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Saturday, October 10, 2015
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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 Thursday, October 15.
The deadline for submissions is 10/13/15. Email events to kris@mmsucc.org.
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Allen's Message To You...
This feature will return in next week's eCourier. Thank you.
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Installation of Austin McCandless
Faith UCC and the Missouri Mid-South Conference UCC
Invite you to the installation service of
Austin McCandless
at
Faith UCC, 106 Kent Dr, Wentzville, MO 63385
on Sunday, October 11, 2015
at 3:00 pm
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Installation of Rev. Patrick Chandler
St. Peter's United Church of Christ and the St. Louis Association of the
Missouri Mid-South Conference UCC
Invite you to celebrate and rejoice at the installation of
Rev. Patrick D. Chandler
as Senior Pastor
on Sunday, October 11, 2015 at 3:00 pm
at St. Peter's UCC,1425 Stein Road, Ferguson, MO 63135
Guest Preacher - The Rev. Dr. Timothy Downs, Southeast Conference Minister (retired)
All clergy are invited to robe and wear red stoles. A reception will follow.
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Special Guest at Western Association Fall Meeting 
On Saturday, October 3, the Kansas-Oklahoma Conference and the Western Association of the MMS Conference joined together for a fall meeting.
A very special guest was in attendance, the Rev. Dr. John Dorhauer, UCC President and General Minister.
Being a true St. Louis Cardinals fan, John was an extremely good sport to don a Kansas City Royals 2014 American League Champions baseball cap, which we're pretty sure was provided by our own Associate Conference Minister, Rev. Dale Parson!
As long as you're not a Cubs fan, John, you're still OK with us folks in Missouri!!!
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Installation of Pastor Van Lahmeyer
The Eastern Association of the Missouri Mid-South Conference of the United Church of Christ,
St. James UCC Charlotte and St. Pauls UCC Copper Hill invite you to the worship services to install Pastor Van Lahmeyer
at St James UCC Charlotte, 2874 Charlotte Church Rd, Owensville, MO
located on Hwy 50 between Drake and Rosebud On Sunday, October 18, with a combined worship service at 11:30 am A meal after the service in the St James Fellowship Hall and the installation service at 2:30 pm
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Installation of Rev. Dr. James Hogue
The Eastern Association of the
Missouri Mid-South Conference of the United Church of Christ
and Ebenezer "Stone Church" United Church of Christ
invite you to a worship service to install
Rev. Dr. James Hogue as pastor
on Sunday, October 25 at 3:00 pm
Ebenezer "Stone Church" UCC, 6162 Stone Church Road, Gerald, MO 63037
Clergy are invited to robe with red stoles and join in the procession.
A reception and meal will follow in the Church Hall.
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Conference Annual Planning Event, November 14, 10am-4pm
Save the date! On November 14 at Columbia UCC, we will gather for our first Conference Annual Planning Event.
Please mark your calendars for this important planning event. All clergy, church leaders, association members,  and committee and covenanted ministry chairs/members are invited and NEEDED to help us move forward with the implementation of the Vision Team's recommendations for our Conference.
This is your opportunity to - Join the conversation. Be part of the plan. Be part of the vision. Listen to new ideas. Have your voice heard. Establish our future!
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.
Since a lunch is being planned for this day, please RSVP no later than Friday, November 6 to Joyce Bathke, Conference Moderator, at joyce.bathke@yahoo.com or to Renee Cordes at the Conference office, renee@mmsucc.org.
Thank you for your commitment to our Conference, and we look forward to seeing you on November 14!
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FACT Survey Results From CARD
Earlier this year the Center for Analytics, Research and Data (CARD), the United Church of Christ's research and information office, requested the nearly 5,100 congregations in the denomination to participate in the longest-running survey of congregational life in the United States.
