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Thank you - This communication is made possible by your contributions to
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Daylight Savings Time is this weekend - Don't forget to "spring ahead" and
change your clocks Saturday night.
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Do not sound a trumpet before you
Matthew 6:2
Dear Friends and Partners in the Gospel,
The whole lectionary passage from Matthew's Gospel for Ash Wednesday has to do with the humility of  good works. It is here that we read those well-known texts about praying in the closet and not letting our left hand know what our right hand is doing. Good works, according to these teachings, are, by nature, humble acts of faith that are simple fruits of the blessings of God in our lives. To take credit for such acts is to destroy their goodness. This religious principle has practical implications. As a modern and secular proverb puts it, "You can accomplish almost anything in this world, if you don't need to take credit for it.
All of which reminds me to express thankfulness on this Wednesday when the season of Lent begins for all of you who empower the Missouri Mid-South Conference and al l of our churches with simple and quiet acts of ministry, generosity and kindness, expecting only to know that you have helped to share the good news that permeates the true body of Christ. As we search for new ways to structure our common work in the Missouri Mid-South Conference, it is essential that we remember and recognize that all of the systems and practices we create rely entirely upon such quiet good will and works of faith among us. All of us together are the Conference.
May your Lenten journey be filled with blessings and many shared resting places along the way.
Allen
Allen Fluent, Acting Conference Minister
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LAST CALL - Deadline EXTENDED for Yearbook Reports
We have extended the deadline for yearbook reports. If you would like our Conference to handle the data entry for your church yearbook reports, the information must be received by our office no later than March 7! That is TWO days from today!!! We will do our best to add your information after the deadline, so please continue to send us your reports even after this Friday. If you are entering your church yearbook info online through National's data hub, the deadline is March 16. Have questions? Call Colleen at 314-918-2605 or send her an email.
Renee
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Conference Daily Prayers in Lent - A Journey of Faith 
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?
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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. Click here to read the press release.
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Leadership Opportunities Available in Our Conference!
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
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Monthly Health and Wellness Tip Sheet - March
This month Deaconess Faith Community Nurse Ministries joins with National Kidney Foundation in National  Kidney Month. We urge Americans to get to know 2 humble hardworking organs: the kidneys. The kidneys serve a vital function in filtering waste from the bloodstream. They serve to help control blood pressure. Proper hydration of at least 6 to 8 ounce glasses of water a day and maintaining a healthy lifestyle keeps your kidneys functioning well.
Sadly, 26 million American adults suffer from chronic kidney disease. The primary risk factors for chronic kidney disease include diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, a family history of kidney failure and being over the age of 60. However, there is good news in you can prevent chronic kidney disease and promote good kidney health by three simple steps. Click here to finish reading the article and for a printable copy.
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Congregational Disaster Readiness Coordinator Training - March 28-29, 2014
The Faith-Based Organization Disaster Initiative Committee of the Governor's Faith-Based and Community Service Partnership for Disaster Recovery, in conjunction with the Northwest Area Office of the Christian Church of Mid-America, would like to invite you and two members of your congregation to take part in a pilot training program for Congregational Disaster Readiness Coordinators (DRC's). 
The pilot training will be held at Broadway Christian Church in Columbia, MO on March 28-29, 2014. Adults and youth willing to help their congregations to take steps to begin or to improve plans for their congregations to survive and serve through a community-wide disaster are encouraged to attend.
Training expenses are being underwritten by grants from the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ. Your only expenses are your travel and lodging (if needed). The training will include information on Community Organizations Active in Disaster, Continuity of Operations Planning, and a tabletop exercise!
To register for this training opportunity, please click here. To download the brochure, please click here.
For more information please contact the NW Area Office of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Mid-America at 816.632.2237 or nwareacc@nwareacc.org.
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Heritage Committee Request
The Heritage Committee is looking for minutes of the Missouri Mid-South Conference governing body (called at  various times the Board of Directors or Conference Council) and we're asking for help from those who have been involved in the Conference over the years.
The Heritage Committee is attempting to produce a written history of the Missouri Conference from its founding in 1963 into the present era. However, to do this documents essential to the Conference's history are vital.
