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Wednesday, November 6, 2013
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Thank you - This communication is made possible by your contributions to
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The next eHappenings will be shared on Friday, November 15th.
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Allen's Message to You 
Dear friends and colleagues,
For some of us, this past Sunday was celebrated as All Saints Day, or Memorial Sunday. For others who follow the tradition of the German Evangelical heritage, the celebration is on the last Sunday of the church year, November 24. Our foreparents called it Totenfest. Whatever our tradition, November is a sacred time of thankful remembrance.
To remember in the spiritual sense is to consciously reattach ourselves to the church's living body by bringing to mind the long pilgrimage of faith we've been invited to join by those who have gone before us. It is a time when I myself take time to visualize the saints of the church I have known and to enjoy the pleasure of their company, still living within my memories. To think about these things does not cause us to dwell unduly upon the past. It gives us a sense of wholeness out of which we can move through the shifting tides of this present moment and into the unknown future unafraid.
The churches of our conference, and indeed the Conference itself, are in transition time, but we are not unguided. The shape of the church will change; the structures will be re-crafted; but the substance endures of a people who seek to live and move in the Spirit of Christ.
Please pray for our Conference Council as they develop a process to discern the leadership needed for the work that lies ahead of us. Pray also for the vision team as they plan to engage us in discovering the web of relationships that we will use to find the way of God among us.
A good way to pray in the month of November might be in the words of the catechists' prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, for thee we live, for thee we suffer, for thee we die.
Thine we will be in life and in death. Grant us, O Lord, eternal salvation.
Allen
Allen M. Fluent, Acting Conference Minister
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Upcoming Conference Conversations with Allen Fluent
I hope that many of you will come and share in conversation with me about the joys and challenges of our Missouri Mid-South conference. The format for conversation will be simple. We'll worship God together. We'll share some memories. We'll ask questions. We'll share our thoughts and feelings. We'll listen to one another and to God. The Conference Conversations will be held on three days at six different churches. Click on each church for directions/map:
I look forward to our time together.
Allen
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Conference Conversation Gathering at Bem UCC
Fried Fish and/or Chicken - a great meal is being prepared at St. John's Bem Church in Owensville! The occasion? A  listening visit by our Acting Conference Minister, Rev. Allen Fluent! Allen will be here on Tuesday evening, November 19, for a listening visit to hear our concerns and questions about the direction and future of the Missouri Mid-South Conference. Our Conference, as you know, is in a time of transition and restructure; Allen is interested in hearing what your concerns are as we move into the future. Many folks will be coming from other churches to this listening visit, and Bem is the host - so the Church Council will be feeding all who are coming with a fried chicken and/or fish dinner, like the ones we served during lent! Come eat, and stick around for discussion with our Acting Conference Minister. A free will offering will be collected during the dinner, with all proceeds going to fund Our Church's Wider Mission! Dinner will be served at 6:00 pm and the Conference Conversation will begin at 7:00 pm. St. John's Bem UCC is located at 1944 Bem Church Rd, Owensville, MO 65066. We hope to see you there.
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"Follow That Star: A Jazz Nativity"
Follow That Star: A Jazz Nativity returns this December for its third season with an all-new production. Reimagining the Christmas story through the artistry of jazz and the magic of storytelling, this year's program will feature new jazz arrangements of Christmas music and dramatic twists that will creatively bring an ancient story to life for today's audience.
The Oîkos Ensemble under the direction of saxophonist, Rev.Cliff Aerie, will return as our musical hosts.This year we welcome one of St. Louis' great jazz vocalists, Ms. Kim Fuller, as our special guest artist.
Th ree Uni ted Chu rch of Chri st cong re gations will be hosting this yea r's Jazz Nativity in the St. Louis/Washington, MO areas:
- Saturday, December 7th at First Congregational UCC, Webster Groves -7:00pm
- Sunday, December 8th at Parkway UCC, St.Louis County - 2:00pm
- Saturday, December 14th at St.Peter's UCC, Washington - 7:00 pm (STL poster)
A performance will also be held in Kansas City, MO:
- Saturday, December 21st at St. Peter's UCC, Kansas City - 2:00 pm (KC poster)
Please print and share the above posters with your congregation, friends, family and coworkers. Jazz Nativity is pleased to announce its partnership with the Deaconess Foundation. Providing support to many local organizations, the Deaconess Foundation helps to ensure essential services to children and youth in need. Through the generous support of Deaconess and the financial sponsorship of our three host churches, all performances of Follow That Star: A Jazz Nativity are free to the public. An offering will be received to benefit local charities. Keep watching the eCourier, the Conference website and Facebook for further updates. We hope you will attend one of the performances and please spread the word among your congregation about this fabulous, free musical journey!