Now completed, the Faith Communities Today (FACT) survey, will give local churches insights to help them grow-information and trends on membership, programming, youth and young adult ministries, vitality and use of  technology. A webinar will be shared on October 21 - Event flyer. This is the fifth FACT survey, which began in 2000 as a series of research surveys and reports about congregational life. The Cooperative Congregations Studies Partnership, a multi-faith group of religious researchers and faith leaders from 25 different Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Bahai faith groups, publishes the report. The survey provides information about local church programs and mission giving, and gives congregations a glimpse of their own mission life compared to what other UCC churches are doing to help pastors and congregations gauge what they do within the wider church. For instance, the 2010 FACT survey concluded that congregations with "strong, permanent leadership, that enjoy joyful, innovative and inspirational worship are more likely to experience growth." Some of the factors of growing churches were their geography in the South, having more weekly worship services, and communicating a clear sense of mission and purpose. "It can help with mission planning, vitality planning, it creates a benchmark to see where the UCC is as a whole and where their church fits in that spectrum," said Rev. Kristina Lizardy-Hajbi, director of CARD. "We'll also have some of the results published in our statistical profile for 2015." Lizardy-Hajbi, who serves on the FACT steering committee, had a hand in designing some of the specific questions on young adult ministry. For each survey, there is a subset of questions on special topics, such as young adult ministries, congregational vitality and the use of technology in all aspects of congregational life.
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2016 Minimum Clergy Compensation Guidelines
We recommend to you the Mis souri Mi d-South "Minimum Clergy Compensation Guidelines" for 2016. The  guidelines are available below, or you may contact the Conference office and ask for a hard copy through the regular mail.
They will be helpful to church leaders considering pastoral salary and benefits, as well as to pastoral search teams and authorized clergy considering a call.
This document was prepared by the Conference Committees on the Ministry Covenanted Ministry.
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New Beginnings Application
Did you attend the New Beginnings seminar last month? If your congregation is interested in pursuing this  service, please complete the application by Friday, October 16, and return to Rev. Dale Parson. Here is a link to the Come and See PowerPoint presentation:
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Our Friends of the Conference Challenge 2015 - Week 6
Welcome to our sixth week of the "Friends of the Conference Fund Challenge" for 2015. The goal is to reach $20,000 before the end of this year, and our current donation total is $5,125. We will continue to track the donation progress  each week in our eCourier. Thank you for supporting your Missouri Mid-South Conference!
Dear Friend of the Conference,
Thank you to all who have worked so diligently toward a new vitality for our Missouri Mid-South Conference.
The proof of this vitality begins with numbers! Financially the Conference is in better shape now than it has been in several years. Our participation at Conference events such as the Conference Annual Gathering has increased, not only in numbers, but in energy and excitement.
Congregational giving is up, as is the number of churches who are Five for Five. Five for Five churches provide intentional donations not only to Our Church's Wider Mission (OCWM), but also to our four special UCC funds, which include Strengthen the Church, the Christmas Fund, Neighbors in Need, and One Great Hour of Sharing. This is a sign of commitment and vitality - THANK YOU!
Continue letter Pledge card
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Installation of Rev. Paul A. Porter
The St. Louis Association & Missouri Mid-South Conference & Eden United Church of Christ
Invites you to join in the celebration of the installation of
Rev. Paul A. Porter
as pastor and teacher
On Sunday, November 8, 2015
at 3:00 pm (a reception will follow)
Eden United Church of Christ, 8920 Eden Ave., Affton, MO 63123
Rev. Jack Spratte will offer the sermon
Clergy are invited to gather at 2:30 pm, robes and red stoles are requested
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YOUTH - Conference Middle School Event
You could not, would not, want to miss a Middle School event quite like this! This year's Dr. Seuss themed retreat  will be held November 20 th - 21 st. The Conference Middle School Event (CMSE) is a tool for enhancing Middle School youth ministry in local congregations by helping youth connect with their peers from around the Missouri Mid-South Conference. The retreat will be full of all the great camp activities we love at MoVal, discussion groups, games, mission opportunities, and some Dr. Seuss fun. Check in will start at 7:00 pm on Friday, November 20 th and the event will end at approximately 5:00 pm on Saturday, November 21 st. Youth currently in grades 6 th, 7 thth, & 8 and their adult advisors are all invited to attend this life changing event. The cost is $60 per youth or adult. Scholarships are available. Please visit our Conference website for details and registration information.
