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Wednesday, January 23, 2013
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Thank you - This communication is made possible by your contributions to
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Celebrating 2012 Gifts For Wider Mission
Missouri Mid-South Conference Treasurer, Ken Ulmer, provides a summary of contributions to "Our Church's Wider Mission" (Basic Support and Special Support) for the 2012 fiscal year. The table is attached. A total of $775,216 was received with $226,407 being sent to the national church as noted in the table below.
(Contributions from each church will be available later and published.)
In the Missouri Mid-South Conference, We Delight in Giving to accomplish more together than we could possibly do alone! We can celebrate the rich tapestry of ministry that is the fabric of who we are, what we do. To all of the churches who participate in this partnership and ministry, Thank You! Your gifts to Our Church's Wider Mission (Basic Support and Special Support) DO make a difference!
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Offering
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To National Setting
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To Conference Setting
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Our Church's Wider Mission
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National
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$150,029
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Conference
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$516,767
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Special Offerings
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OGHS-National-100%
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$5,648
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Neighbors In Need-National-100%
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$12,965
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Strengthen The Church-
National-50%/Conference 50%
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$1,347
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$1,347
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Christmas Fund-
National-90%/Conference 10%
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$38,995
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$4,332
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Hunger Action-
National 75%/Conference 25%
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$28
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$9
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Total Special Offerings
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$58,983
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$5,688
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Directed Gifts
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Every Child's Hope
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$1,240
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Church World Service
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$1,118
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Emmaus Home
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$1,785
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CUE Seminary Fund
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$8,572
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Eden Seminary Fund
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$12,278
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Other Directed Gifts
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$1,360
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Total Directed Gifts
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$26,352
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Disaster Funds
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Joplin Tornado Relief
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$25
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Hurricane Sandy Relief
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$17,369
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Total Disaster Funds
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$17,394
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Grand Totals
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$226,407
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$548,809
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Combined Total
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$775,216
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The Conference Council celebrates the generosity of our faith community. Thanks to the 150 local UCC congregations in the Missouri Mid-South Conference (MMSC) of the United Church of Christ for these gifts. MMSC churches serve the communities in Missouri, Memphis, Tennessee and Little Rock, Arkansas.
Ken Ulmer
Treasurer
Click here to view this table as a full page PDF.
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Photos of the Week
Western Association representatives gathered with Immanuel United Church of Christ (New Franklin, MO) members and friends to celebrate a "Service of Recognition" for Tim Fairley, licensed pastor. This covenant relationship was celebrated Sunday, January 13th. Among those participating in the service of recognition are those in this photo: Back row (left to right): Rev. Judy Fiocco, Association Vice-Chair; Leora Bremer, Conference Deacon; Clairnel Nervik, member of Committee on Ministry; Tim Fairley, pastor of Immanuel UCC; Steven Swope, pastor of Columbia UCC; Don Dittmer, member of Committee on Ministry; Dale Parson, Associate Conference Minister. Front row (left to right): Travis Hundley, Immanuel UCC representative; Linda Stenger, Association Chair; Christine Isham-Walsh, member of Committee on Ministry; and Kristin Van Huyningen, pastor of Fulton UCC.
Calvary UCC, 2501 Hartland in Overland, Mo and Imani AME Church, who shares Calvary's building, commemorated Dr Martin Luther King's birthday by having both choirs sing at each of their services on January 20,2013. A light lunch was served after the services.
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Registration opens for 2013 General Synod in Long Beach, California
Online registration is now open for General Synod 2013. The biennnial gathering in Long Beach, Calif. June 28 - July 2 is expected to bring more than 2,500 delegates and visitors to the Long Beach Convention Center for five days of worship, work, education and advocacy.
The theme of this year's event is "God's Vision:_______". This year's unique theme asks UCC individuals to fill in the blank, choosing the word that best describes what you see as God's vision for you, your church, your community or your world.
In his call to Synod, General Minister and President the Rev. Geoffrey A. Black said, "It is our hope and expectation that as delegates and visitors gather, we will begin to discern and name what God's vision could be for the United Church of Christ in its many settings."
