Ordination & Installation Invitation - Rayla Stewart Hogue 

St. Louis Association and Eastern Association

Of Missouri Mid-South Conference

Of The United Church Of Christ,

Along with First Congregational United Church Of Christ of Memphis, Tennessee,

And St. John's United Church Of Christ of Chamois, Missouri

Invite You To

 The Ordination and Installation of Rayla Stewart Hogue

Sunday, September 7, 2014, at 3:30 p.m.

407 South Vine Street, Chamois, Missouri

Robes And Stoles at Each Clergy Person's Discretion

A Reception Will Follow

Monthly Health and Wellness Tip Sheet - September  

If you had a choice and could either age well, enjoying your golden years with energy and vigor, free from disability and illness or age poorly, and be straddled with health issues that keep you from fully living your later years - which would you choose? You actually have a choice or at least choosing the strategies that keep you healthy and aging well. This month Deaconess Faith Community Nurse Ministries focuses on positive aspects of growing older and encouraging positive aspects of one's health - physically, socially, mentally and spiritually, We invite you to join in Healthy Aging Month by learning and beginning practicing four key strategies that research has demonstrated to lower the risk of disability, chronic illness and mental health problems.

The first strategy is focused on not smoking or chewing tobacco products. Research has consistently demonstrated that smoking tobacco enhances one's risk for cancer, cardiovascular and lung disease. Chewing tobacco has been linked to mouth and throat cancer. Faith community nurses work with individuals in providing referral access and support to smoking cessation programs. Stopping the use of tobacco can add years and quality of life to the years that are to come.

The walk began when 8 women from Kirkwood UCC traveled to Guatemala in the summer of 2012.  They went for the purpose of learning - learning about the country of Guatemala, listening to the stories of the people and hoping to find a way to "do mission" in Guatemala.

In discussions with Judith Castaneda, General Coordinator for CEDEPCA (www.cedepca.us)-- the organization which hosted the women--the KUCC group learned about being partners in mission.  They also learned that, while CEDEPCA has many groups from North American interested in visiting, they only have a few staff members who have the English language skills and understanding of North American culture to serve as guides for these groups.  This sparked an idea for partnership in mission - the idea that KUCC could provide opportunities for CEDEPCA staff members to be immersed in the culture and language of North America.  After numerous e-mails and Skype conversations, a plan for the partnership developed.

From October 2-9, 2013, Judith and two of her colleagues spent a week in St. Louis, helping plan a 5-6 week  immersion experience for two CEDEPCA staff members (tentatively scheduled for fall of 2014).  In addition to planning the immersion experience, Judith and her colleagues visited organizations and met with people in St. Louis that do work similar to that done by CEDEPCA (seminary education,  responding to natural disasters, working with immigration issues).  There were also opportunities for them to learn about St. Louis and share their Guatemala experiences with KUCC.

Two CEDEPCA staff members (Ana and Luis) will be arriving in early October for a month long immersion experience. The objectives for the CEDEPCA visitors will include:

1. Disaster Relief Response - to understand how to work with diverse groups and train them to work together and to develop strategies for providing support for those serving in crisis zones.

2. Cross Cultural - to understand how to deal with diverse populations in harmony, to learn the cultural context of our town, visit KUCC families and see the diversity in family make-ups, and share information about their culture with KUCC and others.

3. Language - to increase their understanding and proficiency in the English language. Both Ana and Luis speak basic English but are eager to improve their skills through this immersion experience.