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Wednesday, February 5, 2014
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Thank you - This communication is made possible by your contributions to
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Conference Daily Prayers in Lent - A Journey of Faith
We pray at the beginning of a meal, the beginning of a meeting, the opening of a program and during worship. We  may pray at the start of our day or at the end of it. Each time we pray something shifts and changes in us. Praying together gathers up the power of individual prayer into a catalytic movement toward possibility and hope. What better way is there to BE the Missouri Mid-South Conference than to pray together?
Our Conference has been on a path of change lately, a path of questions and reformulations for the future. Sometimes that is the description of the faith journey through the forty days of Lent. Yet we travel through the days of Lent with growing expectation, because we know that at the end of those days we will arrive at Easter.
This Lent we have chosen to invite everyone in the Conference to commit to praying daily as a Conference family: each of us lifting up our prayer as close to 12 noon as possible, or at one's most favorable time. A brief meditation based on a scripture verse along with a prayer will be provided for each day. These will be personal views of faith. Each week of prayers will be offered in a printable format in the weekly e-courier, as well as on the MMS website. People will be encouraged to print out the week of prayers, and to share it with others, including having clergy place copies in the Sunday bulletin or pews.
Watch for more information. Who knows where the Spirit will lead?
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Your UCC Medical and Dental Benefits Plan partners with vendors to provide comprehensive health, pharmacy, dental and vision benefits to Plan participants. The Highmark, Express Scripts, ValueOptions, United Concordia, and VSP websites can help you find network providers, access wellness resources, order prescriptions, and more.
Annual open enrollment for the UCC Vision Benefits Plan will be offered from February 15-March 15, 2014, for benefits effective April 1, 2014.
To learn more about our vendor partner websites and the Vision Plan enrollment process, we invite you to join us on Wednesday, February 12 at Noon (ET) for a webinar hosted by PBUCC's Health Plan Team. The webinar will be conducted using WebEx online conferencing technology. To participate, you will need:
- a computer with Internet access*, and
- a telephone (for the audio portion of the presentation).
Following a brief presentation, you will have an opportunity to have your questions answered by the Pension Boards' Health Plan staff, using WebEx's 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 the toll-free meeting number: 1.877.668.4490. When prompted, enter the Meeting Number: 680 950 984, followed by the # sign.
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Monthly Health and Wellness Tip Sheet - February
Valentine's Day, February 14 th, brings flowers, candy and hearts as gifts. The American Heart Association has  designated February as "Go for Red Women" or "Go Red Por Tu Corazon" to raise awareness to saving women's lives and beating heart disease - the number one killer of women. Each year cardiovascular disease claims the lives of nearly a half million women - that is almost one per minute.
Simple changes can make a difference. This month Deaconess Faith Community Nurse Ministries recognizes all that matters to one's heart by asking you to join in "Going Red" for heart disease by making some simple changes that can keep your heart healthy and prevent cardiovascular disease. These changes are easy to do and can be done by everyone.
First, by shedding just a few extra pounds in weight your heart can be stronger. Switching sugar and fat for vegetables and fruit can make a big difference in weight reduction over time. Healthy eating begins by making simple changes to eat less fat and salt, five vegetables and three fruits a day, and limiting red meat to only four times a week. Good nutrition is important to heart health! Click here to finish reading the article, and for a printable version.
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Nurturing Relationships
Just before kick-off time for the Super Bowl, the concert performers acknowledged to their church audience that we had had a choice of where to be at that moment. We had come to the concert as fans of another form of
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Artwork by Nomega Studios
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entertainment. It is said millions around the world watched the Super Bowl game last Sunday, yet that statistically means that millions in the US did not watch the game. An article on Monday about religion and culture asked if the sometimes passionate attachment many have for their favorite sports teams can also translate to passionate devotion to our churches. Our churches do nurture attachment through relationships with others in our congregation, community and around the world.
Relationships among clergy are key to leadership in church life. In fact, 88% (70) of the respondents to the Conference interviews spoke of the value of pastor-to-pastor relationships. Forty-seven further noted the high importance of mentoring new clergy, or the partnering of all interested clergy. Many clergy recognize this value and meet weekly or monthly with other clergy to listen to challenges and support each other, discuss Biblical texts and share ideas.
