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Wednesday, September 24, 2014
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Thank you - This communication is made possible by your contributions to
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The next eHappenings will be sent on Tuesday, September 30th. Be sure to email your church and organization events to Renee no later than 8 am on 9/29.
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Allen's Message to You...
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus
Philippians 2:5
Dear friends and colleagues in the Gospel,
The fall equinox passed a few days ago. Last weekend, I enjoyed the chicken dinner provided at one of our congregations, and opened my first jar of apple butter produced by another. The fall season is clearly with us, and the fellowship of congregations is moving into high gear. 
It is a good time to recall that most of the spiritually significant messages in the writings of St Paul were about the ordinary relationships among the members of the churches of his day. We can imagine these churches - small home fellowships for the most part. The members knew each other well. They shared their worries and their hopes with one another. They laughed and cried together, and watched each other's children. They argued and competed for status in their groups of friends. Like us, those people in the early church were not always as good and gracious as they were called to be, but they were the people of God anyway, and they carried forth the message of the Gospel in their time and place.
If it weren't for the foibles of the people of God, we would never have received some of the most valued teachings in Scripture. In his message to the Philippians, whom he clearly loves, Paul acknowledges the presence of selfish ambition and conceit. He reminds his Philppian friends and us as well that our happiness and fulfillment in Christ is experienced as we remember the humility of Jesus, for whom protecting the harmonious community of the Spirit was a worthy enough reason to put aside our individual ambitions for the welfare of the whole.
As we gather in the many fellowship times this fall, may all of our congregations know the peace and joy of living for one another in the Spirit of Christ.
Blessings on your ministries.
Allen
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Engaging in Spiritual Practices - to refresh and ground you
Spiritual practice can take many directions including a practice that one engages in every day at the same time, perhaps throughout the day, while walking or doing daily tasks, in silence, or meditation. There is not a 'one size fits all' for the what, when or how of spiritual practice in one's life.
The Language of God is Silence
The language of God is silence, but how can we enter into that dialogue on a regular basis? Mother Teresa was  once asked how she prayed. She said, "I sit and look at God and listen." "Ah then, what is it that God says to you?" the interviewer probed. "Nothing." she said, "God looks back at me and listens as well."
We can invite silence in a myriad of ways, including turning off the radio when driving, walking in the woods, sitting in a park, and turning off the TV to gaze out our window at the clouds, birds and plants. Just think about our natural reaction to holy moments like walking on the beach, watching a beautiful sunset, a moonrise or a star-filled sky - it is silence and awe. As we welcome silence into our daily life, we may notice ourselves becoming more peaceful and centered, more aware of the sacredness that surrounds us every moment. Over time, we may find that this is our favorite way of not only listening, but also "speaking," to God.
Clarence Heller, Spiritual Director, Poet, Artist
Sign up for Clarence's monthly email reflection Connecting New at clarenceheller.com
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Fall Men's Retreat at Shannondale, October 10-12
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. So what is the purpose of the retreat, and why should I attend?:  Purpose: 1) Spiritual growth 2) Fellowship 3) Recreation & fun 4) Great eating 5) Service to the Shannondale community 6) Opportunity to recharge We hope to see you at Shannondale in Ocotber for the 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 October!
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Only 2 Boundary Training Sessions Remain in 2014
If you need to fulfill your 3 year requirement for boundary training in 2014, please visit our Conference website to find a registration form, or please email Colleen or call 314-962-8740 at the office for further information. -
Saturday, September 27, 2014 - St. Johns Evangelical UCC - St. Louis, MO - 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
- Thursday, October 2, 2014 - St. Peter's UCC - Washington, MO - 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
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Neighborhood Houses' Open House
Neighborhood Houses is in their new administrative office and are ready for visitors! Stop by on Tuesday,  September 30, 2014, from 4 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Please join them for light refreshments and a tour of their new administrative office!
326 S. 21st Street, Suite 301 St. Louis, MO 63103
*Please note that some GPS devices might not take you to the correct location.
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Conference Middle School Event
The Conference Middle School Event will be held November 21st - 22nd at Camp MoVal. All youth in grades 6th - 8th  are invited to attend this awesome retreat along with their adult youth leaders. The fun will start on Friday evening at 7 pm and we will conclude the retreat at 5 pm on Saturday.
Sheltered Reality will be our special guests on Saturday to not only share their music and message with us, but to teach us how to create music together. We will also have plenty of time to enjoy the fun activities of Camp MoVal.
Registration information is available on the Conference website. The deadline to register is November 4th. If you have any questions, please contact Alysha Petry at apetry@zionunion.org or Cathy Pettibone at cathypettibone@gmail.com.
