Thursday, April 2, 2015
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Thank you - This communication is made possible by your contributions to
OCWM - Our Church's Wider Mission.  Individual or group donations are welcomed!
Click here to donate today.
Our Conference office will be closing at noon on Thursday, and also closed
on Friday in celebration of Easter.
The next eHappenings will be sent on Wednesday, April 15th. 
The deadline for submissions is 4/13/15 at 8am.
Around Your Conference

Allen's Message to You... 
 

    Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified.  He has been raised; he is not here.  Look, there is the place they laid him.  But go, tell is disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.

Mark 16:6-7

 

Dear fellow members of the Conference,  

 

    These words form the Gospel according to Mark are spoken by the Angel to the women at Jesus' tomb.  They are profound and wonderful, though they also carry a gentle rebuke, both to the women and to us, who have spent so much of our devotion creating a proper atmosphere and decorum for Jesus' death, as though he asked us to, which he never did.  The angel tells us he has gone ahead of us already, and we are far behind.  Look for him where miracles are performed, where the poor are fed, the sick are healed, and prisoners are set free.  Go back to Galilee, because Christ lives were ministry is happening and the Word of God is spoken against oppression.

 

    May all of us, as Easter dawns, renounce the kind of religion that makes the churches of Christ into tombs of remembering all that is lost.  Instead, may we follow Jesus back to our future in Galilee, where it all began, and where it is said of those who have dwelt in a land of deep darkness, upon them light has shined.

 

    Easter blessings to you all.

                                                                                                                                                     
Allen
Allen M. Fluent, Acting Conference Minister
MMSUCC Conference Open House, April 7, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

If you are planning to attend Spring Convocation at Eden Seminary (see below), be sure to stop by your MMS Conference office on Tuesday, April 7 and visit us during our Open House!  Our office is conveniently located on the campus of Eden Seminary - lower level of Schultz Hall, 483 E. Lockwood Avenue, Suite 15. 

We'll have snacks, soft drinks and plenty of smiles to greet you upon arrival.  It's been 4 years since we moved from the "white house" to our new and ever-so-lovely digs in Schultz Hall, so it's the perfect time to take a quick tour if you've never visited us before.  We hope to see many familiar faces and also meet some new friends, too.  Several members of our Conference staff - Allen, Renee, Lorraine, Josh and Kris - will all be here to greet you.  So please visit and allow us the opportunity to tell you how much YOU are appreciated as a member of our Missouri Mid-South Conference!
 

Spring Convocation at Eden Theological Seminary

 

 

Eden Theological Seminary's Spring Convocation will take place April 7-8, 2015 on Eden's campus at 475 East Lockwood Ave., St. Louis, MO 63119. Christian faith and practice are centered on the table. This year's convocation speakers and events focus on various dimensions of how growing, eating, and sharing food engage with important theological traditions and issues of social justice.

 

Eden's annual Spring Convocation is an opportunity for pastors and laypeople to listen to and interact with outstanding biblical and theological scholars. We encourage you to attend and reconnect with friends and colleagues while sharing in the community life of Eden Seminary.

 

When we focus on food we attend to God's creation, ecology, the equitable distribution of resources, our relationships with one another, the diversity of human culture, and the gamut of human experience from great banquets to famine. Food grounds us in what it means to be God's creatures and reminds us of God's earth and God's provision for us. Food connects us with how we create community, in either just or unjust ways.

 

To go directly to registration www.eden.edu/springconvocation15Convocation speakers will be featured on Eden's website www.eden.edu in the days and weeks to come.  Please click here for a bulletin insert.   

 

We look forward to seeing you on Eden's campus this spring!

Ordination of Kristin K. Aardema Faigh

 

 

The Western Association

of the Missouri Mid-South Conference of the United Church of Christ

and Zion United Church of Christ Mayview

 

cordially invite your presence for the Ordination of

Kristin K. Aardema Faigh

 

to the Ministry of the Word and Sacrament

on Sunday, April 19, 2015, at 3:00pm

at Zion United Church of Christ

105 N. Mary Street

Mayview, MO  64071

 

Kristin serves currently as Licensed pastor at Zion UCC Mayview.  Rev. Dr. Tommy Faris from Salem UCC, Higginsville, MO, will offer the sermon.

 

For clergy:  robes and stoles (red or of multiple color) are encouraged.  Please plan to gather by 2:30pm for procession.

Conference Annual Gathering Schedule   

 

Please click here to see the current schedule for our MMSUCC Conference Annual Gathering, June 4-6, 2015. 

The theme for this year's event is "Rebuild, Restore & Renew", with each day centering on a different and MMS Logo pertinent topic woven within the theme.

Our CAG planning team has been diligently working to bring you a vibrant, relevant and exciting meeting this year.  We are hopeful you will find the chosen theme/topics timely and also engaging.  There will be multiple opportunities for business, worship, conversations, learning, sharing and perhaps a better understanding of ourselves and how we view and communicate with each other.

