Thursday, May 14, 2015
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Around Your Conference

Allen's Message to You... 
  

You do not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.

For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is your steadfast love toward those who hold you in awe; as far as the east is from the west, so far you remove our transgressions from us.

As a father has compassion for his children, so you have compassion for those who fear you.

For you know how we were made; you remember that we are dust.

As for humans, their days are like grass; they flourish like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it and it is gone, and its place knows it no more.

But your steadfast love is from everlasting to everlasting on those who hold you in awe, and your righteousness to children's children, to those who keep your covenant and remember to do your commandments.

Psalm 103

 

Dear Friends in the Fellowship of Christ,

 

When the story of the Ascension of Jesus in the Book of Acts is taken literally, it requires some serious stage direction - too much perhaps for us moderns to deal with easily. The story is written for a different age than ours, when the earth was properly flat and the sky rose above it as a mighty dome. But the Festival of the Ascension, celebrated in many churches this Sunday, is about more than that. I think the spirit of the celebration is captured wonderfully in Psalm 103, a portion of which I have placed atop this letter, slightly modified by addressing each phrase to the personal "you" of God, in the manner of a prayer.

 

Nowhere else in Scripture is there so celebrative an expression of God's infinite compassion, spread out through all the earth - the steadfast love who knows who we are, because it was out of that love applied to the dust of all creation that we were made. Love understands our limited being, does not expect of us what we cannot do, yet calls us into communion with the pervasive spirit of the universe and allows us to see the underlying goodness through eyes of wonder.

 

May God's compassionate Spirit be known among us in the vision of Christ, God's ascended love, on this festive day.

                                                                                                                                               
Allen
Allen M. Fluent, Acting Conference Minister
Ordination of Kara Nicole Reece

 

The St. Louis Association of the
Missouri Mid-South Conference of the United Church of Christ

and St. John's UCC

Invite you to the the Ordination of
Kara Nicole Reece
on Sunday, May 17, 2015, at 3:00 pm

at St. John's UCC
4136 N. Grand, St. Louis, MO 63107

Clergy are invited to wear robes and red stoles, and gather for the processional at 2:45 pm.
Installation of Rev. E. Paul Emily

 

The Western Association of the Missouri Mid-South Conference  
of the United Church of Christ  
St. Luke's United Church of Christ
 
cordially invite you to the Installation of
Rev. E. Paul Emily 

  on Sunday, May 31, 2015

3:00 PM

 

St. Luke's United Church of Christ

727 N Main, Independence, MO

816-461-0302 

Reception Following Service

 

The Rev. Karen Aitkens will offer the sermon.  Clergy are encouraged to wear robes with red
or multiple colored stoles.

Conference Annual Gathering, June 4-6, 2015

Our theme is "Rebuild, Restore, Renew."  Please see the CAG schedule here.

Please use the below form to register for the event, which may be completed on your computer.  If the form is not compatible with your computer, please print and complete by hand. 
 
Please read the entire form carefully as we have changed our venue this year, and we are also offering several registration options with various pricing for your convenience. 

Date:  Thursday, June 4 - Saturday, June 6, 2015 
Please visit our Conference website to read the CAG FAQ's and further details  2015 Conference Annual Gathering website page

Regular-priced registration ends on Friday, May 22, which is only 8 days away!  Hurry. 

After May 22, late registration pricing goes into effect.  Registration deadline is Tuesday, May 26, which is only 12 days away!
  Please be respectful of this date as meal counts need to be shared with the Holiday Inn.

We look forward to gathering together in Columbia, MO this June!
Strengthen the Church Offering

The Strengthen the Church offering is coming soon, on Pentecost Sunday, May 24. Strengthen the Church is one of the five special offerings we take each year to support particular ministries our whole church has decided to engage in together. Strengthen the Church, as the name implies, is our way to fund renewal, vitality and growth of UCC congregations, start new churches and provide growth opportunities for pastors and church leaders.  

 

A special feature of the Strengthen the Church offering is that a portion of the gifts we make returns to our own Conference for work we decide to do. In addition, Strengthen the Church provides essential resources for the health of congregations that are available to us from our National office.

 

This year locally, Strengthen the Church resources are being used within Missouri Mid-South Conference in exciting ways: Through this offering we have entered into an agreement with the Center for Progressive Renewal to provide coaching, workshops and learning opportunities for our new Church Vitality Ministry Team as well as local pastors and congregations. We have recruited six pastors and seminary students who have agreed to attend the National Church Leaders Institute in Boston this summer and bring back their learnings to their own congregations, Association gatherings and clergy clusters. We hope to add another six next year and the year after that. Strengthen the Church has provided financial support to make this possible. A young woman who was active in the peaceful demonstrations in Ferguson was sent by our Conference to Ecumenical Advocacy Days in Washington, D.C. using Strengthen the Church funds. Strengthen the Church has provided resources for a seminary intern to help one of our congregations develop a plan for effective neighborhood ministry.