We are missing minutes from the Conference's governing body for over 30 years, namely from 1963-1974 and from 1995 to the present. If you have copies of any of these minutes or if they are in files at your church, we would ask you to share them or copy them for us. Your assistance will allow us in the Missouri Mid-South Conference to remember our rich history.
If you have any of these minutes, would you please contact John Bracke at jmbracke@yahoo.com; or 573-445-5515. On behalf of the Heritage Committee, we thank you in advance for your help.
John Bracke
Bill Schwab, Chair of the Heritage Committee
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Rev. Heather Arcovitch Installation Invitation
The St. Louis Association of the Missouri Mid-South Conference of the United Church of Christ and
First Congregational Church of Saint Louis, United Church of Christ,
warmly invite your presence for the installation of
the Rev. Heather M. Arcovitch as Senior Minister
of First Congregational Church of Saint Louis, United Church of Christ
Sunday, March 23, 2014 - 3:00 PM
First Congregational Church of Saint Louis, United Church of Christ
6501 Wydown Boulevard, Saint Louis, Missouri, 63105
Clergy are invited to vest with red stoles and gather at 2:30 for the processional. A spirited reception will follow the service. Parking is in the lot on Wydown adjacent to the church. (Disregard the WashU sign and drive right in!)
Enter through the red doors by the parking lot or the Narthex doors on University Lane.
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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
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Student Fellowship: A College-Age Ministry
The Columbia UCC Student Fellowship began its fourth year the beginning of this year's spring semester. Open to  all young adults of approximate "college-age" in the greater Columbia area, the group emphasizes small group interaction. Five to fourteen young adults, some with a UCC connection, many not, meet one evening a week. Occasional activities have included attending concerts and lectures together (coming up is a sand volleyball team). The usual is to meet at a choice of restaurants near the Missouri University campus, for conversation, reflection on passages of scripture, or on the relation of faith to current events -- and for a meal -- paid by the generosity of Columbia UCC's Marilyn Martin Memorial Youth Fund.
The Student Fellowship is a way Columbia UCC serves young people during an important period in their lives, by reminding them of-or even, perhaps, offering them for the first time-the significant experience of participation in an open, inclusive, "litmus-test-free" Christian faith-community. There are many other options which compete for their interest and commitment, and the church believes a faith-connection should be one of them. This amazing congregation is willing to plant and nurture the seeds of faith-even though the church may never see the full flowering of those efforts!
Brad Boyd-Kennedy, Fellowship Sponsor
brad@columbiaucc.com
573-445-7931, or on Facebook
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Dear Colleague,
Grace to you and peace in this New Year. The United Church of Christ Office Support Staff Network (UCCOSSN) is a national organization whose mission is to strengthen the ministries of those who work "behind the scenes" supporting the ministries of Conferences and the national setting of the Church.
Each year, the UCCOSSN members gather together for professional development and networking. This year's annual meeting will be held April 24-26 in Charlotte, North Carolina with the theme, "The Power To Be You." We encourage you to attend or send a representative from your support or administrative staff to the annual meeting. The knowledge shared in these three days will strengthen you and your staff's skills, in order to better support the ministries. Any UCC staffer working for a church, association or Conference office is invited to attend.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call Linda Carter at 336-222-8771 or at lindacarter@soc-ucc.org. We wish you good health and abundant blessings in this New Year.
UCCOSSN Cover Sheet, Invitation Letter, Workshop Information. Have other questions about the meeting? Send an email to Renee and she'll fill you in.
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Events Rescheduled/Omitted from eHappenings
29th Annual Missouri State Sacred Harp (Shape Note) Convention will be held at St. John's UCC-Pinckney on March 8 and 9, 9:30-3pm both days. Everyone is welcome - singing experience is not required! No admission free. Potluck dinner on the grounds at noon both days. Call 636/932-4646 for information or directions.
Immanuels UCC-Holstein will have a Fish Fry on Friday, March 14, from 4-7pm. The menu includes fish, macaroni & cheese, stewed tomatoes, green beans, slaw, applesauce, cornbread, and homemade desserts. Adults $9, children (6-12) $4.50 and children 5 & under are free.
