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 shares her opportunity to preach at the baccalaureate service for Eden Theological Seminary. She chose Job 41:6-14 and Job 42:1-6 as her scripture. This may seem like an odd choice on the day of such joy and excitement of the seminary graduates and their families. But Ginny also acknowledges this is the very moment when we all need to be reminded of who God has created all of us to be as agents of Divine Justice. It is important to remember that suffering happens; injustice will brutally occur. The story of Job does not seek to ask why suffering and injustice occur. The story of Job seeks to invite us to consider our deeper relationship with the Divine as co-creators of Divine Justice.
Ginny's sermon title is, "Dropping the Mic with God and Job." There's an urban slang used often today called, "Dropping the Mic." It refers to a mic or microphone. And the sense that when a speaker or singer has the microphone and the message is so powerful, it lingers in the air -- no other words are needed. And so the speaker holds the microphone in hand and then literally drops it on the floor. Figuratively this act represents the power of the message that requires nothing more than silence as the mic drops. The story of Job is a wonderful example of Dropping the Mic between God and Job in the wrestling with/for Divine Justice.
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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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5/13/16
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Preaching at Eden's Baccalaureate
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5/14/16
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Out/Ginny's Sabbath Day
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Memphis, TN
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5/15/16
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Worship at Holy Trinity UCC
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Houston, TX
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5/16-21/16
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Work from Houston
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5/20/16
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Out/Ginny's Sabbath Day
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Columbia, MO
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5/21/16
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Search & Call Steward Training
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St. Clair, MO
St. Charles, MO
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5/22/16
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Worship at St. John UCC
Installation of Rev. Lisa Martin at St. John UCC
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5/26/16
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Out/Ginny's Sabbath Day
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Cleveland, OH
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5/27/16
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MESA Training
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Weldon Springs, MO
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5/29/16
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Worship at Immanuel UCC
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5/30/16
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Office Closed;Memorial Day
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Kansas City, MO
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5/31-6/1/16
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KC Clergy Lunch
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Houston, TX
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6/2/16
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Work from Houston
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6/3/16
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Out/Ginny's Sabbath Day
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Columbia, MO
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6/8-11/16
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Conference Annual Gathering
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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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Raytown, MO
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5/15/16
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James Fuller Ordination
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Higginsville, MO
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5/16/16
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WA CoM Meeting
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Washington, MO
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5/17/16
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St. Peter's UCC Meeting
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Columbia, MO
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5/21/16
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Search & Call Steward Training
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5/23/16
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Community of Practice
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5/30/15
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Office Closed;Memorial Day
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California, MO
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6/5/16
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150th Anniversary California UCC
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Columbia, MO
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6/8-11/16
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Conference Annual Gathering
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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 MOREGISTRATION DEADLINE - WEDNESDAY, JUNE1!
The 2016 CAG schedule is now available here. Registration FormsPlease 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." Hotel ReservationsTo 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 - no exceptions. All of the above information may also be found on the 2016 Conference Annual Gathering website page of our Conference website.|
Special Music for Ginny's Installation Service
In preparation for our installation service, Ginny asked the Rev. Dale Peterson, her childhood Music Minister (who is a prolific composer) to choose one of his anthems to be sung at Ginny's installation service. He chose, "No Hands, But Yours," adapted from the words of Teresa of Avila. Paul Westcott will practice this anthem with the CAG choir. If any choirs would like to practice before then, please contact Kris Scott for a copy of the anthem. Conference Choir
For those who wish to be part our the Conference Choir at CAG, please visit www.stantons.com and enter the below code numbers in the search box or click on the links to hear the chosen music: |
Table Vendor InformationIf you are interested in attending the event as a table vendor, or if you know of an agency/organization that would be interested, please use the following forms. Contact Renee Cordes with any questions: Letter of invitationRegistration formWe look forward to gathering together in Columbia, MO this June!
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Strengthen the Church Offering, May 15
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Strengthen The Church (STC) is a special mission offering to reimagine and build the future of the UCC. Shared at the conference and national levels, STC largely supports youth ministries and full-time leaders for new churches in parts of the country where the UCC voice has not been heard. 
