Welcome to our weekly eblast, the Missouri Mid-South Conference eCourier. We are a collection of 140+ local congregations in the United Church of Christ denomination covering the geographic region of Missouri, Arkansas, and Memphis, TN.

No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here.

We believe in extravagant welcome. This is why we insist that God's communion table is open, not closed, and God's gift and claim in baptism are irrevocable. We advocate justice for all. Our congregations extend hospitality as a sign of God's inclusive love. We teach that evangelism - offering bread to those in search of it - is God's mission. Our perspective is global, not provincial. We work with - not against - people of other faiths. Why? Because God is still speaking,

Ginny's Gems

Your Outdoor Ministries

Ginny celebrates the outdoor ministries of Camp MoVal and Shannondale Community Property within the Missouri Mid-South Conference. She has made it a point to go early in our ministry together to visit both sites and talk with Jeremy Force, the Executive Director of Camp MoVal, and Jeff Fulk, the Executive Director of Shannondale Camp. Both sites offer the heritage of the vision God has provided the Missouri Mid-South Conference to offer sanctuaries of worship, fellowship, education, and comfort for, not only those in the United Church of Christ, but also those in the surrounding community as well.

Ginny celebrates the new endeavor of Shannondale and the Missouri Mid-South Conference with the establishment of Carbon Credits. This program allows corporations to purchase carbon credits they need from the land that is unused at Shannondale. Woohoo! But she also encourages us to avoid the temptation of thinking that Shannondale, Camp MoVal, your local church, or the conference doesn't need your financial generosity because of endowment funds and programs such as the Carbon Credits. Giving to our UCC ministries is a spiritual exercise we all need to practice because when we invest our money in our ministries, we are investing all of who we are toward the living out of God's Beloved Community!

Ginny's Schedule

Location	Date	Description
St. Louis, MO	3/11/16	Out/Ginny's Sabbath Day
High Hill, MO	3/13/16	Worship at St. John UCC
Cleveland, OH	3/14/16	Meeting with MESA
Cleveland, OH	3/15-3/17/16	Council of Conference Ministers Mtg
	3/18/16	Out/Ginny's Sabbath Day
St. Louis, MO	3/20/16	Worship at St. Lucas UCC
Houston, TX	3/21-3/25/16	Ginny Vacation
	3/25/16	Good Friday, Office Closed
St. Louis, MO	3/29/16	MMS Conference Open House Eden Seminary Convocation
Orlando, FL	3/30-4/1/16	Stepping into Stewardship Conference
Kansas City, MO	4/3/16	Worship at St. Peters UCC
St. Louis, MO	4/6/16	Children's Advocacy Day w/Deaconess Foundation
St. Louis, MO	4/7/16	Young Women Preachers Festival

LAST CALL! - UCC Church Yearbook Update

As of Monday, March 7, the Data Hub closed to all churches in the UCC. The only way to report your yearbook statistics is to send your paperwork to our Conference office. We will continue to accept your reports until Friday, March 18. If your paperwork arrives after 3/18, we cannot guarantee it will be included in the upcoming UCC Yearbook.

Please fax (314-918-2610), email (kris@mmsucc.org) or snail mail (483 E. Lockwood Ave, Ste, 15, St. Louis, MO 63119) your info to us as soon as possible!

Thank you to the following 82 churches (that's 30 more since last week - way to step it up MMS!) in our Conference which have either entered their church statistics into the Data Hub or have provided us paperwork*! However, we still need to hear from over 60 of our churches. Per association, the breakout is:

Eastern Association - 31 churches (still in the lead, rocking it!)
St. Louis Association - 29 churches
Western Association - 22 churches

If your UCC church is not listed below, please speak with your pastor, treasurer or church administrator immediately so your church information can be included in the next national UCC Yearbook. The deadline is 3/18 - there still is time!

