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Thank you - This communication is made possible by your contributions to
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The next eHappenings will be sent on Monday, August 31st.
The deadline for submissions has expired. Email events to kris@mmsucc.org.
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Allen's Message to You...
This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines. Jesus quoting Scripture to his critics in Mark 7:6b-7 Let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God's righteousness. James 1: 19b-20 Dear Friends and Partners in the Gospel, As children, we were forever being reminded to "think before you speak." It is one of the classics of parental advice, and of course it couldn't be followed. Instead, in the heat of the moment when it might have been helpful to do our thinking first, we usually found it was the one thing that we could not do, if we wanted to win the argument. Thinking takes time, so if we take too long to think we run the risk of losing our advantage, or so we believe. Still that begs the question, doesn't it, why it is that so much of our conversation tends toward argument in the first place. Why are we so bent upon making our case? What is it that we have to prove or defend? We even stage the TV news to give us arguments from the left or right, while what is so is left to the imagination. There is a kind of thinking, of course, that serves us as we argue: it goes like, "What do I need to say to prove I'm right?" or, "What do I need to say to prove you're wrong?" In the public arena, organizations actually develop "talking points," to use in making their case against another point of view. Even Christians do it, for whatever they think is a worthy cause; and thereby honor the god who agrees with them. But wisdom seeks the truth. In the rhetoric of justice, we are given many tools. There are tools to use when we want to win the day, but they are often not the best ones in our satchel. Jesus didn't use them much. Instead, he seems to have taken a longer view, and searched for the tools that pointed us toward deeper understanding. In that way, Jesus took upon himself the ancient wisdom of the Scriptures. He knew that thinking before we speak is not enough; it also matters what we think about. Listen before you speak, says James. "Be quick to listen, slow to speak." "Pray before you speak," he might have said, so that our thoughts might not be substituted for God's in the form of doctrines  distanced from compassion. As the church in our time continues to reduce its centers of control and disperse its authority into the communities of God's people, I think a new centering will need to emerge from our conversations with one another. Believing that a new sense of mutual caring will emerge from this is a matter of faith, but about the importance of listening to one another and to God, in the spirit of biblical wisdom there is no doubt. Blessings on your works of ministry.
Rev. Dr. Allen M. Fluent, Acting Conference Minister
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Ordination of Paul PorterFirst Congregational Church of Webster Groves, UCC 10 W. Lockwood Ave
Webster Groves, MO 63119 August, 30, 2015 3:00 pm reception to follow
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Ordination of Catherine Dixon
The St. Louis Association of the
Missouri Mid-South Conference of the United Church of Christ
and First Congregational United Church of Christ of Memphis
invite you to the Ordination of
Catherine A. Dixon
on Sunday, September 6th, 2015 at 10:30 AM
at First Congregational United Church of Christ
1000 South Cooper Street
Memphis, TN 38104
Clergy are invited to wear robes and stoles
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Installation of Kimi E. Yokayama
Sunday, September 13, 2:30 pm
Zion United Church of Christ
9th and Faraon Streets
St. Joseph, MO 64501
Morning worship is at 10:30 am.
We will have covered dish dinner in Fellowship Hall following the worship.
All are invited to come early, worship, eat! (We'll have cookies after the service).
Dr. Robert Lee Hill, retired pastor, Community Christian Church, Kansas City, MO to speak.
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Installation of Rev. A. Rushan Sinnaduray
Central United Church of Christ and The Western Association of
The Missouri Mid-South Conference United Church of Christ
Invite you to celebrate and rejoice at the Installation of
Rev. A. Rushan Sinnaduray as Senior Pastor
of
Central United Church of Christ, Jefferson City
on Sunday, September 20, 2015
at 3:00 pm
at Central UCC, 118 W. Ashley Street, Jefferson City, MO 65101
All Clergy are invited to robe and wear red stoles.
A reception will follow.
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2015 Persons in Ministry (PIM) Retreat
The deadline to receive the discounted hotel rate is August 31 - HURRY - that's only 3 days away! 
September 14-16 are the days. . .The Inn at Grand Glaize is the new location. . .the time to register is now.
The theme for the 2015 Persons in Ministry Retreat is "Church: Who Needs It? Really?!" Sponsored jointly by the Missouri Mid-South Conference UCC and the Mid America Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), this annual event provides a time to be enriched, enjoy fellowship with colleagues and retreat in the Lake of the Ozarks.
Co-facilitators for the retreat are Rev. Mark Robinson and Rev. Dr. Cathie McCallie. Please visit our Conference website for further information on our new venue, how to reserve your hotel room and register for the event, in addition to a full color brochure. We hope to see you there!
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Help Your Church Choose It's Future!
There's still space for you and a team from your church to attend New Beginnings. This event is FREE, so please join us at the most convenient location/date for you:
- Saturday, September 19 from 9 -11 a.m. at Agape House, 312 19th Street Terrace, Blue Springs, MO
- Saturday, September 19 from 1:30-3:30 pm at Columbia UCC
- Sunday, September 20 from 2 - 4 pm at Grace UCC, O'Fallon, MO
These events will be a presentation about the assessment process, and with New Beginnings your congregation will: 
* Receive a comprehensive report of strengths and challenges, as well as a realistic picture of possible future directions.
