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Wednesday, October 8, 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, October 14th. Be sure to email your church and organization events to Renee no later than 8am on 10/13.
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Allen's Message to You... 
Allen's weekly message will be suspended for a few weeks while he takes his vacation...
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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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Global Ministries Partner to Visit St. John's Chapel UCC
Xuyen Dangers, missionary partner with the Global Ministries, will be available at St. John's Chapel United Church  of Christ, 4344 South Fremont, Springfield, MO, Monday, October 13, at 10 a.m. Ms. Dangers will discuss her work in Laos through Global Ministries, a partnership of the Christian Church (DOC) and the United Church of Christ. One of her special areas of focus has been on human trafficking. There will be coffee and refreshments at 9:30 am.
This is will be a rather unique opportunity as Xuyen will be retiring from this ministry and moving to Fort Smith, Arkansas. There will be a brief service recognizing her significant ministry and blessing her as she begins a new chapter.
Please join us to learn more about this ministry on Monday, October 13th at St. John's Chapel UCC in Springfield, MO at 10 a.m.
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Missouri Lives on the Line
Missouri lives are on the line as our state decides whether or not to expand and reform Medicaid for low-wage working adults. People who don't have health insurance live sicker and die younger. Consider David, who came to the Drop In Center in Dellwood in August. David at 40 years of age, works as a day laborer and has no health insurance. He went untreated with high blood pressure and as a result, now has congestive heart failure. David, and countless others like him,want and need Medicaid expansion so that they can live healthier lives.
Missouri Health Care for All and Deaconess Faith Community Nurse Ministries invites you to lunch and conver- sation on Friday, October 17, about how people of faith can help in the effort to expand Medicaid in the state of Missouri. Lunch is free, starts at 11:30 am in the Commons, presentation starts at 12 noon. Sponsored by Deaconess Faith Community Nurse Ministries and Missouri Health Care for All. Please RSVP to dpupillo@faithnurses.org. Event flyer.
 
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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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Ordination Invitation for Amy Seat
The Members and Friends of Samuel United Church of Christ
and the
The St. Louis Association
of the Missouri Mid-South Conference United Church of Christ
Invite you to celebrate with us the ordination of
Amy Fairbanks Seat
Saturday, October 25, 2014 at 2:00 PM
Samuel United Church of Christ, 320 N. Forsyth,Clayton, MO 63105
In honor of the occasion clergy are invited to wear vestments and red stoles
and to gather at 1:40 pm in order to assemble for the processional.
A reception in Wiese Fellowship Hall will follow the service
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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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Deaconess Awards $500,000 to Local Children's Hospitals
Deaconess Foundation, as part of its 125th Anniversary, awarded special multi-year grants totaling $500,000 to SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center and St. Louis Children's Hospital to fund the purchase of kidney dialysis equipment and allow for greater access to care for children.
In 1997, Deaconess received a bequest from Miss Elsa Marie Weiss, a former Deaconess Sister, as Deaconess was transitioning from a health system to a grant making foundation. The purpose of the gift was to support dialysis treatment and enhance patients' quality of life. The funds from this estate gift will make up the grants to the children's hospitals. Read entire article here.
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A Victory to be Celebrated
Recent action by the Supreme Court means that same-sex marriage is now legal in five more states: Virginia, Indiana, Wisconsin, Oklahoma and Utah. The decision also brings marriage equality closer in six other states--North  Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia, Colorado, Kansas and Wyoming. In the near future, more than 197 million Americans--nearly 68 percent of the U.S. population--will live in 30 states where marriage equality is the law. And other federal court decisions are likely to follow in the next months or even weeks.
The momentum can't be stopped. Open and Affirming churches in almost every state have prayed and worked for this outcome. We have stood with our LGBT neighbors and advocated for their rights. We have proved there are people of faith who honor the dignity and worth of every human being.
What are the next steps for you and your congregation? Visit the UCC Coalition website here to read the most recent news how you and your church can become more involved and support the LGBT movement.
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Weekly Prayer Time
Please keep the following churches and clergy in your prayers during this upcoming week:
Prayers for October 12-18, 2014
Churches
St Johns UCC (Cappeln) - Foristell, MO
St Paul UCC - Hermann, MO
St Luke UCC - Grand Pass, MO
Retired Clergy
Rev Jeffery Hammonds
Rev Paul Davis
Rev Sue Leary
Rev James Konrad
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Who Will You Be Rooting For?