City	Name	State	ASSOC
Little Rock	Faith United Church of Christ	AR	440
Arnold	Saint Mark UCC	MO	440
Hermann	Zion Saint Paul UCC	MO	436
Owensville	Saint John's UCC	MO	436
Berger	Bethany UCC	MO	436
Billings	Saint Peter's Evangelical UCC	MO	444
Blackburn	Saint Paul's Church UCC	MO	444
Bonne Terre	First Congregational United Church of Christ	MO	440
Boonville	Saint Johns UCC Billingsville	MO	444
Mc Girk	Salem United Church of Christ	MO	444
California	United Church of Christ	MO	444
Chamois	Saint John UCC	MO	436
Chesterfield	Ivy Chapel UCC	MO	440
Chesterfield	Saint Thomas UCC	MO	440
Columbia	United Church of Christ	MO	444
Cosby	Hope United Church of Christ	MO	444
Defiance	Saint Paul's UCC	MO	436
DeSoto	Hope United Church of Christ	MO	440
Florissant	Church of the Master UCC	MO	440
Florissant	Christ the King United Church of Christ	MO	440
Foristell	Saint John's/Cappeln UCC	MO	436
Gerald	Saint Paul UCC	MO	436
Hartsburg	Peace United Church of Christ	MO	444
Higginsville	Salem United Church of Christ	MO	444
High Ridge	Saint Martin UCC	MO	440
Marthasville	Immanuels UCC	MO	436
Independence	Saint Luke's UCC	MO	444
Jackson	Emanuel United Church of Christ	MO	436
Kansas City	Bethel United Church of Christ	MO	444
Kansas City	Country Club Congregational UCC	MO	444
Kansas City	Peace Christian Church	MO	444
Kansas City	Saint Peter's UCC	MO	444
Labadie	Pilgrim United Church of Christ	MO	436
Lebanon	First Congregational UCC	MO	444
Lexington	Trinity United Church of Christ	MO	444
Manchester	St. John UCC	MO	440
Marthasville	Saint Paul's UCC	MO	436
Mayview	Zion United Church of Christ	MO	444
Morrison	Saint James UCC	MO	436
New Cambria	United Church of New Cambria	MO	444
New Franklin	Immanuel UCC	MO	444
New Haven	Saint Peter's UCC	MO	436
New Melle	Friedens Peace UCC	MO	436
Saint Peters	Grace United Church of Christ	MO	436
Old Monroe	Saint Paul UCC	MO	436
Owensville	Saint James/Charlotte UCC	MO	436
Owensville	Saint Peter's UCC	MO	436
Pershing	Zion-Saint Peter UCC	MO	436
Pinckney	Saint John's UCC	MO	436
Raytown	Southwood UCC	MO	444
Ryors	Ebenezer Ryors UCC	MO	436
Saint Charles	Friedens UCC	MO	436
Saint Charles	Good Shepherd UCC	MO	436
Saint Charles	Saint John UCC	MO	436
Saint Clair	Saint John UCC	MO	436
Saint Louis	Bethany-Peace UCC	MO	440
Saint Louis	Brentwood Congregational Church	MO	440
Saint Louis	Calvary UCC	MO	440
Saint Louis	Carondelet UCC	MO	440
Maplewood	Christ Church, UCC (Maplewood)	MO	440
Affton	Eden United Church of Christ	MO	440
Saint Louis	Epiphany UCC	MO	440
Saint Louis	First Congregational Church of Saint Louis	MO	440
Saint Louis	Grace United Church of Christ	MO	440
Saint Louis	Glory to Glory Christian Church	MO	440
Ferguson	Immanuel/Ferguson UCC	MO	440
Kirkwood	Kirkwood UCC	MO	440
Saint Louis	Mount Tabor UCC	MO	440
Saint Louis	Saint Johns Evangelical UCC	MO	440
Saint Louis	Saint Lucas UCC	MO	440
Saint Louis	Saint Paul UCC	MO	440
Ferguson	Saint Peter's UCC	MO	440
Saint Louis	Saint Philips'/Concord Village UCC	MO	440
Saint Louis	Samuel UCC	MO	440
Sedalia	Immanuel UCC	MO	444
Springfield	Saint John's Chapel UCC	MO	444
Troy	Zion United Church of Christ	MO	436
Union	Zion United Church of Christ	MO	436
Warrenton	Friedens UCC	MO	436
Washington	Saint Peter's UCC	MO	436
Wldon Spring	Emmanuel United Church of Christ	MO	436
Wentzville	Faith United Church of Christ	MO	436

*as of 3/9/16. Printable list

You may ask, "Why should our/my church care about yearbook reports - what's the big deal?" Here are eleven reasons why reporting your annual data is important.

