The Disciples Women’s Ministry (DWM) of Central Christian Church kicked off the 2019/20 season of the organization with a stupendous program and luncheon Tuesday morning in the church parlor and fellowship hall.

Five of the Ms. Texas Senior America Pageant winners shared their talent and life philosophy with the Disciples Women and their guests during the program.

Ms. Texas Senior 2018, Sherry Dodson, began the program presentation with a beautiful rendition of “He Touched Me.” Following her song, she gave a synopsis of the purpose and objective of the pageant and what it means to American women who have recached the “age of elegance.” 

“So often women are ‘set aside’ or ‘put in a box’ after a certain age,” Sherry said.

However, if motivated, there is a lot of life, talent and giving left to be shared with other women, children and the community and that is what the pageant is all about.

The reining Ms. Texas Senior, Joyce Brown, disclosed that community service, often through her25-year church affiliation, has always been a way of life for her and helping others always a priority in her life.

Joyce had performed a jazz dance routine to “I Won’t Dance” in the talent competition of this year’s pageant that was held last month at the Doubletree Galleria in Addison, Texas where she was crowned Ms. Texas Senior America 2019.

Kimberly Ghedi, shared that she found love at 60 and what a life-changing event that has been for her.

Despite her musical career and beautiful voice, Kimberly admitted that she often felt left out as women get overlooked in their later years.

“Sometimes even at church they didn’t ask me to sing anymore.  But it was my husband who told me, ‘you can do more,’” Kimberly said.

She entered the pageant and she won the talent portion of the contest and became 1^st runner-up 2019. Kimberly enjoys teaching and sharing her talent with children and adults.

Teresa Gwynne, 2^nd runner-up in the pageant, who, like Joyce, performed a dance in the talent portion of the contest, by her own admission, revealed that her community service was probably a little different from the others.

Teresa rescues and fosters animals for “Cowtown Loves Animal Shelter Pets.”  She talked about the heartache often associated with fostering an animal knowing that eventually it will be leaving you and going to a new home, but also the reward when you see the dog in its new and wonderful “furever” home.  

And how does animal rescue play into the whole scheme of community service?

“Gandhi said the greatness of a nation can be judged by the way it treats its animals,” Teresa quoted.

Third runner-up, Debbie Vincent, brought laughter to Tuesday’s audience when she quipped, “I’m 3^rd runner-up.  That means I was last.”

Beautiful and talented, Debbie also chose a riveting dance for her talent routine in the pageant.  She is an advocate for parents with disabled children and she also volunteers with Minnie’s Food Pantry.  

Other highlights of the meeting included Disciples Women’s, Anne Pogson, opening the program by reading “Audrey Hepburn Beauty Tips” and a recognition by Becky Riggins of long-time members, Katheryn Livengood and Margaret Wilson, for their service to the Disciples Women’s Ministry, the church and the community.

Kim Ghedi had the highest score for her talent in the Ms. Texas Senior America Pageant and the program ended with Kim singing her talent winning song, “Think of Me” from Phantom of the Opera.

Following the program everyone gathered in the beautifully appointed fellowship hall, with table decorations complements of DWM memberRosemary Davenport, to enjoy a delicious buffet lunch of tea sandwiches, fruit kabobs, tarts and cupcakes.

This program was dedicated to what seniors can do and will do for the community. If you are looking for a place to make new friendships, enjoy new experiences and share your talents, consider visiting a Disciples Women’s meeting.  They are held the first Tuesday of each month from September to May and you don’t have to be a member of Central, or any church for that matter, to be a part of this wonderful organization. For more information, contact Shelia at shelia0806@sbcglobal.net.

Central Westside is excited to have you join us for our annual retreat, a one-day workshop, where we explore together how God is working in, through and among us as we partner with our neighbors to experience God's transforming love.  

The 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. vision workshop will be held at 4711 Westside Dr. on Saturday, September 7. Lunch will be provided on campus. 

Located in the heart of neighboring Park Cities, Love Field, North Park, Oak Lawn, Uptown and Southwestern Medical Center, Central Westside is a hub of community engagement, innovation and impact, focusing on diversity and Inclusion, creativity and the arts, wholeness and flourishing. 

Over the last year we have watched Westside Wellness Dallas come to fruition, expressing our missional priority of wholeness and flourishing. We have witnessed “Church in the Dog Park” grow from a few interested people to a small congregation that meets with their dogs for Sunday worship. We’ve added staff to better serve our community. We launched our ESL program at Maple Lawn Elementary, added new 12 Step Groups and another worshipping community, Journey Church, to our campus. 

Central Westside has hosted community lunches like the recent one made up of local clergy in response to the tragic shootings that again took place in our Nation and the Good Neighbor Movement lunch, encouraging people to get to know and include their neighbors. 

Just this month “Grow North Texas,” a non-profit that works to connect North Texans to food, farms, and community in order to create a sustainable, secure regional food system has joined our co-working space as has a certified grief counselor providing a form of psychotherapy that aims to help people cope with the physical, emotional, social, spiritual and cognitive responses to loss.  

Rev. Dr. Katie Hays will lead the workshop. You're being invited to share your story that encapsulates the work that you do and how you are or can engage the twin missions of our church and campus: For more information contact the office at 214-526-7291.

The Disciples Women’s Ministry of Central Christian Church will resume monthly meetings on the first Tuesday of the month on September 3. An exciting program has been planned to kick off the 2019/20 year and our Westside neighbors and community are invited.

Five winning contestants from the Ms. Texas Senior America Pageant will be guest speakers and performers at the September meeting, sharing their personal experiences about the importance of community service in their lives. The pageant philosophy is based upon the belief that seniors are the foundation of America, and our most valuable treasure.

