Dr. Marc A. Wessels, Associate Conference Minister

I remember when gasoline stations were service stations - a place to stop and have your car filled up with gasoline while service station attendant actually looked at your vehicle, checked the oil level and the pressure of your tires and cleaned your windshield before the final bell chimed signaling that your tank was full. The memory is particularly fresh as I recall working as such a service station attendant at the local Hess station in Hartsville, South Carolina just a few blocks from Coker College where I was a student. The owner/manager of the station took pride in his staff providing the best service in town - we were speedy, polite, efficient and hospitable. I remember quite clearly hearing on many a day, "Fill 'er up."

On a trip to the little town of
De Soto, Missouri I was amused to discover an old Texaco gasoline service station which has been lovingly restored. It reminded me of my days of service at Hess. It also brought to mind the old Texaco slogan, "You can trust your car to the man who wears the star-- The big, bright, Texaco star!" They even had the deadpan comedian Jack Bennie as their spokesman for their company.

Playing off their advertising campaign, they had a jingle which played on the radio wherein their service men, sang, "We are the men from Texaco - We wear the Texaco Star - We like to think at Texaco We've got everything for your car - We've got wipers for your windshield' plugs n' belts n 'tires, too lubricants and batteries and polishes for you - All the things to keep your engine up to par - We've got everything for your car. That's why you can trust you car to the man who wears the Star for the kind of products that can take care of you car - At every Texaco Station, clean across the Nation, you can trust your car to the man who wears the star the big bright Texaco star!"

That old station got me to thinking about the heavy use - perhaps overused - advertising campaign of the United Church of Christ in recent years - with our emphasis on extravagant welcome.  

We may not promise everything for the public's car from wipers to plugs, we do plug a lot of hospitality.

But what is hospitality in the church and are we truly living out the words which we mouth?

Hospitality can be a drink of water; a welcoming word; a thoughtful act offered in support of someone. These are direct demonstrations of hospitality - one of the key core values which we proclaim as leaders and members of the United Church of Christ. We talk in terms of an "extravagant welcome" but what does that really mean once we get beyond the hype and rote messaging that many UCCers can say in their sleep? You know the refrain, "No matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here." I would hazard to guess that most...

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

In the National News!

The following article is taken from this week's UCC national email update.  Pastor Paul Emily of Bethany-Peace UCC in St. Louis is featured! 

http://www.ucc.org/news/faithin-project-fuels-hope.html   

Last week's UCC national email update featured an article written by Rev. Steve Swope, pastor at the UCC in Columbia!

http://columbiafavs.com/faith/doctrine-and-practice/aluminum-crosses-and-the-flaws-of-shiny-christianity   

Ordination Service of Robert E. Van Ess   

The St. Louis Association of the United Church of Christ and Holy Trinity Community Church United Church of Christ, Memphis, TN cordially invite you to the ordination service of Robert E. Van Ess into the ministry of Word and Sacrament. 

Sunday, September 30, 3pm  

Holy Trinity Community Church United Church of Christ

685 S. Highland Street

Memphis, Tennessee 38111   

Clergy are invited to robe and process (red stoles please).

A reception will follow the service.   

Note: If you are planning to travel from the St. Louis Area to Memphis for Rob's ordination, please email stlaucc@hotmail.com so we might coordinate travel and hospitality.

The Camp Mo-Val Walk-a-thon is almost here!  It will be held on Saturday, September 15 at 8am at two main locations: Grant's Trail in St. Louis (starting at Crestwood School) and at the riverfront park in Washington, MO.  Several other grassroots walks are being planned by others in more areas of the Conference.  We are asking participants to pre-register; for your pre-registration form click here. All who pre-register by September 7 will receive a t-shirt commemorating the event. 

Can't participate that day, or can't walk so well?  Do a virtual walk at a time more convenient for you.  Or, do a rock-a-thon or even a sit-a-thon!  No matter how you choose to participate, you are welcome to be a part of this event.  Simply fill out the pre-registration form and send it to Camp Mo-Val; 2659 Camp Mo-Val Road; Union, MO  63084. You will be mailed an envelope to use to solicit donations for your walk, and will receive a t-shirt the day of the walk.  Pre-registrations are due by September 7- send in yours today!  For more information, contact Jeremy Force, Camp Mo-Val Outdoor Ministries Director at 636-583-  2730.

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 - 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