Join us in prayer each day during Lent as close to 12 noon as possible, or at your most favorable time. Click here for the first two weeks of meditations and prayers in printable format, or visit our Conference website to view the prayers by week.  Please invite others to share in prayer. What better way is there to BE the Missouri Mid-South Conference than to pray together?

Eastern Association Pastor's Lunch

 

"Dream God's Dream" is the theme for our Conference Annual Gathering, and the dates are June 12-14, 2014.  As the Missouri Mid-South Conference begins a new chapter of our life together, this Gathering will bring together the work of the Visioning Team, the year of Strategic Innovation ministry, and the anticipation of changes in Conference leadership. 

  

Do you have questions about this year's CAG?  Email Renee and she'll either respond or get the question to the proper person.    

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Beginning this week we hope to share a monthly topic related to CAG, with the articles being written by those  individuals on the 2014 CAG Planning Team.  Not only will you get to hear more about the upcoming event, but the thoughts and ideas from the entire planning team.  This week we are focusing on the display area or table vendors: 

June may seem far off but it's time to begin plans for the Conference Annual Gathering in June.  This year we will be meeting at the Truman Hotel and Conference Center in Jefferson City.  This is a very comfortable facility and it has a great space for the display area.  If your organization wishes to have space, it's definitely not too soon to make reservations.  The display area is where people gather to relax between sessions, talk with each other and hopefully make new friends.  This is where you can get the message for your group or agency out to the Missouri Mid-South Conference. 

 

A formal email invitation and registration form will be sent in March to our past vendors, so please be on the lookout for this invite from Renee Cordes at our MMS Conference office.  If you know of a vendor you'd like to see at our meeting, email Renee with the contact info and she'll add them to the list.  We are hoping for a more vast and wide-array of vendors for this year's CAG, especially since we have more space, which will make everyone's experience more fun and meaningful.  Hope to see you there,   

   

Rev. Rich Brandon

CAG Planning Team 

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

 

Mission to Mexico - Hurry! 

 

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 

Engaging in Spiritual Practices - to refresh and ground you

 

This is a spiritual practice to try at the same time every day, first thing in the morning, before turning out the lights at night, perhaps sometime in between, or periodically.

 

Naming/Letting go as spiritual practice.......

 

As Ash Wednesday approaches, this practice is one to guide in naming and letting go, even if momentarily, of those things that clutter your mind, distract or worry. Gather together a small bowl, a piece of paper, a container or pitcher of water and a writing utensil. (A water color marker works very well.)

 

Begin a list for yourself, of things that are keeping you from being fully present, i.e. a visit to make, a list of to do's, a paper or sermon to write, a "yes" that needed to be "no", driving children to practice, doing laundry, dishes, etc.

 

When ready, read over the list, fold or tear it up and put in the bowl.  Pour water over it.  Reflect and pray, O God, as the words literally blur and wash off the page, hold for me the things that need to be held, and guide me in letting go of those that take up space, consume and clutter my being, keeping me from being present, awake and centered.  Let it be so.  Amen. 

 

Susan Ulmer, Spiritual Director

Note to reader:  others will contribute in coming months.

Dear Friends in Christ,

 

The Leadership Development Committee of the MMSUCC wants you to know we have several leadership opportunities.  We ask you, as Conference and Association members and leaders, to help us identify prospects for the following:

 

1.)   Conference Council seats (three year terms) for election at the June 2014 CAG: 

A.  Eastern Association: Two seats - male layperson / female layperson

B.  St. Louis Association: Three seats -male layperson /female layperson / clergy

C.  Western Association:  Three seats - male layperson / female layperson / clergy

 

Our Conference is seeking a highly qualified, diverse pool of candidates for the limited number of Conference Council positions. Members shall be selected so that our Council represents diverse population groups and can bring to its deliberations a variety of points of view and life experiences, as well as access to cultural, religious, educational, civic, business and economic resources. 

 

2.)   Deacon positions (openings available immediately).

Deacons play a very important role in the life of our Conference and we are actively recruiting more members.  Deacons visit each assigned church two (2) times a year to:

• bring greetings on behalf of the Conference,
• offer a word of thanks for OCWM participation,
• encourage giving to OCWM and the special offerings of the UCC, and most importantly
• build relationships and strengthen the connection between the local and wider church.

We have divided each association into multiple groupings.  It is our goal to have two (2) deacons for each of the groupings in each association.  Please contact Joyce Bathke (Joyce.Bathke@RedCross.org) with deacon suggestions and for additional information.  

 

3.)   2015 General Synod delegates.