Estate Planning for Same-Sex Couples: A joint effort of Crossroads Church Kansas City and Country Club Congregational UCC to provide a forum where the LGBT Community can find out the basics of estate planning and end-of-life issues. This presentation is for informational purposes and is not a sales presentation. Included in this forum will be a presentation by attorneys Kyle D. Ritchie and Heath W. Hoobing covering several topics. March 16, 4 pm at Country Club UCC. Flyer.
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The Ripple Effect of Miracles
Just as a stone dropped into a lake creates ripples far beyond what the eye can see, our giving touches lives of  people we will never meet. Those lives touch other lives, and an entire family or village is improved. Consider these effects of your giving:
In this Season of Lent, our churches in geographic proximity to each other join in sharing resources and ideas for mid-week study, and even ashes for Ash Wednesday rituals.
The organizations affiliated with the Conference offer our churches collaborative opportunities for mission work, speakers, special music and partnering.
Our efforts to stand up and speak out for those in need and those who are mistreated goes connects to our community, then with of thousands of other UCC and ecumenical workers.
Our Church Works Miracles!
OCWM: creating miracles every day.
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Happy Birthday to Us!
Our conference has just turned 51 this month! Have you ever wondered why we celebrated 50 years of the  Missouri Mid-South Conference just last year, when the UCC reached the 50-year mark way back in 2007? Rev. Dr. John Bracke provides some of the details of the challenges that were faced in the creation of our conference.
The union of the Congregational Christian Churches and the Evangelical and Reformed Church to create the United Church of Christ occurred in June 1957. However, the formation of the regional judicatories of the new denomination, "conferences" as they were to be called, took several more years since the Conferences of the Congregational Christian Churches and the Synods of the Evangelical and Reformed Church did not align. By 1961, it was decided that the new UCC conferences would follow the pattern of the Congregational Christian Churches and align with state boundaries wherever possible. Please click here to finish reading the article.
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Christian Native Craft Workshop at Shannondale
Now in its 40th year, this exciting event offer hands-on folk art, craft experiences, and demonstrations in a family-  oriented setting. The workshop has given hundreds of persons, young and old, a chance to learn talents in an Ozark forest setting and take home beautifully handcrafted items. Classes are held at Shannondale Community Center's Timber Lodge, our very own UCC haven. The workshop will be held on July 27 - August 1, 2014 - be sure to register soon.
For more information, contact Phil and Judy Jones at 618-493-6371 or email cncwdirector@gmail.com. Visit the craft website for even more info! Brochure 1, Brochure 2, Registration form.
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In Our Hearts and On Our Faces
A job I once held required I engage and host renowned speakers for a community forum. Familiar media names such as Dr Bernie Siegel, former White House Press Secretary, Dee Dee Myers, Jane Goodall and others provided lectures and dialogue sessions with various groups. Interestingly, it is not the content of their presentations, nor the details of their visit that I recall most clearly, it is their demeanor, their countenance and openness with others (or not) that I picture. We all know people who exude joy, others who seem to express arrogance; some who are comfortable to be around, others who give off a sense of "prickliness."
Recently I have had a song we sang in my childhood Church School trailing in my thoughts, "I've got the Joy, Joy,
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Samuel Kee
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Joy, Joy, down in my heart..." Do you know it too? As a child there was no doubt in my mind that I did have that Joy in my heart. Now as an adult I realize I need to remind myself often to touch the Joy, and sense the "Peace that passes understanding."
I have been reminded often by many of you, that we as a Conference must project our best selves, by showing the depth of care we feel for each other, celebrating the lively, positive, vital ministries that are occurring in our churches and communities, and acknowledging the committed, gifted Christian people we are.
In other words, we as a Conference have a lot to recognize, give, and share of the Good News with the world. Expressions of the Good News are appearing in "Our Amazing Congregations" stories, and in the themes for our Spring Association meetings, in newly formulated focus groups and in dialogues about creative ministry.What might we as Conference members portray, and choose to express in the renewed spring-time of the Conference?
Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of our Lenten Journey of Faith. Join us in prayer and to read about joys and trials on the Journey of Faith in the Lenten Prayer Series:
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Inner Jazz
Next concert on March 16 at 5 pm at Kirkwood UCC. A blending of jazz improvisation, storytelling, the arts, and meditation. An imaginative space to explore the inner landscape of the soul. An invitation to celebrate the unity of our global village. An hour's respite from the fast pace of life. Inner Jazz is a monthly soulful inner journey led by Rev. Cliff Aerie,director of MICA (Ministry of Imagination, Creativity and the Arts)and Rev. Betsy Happel, pastor of Kirkwood United Church of Christ. Free and open to all. Flyer.
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Conference Annual Gathering (CAG) Update
"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 respond or get the question to the proper person.
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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
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Eden Theological Seminary's Spring Convocation April 22-23, 2014
80th Annual Brueggemann and Kulenkamp Lectures
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.
For more information: www.eden.edu/convocation.aspx or call 314.918.2565. To go directly to registration: registration.eden.edu
And during Eden's Convocation our Conference office will host an Open House for everyone visiting the seminary campus! More details to follow.
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Men's Retreat at Shannondale, May 2-4, 2014
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
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Cost: $60 per person, which includes your lodging and food
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Lodging: Dormitory-style air-conditioned bedrooms. Please bring your own bedding & pillow.Camp sites & camp sites with electrical hook ups are available.
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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!
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FREE Books Available at Our Conference! 
Stop by the Missouri Mid-South Conference office and you will see some changes happening. The shelves in the hallway are being moved. Much of their contents are being saved and stored or given away. So, you are invited to come and take what you wish. There are new books published by Alban Press and Pilgrim Press, former Church School curriculae by ages, UCC brochures and flyers, some DVDs on faith and theology, and more. We would love to see you and have you take what you wish. Our Conference office hours are 8am to 4:30 pm, M-F. If you plan to visit during lunch time hours, please call ahead to make sure we are here to greet you.
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Women's Retreat at Camp MoVal, May 2-4, 2014
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
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$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.
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Quotes for Your Week - Quiet Time 
The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be.
- Anne Frank
God's voice is still and quiet and easily buried under an avalanche of clamor.
- Charles Stanley
A quiet mind cures all.
- Robert Burton
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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. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Samuel UCC, Director of Youth & Family Ministries, 2/12/14
Samuel United Church of Christ in Clayton, a progressive, Open & Affirming church, is seeking a Director of Youth & Family Ministries to develop and coordinate children and youth ministries for the congregation's youth and their families. Specifically, we would ask this person to: * Support Christian Education Committee in the recruitment of Sunday school teachers * Order and coordinate Sunday school curriculum * Teach Sunday school twice a month * Plan and execute fellowship, service, and faith-building activities for our elementary-age children and their families (approx. 6 times/year), and older youth (approx. 4 times/year). * Work with the Pastor to plan intergenerational church services 3-4 times/year * Plan and execute the annual Christmas program * Build relationships with older youth, and assist them in becoming involved in the life of the church * Assist the Pastor with confirmation planning and meetings every 2-3 years * Participate in the life of the congregation This person should have the experience and ability to work with and relate to children and youth, and an interest in understanding the tradition and progressive theology of Samuel. S/he will report to the Church pastor, and contribute to and gain support from the Consistory and Christian Education Committee. This is a 10 hour/week, year-round position with paid vacation. The DYFM will create, coordinate, and provide a variety of spiritual, fellowship, and mission experiences, and will share some teaching responsibilities. The DYFM will provide support to families; recruit, train and support adult leaders; and will participate in the life of the congregation and worship with us. If you are interested in applying for this position, download the application from our website-samuelucc.org- in the Children and Youth section and send the information requested along with your resume to info@samuelucc.org or via mail to Youth and Family Minister Search Committee, Samuel UCC, 320 North Forsyth Blvd., Clayton, MO 63105. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. For more information, visit our website at samuelucc.org.
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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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