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Wednesday, November 14, 2012
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Around the Conference
 
Check Out the New Look of the Conference website!

Visit www.mmsucc.org OR www.missourimidsouth.org and you'll find a new, more user-friendly look and feel.

 

 

 

Please note that some pages within the site are not fully operational yet. Pages within the Association pages and church listings may not be linked yet. I am aware of these issues and will have these pages and links updated ASAP, but I didn't want these few items to delay the release of the new site. 

 

Thanks for your continued patience as we work through the bugs and get all of the links updated.  

 

Julie Simmons

Communications Specialist, MMSUCC  

Celebrating 20 Years of Our Jamaican Partnership

On Sunday, November 4 representatives from the Missouri Mid-South Conference signed a new three year covenant with representatives from the North-Eastern Regional Council of the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands during a worship service at Portmore United Church in Jamaica. Our conference minister Rev. Jeffrey Whitman was invited to preach and Linda Adams chair of our partnership committee spoke about the 20 years of partnership we are celebrating.

  

 

  

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Our partnership began in May 1992 when four delegates from the Missouri Mid-South Conference went to Jamaica to meet with representatives from United Church of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. The delegates adopted a resolution establishing a partnership with the North Middlesex Council along the northern shore of Jamaica. In February of 1993 a Jamaican delegation visited Missouri for the first time and long range plans were made for a twinning program between congregations in North Middlesex and Missouri

 Mid-South.           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the first congregational partnerships was between St. John Bay and the congregation at Discovery Bay.   A work camp of 17 people from Bay went to Discovery Bay and began the construction of a new educational building. During our visit on November 3 we had an opportunity to go to Discovery Bay and see the building that St. John Bem helped to construct.

We also visited the United Church at Boscobel. In August 1993 a work camp of 22 persons from Country Club UCC, First Congregational UCC (St. Louis), and St. Luke's UCC (Independence) went to Jamaica and poured the cement floor of the new church start at Boscobel. Today it is a large and thriving congregation.       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In addition to our partnerships with local congregations in the North Middlesex Council our relationship with the Pringle Home in Carron Hall has been a central part of our partnership.   Pringle Home is a facility for homeless children that is operated by the United Church in Jamaica.   The girls at the facility may stay until they are 18 and the boys until they are 12 and then they go to a boys facility also run by the church.   During their time at Pringle Home the children have a place to stay, receive an education in the local schools, and are cared for in a supportive environment. During our visit to Pringle Home we presented the home with books for the Chuck Adams memorial library, and Missouri Mid-South book bags. Martha Hawthorn from Mayview UCC made balloon animals and flowers for the children and we had a chance to see the new library and educational building under construction.    

 

During our first 20 years our partnership has included work camps, Jamaican visitors coming to Missouri, MMS members going to Jamaica to lead VBS programs and medical missions, and people from UCJCI coming to MoVal to serve as part of the summer staff.   Where will the next 20 years take us in our partnership?   Next week I plan to write about our visit to churches in Kingston which became part of our partnership after the redistricting of the Jamaican church in 2010.      

 

To see a slide show of our trip to Jamaica please click here

 

Jeff Whitman

Rev. Jeffrey Whitman

Conference Minister  
Hurricane Sandy - Your Help is Still Needed

 

Church World Service has expedited $480,000 worth of CWS Blankets, hygiene kits, school kits, baby kits and emergency clean-up buckets to local agencies in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, with more shipments in process. Please deliver completed clean up buckets by November 30th to a drop off location near you (www.Festivalofsharing.org).    

 

Money is requested for blankets. Festival of Sharing has sent $32,000 raised from the October 20 event to CWS but the need for additional blankets is great.   

 

Please consider having a CWS Blanket Sunday (Church resources) where a special offering is collected to provide funds for CWS blankets to persons displaced by disasters.  For more information contact Terri at [email protected].

 

If you would like to donate to Hurricane Sandy relief - please click here  - or send a check to the Conference office with "Hurricane Sandy" in the memo. Thank you for your support.   

Got Cookies?      