 

Clearly, Strengthen the Church is an offering that is vital to our own local ministries as well as to valuable programming at the national level. The funds derived from this offering are not part of our Conference Annual Budget, so they represent resources to extend our ministries in targeted areas of need without stretching our budgetary capacity.  We invite you to consider the opportunity to make a focused contribution to the vitality work of the UCC and the Missouri Mid-South Conference by supporting the Pentecost offering in your congregation.

 

Allen

Allen Fluent, Acting Conference Minister

Request for Sign Language Interpreter

Recently we received a request from an audiologist in St. Louis seeking a UCC church that offers sign language interpretation at their services.  The audiologist is currently working with a deaf individual who feels disconnected from his church because he can't hear and therefore can't participate in the services.  

 

If your SLA church offers sign language, please contact Renee at the Conference office, 314-918-2602.  Thank you.
Eden Seminary Commencement at Pilgrim UCC

Dr. Barbara Brown Taylor will give the address at Eden Seminary's Commencement Service on May 15 at Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ in St. Louis. Dr. Taylor is a New York Times best-selling author, professor and Episcopal priest.
 
Leaving Church, her first memoir, won a 2006 Author of the Year award from the Georgia Writers Association. Her most recent book, Learning to Walk in the Dark, was featured in TIME Magazine. Her book, The Preaching Life, is often used in classes at Eden.

The Commencement Service will take place at 7:30 pm on Friday, May 15 at Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ, 826 Union Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63108. Everyone is invited to join the Eden Community as we celebrate with our 2015 graduates! 
Glory to Glory Christian Church UCC is now ONA!

 

Dear Friends,

Celebrate with the Open and Affirming Coalition as we welcome this new Fellowship ONA church, Glory to Glory Christian Church UCC, as of May 5, 2015.  The ONA Church number indicates the position of this church in the chronology of all ONA churches listed since 1985.  This church is dually affiliated with the Fellowship of Affirming Ministries and the United Church of Christ.  We honor the affirming ministry they have been living and welcome them into the ONA family.  Spread the good news!

 

Thanks and blessings,

 Kathie Carpenter

National ONA Registrar and Consultant

Open and Affirming Coalition 

     of the United Church of Christ

  

ONA Church #1274

Glory to Glory Christian Church UCC# 381455

PO Box 771187, St. Louis, MO 63177 / 1920 South 7th Street, St. Louis, MO 63104

314-932-2259

glorytogloryucc.org [email protected] 

Bishop Wyatt I. Greenlee    [email protected] 

Missouri Mid-South Conference - St. Louis Association / Membership:  150

ONA contact: Elder John Gandy  [email protected]    314-280-6185

 

The church had held membership in The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries since 2000 and lives by The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries' Statement of Purpose, which reads, in part

 

We are committed to a theology that advances the moral equality and civil rights of all persons, with particular concern for LGBT people, people of color, women and immigrants. The overriding purpose of The Fellowship is to support religious leaders and laity from conservative faith backgrounds in moving towards a theology of radical inclusivity which, by its very nature, requires an equally radical social ministry reaching to the furthest margins of society to serve all in need without prejudice or discrimination.

Celebrating 20 Years at Shannondale

 

Jeff and Laurie Fulk will be honored as they complete their 20th year at Shannondale.  We plan to hold a dedication and celebration at Shannondale on Labor Day weekend with a "memory campfire" on Saturday evening (Sept. 5th) and dedication at Sunday worship (Sept. 6th) followed by a free picnic lunch of sloppy joe, beans, chips, etc.  There will be no charge for overnight stays that weekend but all will be responsible for their own food and their own cleanup of the facility they use.  Reservations will be accepted as received.

 

In their honor, we are purchasing and installing a "Funtime Playground" to be located near the church and the rock house.  Playground equipment is manufactured in America (made of 100% redwood) and will include a penthouse, slides (including spiral enclosed), ladder, climbing wall, tire swing, etc. with a free standing swing with two regular swings and one small child bucket seat.  Ground cover will be black sheeting covered with pea gravel and bordered for containing gravel.  We will go ahead with the purchase and installation as soon as we have monies to cover the project (estimate of $11,000).

 

Donations of any amount are welcomed and should be sent to: Attn: Jeannie Kramme, c/o St. Martin's UCC, 7890 Dittmer Ridge Road, Dittmer, MO 63023.  Checks need to be made out to St. Martin's UCC with the memo line reading Shannondale Funtime Playground.  All donor names will be recorded.  We hope you can join us! 

 

-submitted by Kathy Ury
Meet Camp MoVal's New Program Director

 

Camp MoVal welcomes Mariah Newell, our new Program Director. Mariah is a recent graduate of Texas Christian University and has been a life-long camper, a member of camp staff and a leader working with children and youth in the church setting.  

 

Mariah will join us at the end of May as we start our 2015 Summer Camp Season.  Please join us in wishing Mariah the best of luck in her new role at Camp MoVal!

 

Summer Camp 2015

There is still plenty of time to sign up for summer camp this year at MoVal, but camps are filling up quickly. This year campers are exploring the spirit and how the spirit can "Power Up" us to go out and do good for others. It is also important for us all to take get away and trying something different, no technology, being away with friends, playing in the outdoors, go swimming or boating, or just relaxing. Camp provides something different, but something very necessary to all of us. Come and join us, we offer programs for everyone, and it will change your life.  Call us at 636-583-2730 for further information. 