Our Conference Annual Gathering will be held at the  Columbia Holiday Inn Executive Center.

Prices, registration and hotel reservation information will be sent within the next few weeks (we know you are anxious!)   
 
So mark your calendar for June 4-6 to be in Columbia - we look forward to seeing all of you!

Health and Wellness Tip Sheet - April 

 

Since 1987, the National Council of Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) encourages communities to focus on awareness of the disease of alcoholism and alcohol related issues. Often faith communities have been silent about this chronic disease, which is treatable, and not a moral weakness or failure.

 

This month Deaconess Faith Community Nurse Ministries joins others in raising awareness about alcohol - its proper use and about being a responsible drinker. "Healthy Choices, Healthy Communities" is being celebrated across the country in various faith communities. During this month, faith communities are learning how they can journey with others as they struggle with this chronic disease. The National Council of Alcoholism and Drug Dependence have developed ten tips for dealing issues related to alcohol.

 

First, don't be afraid to say no when others want to pressure you to what is right for someone who is struggling with the disease. Sometimes the fear of a negative reaction keeps us from speaking out and helping another. At other times, we are pressured into doing something that enables a person to remain in the grips of the disease. Remember to care and care enough to do what is healthy for the person and yourself.  Click here to read entire article.  

2015 Boundary Training Dates Added

Boundary training dates and locations have now been scheduled for the Western association, in addition to the Eastern and St. Louis associations. 

Please click here for the current schedule and click here for a registration form.  This same information may also be found on our Conference website.  

Free Church Pew Cushions

Ladue Chapel has several pew cushions (see photo) available, and they are free.   

 

Details:

106 cushions measuring 58" x 14" x 2" thick

6 cushions measuring 30" x 14" x 2"

11 cushions measuring 70" x 14" x 2"

16 cushions measuring 42" x 14" x 2"

12 cushions measuring 50" x 14" x 2"

 

They are all in decent condition, a few have drips of wax or a stain. Some are more faded than others.  They are free to anyone who will come and get them.  Please call Vicki Hampton at 314-993-4771 x 3104 or email [email protected].

Western Association Annual Meeting 

The Western Association will hold it's annual meeting on Saturday, April 25 at Peace UCC in Hartsburg, MO.  Registration begins at 9:30 am.  

Meeting materials:  Event flyer, registration form, President's Letter/Nominating report

These same materials may also be found on our Conference website.   
Annual MMSUCC Men's Retreat & Women's Retreat

The Annual Men's Retreat will be held on May 1-3 at our own Shannondale Community Center.  Please click here to view the brochure and registration form. 

Save the date! The Annual Women's Retreat will be held on May 1-3, 2015, at our own Camp MoVal. This year's theme is "Under the Shelter of God's Wings", with the leaders of Sue Ulmer and Devoree Crist.  Please click here to view the brochure, which contains a registration form and further information.  Please mail your check/registration to:
MMS-UCC Women's Retreat
Deaconess Faith Community Nurse Ministries
483 East Lockwood Ave, Suite 106, St. Louis, MO 63119
Please make checks payable to MMS-UCC
Final Tally for Yearbook Reports

The 2014 yearbook process has ended, and I'd like to thank all of the churches which participated.  Please click here to see the final list of churches.  97 churches in our Conference turned in reports to our  office or entered their own information into the data hub, which is about 66%.  Here's the breakdown by association:

  • Eastern = 36
  • St. Louis = 34
  • Western = 27

The information gathered from the yearbook process is used in a variety of ways within the United Church of Christ.  If you are wondering why your church should participate in 2015, please read the following article "Eleven Reasons Why Reporting Your Church's Annual Data Is Important."  And if your church wasn't named on the list in the above paragraph, please encourage your UCC pastor or treasurer to complete the forms next year so your church can be included in this nationwide process. 

   

I want to thank Kris Scott, our new Administrative Assistant, who tackled the yearbook process with professionalism and gusto!  Your work on this project was highly appreciated.

 

Thank you again to each MMSUCC church that made the choice to participate! - Renee 

Quote for your week... The message of Easter
  

The great gift of Easter is hope - 

Christian hope which makes us have that
confidence in God, 
in his ultimate triumph, and in his
goodness and love, 
which nothing can shake. 
- Basil C. Hume
   
Employment Opportunities
 
Employment postings will run for one month, unless otherwise specified. 

 

Part-Time Administrative Assistant, St. Philip's UCC, South County, 3/19/2015

We are looking for someone who is friendly, can type 40 wpm, and has strong computer skills and an eye for detail.  To view the full job description (includes work hours, salary and benefits) and application instructions, please visit www.stphilipsucc.com and click on "Employment Opportunities" on the red toolbar.

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.