The various information/links provided below will give you the tools you need to complete your yearbook reports:

printable Church Instructions (pdf) - please start here and read the entire document for specific instructions
Click here for tip sheets, video tutorials, etc. This is a great source of information for all things "yearbook"
Yearbook Forms (blank)
Access to the Data Hub is now closed to all churches

For assistance on this project, contact our Administrative Assistant, Kris Scott at 314-918-2605 or kris@mmsucc.org. Please DO NOT call or email Cleveland with your yearbook questions - contact our Conference office first!!!

Could our Conference reach 100% for yearbook reporting? Yes, it is possible! Please participate in this very important statistical gathering of UCC information. Stand up and be counted - show your UCC pride. Thank you,

Renee

Initial Communications Conference Mailing

In an effort to be more inclusive and expansive in our communications activity as a Conference, the newly-formed Communications Covenanted Ministry will be instituting an occasional hard-copy mailing to churches, Pastors and Association/Conference leadership. This mailing will be assembled by a volunteer team coordinated by the Communications Covenanted Ministry and distributed 3-4 times/year. The first mailing will be sent on March 15; the current plan is for future mailings to be sent in late August and mid-November, 2016.

As we coordinate this first mailing, we invite Conference and Association settings to send flyers for inclusion. Examples of the material to be included are Association Spring Meeting flyers and registration information; planned activities by Conference Covenanted Ministries or Association Ministry Teams; information from our ministry partners (Eden Seminary, ECH, Emmaus Homes, etc.); Upcoming Conference/Association Youth Activities, and so on. (Information for inclusion will be limited to Conference/Association events, not local church dinners, trivia nights, etc.)

We will duplicate black and white flyers; these can be emailed to Rev. Rick Oberle (rick@bemchurch.com) or Renee Cordes (renee@mmsucc.org ). At this point we won't be duplicating color flyers, but if you would like to include a color flyer please deliver them to the Conference Office. Any questions about suitable materials for inclusion or distribution quantities for color copies may be directed to Rick or Renee at the above email addresses.

This is just one aspect of a multi-faceted plan by the Communications Covenanted Ministry to enhance Conference Communications. Other new initiatives are being developed this spring for roll-out at the Conference Annual Gathering, and possibly at our Association meetings this spring and fall. Watch the eCourier for more announcements and initiatives as we work towards being ever more inclusive and expansive in our Communications Activity!

MMS Conference Office Open House, 3/29/16

The Missouri Mid-South Conference will once again be hosting an Open House on

Tuesday, March 29, from 8:30 am until 4:00 pm. If you will be on campus that day attending Spring Convocation at Eden Seminary, we encourage you stop by and say hello! Our office is located at 483 E. Lockwood Avenue, Suite 15, St. Louis, MO 63119 - we are in Schultz Hall - Door A. It's been 5 years since our move from The White House, so if you've never visited us before now is the perfect time.

Of course we will have lots of yummy snacks and beverages (what, you thought we wouldn't have food?!) and several of our staffers will also be present, including Jeremy from Camp MoVal, who will be visiting in the morning. So bring your questions, your smiles and yourselves to our Open House! We look forward to seeing you!

St. Luke's UCC Choir Swap Experience

As part of Black History Month and the UCC emphasis on Sacred Conversations on Race, St. Luke's United Church of Christ and Second Baptist Church, both of Independence, MO, shared in a choir swap on February 21^st and 28^th, 2016.

