Native Missouri Trees For Mission 4/1 Earth

One of the highlights of Mission 4/1 Earth at the Shannondale Kickoff this weekend, April 13-14 is the gift of a native Missouri Tree for every congregation.  The trees, native oak, will be available to be picked up during the weekend.  A Mission 4/1 Earth themed Tree Planting Liturgy will be available along with each tree. Click here for the suggested liturgy. Should your congregation not be able to pick up your tree you might consider asking a sister congregation or your Conference Deacon to bring the tree to you.  The trees are saplings and will be easy to transport.  Planting instructions will also be available.

Native Missouri Trees may be purchased from the Missouri Department of Conservation Tree Farm at Licking through the George O White Nursery; Missouri Department of Conservation; P. O. Box 119; Licking, MO 65542; 573.674.3229; Fax: 573.674.4047.  The seedling catalogue may be viewed online at

Thanks to the excellent suggestion by the Mission 4/1 Earth Team, Kara Nacke and Barbara Albrecht the Celebration Service Ministry has jumped aboard the 4/1 Earth bandwagon and are going green by forgoing paper bulletins beginning this Sunday, April 7.

This will not only conserve paper...it will save St. John's some $$$...it is estimated 50% of those attending the Celebration Service do not use the paper bulletin.  With an average attendance of 100 - 75 bulletins are printed each week - at least half of these 75 are not used at all!!  So at a meeting of the Worship Team last night it was decided by unanimous vote to hop on board the Going Green bandwagon...There will be a St. John's information brochure developed for visitors and all announcements will scroll on the screen for 15 minutes before the service.

If you attend the Celebration Service look for the Announcements for the week in an e-mail attachment arriving every Friday afternoon.  

If you serve at the Celebration Service...Fear Not!!!  Ruth, Charlie and the Praise Team has been using an online planning tool called "Planning Center On Line" -- All participants will receive an e-mail copy of the week's order of worship...or you can log on to check the schedule.  There will be hard copies at the sound board in the back of the sanctuary.  Pastor Dale, Ruth, and Cathy will have hard copies in their mailbox.

Charlene J. Brizendine

Office Manager

St. John's United Church of Christ-Chesterfield

Hope United Church of Christ of De Soto, Missouri and the St. Louis Association of the Missouri Mid-South Conference of the United Church of Christ invite you to a worship service for the installation of Nicole Torbitzky as Pastor.

Sunday, May 5, 2013 at 3PM
Hope United Church of Christ 

100 South 3rd Street

DeSoto, MO 63020
636-586-2394   

Easter is a sacred season which reminds us of the power of God. Easter is a time to recall the central reality of the Christian faith - the resurrection of Christ and the promise of new life in the present Cosmos and eternal life for those who confess Christ as their Lord and Savior. As Christians - followers of Jesus Christ  - we proclaim Christ's life, death and resurrection. We know and affirm that God's saving act in resurrection is a good and glorious thing!

Our historic faith, found in the creeds of our ancestors, remind us of this truth.  

For instance in the Nicene Creed - adopted in Nicaea (now Turkey) by the first ecumenical council, which met there in the year 325, we declare that "For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures. That truth is proclaimed in the Apostles' Creed (written circa 390) when we state that Jesus "Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into hell: The third day he rose again from the dead". And for our sake - Christ died for our sin.

Here in a simple form is an acrostic form for Easter and its meaning:

Easter begins with the Empty Tomb. The empty tomb echoes the reality of the Cross on which Jesus was crucified. In the contrast between the cross and the empty tomb we sense the fullness of life and note the Yin/Yang of the Good Friday and Easter Sunday episodes. We note the dynamic tension between death and life; the horror of Jesus suffering contrasted with the excitement of the discovered empty tomb. As Christians, we are an empty tomb people. Because it is hard to portray an artistic empty tomb as a symbol universally, we use the empty cross. Yet, the real emphasis for Easter is the reality that through God's action life trumps death; God's "yes" is louder than humanity's "no".

Assurance - Easter is a time for us to be assured in the reality of our resurrection faith. As the writer of Hebrews notes in 10:22 "Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water." Easter is for many a time to spruce up their homes as they emerge from the darkness of winter. It is a time for cleansing - Spring Cleaning - time to freshen up and get rid of the dirt that has accumulated. Easter can be for us a time for some spiritual Spring Cleaning.

Easter is a time to revisit and reclaim our Salvation. We note that our word salvation is based on the concept of Soteriology (Greek sōtēria "salvation" from "savior, preserver". Easter reminds us that through God's activity in Jesus Christ we have the rreconciliation of humanity from sin. Through Christ we are brought into a reunion with God.

The historic Heidelberg Catechism (1563) has been used as a teaching instrument - as a tool for explaining the fundamentals of the Christian faith. It is a series of questions and answers about the basic fundamental beliefs of Christians. The Heidelberg Catechism references scripture for the student of the faith for each answer. On the subject of salvation there is the following: Question: Why is the Son of God called "Jesus," meaning "savior"? Answer: Because he saves us from our sins, and because salvation should not be sought and cannot be found in anyone else.