We may be headed for another I-70 or Show-Me World Series again just like in 1985. With the Kansas City Royals and the St. Louis Cardinals advancing to the ALCS and NLCS, the showdown is already in place. So whether you plan to wear your Cardinals red or Royals blue, let's cheer on both teams to victory! Let the games begin!
 
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SLA Ministerium Update
Please be sure the following dates/times/places are on your calendar for Ministerium... our monthly gathering of UCC clergy in the St Louis Association. We meet on the second Wednesday from 10-11:30am. Early in 2015 we will have another evening Ministerium to make it more accessible to some of our clergy who are unable to get away during the weekday.
We gather at 10am to continue to build relationships and enjoy light refreshments. We move into a worship experience led by our host and then receive the program. We finish with announcements - UCC, MMS, SLA, congregations, clergy. We hope that you will consider being a part of Ministerium!
Here is our lineup for the rest of this calendar year:
- Wednesday, October 8, 10-11:30am at Parkway UCC, 2841 N Ballas Rd, St Louis 63131; Host: Margaret Philip.
Our Mission Partner Xuyen T. Dangers will be with us. She is serving a four-year term as a consultant for development in Laos and Vietnam for Church World Service and Witness (NCCC), including projects with Disciples and UCC connections. This is a joint appointment of the Common Global Ministries Board and Church World Service and Witness (NCCC). gadisciples.org/Mission/global_ministry_partners.asp
globalministries.org/sasia/countries/laos/
- Wednesday, November 12, 10-11:30am at Isaiah 58 Ministries, 2149 S Grand Blvd, St Louis, MO 63104; 314-776-1410. www.i58ministries.org Host: Executive Director, Brenda Booth.
Isaiah 58 Ministries is a non-profit agency that has been in existence in South Saint Louis since 1970. It was established to meet the needs of low-income individuals in our community through direct services including a food pantry, thrift store, healthy lifestyles programming, and women's group.
- Wednesday, December 10, 10-11:30am at Doorways, 4385 Maryland Ave, Saint Louis, Missouri 63108; 314-535-1919; www.doorwayshousing.org Hosts: Justine Craig-Meyer and Rev. Dr. Jeff Moore (Webster Groves Christian Church and Doorways Board)
Doorways is an interfaith non-profit organization which provides housing and related supportive services to improve quality of life and health outcomes for people affected by HIV/AIDS.
We look forward to being with you.
Peace,
Kevin Cameron (kevin@parkwayucc.org; 314-872-9330)
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United Church of Christ Statistical Profile, Fall 2014
The United Church of Christ is a dynamic, evolving movement of people and institutions across location and time. The contents of this booklet attempt to provide a deeper understanding of this movement, though what is articulated in these pages provides only a narrow view of a much broader landscape.
Information for the profile was drawn primarily from data reported through the UCC Data Hub annually for the production of the UCC Yearbook & Directory. Please click here to view the information. We hope you enjoy this edition! The Center for Analytics, Research and Data (CARD)
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What Are We Doing in Ferguson?
Your STL Association Council wants you to know that from the very beginning of the events in Ferguson, 
UCC folks have been there offering succor, help where needed and marching for JUSTICE. You may not have been aware of the UCC response yet it has been there. We are very thankful for those who have been there and also for those who have been supporting and praying for our UCC efforts.
We are putting various methods in place, we want you to know that you can contact the Conference office to get on a special mailing list if you want to be directly involved. Some of what we will definitely need is: folks for an advisory board who have had anti-racism/oppression training; folks who may not have had training but have a profound desire for racial healing; and folks who are willing to mobilize for dialogue, marches and other gatherings. If you wish to be involved in either way, please call Josh Gibson, Student Intern, at the Conference office: 314-918-2601 or email josh@mmsucc.org.
Informational flyer Church bulletin insert
-submitted by Rita Hill
Interim President, SLA
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Employment postings will run for one month, unless otherwise specified.
Director of Advocacy and Communications, The Deaconess Foundation, 10/8/2014
The Director of Advocacy and Communications stewards strategic communications for the foundation. The position's primary responsibility is for the promotion of the foundation's public policy agenda for child well-being. The Director will establish and maintain relationships with policymakers, researchers and media through personal contact and media platforms. S/he will support the CEO in development and implementation of the organization's annual communications plans. To apply for this position, visit the Deaconess Foundation website - http://www.deaconess.org/advocacy-director . No phone calls please
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.
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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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