Part of the business of this year's gathering involves unified governance - continuing the work toward a new governance structure for the national setting of the United Church of Christ. Delegates will also re-elect the UCC General Minister and President and two Executive Officers of the Church.
Additionally, this year's Synod will celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the United Church of Christ Pension Boards and the 75th Anniversary of the United Church of Christ Council for Health and Human Service Ministries (CHHSM).
"The Synod Planning Committee and Local Arrangements Committee of the Southern California/Nevada Conference have been hard at work to make this year's General Synod an unforgettable experience," said W. Mark Clark, Associate General Minister and Synod Administrator. "We have secured some phenomenal speakers, entertainment and preachers for this five-day event in beautiful southern California."
There will also be a host of workshops, exhibits, special events and service projects throughout General Synod, including a Samoan Luau sponsored by the host Conference, the Southern California/Nevada Conference.
Delegates and visitors should visit ucc.org/synod for the most up-to-date information about the event.
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Boundary Training Session at Eden Seminary
The workshop, "Creating Healthy Relationships in Ministry," will be conducted by Martha Robertson on Friday, February 8, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., in room 201 of the Press Building. There will be a lunch break from noon to 1 p.m. Lunch is on your own.
All Eden M.Div. and M.A.P.S. students are required to participate in a boundary training workshop. You need to attend this workshop once to satisfy the degree requirement.
There is a $50.00 registration fee for non-students. Please contact Chris Davis at cdavis@eden.edu or 314-918-2547 to register in advance for the workshop.
Please remember that it is your responsibility to submit a copy of your boundary training completion certificate to Renee at the MMSUCC conference office.
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 It's Not Too Late!
Have you considered submitting an oral history for the 50th anniversary Oral History Project? The deadline for video submissions is fast approaching. We have a small team of volunteers who have recorded a number of short videos during the past year, but we may be missing representation from your area of the conference about topics that are important to you. Consider participating in this special project. Read more at http://www.missourimidsouth.org/#!oral-history-project/chnn
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Yearbook Info Has Been Sent!
The yearbook reports and directions were emailed to each individual church last week, and churches who need to receive the info via snail mail should be receiving envelopes early this week. If you feel you should've received the yearbook information via email and did not, please email or call me as soon as possible and I'll be happy to resend. Many times church email addresses change and the conference office may not have your current email. As stated in the email yearbook directions, the National office in Cleveland is offering a brief tutorial on how to use their online database to enter your information. Please click here for the days, times, and instructions on how to join the training session. I encourage you take 15 to 20 minutes and learn the many tools available to you as an individual church within their database. Again, if you have questions regarding your yearbook reports please call me directly at 314-918-2602 or email renee@mmsucc.org .
Thank you again,
Renee
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Celebrate Seminary Sunday on February 24th
Why Celebrate Seminary Sunday?
Our UCC seminaries are filled with faithful, committed students seeking the skills and wisdom necessary to lead the church in the 21st century. Our congregations need these students. In our region, we are blessed to have three fine UCC seminaries - Chicago, United, and Eden. Each of these seminaries provides quality education for pastors and lay leaders, and they provide research and resources that serve the entire UCC.
How to Celebrate Seminary Sunday
- Lift up our UCC seminaries and seminarians in prayer, in mission moments, and in your bulletins.
- Post materials about Chicago, Eden, and United Seminaries on bulletin boards.
- Include a special prayer or litany in your service.
- Show a five-minute CUE Seminaries DVD.
- Include a gift to CUE Seminaries in your church budget or to take up a special offering.
- DVDs, bulletin inserts, posters, and offering envelopes are available CUE Seminaries website: http://www.cueseminaries.org
Please join us on February 24 in celebrating the current and future leadership of the UCC by celebrating and supporting Chicago, United, and Eden Seminaries.
For more information and resources, please contact Kiely Todd Roska, CUE Seminaries Director, (651) 255-6121 or kiely@cueseminaries.org.
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Ecumenical Lenten Carbon Fast
To learn more and sign up click the logo below or this link: www.macucc.org/carbonfast
To fellow Christians, Pastors, and Denominational Leaders,
Make Lent an opportunity to enter into a spiritual discipline of fasting from carbon.