 

Please click here for the Identification Form for prospective candidates for our Conference Council and/or 2015 General Synod Delegates.  You may also find the form on our website's Your Conference Council page. This form should be completed by you (or others), or the candidate, and returned to the Conference no later than Friday, March 21, 2014.  

 

Please prayerfully consider who might be prospects to serve in these very important roles in the life of our church.  We appreciate your assistance and guidance at this time.

 

Laura Dierberg Ayers 

Chair, Leadership Development 

The criteria and application for the 2014 SLA Mission Funds can be found on the St. Louis Association page of our Conference website.  The deadline is for ALL applications is Tuesday, April 1st.   

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  

Eden Theological Seminary's Spring Convocation April 22-23, 2014 

Eden's annual Spring Convocation is an opportunity for pastors and laypeople to listen to and interact with outstanding biblical and theological scholars. We encourage you to attend and reconnect with friends and colleagues while sharing in the community life of Eden Theological Seminary and reflecting on the theme: Power: Its Use and Abuse. 2014 lecturers will include:

 

Thomas G. Long

Bandy Professor of Preaching, Candler School of Theology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia

 

Laurel Koepf Taylor

Assistant Professor of Old Testament, Eden Theological Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri

 

Adam Ployd

Assistant Professor of Church History and Historical Theology, Eden Theological Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri

 

Leah Gunning Francis

Assistant Professor of Christian Education, Eden Theological Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri

 

Eden Black Alumni Association Breakfast - April 23, 2014

Teresa L. Fry Brown

Professor of Homiletics, Candler School of Theology; Director of Black Church Studies, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia

 

Herbster Event - April 24, 2014 (Alumni/ae Classes of 2009-2013)

Cameron Trimble

Executive Director, Center for Progressive Renewal, Atlanta, Georgia

 

Celebrating the Deaconess Spirit - April 22, 2014

Convocation registrants are invited to a special dinner commemorating the 125^th anniversary of the Deaconess mission in St. Louis hosted by Deaconess Foundation.

 

Reunion Dinner - April 23, 2014

We encourage you to attend the Reunion Dinner as you reconnect with Eden classmates. The Class of 1964 will be celebrating their 50^th reunion and will be recognized at the dinner.

 

For more information: www.eden.edu/convocation.aspx or call 314.918.2565.  To go directly to registration: registration.eden.edu

 

  OCWM: creating miracles every day.

Marching Forward    

 

My friend's birthday is March 4th. She likes to remind people it is the only birth date of the year which is a command - "March forth".  She feels privileged to have this day as her own, and was aware of "her command" as she grew up.  Mary's life with their three young daughters was beautiful in every way. Until their four year- old daughter was diagnosed with cancer and died several months later. Mary's life was in a tailspin. For more than a year she could barely function. But all during that time she felt a reminder to "March forth", and a nudge to paint. Months later, still hearing her "marching orders" she started to paint -letting the brush and colors flow into dark, heavy and seemingly endless landscapes.  After two years of painting, the landscapes began changing color ever so slightly, gradually brightening. Now she says she sees her world in full, living color again.  

 

Movement is afoot in the Missouri Mid-South Conference: from the grant loan for a new building our Marshallese congregation in Springdale, Arkansas received this week, to the Compassion Covenant discussed with interfaith partners in St Louis two nights ago, to the Conference-wide mission trip to Chiapas, Mexico planned for this summer, we are marching forth as a Conference.  This year, March 4 is the Tuesday before Lent begins. It is the transition day often thought of as the stepping- off point into the journey of 40 days. As we faithfully journey toward Easter, let us share in the MMS Lenten prayers and meditations every day, which you can find on our Conference website.  There we will see our hopes and expectations, and hints and glimpses to an unknown future. And we march forth, together.

  

Jan Aerie, jan@mmsucc.org, 314.918.2601

The 2014 Young Adult Scholarship application is now live for the North American Interfaith Network!  Here is the direct link to the scholarship application page: https://www.smartrecruiters.com/NorthAmericanInterfaithNetwork/75141235-2014-nain-connect-young-adult-scholarship-application.

You will find additional information about the scholarship below, which can also be found on the application page. 

The North American Interfaith Network (NAIN) offers a unique opportunity to include younger representatives (ages 16-35) in a valuable interfaith encounter during the 2014 NAINConnect in Detroit, Michigan.  This scholarship recognizes young adults across the continent who are actively engaged in important work at the high school, college, graduate, and professional level.If you are passionate about interfaith work, we welcome your energy and enthusiasm and encourage you to apply!  You do not need to be part of a NAIN member organization to apply.  Recipients are selected by the NAIN Young Adult Committee, according to the directives of the NAIN Board of Directors.  See below for complete information about the application process and requirements.

