Book Club Invite from Rev. Scott Lohse   

In August I am attending the National Leadership Conference at the Center for Progressive Renewal in Atlanta, GA and the keynote speaker is Brian McLaren whose new book is "We Make the Road by Walking." McLaren has designed the book to be read in small community groups. I would like to invite any interested Pastors to get the book and read it together on Tuesday mornings beginning in September. I would propose meeting at 8:30 a.m. for just about an hour at the Bread Co. in Fenton, MO.  Contact Scott at revlohse@gmail.com.  

St. Luke UCC, Grand Pass, MO, is having its annual church picnic, Wednesday, July 16 from 6:00-9:00 p.m.  There will be lots of great homemade food, games for everyone, concert by the Marshall Municipal Band and a beautiful Christmas quilt to be raffled.  Everyone is welcome.

 

July 18, 20, 25 and 26, Kings of Israel play

King Saul and David find provocative new life in Schaeffer Nelson's original play, Kings of Israel, premiering at Kansas City's 10th Annual Fringe Festival this July. This irreverent play tells a Biblical story with a queer sensibility that places the young shepherd David in a series of bedroom conversations with a violent, paranoid King Saul. David must test the limits of intimacy with a king whom he is secretly charged by God to overthrow. The boundary lines of love, violence, and trust must be crossed if David is to achieve his goal. Eyebrows will rise at Phosphor Studios, 1730 Broadway Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64108 with performances on: Friday, July 18 @ 6:00pm, Sunday, July 20 @ 7:30pm, Friday, July 25 @ 9:00pm, Saturday, July 26 @ 6:00pm.  Event flyer.  Event press release.

July 18 and 20, Seussical the Musical, 7pm and 3 pm

St. John Performing Arts Camp presents Seussical The Musical, Friday, July 18, and Saturday, July 19 at 7pm, and Sunday, July 20 at 3pm. Performances will be held in the St. John Hall Gymnasium. Tickets are $7 Adult, and $5 Student and are available by calling the church office, 636-946-0961. St. John UCC, 405 S Fifth Street, St. Charles, MO 63301, www.stjohnucc.org.

July 20, Painting the Stars, 10:45 - 11:45 am

 

Mystery is a condition of awe, of resting precisely in an unknowing, long enough for the silence to have its way with us. The goal of this curriculum is to create some space for us to inhabit this mystery more deeply, and explore the relationship between science, particularly evolution, and religion. Celebrating the communion of science and faith, Painting the Stars 

explores the promise of evolutionary Christian spirituality. This seven-session DVD-based program features over a dozen leading theologians and progressive thinkers, and is part of the "Living the Questions" curriculum which KUCC has enjoyed in the past.  During the month of June and into early July we will view & discuss this intriguing curriculum in the Kirkwood UCC Theatre. Join us!

July 20-26, IPM Camp Experience at MoVal

Crossing Borders: An International Partners in Mission Camp Experience at Camp MoVal.  Youth, come get a glimpse of the IPM Immersion Experience at camp this summer!  IPM will be hosting a camp experience for youth ages 12-14 at Camp MoVal in Union, Missouri, which lies about an hour southwest of St Louis.  The camp will be held July 20-26.  Youth will have the opportunity to learn in an experiential way about some of IPM's Project Partners from around the globe, their work and daily lives in their parts of the world, and about the interconnectedness of the human family across all boundaries, all while playing and experiencing the great outdoors!  The cost is $425 for the week.  For more information, or registration materials, please contact Eric Moeller at emoeller@ipmconnect.org, or 314-252-8489.

July 21 and 22, Art and Spirituality with Spencer Reece, 7 pm

Padre Reece will read from his newest collection of poetry, The Road to Emmaus, and share material from his upcoming documentary Las Chavas (produced by James Franco, with music by Dar Williams) and poetry collection of the same name, about his work in a Honduran orphanage.

July 21, 2014 at 7:00 PM

Readings from The Road to Emmaus, followed by Q&A and book signing

July 22, 2014 at 7:00 PM

Clips and readings from Las Chavas, followed by Q&A

Eden Theological Seminary, Wehrli Chapel, 2nd floor of Press Building.  Event flyer.

July 21-25, Vacation Bible School, 9am - Noon

Workshop of Wonders, VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL.  Ages 3 through completed Grade 5.

Ivy Chapel UCC, 620 North Woods Mill Road, Chesterfield.  REGISTRATION FORMS NOW AVAILABLE here.314-434-4991

July 21-25, Vacation Bible School, 9 am - Noon

St Martin's UCC Dittmer VBS. FREE to children ages 3-11 the program will run each day from 9 am - noon. We will both opening and closing service each day and the kids will enjoy crafts, story time, music, games and snack. A parent program will be held on Friday, July 25 at 7 pm. Registration forms are available by contacting the church office at 7890 Dittmer Ridge Rd, Dittmer, MO 63023, 636-285-4797 or 636-274-7078 or geristmc@hughes.net.

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.