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Webinar: The UCC Health Plan in 2014
The UCC Medical and Dental Benefits Plan provides UCC clergy and lay employees and their covered dependents with comprehensive benefits, focusing on preventive care and wellness. The implementation of the Affordable Care Act and health insurance marketplace will have little to no impact on participants in the UCC Plan, which will continue to operate in much the same way as it always has, offering participants peace of mind in 2014 and beyond. While there will be no increase in contribution rates for the 2014 Plan Year, important enhancements will be added to your coverage.
To learn more, we invite you to join us on Wednesday, November 13, at Noon (ET) for a Member Education webinar on the topic, The UCC Health Plan in 2014. The webinar will be conducted using WebEx online conferencing technology. To participate, you will need:
1. a computer with Internet access*, and
2. a telephone (for the audio portion of the presentation).
Following a brief presentation, you will have an opportunity to have your questions answered by Health Plan staff using WebEx online chat function.
CLICK HERE to register.
If you are unable to join us, a recording of the webinar will be available on the Pension Boards; website at http://bit.ly/PBRecordings.
* If you do not have Internet access, you may listen to the presentation by dialing one of the toll-free meeting numbers: 1.866.699.3239 or 1.877.668.4490. When prompted, enter the Meeting Number: 687 181 734, followed by the # sign.
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Refreshing Views
This past weekend we had both the front and back doors of our home wide open for over an hour while the fresh paint on the doors dried. The breeze flew through our little house from back to front, and soon the temperature indoors matched that of outdoors - 62 degrees. One of my favorite rituals of the fine days of fall is to let the chilling air blow through the house, celebrating the falling leaves, the shifting light, and harvest of summer before closing up the house to be wrapped in warmth, eat homemade soup and spend time in inward reflection.
It could be the changing season that has slightly shifted the focus of the interviews I have recently conducted.  There is more of a reflective edge to the comments about celebrating our historic E&R heritage while navigating new ways of being the historic-and-new church. There is talk about the commitment of older church members differing from that of newer or younger church goers. There is recognition of the value and importance of community, for gathering together in small and large groups to share food, discussion and prayer.
In light of this, beginning very soon, we will be launching some endeavors that experiment with more ways of being community together, in large and small groups, in person and electronically, for sharing prayer and exploring growth. A fresh breeze is blowing in our conference. Let's open the doors and let it blow through!
To arrange for a one-on-one listening interview or presentation with your church group, call 314.918.2601 or email jan@mmsucc.org.
Jan Aerie
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November St. Louis Ministerium Meeting
The SLA Ministerium is a group for all St. Louis UCC clergy who are licensed, commissioned or ordained and serving in the local church or elsewhere. Whether you are active or retired, you are always welcome at the SLA Ministerium.
Join us on Wednesday, November 13 from 6-8:30pm for dinner, worship and program hosted by Deaconess  Parish Nurse Ministries. Please RSVP today! We will gather in the Commons at Eden Seminary. Dinner will be at 6 pm. Worship 6:45 pm. Program at 7 pm. Jeanette Mott Oxford, Executive Director of Missouri Association for Social Welfare, will be presenting the program - on Medicaid and the State of Missouri Health care needs. Please RSVP for dinner to Donna Pupillo by November 8th (which is this Friday) - 314-918-2596 or dsmith-pupillo@eden.edu. Please let her know of any dietary needs (gluten free or vegan or vegetarian). Spouses/partners are invited! Deaconess Parish Nurse Ministries is the heart of parish nursing movement, acting locally and inspiring globally. We seek to foster physical, emotional, spiritual, and social harmony leading to healthy and healing relationships with God, family, faith communities, culture and creation. The mission is accomplished in two ways: in the United States and abroad, through education, consultation, and research to support the growth and development of parish nursing and in the St Louis area, through support of high quality parish nurse ministries.