The building of clergy relationships occurs naturally in geographic areas, yet there may be some clergy who seek a group focused on particular areas or subjects. Some prefer small groups, others one-on-one times. Clergy bring this opportunity to their church members as well. We all love to feel "part of the team."
Whether we choose to attend a football game or a concert, we love to cheer on the players/performers before us. We can support and cheer each other on in our churches and Conference as well. What are the ways you feel that is best done?
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A Message from the Pension Boards - NGLI: Target 2030 Program
In 2011 the Pension Boards through the United Church Board for Ministerial Assistance officially began a bold new initiative to energize and sustain young clergy for service in local congregations of the United Church of Christ. This was the beginning of a twenty year plan called Next Generation Leadership Initiative: Target 2030 (NGLI: Target 2030). I am writing today because we need your assistance in helping the initiative reach this pool of high potential pastors.
In these days, no doubt, you have heard conversations, worries, and debates about what the future of the Church will be. No one knows exactly where the Church is headed, but we can all probably affirm that leadership is going to be needed to get us there. NGLI: Target 2030 seeks to raise-up and strengthen transformative leadership for the Church since we believe that healthy, catalytic pastors lead to healthy, vibrant congregations.
Those selected for NGLI: Target 2030 will be provided with advanced training to hone their skills and gifts in order to serve as transformational leaders. They will also have the opportunity to create a cohort of colleagues in which they can encourage, challenge, and reflect together on the life of a local church pastor in the twenty-first century. There is also a financial incentive-the Pension Boards will make a $10,000 contribution to the participant's Annuity Plan account during year one to help seed the participant's pension account, which should have a value of approximately $75,000 at the end of a 35-year career. (These figures are calculated based on an assumed growth rate of 6% per year over a 35-year period. It will be 50% vested at the end of the fourth year and fully vested at the end of the tenth year.)
The ideal candidate will:
- Be 35 years of age or under at the point of admission to NGLI: Target 2030
- Be authorized for ministry in and on behalf of the UCC by an Association/Conference
- Have served a total of five years or less as a called pastor in United Church of Christ parishes
- Hold a called position of 20 hours per week or more in a parish setting
- Be committed to long-term ministry in local churches of the United Church of Christ
Here are four detailed documents about the training provided and the application process: FAQ, application process, executive summary, NGLI Intent to Apply form. Please help the Church by getting these materials in the hands of any eligible clergy you may know-- notice of intention to apply is due March 21-so don't delay! Spread the word and be a part of the transformation in this way!
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me, Krista Betz at kbetz@pbucc.org
or 800-642-6543 x2716.
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Yearbook Update
WORTH REPEATING - All church yearbook reports have been sent from our Conference office! The majority were emailed on Friday, January 24 and Monday, January 27, and a few were snail mailed on those same dates. If you have not received an email from Colleen Bender with your yearbook attachments, please contact Colleen or myself and we'll be happy to resend to you. I've spoken with several of you who are entering your yearbook info online through the National data hub. First of all, let me congratulate you for trying! If you haven't attempted it, I highly encourage you to try. Church instructions were emailed with your reports which give you a step by step guide for this process. It's very easy to log in and enter your church's stats, and it also saves our Conference time by having one less church t  o enter. However please know that if an error is made, you cannot correct it, but we can take care of it for you! National's data hub does not allow you to delete or change any information once it has been saved. But not to worry - if you do make a mistake, a simple phone call or email to either Colleen or myself is all you need to do. Just let us know what needs to be corrected and we'll handle it for you by contacting National. It's super simple, ta-da! Plus the National data hub has some really cool reports you can see and print for your specific church. Again, give it a try. Several of you have asked why Form E was not included in the attachments this year. Cleveland did not request this information, so your church has one less form to complete! Consider it a positive. While our Conference may ask you for this later, no need to worry about it now. Only Forms F and G are necessary.
We've received about 6 church yearbook reports to date, so we have a lot more to go but I know you are all busy working on finding the proper data. Please take the time to participate in this process for your church. The statistics you provide are important to the UCC, both locally and nationally. STAND UP AND BE COUNTED! Renee
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Benjamin Jealous Lecture
You are invited to attend an upcoming lecture at Webster University, St. Louis, MO. On Monday, February 17 at 7:30pm, recently retired president and CEO of the NAACP, Benjamin Jealous, will speak.
