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Thursday, December 18, 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, December 30th.
The deadline for submissions is 12/26/14 at 8am.
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Allen's Message to You... My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. Luke 1:46-53 Dear Friends and Colleagues in the Gospel, Mary of Nazareth, barely more than a child herself, anticipates her own first child's birth with shouting,  hyperbolic praise! "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. . . . From now on all generations will call me blessed." The miracle of birth, the divine joy of motherhood...or is that what this moment is all about? "God has scattered the proud in their imaginings, brought down the powerful from their thrones, lifted up the lowly, filled the hungry and sent the rich away empty." Now, through the eyes of a needful humanity, the child Mary comes to represent the many who have endured the pain and feared the dangers of childbirth, all the while holding within them the great sorrow for a child who will enter the world on its outskirts, where the odds are set against him. "Not this time," her soul cries out. "Today God has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant." In the midst of the world's most bitter injustice, in a place of indifference, in a world where there is no room, the truth of God will be born anew in this child of Mary. Perhaps this is the year that we have prayed for so long, when Christmas will recover its sacred truth, when all of us who seek the day of the Holy One will listen to Mary's words again, as if for the first time, and use them to examine ourselves and ask where we are in the story. Then this fourth Sunday of Advent may become for us a time to really prepare ourselves to welcome the day of God that comes in the form of a child born on the outskirts of the world. Advent blessings to all of you. May your ministries be blessed with the spirit of justice and peace in this holy season. Allen Allen M. Fluent, Acting Conference Minister
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Conference Office Holiday Schedule 
With the holidays quickly approaching, our Conference office will be closed on the following days:
Wednesday, December 24
Thursday, December 25
Friday, December 26
Wednesday, December 31
Thursday, January 1
There will be at least one person in the office on 12/22, 12/23, 12/29 and 12/30 to assist you. We thank you in advance for your patience. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
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Conference Youth Event (CYE) 2015
The CYE will be held February 14-16, 2015 at Camp Moval, and we hope to see many of our youth attend and participate in this great event. The theme is "Telling the Tale!". All youth  will have the opportunity to listen to master storyteller, Rev. Ric Zuch, share timeless Biblical stories and lessons as they apply in today's world. High school youth will become "ear-witnesses" - as they will determine the outcome and how the stories can continue through them! It will be an exciting time for all attending.
Cost is $120 per person for each youth and adult participant. Registrations must be postmarked by Monday, January 26, 2015, to ensure space availability and a t-shirt. If you have any questions prior to the event, please contact Cindy Birkner at 636-946-0961. You may also contact the Camp MoVal office at 636-583-2730.
Please click here to visit our Conference website for registration materials and further information. We hope to see many youth attend this fantastic event!
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2014 Contributions Deadline!
All contributions for 2014 must arrive at the Conference office by January 15, 2015. All remittances received after this date will be considered 2015 donations. Please share this information with your church treasurer or anyone at your church who handles the Conference contributions. Thank you.
Please click here if you need a 2014 Remittance Form.
If you have questions please contact Lorraine Brooks, Conference Bookkeeper at 314-918-2606 or email accounting@mmsucc.org.
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"Black Lives Matter" Banners Available
An interesting story appeared on UCC KyP last week about an order placed by a New York Conference pastor for three dozen "Black Lives Matter" vinyl banners. She ordered them for her and several other congregations in New York and Connecticut and Massachusetts. The customer service representative who took the order was so impressed that she paid the $300 invoice herself. So Bob Molsberry, Interim Pastor at Peace UCC in Webster Groves, ordered ten of the banners for his and any other congregation in the Saint Louis area that might be interested. They're small (3' x 2') vinyl all-weather banners with brass grommets on all four corners. If you would like to obtain a banner (shown below) to display at your church, please email Renee at the Conference office or call her directly at 314-918-2602. The banners will be shared on a first come, first served basis - one per church, please.
If there is a larger demand, we will place another order for more banners. Thank you to Rev. Bob Molsberry for his generosity!