Over the past few years, thousands of people the world over have welcomed a day-by-day opportunity to fast from carbon as their Lenten discipline. Initiated by the UCC and endorsed by Episcopalians, people of every Christian perspective - and people who are not Christians - have benefitted from this opportunity to become more conscious and conscientious in their daily lives.
If you're a pastor - SIGN UP... and:
email this invitation to the people in your parish, tell them you'll be participating, AND
- convene a weekly Lenten discussion focusing on the Carbon Fast. MAKE THIS YOUR CHURCH'S LENTEN PROGRAM!
- And if you're part of a local clergy association, email it to your colleagues, too.
AND FOR ALL WHO MAY PARTICIPATE:
For hundreds of years, Ash Wednesday (February 13, 2013) marks the beginning of a time when Christians engage in spiritual disciplines involving repentance, fasting, prayer, study and works of love. Living as we are at a time when our actions - along with the actions of only a few generations - have threatened creation as we know it by the excessive burning of fossil fuel, it is fitting to engage in a spiritual discipline of fasting from carbon.
Click below or paste that link in your browser to sign up to fast from carbon during Lent:
www.macucc.org/carbonfast
Here's how it works:
Beginning Ash Wednesday and throughout Lent, participants will receive a daily email with the day's suggested carbon-reducing activity. When possible, this will include a quantitative measure of the carbon reduction resulting from the activity.
Make this your congregation's Lenten activity:
Organize an opportunity within your congregation for members to meet each week during Lent to discuss their own experience with this fast, AND specifically to discuss the weekly themes which focus on how the church can engage this issue.
Please forward this invitation - to others in your congregation and to other pastors.
CLICK BELOW TO LIKE US ON FACEBOOK! Beginning on Ash Wednesday, February 13, each day's activity will be cumulatively posted on this page: https://www.facebook.com/carbonfast
Let's make protecting God's creation by reducing our carbon footprint as fundamental a spiritual discipline as prayer.
The Rev. Dr. Jim Antal * Conference Minister and President * Massachusetts Conference, UCC
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Mission4/1 Earth MMSC Kick-Off Event April 13 & 14 at Shannondale
 Mark your calendars and plan to come and participate in the official kick-off celebration of Mission 4/1 Earth 50 Great Days of Engaged Environmental Stewardship on Saturday April 13 and Sunday, April 14, 2013.
Saturday, April 13 (1pm to after dark):
Bluegrass music; BBQ dinner; campfire; crafts that are ecologically friendly; Reps from Dept. of Conservation; demonstrations on things like composting/bee keeping/raised bed gardening/ etc.-all dependent upon who/what is available. For the Booths we want to encourage churches to show what they are doing (prairie restoration; food justice; community gardens; etc); River/Trash clean-up; Shannondale is donating a tree to every congregation.
Sunday, April 14, 2013 (morning)
Worship; the theology of Mission 4/1 Earth; music; Q & A
We are delighted to announce that the MMSC Conference Council indicated its support of the national and conference-wide Mission 4/1 Earth Campaign of our denomination by planning to hold its next regularly scheduled meeting at Shannondale Community Center and Camp on April 12-13. They are planning to participate in this signature kick-off event.
Plan on joining your conference leadership at a once-in-a-lifetime event.
Contact: Dr Marc A. Wessels, Associate Conference Minister, for more information email marc@mmsucc.org
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Upcoming Events
(Please see the latest issue of eHappenings for church events)
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Mission 4/1 Earth Encourages Participation in the....
Join Us For the 4th Annual Community Garden Summit
 You're invited to hear from national experts on community gardening, horticulture and community development. Participate in networking opportunities with gardeners and people working in sustainable practices across the re gion. Attend breakout sessions throughout the afternoon. Listen to keynote Timothy Tramble, Executive Director of Burton, Bell and Carr Community Development, discuss Cleveland's Urban Innovative Agriculture Zone. We will also hear about Permaculture from Melissa Breed-Parks, Garden Coordinator of Maplewood Richmond Heights School District, Certified Permaculture Instructor and Non-Profit Consultant Reneé B. Johnson on mobilizing people power for garden projects. Breakfast from Black Bear Bakery and lunch from Franco. When: Saturday, February 16th, 2012. Registration: 8:00am-9:00am Program: 9:00am-4:00pm Where: St. Louis University High School 4970 Oakland Ave *Please park in the "SLUH" parking area SW of the campus. See attached map here. How: Click here to register. Early bird special until Feb 2. $5 for community gardeners. $10 general public. Doubles after Feb 2. Questions? Call 314.588.9600 x101 Monday - Friday 8:30am-4:30pm Or email theresa@gateaygreening.org There's More? Friday Night Movie Screening. The Friday night before the summit, Gateway Greening will be hosting a screening of Urban Roots, a film about the Urban Agriculture movement in Detroit. Visit the Movie Night event page to learn more.