   

The Jazz Nativity is coming next month. The planning committee recognizes that many churches and individuals would like to contribute something but may not be able to do so monetarily. How about cookie baking? We want to have punch and cookies after each performance and that means a lot of cookies! If you are able to contribute cookies, please contact Jane Porchey at 314-961-0283 or [email protected]


   JN logo  

 


Featuring
St. Louis' premier jazz vocalist, Kim Massie 

December 8 & 9 in St.Louis

December 15 in Kansas City 

  

  

Bem Church Member Lindsey Mercer Joins Global Ministries

    

Lindsey Mercer, a life-long member of St. John's, Bem United Church of Christ, has accepted a position with the United Church of Christ/Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Global Ministries. She will be leaving January 2 to answer the call to be a Global Missions Intern- a two year job serving at a missions setting in Chiapas, Mexico. In Mexico, Lindsey will be serving as God's hands and feet in the world on our behalf; funded by Our Church's Wider Mission support.

 

Discussing her trip, Lindsey commented, "I will be moving to San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico. I will be working at INESIN (Instituto de Estudios e Investigacion Intercultural.) This is an organization that strives to contribute to the construction of peace in Chiapas through promotion of interreligious and intercultural dialogue. INESIN is one of our mission partners in Mexico."

 

"While in Chiapas," Lindsey continued, "I will be working with projects focusing on topics such as: prevention of domestic violence; positive conflict transformation; personal spiritual growth; Biblical translation; and strengthening Chiapanecan communities." These are all programs of INESIN.

 

Lindsey has been discerning this call to ministry for a number of years. Her first mission work was in Guatemala, on a work study trip in college. After graduation, Lindsey began communicating with Global Ministries in pursuit of an appointment in Latin America. After several long months of waiting and discernment, the opportunity in Chiapas opened up and Lindsey gladly accepted. During the interim time, Lindsey spent another four months in Guatemala on another immersion experience.

 

"Lindsey's sense of mission and call is very admirable," commented her pastor, Rev. Rick Oberle. "She is not afraid to jump in and dedicate her whole self to God's purpose in her life. If we could all exemplify Christ's call to be servant leaders as admirably as Lindsey, this world would be a much more peaceful place. Her faith family at Bem Church is very proud of her. She continues to teach us all lessons in how to love."

 

The members of St. John's, Bem United Church of Christ are planning a commissioning service for Lindsey on December 30 at 10:00am with Missouri Mid-South Conference Minister Rev. Jeff Whitman and members of the National Setting of the United Church of Christ in attendance. Rev. Delle McCormack with Global Ministries will offer the sermon that day. Lunch will be served following worship.

 

Rev. Oberle was quick to point out that, "Lindsey's service in God's Kingdom is made possible by our continued support of Our Church's Wider Mission. Dedicated support of this important aspect of our union at the local church level makes everything we do together possible; including sending 'missionaries' such as Lindsey to countries all over the world. It is easy to dismiss Our Church's Wider Mission giving when we don't understand the scope of our mutual ministry; but through Lindsey, Our Church's Wider Mission has a face, a place, a job being done. Lindsey's mission work on our behalf in Chiapas is just one aspect of Our Church's Wider Mission."

 

Lindsey has some limited availability between now and the end of December to speak across the Missouri Mid-South Conference to churches and ministry groups about her journey with Global Ministries; and communications from Lindsey will be shared with all churches in the Missouri Mid-South Conference over the next two years. For more information about Lindsey's journey, contact the Missouri Mid-South Conference office or Rev. Rick Oberle [email protected].            

 

It Remains to be Seen...

Dr. Marc A. Wessels

 

The past is our definition. We may strive, with good reason, to escape it, or to escape what is bad in it, but we will escape it only by adding something better to it.                                                           -Wendell Berry

 

I have come to a deeper appreciation for the remnant of old painted advertising signs on the side of buildings. In the days before the internet and pop-ups, or the constant barrage of advertisements on television or radio, one of the most significant means for getting a product was through the medium of painting an advertisement on the side of a building.  

 

In the country farmers often supplemented their income by allowing a company to rent the side their barns alongside a roadway or railway. In the city private homes and residences oftentimes were used in the same way so that as people walked or drove on the streets their eyes were attracted to the signs selling a product. Most of these signs are long gone but occasionally I am delighted to discover some remnant of remaining images in my travels.

