Our worship #21 has a number of gifts on it that we hope will leave you feeling blessed. First, we are humbled that Dr. Ronald J. Allen, professor of Preaching and Gospel & Letters at Christian Theological Seminary, delivers both our message and communion meditation. Dr. Allen is an ordained Disciples of Christ minister, a clergy spouse, a specialist in the books of Luke and Acts, and a prolific writer. Here he brings his scholarly expertise, his minister's heart, and the leading of the Spirit together in this short but powerful message directed toward people who find themselves feeling shipwrecked by the storms in life. 
A second gift on this video is the introduction of one of our less-than conventional ministers who are connecting with you through this place called DisciplesNet. This is Lee Mehrlich, a gifted theologian and licensed minster at his home church, Zionsville Christian Church in Indianapolis, but has also agreed to help DisciplesNet. Lee's cerebral palsy makes his voice sound a bit different; he speaks through a Bliss board, programing his speech through symbols that then translate to a way for him to share the message that God has given him to share with the world.

Finally, the hymns on today's worship were all recorded by a group of volunteers who took mercy upon our tuneless majority of leaders who meet to worship and record each Sunday's videos. We offer our thanks to these enthusiastic and beautiful voices, especially to Keith Mikesell who played the piano and organ for the recording, and to the historic Central Christian Church in Indianapolis for lending their facilities. This is just one of the groups we have lined up to help us with having a variety of music to offer.
We hope you will be blessed by this combination of gifts.

Dr. Allen didn't ask that we list this, but one of his latest books is written for individuals as well as small groups, and is becoming quite popular. Finding a Faith of Your Own is the book's name. Another book for individuals explores some of the major themes and cultural issues of the New Testament, and is titled, The Life of Jesus For Today. Both of books are published by Westminster John Knox Press.