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 honors Earth Day by speaking outside on the campus of Eden Theological Seminary. The UCC's theme for this year's Earth Day is, "Keep It in the Ground." The emphasis is that we should commit ourselves to keeping the resources of God's creation in the ground rather than extracting them for our own needs and causing damage to our land, water, air, and souls. One reason it is important for Ginny to video her message today at Eden is to remind us of our theological and spiritual foundation from which we practice Keeping It in the Ground. We are called to be God's "helpers" or companions to God's creation. That comes with an immense responsibility.
Ginny also recognizes that two of our most recent natural disasters are more connected than most would fathom: the earthquakes in Ecuador and the floods in Houston. Both of these recent events are the results of global warming, caused by centuries of our practice to not keep it in the ground. We must commit ourselves to challenging not only the oil and gas companies, who extract the natural resources out of the ground, but also all of our complacent usage of cell phones, technology, and airplanes that are also a direct link to our failure to keep the resources in the ground.
How are we called to be the companions of God's creation? How can we practice being inconvenienced in order to keep our natural resources in the ground? What is our theological and spiritual mandate to keep it in the ground? May the Holy One guide our practice and worship on this Earth Day. 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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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
| St. Louis, MO
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5/1/16
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Worship at Christ Church (Maplewood)
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St. Louis, MO
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5/5/16
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SLA Spring Meeting at Eden Seminary
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5/6/16
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Out/Ginny's Sabbath Day
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Memphis, TN
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5/8/16
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Worship at Holy Trinity UCC
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Houston, TX
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5/11-12/16
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Work from Houston
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St. Louis, MO
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5/13/16
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Speaking at Eden's Baccalaureate
Out/Ginny's Sabbath Day
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Jackson, MO
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5/15/16
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Worship at Emanuel UCC
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5/20/16
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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
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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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Troy, MO
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5/1/16
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Worship at Zion UCC
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Installation of the Rev. Dr. John Dorhauer, UCC GMP
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When the United Church of Christ gathered to install the Rev. Dr. John C. Dorhauer as General Minister and President, the entire church was able to participate in the services - in person or by live-streaming. It was a wonderful and spirit-filled three days The first opportunity took place at Riverside UCC, New York, on April 15 th; the second at Trinity UCC, Chicago on April 16 th; and the third service at Plymouth UCC, Seattle on April 17 th. Each gathering celebrated the covenant relationship with John and others in the United Church of Christ. The below video captures the spirit and joy of each day. You may also watch the video from the UCC website homepage. |
| Watch the Installation services
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Several persons from Missouri Mid-South Conference participated in the Saturday service in Chicago. Rev. David Lyon, Pastor Emeritus of St. Luke's UCC, Independence, led the prayer of invocation. Rev. Heather Arcovitch, Senior Pastor of First Congregational UCC, St. Louis, was one of three preachers on this day. Heather spoke of the UCC being a church of "firsts", a people of the comma. She also encouraged the gathering in our sometimes "messy" and "painful" diversity to be a church of the ampersand, as we continue to engage the church and world in transformation and witness. Also attending from the Conference: Mr. Nesa Joseph, President and CEO of Visiting Nurse Association; Rev. Jake DeNap, Associate Pastor of First Congregational UCC, St. Louis ;and Rev. Dale Parson, Associate Conference Minister. -submitted by Dale Parson |
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l-r, Rev. David Lyon, Rev. Jacob DeNap, Rev. Dale Parson, Rev. Dr. John Dorhauer, Rev. Heather Arcovitch and Mr. Nesa Joseph.
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Rev. Dale Parson's Anniversary/Sabbatical -
Rev. Tyler Connoley's Introduction
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As many of you know, our Associate Conference Minister, the Rev. Dale
 Parson, will be celebrating his 20th anniversary of ministry with us this year! Woohoo! Dale will be going on his 4-month sabbatical beginning July 1 through October 31. We are so grateful for the opportunities Dale will have to rest, read, engage his ministry so that he can return to us refreshed in our ministry together! During Dale's sabbatical, the conference will have a Sabbatical Associate Conference Minister, who will minister with us.
At their meeting last week, the MMS Conference Council approved Ginny's recommendation to hire the Rev. Tyler Connoley as the Sabbatical Associate Conference Minister.
Tyler came from the Southwest Conference where he served on the conference staff with the Rev. Dr. John Dorhauer. Tyler will live in the Western Association 4 days out of the week in order to minister with the Western Association. As Dale has been actively involved in the Church Vitality Covenanted Ministry Team, Tyler will also assume those responsibilities, where he brings conference knowledge and personal experience to the areas of churches in transition and decline as well as church starts.
Education
- M.Div., Earlham School of Religion, 2009
- M.A. Religion, Earlham School of Religion, 2002
- B.S. Business and Economics, Indiana Wesleyan University, 1993
Ministry History
- Pastor, Silver City United Church of Christ, 2012-2015
- Immigrant Care Coordinator, Southwest Conference UCC, 2014-2015
- Chaplain, Gila Regional Hospice, 2009-2014
- Volunteer Coordinator, Gila Regional Hospice, 2009-2011
- Volunteer and Student Chaplain, United Campus Ministry, 2006-2009
- Acting Licensed Minister, Valley Community Church, 2006
Administration and Leadership
- Took a progressive Christian community in Grant County from initial formation to stability in three years, founding Silver City UCC, a thriving post-modern community.
