January 1, Labyrinth Journey into the New Year, 11am-4pm 

 

Whether you are walking toward something, or away from something, or perhaps both, walking the labyrinth can be a powerful practice to mark beginnings and endings. Since ancient times people have been using labyrinths as a spiritual tool, a chance for pilgrimage and contemplation. If you are aching to add meaning and ritual into your New Year's plans, please stop by the sanctuary anytime between 11am and 4pm on January 1st. The canvas labyrinth will be laid out in the sanctuary and  surrounded by candle light and soft music. All are  welcome. Please bring your children, invite a friend. A finger labyrinth will also be available for those unable to walk the labyrinth. 204 E Lockwood Ave Webster Groves, MO 63119 (314) 968-1727.

January 4, Retirement Reception, 2-4pm

 

 

January 4, Nurturing Children in the Faith

 

During January the Adult Education classes at Kirkwood UCC will focus on how WE ALL can assist our children in learning about our faith and how we can share it with them. How can we share our faith in our home? Are there easy rituals that we can demonstrate for our children that communicate things about our faith? How do we honestly answer a child's question about difficult subjects like illness, death, or disturbing things the child hears in the news or at school? Are there any children's good books that we can read to help? Is there a discipline strategy that reflects the values we share?

Questions we all share will be addressed in the four Sunday mornings of January:

January 4 - Sharing our Christian Faith and Practices with our Children, lead by Ann Schroer

 

January 9-10, LIFE Retreat at Eden

 

Start the New Year with LIFE!  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.

 

 

January 11, Nurturing Children in the Faith

During January the Adult Education classes at Kirkwood UCC will focus on how WE ALL can assist our children in learning about our faith and how we can share it with them. How can we share our faith in our home? Are there easy rituals that we can demonstrate for our children that communicate things about our faith? How do we honestly answer a child's question about difficult subjects like illness, death, or disturbing things the child hears in the news or at school? Are there any children's good books that we can read to help? Is there a discipline strategy that reflects the values we share?

Questions we all share will be addressed in the four Sunday mornings of January:

January 11 - Age-Appropriate Answers to Difficult Questions, lead by Jan Barnes

January 18, Nurturing Children in the Faith

During January the Adult Education classes at Kirkwood UCC will focus on how WE ALL can assist our children in learning about our faith and how we can share it with them. How can we share our faith in our home? Are there easy rituals that we can demonstrate for our children that communicate things about our faith? How do we honestly answer a child's question about difficult subjects like illness, death, or disturbing things the child hears in the news or at school? Are there any children's good books that we can read to help? Is there a discipline strategy that reflects the values we share?

Questions we all share will be addressed in the four Sunday mornings of January:

January 18 - Reading Good Children's Books, including the Bible, lead by Karen Tye

January 21, Clergy Care Summit, 9am-2pm

 

All clergy, faith leaders and faith community nurses in the St. Louis Metro region are invited to this summit, sponsored by Deaconess Faith Community Nurse Ministries and Eden Theological Seminary.  The featured speaker is Rev. Dr. Willard WC Ashley.  Contact Rev. Julie Taylor for further information at jtaylor@uuma.org.  Event flyer.

 

January 25, Nurturing Children in the Faith 

During January the Adult Education classes at Kirkwood UCC will focus on how WE ALL can assist our children in learning about our faith and how we can share it with them. How can we share our faith in our home? Are there easy rituals that we can demonstrate for our children that communicate things about our faith? How do we honestly answer a child's question about difficult subjects like illness, death, or disturbing things the child hears in the news or at school? Are there any children's good books that we can read to help? Is there a discipline strategy that reflects the values we share?

Questions we all share will be addressed in the four Sunday mornings of January:

January 25 - "Love and Logic" discipline strategy, lead by Alison Davis

January 25, White Like Me: Reflections on Race Discussion, 6:30pm

In Kirkwood UCC's ongoing efforts to be relevant in our community and understand white privilege, the January book study will be on the often-heralded and referenced book White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son by Tim Wise. Originally written in 2003, Wise has updated his book twice, most recently in 2011.  A discussion of the book will be held on Sunday, January 25 at 6:30 PM in the Adult Education room. The book is widely available in paperback or e-book at most book retailers, and we'll study the most updated (third, 2011) edition. Come and let us all learn and discuss together!

February 1, 8, 15, & 22, Themes in Liberation Theology, 10:45 - 11:45am 

In the early 50's and 60's, Liberation Theology developed as a movement within the Catholic Church in Latin America in light of the hope and suffering of the poor and their struggle for freedom from oppression.  Gustavo Gutierrez, a Peruvian priest, wrote "A Theology of Liberation" in 1971 that located God in the midst of the poor and critiqued the structures of church and society.   In the time since then, the movement has become ecumenical and international.  It has inspired faithful people in many contexts to develop theologies of liberation suitable to their own settings.

Kirkwood UCC's Adult Education will explore the roots of Liberation Theology, and in subsequent sessions, variations on the theme that fit our context in the U.S.: Black Liberation Theology, Womanist Theology, and Queer Theology. Student Pastor Julie Kies will lead these sessions on Sunday mornings in the Adult Ed. Classroom.

   

February 3, EA Pastor's Lunch

Will be held at Zion UCC in Troy.  More details to follow.  Weather date:  2/10/15

February 28, Gateway ONA, 9am 

 

April 9-11, 2015, UCCOSSN Annual Gathering  

 

Support Staff Network Gathering To Be Held In Ft. Wayne In 2015.  Support staff members (administrative assistants, secretaries, office managers, bookkeepers, etc.) from all settings of the United Church of Christ are strongly encouraged to join the United Church of Christ Office Support Staff Network (UCCOSSN) at their 2015 Annual Conference to be held in Ft. Wayne, Ind. April 9-11, 2015. "Rediscovering the Joy of Play" will be the theme for this time of networking, fellowship, professional growth and retreat for those who keep our offices running. Acclaimed storyteller Valerie Tutson will be the keynote speaker. Registration will be open in January!  For more information, contact Lettie Eagar at lme@plymouthfw.org or Nikki Richards at n.richards@ikcucc.org