 

Recently during my visit to one of our congregations, Carondelet UCC, in South St Louis I discovered a few examples of this type of advertising on Michigan Avenue. Fading images on the walls show the outline of products which are indiscernible to the unknowing eye. One very large sign which takes up the side of a building appears to be of some sort of soft drink made with oranges. Another building a few blocks away shows a much smaller advertisement with the only clear wording that can be made out is CANDY.  

 

These billboards painted on the buildings remind us of a time that no longer exists. It is likely that the laborers whose job it was to put them there are now deceased as are many, if not all, of the original target audience. One wonders just how successful these signs were at actually selling their product. How many children wanted that candy; how many of those soft drinks were sold because of the effectiveness of that signage? To me those fading signs remain as a reminder of what was once tangible and meaningful to many people in their lives.

  

Today those products probably no longer exist. Different candy and soft drinks are now on the market - the ones painted on the side of the buildings in Carondelet are in all likelihood gone forever from the shelves of little local neighborhood grocery stores. It is a different time. Different products, configured out of the same ingredients, are now being flogged to the public in the hopes of sustaining their standing in the marketplace.

  

In the marketplace of ideas and theology, I wonder how the church proclaims its message. By what methodologies does the church declare in the midst of the noisiness of the world not only its presence but the power of God alive and at work today? Are we able in our own time to figure out how to faithfully declare Christ as Lord and to witness to His glory through the power of the cross?

  

When I consider the transitory nature of life and the reality of constant change in order and chaos, I believe that one of the key ways by which the gospel is transmitted from one generation to the next is through persons who seek to give themselves up to God. In their own unique and personal faithful response to God's call upon their lives they seek to proclaim the historic faith of the church at the place where it intersects with their experience of grace and mercy. Their lives become like a painted sign or advertisement of their own experience as they exercise faithfulness to the gospel.

  

A story is told of the famous evangelist and publisher, D. L. Moody and his determination to exercise such faithfulness. Henry Varley, a British revivalist once commented to Moody that, "It remains to be seen what God will do with a man who gives himself up wholly to him." Moody noted that he wished to be that man; living a life wholly dedicated to God. The life of Moody as a lover of the Word of God, preacher and innovator of finding ways to proclaim God in his time is proof of his faithfulness.

  

Like those faded painted advertisements it remains to be seen by what means and to what degree this generation of Christians in America will give themselves up wholly to God. The church cannot live in the past; nor must it forget it. The present moment is ours to define our mission in our time as faithful people giving ourselves wholly to God. Time will reveal our work and our faithfulness.

Know a Congregation...

 

in need of an altar or chancel rails?

Altar is dark wood and measures 80 in by 28 in, standing 41 in high. 

Two solid oak chancel rails measure 88 in by 8 in and stand 30 inches high. 

Call Mount Tabor UCC at 314-645-9025.and provide transportation. They can be yours!     

Please Join Us

You are invited to attend the Eden Choir Christmas Concert on Wednesday December 5, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. in the Wehrli Chapel.  Come, hear and sing the music of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany. You're sure to see old friends and be filled with the spirit of the season! Fellowship and refreshments will follow.

  

Photo of the Week!

Rev Brad Urban offered a prayer of thanksgiving before the meal celebrating the 143rd anniversary of Carondelet UCC. Founded as the Deustche Evangelishe Gemeinde im Sud St. Louis. Dr Marc A. Wessels preached the sermon "In Christ We Discover Who We Are & What We Are Living For" based on Ephesians 1.11.

Deaconess Impact Partners Announced   

 

The Deaconess Foundation Board of Trustees has selected six exemplary, child and youth-focused organizations to join the Deaconess Impact Partnership, a capacity-building funding initiative. As Impact Partners, these nonprofits will receive substantial, multi-year funding to strengthen their infrastructure and participate in a range of training, executive coaching and planning activities. The support is designed to help each organization better achieve its mission and improve outcomes for low-income children and families in St. Louis. The Foundation will commit more than $4.5 million to the initiative over the next four years. The organizations chosen for the Deaconess Impact Partnership are:

  • Almost Home
  • Covenant House
  • De La Salle Middle School
  • Loyola Academy
  • Maternal, Child and Family Health Coalition
  • Youth Learning Center

The missions of these organizations closely align with Deaconess Foundation's vision for a community that values highly the well-being of all children and that gives priority attention to the most vulnerable of its children.