Mr. Jealous will visit Webster University to share his lecture, We Got What We Fought For, But We Lost What We  Had. For more information on Benjamin Jealous, please visit http://blogs.webster.edu/mcisa
This event will be held on Monday, February 17 at 7:30pm, with doors opening at 6:30pm. Mr. Jealous will be speaking in the Loretto Hilton Center for the Performing Arts at Webster University, located at 130 Edgar Road. An Evening with Benjamin Jealous is free and open to the public and is sponsored by the Multicultural Center and International Student Affairs at Webster University, the George Herbert Walker School of Business MS in Forensic Accounting Program, and the Student Activity Fee. Visitor parking for this event is located in the Garden Park Plaza located at 568 Garden Avenue.
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New Cornerstone Fund Mission Interpreter for Our Conference
Greetings and grace to you all. I want to introduce myself. My name is David Moyer, and I have recently taken on the role of "Mission Interpreter" in the Upper Midwest for the Cornerstone Fund of the United Church of Christ. In July of 2013 I retired as the Conference Minister in the Wisconsin Conference, and I am now enjoying meeting people in this new role.
The Cornerstone Fund is a financial ministry of the United Church of Christ that provides opportunities for  individuals, churches, associations, conferences and other institutions related to the United Church of Christ to invest and receive a competitive return on term notes and other financial instruments while supporting ministries of our church.
The money invested in the Cornerstone Fund is then offered as loans to local churches and UCC related ministries for purposes like new construction, remodeling, new program development, debt consolidation or the growth of ministries.
As a Cornerstone Mission Interpreter, I am available to your congregation or organization to answer questions and provide information on both investments and loans. I invite you to contact me about the ways the Cornerstone Fund of the UCC can be of service to your church. Look for a Cornerstone Fund table in the resource area of your next Conference Annual Gathering in Jefferson City this June.
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Open and Affirming: Blessings on the Way
If you are an Open and Affirming congregation, talking about becoming Open and Affirming or thinking about starting the  conversation, if you want to explore how to be effective allies, this meeting is for you. Come be in conversation with others, learn what it means to be Open and Affirming and how to fully express extravagant welcome to all God's children. If this sounds of interest to you and/or your church, join the Gateway ONA on Saturday, February 22 at First Congregational in Webster Groves at 10 am.
Registration $15 per person/includes lunch or $75 per church with 5 or more attending. The keynote address will be presented by Rev. Dr. Jo Hudson. She is a spiritual leader, pastor, mentor and community builder who currently serves as the Gathering pastor of Extravagance UCC and the Carpenter Pastor and Teacher at Bright Divinity School, Texas Christian University in Ft. Worth Texas.
Also available - Workshops around various issues and concerns including: Initiating ONA Conversations; Biblical Perspectives; the ONA Process; Transgender; Youth, GLBT Legal Issues; Bisexuality; Advocacy...and Featuring Resources; Resource People; Displays, Fellowship, Food, and Fun!
Click here for more information and the registration form. Deadline for registrations is February 20th!
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MMSUCC Boundary Training Info for 2014
Click here to see the dates, locations and facilitators for the the Conference-led 2014 boundary training sessions, which are listed on our website.
---------------------------------------------------------------------  Boundary Training at Eden Seminary
A boundary training session, "Creating Healthy Relationships in Ministry," will be facilitated by Ms. Jane Porchey and Rev. Bruce Moeller on Friday, February 14, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm in Room 200 in the Press Building on Eden's campus. There will be a lunch break from noon to 1 pm; lunch is on your own. The registration fee is $50. To register, please contact Ms. Chris Davis at 314-918-2547 or email cdavis@eden.edu
NOTE: If you decide to take boundary training not sponsored/hosted by the MMSUCC (such as at Eden or another UCC conference) please remember it is your responsibility to send a copy of your completion certificate to our Conference so it may be recorded in our database.
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Debra Harness Ordination & Installation Invitation
The St. Louis Association of the Missouri Mid-South Conference of the United Church of Christ and St. Johns Evangelical United Church of Christ
cordially invite your presence to the ordination of
Debra A. Harness
to the Ministry of the Word and Sacrament and installation as
Associate Pastor
of St. Johns Evangelical United Church of Christ
Sunday, March 9, 2014
3:00 PM
St. Johns Evangelical United Church of Christ
11333 St. Johns Church Road
Saint Louis, Missouri, 63123
All clergy are asked to arrive by 2:30 to assemble for the processional and are invited to robe
and/or wear red. A reception will follow the service.