Correction: please note the below story was submitted from St. Luke's in Independence, not Imperial, as stated in last week's eCourier.  Our apologies for the error.  Thank you.

Eagle Scout Renovates Play Area at St. Luke's, Independence  

 

Braeden Finch, son of Brian and Heather Finch, recently completed his Eagle Scout project by redoing the  preschool play area at St. Luke's United Church of Christ, Independence. Braeden, a Life Scout is a member of Troop 813 that meets in Blue Springs, MO. He is also a freshman at Truman High School in Independence.

 

Braeden first presented his idea to St. Luke's UCC Council, which enthusiastically approved his idea for renovating the play area. He then spent several weeks collecting donations and he held a bake sale at the church. He ended up raising over $1,200. Then, on May 3rd, Braeden led several Boy Scouts and church members in completing the project. The new, larger play area includes rubberized mulch, a new bench for the adults, a 6 foot fence, and new toys and play equipment. All of this was done with the safety of the children in mind.

One of the biggest supporters was St. Luke's pastor, Rev. Paul Emily, who is also an Eagle Scout. St. Luke's UCC is very proud of Braeden and thankful for the time and effort he put in to make a wonderful play area for the younger children at the church.  Way to go Braeden, you're awesome!

-submitted by St. Luke's, Independence

Rev. Paul Emily and Braeden Finch near the new play area
St. Paul's Oakville Lenten Project

 

St. Paul's UCC (Oakville) in St. Louis rolled out a new Lenten program this year called "Working Together Through Lent".  Soup Suppers are normally added to the schedule of regular Tuesday night Worship during Lent. Various organizations within the church put together a different menu of soups each Tuesday, bringing together members for worship and fellowship.  

 

This year, St. Paul's wanted to go a step further and add a program for after services, "Working Together Through Lent", which consisted of building 8 adirondack chairs for Shannondale's property. Several members of the church met each Tuesday after worship and worked on building and painting the chairs, which turned out beautifully.

 

Thank you to St. Paul's for inventing a new and creative way to gather during Lent.  By using their hands and hearts, Shannondale now has beautifully hand-crated gifts to share with their visitors!

-submitted by St. Paul's (Oakville), St. Louis

Nepal Earthquake - How to Donate

 

By now I'm sure you are all aware of the devastating earthquake in Nepal. I wanted to send you a quick update on the UCC response as you may receive calls or e-mail inquiries from our congregations and members. UCC Disaster Ministries has a broad network of trusted and reliable partners that we work with throughout the year with capacity and local presence in hundreds of countries. Through these partnerships we are able to effectively and efficiently respond to both immediate and long-term needs following disasters.  

 

Since the quake our partnership through the ACT Alliance has been responding and working hard to help stabilize the situation through provisions of food, water, medicine and temporary shelter.  UCC Disaster Ministries is requesting financial contributions to the International Emergency Relief fund to support these essential on-the-ground efforts. Donors can designate their gift by noting it is for Nepal Earthquake relief.  

 

To give online visit https://unitedchurchofchrist.nationbuilder.com/international_emergency_relief_fund

 

Thank you for your continued prayers for the survivors, rescue teams and relief workers.  If individuals are seeking more information I can be reached at [email protected] or 410-259-6194.    

 

Zach Wolgemuth    
Executive, UCC Disaster Ministries
Faith-based Disaster Preparedness Workshops

 

The Governor's Faith-Based and Community Service Partnership for Disaster Recovery invites faith organization leaders, emergency management directors, local public health agency (LPHA) representatives and Community Organizations Active in Disasters (COAD) members to attend one of the nine regional workshops in May and June. 

 

Because faith-based organizations face unique challenges in helping their communities prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters, The Partnership, along with the Public Health Emergency Preparedness program has put together a program that will provide insightful and practical advice to help with that mission. We hope you can participate.

 

UPDATE:  Please see revised flyer which now lists all dates and locations.  Registration is recommended and may be completed using the following link:  http://training.dps.mo.gov/sematraining.nsf/TrainingSchedule.

 

These events are provided free of cost to participants. All events are from 1-5 p.m. The dates and locations of each regional workshop are listed on the above flyer.  Please feel free to distribute this information widely.

Employment Opportunities
 
Employment postings will run for one month, unless otherwise specified. 

 

Youth Ministry Coordinator, 4/17/15

First Congregational Church of Webster Groves invites applications for an enthusiastic, progressive-minded coordinator of Youth Ministry.  This is a paid part-time position, 15 hours per week.  For further information or to send a resume, please contact [email protected].   

 

Choir Director and Organist, 4/17/15 

Peace United Church of Christ, a progressive Protestant congregation of 350 persons, seeks a director for adult chancel choir and instrumental ensemble, as well as organist. This position is about 10 hours/week. If interested, submit a letter of intent, professional resume, and a recording (tape or MP3) of your accompaniment and choir conducting skills, by Friday, May 1, to Darcy Swanson at [email protected] or please mail to: 204 E. Lockwood Ave., Webster Groves, MO 63119.  

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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.