The choir from Second Baptist Church was warmly welcomed in worship at St. Luke's on February, 21. They performed two wonderful anthems, "Break the Chain" and "He's the Greatest". The following Sunday, St. Luke's Chancel and Handbell Choirs received a wonderful welcome at Second Baptist Church. The choir sang "Amazing Grace" and the bells played "A Jubilant Song". Everyone enjoyed hearing the selections and making new relationships as neighboring churches. Sacred Conversations begin by building relationships and the joy felt by all in attendance laid the foundation for the conversations to continue. There are plans for the children of both churches to participate in a combined children's bell choir and to perform at a festival in May.

The day Second Baptist came to St. Luke's just happened to be when the "St. Luke's for Guatemala" fundraiser to purchase Chapina Stoves was introduced. The following Sunday, when St. Luke's choirs went to Second Baptist, their choir director presented a check for $310 from choir members to go toward the Guatemala project. St. Luke's members were touched by their generosity and compassion by this unexpected gift. Amazing things happen when God's people join together.

Fossil Fuels - "Keep It In The Ground", 4/24/16

On Sunday, April 24th, UCC preachers around the country will proclaim from their pulpits a simple message: Keep It in the Ground. No, they are not digging up old, arcane arguments about bodily resurrection. They are talking about fossil fuels. Arguably, the most important act of caring for God's creation that our society can undertake today is to keep at least 80 percent of all fossil fuel reserves in the ground. If humanity fails at this mandate prescribed by the laws of physics, then our planet will enter into the red-alert danger zone as it overheats due to the damage done to our climate.

About the recent science that demonstrates this, environmental leader Bill McKibben says, "One lesson of this work is unmistakably obvious: when you're in a hole, stop digging." This April let's preach and teach these simple truths so that people of faith can then go out and do what must be done to care for God's creation.

If you want to join this important effort, please contact me immediately. Then, send me a brief quote about why you are participating along with a headshot by March 16^th.

This preach-in will be the main promotional focus of the UCC national offices for the month of April. We are delighted that it will expand beyond the UCC to include notable public figures such as Diana Butler Bass. But of crucial importance is your participation.

Rev. Brooks Berndt, PhD

Minister for Environmental Justice

berndtb@ucc.org

UCC Offers Sanctuary to Girl Scouts

On 2/27/2016 the following press release was sent to all local TV affiliates and a few select radio stations in Missouri:

"The United Church of Christ, as a religious voice that speaks of the inherent value and worth of every child, is disheartened to learn that the Girl Scouts may no longer be welcome in some Catholic Churches. We stand with many other religious bodies when we say we are very proud of all the Girl Scouts do to teach love, compassion, service to others, and kindness as core values. We also want to make it very clear that the Girl Scouts will always be welcome in our churches. No matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey

, you are welcome with us." -The Rev. Dr. John C. Dorhauer, General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ

The Rev. Dr. Ginny Brown Daniel, Conference Minister of the United Church of Christ for the Missouri Mid-South region adds "We proudly support all local girl scout troops in the St. Louis area. Since their inception, the Girl Scout organization has been (full press release)

Conference Church Vitality Coaching Session, 3/16/16

Please note the new date - March 16th.

A 30-second advertisement during this year's Super Bowl game cost a cool $5 million. That's an average of $166,666 per second. Marketers would not spend so much effort and money on their trade if they didn't have the conviction that they were effectively shaping opinion. Our churches have the ability to shape opinions and transform lives for the powerful possibilities made known in Jesus Christ. What do we need to do this effectively?

You are encouraged to join us for our monthly Conference Church Vitality Coaching Session on Wednesday, March 16 at 1 p.m. CST. Our coach, Sara Wilcox, from the Center for Progressive Renewal will guide us in a conversation about Marketing and Evangelism.

We will focus on the following questions during our call:

What is the mission of your community?
Do you know it and can you market it?
What is keeping you from an effective mission?
What tools are you using to get your message out?
What tools do you need to be using?
Got some best practices to share? Bring them so we can learn from one another.

Save the date!

Please join meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.

https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/238898701

You can also dial in using your phone.