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Open & Affirming:
The Journey Continues
Saturday February 23, 2013
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Registration begins at 9:30 AM
First Congregational Church
of Webster Groves,
United Church of Christ
10 West Lockwood Avenue
Webster Groves, MO 63119
314-962-0475 - www.firstchurchwg.org
Registration $15 per person/includes lunch or
$75 per church with 5 or more attending.
Click here for a registration form.
Keynote Address by: Rev. Mike Schuenemeyer, Executive and Minister for GLBT Concerns and HIV/AIDS Ministries, United Church of Christ
Workshops around various issues and concerns including: Biblical Perspectives; Beginning an ONA Process; Next Steps for ONA; Transgender; Youth...and Resources; Resource People; Displays, Fellowship, Food, and Fun.
If you are an Open and Affirming congregation, talking about Open and Affirming or thinking about starting the conversation, if you want to explore how to be effective allies, there will be something for you and your church. Come be in conversation with others, learn what it means to be Open and Affirming and how to fully express extravagant welcome to all God's children.
Contact Rev. Marilyn Stavenger, Convener, Gateway ONA: mstavenger@eden.edu
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Women's Retreat, May 3-5, 2013
Meet Me at the Well and Water Our Souls 
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Emmaus 25th Annual Open Your Heart Dinner Celebration
Friday, February 8th, 2013 at Sheraton West Port Chalet
Emmaus Homes will reach a wonderful milestone in 2013! For nearly 25 years Emmaus has celebrated people with developmental disabilities through the annual "Open Your Heart" fundraising dinner and auction. For sponsorship opportunities or ticket information, please contact Laverne Walker at 636.534.5210. To register, click here.
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Are You Experiencing the
One-Year Anniversary Blues?
Please join us for our new monthly support group where we will discuss tips for coping with the one-year anniversary of your loved one's death, rituals for honoring your loved one, and tasks for moving forward.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
There are two sessions to choose from:
1:00-2:30 pm or 5:30-7:00 pm
Mercy Hospice
1000 Des Peres Road, Suite 200B
St. Louis, MO 63131
(near the intersection of Manchester Road and I-270)
You will have the opportunity to decorate a commemorative candle.
Please feel free to bring photos or other special items to adorn your candle.
To RSVP, please call the Mercy Hospice Bereavement Coordinators
at 314-729-4410.
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 The Friends of Emmaus Mission and Message Over 40 years ago a few dedicated UCC women fellowship members volunteered at the Emmaus Home and formed a group to become "The Friends Of Emmaus". Over the years the group expanded and includes members from other denominations, parents of Emmaus residents and individual volunteers.
The Fall Bazaar and Quilt Auction have been a tremendous success, raising many thousands of dollars for Emmaus Home. The money has been used to purchase new vans; appliances; furniture; sent residents to the Special Olympics; Exceptional Equestrians; Hefer project; pottery program; special events; employee appreciation and much more.
Two years ago we changed our Fall Bazaar to a Spring Festival on the 3rd Sunday in May. This year the event will be on May, 19, 2013. The quilt auction will continue to be the highlight of the event, along with our famous dinners and many booths and activities.
Many of our devoted quilters can no longer do the quilting. We are in need of new groups that will be interested in quilting for the auction.
The proceeds of our efforts go to enhance the quality of life of the residents who call Emmaus home.
For additional information to join our efforts please contact one of the members. Thank you.
Mary Fischer
President-Friends of Emmaus
hankmaryfischer@charter.net
636-561-7747
Betty Shrum
Quilt Auction Chairperson
bkb6699@aol.com
636-566-6236
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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.