Ms. Texas Senior America 2018, Sherry Dodson, will tell us about the pageant, its purpose in enhancing the lives of senior Americans and what it has meant to her. She will also share her talent, her beautiful voice, singing the spiritual song, “He Touched Me.”

This year’s winner, the lovely and talented Joyce Brown, mother and grandmother, has been a volunteer at her church for over twenty-five years as well as donating her time to a homeless shelter, serving meals and offering words of encouragement to those in need. 

You will meet Joyce and hear about her experiences in volunteering her time to help made a difference in the world along with the three runner’s-up in this year’s pageant.

First runner-up Kimberly Ghedi, who also won the talent portion of the pageant, will share her voice in song and her volunteer activities as will 2^nd Runner-Up, Theresa Gwynne and 3^rd Runner-Up, Debbie Vincent.

Theresa fosters and helps finds homes for homeless and abandon dogs and Debbie volunteers at Minnie’s Food Pantry, the National Alliance of Mental Health and is a parent advocate for special needs children.

The Disciples Women include the prayer “I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something; and what I should do and can do, by the grace of God, I will do,” in their monthly meetings as community service and outreach is vital to the well-being of ourselves and others.

If you have been looking for ways to volunteer your time to help fit together some pieces in a fragmented world, you will be inspired and entertained by these lovely and gracious women.

A buffet lunch will be served following the program. 

You won’t want to miss this exciting meeting, and please invite a friend. It all happens, Tuesday morning at 10:30 on September 3 in the parlor and adjacent hall of the Westside campus.  A reservation is required for set-up and lunch. Make yours by contacting shelia0806@sbcglobal.net by August 26.

Gone are the days when a “Big Chief,” new crayons with points and a lunch box with your favorite super-hero or “Barbie” got you back in school. The National average per child today for the cost of school supplies is $100. 

Many lower income families simply can not afford the financial burden.  As a result, teachers often purchase supplies for their classroom at their own expense.

To help alleviate the hardship on families and teachers, and make sure all students begin the year with the supplies they need to do their best, Central is again collecting supplies and money to purchase them for our area low-income elementary school, Maple Lawn.   

If you would like to donate, you may drop items or a check by the church Monday thru Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.   Make checks payable to Central Christian Church and mark “school supply drive” in the memo.

The following is a list of approved items for Pre-K through grade 5:

#2 Pencils (needed for most grades, good quality*

Pencil pouch/bag 

Mechanical pencil 

Box of Colored pencils (24 count)

Box map colors – 24 ct.

Expo markers

Dixon® Ticonderoga® Box Of 12 Pencils 

Pink erasers

Dry eraser 

Cap erasers

Box of crayons (24 count)

Box of Crayola washable markers

Blunt scissors (for young students)

Regular scissors

1oz. Bottle of Elmer’s white glue

Glue sticks

Pkg. assorted construction paper, 50 count both 9 X 12 and 12 x 18

Pkg. manila paper 50 count both 9 X 12 and 12 x 18

Pocket Folders diff. Colors

Plastic Folders 4 pocket with brads assorted colors

Notebooks: Spiral Notebook (red, blue, yellow, Green and black) Spiral Notebook – 70 pages (wide-ruled, assorted colors) Black & white composition notebook (no spiral) 3 Ring binder 2”inch

Mead Early Composition Journal (kindergarten)

PRIMARY Composition notebook - half white paper & half ruled paper ?

Composition notebook, Wide Ruled (black cover) ?

Handwriting Tablet Paper (50 wide ruled sheets)

3 Ring binder 2”inch 

Pack of dividers for binder

Notebook paper (wide- rule)*

Box Ziplock Bags both 1 Quart and 1 gallon

White printer paper***

Pkg of graph paper

Package White card stock

Hand Sanitizer

Clorox disinfectant wipes (not baby wipes)

Lysol Spray

Composition notebooks

Rolls Paper Towels

Boxes Kleenex

Index cards both 3 X 5 inch small and large size

Scotch tape

Supply box for Kindergarten students (similar to the old cigar box only plastic)

Headphones (medium quality)

Backpack – Big enough to carry their binder is requested for pre-K

*Notebook paper must be wide rule

**Dollar Store pencils tend to not sharpen well. Please purchase a higher quality #2 pencil

***Needed for most grades

Mastermind is offering a first-of-its-kind offering with renowned psychologist Dr. Martin Lumpkin, hosted by Westside Wellness Dallas.  

Dr. Lumpkin is considered the Godfather of the mindfulness movement and brings four decades of mindfulness expertise, providing a rich history and example of the impact of mindfulness and its benefits to mental and physical health.  

Dr. Lumpkin has served as a professor at UT Southwestern Medical Center, teaching Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) as part of the Clinical Psychology curriculum, and has incorporated mindfulness-based approaches into his own psychology practice since 2002.

Author of “The Music of The World: Living Life Mindfully,” he is regarded as one of our region’s top mindfulness experts.

The Emergent Mindfulness four-week series begins August 6, where you will experience formal seated meditation as well as experiential mindfulness practices like mindful eating, mindful walking, and mindful communication. 

Based on the 8-week MBSR series, this research-backed mini-course is focused on teaching and sharing meaningful mindfulness practices to incorporate into your daily life.

The seminar dates are Tuesday August 6, 13, 20, 27 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 each evening. 

Mastermind and Westside Wellness host events on the Central Westside Campus at 4711 Westside Dr., Dallas, TX. 75209. 

Investment for the series is $175.00. Register online.

Westside Wellness Director Kirsten Joy Burch, and Mastermind Chief Mindfulness Officer Dorsey Standish will be supporting this series and are excited to delve into these life-changing practices alongside you.