United States, 571-317-3122

Access Code: 238-898-701

Mission Funds Available from Outreach SLA

It is pleasure to serve you in supporting your work in caring for those in our null

community. The Outreach Committee in dialogue with the St. Louis Association Council is working to provide support to mission agencies and new multi- church outreach projects. We are giving preference to existing mission agencies that are closely aligned with the St. Louis Association and new multi-congregational UCC mission projects through one time grants.

Please review the criteria before submitting an application, which is due April 15, 2016.

Click here to read entire letter/criteria and here for application

Spring/Summer Clothing Needed at Shannondale

The Shannondale Annual Clothing Sale will be held on March 24-26, 2016 at Shannondale in Salem, MO. Pastor Jeff Fulk is requesting donations of spring

and summer clothes, all sizes/all styles, that can be made available at the sale for the folks in the Shannondale community. New and clean items preferred, please.

If you, your church or organization would like to donate, you may drop off your clothing items at our St. Louis Conference office. Please call 314-962-8740 prior.

If you aren't able to make the trip to our Conference office, please contact Renee and she'll be happy to coordinate a pickup if the location is 60 miles or less from St. Louis area. 314-918-2602.

Thank you for your kindness and generosity!
Peace and blessings,
Jeff Fulk

Building the UCC Database of Refugee Ministries

When the refugee crisis began making daily headlines last year, churches started asking what they could be doing to respond faithfully to this human tragedy. Has your church been part of this movement? Does your congregation feel called to become more involved? If so, the United Church of Christ would like to add your church to the growing database of UCC

congregations involved in refugee ministries, a resource that will encourage other congregations as they start the journey and strengthen the United Church of Christ's Refugee Ministries.

The response of many churches included reaching out to resettlement agencies to start the process of welcoming families fleeing injustice, violence, and oppression while others collected donations to encourage organizations doing this life-giving work. We are eager to hear your stories and to hear about practices that have worked in your contexts.

To contribute to the database, please be in direct contact with Ariel Royer, UCC Partners in Service Volunteer, afroyer@gmail.com and Mary Schaller Blaufuss, Team Leader, Global Sharing of Resources blaufusm@ucc.org.

For more information on the project, read the recent United Church News article, "New project to help connect and resource refugee-welcoming UCC congregations."

2016 National Youth Event Transportation

The Missouri Mid-South Conference has chartered a bus for the National Youth Event (NYE) 2016, which will be held at Walt Disney World in Florida. NYE

participants that would like to ride with the conference should email Alysha Petry at apetry@zionunion.org by May 27 to ensure your space is saved. Even if you have already rented vehicles for transportation, please consider this option.

There are several benefits to riding down as a group, including getting to know one another as a conference. If we have less than 40 riders, vans may be substituted for the charter bus. Youth and their adult leaders/chaperons will have first priority as riders. The bus departs on Monday, July 25 and will return to the St. Louis area on Sunday, July 31. At this time we expect the price per person to be $200. We are seeking monetary support from our associations and individuals in the conference to help lower the price. Please contact one of the following for questions or more information:

Eastern Association: Alysha Petry apetry@zionunion.org, Zion UCC, Union MO

St. Louis Association: Andrea Tukin andreatukin@gmail.com, St. Phillips UCC, St. Louis MO

Western Association: Kurt Grathwohl chevyman3_11@hotmail.com, Evangelical UCC, Boonville MO

See further details regarding NYE here.
PowerPoint presentation.
Letter from John Dorhauer regarding family pricing for NYE

Standing Rules for 2016 CAG

The 2016 Conference Annual Gathering (CAG) will once again be held at the Holiday

Inn Executive Center in Columbia, MO, June 9-11. Below are the Standing Rules and Rules for the Introduction of New Business that have been approved by the MMS Conference Council. Please reference these if you have any new business that you would like us to consider in June. This same information was mailed to all churches back in September along with a letter from Joyce Bathke, Conference Moderator. Another letter was recently mailed to all churches again, along with the two below documents.

