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Wednesday, July 17, 2013
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Around the Conference
 
Notes from Davida...

 

What an absolute jewel! 

This past week I visited Shannondale.  I expected the beauty of the forest.  I had been told by many that I should expect "rustic" conditions.  If that is rustic, let me take you to plenty of other camps where there aren't rest rooms in the cabins, much less air conditioning!  I had been told of your historic mission there.  What I learned is the breadth and depth of your continuing commitment to the people of Shannon County in their need. 

   

I went because I always believe that if I'm responsible for something, I need to see and know it as fully as I can.  Only then can I know its potential and its needs.  I am so glad I visited Shannondale, and I want to encourage you to do the same.  Here is what I found:

  • A living embodiment of our UCC core values of continuing testament, extravagant welcome and changing lives
  • A focus on the children and youth of the county and their education and full development
  • A continuing effort to provide jobs and income for adults through the tree farm and crafts work and other innovative outreach
  • A dedication to environmental sustainability that teaches us all about God's creation
  • A small local church with a vibrant and creative witness

Shannondale's ministry brings children together for after school tutoring and homework help (or would if they had the funding to hire a replacement supervisor/mentor for the one that had to retire.) It offers workcamp programs for adults and youth of our Conference and beyond to make a difference in the lives of the people of the county - hands on anti-poverty projects at people's homes and at the community center itself.  It gives county children opportunities for field trips outside the county - kids who would never otherwise see the Arch, the zoo, historical and cultural sites in MO.  It provides free  food and clothing at deeply discounted prices through the generosity of our churches.

 

This ministry is supported by your gifts through Our Church's Wider Mission.  It couldn't be there without that.  I commend Jeff Fulk, pastor and director, for his leadership and his ability to make so much happen with so little. Here are some additional things you and your church can do to make it even stronger:

  • Pray for Shannondale, its ministry and the people of Shannon County
  • Identify skilled adults in your church who would be willing to lead work projects there, and other adults and older youth who would join in
  • Receive a special offering for the mission there - funds are needed to reactivate the after-school program, to make field trips possible, to purchase building materials for work projects
  • Help us find a volunteer to build and keep current a really good Shannondale website
  • Let us know if you have plumbers, electricians, contractors, or civil engineers in your church who might help out once in a while (mostly we try to employ local people but sometimes the money just isn't there.)

Go visit!  Take a retreat group!  Take a mission team!  Revel in a forest sustainably managed for over 60 years!  Dwell with God in this jewel of a place that is yours!

 

Rev. Dr. Davida Foy Crabtree
Acting Conference Minister
Celebrate Nelson Mandela's 95th Birthday! 
  Mandela
On Tuesday, July 23rd, St. Louis will honor former South African President Nelson Mandela's 95th birthday with a FREE service of celebration. All are invited to join at 6pm at Centennial Christian Church, 4950 Fountain Ave, St. Louis, MO 63113.

 

This event is coordinated by St. Louis Free South Africa Movement Activists, government officials and the South African Consulate Office of Chicago, along with Interfaith Partnership of Greater St. Louis.

 

St. Louis is one of 13 cities hosting an event with the same message, and was chosen for the region's activism in the Free South Africa Movement. Each city's event will be called "Celebrating the Life, Legacy and Values of Mr. Mandela." The program will feature speakers from different faith communities as well as local activists, union organizations, and civic leaders from the city and county. Charlie Dooley, Lacy Clay, Darlene Green, Terry Kennedy and activist Lew Moye are all confirmed speakers.

 

A freewill offering will be collected to support Mandela's dream of building a children's hospital in South Africa.

 

Interfaith Partnership supports unity and peace and strives to be a timely voice and visible presence of the religious community in the metropolitan area. As such we appreciate the South African consulate's efforts to create an intentionally interfaith event and hope for a strong turnout from our vibrant interfaith community. Especially at a time when race and justice are on the news ticker, we affirm our commitment to knowing and understanding each other as neighbors and friends.  

