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 cla  im 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,
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Ginny's Gems
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Ginny returns to the Conference Ministry Theme, "Gathering at Our Table," and explores how the post-Easter stories teach us how to gather at our table. After Jesus death, the vision of Christ came to the disciples and his followers in their ordinary lives. Christ broke bread and ate with them. This was so extraordinary that it was only in the gathering at the table and breaking bread that Christ became known to them. We are called in that post-Easter spirit to welcome the vision of Christ in our ordinary lives.
Ginny connects her recent trip with Child Advocacy day to the vision of Christ breaking bread with us and reminding us that we all have a Divine Child created within us. And we all have the responsibility to advocate on behalf of all children in the state of Missouri because no amount of pain, injustice, and Good Friday sorrow a child can face will ever separate them from the love of God. In the name of God, who sets the Table of Love for all of us, Amen.
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Ginny's Schedule
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Location
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Date
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Description
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St. Louis, MO
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4/8/16
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Out/Ginny's Sabbath Day
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St. Louis, MO
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4/9/16
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Alliance of Baptists Convocation
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Owensville, MO
St. Louis, MO
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4/10/16
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St. Johns (Bem) UCC
Installation of Jacob DeNap
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Houston, TX
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4/11-13/16
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Work from Houston
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Columbia, MO
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4/16/16
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Conference Council Mtg
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St. Louis, MO
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4/17/16
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Worship at Calvary UCC
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New Franklin, MO
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4/23/16
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WA Spring Meeting at Immanuel UCC
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St. Louis, MO
Wentzville, MO
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4/24/16
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Worship at Epiphany UCC
EA Spring Meeting at Faith UCC
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Houston, TX
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4/27-28/16
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Work from Houston
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4/29/16
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Out/Ginny's Sabbath Day
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Dale's Schedule
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Location
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Date
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Description
| Lexington, MO
| 4/10/16
| Rev. Deveney's 10th anniversary
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St. Louis, MO
Foristell, MO
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4/12/16
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Workshop in Ferguson, MO
St. Johns meeting
| Chicago, IL
| 4/16/16
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Rev. Dr. Dorhauer Installation
| Hermann, MO
Sedalia, MO
| 4/17/16
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Preach at St. Paul's UCC
Installation for Rev. Jurgens
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New Franklin, MO
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4/23/16
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WA Spring Meeting at Immanuel UCC
| Billingsville, MO
| 4/24/16
| St. Johns UCC 150th anniversary
| Higginsville, MO
| 4/28/16
| Lafayette UCC Women's Gathering
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Thank you to everyone who visited us last week for our Conference Open House! It was a true pleasure seeing each of you and having time to visit and chat. Our  Conference family consists of such wonderful people who are extremely gifted and so generous with their time - you are all appreciated. While the miles across Missouri, Arkansas and Memphis are vast, the love we have for each other and God is not. The connection we share is strong, and it only grows stronger anytime we are able to gather and smile and laugh with one another. By feeling God's presence in each of you, it energizes and renews us for the daily work in the continuing life of our Conference. Abundant blessings always, The staff of your Missouri Mid-South Conference
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UCC Culture of Giving Survey
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In 2015, the UCC Board of Directors formed the Task Force on Giving to review giving across the denomination and to recommend ways to improve and enhance giving throughout the UCC.
To that end, they are seeking your wisdom, ideas, thoughts, and general feedback on giving patterns in the UCC. Your responses to the survey will remain anonymous; however, at the end of the survey, you will have the option to provide your contact information in order to enter a drawing for a chance to win an iPad or to opt-in to participate in this process in other ways. Your contact information will not be used in any other way beyond the purpose(s) you indicate.
Click here to complete the survey:
Your feedback will be considered carefully by the Task Force in coming months and will contribute to recommendations that will be presented to the UCC Board in the fall.
The survey should take 10-15 minutes to complete. Please provide us with your feedback no later than Friday, April 22, 2016.
Your time and effort in completing this survey is greatly appreciated!
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2016 Boundary Training Date Set
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A boundary training session has been scheduled in the Eastern Association next month :
- Thursday, May 5, 2016
- 9am to 4pm
- St. Peter's UCC, 20 E. Fifth St, Washington, MO 63090
- Facilitators: Rev. Mauri Peaco and Mr. Ken Schlottach
A printable schedule and a registration form are also available. The schedule will  be updated once further sessions have been determined, and the information will be shared on our Conference website and in our weekly eCourier.
As a reminder, boundary training is required for all authorized clergy every 3 years. If you are unsure of the last time you attended boundary training, please contact Kris Scott at 314-918-2605 or kris@mmsucc.org.
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Juried Paper Winner, Christi Tennyson
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Each year during spring Convocation, Eden Theological Seminary hosts a juried paper competition. This year's first place winner was Christi Tennyson, who is a Member in Discernment with our Eastern Association. She is also the student pastor at Pilgrim UCC in Labadie, MO. 