Please review the documents explaining the procedures and deadline dates:

Conference Council Opportunities

The deadline for identifying prospects is fast approaching - Friday, March 18. Please get your completed forms to Renee soon.

The Leadership Development Committee of the MMSUCC wants you to know we have several leadership opportunities. We ask you, as Conference and Association leaders, to help us identify prospects for the following:

1) Conference Council seats (three year terms) for first term election at June 2016 CAG:

(i) Eastern Association: Two nominees - currently held by

female Lay member and male Lay member

(ii) St. Louis Association: One nominee - currently held by

male Lay member

(iii) Western Association: Two nominees - currently held by

Clergy member and female Lay member

2) Synod Delegates for 2017 (Baltimore) and 2019

Various seats INCLUDING YOUTH / YOUNG ADULT delegates, (youth between the ages of 13 and 18 years old and young adults between the ages of 19 and 20)

A completed 2016 Prospect Identification form must be submitted to the Conference office no later than 4 PM, Friday, March 18, 2016 (via renee@mmsucc.org, or you may fax the completed form to 314-918-2610). Please include on the SUBJECT LINE: Prospect [candidates name]. The form may also be found on the Conference website.

Please prayerfully consider who might be prospects to serve in these very important roles in the life of our church.

Printable letter.

Laura Dierberg Ayers, Leadership Development Committee, Chair

Open Door UCC Scholarship Fund

In 2013, the congregation of Church of the Open Door, United Church of Christ in Webster Groves, Missouri agreed that the proceeds from the sale of the church property go to the Missouri Mid-South Conference United Church of Christ. It was further agreed the money would be invested and the earnings would be distributed as follows: one-third to outdoor ministries within the Conference, one-third to theological education (a scholarship for a seminary student from the MMS Conference) and one-third to the Conference operating expenses.

This scholarship was established to utilize the income from this investment. The funds will be disbursed in accordance with the policies and practices of the Missouri Mid-South Conference of the United Church of Christ. The number of scholarships and the amount of each scholarship may vary for year to year. The MMS Conference Executive Committee (Joyce Bathke, David Mehl, Ken Ulmer and Linda Stenger) will review the scholarship applications and select the scholarship recipients. The names of those selected will be provided in the conference newsletter or eCourier. The selected recipients will be notified of their selection and the amount of the scholarship awarded to them.

Scholarship applications must be submitted to the Conference office by June 1 for consideration for the upcoming school year. Scholarships will be awarded during the summer so funds can be disbursed at the beginning of the fall semester. Further information and application.

Contact Us

Missouri Mid-South Conference United Church of Christ
483 E. Lockwood Avenue, Suite 15, St. Louis, MO 63119-3168

877-877-5884 / 314-962-8740 / 314-918-2160 fax

www.missourimidsouth.org

Email Renee Cordes for future submissions. Not all submissions may be shared in future eCouriers, eConnections or eHappenings.

In This Issue - 3/11/2016

Ginny's Gems

Ginny's Schedule

Last Call for Yearbook Reports

Communications Mailing

MMS Conference Open House

St. Luke's Choir Swap

Fossil Fuels

Girl Scout Press Release

Next Vitality Coaching Session

Mission Funds Available from SLA

Clothing Needed at Shannondale

Database of Refugee Ministries

NYE

Standing Rules for CAG

Conference Council Opportunities

Open Door UCC Scholarship Fund

Contact Us

Ginny's Journeys

The Rev. Jimmy Watson Installation

SLA Updates

Bread for the World

Eden Seminary Spring Convocation

Spring Association Meetings

Death Penalty Discussion

Annual Women's & Men's Retreats

MoVal Christian Music Festival

CUE - Explore Scholarship

The Rev. Dr. John Dorhauer Installation

Employment Opportunities

Future eHappenings

Ginny's Journeys

Check out Ginny's photos highlighting her visits within our Conference. Travel along with Ginny and share her experiences, joys and celebrations each month that make up our Missouri Mid-South Conference! New photos each week!