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A Holiday Message from Dale Parson
The story was told of a major winter storm that shut down everything. Crews worked feverishly to make sure that people were safe and secure. In a remote region, the American Red Cross spent hours to remove the snow that had covered a small house. Finally, the rescuers were able to make a verbal contact. Knocking on the door, someone yelled, "We're from the Red Cross!" A voice from within responded, "Well it's been a tough year and I'm not sure we can give anything right now." 
While a snowstorm might be as evocative an image for this particular winter, it does seem that those in ministry can occasionally forget that the message is for us. Wrapped in the important roles and responsibilities that fill our days, it is possible to miss the very good news that we proclaim. We might be inclined to say, "It's been a touch year and I'm not sure I can give much of anything right now" missing the truth that each of us invited to be the recipient of the same Gift that we invite others to receive. In the special Season, it is good to reflect on significant relationships, to give thanks for those with whom the journey has been shared, and to anticipate with joy the year that lies ahead. Thank you for faithful ministry in all seasons. In this Season, may the very Prince of Peace fill your lives, your ministries, your homes with abundant joy, love, peace and hope. Abundant Blessings & Peace, Rev. Dale Parson, Associate Conference Minister
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A Peacemaking Practice
Of Peace and Fear
In this season of Advent we await the coming of one whom Isaiah identified as the "Prince of Peace." We have come to believe that the one whom Isaiah foretold is none other than Jesus, the baby born to Mary and Joseph.
Many of our churches will celebrate this season with a pageant in which our children will portray the Holy Family surrounded with shepherds and Wise Ones and we will gaze upon it misty eyed at the beauty and the calm. What we often forget is that as soon as the Wise Men leave, Joseph packs up his wife and new son and they hightail it for Egypt to protect the family from a jealous and vicious King Herod. The birth of Jesus doesn't ensure the presence of peace. 
What the birth of Jesus does bring is the revelation of the divine presence in our human form. It brings Emmanuel; God with Us. It revels to us what has been true since the beginning of time but which is only now apparent to us, that Christ is with us and in us. We are the Body of Christ.
This does not change what is but it profoundly changes what we are able to do. For when we know that we are manifestations of the infinite love of God, we no longer have reason to be afraid.
This past September I was privileged to spend a day with Rob Bell. He was teaching about how we experience a shift when we understand ourselves to be followers of Jesus instead of worshippers of Jesus. At one point he was retelling the story of Jesus as an adult being warned that Herod, son of the king who wanted to kill him as an infant, was, like his father, wanting him dead. This ought to be a scary thing. Herod has an army. Jesus has a band of fishermen. But Jesus responds, "You tell that fox..." This Jesus isn't afraid of Herod. It is as if he is saying, "What are you going to do, kill me?"
These past few weeks and months have not been peaceful. Near to home we have witnessed the systemic racial injustice that the events of "Ferguson" have revealed. And far away we have learned of acts of intentional cruelty that have been done in our name with the hope that such acts will protect us. At the core of the choices we have made and which have been made in our name lurks a deep fear. A fear of black men. A fear of terrorists. And this fear has justified injustice.
What we await in the coming of the Christ Child is not the absence of conflict but the presence of fearlessness in our hearts. We await the confidence that allows us to boldly address the sources of injustice such that no one need be afraid.
Mark Lee Robinson
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FREE Choir Robes 
Kirkwood United Church of Christ has 30 choir robes and white stoles they would like to donate to a church in the St. Louis and surrounding area. The robes (photo to right) are burgundy, are made of sturdy material, include a range of sizes, and the stoles have a cross on the front. KUCC members are willing to deliver the robes to your church. If you are interested or know a church that might be interested in these robes, please call Jackie Wheelehan at 314-960-1458 or email her at jwheelehan@att.net.