As God calls our congregations to be the "church" in new ways, your generosity will plant new churches, awaken new ideas in existing churches and develop the spiritual life in our youth and young adults. STC funds will also be used to award grants to help congregations communicate the "God is still speaking," message. Most congregations will receive the STC offering on Pentecost Sunday, May 15, 2016
Promotional items for the 2016 offering
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Annual Clergy Information Review Forms
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Over a month ago 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. Your form needs to be completed and returned by Monday, May 16, 2016.
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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Culture of Giving Survey - Deadline Extended
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Greetings! The purpose of this survey is to gather feedback on various items related to giving patterns in the United Church of Christ. 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, we 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.
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. TAKE SURVEY. The survey should take 10-15 minutes to complete. Please provide us with your feedback no later than Sunday, May 15, 2016. If you have questions or additional comments, please contact cultureofgiving@ucc.org. We greatly appreciate your time and effort in completing this survey! |
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Register NOW for NYE - Transportation Available
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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 ex  pect 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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The Rev. Dr. Ginny Brown Installation Invitation
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MiD Gathering, August 17-19, 2016
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The Ministerial Excellence, Support and Authorization (MESA) Ministry Team of the United Church of Christ invites Members in Discernment (MIDs) to gather in the Church House in Cleveland, Ohio for networking, mutual support, sharing  resources and information, and inspiring worship. The Gathering is for anyone who is officially a MID with a lo-cal association for any form of authorized ministry - licensed, commissioned, and ordained. The purpose of the experience is to introduce MIDs within the UCC to the national setting of the Church and to build a foundation for vital relationships with lifelong partners in ministry. The event begins with worship in the Amistad Chapel at noon on Wednesday and concludes with lunch on Friday. The majority of the costs of this event are underwritten by contributions to the United Church of Christ. Individual MIDs and their Associations are asked to contribute $100 each (for a total of $200) toward the cost of the event.
Since space is limited to 50 MIDs per year, an individual MID may only participate in this gathering once during their process of discernment.
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African American Women in Ministry Conference
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"Sisters' Lives Matter: Facing the Fierce Urgency of Now!" October 13-15, 2016 Franklin Center at Bricks, Whitakers, NC  Beginning in the early 1980s, with approximately 15 African American women, this gathering of the hearts, minds and souls of sisters first occurred in a Catholic retreat center located in the Brookland section of Washington, DC. This network, African American Women in Ministry (AAWIM) focuses solely on UCC African American women in ministry. The purpose of AAWIM holds firm; that every African American woman would recognize who they are and where they are on this sacred journey. Our hope is that through this network, women will be moved to reach beyond the table, embrace one another and offer a warm welcome to their sisters in ministry.
The ongoing needs of African American women in ministry have been the catalyst in continuing our gatherings, exhibited through the biennial AAWIM Conferences.
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International Emergency Relief Fund
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UCC Disaster Ministries authorized a $15,000 grant to support the work of our ACT Alliance partners in Ecuador. This is in addition to the $2,500 grant that was sent to FEDICE, a Global Ministries partner, for early response work. Our partners are engaged in early recovery work such as food distribution, WASH (Water, Sanitation, Hygiene), NFI (non-food items), shelter and community based psycho-social support. 
Giving to support our response to the Ecuador and/or Japan Earthquakes should be directed towards the International Emergency Relief Fund, please see below.
Natural and Human-Caused Disasters affect millions of people worldwide every year. Millions of others are forcibly displaced either within or beyond their national borders. UCC Disaster Ministries and UCC Refugee Ministries are well positioned to respond in most parts of the world through our longstanding partnerships and connections. Donations to the International Emergency Relief Fund enable the United Church of Christ to support refugee emergencies as well as disaster relief efforts, long-term rehabilitation, advocacy and sustainability efforts.
If you prefer to donate by mail, make checks payable to International Emergency Relief Fund. Mail to: United Church of Christ c/o Financial Services office, 700 Prospect Ave., Cleveland OH 44115
Undesignated giving allows the United Church of Christ to respond where resources are needed most but if you prefer to designate your gift you may do so by noting the disaster or refugee emergency in the designated box on the online form or in the memo line of the check. Donate online.
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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 - 5/13/2016
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Weekly Podcast by the Rev. John Dorhauer
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Ordination of James Fuller, Jr.
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Installation of
the Rev. Lisa Martin
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Every Child's Hope
Luncheon & Bake Sale
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