Allen's Message to You  

Dear friends and partners in the Gospel:

 

            In the familiar story in this Sunday's lesson from the Gospel of John, two followers of the Baptizer begin to follow after Jesus.  Jesus turns toward them, and asks, "What are you looking for?"  They reply, "Teacher, where are you staying?"  Then Jesus replies, "Come and see."

 

            In the wonderful economy of John's storytelling, this brief passage opens up the way people enter into fellowship with Christ. They take an uncertain step, and somebody asks them an all important question:  "What are you looking for?"

 

            "I'm looking for a nice quiet place to rest from the pressures of the week." 

            "I'm looking for a place where my kids will be welcome in worship."

            "I'm looking for the warm feeling of singing familiar hymns that I know by heart."

            "I'm looking for healing... for comfort... for reassurance of heaven..."

            "I'm looking for forgiveness... for understanding... for acceptance by others...  "

            "I'm looking for a place where the people agree with me."

           

So what do John's followers say they're looking for?  They answer with a question:  "Teacher, where are you staying?"  And he answers them: "Come and see."

  

            More than sharing all the doctrines we believe, more than satisfying all the wants we say we have, more than being right or finding those who agree with us, we need within our congregations most of all the genuineness of being able to say, "if you want to know where Jesus resides among us, come and see."

 

            I hope, in this Season of Epiphany, that all of us will lift up in prayer the hope that our community of faith in all its congregations may find our center in being for others a place where Jesus stays.

 

Blessed Epiphany!

 

Allen

Allen M. Fluent, Acting Conference Minister

The MMSUCC Conference deadline for all 2013 monetary contributions is Friday, January 17, 2014.

This includes OCWM, One Great Hour of Sharing, Neighbors in Need, Strengthen the Church, etc.  If you wish your church's contribution to be counted toward 2013, please make sure it is postmarked no later than this Friday.  For further questions relating to 2013 contributions, please email our bookkeeper Lorraine Brooks at accounting@mmsucc.org or call her directly at 314-918-2606. 

Click here for the new 2014 Remittance Form, which should be used with each contribution/check sent to our conference.  Thank you for your continued generosity. 

Jan Aerie, jan@mmsucc.org, 314.918.2601

$1500.00 that would be most helpful. Please contact Kathy with any information on labyrinth's.     

Kathy can be reached at 636-296-6206, ext. 4337(office) or 314-630-6332(cell), and her email addresses are: kporter@comtrea.org or kleeporter@charter.net.

Some of the items include: Contemporary style altar (with paraments for all seasons) and pulpit, altar candlesticks and candle lighters, offering plates, communion ware, and office furniture including a corner computer desk. Some kitchen items are also available, such as silverware, pots and pans.

 

Are you looking for a new experience where you can help others and feel a sense of fulfillment at the same time?  Emmaus Homes is inviting you to be a Mission Camper and work side by side with their residents and staff.  You can serve by enjoying environmental projects like gardening and landscaping and also work with the residents on their art, recreation or ministry projects.  Your evening at Emmaus Homes might be spent in quiet reflection or enjoying a group activity.  Whatever you choose to do at Emmaus Homes, your participation and service will be greatly appreciated. 

For more information on attending a Mission Camp for youth or adults, please contact Rev. Wendy Jaine Summers, Chaplain and Director for Mission Camps.  Click here for her contact info and a full description of the program.  

Sisters & Brothers in Christ, Greetings!

 

In the summer of 2012, Columbia UCC had the joyful and inspiring privilege of meeting and hearing from Dr. Anil Henry of Mungeli Hospital in India.

 

One of our members was so engaged by the story of Dr. Henry's work that she spoke to the local branch of PET International (www.petinternational.org), which makes and distributes Personal Energy Transportation devices (hand-cranked carts) for those with mobility limitations living in impoverished areas.

 

Excited by the opportunity to expand their outreach, PET International agreed to donate 180 PET devices to Mungeli Hospital; Dr. Henry is ready to receive and distribute them.  This fills a shipping container going by sea to the port of Chennai, India, then transported overland to Mungeli.

 

Dr. Henry is able to fund, through donations, the overland transportation in India.  We need to raise about $4,407.00 to cover shipping by sea, so Dr. Henry can receive the PET devices and distribute them to those in need.

 

Working with Rev. Dale Parson, Associate Minister of the Missouri Mid-South Conference UCC, we decided to contact Dr. Henry's supporters and friends, particularly those he met during his 2012 visit.

 

We invite members of the Missouri Mid-South Conference to make a contribution toward the ocean-shipping cost of $4,407.00.  We hope to receive all donations by the beginning of March.

 

Columbia UCC will receive and hold all contributions in a designated account, and write one check for the cost of shipping.  We will also record and share with Dr. Henry the names of individual and congregational contributors, and publicly acknowledge this partnership effort.

 

I would be happy to answer questions via email, and I look forward to the successful completion of this great cooperative work.  I hope that you and your congregation will be part of it!

 

With peace and joy,

 

Rev. Steven E. Swope

Pastor, Columbia UCC 

The 2014 Outdoor Ministry theme is "Get Real, Finding Your True Self in Jesus." Campers and participants will explore the teachings of Jesus and how Jesus himself is a role model and what it means to be a true friend. Please see the Outdoor Ministry Program Schedule - use it to plan your summer and how you would like to spend this upcoming summer at Camp MoVal.

 

The camp brochure will be mailed to campers and churches in mid-January and registration will start February 1. Please do not forget about our new age group bracketing and age relevance for attending programs. Starting in 2014, grade level requirement will be the grade campers are going into. We know that for many years this has been a confusing issue and we want to use standard approach to grade levels. There will also be a transition in the summer of 2014 for high school seniors as we create new programs for college students and young adults.

Also, do not forget that Camp MoVal will be going through the accreditation process with the American Camp Association during the summer of 2014. Camp MoVal is also looking for a variety of qualified staff to fill its summer camp staff positions.  If interested or need more information, please contact Jeremy Force, Outdoor Ministry Director.

 

There are still some available dates if you would like to have someone from Camp MoVal come and share with your church, cluster or association. If you would like to schedule a visit or have any questions, please call the camp office 636-583-2730. You can also find us on the web at www.campmoval.org or follow us on Facebook. 

Our Church Works Miracles!

  OCWM: creating miracles every day.

The next Jeffco Clergy meeting is scheduled for Monday, January 20, 2014 at 11:30 a.m. at COMTREA in Arnold.  Kathy Porter will be the hostess, and lunch will be provided.

As another successful year for A Jazz Nativity has closed, please click here to see a personal thank you to those who supported this fabulous gathering of music and storytelling.  The Oikos Production team is also asking for your feedback. So if you attended any of the performances and would like to share your thoughts, please send them to oikos.productions@gmail.com.