 

"These organizations address important issues for our community such as urban education, access to health, and teen homelessness," noted Rev. Starsky D. Wilson, President and CEO of Deaconess Foundation, "We look forward to working with the new Impact Partners, and to helping them become even stronger at delivering their critical services."

 

The Deaconess Impact Partnership is the most intensive capacity-building initiative in the region. The Foundation began the Impact Partnership in 2004 and has funded two cohorts of Impact Partners, a total of 16 agencies. Since the Partnership began, Deaconess Impact Partner agencies have served over 44,000 children and/or parents in the region, grown their service delivery by an average of 10 percent, become more financially sustainable, and deepened their programmatic impact.  

 

"Our staff and board have only the highest respect for the agencies in our area that are striving to improve the quality of life for children most in need.  It saddens us that we cannot give direct support to each one.  We believe the organizations chosen to be the next Impact Partners will make an even greater impact on the lives of children in the days ahead. Everyone at Deaconess is thrilled at the opportunity to participate in the mission and work of our Impact Partners," concluded Rev. Starsky D. Wilson.  

 

Deaconess Foundation continues the legacy of the Deaconess mission established in St. Louis in 1889. As a ministry of the United Church of Christ, the Foundation focuses its support on nonprofits helping to preserve and improve the health of children in stressed neighborhoods throughout the St. Louis region. Its grant making began in 1997 with proceeds generated by the sale of the Deaconess Incarnate Word Health System. Since its inception, Deaconess Foundation has provided $65 million in grants to more than 100 organizations.

 

For further information on the Deaconess Impact Partnership, contact Jane Donahue, (314) 436-8001, [email protected].

 

You Are Invited - Installation of Stephen T. Westbrook  

 

St. Johns Evangelical United Church of Christ and the St. Louis Association, Missouri Mid-South Conference United Church of Christ cordially invite your presence and prayers for the     

 

Installation of Stephen T. Westbrook

Sunday, December 2, 2012 at 3:00 p.m.

 

St. Johns Evangelical United Church of Christ

11333 St. Johns Church Road

St. Louis, MO 63123

 

All clergy are asked to arrive by 2:30 to assemble for the processional and are invited to robe and/or wear red. A reception will follow the service.

We Need Your Photos for the Music Photo Album   

 

The creation of a Missouri Mid-South Conference "Music Photo Album" is underway. We are asking each MMS congregation to share 5 random pictures of their church and congregation. To be  easily recognized, send 1 picture of your church sign which includes your church name, and 1 picture of your church building. The other 3 pictures are totally up to you, so your congregation can showcase your church's unique qualities and spirit. The pictures will be arranged randomly in a computer photo album and then put to music. The hope is that this project will be completed by the 2013 Conference Annual Gathering. Currently, only 3 congregations have provided pictures which have been used to create an example video of this project. Anyone can see the short video by following the internet link provided at the bottom of this article. We cannot stress enough that to make this project a success EVERY congregation MUST be represented. Pictures can either be mailed to the Missouri Mid-South Conference office or emailed directly to Rev. Dr. Doug Kaufman. Both the snail mail and email addresses are provided at the end of the video. Please spread the word about this project because we want each MMS church represented.  

Thanks so much! Keep The Faith.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWT6j-uhgLg

Please consider supporting the Pilgrim Food Pantry
during this holiday season

 

Our needs have become clearer as we approach our one year anniversary in January.

 

Our Pantry serves mainly our neighborhood- most of our pantry regulars walk to our doors. Most if not all of our friends are working poor and grandparents raising grand children - SO - while we keep count of the "bags" of food we give out- the "bags" are larger and the needs greater for these families.

 

So, this Holiday Season would you consider a collection of non-perishable food or a special collection to support the Pilgrim Pantry?  Please?

(We will be more than happy to collect donations from your church at your convenience.)

 

Contact: Jill Schantz, Pilgrim Congregational U.C.C. Food Pantry Administrator, 314.514.9726 or [email protected] for pick up service.  

 

THANK YOU for considering the Pilgrim Food Pantry this holiday season!!!

 

Conference Youth Event
Saturday February 16 - Monday, February 18, 2013

 
Click here to view the event flyer on the Conference website.