Register NOW for the Persons in Ministry Retreat, September 16-18 

 

Click here for all registration materials for the PIM Retreat on September 16-18 at The Resort at Port Arrowhead, 3080 Bagnell Dam Blvd, Lake Ozark, MO  65049. The theme of the retreat is "Honest to God Prayer: Being Still while in Motion" and will be led by Kent Ira Groff.  

 

All MMSUCC and SEGA-DOC clergy are welcome.  If you are a lay person, please encourage your church to send your pastor to this worthwhile annual event.  It not only promotes spirituality, but also contributes to our continued partnership with the Disciples of Christ.  

 

Kent Ira Groff is a spiritual companion for journeyers and leaders, a retreat director and a writer poet living in Denver, Colorado. Honest to God Prayer is his tenth and newest book. Dr. Groff is founding mentor of Oasis Ministries for Spiritual Development, Camp Hill, Pa. With experience as a pastor of congregations, a chaplain, and a seminary teacher, he describes his work as one beggar showing other beggars where to find bread. 

Ordination
Ordination of Heather Arcovitch 

The St. Louis Association of the Missouri Mid-South Conference of the United Church of Christ and Zion United Church of Christ invite your prayers and presence in the ordination of
Heather Arcovitch
to the ministry of Word and Sacrament.

 

Sunday, July 21, 2013 at 3:00 pm at Zion UCC  

5710 North Highway 67, Florissant, MO 63034

Phone: 314-741-1590   

 

Clergy are invited to wear red stoles. A reception will follow the service, which Heather says will include wonderful food!

A Farewell Celebration for Marc Wessels - Join Us, You Are Invited!

Please join us Sunday, July 28th from  

Elizabeth & Marc at Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota.

5:00 to 7:00 pm at Robller Vineyard to honor Rev. Dr. Marc Wessels' service and dedication to our conference for the past 3 years.  Let's send him on his way to South Dakota with prayers, laughter and lasting memories of friendship and fellowship.


It is our hope that we will shower him with cards of well wishes and present him with a gift.  If you are interested in contributing to his gift, please send to the conference office with a notation "Marc's Farewell Gift".

 

We will miss his ministry among us but are happy for Marc and his family as they begin this new and exciting journey. Marc was unanimously chosen as the new Conference Minister for the South Dakota Conference on June 9, and his last day with our conference will be July 31. Please come celebrate Marc and his years of service with the MMSUCC!  


Robller Vineyards is located at 275 Robller Vineyard Rd, New Haven, MO.
GS Logo

Delegate Reflections from the 29th General Synod

 

For the next several weeks we hope to share the emotional reflections, experiences, joys and opinions of our MMSUCC delegates who attended the event. Our second entry is from Carole Barner of the St. Louis Association:

 

"This past week at General Synod, delegates from across the country, along with visitors, presenters, our denominational leaders, and the Holy Spirit gathered to celebrate who we are and how we are called to bear witness to God's great love in Jesus Christ. In that week we celebrated the fact that 47 new or renewing congregations have come to be since two years ago at our last General Synod. Some of those are new, some are going through revitalization, some are from other denominations and wanted to be a part of who we are as the United Church of Christ. That's good news! In a time when many are bemoaning the fact that Church seems to be shrinking, and when we in the UCC have lost a few congregations, too, I give thanks for these signs of God's faithfulness and God's faithful ones continuing to share the invitation to the world...to come and see....to accept the cost and joy of discipleship....to become a part of something bigger than themselves, that is, part of God's plan.

 

On the hotel shuttle to the airport after General Synod, I had a conversation with the driver about who we are. He said he would be busy all morning with driving all the UCC folks to the airport. He seemed curious about who we are, so I shared how we had chosen our hotels based on their fair treatment of their employees - we had NOT stayed at the Hyatt because of their labor practices. By week's end, labor and management had resolved the issues...not just in Long Beach, but nationwide! He told me how his wage had stayed at $9/hour for a long time, and then Holiday Inn had raised it to $13/hour, beaming as he lifted up his employer. When we reached the airport, he helped me with my luggage, nodding enthusiastically as he said, "Have a good day! And, thank you for standing with our workers!"   