Don't miss out on this great retreat!
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Vision Team Update
Your Conference Vision Team is eagerly moving forward to offering a complete "future story report" to be received  by the Conference Council and the Conference at large at a forum in the coming few months. The 2020 Vision will be shared in a fun manner, with formal hard copies distributed, along with time for plenty of dialogue and discernment. Vision Team representatives have been in close contract with DCM Search Team representatives who mutually rejoice that the Spirit appears to be bringing us in one accord on both fronts with synchronized timing. We look forward to continued cooperation as God draws us all forward together. In the meantime, the Eastern and Western Associations have asked for brief Vision updates that will be shared at their respective fall meetings. As always, feel free to contact me or any Vision Team member if you have questions. Blessed!
Rev. Dr. Paul Koch
Vision Team Chair
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Western Association Fall Fellowship Rally
Western Association Fall Fellowship Rally is Saturday, September 27, at Valley Center UCC in Deepwater, MO  from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. The theme is "Many Gifts, One Spirit: Each of Us is Called to Ministry" and Rev. Dr. Allen Fluent, Missouri Mid-South Conference Minister, will be the Keynote Speaker.
There will also be Workshops on "Wider Church 101" "What's This Thing Called Covenant?", and "Church in Mission: Beyond the Walls". Registration is $25.00 which includes refreshments and lunch. Please send in the registration form by Sept. 22, or contact Rev. Bob Atkinson, Secretary at robertatkinson@sbcglobal.net or 816-237-9222 by Tuesday, Sept. 23, so we have a count for lunch. We hope to see you at Valley Center UCC.
Please visit our Conference website for the registration form and further materials.
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Eastern Association Fall Business Meeting
The Eastern Association fall business meeting will be held on Sunday, September 28th from 2 pm to 5 pm. Registration begins at 1 pm.
The meeting will be held at Emmaus Homes new facilities located at 3731 Mueller Road, St. Charles, MO 63301.
For details please visit the Conference website for registration and materials.
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Fall Business Meeting of the St. Louis Association
The Fall Business Meeting of the St. Louis Association will be held on Saturday, October 4, 2014, at St. Paul's  United Church of Christ (Oakville), 5508 Telegraph Road, Saint Louis, Missouri 63129, 314-892-3332. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. Members of St. Paul's United Church of Christ will provide lunch for us as well as tasty treats as we gather in the morning. We have scheduled adjournment for 3:30 p.m.
For details please visit the Conference website for registration and materials.
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Deaconess invests $100,000 in Ferguson Response
Awards to support youth organizing and advance racial equity
On August 20, 2014, in the aftermath of the Michael Brown shooting and subsequent civil unrest in Ferguson,
Deaconess Foundation made a special allocation of $100,000 for community capacity building to address issues exposed by the events. The funds will focus on advancing youth organizing, community-informed development, networked leadership and wrap-around supports for African American young men.
"The tragedies of the last few weeks have illuminated deep racial disparities and structural gaps that  disproportionately impact vulnerable African American youth," said Reverend Starsky Wilson, president and CEO. "Our aim with these investments is to help the region recover by focusing on long-term solutions to the intractable problems of poverty and racism which impact public health."
Deaconess staff has been highly-engaged in coordinating roles with community organizers, local clergy, civil rights activists and national funders to inform, develop, and align a systemic response consistent with its mission and vision for children. Consistent with research, including the For the Sake of All Report ( www.forthesakeofall.org), the foundation takes a public health approach to its missional definition of health and identifies race and poverty as barriers to individual health. Deaconess' community capacity building strategy affirms community engagement, public policy and advocacy as critical approaches to improve systems and sustain actions for long-term impact on well-being of children.
Deaconess, established in 1889, celebrates 125 years of service to the St. Louis region and continues its mission pursuing health and hope for all St. Louis children. A ministry of the United Church of Christ, the foundation has invested more than $72 million to improve the health of the St. Louis community since 1998. The Foundation believes healthy, hope-filled futures for children benefit the entire region. Deaconess Foundation invests in endeavors that improve the well-being of children, engages our region around the plight of youth, and advocates for change.
