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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Still Speaking 2.0 Toolkit article
Still Speaking 2.0 Toolkit
Ginny speaks this week from her home office in Spring, Texas, where her cat, Bob, is her work companion. She shares one of her prized possessions, a framed photograph of a stained glass window at her home church in First Baptist Church, Auburn, Alabama. The window quotes Peter, "On this rock I will build my Church." This reminds us of who we have been called to be as the Church down through the centuries.
Today, the heritage of the Church in the form of a stained glass gets a new addition as the United Church of Christ just rolled out the Still Speaking 2.0 Toolkit. You may remember that the UCC created a national identity campaign in 2004 with, "God is Still Speaking," including commercials and slogans to be used.
Today, the UCC has developed a set of graphics or "memes" to be used in publicizing the church especially with social media. The toolkit also includes an easy way to create a Facebook page for those churches who don't have a lot of knowledge about social media. Ginny suggests you ask a teenager to help create a Facebook page. If you don't have teenagers, the Still Speaking 2.0 toolkit has a link that helps you create the page. If that's just too scary, the Missouri Mid-South Conference has a Communications Covenanted Ministry Team, who would LOVE to help you create a Facebook page. Rev. Rick Oberle is the chairperson of the Communications Covenanted Ministry team. Please feel free to contact him if you have questions!
Ginny also reminds churches that with these wonderful opportunities in social media, churches need to develop a policy on social media to make sure we are healthy and respecting boundaries. Things that should be considered for this policy would be permission for pictures that are posted as well as what happens when negative comments are made.
This Still Speaking 2.0 Toolkit is priceless for so many of our churches. These graphics would cost thousands of dollars if we each hired someone to do it for each local church. Instead, it is free to all of us because of your generosity to Our Church's Wider Mission offering (or OCWM as we lovingly call it). OCWM is your way to invest in the resources the national UCC as well as the Missouri Mid-South Conference can give to you. Woohoo! Ginny hopes you will consider giving to OCWM to support important resources like the Still Speaking 2.0 Toolkit!
Let's continue to be the rock on which the Church thrives in the 21st Century! Woohoo!
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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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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 Emmanuel 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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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 MO
REGISTRATION DEADLINE - WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1!
There are only 13 days left to register at the base price of $190.
Registrations received after June 1 will increase to $225.
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!
Printable flyer to share at your church or in your bulletin.
In preparation to bring you the best Conference Annual Gathering possible, our office staff requests your patience in responding to emails and phone calls. We are carrying an extreme workload during this time of year, so please know we understand your request is important and we will respond as quickly as possible.
Thank you, and we look forward to seeing you in Columbia! |
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Clergy Information Review Forms - NOW DUE
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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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UCC Showing LGBT Solidarity
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May 19, 2016
Written by Anthony Moujaes
 When a former national officer and a conference minister of the United Church of Christ showed up at The United Methodist Church General Conference, both had the same idea. Asked to represent the denomination as ecumenical guests, the Rev. J. Linda Jaramillo and the Rev. Walter John Boris both arrived sporting UCC rainbow comma pins. It's a gesture of solidarity with the LGBT community within the Methodist church, which is facing with issues of inclusion, ordination of LGBT ministers and same-gender marriage as it gathers in Oregon."Portland is pretty progressive," said Jaramillo, former executive minister of UCC Justice and Witness Ministries. "There were so many people demonstrating all week in the streets and inside the hall on stage. When Walter John and I showed up, we both had our rainbow pins on... That's who we are in the UCC, and we are way ahead in the game in terms of denominational support for LGBT people."
The Methodist church is trying to maintain unity despite differences over scripture and sexuality, according to the Protestant denomination's presiding bishop, during its quadrennial General Conference. Continue article.
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UCC Supports Farmworker Justice - Wendy's Boycott
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May 13, 2016
Written by Anthony Moujaes
 The United Church of Christ Board of Directors is asking members of the denomination to support a justice call for farmworkers by skipping the drive-through lane and boycotting Wendy's restaurants.The farmworker-led Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) has launched a national boycott of the fast-food chain in response to the company's decision to reject a request to pay a one-penny-per-pound premium on tomatoes. Preceding Wendy's Annual Shareholder Meeting, thousands of people of faith around the country are expected to join the Wendy's Boycott National Day of Prayer on Monday, May 23.
Through a resolution on May 12, the UCC Board of Directors endorsed a boycott of Wendy until it joins the Fair Food Program. The UCC has long supported the CIW-a community-based organization of Latino, Mayan Indian and Haitian low-wage immigrant workers based in Florida -in a Fair Food Program campaign for better wages and working conditions, which Wendy's has avoided for more than a decade. Continue article |
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National Youth Event - Register for Transportation by May 27!!!
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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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Eden Theological Seminary Graduates
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Congratulations to the 2016 Eden Seminary graduates!
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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 - 5/20/2016
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Weekly Podcast by the Rev. John Dorhauer
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Installation of
the Rev. Lisa Martin
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African American Women in Ministry Event
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Member in Discernment Event
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