His name was Bob Sturgeon and when I met him he was an elderly gentleman with a passion for mission. Bob was a member of Hummelstown UCC where I was serving as an interim pastor in the early 1990's. One day over coffee he asked if I would like to hear the story of the first CROP walk. Bob went on to tell me that in the early 1960's he was working for the National Council of Churches in the upper mid-west region of the US. A group of teenagers in North Dakota wanted to know what they could do to help raise money to fight world hunger and Bob came up with the idea of walking 5 miles - the distance that women in many 3rd world countries walk every day to collect drinking water - and asking people to give a donation for every mile they walked. They set a weekend in the fall for their walk and raised over $30,000 for hunger programs.  

When Bob told his employers at the NCC in New York what he had done he received a terse reply - "that is not how we raise money in the National Council of Churches - don't ever do that again." Bob wrote back and said, "Gee that's too bad. we raised $30,000 in North Dakota and in two weeks I have 120 teens signed up to walk in South Dakota." A week later Bob received a second letter from New York, "Tell us more about this walk idea of yours." And the annual CROP walk was born.  

I walked in my first CROP walk when I was in Youth Fellowship in the early 1970's. It was an ecumenical event as we walked with teens from other UCC churches as well as Methodists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, and non-denominational congregations. I remember proudly displaying my button that said - We Walk So They don't Have To - as I asked for donations from members of my home church. Can you remember your first CROP Walk?  

Today there are walks all around country in towns and cities; in parks and along rivers, people walking, running strolling, roller blading, pushing baby strollers, riding in wheel chairs, all to raise money for Church World Service. CROP means -Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty - and the money raised by walkers is still used for programs to overcome hunger around the world. And today $25% of the money raised by CROP walking stays right in the local community to support local food banks, pantries, community gardens, and other local programs to fight hunger. In the last 10 years walkers have raised over $240 million dollars to assist those struggling to feed their families.

In many of our local churches confirmation classes, youth groups, women's groups, couples, families with small children, senior groups, are all making plans to walk in the 2012 CROP walk in their communities. They are walking to make a difference in the lives of people in their community and around the world, they are walking in solidarity with those who do not have safe drinking water, they are walking as an act of faithful discipleship following the instruction of Jesus to Feed The Hungry. If you cannot walk I encourage you to support those who are - your gifts are making a difference in people's

lives.  

Bob passed away a few years ago - but I'm sure he would be proud to see how his idea to help youth in North Dakota raise money to feed the hungry has become a yearly routine for people of faith around the country. This fall - support our CROP walkers, your gift to fight hunger makes a difference.   

Rev. Jeffrey Whitman

Conference Minister 

Dr. Marc A. Wessels, Associate Conference Minister

"The Sun, the moon, the stars, the seas, the hills, and the plains,

- Are not these, O Soul, the Vision of Him who reigns?"

- Alfred Tennyson

God bless, Neil Armstrong, American hero, Moonwalker, icon. When Armstrong took his one small step off the ladder of the Apollo Lunar Module (LM), "Eagle", human history changed forever. Armstrong nailed it when he spoke words which are forever inscribed in the collective memory of the human race as he touched the surface of the Moon on July 20, 1969, "That's one small step for (a) man; one giant leap for mankind." The death of America's quietest astronaut this week is occasion for celebration of not only the event of the Apollo 11 mission, but also in completing the challenge of President John F. Kennedy which he shared with the nation in his address to Congress on May 25, 1961. There Kennedy proclaimed, "I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the Earth. No single space project in this period will be more impressive to mankind or more important for the long-range exploration of space; and none will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish."

It is interesting to note that Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the Moon, fulfilled the President's goal for the nation - a directive which helped our country to strive and grow in the areas of math and sciences in a manner previous unknown. The mission was taken on in the midst of the competitive Cold War and heated up the Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union. From second place, the United States moved forward. With the landing of the Eagle at Tranquility Base on the surface of the Moon and the successful splashdown in the Pacific of the crew which included Command Module Pilot, Michael Collins, the Space Race came to an end with the Soviets giving up their own goal to place Cosmonauts on the Moon.  

It is a long way from Wapakoneta, Ohio to the surface of the Moon - some 238,900 miles. Neil Armstrong was born in a small non-descript farmhouse outside of that farming community. Armstrong's interest in aviation took shape from the time he took a ride in a barnstorming Ford Tri-motor. He attended a local church - known today as St Paul United Church of Christ. I have visited the town and walked the streets, I made a pilgrimage to the church and to the small museum dedicated in 1971. After the Moon, Armstrong returned to his hometown for a celebration which included a parade, public gathering and a church supper for VIPs. While it was modest by comparison to the massive parades, dinners, and parties held in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, his hometown's pride was evident in its wholesome embrace of one of their own.

The last time I visited Wapakoneta was for the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the landing of Apollo 11 and it was quite an event. Driving past St. Paul, I thought of a young Neil Armstrong attending church with his parents, participating in Sunday school programs and being confirmed as a full member of the United Church of the Christ. When Armstrong completed his first mission as a NASA astronaut aboard Gemini 8, the church had a big sign placed prominently on it saying, "St Paul's Church is Proud of her son NEIL."

When Armstrong lifted off from Cape Canaveral aboard Apollo 11 there was...