Thank you,
The KUCC Worship and Music Team
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Weekly Prayer Time
Please keep the following churches and clergy in your prayers during this upcoming week:
Prayers for December 14 - 20, 2014
Churches 
Trinity UCC - Lexington, MO
First Congregational UCC (Webster Groves) - St Louis, MO
United Church of New Cambria - New Cambria, MO
Epiphany UCC - St Louis, MO
Brentwood Congregational UCC - St Louis, MO
St John UCC - Manchester, MO
St Peters UCC - New Haven, MO
Zion-St Peter UCC - Morrison, MO
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Camp MoVal Young Adult Retreat, 12/28-30
This holiday season, Camp MoVal is offering the first Young Adult Retreat between the Christmas and the New Year's Holiday. This retreat is for adults 18-26 years. Come for a time away, to connect with old camp friends and to  make new ones. The retreat will start Sunday afternoon December 28 at 3pm and conclude Tuesday December 30 around 2pm in the afternoon. The retreat theme will have a focus on Sabbath time and how to maintain your faith connection. College and young adult years are a time of great growth and exploration for young persons. This is a time in a young person's life when they complete the formation of who they are, and it is the time for us to keep then engaged in their faith and to help them to continue to grow in their Christian faith. Please come and join us for this retreat and relax and reconnect with others and your faith. Registration information is available on the Camp MoVal website or by calling the Camp MoVal Office at 636-583-2730.
-Jeremy Force
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New Covenanted Ministry Opportunity"He has told you, human one, what is good and what the Lord requires from you: to do justice, embrace faithful  love, and walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8, CEB) Do you have a passion for justice? Do you want to be involved promoting justice in the United Church of Christ - Missouri Mid-South Conference area? We are looking to begin a Covenanted Ministry for Social Concerns (Justice and Witness) at the Conference level. If you would like to become involved in this important ministry, please contact Josh Gibson, Student Intern, at josh@mmsucc.org; or 314.918.2601 (office); or toll free 877.877.5884.
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"When Pigs Fly" Buy-a-Bird Fundraiser
Be a part of this ministry tradition! Your generous donation of $20 will buy a turkey or ham for someone in need,  and a donation of $30 will cover the cost of an entire meal. Isaiah 58 Ministries is depending upon people like you to help make the holidays meaningful for families who are less fortunate. You can help them celebrate the joy of the season as you actively participate in making their holiday season abundant and joy-filled. Isaiah 58 Ministries anticipate serving 300 families both at Thanksgiving and at Christmas, which means they need to raise $18,000 to cover the total cost of the baskets. Will YOU help?
This fundraiser will continue through December 31st. Click here for a printable flyer to share with your congregation or office.
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Employment postings will run for one month, unless otherwise specified.
Nursery Caregiver, St. John UCC, 12/17/2014
In order to provide a dependable, consistent, safe, secure and nurturing environment for our children ages 0-2 years old, we are currently seeking a paid child care giver for our Nursery. The hours are 8:45 to 11:45 am each Sunday with a salary of $10 per hour.
Qualifications:
1) Must be at least 18 years of age.
2) Must be patient and good with children.
3) Must be currently certified in CPR or willing to be trained.
4) Must be willing to submit to background checks.
5) Experience in early childhood education and child care are preferred but not required.
Basic Responsibilities
1) Greet and receive directions from parents and guardians as children are dropped off.
2) Provide a welcoming, safe and friendly environment for all children during the worship service.
Full job description available upon request.
Send a letter of interest to the church office marked ATTENTION: LINDA REYNOLDS (St. John UCC,
405 S. Fifth Street, St. Charles, MO 63301) or email to lreynolds@stjohnucc.org. Please include three references and prior positions/experience.
Program Director, Camp MoVal, 12/17/2014 Camp MoVal, a ministry of the Missouri Mid-South Conference of the United Church of Christ is seeking a full-time program director for its outdoor ministry program. Camp MoVal is a summer camp and outdoor ministry site in Eastern Missouri serving 140 Churches and the wider community. We are a seeking a dynamic and inspirational person that will assist in the management of our outdoor ministry (camp) programs, guest services and rental groups. This person will also be responsible to assist in the development of new programs and outreach opportunities for our organization. A bachelor's degree or experience in camp or recreation management is required. Salary is based upon experience and the job includes medical, dental and retirement. Deadline for Resumes is January 31, 2015. Please direct all resume and questions to Mr. Jeremy Force, Director Outdoor Ministries at Camp MoVal to jeremy.moval@mmsucc.org. Job description available upon request. Registered Nurses, Deaconess Faith Community Nurse Ministries, 12/17/2014 Deaconess Faith Community Nurse Ministries has openings for RNs to work as faith community nurses. Please email dpupillo@faithnurses.org for more 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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