gala!
Sports Themed Items
Any sports memorabilia, specifically KC Teams.
Tickets to games
Signed items
Travel and Entertainment
Tickets to events
Travel packages or travel baskets
Weekend getaways
Experiences
Restaurants
Baskets with date or family night themes
Art and Collectibles
Well-known or local artists
Collectibles, meaning they retain their original value or increase in value
Themed baskets
Family/Kids themes
Cooking
Movies
Holiday (Thanksgiving/Christmas)
ALL DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE
Items must fit in a car so that they can be taken home with the purchaser the evening of the event. 10%-25% of the value (50% for gift certificates) will be used as the minimum bid unless otherwise requested by the donor.
For more information or to make a donation, contact:
Gala Team
lisa4women@gmail.com, (913)634-5602
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
