Friday, September 4, 2015
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Our Conference office will be closed on Monday, September 7
in honor of the Labor Day holiday.
Thank you - This communication is made possible by your contributions to
OCWM - Our Church's Wider Mission.  Individual or group donations welcomed!
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The next eHappenings will be sent on Tuesday, September 15.
The deadline for submissions is 9/11/15. Email events to  [email protected].

Around Your Conference

Allen's Message to You...

You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." But if you show partiality you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. For the one who said, "You shall not commit adultery," also said, "You shall not murder." Now if you do not commit adultery but if you murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
                                                                                James 2:8-13
 
Dear friends and partners in the Gospel,
 
                Some people would say that partiality is the very definition of our human condition, and there is good reason to think this is so. I often notice it as I hear the opinions of others on the issues of the day. We watch the news together. I hear one thing; you hear another. I am disgusted by someone's behavior, but you feel the fear or the anger in his heart and believe you understand what led him to do the thing that I condemn. It's where we came from; it's who we are; or what particular experiences we've had; that leads us in one direction or the other in our judgments. Then, when judgment is further colored by social privilege, love and justice both fall victims to our human partiality.
 
                How does God judge? The testimony of James offers a perspective on that question. For James, there is no faithful truth but love, expressed in mercy. He says we prefer to say we believe in love instead of loving, as though the mental sense of benevolence we may feel had a curative effect upon the world.   It does not. Love requires energy, and the greatest energy required by love is to understand our partiality by stretching ourselves to listen to our neighbors.
 
                Churches that are faithful to the value of crossing the boundaries of our partiality are blessed sanctuaries where many of us find the joy of nonjudgmental love. Still there are many who have never experienced such a fellowship of loving faith. It may be that the most powerful contribution we can make to a revitalized faith community is to talk with one another intentionally about our different life narratives. There are models for this developing in many churches that practice inter-faith dialogue, conversations about race, global partnerships, discussions of privilege, or conversations about welcoming people of all sexual orientations and identities.
 
Of course we are at different places in such gatherings. We're partial; we're human; we sin. Our goal is not agreement, but understanding; and the action that emerges when new bonds are created among us becomes the authentic working of the Spirit in our midst.
 
Thanks for the works of ministry you accomplish in the name of Jesus Christ.

Allen
Rev. Dr. Allen M. Fluent, Acting Conference Minister
Dear Friends in the Missouri Mid-South Conference:
 
I always find it exciting to see the innovative partnerships formed by local congregations of the UCC and the health and welfare services that share their communities of service.  Attached is a helpful article that raises important questions to ask ourselves about building a satisfying and productive "retirement."   The article is written by Dr. Joel Chapman, Director of The Pilgrim Center, a "shared-space ministry" of First Congregational Church, one of our Missouri Mid-South Conference congregations in Memphis, Tennessee. Thanks to First Congregational and to the Pilgrim Center for sharing these thoughts with us.
 
Allen

Retirement Transition

In times past, retirement meant getting the proverbial gold watch and a pension after years of faithful service in a company that looks after its workers. In today's world, you might have several jobs, more than one career, and no guarantee whatsoever of financial security. Is there any middle ground between these rosy vs. gloomy scenarios?
  
To find that middle ground, we might ask ourselves several key questions. First off, what does retirement mean? Maybe the word is misleading. In the rosy scenario above, retirement meant stopping work and sitting at home, maybe with some occasional travel. In the more stressful scenario above, retirement sounds unlikely, if not impossible. Complete article
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
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. 
Our 2015 Friends of the Conference Fund Challenge Has Begun

Please see the below letter which has initiated our "Friends of the Conference Fund Challenge" for 2015.  Our goal is to reach $20,000 before the end of this year and we have already generously received $2,875.  We will track the donation progress each week in our eCourier.  Thank you for supporting your Missouri Mid-South Conference!

Dear Friend of the Conference,

"I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will
make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." Isaiah 43:19
 
Over the past two years our Missouri Mid-South Conference (MMSC) has weathered a challenging period of change. Our leadership continues the search for our new Conference Minister, while we continue to give thanks for the sustained presence of our current Acting Conference Minister, Rev. Dr. Allen Fluent. Thank you to all who have worked so diligently and generated a new vitality for MMSC.
 
As we prepare to receive new leadership, our MMSC Conference Council and OCWM Covenanted Ministry have announced an appeal to signal our support and to provide financial vitality through the "Friends of the Conference Fund". The dollars collected are being designated for key programs which will prepare our Conference for a strong and successful future. The contributions will provide our churches several programs and tools that will benefit them in such ways as Church Vitality, Sacred Conversations on Race, and the recently engaged Center for Progressive Renewal, and more.  Complete letter  Pledge card  
Ordination of Jeffrey M. Mueller

St. Paul UCC and the Eastern Association of  
The Missouri Mid-South Conference UCC 
Invite you to the ordination celebration of

Jeffrey Michael Mueller

on Sunday, September 20, 2015 
at 2:00 pm 
at St. Paul UCC, 136 W. 1st St., Hermann MO 65041 

A reception will follow. 
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. 
Fall Association Meetings

Please click on each association link below, which will take you to our Conference website for further information, forms and meeting materials.

Eastern Association:  September 27, 2:00 pm at Zion St. Paul Bay in Hermann. 

St. Louis Association:  September 26, 8:30 am at Church of the Master in Florissant.

Western Association:  October 3, at the Doubletree Hotel in Overland, KS.   
2015 Persons in Ministry (PIM) Retreat 

Today is the last day to register for the PIM Retreat!

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.

NOTE:  The retreat may provide seven hours of continuing education for those who choose this option.  The PIM Retreat this year will not count toward your 3-year boundary training requirement. 
 
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!  
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 ChuEden logorch 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.
Free Church Pews Available

Kirkwood UCC, 1603 Dougherty Ferry Road is offering church pews (twenty-eight 9'8" and one pew 8'2").
Photo of actual pews available at Kirkwood UCC 


They are free, transporting them will be up to the person or organization that wants them. 

Please contact Vi Hennen at 314-650-1284 if interested.

Free Risograph Printer Available

FREE RISOGRAPH PRINTER Model RN 2030 with Manual.  The machine is 20 years old, last used in 2011 and it worked well. You must be able to pickup the printer on your own.

Call for specs and details: Linda Zappe at Immanuel UCC, 221 Church St.,Ferguson, MO 63135, 314-521-7324

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.
Employment Opportunities
 
Employment postings will run for one month, unless otherwise specified.
 
St. John UCC, Part-time Organist/Pianist
Position Summary:  St. John UCC is seeking an experienced, team oriented professional with a passion for sacred music and a heart for Christ. This person will be responsible for playing both the organ and piano during all worship services, accompanying the choirs during rehearsal and performance, and offering support to the rest of the music staff. During the program year, our choirs rehearse weekly and perform regularly during Sunday morning services, annual Christmas and Good Friday Cantatas, and for other special events.  To see full job description, click here.

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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.