 

With thousands of UCC folks moving about Long Beach and making news on television and in print, on Facebook and Twitter, someone on the street asked one of our delegation if we were part of some "mega church." (Of course we were wearing name tags all week, so were obviously part of a group!) The answer would have to be, "yes!." No matter the number of attendees in average weekly worship in any  local UCC congregation, all of us are part of something MUCH bigger than ourselves. For you see, God's Church is MEGA."

CWS Disaster Preparedness Webinar, August 6

disaster

Join the Emergency Response Team of CWS on Tuesday, August 6, at 2 p.m. EST for "Disaster Preparedness," a webinar that will discuss important details often overlooked while preparing for an emergency.

 

The Emergency Response Specialists will discuss what to expect when disaster strikes.  Individuals and families are often not aware of the important steps during relief and recovery, leaving many hopeless in the wake of a disaster.  For this reason it is important to know where to turn in an emergency.  From Disaster Case Management (DCM) to Emotional and Spiritual Care, this webinar will inform you of the important details to consider, keeping you from becoming a disaster "victim."  Click the link to register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/239650090.  

Sewing the Fabric of Love 

 

Click here to read a press release of how Festival of Sharing and Church World Service are challenging all congregations to support students in Kenya by bidding on and purchasing quilts. Get your church involved and join the challenge! A great project for summer VBS students to spearhead or for your church's daycare program.   

 

UCC Insurance Board to the Rescue

St. Thomas tornado

When a recent tornado touched down slightly on our church property (St. Thomas of Chesterfield) we were very grateful that none of our buildings received any damage.  However, we had extensive damage to our outdoor garden sanctuary, our playground had been swept away and several very large trees were blocking our hilltop drive. 

The beautiful old trees had given shade and beauty to our Garden Sanctuary protecting us a little whenever it began to sprinkle and giving us time to move inside. We were heartsick when we thought about all the clean-up and repair that was needed and what it was going to cost our little church. 

But the UCC Insurance Board came through for us in a big way. We contacted our agent and were immediately assured that our claim would be handled without delay. Sure enough, the reimbursement check arrived within the month and we were able to repair the damage.  We are certain that no other carrier would have covered our claim so completely.

At one point we had contemplated acquiring cheaper insurance from another source, but today we are sure that we made the right decision when we chose to keep out  account with the UCC Insurance Board.

They had come through for us in the past when we had hail damage to our roof. 
Now, with this tornado damage covered so quickly it is obvious to us that it is just good church management to stay with our own UCC Insurance Board.  Together we are better!

Submitted by Margaret Philip, Pastor, St. Thomas UCC
     
MoVal Golf Fundraiser - Play Golf for a Great Cause!
(Or Just Come Enjoy a Great Dinner!)

Camp MoVal Golf Tournament -Saturday, August 31,  

1:30 Shotgun Start 

The Landings at Spirit Golf Course
180 North Eatherton, Chesterfield, MO 63005 

 

Don't play golf? That's okay! Come for dinner and other fun activities! Golf and dinner - $100.  Dinner - $20. 

Golf Ball Drop & Raffle. Please help publicize this special event!  Donated  items are also needed for raffle baskets!    

 

Volunteers are also needed.  For more information on the fundraiser and to volunteer, contact Adam Rustige, 314-699-8948  [email protected].   

  

Any golfers from the WA and EA can stay at MoVal for free on Saturday night, please contact Jeremy Force.

 

For a registration form please click here.

 

Boundary Training at Eden Seminary, September 6 Eden logo

Eden has added a boundary training session on Friday, September 6, 2013, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in room 201 in the Press Building on campus.

 

The workshop will be led by Jane Porchey and Bruce Moeller of the MMSUCC. Registration fee is $50, lunch will not be provided. To register please contact Chris Davis, [email protected] / 314.918.2547.

 

If you need to fulfill your boundary training requirement, please click here for the 2013 MMSUCC sponsored sessions.  Hurry, only 3 dates remaining!   

Want To Serve YOUR Conference?