Matthew 1:21 The Voice  

She will have a son, and you will name Him Jesus, which means "the Lord saves," because this Jesus is the person who will save all of His people from sin.

Hebrews 7.24-25

Jesus holds His priesthood permanently because He lives His resurrected life forever. From such a vantage, He is able to save those who approach God through Him for all time because He will forever live to be their advocate in the presence of God.

2 Acts 4.12 There is no one else who can rescue us, and there is no other name under heaven given to any human by whom we may be rescued.

I Timothy 2.5 There is one God and one Mediator between God and us- the man Jesus, God's Anointed

Easter is about Transformation. Not only was Jesus transformed from the dead but we are his followers are called to live transformed lives. As Paul challenged the early believers in his letter to the Romans (12. 2) New International Version (2011) "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will."

The reality is that for much of Christianity in the Western world today the Christian faith has accommodated to the standards of the world and become transformed by the world's norms. As A.W. Tozer noted years ago, "Religion today is not transforming people; rather it is being

transformed by the people. It is not raising the moral level of society;

it is descending to society's own level..."

Easter reminds us that we are new transformed creatures and we are not doomed to live in the past or to be limited by old ways of thinking and doing. As Paul wrote in his second epistle to the Christians at Corinth (2 Corinthians 5:17 New International Version (NIV)), "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"

Easter is a time to be Energized. During the season of Easter Christians find strength and resolve to continue in the faith; with renewed energy and commitment to become more fully the people of God gathered as disciples of Christ. As the Apostle Paul noted in Colossians (1:28-29 New International Version (NIV)", "He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me."

Easter is a celebration of the Resurrection. As we know, Easter is a tale that ends well. It is a promise of new life. It is the hope of a future with God. Easter is a reminder that we shall in the end be comforted. While the whole of creation is groaning in travail we are comforted that our God is in charge and has care for even the littlest creature. As Martin Luther; Founder of the Protestant church, was once asked by a child whether her dog would be allowed in Heaven. He gently patted the dog's head and said, "Be comforted, little dog, thou too in the Resurrection shalt have a tail of gold."

Pastor or Faith Based Leader
Parish Nurse Appreciation Breakfast

Chapel-SD Press Building Resource Fair

Youth at Conference Annual Gathering!

Attention all Pastors, Youth Leaders, Youth and CAG Delegates- starting this year at the Conference Annual Gathering (June 7-9 at Drury University), there will be special opportunities for Conference youth at our gathering!

If you are unfamiliar with the Conference Annual Gathering (CAG) it is a once-a-year event focused on mission, ministry, music and more!  (as well as the "business matters" of the Conference)  This is the once-a-year "family reunion" for the 150 churches of the Missouri Mid-South Conference!

Youth (ages 14 and up) will be invited to participate in several opportunities!

Youth and Youth Leaders Recognition
at Conference Annual Gathering 

The Missouri Mid-South Conference would like to recognize youth and youth leaders who exemplify excellence in Youth Ministry at this year's Conference Annual Gathering (June 7-9 at Drury University in Springfield).  We will be focusing a portion of our Saturday evening banquet on youth and youth ministry; and we are currently soliciting nominees for recognition.

We are seeking youth and youth leaders who go above and beyond what is normally expected of their position to embody Christ's teachings in the world.  Nomination form are available on the Conference website by clicking here. Nominations must be turned in by April 30, 2013; all nominations will be reviewed by the Conference Youth Ministry Covenanted Ministry Team at their May meeting.  Successful candidates are expected to be present at the Saturday evening banquet for recognition. 

Registration materials for the Conference Annual Gathering will be distributed soon. We hope to see you there as we honor our youth and youth leaders!

The Leadership Development Committee of the MMSUCC wants you to know we have several leadership opportunities.  We ask you, as Conference and Association leaders, to help us identify prospects for the following:

1. Conference Council seats (three year terms) for election at June 2013 CAG:

(i)One nominee for:  Eastern Association  (currently held by male Clergy member)

(ii)One nominee for:  St. Louis Association (currently held by male Clergy member)

(iii)One nominee for:  Western Association (currently held by male Lay member)

The Conference is seeking a highly qualified, diverse pool of candidates for the limited number of Conference Council positions. Members shall be selected so that the Council represents diverse population groups and can bring to its deliberations a variety of points of view and life experiences, as well as access to cultural, religious, educational, civic, business and economic resources.     

Click here for the nomination form for prospective candidates for the Conference Council that should be completed by you (or others) or the candidate, and returned to the committee no later than Wednesday, April 10th (via LJDAyers@aol.com).   Also, we would appreciate it if you would send a separate email to the same address regarding the prospect(s) and their contact information as soon as possible.  This will be helpful in case we don't received the expected completed nomination form in a timely manner.

This event provides 32 hours of training, which is useful for clergy looking for continuing education opportunities along with honing your mediation skills.

The pre-registration deadline for the Mediation Skills Training Institute, scheduled for May 6-10, 2013, has been extended to Friday, April 19, 2013. Register before April 19 and save $100.