Tuesday, December 30, 2014
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OCWM - Our Church's Wider Mission.  Individual or group donations are welcomed!
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The next eHappenings will be sent on Thursday, January 15th.  Please email your church, organization or agency event to Renee.  The deadline for submissions is 1/13/15 at 8am.
Around Your Conference

Allen's Message to You... 

With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

                                                            Ephesians 1:8b-10

 

Dear Companions on the Way,

 

            As a young skeptic, many years ago, I learned to mistrust the way religious people used the word "mystery." I thought they often used it to conceal a contradiction in the things they wanted to believe or to give a quick answer for a question when they hadn't worked it through. My experiences over the course of many years abiding in the church have not changed my opinion on this matter very much: if some strongly-held belief doesn't make sense in the ordinary world, that doesn't make it mysterious. It's usually just wrong.

 

            Real mystery encounters us in a very different way, with the insightfulness of its truth. It is a truth so powerfully transforming that it shakes us loose from what we once believed was true. That kind of surprise and wonder are the very heartbeat of our faith. So it was, I think, that a Christian writer of the first century looked around him at the strange, inclusive fellowship of Christ. It astonished him, because it was a sign of gracious compassion arising from a world that was filled with brokenness and oppression. "This is a mystery," he said, "something new that challenges the way I will live my life. I think it is the plan of God." The unity in Christ that the Epistle-writer spoke about seems unfinished in the world and even in the church; then as now, it is a work in progress. But the message of Ephesians is that in the consciousness of God the work is already done, and given as a gift that we are called upon to carefully unwrap.

 

            As we move into the new year together, may our way be crossed by challenges that strengthen us, by encounters that encourage our mutual understanding, by kindnesses that sustain our faith, and by epiphanies that enlarge our capacity for love.

 

            Blessings upon the work you do in our common ministry.

 

Allen

Allen M. Fluent, Acting Conference Minister

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. 

Please click here for a 2015 Remittance Form.  
             
If you have questions please contact Lorraine Brooks, Conference Bookkeeper at 314-918-2606 or email [email protected].
Conference Office Holiday Schedule 

 

Our Conference office will be closed on the following days:

Wednesday, December 31
Thursday, January 1

There will be at least one person in the office on 1/2/15 to assist you.  We thank you in advance for your patience.  Happy New Year!     
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Invite, 1/25/15
 
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, January 18-25, 2015, will soon be upon us.  Each year during this time, as Christians deeply committed to Christian unity, we pray in a special way with with Jesus who prayed "that they may be one" (John 17:22).  On Sunday evening, January 25 at 7:00 pm, an ecumenical prayer service will take place at St. Justin Martyr Parish, 11910 Eddie & Park Rd, Sunset Hills, MO.  Fr. Leobardo Alamzan, OP, Prior of St. Dominic Priory, will be the preacher. 

The theme for this year's observance is Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." (John 4:7).  Just as Jesus Himself is crossing cultural, social, political and religious boundaries, we are called by Christ to work toward unity.  This scripture leads us to reflect on how we may be instruments of God's grace for those who seem different or disconnected to us. 

If you are interested in attending this service along with our Acting Conference Minister, Rev. Dr. Allen Fluent,  please email Renee our Conference office or call 314-918-2602.  RSVP's are required and requested no later than Friday, January 11th.   
More "Black Lives Matter" Banners Available

Our Conference has received the shipment of more banners.  

 

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 once again be shared on a first come, first served basis - one per church, please. 

 

 

January LIFE Retreat at Eden

The January 9-10, 2015 LIFE retreat is a two-day program which is geared toward both laity and clergy. Join us as we start the New Year with learning and reflection as a community!   

 

Participants choose between two certificate courses, "Exploring the UCC: History and Polity" taught by Rev. Dr. Marilyn Stavenger and "Ministry and Mental Illness in the Parish" taught by Rev. Peter Maffly-Kipp.

 

Rev. Dr. Stavenger, Faculty Emerita at Eden, will explore the history and policies of the United Church of Christ. Dr. Stavenger is an ordained UCC pastor who served Park Congregational Church in Toledo, Ohio for 26 years before joining the Eden faculty in 1988. She retired as Professor of Field Education and the Practice of Ministry at Eden in 2003. She remains very active in the Eden community. Recommended texts for Dr. Stavenger's course are: "A Visual Mapping of the History and Polity - United Church of Christ" created by Donna M. Street. Additional suggested readings include: "History and Program" (revised edition) by Margaret Post; "Theology and Identity", Daniel Johnson and Charles Hambrick-Stowe eds.; "Evolution of a UCC Style" by Randi Walker.

 

Rev. Maffly-Kipp is an adjunct faculty member at Eden and is the Director for Dual Degree (MSW) and Clinical Ministries. He is an ordained UCC minister with over 30 years experience in clinical and social service ministries, a board-certified chaplain, and a licensed clinical social worker. He is also a therapist at McCallum Place, an eating disorders treatment program in Webster Groves, Missouri. The recommended text for this course is: "Souls in the Hands of a Tender God," by Craig Rennebohm.

 

Many of these recommended resources are available in the Eden bookstore.  Registration for LIFE is available by clicking here or contact Jill Schantz. Coordinator of LIFE Program, by email at [email protected] or by phone at 314-918-2554.

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!
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 [email protected].

 

Thank you,

The KUCC Worship and Music Team

 

 
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 [email protected]; or 314.918.2601 (office); or toll free 877.877.5884. 

Quotes for your week...

Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties.
-Helen Keller

Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson 
 

Let our New Year's resolution be this: we will be there for one another as fellow members of humanity, in the finest sense of the word.

-Goran Persson 

Employment Opportunities
 
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 [email protected]. 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 [email protected]. 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 [email protected] for more information. 

Conference Quick Links
 
Conference Website          National UCC Website        Conference Calendar              
      
           2015 Remittance Form        Email Your Conference Office

                        2015 Clergy Compensation Materials

               2014 Commitment to Basic Support/OCWM Form 
           
Contact Us

Missouri Mid-South Conference United Church of Christ  314-962-8740 or 877-877-5884  
 
Email [email protected] to submit information for a future issue.  Not all submissions may be used in future eCouriers.