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Our Amazing Congregations
Telling the Good News is what we are about as Christians. We also know that everyone loves a story. This new and regular feature of the e-courier will tell Good News stories of our MMS congregations. These remarkable and not-so-remarkable acts of faith will inspire you. We also want to hear and share your stories. Send your amazing congregation's story to Colleen Bender at our Conference office: colleen@mmsucc.org
Super Souper Bowl
Many of our Conference churches participate in the Souper Bowl collection of soup cans and funds over Super Bowl weekend. Soups collected are usually donated to a food pantry or meal program in the community. Immanuel UCC in Sedalia received great publicity this month when their local newspaper ran an article and the UCC national news services picked it up. Many of the Sedalia area faith groups have participated in the 7 year old Souper Bowl friendly competition sponsored by the Pettis County Ministerial Alliance. The Alliance's goal this year is 12,000 cans of soup that will help to fill Open Door's pantry shelves.
Immanuel UCC, where Rev Stephen Buchholz is interim pastor, is the two-time defending champion of the soup drive for the Open Door food pantry! There are some large congregations in Sedalia, but Immanuel proves they have a large, caring heart. The silver ladle is the prize going to the church collecting the most cans. Immanuel has had the ladle prominently displayed for two years now, near the sanctuary door where everyone sees it as they enter for worship. GO Soup!
(with thanks to Bob Satnan, Sedalia Contributing Columnist)
Send your amazing congregation's story to colleen@mmsucc.org.
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Mission to Mexico
The Congregation of St. John's, Bem United Church of Christ is planning a Mission Trip to Chiapas, Mexico this  summer; and you are invited to attend! We will be travelling to Chiapas to work with INESIN, one of our United Church of Christ/Disciples of Christ Global Ministries Mission Partners. The trip is tentatively planned for June 4-11, and will cost each participant around $850-$900 (Including airfare). We will be encouraging fundraising prior to the trip to raise money for the mission work at INESIN; but fundraising to help pay for the cost of the trip is a possibility among participants as well. The deadline for making a commitment to participate in this trip is March 1. If a deadline extension is needed, please contact Rev. Rick Oberle, rick@bemchurch.com
Lindsey Mercer, a member of St. John's, Bem, is working for Global Ministries as a Missions Intern in Chiapas at INESIN. She and the employees of INESIN will be working with us, building relationship with the people of Chiapas and promoting peace in that region. Knowledge of Spanish is NOT required! Please click here to finish the article and to see more photos from the October, 2013 trip to Chiapas.
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SLA Ministerium Schedule for 2014
The SLA Ministerium will meet on the following days in 2014 - Wednesdays from 10-11:30 am, however May is an evening meeting.
February 12 - 'Love's Moral Framework', Prince of Peace UCC (host: Lois Yatzeck)
March 12 - Every Child's Hope (host: Julie Jennings)
April 9 - Joint Neighborhood Ministries, Epiphany UCC(host:Mary Albert)
May 14 (evening) - Neighborhood Houses at Caroline Mission (host: Darlene Sowell)
June 11 - St John's Community Services (host: Johnniest Henry)
July 9 - Isaiah 58 (host: Brenda Booth)
August 13 - Doorways (host: Justine Craig-Meyer)
For further information about the St. Louis Association Ministerium, please contact Rev. Kevin Cameron at Parkway UCC. 314-872-9330 or kevin@parkwayucc.org.
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Stepping Stone: Help for At-Risk Teens
ECH, Every Child's Hope offers Steppingstone, a transitional living program for homeless and at-risk adolescents.  Thanks to two new funding streams there is the opportunity for un-funded youth to participate in Steppingstone.
If you know of an adolescent between the ages of 18 and 21 years-old who is struggling and is ready to gain their independence, call Michael Brennan at 314-427-3755 or email at sdeweese@echmail.org
Funding provided by: Department of Health & Human Services, Transitional Living Program (TLP); and the St. Louis County Children's Service Fund.