Congratulations, Christi! We are proud of your accomplishment!! Below are the other winners and their juried paper themes:
1 st place - Christi Tennyson, An Argument for Death with Dignity - Physician-Assisted Suicide. Read Christi's paper
2nd place - Rebecca Mularski, White Milk Mother, Black Silk Children: "Othermothering" as Pastoral Care Practice
3rd place - Michael Atty, A Funeral Like No Other, Like Some Other and Like All Other
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Take the UCC HIV Ministries Survey Now
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We are eager to hear from local churches who are part of the United Church of Christ (UCC)! 
The 2016 UCC HIV Ministries Survey is your opportunity to share with the Leadership Team of the UCC HIV & AIDS Network (aka, UCAN) about the HIV ministries happening in and through your local church.
You will also have the opportunity to tell us how you think UCAN is doing and what you need from us to better serve you.
Your input is very important to us as we make plans and work in partnership with you and others in response to the HIV epidemic.
This survey is for UCC local churches - one survey per church, please!
Link to survey
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Gee's Bend Quilters to Visit Local UCC Church
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The Quilts of Gee's Bend, if you haven't heard, are the fabric equivalent of a Picasso or Matisse. The quilters don't use patterns and their unusual designs are often dictated by the size and shape of randomly torn scraps of fabric. Art critics and historians widely consider them among the most important African-American visual and cultural contributions to the history of art in the United States.
The modernist patterns and unorthodox fabrics tell a story of struggle, survival and making do in ways that are humble yet magnificent. I've been a huge fan of the quilts since seeing an exhibit of them in 2003 at the Whitney Museum in New York. To me, they are fascinating and beautiful.
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Eagle Scout Project to Benefit Camp MoVal
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The following letter from Michael Simpson, a 15 year old Life Scout who attends St. Mark UCC in Arnold, MO, has chosen to create a Nature Center at Camp MoVal as his Eagle Scout project. |
Dear MMS Conference,
Hello,.. my name is Michael Simpson. I am a church member at St. Mark UCC in Arnold Missouri. I have been an active member in my church since I was born and was confirmed in 2014. I am also a Life Scout with Troop 557 in Arnold Missouri and I am 15 years old. Recently I was approved for my Eagle Scout Project to benefit Camp MoVal. I have attended every summer as a camper to MoVal since I was in the first grade. As I reviewed project ideas for my Eagle project I was drawn back to MoVal and found a need for a Nature Center.
The purpose of my writing today is two-fold and most importantly to get the word out! First, I would like to seek your support both in time and in donations. The project is proposed to renovate the old pool bath/shower house building. There is still running water, electric and the building is sound with a nice patio outside but needs a new roof.
Second, which is my part, is in providing contents. I am sure there are many out there that have a rock/bug/leaf (etc.) collection in their basement that is just collecting dust. What about animal skins (fox, beaver, raccoon, etc... I have two deer skins) or skeletons of animals. Anything nature related. If you would like to find a new home for such things but you aren't exactly sure where they would go to good use - a new Nature Center at Camp MoVal is the place. MoVal is a great place and a Nature Center would bring the things that God has created right to those who visit camp. Both the camp and I would greatly appreciate your assistance.
Please contact either the camp office at 636-583-2730 or myself at 636-282-1618. Monetary donations can be made directly to Camp MoVal noted 'Nature Center'.
Thank you for your help and assistance!
Michael Simpson, Troop 557 Life Scout - Arnold, MO
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MoVal Counselor Training
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Are you thinking about summer 2016 yet? It is coming up quick! We are looking for male and female counselors for all age ranges of campers. Our camp sessions that need  counselors start May 31st through August 6th, so there are plenty of opportunities for you to come serve at MoVal! The training dates for NEW counselors:
On April 9th and April 23rd, refresher courses will be held for counselors who served in 2015. Please contact mariah.moval@mmsucc.org if you are interested in counseling and to sign up for a training date. You must attend a training date in order to volunteer with MoVal campers. We look forward to seeing you this summer at Camp MoVal!
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ONA Rainbow Contest
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More and more ONA churches are showing their pride by displaying rainbow signs,  flags or banners outside their church. ONA churches that are visible in their community are churches that can grow!
Look at the entries so far in our churchwide ONA Rainbow Sign Contest if you want to be inspired, and download our Evangelism tools for ideas that will help your church connect with your LGBTQ neighbors!
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Mission Funds Available from Outreach SLA
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It is pleasure to serve you in supporting your work in caring for those in our  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 |
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2016 National Youth Event Transportation
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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:
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Standing Rules for 2016 CAG
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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 at our previous CAG. 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 mailed to all churches again, along with the two below documents. Please review the documents explaining the procedures and deadline dates:
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Open Door UCC Scholarship Fund
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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.
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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.
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The Rev. Jacob DeNap Installation Service
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The Rev. Catherine Jurgens Installation Service
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UCC Shares Open Invitation to Three Installation Services for the Rev. Dr. John Dorhauer
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2016 Spring Association Meeting Dates
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Annual Women's & Men's Retreats
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MOFESTIVAL
Christian Music Festival
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Conference Staff Birthdays
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