Please take a moment to complete the online survey and tell us a little about yourself, your skills and how you would like to be involved. If you have interest in a specific committee or project, please let us know. By providing your input and information, you will have the opportunity to share your skills and expertise with the Conference community. The Conference office will maintain the database of information and may contact you for future projects that relate to your specific interests. Thank you for your participation. 

Click here to complete the online survey. 
 
Change of Date - Eastern Association Confirmation Retreat!!!  

Due to conflicts with Festival of Sharing, the date for Eastern Association Confirmation Retreat is changed to September 14, 9am -4pm.


We will spend the day focusing on mission - both doing mission work and learning about mission. All EA confirmation groups invited. It will be held at Emmaus Homes in Marthasville. Emmaus has offered 24 dormitory style beds (free of charge) for groups who are traveling a distance to the retreat. You can request these facilities on your registration form (coming soon).

For more information contact Donna Curdt 636-634-1150 or [email protected] or Rev. Karen Eck 636-828-5980 or [email protected].  

From the "Heritage Files" archive
 
The July issue of PastPorts, a newsletter published by the Special Collections Department of the St. Louis County Library, has ten pages of interesting information about St. Louis area UCC churches and the unique denominational roots of each church.  Many of these churches were founded as part of the German Evangelical Synod of North America and a smaller number were Congregational.  A few were founded as Reformed or independent German Evangelical.  Most of the UCC churches that were founded in the 1940's and 50's began as Evangelical and Reformed.  The youngest churches began as UCC.
    
Some of the information for the newsletter comes from the Eden Seminary Archives, which is the home of the archives for the German Evangelical Synod of North America. 
We're fortunate to have that resource inside of our conference. Click here to see more about our local UCC church history in the PastPorts newsletter.  

 

Contributed by Joy Dressel  

Conference
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Job Opportunities
 

Congregational Life & Mission Associate Pastor - part time - Webster Groves Christian Church (posted 7/9/13) 

 

Interested candidates may contact Dr. Penny Ross-Corona, Southeast Gateway Area of the Christian Church of Mid-America, at 314-918-2515 for further information or click here for the full job description.

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Director of Youth Ministries - full time - St. John UCC, St. Charles (posted 7/9/13)
 
Summary of Position:  This position offers the opportunity to work with an active and vibrant youth ministry with the intention of continuing to build a spirit of discipleship among youth by developing and implementing a comprehensive approach to youth ministry and intentional faith development (in areas of small groups, worship, discipleship, mission, fellowship and church connection) while serving as a spiritual leader and role model.  This is a full time position with benefits. 

 

A successful candidate will recognize all programming will be based on an understanding of the primary task of youth ministry:

          -love and value youth where they are

          -encourage youth in developing a personal relationship to God

          -provide them with opportunities for spiritual nurture and growth

          -challenge them to respond to God's call to serve in their communities and    world.

 

Resumes only, no calls please.  Please submit a job specific cover letter and application to: [email protected]. by August 1, 2013.  For complete job description go to www.stjohnucc.org and follow the menu links for Extra > Downloads > Youth Director Job Description..

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Director of Music Ministry - part time - Pilgrim Congregational Church UCC (posted 7/2/13)

826 Union Blvd., St. Louis, is seeking a talented and passionate director to lead its choir and music 
program. The director works with a volunteer choir and the pastor to provide an inspiring worship experience.  Pilgrim has a diverse, multicultural congregation that appreciates a wide range of musical styles, as well as an 81-rank Aeolian Skinner organ. Duties will include performing/playing the organ and/or piano on Sunday mornings,arranging for substitute musicians, and administering the music 
budget.  Degree in music required; 3-5 years in a comparable position. Salary commensurate with experience. For a full job description, please inquire by calling 314.367.8173 or by email to 
[email protected]. To receive full consideration, applications should be received by August 7. 

 
Contact Us

Missouri Mid-South Conference United Church of Christ  314-962-8740 or 877-877-5884  www.missourimidsouth.org
 
Email [email protected] to submit information for a future issue.  Not all submissions may be used in future eCouriers.