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Clergy Luncheon of the Eastern Association
of the United Church of Christ - updated speaker information
You and a guest are invited
January 24th Noon - 2:00
Hosted at: Ebenezer Stone Church
6162 Stone Church Rd, Gerald, MO 63037
Speaker: Bahar Bastani MD, Professor of Medicine and Nephrology at Saint Louis University School of Medicine
and Imam for the Fridat Prayers at Saint Louis Hospital
Topic: Building Bridges of Understanding
Father Finbarr Dowling from St Ignatius Parish in Marthasville, MO and a participant in an international dialogue of Roman Catholic Religious and Muslims will also be present.
Music by :Donna Curdt
Member of Friedens Peace UCC
Local Wines provided
Please R.S.V.P. Donna Curdt
Semopest@centurytel.net
Or call 636-634-1150
(Vegetarian option by request)
Deadline for RSVP - January 18th
Sponsored by the Program Committee of the Eastern Association
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All Things New, Look What God Is Doing
 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.
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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.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWK71qdQoSk
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Upcoming Conference Minister Preaching
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Nurses Needed
Deaconess Parish Nurse Ministries is seeking two professional registered nurses to serve in two UCC congregations in St. Louis. One 10-hour unbenefitted position in UCC church in Maplewood and one
4-hour every Saturday to work in a newly formed clinic at UCC church in North County.
If interested Rev. Donna Pupillo at Deaconess Parish Nurse Ministries 314-918-2596.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Marketing and Publishing Assistant Christian publishing house in Webster Groves seeking permanent part-time help (24 hours a week) to: write advertising copy, manage website data and email lists, file and organize paper and electronic files, proofread and create and analyze spreadsheets and work in other aspects of publishing. Excellent writing and organizational skills required; experience in Constant Contact, HTML, Photoshop, and Microsoft Office a plus. Send resume to: Lynne Letchworth, Vice President and Associate Publisher at lletchworth@chalicepress.com by February 8, 2013,or mail to Lynne Letchworth-Job Opening, Chalice Press, 483 E. Lockwood Ave., STE 100, St. Louis, MO 63119. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Church Administrator - Spirit of Hope Metropolitan Community Church - Kansas City, MO Spirit of Hope Metropolitan Community Church in Kansas City, Missouri is seeking candidates for a Church Administrator. We are a 150 member affirming congregation with a specific outreach to the LGBT community. We are looking for an individual with the drive and motivation to facilitate, supervise and provide leadership for the day-to-day operations of the church. This individual will assume administrative responsibilities for the church, including data maintenance and basic bookkeeping functions, as well as provide support and assistance to the Senior Pastor and Board of Directors with community outreach and communications. Appropriate candidates will have prior experience in an administrative field, preferably in a church setting. Candidates should also have prior experience managing, motivating and leading other team members. This is a full-time exempt position, and the individual should specifically be available for work on Sundays. A complete job description is available upon request. Interested candidates should make inquiries and submit a resume (including salary expectations and references) to spiritofhopemcckc@yahoo.com.
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Conference Deacons
 The Conference Deacon program has been in place since September 2011.
The purpose of the Conference Deacon Program is to recruit and commission more than 60 individuals-both lay people and clergy (retired and clergy who are not currently serving in parish positions)-to visit the congregations of the Conference on behalf of the Missouri Mid-South Conference. Our goal is to have the deacons' visit each church assigned in our Conference 2 times a year in order to:
- bring greetings on behalf of the Conference
- offer a word of thanks for OCWM participation
- encourage giving to OCWM and the special offerings of the UCC
- most importantly, build relationships and strengthen the connection between the local and wider church.
This was an ambitious undertaking. Currently we have recruited approximately 35 deacons. Based on the success of this program and the requests from churches not currently assigned a deacon, we hope you will prayerfully consider the importance of this connection between the local and wider church and consider volunteering. If interested, please contact Joyce Bathke by phone at 314-409-2929 or email joyce.bathke@redcross.org .
Click here to visit the Conference website and read the full Conference Deacon program description.
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Contact Us |
Missouri Mid-South Conference United Church of Christ 314-962-8740 or 877-877-5884 |
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