 

Scholarship recipients will receive:

• A $500 stipend to assist with the cost of registration, travel, housing, and meals at the Connect taking place in Detroit -  August 10-13, 2014.
• A reduced registration fee of $135 to attend the NAINConnect.
• The option of sharing a room with another scholarship recipient.

Scholarship recipients are required to:

• Be actively engaged at the NAINConnect, attending the majority of the programming.
• Speak on a panel or participate in a workshop at some point during the Connect.  More information will be provided to selected scholarship recipients.

Scholarship Application deadline: April 15, 2014 at 11:59 PM PST.  For more information about the Young Adult Scholarship, visit: http://nain.org/connect/young/. 

Young adults of Missouri, Tennessee, Arkansas and beyond, ages 21-35 - Are you looking for a way to make a positive difference in the church and world?  Just YASC! Excitement is building about the UCC Young Adult Service Communities - one near you or in another part of the country.   February is the month for Applications.  The service year is September 2, 2014 - August 2, 2015.  Inquire today UCC Young Adult Service Communities.

 

First Parish Church United of Westford, MA (near Boston), is a joint UCC-Unitarian church that loves to make everyone feel welcome and engaged.  Old First Reformed UCC in Center City, Philadelphia lives every day as a wellspring of hope for diverse people in their neighborhood, city, region and throughout the world.   A UCC congregation near St. Louis is regenerating their church by working to regenerate their community. On the west coast, Pilgrim UCC in Carlsbad, CA (north San Diego county), is a church committed to inclusion, progressive Christian theology and social justice. And the Justice Leadership Program in Seattle, WA  gives interns the opportunity to link passion for social justice with spiritual and personal growth.   Great community internships are lined up for the right candidates. YASC interns serve both in a community agency and part-time in congregational service at the church. 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.

Click here for a printable brochure highlighting the weekend events and schedule for the Men's Retreat. For further information or questions, and to register please contact Jonathan Jones at 314-608-0783 or via email jonathan@jonathanjonesconsulting.com  

• Cost:  $60 per person, which includes your lodging and food

• Lodging:  Dormitory-style air-conditioned bedrooms. Please bring your own bedding & pillow.Camp sites & camp sites with electrical hook ups are available.

• Work projects:   Will depend on the number of men & the skills of the men attending.  Please let Jonathan know what specific skills you can provide.  

We hope to see you at Shannondale in May for the Annual Men's Retreat.  Gather a group of guys from your church, work or office, or just a bunch of friends who want to (or maybe need to!) get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life and spend a few days getting back to the basics.  Back to the basics of God, fellowship and nature.  See you in May!

 Click here for a printable brochure highlighting the weekend events and schedule for the Women's Retreat. For further information or questions, please contact Donna Duffee at 816--305-8913 or via email dkduffee@hotmail.com    

• $100 registration includes: two nights' lodging, four meals, all activities and program materials, and a special souvenir tote bag.
• Space is limited-respond early to ensure your registration.
• No pets. (Service animals are permitted.)
• You must be at least 18 years old to attend.
• Doors open at 5 p.m., Friday, May 2. No early arrivals, please.
• Retreat concludes at 11:30 a.m., Sunday, May 4.

We hope to see you at Camp MoVal in May for the Annual Women's Retreat. Additional small group activities will allow for exploring beautiful Camp MoVal, communal crafting, Rev. Day's special step class (based on sorority-style step dancing), "Create-a-Song" with Susan and Julie, massage, rest and quiet reflection. Join us for enlightenment, exploration, thought-provoking discussion, worship, music and fun.

 

Everything in life has its own time. There is time to celebrate and there is time to mourn. This is the time for reflection and transformation. Let us look within and change into what we ought to be.
~ Aaron Saul

During these 40 days, let me put away all my pride. Let me change my heart and give up all that is not good within me. Let me love God with all that I am and all that I have.
~ Genesis Grain

 

It is not just about giving up our favorite food but its about going further and giving up things like hatred and unforgiveness. You need to clean your heart and prepare yourself for purity.
~ Amanda Jobs

 

Remember that lent and ash Wednesday is not just about putting away the bad things. It is about creating good things and helping the poor and the needy, being kind to people and much more.
~ Jacob Winters

 

Members of Peace UCC are doing an "Immersion Experience" in El Salvador under the direction of International Partners for Mission, August 9-16.  Prof. Clint McCann from Eden Seminary will accompany the group.  Are there any members of our UCC churches that would like to go and enjoy this great experience?  The cost is about $1,250, plus your airfare.  IPM will make all of the arrangements and provide SAvaldorian hosts.  If you are interested, or would like more information about the trip, please contact Mickey Clarke at clarkem@wusm.wustl.edu, or Marilyn Stavenger at mstavenger@eden.edu.