- Built, trained, and motivated a team of twenty-plus volunteers for Gila Regional Hospice.
- Inspired young adults to personal growth and social action as volunteer and Chaplain at Western New Mexico University's United Campus Ministry.
- Provided leadership to multiple local and national organizations as a board member, including a stint on the Executive Committee of Wider Church Ministries during its transition to the UCCB.
Tyler plans to attend all three association spring meetings in order to introduce himself to the Missouri Mid-South Conference. Dale will train Tyler beginning Monday, June 13. Congratulations, Dale, to our 20th anniversary of ministry together! And welcome, Tyler as our Sabbatical Associate Conference Minister!
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2016 Conference Annual Gathering, REGISTER!
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Registration for the Conference Annual Gathering is NOW OPEN!
Our 2016 theme is
"Gathering at Our Table...For Such a Time as This 3.0!"
Date: Thursday, June 9 - Saturday, June 11, 2016 Location: The Holiday Inn Executive Center, Columbia MOThe 2016 CAG schedule is now available here. Please use the below form to register for the event, which may be completed on your computer:  CAG REGISTRATION FORM (Word) If you prefer to fill out your registration by hand, please use the below form to print and complete: As in year's past, we are offering several registration options with various pricing for your convenience. Everyone attending CAG must register through the MMS Conference office. To pay for your CAG registration online with a credit card, please visit our secure website partner - Vanco Services. This same link may also be found on the homepage of our Conference website. Click the link in the upper right hand corner - "Click here to Donate or Register for an Event." To make your hotel reservation at the Holiday Inn Executive Center, please click here. This link is preset with the discounted group code of CJ6 (don't change or remove) and hotel rate of $102.95 per night during CAG. If you use another website or link to make your reservation, the discounted price cannot be guaranteed. If you wish to call the hotel to make your reservation, please use their local number 573-445-8531, and mention UCC. If you use a toll-free number for the hotel, the discounted rate cannot be guaranteed. The registration deadline is Wednesday, June 1st! Please be respectful of this date as meal counts need to be shared with the Holiday Inn. Registrations received June 2 or later will be charged a late fee, as stated on the form. All of the above information may also be found on the 2016 Conference Annual Gathering website page of our Conference website.We look forward to gathering together in Columbia, MO this June!
Printable flyer to share at your church or at your upcoming Association meetings.
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Two Pre-Retirement Seminars Available in May
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The Pension Boards-UCC is sponsoring two Pre-Retirement Seminars :
- Tuesday, May 3, 2016, at St. Paul United Church of Christ, 115 West B Street, Belleville, IL 62220. Agenda
- Tuesday, May 10, 2016, at Plymouth Congregational Church, 925 Vermont St., Lawrence, KS 66044. Agenda
All members with an Annuity Plan account balance, age 50 and over, are invited to attend. The event will begin with registration and continental breakfast at 8:00 a.m. and concludes at 3:30 p.m. The seminar is offered to you at no cost and a one-time $100 stipend is given to each first-time participant to help defer your travel expenses. The remaining space is limited, so we encourage you to register now. To register for the event, please contact Sonia Santiago, Benefits Operations Assistant, at 1.800.642.6543, ext. 2646, or by e-mail at ssantiago@pbucc.org, as soon as possible. Please remember to have your seven-digit Pension Boards Member ID on hand if you reserve by phone, or include it in your message if you register by e-mail.
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Annual Clergy Information Review Forms
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Last Friday, April 15th, the annual Information Review 2015 forms were sent to all authorized clergy within our Conference. The majority received the form via email, which can easily be completed on your computer. For those without an active email address, the  form was mailed to your home/church. This annual form is required for all clergy, both active and retired, in order to maintain your standing within the Missouri Mid-South Conference UCC.
You may also find your respective Association form below:
Eastern Association IR form
St. Louis Association IR form
Western Association IR form
The Minister Codes for your review:
Ordained
Licensed
Commissioned
As you are aware, "All Authorized Ministers are expected to participate in....Information Reviews in order to maintain their authorization" (United Church of Christ Manual on Ministry, Section 8, page 9). This instrument is a means for ministers to not only participate in the Information Review process, but to update your personal contact information, and to remain in touch with each of you.
If you have any questions regarding the form or code, please contact your Committee on Ministry. Your annual Information Review form is due to our Conference office by Monday, May 16, 2016.
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UCC Volunteers Needed - Deaconess Foundation
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Join in the rich history of over 125 years of service! Continue the Deaconess  spirit of service to families on Saturday, June 4th at the Children at the Center event. Hundreds of area families will be served and supported by the meals and events provided at no charge. The event will be held from 9am to 2pm at The Matthews-Dickey Boys' & Girls' Club, 4245 N. Kingshighway Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63115. Approximately 50 volunteers are needed from UCC congregations to provide a quality experience for babies, youth and families. Morning, midday and afternoon shifts are available. Lunch and event t-shirt will be provided. Volunteer flyer info. To sign up, send an email to Alex today at alexs@deaconess.org. Individuals and church groups welcome!