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One 2015 MMSUCC Boundary Session Remaining
There is one upcoming MMSUCC boundary training session in November:
ST. LOUIS - Friday, November 7, 2015 - First Congregational UCC - Webster Groves, MO - 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
10 W. Lockwood Ave, St. Louis, MO 63119
Facilitators: Ms. Jane Porchey and Rev. Bruce Moeller
Please visit our Conference website for further information and to register, or contact Kris Scott at 314-918-2605 or kris@mmsucc.org.
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"Neighbors in Need" in our Conference
As congregations receive the annual all-church offering, "Neighbors in Need," there is a reminder that each year persons in our own neighborhoods are served by this important resource.
This year, the Marshallese Ministry United Church of Christ of Springdale, Arkansas received a grant from the "Neighbors in Need" offering to establish a summer meals program for children in the community. The "Neighbors in Need" grant enabled the congregation to make necessary improvements to their kitchen facilities to meet local and state codes.
In partnership with other congregations in the area, Marshallese Ministry UCC provided daily meals for three hundred children during the summer. This fall, the church is planning another program, "After School Meals."
Albon Langbon, pastor of the Marshallese Ministry United Church of Christ in Springdale, Arkansas said, "The Neighbors in Need grant helped launch this much-needed ministry in our community. Thank you United Church of Christ for making this possible."
Know that all "Neighbors in Need" contributions benefit important wider church ministries: Native American Ministries, national and regional programs and local programs like the meals for children in Springdale.
-Rev. Dale Parson
Associate Conference Minister
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Ribbon cutting ceremony to open the new kitchen.
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A brand new kitchen to nourish bodies and souls.
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Eden Seminary Bookstore - New Hours 
Bookstore hours have been changed temporarily until the appointment of a new Bookstore Director.
The Bookstore's new hours are:
Monday - Thursday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
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Free Church Pew Cushions Available 
St. John UCC in Manchester has the following free cushions: 30 (120x15), 7 (100x15), 2 (81x15), 2 (40x15) and 1 (71x15). They are made of a soft velvet.
Whoever would like the cushions will need to pick them up. If you are interested, please contact Rev. Kevin Gregory at 636-391-6655 or kevin@stjohnmanchester.org.
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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.
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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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Employment postings will run for one month, unless otherwise specified.
Christ Church UCC Maplewood, Part-time Administrator, 10/2/15
This person will work during times of absence/vacation of our current Administrator. The successful candidate would possess a working knowledge and experience with the Powerchurch software program. Hours can be flexible, during the periods of need, but are typically 9am to noon, Monday through Friday. Please contact Ron at
rgaus15496@gmail.com
for more information.
Union Communion Ministries, Part-time Executive Director, 10/2/15
A church-related, neighborhood-based outreach agency. Average time commitment is 20 hours per week. Requirements: Bachelor's degree and 3-5 years administrative experience in human services, skill with diverse populations. Resumes to Union Communion Ministries Search, 826 Union Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63108, FAX (314) 367-8174, or markleerobinson@gmail.com. Application review will begin on September 8, 2015.
Parkway UCC, Part-time Music Director, 9/17/15
Parkway United Church of Christ, a faithful and progressive, warm and inclusive congregation at Ballas & I-64 seeks a part-time (approx 10 hours/week) Music Director for our Informal Worship Service. We invite you to visit our website, parkwayucc.org and the national website, ucc.org to find out more about us. If you feel that we could be a good fit for you and your gifts, please send a cover letter and resume to employment@parkwayucc.org. This is a great opportunity!
St. John UCC, Part-time Organist/Pianist, 9/4/15 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
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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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