If you have been a camper or guest at Camp MoVal over the last twenty years, at some point you have probably meet or been in the presence of Bill Kruel.  Bill has been the Caretaker at Camp MoVal since May of 1994. Over the past year, as many know Bill has been fighting some serious health issues and even though he is still fighting hard today, he also needs to take the time to rest and spend time with his family.

Bill has been on medical leave from Camp MoVal since October of this year and has been approved for short term disability. As these events have unfolded, Bill comes to a time where it has become necessary to end his ministry with Camp MoVal. Bill and his family have already begun the process to move to their river house in Gasconade and plan on celebrating Christmas there this year.  

As we all know, transition is hard, especially when we do not have total control over life's situations, but Bill is looking forward to a little slower pace of life, even though he will miss Camp MoVal greatly. Plans are underway and will be announced after the first of the year for a time to gather and celebrate Bill's ministry at Camp MoVal and to visit and thank Bill for his ministry. I know Bill would very much want you to keep him and his family in your prayers as they step into their next stage of life.

It's that time of year again!  The Conference office is gearing up to begin the process of obtaining your church's annual people and financial information - known as the Yearbook Reports.  Each church will be receiving forms via email and snail mail from me once they are sent by Cleveland, which should be very soon.  With the forms you'll also receive directions on how to properly complete them and how the forms should be returned to our office.  You will also have the opportunity to enter your church's information directly online into the National database, which is a huge time saver for me and the ladies in Cleveland.  We had a good return on completed forms last year, and it would be even better if the MMSUCC could reach 100% this year.  As always, I'll be available for questions by phone and email.  Thanks in advance for your cooperation and I'll be in touch soon!

Renee

The St. Louis Association Council recently voted to encourage and support congregational participation in Mission 4/1 Earth.  What is Mission 4/1 Earth?

Mission 4/1 Earth invites us to green up, power down, and shout out for the environment. Beginning on Easter Monday 2013 (April 1), the UCC lifts up 50 Great Days of Mission 4/1 Earth, in hopes of reaching more than 1 million hours of engaged earth care, 100,000 tree plantings across the globe, and 100,000 advocacy letters written and sent on environmental concerns.  

At Eastertide, the 50 days from Easter to Pentecost, when we celebrate renewal and resurrection, there is no better time to come together as a church to share in a resurrection witness for the environment.

"Mission 4/1 Earth will be the United Church of Christ's next incredible shared witness to the world," said the Rev. J. Bennett Guess, executive minister for Local Church Ministries.

Missouri Mid-South Conference wide planning for Mission 4/1 Earth began with a planning day that established a conference steering committee and a three step approach:

-January 1-April 1 assist congregations to prepare for 4/1 Earth

-April 1-May 19 implement the 4/1 Earth projects  

The St. Louis Association Council is encouraging congregational participation in Mission 4/1 Earth. Further, the St. Louis Association Council is focusing on Mission 4/1 Earth as a theme for the Spring Associational Meeting which will take place the first Thursday in May. The Spring Associational Meeting will be a time to celebrate Mission 4/1 Earth activities which have taken place in and through the congregations of the St. Louis Association.

Click here to visit the Mission 4/1 Earth website for additional ideas and resources! 

Left-right:
Rev.Jeffrey Whitman, Conference Minister, MMSUCC 

Rev. Steve Westbrook, Senior Minister, St. Johns E UCC

Karen Miller, Co-Chair St. Louis Association Committee on Ministry

Jane Porchey, Co-Chair St. Louis Association Committee on Ministry

Rev. Dr. A. Hale Schroer, Professor Emeritus, Eden Theological Seminary, Interim Senior Minister, St. Lucas United Church of Christ

Reverend Steve Westbrook was installed as Pastor and Teacher of St. Johns Evangelical United Church of Christ (Mehlville) on Sunday December 2, 2012. Steve brings excitement, energy, and a renewed vision for the congregation. In the short time since Steve has been called to St. Johns the level of energy, excitement and vitality has been vibrant. As the Congregation approaches the 175th anniversary of its founding, all are looking toward a bright future. St. Johns is committed to growing and working together as a faith community, serving others and proclaiming the good news of God's love.

In 1985, Steve graduated from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana and received his Master of Divinity degree from Eden Theological Seminary in 1991. Steve has dual standing in the United Church of Christ and in The Christian Church Disciples of Christ. With 21 years of experience serving local missions, growing and building a new church, and working with youth, Steve brings many gifts to St. Johns. Steve's passion for the ministry and people is evident in his words and actions. He is caring, compassionate, humble, committed, creative, resourceful, and faithful.

Worship Services 9:00 & 10:30 a.m.

11333 St. Johns Church Road (Highway 55 & S. Lindbergh)

314-892-0848

Web site: stjucc.org

Are you, or someone you know, searching for the right internship in 2013 - summer or a year? If so, check out this one from the UCC, today!

Summer Communities of Service (UCC/Alliance of Baptists) 

Ages 21-30.  September 3, 2013 - August 3, 2014
Apply by March 15, 2013

      - Community Living

      - Service-Justice Advocacy Opportunity

      - Leadership Development with Local Congregation

      - Faith Conversations

A national network--Host churches located throughout the United States

Housing, health insurance and small living stipend provided. 
AmeriCorps Education grants available for some positions.    

Questions:  Please contact Rev. Mary Schaller Blaufuss, Executive, UCC Volunteer Ministries at blaufusm@ucc.org or 216-736-3214.

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.

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.

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.