July 31, Environmental Action for Your Home & House of Worship, 6:45 pm

Keynote speakers Rev. Dr. Gerald Durley and Mike Roberts.  With over 40% of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States coming from the building sector, we all have a responsibility to act. The Jewish Environmental Initiative, a committee of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JEI), Missouri Interfaith Power and Light (MO IPL) and the U.S. Green Building Council-Missouri Gateway Chapter (USGBC-MGC) are co-sponsoring the event. The goal of the program is to encourage individuals to make a difference starting in their homes and houses of worship. Anywhere there is a building, there is an opportunity to measure its energy use and make changes to conserve energy, save money, improve building occupant experience, and protect the environment. The program takes place at St. Louis Community College at Forest Park, 5600 Oakland Avenue 63110 in room T203 in the Mildred E. Bastian Center for the Performing Arts. Registration/networking is from 6:45 to 7:00 PM. The program runs from 7:00 to 9:00 PM, with light refreshments served. Pre-registration here.  Event flyer.
 
August 1-2, Foods Resource Bank Annual Gathering

You are invited to celebrate another year of growing lasting solutions to hunger! Your part in FRB is a vital to our work - and we want to recognize that. Please join us in Kansas City August 1 & 2. Register now! 

2014 Annual Gathering Agenda

Friday, August 1st - join us for the kickoff event at the Guetterman Brothers Farm in Bucyrus, KS with BBQ, live music, ice cream and fun for the whole family.

 

Saturday, August 2nd - a daylong meeting at Central Church of the Nazarene with a keynote panel and breakout sessions on hunger issues, overseas travel, farming, and more!

 

This event is being co-hosted by FRB, the John Deere Foundation, the Bucyrus, KS Growing Project and Nazarene Compassionate Ministries. Email Kelsey for more information.

 

 Click here to REGISTER for the 2014 Annual Gathering.
August 2, Women's Fellowship 50th Chicken Dinner, 3 - 8 pm

August 3, Summer Music Event, 1:30pm 

 

Zion United Church of Christ,  (5710 N. Hwy 67 - 2 blocks west of Jamestown Mall) invites you to attend A Summer Music Event 2014 featuring Jazz DeLites and Those Three Guys on Sunday, August 3 at 1:30pm. Don't miss this fun afternoon of music and fellowship! Please call (314) 741-1590 with questions or visit www.zionuccstl.org for more information about this free event.  Flyer. 

August 3-5, Totally Teen Fest, 6 - 8pm

Join in the fun at St. John in St. Clair for a 3-night teen fest.  Dinner will be served each night and the event is free for ages 13 and up.  Event flyer.

August 10, Backpack Blessing, 9:45 am

Fulton UCC is celebrating their 125 anniversary this coming August. While still in the planning stages, they want you to save the date.  Check out their website for future info on the anniversary celebration, and you can also find them on Facebook.  

@ Arrowhead Sales Facility, 8343 Hwy B(Next to Windy Hill Supply).  From St. Martins Church, 

September 23-25, Faith in Our Music

Union Presbyterian Seminary is very excited about their upcoming music conference, "Faith in our Music:  Many Voices, Diverse Chords, Common Hopes," on our Richmond campus September 23-25, 2014.  This ecumenical and diverse event features John Bell from the Iona Community in Scotland, and other fine musicians helping us to learn about new forms of congregational music for folks of all denominations, abilities, and ages.

The early registration deadline of July 31 is quickly approaching.  There are significant discounts for three or more people from one congregation if they register together, especially if they register by the end of this month. Event flyer Website. 

October 4, St. Louis Association Fall Business Meeting

Will be held at St. Paul's United Church of Christ in south St. Louis county.  More information coming early in August.
 

FREE Kids Activities - Country Store - Music - Chicken & Ham Dinners - & more!  2:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Adults $10 Children (4-11) $4.  Inside & Outdoor Seating, Handicapped Accessible, Carry Outs Available. St. Martins Church, 7890 Dittmer Ridge Rd, Dittmer, MO 63023, 636-285-4797 or 636-274-7078 or geristmc@hughes.net.  

October 18, Trivia Night, 6pm

Joint Neighborhood Ministry Trivia Night, October 18, 2014 at First Congregational Church of Webster Groves, United Church of Christ. Door open at 6:00 p.m.; trivia starts at 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.   

October 18, Family Trivia Night, 6pm

Family Trivia Night  - Doors Open @ 6 Play Begins @ 7 pm.  $15 per person / $120 per table of 8 players. Silent Auction - 50/50 - Head or Tails.  Non-alcoholic family friendly event.  St. Martins Church, 7890 Dittmer Ridge Rd, Dittmer, MO 63023, 636-285-4797 or 636-274-7078 or geristmc@hughes.net. 
 

October 18, Festival of Sharing Rainbow Bike Ride

Car Decorating Contest - all area children to age 12 welcome!  Games - Prizes - Food  - & more!

Children must be accompanied by an adult. St. Martins Church, 7890 Dittmer Ridge Rd, Dittmer, MO 63023, 636-285-4797 or 636-274-7078 or geristmc@hughes.net.