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Simple Miracles
Sometimes a miracle is a simple thing - something that seems to just happen, in a logical sort of way - yet  unexpectedly. For instance, our shared giving has enabled these simple miracles:
Data gathered from churches for the UCC Yearbook enables studies for future planning of programs, growth and mission for the next generation.
Resources for study by adults, youth or children bought by congregations or the Conference offices, are available to be borrowed and shared.
More churches are planning People-to-People Pilgrimages all over the world with our national Global Ministries church partners.
Our Church Works Miracles!
OCWM: creating miracles every day.
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Inner Jazz - A Multi-Faith Meditation 
Please click here to read about the next Inner Jazz performance at Kirkwood UCC on February 9th at 5:00 pm. This month's guest artists: The Steve Schenkel Quartet. Inner Jazz is a monthly, soulful inner journey and each performance is free and open to all!
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Eastern Association Pastor's Lunch 
Save the Date - March 4th, noon. All Eastern Association clergy and a guest are invited to gather for a "Mardi Gras by the River" lunch in celebration of Fat Tuesday at the Chamois Community Center. We'll have food, music, and fellowship as we prepare to head into the Lenten season.
Please click here for an informational flyer and directions. You may RSVP to Karen Eck, 636-828-5980,
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Heritage Committee/Eden Archives Request 
The E&R Historical Society published The Reporter (1958-1965) and News (1970-2000?). If any of you historians have copies of these publications, would you bring them to the next Heritage Committee meeting on February 17, at 1:00 pm at Eden Seminary so photocopies of missing issues can be made for the Eden Archives by Michael Boddy, the Eden Librarian. We need to keep our heritage and history as up to date as possible, and with everyone's help we can accomplish this task.
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Young Adult Service Communities Application
Young adults of Missouri, Tennessee and beyond, ages 21-35 - Excitement is building about the two newest host churches for the UCC Young Adult Service Communities - one near you - St. Peter UCC in Granite City, IL (minutes from downtown St. Louis). and First Parish Church United of Westford, MA. Great community internships are lined up for the right candidate. YASC interns serve both in a community agency and part-time in congregational  service at the church. St. Peter United Church of Christ is a congregation seeking to regenerate its church by working to regenerate its community. You can be part of this life-changing vision. First Parish Church United is a joint UCC-Unitarian Church that loves to make everyone feel welcome. Interns live in intentional community with one another and figure out how to live as 'change-makers' in the world. AmeriCorps education grants are available for interns placed in some community agency positions. Are you looking for a way to make a positive difference in the church and world? Just YASC! Host churches where you might want to serve also are located in Philadelphia, PA; Carlsbad, CA(north San Diego County); and Seattle, WA. The service year is September 2, 2014 - August 2, 2015. February is the month for Applications. Inquire today. UCC Young Adult Service Communities.
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Quotes for Your Week - Praying Together
Nothing tends more to cement the hearts of Christians than praying together. Never do they love one another so well as when they witness the outpouring of each other's hearts in prayer.
- Charles Finney 
There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful that that of a continual conversation with God.
- Brother Lawrence
Prayer is not monologue, but dialogue; God's voice is its most essential part. Listening to God's voice is the secret of the assurance that He will listen to mine.
- Andrew Murray
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
-1Thessalonians 5:11
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Employment postings will run for one month, unless otherwise specified.
St. Philips UCC, Organist/Pianist, 2/5/14
St Philips UCC in South St. Louis County seeks a musician to provide keyboard music for one Sunday service, and to rehearse with the church choir. Organ skills preferred, but not required. Extensive choral experience not required. Temporary position March 1-August 31, 2014. $500 per month. College students with church music experience are encouraged to apply. For information contact: Barbara Barnes 314-843-4157, nickh105@msn.com. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deaconess Faith Community Nurse Ministries, Mapping/Location Coordinator, 2/5/14
Deaconess Faith Community Nurse Ministries received a grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health to do a mapping project of all the faith communities cross referenced with community health needs. We are seeking a person who would like to work on this project, at least ten hours (can be twenty or more in the summer) during the school year for $10 an hour, plus mileage to drive to see the small store front churches that may not be listed on web or denominational listings. The project runs until October 2014. If you are interested, contact Donna Pupillo at dsmith-pupillo@eden.edu.
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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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