Conference Youth Event brings together the youth of the Missouri Mid-South Conference for a weekend of fun, fellowship and personal spiritual renewal.  Located at Camp Mo-Val, just outside Union, MO, the weekend offers youth the opportunity to commune with nature and to escape the business of their lives.  Youth will have the opportunity to meet old friends and make new ones, along with attending meaningful worship services and enjoying multiple opportunities to connect with each other.  Keynote speaker for this event is Andra Moran, a musician who will share modern day and historic stories that will explore ways how "ordinary people" can help change the world through God's love and peace. More event information coming soon!

November Interfaith Breakfast Dialogue
 

November, 20th, 2012, 7:30 am

 

Continuing the Challenges Series

"Religious Faith and Pluralism: The Tension of American Citizenship"

Featuring Sr. Carla Mae Streeter, O.P.

 

120 South Central - Lobby Conference Room A;  Accessed off of Bemiston between Carondolet and Bonhomme.

Come, you thankful people, come! 

 

Celebrate your thankfulness at the annual

St. Charles Community Thanksgiving service.

 

November 20th, 7:00 p.m.

Good Shepherd United Church of Christ

3115 Elm Street, St. Charles, MO 

 

Join members of other St. Charles congregations as we give thanks for the bounty of our land and for the blessing of God on our founders and our nation.

 

There will be fellowship and snacks after the service.

 

The offering will go to the St. Charles County branch of Operation Food Search.

     

For more information or to learn about sharing in the community choir, please call 636-723-1251
Eastern Association News
 
St. Louis Association News
 
There Is Still Time... 

 to make plans to attend the 45th Anniversary celebration of Joint Neighborhood Ministry. This will be a two part event on Sunday November 18th.  The celebration begins with worship at Curby Presbyterian Church starting at 2:00 p.m. and continues with a dinner at Mathew's Kitchen on Hampton.  The event begins with a reception at 5:00 p.m. and a buffet dinner at 6:00 p.m.  The dinner cost is $45.00 per person.  For more details or to make reservations for the dinner, please contact Lorin Cope, JNM Board Vice Chair at 314-772-4672 and 330-903-7711.
 
Hope to see you on Sunday, November 18 at either Curby Presbyterian Church or Mathew's Kitchen, or both!  We hope to celebration the anniversary of a wonderful organization.


Save the Date, November 18, 2012

   

On November 18, 2012 Joint Neighborhood Ministry will have an afternoon and evening of celebration marking 45 years of service in the Benton Park area of south St. Louis.  A celebration service will be held at Curby Memorial Presbyterian Church, 2621 Utah Street, St. Louis, 63118, beginning at 2:00 p.m. with a reception to follow.  A celebration dinner will be held that same evening at Mathew's Kitchen, 5625 Hampton Avenue, St. Louis 63105. The reception will begin at 5:00 and dinner at 6:00. Cost: $45.00 per person.  Details and an announcement will be sent to all area churches in September.

Western Association News
 
Upcoming Events
 
Conference
Quick Links
 
 
 
 
Upcoming Conference Minister Preaching

Sunday, 11/11/12
Marc Wessels @


Beginning Wednesday, October 31, all church events such as picnics, dinners, fundraisers, concerts, etc.,  will be published in a separate email called, eHappenings.

 
THE NEXT ISSUE WILL BE SENT NOVEMBER 14.
eHappenings will be sent every other Wednesday. The deadline for eHappenings will be noon on the Tuesday before the send date. Items received after the deadline will be included in the next mailing.

 

All current eCourier subscribers will automatically receive eHappenings.

 

Please continue to send all news, photos and event information for the eCourier and eHappenings to [email protected]   

 

Job Opportunities
 
Knock. Knock. Who's there?

An unbelievable opportunity for a part-time Director of Christian Education and Youth Ministry... We are a faithful people with a warm heart and generous spirit. We are an ONA congregation of 400 members, in a great facility and in a prime location. We want to become even more vital and relevant to children, youth and adults. Contact us if you would like to know more.Click here for full description.

Brad Lyons, Council President: (home) 314-909-4816; [email protected]; (text) 314-541-7931

 

Contact Us

Missouri Mid-South Conference United Church of Christ
314-962-8740 or 877-877-5884
 
Email [email protected] to submit information for a future issue.