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Connect with the UCCOSSN
What's the UCCOSSN? The United Church of Christ Office Support Staff Network is available to help bring about dignity, respect, and fair compensation for all United Church of Christ Office Support Staff. So if you work at a church or for an association, you are already a member of our group. Whether you handle the bookkeeping, administration, finances, communications, answer the phone, organize meetings, type memos, or all of the above - either full or part-time - you are already a member of our group and we want to connect with YOU! So I invite you to check out our UCCOSSN Facebook page and encourage you to not only Like it, but to follow and watch for daily/weekly postings ranging from inspirational to humorous. I'm posting for the months of September and October, so be sure to check it out!  We also have a website that offers information about next year's meeting in April, 2015. The site is still in development, but it's online and growing each month. And if a yearly meeting, Facebook page and website weren't enough to hold your interest, the UCCOSSN now also offers a quarterly newsletter featuring articles written by our Communications Team on various subjects. If you'd like your name and email added to the newsletter list, send me an email and I'll get you registered and also send you a copy of our last newsletter from August. As the newly elected Vice Chair of the UCCOSSN, I am proud to represent this group for the United Church of Christ and raise awareness for the work we do each day. Join us and be active within YOUR network! Thanks, Renee
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Camp MoVal Annual Golf Tournament
Camp MoVal's annual Golf Tournament and Fund Raiser is on Saturday, October 4, with a 1:30 pm shotgun start. The funds raised from this annual event allow Camp MoVal to continually provide scholarships to anyone  interested in participating at the camp and its programs. This event also allows us to invest in making several improvements to our facilities at MoVal. Your continued support of Camp MoVal and Outdoor Ministries is allowing us to be successful in reaching out, providing outdoor opportunities, creating a safe space where all are welcome to participate and providing dynamic and life-changing programs. Please come out on October 4, 2014 and support your outdoor ministries program! You may find the registration information on MoVal's website or click here for event flyer and registration form. You may also call the camp office at 636-583-2730 . Thank you for your support!
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St. Louis Forum on UCC Marriage Equality Suit - 10/26/14
Because of the historic significance of a lawsuit brought by a mainline denomination against a State, the Missouri Mid-South Conference, the Illinois South Conference and The First Congregatio nal Church of St. Louis have invited Mr. Donald C. Clark, Jr., General Counsel of the United Church of Christ, to be in St. Louis on Sunday afternoon, October 26, 2014. Mr. Clark will present additional information, perspective and analysis regarding the lawsuit and answer questions. The forum will take place in the sanctuary of The First Congregational Church of St. Louis, beginning at 3pm and conclude no later than 5pm, with a reception following in the church's fellowship hall.
Mark your calendars and plan to attend what promises to be a very interesting, informative and spirit filled discussion relating to this prophetic action. No RSVP is necessary but would be appreciated in order to plan appropriately for the event. You may call the church office at 314-721-5060 or send an e-mail message to office@firstcongregational.org. You may also contact me if you have questions prior to the event.
Barnet M. McKee, Attorney for the Missouri Mid-South and Illinois South Conferences
314-361-0800 mike.mckee@charter.net
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Weekly Prayer Time
Please keep the following churches and clergy in your prayers during this upcoming week:
Prayers for September 28 - October 4, 2014
Churches
St Martins UCC - Dittmer, MO
Catawissa Union Church - Catawissa, MO
St James UCC - Jackson, MO
Retired Clergy
Rev. Katherine HawkerSelf
Rev. Charles Waddle III
Rev. Ken Ulmer
Rev. Dwight Snesrud
We, as a Conference, are finding new ways to be prayerfully mindful of each other. We are also building and deepening our relationships. Each week random congregations and other clergy, will be named, inviting your prayers during the week. We will rotate through the entire list of churches and clergy in one year. Please join us and share with others in the power of collective prayer.
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Employment postings will run for one month, unless otherwise specified.
Executive Director, Tall Oaks Conference Center, 9/17/2014
We are looking for a dynamic and dedicated Executive Director who will oversee and lead the operations (budget size of $865,000) and programs of Tall Oaks Camp and Conference Center on a year-round basis. The Executive Director oversees the management of daily functions, program quality, facilities, volunteer and staff development, fundraising and collaborations with community agencies in meeting the needs of its members and program participants. The Executive Director will operate the facility in accordance with the policies, procedures, and standards established by the Regional Board of the Greater Kansas City region, Tall Oaks Ministry Board, and IACCA (International Association of Conference Center Administrators) (see below). This position will involve early morning, weekend, and on-call responsibilities. See full job description here.
Associate Director of Early Childhood Education at Neighborhood Houses, 8/27/2014
Assists the Director of Early Childhood Education in maintaining all applicable licensing, accreditation and grant related requirements and standards. Orients and supervises the members of teaching teams in accordance with Neighborhood House's policies and procedures. Coordinates schedules and routines with staff and volunteers, maintains communication with families and help to assure full enrollment. Fulfills the responsibilities of the Director of Early Childhood Education in his/her absence and substitutes in center/program positions as may be needed to maintain staff child ratios and assure the efficient operation of the program. See entire job description here. Please contact Denise Carter, Director of Caroline Mission. 314-773-1107 for further information.
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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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