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The MMS Vision Team Has Begun
The newly-formed group of diverse church leaders, equally distributed from all three associations, has come  together in prayer and dialogue to seek God's discernment for our common mutual ministry together in the life of our conference. Their first meeting was held November 4, with a second planned in December. Dr. Dick Hamm, our visioning resource leader from The Columbia Partnership, shared that the ultimate question is not "What do we want the Conference to become" but "What do we feel God is calling the Conference to become." This is why 'discernment' is such an appropriate part of visioning. For corporations, it is okay to talk about what individuals want them to be; for churches, we need to be discerning what God wants us to be.
The team learned from Dr. Hamm the special challenges that exist in middle judicatories, such as Missouri Mid-South Conference, and that are found across all denominations today in this new post-modern era of the Christian Church. Whether one or a dozen conference ministers and staff are in place, the workload and stresses of an inherited hub-and-spoke model will be insurmountable as we seek to achieve faithful growing and transformation.
Dick Hamm replied that getting folks ready for change is 90% of the battle; while most of us start midstream, with the change and no readiness. The readiness part is so crucial. He often counsels folks to not look at one year plans but 5-7 year plans that provide for readiness and that provide the time needed for deeper systemic change.
Hamm distinguishes between technical change and adaptive change. Technical change is when you address a specific need (put out a fire); adaptive change is when you look at the entire system and come up with a systemic approach. He also talked about building trust, nurturing faith, and developing the spiritual nature of the body. He reminded us that this is worshipful work, and not just bureaucratic or administrative work. An adaptive change will be sought and discerned that includes all ways our congregations, cluster, association, covenanted ministry teams, and faithful folks interact.
The Vision Team looks forward to hosting listening sessions in the early parts of next year to hear all visions and views across the conference. Keep watching the eCourier for more information!
Paul Koch, Chair
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Have You Registered for the Conference Middle School Event?
Time is running out-register soon for this year's awesome retreat on November 22 - 23. CMSE is a tool for enhancing Middle School youth ministry in local congregations by helping youth connect with their peers from around the Missouri Mid-South Conference. The retreat will be full of games, discussion groups, hang time, an awesome guest speaker, and all the great camp activities MoVal has to offer. Check in will start at 7 pm on Friday, November 22 and the event will end at approximately 5:00 pm on Saturday, November 23. Get your registration forms in now!
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Far-Reaching Miracles
Listening to or watching the evening news reminds us just how small our world has become. Through the media, we can be connected to any part of the globe no matter how remote. Long before the forms of technology that bring the world close today, our church has been connecting to remote places. 
Where in the world have you connected lately?
Our Church's Wider Mission (OCWM) offering recently made some miraculous global connections:
- Over 1000 children in 13 countries are supplied food, housing, clothing and school supplies every month through the UCC global Child Sponsorship Program.
- Health and human services are supplied to local and global ministry organizations in our conference and in places like Jamaica and India.
- Rebuilding efforts continue in Joplin with UCC work groups traveling there each week to help create new community.
Together we helped make these miracles happen through our giving.
Our Church Works Miracles!
OCWM: creating miracles every day.
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A Special Meeting of the St. Louis Association has been called by the Association Council. The purpose of the meeting is to consider and act upon on the Proposed Association Bylaws and, if approved, to elect persons to service in positions created by their adoption. A formal call to the meeting with the actions to be taken and registration forms will be emailed to all churches, authorized ministers, and members of the Association Council before November 1. The meeting will be held on November 23 at St. Lucas United Church of Christ. Registration will begin at 9:00 a.m. and the meeting will end at 11:00 a.m. Please click on the below links for further information:
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2014 MMS Conference Directory Updates 
We have been busy preparing and organizing the materials that comprise the 2014 conference directory. If you have changed your name, address, phone (home/cell or work) number, email, or any other information that is listed in the directory, please send me an email so we have the most updated info for you. Changes will be accepted until December 2, 2013. Changes received after this date may not be included in the 2014 directory. We'll keep you posted on the delivery date of the new book, which will be sometime in mid-late January. Thank you for helping us to keep our directory and conference database as accurate as possible,
Renee
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Installation of Rev. Dr. Tommy Faris  The Western Association of the Missouri Mid-South Conference United Church of Christ and Salem UCC in Higginsville, MO will install as pastor the Rev. Dr. Tommy L. Faris on November 17th at 3:00 pm. Click here for a printable invite.
Your friends and colleagues of the UCC wish Tommy and Salem UCC peace and joy!