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eConnection Update, Nylin Bathke Surgery
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As we shared with you on Thursday, Mr. Nylin Bathke, husband of our MMS Conference Moderator, Joyce Bathke, was scheduled for heart bypass surgery at Mercy Hospital today. Last night Joyce shared that Nylin's surgery has been postponed to Monday, April 25.
Please continue to hold Nylin, Joyce and their entire family in prayer for a successful surgery and recovery. Blessings!
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Emmaus Homes - Marthasville Transition Update
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Since the announcement, our staff has met with clients and their families, many of whom are excited about exploring new homes in the local community including  Warren and Franklin counties. While some clients have chosen to move closer to their family, the majority of our clients are choosing to stay in Warren County. In recent months we opened a new community home in Marthasville and have four other homes in Warren County that we will open within the next 90 days. By July 1, we anticipate there will be 60 clients remaining on the campus.
Since the May 2015 Board decision, questions have arisen concerning the future use of the property. The Emmaus Board clarified this issue at their March 2016 meeting stating that the campus is not currently on the market and voted that, 'the Marthasville campus will not be sold until July 2020 or until the last client has transitioned off of the campus.' Continue article.
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Ecuador, Japan Suffer Massive Earthquakes
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Even as search and rescue efforts continue following last week's devastating earthquakes in Japan and Ecuador, UCC Disaster Ministries has begun its response with grants for relief efforts in Japan and Ecuador.  "I fully expect that we will be engaged for the long term, especially in Ecuador where there has been significant damage throughout the country," said UCC Disaster Ministries Executive Zach Wolgemuth.
UCC Disaster Ministries is sending a total of $12,500 for immediate life-saving assistance to survivors of last week's two powerful and deadly earthquakes in Kumamoto prefecture on the southern Japanese island of Kyushu. The quakes killed at least 42 people and displaced tens of thousands.
In addition to more than 200 aftershocks, the earthquake also triggered other earthquakes on different fault lines in Japan's Ooita prefecture. Experts predict that the seismic activity could move further east, which would result in more widespread destruction.
$10,000 of the initial grant to Japan is being sent care of Church World Service for emergency supplies and volunteer and operations management in Japan. The planned response implemented by CWS and partners will fill gaps in the current response for at least 1,000 families (4,000 individuals). Continue article.
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Guatemalan Fundraiser at St. Luke's UCC
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On April 9, 2016, St. Luke's United Church of Christ, Independence, capped off a six- week fundraising drive to purchase Chapina Stoves for Guatemala with a  dinner and raffle. Handmade items from Guatemala we raffled, Guatemalan food was served, and many came dressed in authentic clothing. The AMEN Group (Amazing Men Eating at Night) served the dinner which concluded with the cutting of beautifully decorated Tres Leches cakes. The event was a huge success and over $8,100 was donated by members and friends of the congregation, neighboring churches, and the community.
Rev. Paul Emily, St. Luke's Pastor, welcomed those attending the dinner including staff from Graceland University's School of Nursing, families from MoGuat Adoption Community, McCoy Neighborhood representatives, and many members, families and friends from St. Luke's. After the dinner, Linda Drown, a member of St. Luke's, shared pictures and stories from her travels to this area of Guatemala and served as emcee for the evening. Continue article/pictures.
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The following letter was written by the Justice and Witness Ministry of the MMS.
The Honorable Todd Richardson, Speaker
MO House of Representatives
Dear Speaker Richardson,
We are clergy and lay people within the Missouri Mid-South Conference of the United Church of Christ. We write to urge you to halt SJR 39 that attempts to write discrimination against a whole class of Missouri citizens into the constitution of our state.
As people of faith we believe this bill does not protect religious freedom, but quite the opposite, attempts to place one particular theological perspective above others and into law.
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Before you know it, summer will be upon us and that means Vacation Bible School. If your church or school is looking for exciting and entertaining curriculum, UCC Resources is your one-stop-shop! Based on the award-winning Deep Blue Kids Bible, the Deep Blue Kids curriculum is an awe-inspiring resource for children that includes exciting stories, science experiments, arts and crafts, animated video storytelling, and active  games-all combined into a faith experience that helps children discover what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ today.
Shine: Living in God's Light is a dynamic Sunday school curriculum that engages Christian communities and families in their life together. For children age 3 through grade 8.
The Shine materials:
Teaches kids how to shine God's light in the world Nurtures trust in God and invites children to follow Jesus Encourages imaginative, interactive biblical storytelling Explores the meaning of the Bible within the gathered community Expresses faith through lives of compassionate peacemaking and service You can find the above items and more at the UCC Resources website.
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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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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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In This Issue - 4/22/2016
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2016 Spring Association Meeting Dates
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Ordination of James Fuller, Jr.
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Installation of
the Rev. Lisa Martin
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A Thank You from
Rev. Allen Fluent
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Break the Silence Sunday, April 24
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Supporting Families at Life's End Seminar
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