The Stole Project

Ginny invited the artists and sewers in our churches to begin making stoles that can be given to those clergy who are ordained and installed as a gift from the Missouri Mid-South Conference! How are you doing? What designs are being created? What prayers are being offered as these stoles are being made? Please let Ginny know if your church is making stoles!

Missouri Mid-South Conference Ministry Theme: Gathering at Our Table

A few weeks ago, Ginny introduced her Ministry Theme of Gathering at Our Table! In what ways have you gathered together at our table? In worship? In fellowship? In Social Justice? In faith formation? You are invited to take a picture of your table and post it to the Conference Facebook page or send to Ginny at ginny@mmsucc.org so that we can celebrate our tables of ministry throughout the Missouri Mid-South Conference.

The Rev. Jimmy Watson Installation Service

The St. Louis Association of the

Missouri Mid-South Conference of the United Church of Christ

and Immanuel (Ferguson) United Church of Christ

invite you to a worship service to install

The Rev. Jimmy Watson

on Sunday, April 4

at 3:00 pm

Immanuel (Ferguson) UCC
126 Church St,

St. Louis, MO 63135

St. Louis Association Updates

The St. Louis Association Committee on Ministry Oversight celebrates with the Rev. Betty Sue Sherrod her retirement from active ministry with Christ UCC, Maplewood, on May 8th. Our best wishes and prayers for Mary Sue and Christ Church.

The St. Louis Association Committee on Ministry Oversight has approved a Four Way Covenant between the Rev. Angela Moore, First Congregational UCC in Memphis, Crossroads Hospice and the St. Louis Association. With that approval, COM Oversight voted to grant full Ministerial Standing to Angela. We celebrate her excitement at finding "home" in the United Church of Christ. An Installation/Recognition of her ministry will take place on July 24th at First Congregational UCC, Memphis.

Bread for the World Advocacy Training

Bread for the World will be

holding a state-wide advocacy training event entitled "Justice for All" on Saturday, March 12, 10:00 am-4:00 pm at Third Baptist Church, 620 N, Grand, St. Louis 63103.

The event is free, and lunch is provided. Register online at http://goo.gl/forms/0FmkolvR2r (the character after the final slash is a zero).

Questions? Contact Clint McCann at cmccann@eden.edu.

Eden Seminary Spring Convocation

2016 Spring Convocation Brueggemann Kulenkamp Lectures will take place at Eden Seminary March 29-30. This year's theme, Forward from Ferguson: Prophetic & Pastoral Visions, will focus on empowering the ministry of pastors and communities in responding to God's call for social justice from Ferguson and beyond.

Join us for the biblical and pastoral theological scholarship of Walter Brueggemann, Gregory Ellison II, and Iva Carruthers in responding to the challenge of racial justice in the church and its mission. Watch for more information about these scholars on www.eden.edu in the days and weeks ahead. Registration. Event flyer.

Spring Convocation is an opportunity for pastors and lay people to listen to and interact with outstanding biblical and theological scholars. We hope to see you on campus!

2016 Spring Association Meeting Dates

Saturday, April 23 - Western Association, Immanuel UCC in New Franklin, MO
Sunday, April 24 - Eastern Association, Faith UCC in Wentzville, MO
Thursday, May 5 - St. Louis Association, Eden Theological Seminary in Webster Groves, MO

Please mark these dates on your calendar now. Further information regarding the meetings will be shared in our eCourier and on our Conference website soon!

Death Penalty Discussion with
Jeanne Bishop

Come hear a powerful faith story from Jeanne Bishop, sister of a murder victim, who has come to oppose the death penalty. Bishop is the tenacious woman at the center of this true-life murder story and memoir. In 1990, her sister Nancy and brother-in-law Richard were murdered at their home in an affluent Chicago suburb. Readers follow the unfolding investigation to discover that the murderer is David Biro, a local high school student who had stolen a gun. Biro is sentenced and two decades later Jeanne enters a maximum-security prison, where she's asked a simple question: what is your relationship to the offender? Bishop captivates readers with her deliberate, painful, and utterly authentic story that answers that question. All are welcome - each event below is free.