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LIFE Retreat at EdenJoin Eden's upcoming LIFE retreat November 15-16! LIFE provides opportunities for enrichment and growth to clergy and lay women and men through participation in this two-day retreat. Return to your own congregations  ready to begin the Advent season refreshed and renewed after a weekend of learning and interacting together. Choose between two compelling courses taught by Eden faculty members. Dr. Leah Gunning Francis, Assistant Professor of Christian Education will teach the certificate course titled "What Is the Church". This course offering may be particularly appealing to clergy as Dr. Gunning Francis explores this timeless topic. Rev. Dr. Kristen Leslie, Professor of Pastoral Theology and Care will teach the elective course titled "Living and Thriving in Life's Transitions". Please note that online registration is no longer available at this time. You may register by downloading the registration form at www.lifeateden.com. Or you may contact Jill Schantz by email at jschantz@eden.edu or by phone at 314-853-4865.
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Free Folding Chairs and Fans  Parkway UCC in St. Louis has 75 metal folding chairs and 2 fans (each 7 feet tall) that they would like to pass along to anyone that can use them, as well as a rolling chair rack and rolling table rack. If you can use any of the items described, please contact Mona at the church: 314-872-9330 or mona@parkwayucc.org.
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UCCOSSN Annual Conference
What's the UCCOSSN you ask? It stands for the United Church of Christ Office Support Staff Network. This group  is made up of the office support staff from local churches, associations and conferences, national agencies and instrumentalities - we are the supporting hands of the on-going ministries of the UCC. If you're not familiar with this organization you really need to check them out on Facebook.
Each year the UCCOSSN gathers for a 2-day meeting packed with meaningful seminars, uplifting worship services, powerful speakers and valuable face time with fellow staff from across the country. The networking connections you can establish are worth more than you can imagine. Ever wonder how another church or conference handles registrations for an annual meeting, or which database is more user-friendly and less expensive for your office? At the UCCOSSN Annual Conference you will have the ability to ask those questions and also receive great feedback. Let's face it, working at a church or conference/association can be highly stressful at times and make you feel a bit isolated, especially if you are the only office staff person on-site. This group lets you know you are not alone and completely understands the daily pressures of our jobs.
The next UCCOSSN Conference is planned for April 24-26, 2014, and will be held in Charlotte, North Carolina, hosted by the Southern Conference. Click here to see a flyer announcing the meeting. I highly encourage you to email Linda Carter (whose name is on the flyer) to be placed on the list to receive future info about the meeting. And I'll be sharing more details with you as well as it filters through our conference. Thanks!
Renee
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Quotes for your Week - Out of Your Comfort Zone 
Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new.
- Brian Tracy
You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you'll discover will be wonderful. What you'll discover is yourself.
- Alan Alda
Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Employment postings will run for one month, unless otherwise specified.
Director of Children's Ministry - St. Johns UCC, St. Charles (11/6/2013)
St. John United Church of Christ, in St. Charles MO is seeking a full-time Director of Children's Ministry. This newly expanded position will have responsibility for the overall outreach, development, planning, coordination and implementation of children's ministry programs for youth, birth through fifth grade, and their families. The ideal candidate will be a person of deep faith, who has successful experience in Christian education, enthusiasm and the desire to work in a collaborative environment to reinvigorate our children's ministry. An understanding of child learning development and experience working with volunteer staff is also desired. No calls please. Please submit a job specific cover letter and resume to: jobs@stjohnucc.org. Deadline December 15, 2013. For more information about our Church community, visit our website at www.stjohnucc.org.
Director, Community Engagement - The Deaconess Foundation (10/30/13)
The Director stewards community engagement strategy for the foundation. The position's primary responsibility is for the foundation's community capacity building program and participation in systems-level collaboration. The Director will establish and maintain relationships with diverse communities, organizations and neighborhoods. S/he will cultivate a culture that is responsive to the needs of children and youth in partnership with constituents through close coordination and collaboration. To apply for this position, visit The Rome Group website - www.theromegroup.com.
Director, Administration - The Deaconess Foundation (10/30/13)
The Director manages day-to-day operations of the organization, including supervising support staff, coordinating work of consultants and maintaining systems platforms. The Director manages relationships for outsourced financial, investment and information technology services. S/he supports the CEO in development and oversight of the annual operating budget and implementation of the organization's communications plan. To apply for this position, visit The Rome Group website - www.theromegroup.com
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Contact Us
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Missouri Mid-South Conference United Church of Christ 314-962-8740 or 877-877-5884 Email renee@mmsucc.org to submit information for a future issue. Not all submissions may be used in future eCouriers. |
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