The Christmas Fund for the Veterans of the Cross and the Emergency Fund is a unique Special Mission Offering of the United Church of Christ that affords us an opportunity to recognize and honor those who serve our beloved Church.

One of the special aspects of the Christmas Fund is that the funds do not support programs, make grants to institutions, or fund advocacy programs,  but rather, they provide direct financial assistance to individual UCC clergy and lay employees.

The theme of the 2012 Offering is 12-12-12: Twelve Days of Bringing Gifts. This Offering Guide contains many resources  to help promote  the Offering in your congregation. Additional resources are available inelectronic format on the Christmas Fund section  of the Pension Boards' website at www.christmasfund.org.

Beginning on December 12, 2012 (12-12-12),  we will celebrate Twelve Days of Bringing Gifts in support of this year's Christmas Fund. Over the years there have emerged  many varied traditions around  the 12 days of Christmas - many of them culturally specific - but all focusing on the gifts given by God to God's people.  We will be creating one more tradition this year. For 12 days, we will publish devotions, stories and interpretations of the life-giving possibilities gifts to the Christmas Fund generate. The celebration will culminate as we bring our Christmas Fund gifts to our local congregations on Sunday, December 23.

We will be serious, and we will have some fun. Ever wonder how much it would cost to buy a partridge in a pear tree, or five golden rings? We will find out and also learn what a gift of that same value to the Christmas Fund can mean in the life of someone who served or is serving the United Church of Christ.

The 12 messages  will be available  in print form, on the web, and via e-mail. Can you help spread the word? If you are willing to resend the e-mails to your congregation, friends, or e-mail list, please e-mail 12-12-12@pbucc.org  to be added  to our distribution list for this project.  (Please be assured that we will keep your e-mail information  private and will not share it with others.) You also can get updates  on the 12-12-12 campaign by following us on Twitter @CF12_12_12.

And of course,  we hope you will provide your generous personal  contribution to the Christmas Fund in 2012!

Should you have questions,  or need more information, please do not hesitate to contact  the Rev. Krista L. Betz, Director,  Ministerial Assistance,

toll-free at 1.800.642.6543, ext. 2716 (212.729.2716), or by e-mail at kbetz@pbucc.org

All Things New, Look What God Is Doing is the theme for Outdoor Ministries in 2013. Throughout the course of the 2013 program year, everyone is invited to come and participate in the many different outdoor ministry opportunities provide to for you at Camp MoVal and beyond. New camping programs along with many traditional programs are part of the 2013 schedule to insure that everyone has the opportunity to experience God and Creation in whole new way.

Some of the new programs in 2013 are a Grandparent and Grandchild Camp, three Day Camps in three locations to better serve our whole conference, a social justice camp based on the Hunger Games Series and many other opportunities. Camp and Outdoor Ministry is the a special time and place where all people, young and old from many different places can come together and be part of one community, one family and feel safe in a space where everyone is cared for and loved in Christian Hospitality.

The camp schedule is available on the Conference website, which gives everyone plenty of opportunity in advance to plan for their chance to get away and participate at Camp MoVal or one of our other Outdoor Ministry programs next year. If attending a program is not for you, maybe you would like to volunteer as a counselor, or director or just come and assist for a day, we can always use the extra help. We would not be able to provide the great programs without all of the volunteers that give of their selves and time to make Outdoor Ministry successful.

The camp brochures will be sent out in late January of 2013, be watching for them to arrive. Also, be watching for the launch of our new Camp MoVal website at www.campmoval.org , this will give everyone more up to date information about Camp MoVal and the Outdoor Ministry programs. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Camp MoVal office at 636-583-2730 or email the Director of Outdoor Ministries at jeremy.moval@mmsucc.org. We look forward to serving you at Camp MoVal and the Outdoor Ministries programs. Have a wonderful Holiday Season.

Come see the "50 Years of Camp MoVal Tree" and the "Prayer Flag Tree" displaying the prayer flags made by Missouri Mid-South UCC children and youth at the Conference Middle School Event and Revival in October at the annual Community Festival of Trees. The Festival is a display of 46 beautiful and uniquely decorated Christmas trees, open every weekend in December through Christmas Day at St. Peter's United Church of Christ, 20 E. Fifth Street in Washington MO. Saturday times are 3-7 PM and Sundays are 11-6.  Admission is free however canned goods for the St. Peter's and local food pantries are appreciated. Place the items under a favorite tree. Special weekday group tours are by appointment. Call 636-239-6176 or go to www.stpeters-washington.org for more info. Come show your support for wonderful causes and celebrate the holiday spirit in this highly enjoyable and meaningful way.

Joint Neighborhood Ministry Night at Plowsharing in Kirkwood 

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 through promotion of Interreligious and intercultural dialogue." INESIN is one of our mission partners.

"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 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."

"I'm Dreaming of a...." 

"...Masters of Divinity degree".  Maybe you have wrestled with a call to ordained ministry but just can't seem to find your way to seminary. Eden Theological Seminary, a United Church of Christ seminary  located in St. Louis, Missouri, is helping people explore theological education by providing free tuition for first year students in the Masters of Divinity degree beginning Fall 2013. If you have a bachelor's degree and are interested in learning more about the extravagant welcome which Eden is extending, please contact Rev. Carol Shanks, Director of Admissions at 877-627-5652.  You can also read more at www.eden.edu  

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.

You Are Invited - Installation of Rev. Chase Peeples

Country Club Congregational United Church of Christ and the Western Association of the Missouri Mid-South Conference of the United Church of Christ invite you to a worship service for the installation of Rev. Chase Peeples as minister.

Sunday, December 9, 2012 at 3:00 PM
Country Club Congregational United Church of Christ
205 West 65th Street
Kansas City, MO 64113
(816) 523-4813
www.cccucc.net  

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.