KANSAS CITY EVENTS - Sunday, March 13

Southwood UCC, 7904 Raytown Rd. Raytown, MO at Noon
St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 1001 E. 52 St, Kansas City, MO at 2:30

JEFFERSON CITY EVENTS - Monday, March 14:

Morning Press Conference at the Capitol
Visits with legislators and state officials

ST. LOUIS EVENT - Monday, March 14

Eden Seminary, 475 E. Lockwood Ave, St. Louis, MO at 3:00

Please contact Rev. Jane Fisler Hoffman, mahjfh@aol.com

with questions.Event flyer.

Annual Women's & Men's Retreats

The Annual Women's Retreat will be at Camp MoVal in Union, MO on April 29-May 1, 2016. Enjoy a weekend of spiritual renewal, recreation, crafts and fellowship. This year's event is one you will not want to miss! The retreat is open to all women,

chronologically young and those young in spirit. It is an intergenerational event where we have the opportunity to make new friends and share where we are in our faith journey with others.

Our musical entertainment of previous retreats has been provided by Susan Drake and Julie Jennings. They moved to Alabama this past year but are coming back as our keynoters. They will share their thoughts on "Finding Freedom in Forgiveness", the what, why and how--as we delve into how giving and receiving forgiveness impacts

our daily lives. Brochure and registration.

The Annual Men's Retreat will be at Shanondale in Salem, MO on April 29-May 1, 2016. I personally invest a great deal of my ministry specially reaching out to men in the church and in the community beyond - whom I believe can be the largest neglected minority in the church. Beyond serving on building and grounds committees and civic group style breakfasts, I challenge you to ask yourself how men are included at your church in spiritually transforming ways. Statistics bear out that a man's personal engagement in the

church impacts his entire family.

This weekend pulls together men from many walks of life for a weekend on sacred ground called Shannondale. Men are reached from several approaches that can touch core aspects of his being: through service, rugged recreation, contemplative communal with nature, sharing around bonfires, table (kitchen and grill) fellowship, heart-felt worship, and many one-on-one deep encounters. Aside from the incredible experience, we hope to jump-start communal faith back home at your church. I make it to a point to round-up and wrangle as many men from my community to attend and I make sure my batteries are recharged by attending myself. Will you strive to encourage at least one man to attend? Brochure

- Pastor Paul Koch, Regional Minister Team
The Christian Church in Mid-America

MoVal Christian Music Festival

Camp MoVal is hosting another community event! On April 16 join us for the Christian Music Festival. The concerts will be held across the road at TAMBO. We will have food, fun, and hope to raise funds to help remake TAMBO! There are many exciting things being talked about for the future of this space. Please, come spend the day out at camp and have fun with us in Christian community! All ages and all people are welcome.

Please contact Mariah at mariah.moval@mmsucc.org, find our event on Facebook titled MoFestiVal, or give the camp a call for any additional questions or information at 636-583-2730. Event flyer.

News from CUE Seminaries - Eden - Explore Scholarship

There is not just one road which leads to Eden Theological Seminary. Eden is a place where the life journeys of a diverse group of faithful people intersect to study and experience the unfolding of God's calling in your life.

The gentle nudge of exploration may come from a friend or a family member, from an ad or a newsletter, from a pastor or a professor. There is no one way. We hope the Explore Scholarship will help you acknowledge and act upon that nudge.

The Explore Scholarship is awarded to students beginning a Master of Divinity degree at Eden Theological Seminary. To be eligible for the Explore Scholarship a student must be a member of a Christian congregation, enrolled at Eden full-time (9 credits or more) and participate in Eden's Contextual Education program. This full-tuition scholarship is for the first year of study only.

For more information about how to make the best use of your gifts, please contact Eden's Admissions Office at 877-627-5652.

Installation Services for the Rev. Dr. John Dorhauer

The General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ, the Rev. Dr. John Dorhauer, will be installed in a progression of three installation services throughout the denomination. All are invited to attend these services of celebration!