"Follow That Star: A Jazz Nativity"   

Only 4 more days until the first performance!!!  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.  To see and hear excerpts from last year's performances click here.    

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)  
• Bulletin Insert 1     Bulletin Insert 2 

The Christmas Fund Offering is one way that we, as members of The United Church of Christ, embody God's love for one another, living out a holy vision of caring and compassionate relationship.  By increasing your local church's mission to include The Christmas Fund, you will also be increasing your giving to The Good Samaritan Fund and your own local retired pastors. Please consider giving generously!

During this Advent season, please share these two educational pieces in your church bulletin:

• Bulletin insert
• Poster  
• UCC website for further resources and materials  

For further information or assistance please contact The Good Samaritan Fund Board:  Chair: Alvyne Rethemeyer, R.N, Secretary: Dave Detering, Treasurer: Norm Volle, Doug Dischinger, Rev. Ivan Horn, Rev. Margaret Diz Philip, Linda Stoecklin, R.N., Rev. Russell Viehmann.

Treasure Hunting

Late in the day last Wednesday, as the sunlight was waning and the temperatures chilling, Cliff and I went to our nearby park to go on a "treasure hunt". We searched the ground for interesting leaves, nuts, and pine cones to decorate our Thanksgiving table. Walking through fallen leaves which had collected in hollows, I began to note where the squirrels seemed to concentrate their search-and-hide activities. The most interesting were the Osage oranges. These softball-sized brilliant green fruits must be tasty to various types of wildlife. Many oranges were gnawed through to the seeds, and were lying far away from where they had fallen.

Everyone knows we can do so much more together than we can do alone. It seems to be a theme growing in our conference. I have heard about small churches working together on mission projects. I have heard about larger churches interested in "sponsoring" smaller congregations. Some have spoken of joining across the miles as sister congregations - north to south or east to west, in our conference and beyond. There have been suggestions of cooperatives for purchasing paper products, sharing a copy machine, combining administrative staffs, and even helping to jointly fund building projects.

Of course, cooperative endeavors are not new; they have been a part of our existence from the beginning of time. But this is a good time for us as a conference to be collecting names and ways to do more partnering and sharing. Won't you contact me with your interests and ideas? I know we can match interests to interests and gifts to gifts if we bring them out into the light. The treasures we collected in the park looked great on our Thanksgiving table. Our collected treasures of sharing will shine as the year is waning and will brighten our future church lives in so many ways. The possibilities are endless!

Contact Jan Aerie - jan@mmsucc.org - 314.918.2601

The 2014 Conference Youth Event will be held on February 15-17 at Camp MoVal.  The theme is "Pray, Play and Stay Together: In God's Embrace."  The youth will connect with God in nature and fellowship, hang out with friends, experience cool workshops, enjoy awesome games and share their gifts with others.  The cost of registration is $120 and is open to grades 9-12.  Click here for further information and keep watching the eCourier for new updates!  Be sure your church is represented at the 2014 event, show your youth spirit!!! 

Reconciliation Workshop 

In commemoration of Martin Luther King, Jr. the Center for Creative Conflict Resolution and Pilgrim UCC will be offering The Reconciliation Workshop on January 17 & 18, 2014.  The workshop will be led by Rev. Dr. Mark Lee Robinson. It will begin Friday evening and conclude by 5:00 on Saturday.  The cost is $100.

The Reconciliation Workshop is boot camp for learning and applying the principles of non-violence through Creative Conflict Resolution. It is an intense experience of lecture, personal reflection, small group interaction, journaling and discussion which will result in you having

·        a specific and manageable plan for an action or way of being

·        in the context of a pattern of conflict

·        in a relationship which is significant to you

·        in which you are able to create more and more of what you need.

Miracles Abound

Advent has begun and so have the many festivities. As the speed of life seems to increase in this month, spend a moment considering the miracles many take for granted in this season. Miracles small and large are all around. Your Church's Wider Mission (OCWM) offering is creating wondrous miracles this Advent:

• Many churches are offering concerts, baked goods, handmade gift sales and nativity displays all to glorify the coming of Christ's Son.
• In anticipation of Advent visioning, eight conference conversations were held with Allen Fluent all in one week. The opportunity to share, express views and wishes were all miraculous gifts.
• Alternative Christmas gifts for our global mission sites can change a child's life, that of an entire family or even a whole village. Animals, backpacks and micro-loans are some suggested gifts.
   

Make time to note the wonders of the season and the ways your giving creates miraculous experiences for others.