Past event: The rite of Confirmation was celebrated at Zion UCC Oakfield on Sunday, January 11 with three students; Brian Trigg, Katie Trigg and Mary Rankin. It was especially meaningful because the gospel lesson that day was Jesus' baptism, Mark 1: 1-4.  Congratulations to the newly confirmed students! 

 

January 16, Documentary: The Pruitt-Igoe Myth, 7pm

January 18, MLK, Jr. Celebration, 3pm

The annual Franklin County celebration of the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. M. L. King, Jr. will be held Sunday, January 18, 3:00 P.M. at the Franklin County Baptist Association Building on S. Highway 47, between Union and St. Clair.  The speaker will be Ms. Denise Generally, a Science teacher at Washington Middle School in Washington, MO.  She will speak on the theme, "Standing on the Shoulders" which will lift up the lives of those who have gone on before us, to bring us to where we are today.  The service will include music from several local church groups, and the East Central College Children's Chorale. Also, the annual  presentation of the Human Rights Award  will be given by Church Women United.  Following the service, there will be a  barbecue pulled pork lunch provided.  A free will offering to cover expenses will be taken. All persons are invited to come to the service, especially it is hoped that families will come together and celebrate the life of Dr. King.  All are invited. 

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 23,  Panel Discussion: From Ferguson to Franklin County: Redlining, White Flight, and Modern Segregation, 7pm    

 

John Edson Anglin Performing Arts Center at East Central College, Union, MO.  

Keynote speaker:  Colin Gordon, from the University of Iowa 

Panelists: 
Richard Rothstein , Economic Policy Institute Researcher
Alexander Cuenca, from Saint Louis University
Emanuele Berry, Race and Culture Reporter from St. Louis Public Radio

Event flyer. 

 

January 24, 7th Annual Stan Musial Hall of Fame Gala, 6pm

 

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!

January 26, Film: 12 Years a Slave, 7pm

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 7, Mayor Taylor Concert, 5-7pm 

A concert to benefit Epiphany United Church of Christ, 2911 McNair, St. Louis, MO 63118. Mayor Taylor is Lydia Ruffin (guitar/ukulele), Charlie Pfeffer (mandolin), and Mike Tiefenbrun (bass) doing "roots music" from jazz to folk to spirituals & original songs too, a vocal & acoustic treat. And Special Guest Artist: Peter Ruthenburg.  A Freewill Offering Will Be Taken/Refreshments During Intermission.  Also participate in our raffle: Prizes on display at the church.  Ticket prices: 1 for $1; 6 for $ 5; 13 for $10; 27 for $ 20; 70 for $50; 150 for $100.  Raffle drawing will be Feb. 7. You do not need to be present to win.  Registration/event flyer. 

 

February 13, 3rd Annual Bracke Lecture, 10:30am 

Dr. Mark Chaves will speak on "Continuity and Change in American Religion" on Friday, February 13, 2015 at 10:30 am.  He will draw on his extensive research as director of the National Congregations Study (NCS), a wide-ranging survey of religious congregations conducted in 1998, 2006-07, and 2012. Results from the NCS have increased understanding of many aspects of congregational life in the United States, including impact on social problems.  Event flyer and registration.
 

February 18, Fried Chicken Dinner, Noon-6pm 

 

Friedens Peace at 3560 Mill Street in New Melle, MO 63365 will be having their annual Special Recipe Fried Chicken Dinner from 12:00 to 6:00. The meal will include: mashed potatoes and gravy, baked beans, slaw, cornbread and desserts. Cost is $10.00 adults, $5.00 for those 6 to 11 and under 5 are free. All Pastors eat free also.

  

February 28, Gateway ONA, 9am 

 

March 19, Documentary: Anne Braden: Southern Patriot, 7pm 

  

East Central College in Union, MO. HS100 - Panel Discussion - Being a White Ally.  Website.  Event flyer.  

 

April 8-16, IPM Columbia Trip 

 

Join IPM on our first ever Immersion Experience to Columbia, April 8-16, 2015!  Don't miss out on a week with Joseph Cistone building cross-cultural relationships with IPM's Project Partners, and experiencing Columbian culture.  This immersion is open to all! For additional information please contact Melanie Strout at mstrout@ipmconnect.org or 207.801.9020.  

 

April 9-11, 2015, UCCOSSN Annual Gathering  

 

Registration is NOW OPEN!  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 is NOW OPEN!  For more information, contact Lettie Eagar at lme@plymouthfw.org.