To continue reading Rev. Wessels' message, please click here to visit the Conference website. 

Let's Move! Faith and Communities Sign-On 

Two years ago the United Church of Christ joined the national movement to help end childhood obesity and to increase awareness among adults about the chronic diseases associated with weight gain (i.e. diabetes, heart disease, high blood cancer and cancer). 

The United Church of Christ, along with other mainline denominations continues to work with the Campaign for Health Kids project (CHK) and Faith United to End Childhood Obesity to help First Lady Michelle Obama to expand grassroots participation in the Let's Move Faith initiative to end childhood obesity.  

The Let's Move initiative wants to identify and organize over 1,000 faith leaders from a number of diverse faith congregations nationwide to be partners in the Let's Move Faith and Communities movement. 

You can help by encouraging your UCC conferences, associations, local churches, clergy, pastors and lay leaders to sign on to the  Let's Move! Faith and Communities website at http://www.letsmove.gov/join-lets-move-faith-communities.

When you sign on be sure to list "United Church of Christ" as the denomination.  Also, please put "Faith United to End Childhood Obesity" in the comments section.  Will you please take 5 minutes and sign on now? Signing makes you an official partner in a growing movement that believes that any differences that exist among us pale in comparison to our common commitment and mission to protect and promote the health of children.

Please take a moment to check out the Let's Move! Toolkit http://www.hhs.gov/partnerships/resources/Pubs/lets_move_toolkit.pdf
In it you'll find creative ways to address the childhood obesity issue in your congregation and community, including how to establish health councils and implement the five pillars of Let's Move! 

Free Books Looking For a Home

Responsive readings from The Living Bible Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois

1971

Sections include:

1. The Life of Our Lord
2. Jesus Teachings
3. The Christian Life
4. Significant Church Days
5. National Days
6. Unison Readings
7. Important Bible Subjects

Please call Diane at St. Johns Evangelical UCC at 892-0848 for more information.

Mark your calendars for the 2012 Conference Middle School Event!

This year's awesome retreat will be September 28th - 29th. CMSE is a tool for enhancing Middle School youth ministry in local congregations by helping youth connect with their peers from around the Conference. Music, worship, theme presentations, play times, discussion groups, and "hang time" are all part of the weekend. Check in will start at 7 pm on Friday, September 28th and the event will end at approximately 8:00 pm on Saturday, September 29th. And we won't be alone...our event will end by combining with the Eastern Association's Revival held over at TAMBO. It's like getting two great events for the price of one!

Youth currently in grades 6th, 7th, & 8th and their adult advisors are all invited to this life changing event. The cost is $50 per youth or adult with a special deal designed for groups coming from the Western Association.
Go to the MMS website for more details and registration information. 
You do not want to miss out!

Mark Your Calendars - September 30, 2012 

The Mission & Social Concerns Committee invites you to:

Deepening the Conversation: A Moderated Panel on Bullying, September 30 at 3pm, in the sanctuary of St. Peters UCC, 20 East Fifth Street, Washington (refreshments to follow)

The American Association of Suicidality lists suicide as one of the top three causes of death among 15-24 year olds in our country. For every completed suicide by youth, it is estimated that 100-200 attempts are made (2003 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey).  

Bullying is a prime cause of youth despair and is epidemic in our country. 33% of youth report being bullied 1-3 times per week, and bullying among adults in the workplace, political arena, and in families and friendships is becoming a troubling American cultural norm.

Join our panel in learning about the implications of bullying in youth and adults and reflecting together on spiritual and social responses we may engage as members of the United Church of Christ. 

A Call to Meeting for all Covenant Partners in the Eastern Association of the Missouri Mid-South Conference

You are invited and called to participate in the Annual Fall Gathering of the Eastern Association of the Missouri Mid South Conference of the United Church of Christ!

The Eastern Association Fall Gathering will begin on Sunday, September 23; 2:00pm at St. John's, Bem United Church of Christ, Owensville.  Registration and display set up will begin at 1:00pm.  Supper will be served at 5:00pm.

As a member of one of the 55 congregations that make up the United Church of Christ in Eastern Missouri, it is your privilege and pleasure to gather together with your partners in ministry for this annual event.  We hope you will avail yourself of this opportunity for education, worship, fellowship and food!

To register: fill out the registration form on the Conference website. Send your registration form, along with a check for $8.00/person to St. John's, Bem United Church of Christ at the address on the registration form.  (Make checks payable to St. John's, Bem UCC)

Click here for registration and meeting materials available on the Conference website. 

Questions may be directed to Rev. Rick Oberle, Eastern Association Council President at 573.437.3698 or rick@bemchurch.com.  We hope to see you on September 23!

Additional materials will be mailed to churches in early August.  Churches should start receiving them around August 15.

Yours in Christ's Ministry,

The Eastern Association Council

Rev. Rick Oberle; Wendy Jaine Summers; Judy Kemp; Charlene Klein;

Pastor Darryl Deeker; Rev. Genie Althen; Gloria Ridder; Carole Dotson;

Rev. Devin Jones; Rev. Wayne Hoffman; Eric Moeller; Karen Watson;

Alvyne Rethemeyer; Nylin Bathke; Pastor Heather Arcovitch;

Rev. Michael Kasevitch