* Be trained in a discernment process to follow God's lead in choosing a new direction.
* Discover available ministry opportunities in the community.
* Learn how to discuss and implement change in a healthy, open manner.
* Leaders receive additional training on leading through change.
* Set a course for future strategic and visionary ministry planning.
To see a brochure of the New Beginnings Assessment Service, click here. Is it time for a New Beginning? Come and see!
If you are interested in attending this FREE and informative seminar, please call or email Kris at our Conference office to register and save your place: 314-918-2605, kris@mmsucc.org.
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Opening Convocation at Eden Seminary
Join the community of Eden Theological Seminary for Opening Convocation on Tuesday, September 8 as we begin the 2015-16 academic year. The service begins at 10:30 am in Wehrli Chapel followed by a picnic lunch in Schroer Commons. All are welcome!
The Reverend Dr. David Greenhaw, President of Eden Seminary will welcome the gathered community. The Reverend Geoffrey Black, recently retired General Minister and President of the United Chu rch of Christ and new Visiting Professor at Eden, will deliver the address. The service includes the introduction of the new class of incoming students by the Reverend Tiffany Pittman, Director of Admissions, and a faculty update as well as introduction of new faculty by the Reverend Dr. Deborah Krause, Academic Dean and Professor of New Testament.
Please join us at Opening Convocation as Eden Seminary embarks on its 165th academic year, seeking to strengthen the life of the church by educating women and men for ministry, enlivening critical reflection on faith, and supporting bold Christian discipleship.
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It's Fall Clean-Up Time With Cornerstone
It's that time of year to gather the last of the garden crops and pick the last blooms before the early frosts end the growing season. It's time to take the rake in hand and gather up the fallen leaves or to mow and mulch them to feed the lawn for next year's growing season. It could be the right time to clean up finances to help feed the ministry and mission of your church with needed fund  s that might be saved with some consolidation of older loans or some new investments. The Cornerstone Fund of the United Church of Christ would like to be your helper in doing some of those clean up chores. We can't come rake your church yard, but we can help with some financial clean up. Check us out at www.cornerstonefund.org or by emailing our Mission Interpreter for the Midwest region, Rev. David Moyer at 608-630-3177 or dsmoyer47@gmail.com. He might even bring a rake and gloves and help with those yard chores.
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Our 26th UCC Habitat House Build To Begin
25 representatives from 21 congregations met this week to plan our fall rehab with our Habitat for Humanity partners. Beginning in mid-September, work crews from these congregations will begin the arduous task of  breaking up concrete to install drainage systems. By the end of January, the home will look and act like new for Candice and her three children. In our 20th year, this will be the 26th house that our UCC partners have helped to build. For 15 of those years our crew leaders have been Jim Kennedy and John Behl. It is a great partnership with folk who have become good friends. Beginning in October, Wednesday or Friday crews will help prepare for the Saturday workdays. Special thanks to Bob Steen of Kirkwood UCC for taking the lead and Dale Drape of Samuel UCC for serving as treasurer.
Our initial relationship with Habitat began in 1996 when a member of St. Peter's in Ferguson invited other congregations to join in the effort. We could build a house for $35,000 and did! Your gifts are always welcome. -submitted by Rev. Keith Karau
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Conference Annual Planning Event 
Save the date! On November 14 at Columbia UCC we will gather for the Conference Annual Planning Event.
Please mark your calendars for this important planning event. All pastors, church leaders, Association members are invited and NEEDED to help us move forward with the implementation of the Vision Team's recommendations for our Conference.
We will be determining our priorities for the upcoming year and determining how we can go about achieving the work we are being called to do in our communities. Your input is vital. We hope you attend - YOU ARE THE CONFERENCE.
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Free Church Organ Available
Rev. Mary Ann Lawrence, previous Pastor of St. Matthew UCC and current Chaplain of Brooking Park SNF, knows a resident with a church organ they would like to donate. The resident who owns the organ is going into hospice and more space is needed for a hospital bed and other equipment.
The organ is not a small spinet, and it originally retailed for $18,000. It would be perfect for a church - might be too large for someone's home. If anyone is interested, please contact Mary Ann at 314-680-2796.
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Team St. Louis UCC to Bike in MS150
Interested in biking? Know others who enjoy the sport? Spread the word among your church members that a  TEAM UCC has been formed to participate in the MS 150 this September 12-13 in nearby Godfrey, Illinois.
The route accommodates riders who choose 20, 50, 75 or 100 miles. Minimum age is 12 years. To sign up, go to the link below, click on "join a team" and choose St. Louis UCC.
For more information, call Bill Biedenstein at 636-677-3055 or email WmBiedenstein@SBCGlobal.net.
http://bikemos.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR/Bike/MOSBikeEvents?pg=entry&fr_id=25028
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Employment postings will run for one month, unless otherwise specified.
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Contact Us
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Missouri Mid-South Conference United Church of Christ 314-962-8740 or 877-877-5884 Email renee@mmsucc.org to submit information for a future issue. Not all submissions may be used in future eCouriers. |
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