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 thanks all who planned and attended the Conference Annual Gathering (CAG) for all your hard work and commitment! It felt like old home week as Ginny greeted folks by name in the hallways and at meal tables. Ginny especially wants to thank the Conference staff for their blood, sweat, and tears as they helped make CAG a success. They are:
Lorraine Brooks
Renee Cordes
Jeremy Force
Jeff Fulk
Dale Parson
Kris Scott
Each one always had a smile on their face as they sought to ensure that all of us had a wonderful time!
Ginny also wants to thank everyone for our Installation Service. There was such intimacy in the service that was reflected in every moment of the service. Thank you! As we have been blessed with a wonderful honeymoon period, it is now time to get to work and ministry! After the terrorist attack in Orlando, there is much work to do as God calls us to BE the Church and speak a spirit of love in peace, action, justice, and transformation. Let us continue our ministry in love together! Blessings, Ginny
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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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6/17/16
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Out/Ginny's Sabbath Day
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Columbia, MO
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6/18/16
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CoM Covenanted Ministry Mtg
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St. Louis, MO
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6/19/16
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Preach at Samuel UCC
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Springdale, AR
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6/22-23/16
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JRD Marshallese Mtg
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6/24-7/9/16
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Vacation to Germany
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Augusta, MO
| 7/10/16
| Worship at Ebenezer UCC
| Salem, MO
| 7/17/16
| Worship at Shannondale UCC
| Houston, TX
| 7/21/16
| Work from Houston
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| 7/22/16
| Out/Ginny's Sabbath Day
| Memphis, TN
| 7/24/16
| Worship at First Congregational UCC
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Orlando, FL
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7/26-29/16
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National Youth Event
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Ginny will be using vacation and continuing education time to travel to Germany with her husband, David. She will be gone on Friday, June 24 and return to the  office on Saturday, July 9. If you have an emergency, please call Renee Cordes at the Conference office at 314-918-2602, or email renee@mmsucc.org. If you or your church has a ministry emergency, please contact the Rev. Tyler Connoley, Sabbatical Associate Conference Minister at 575-956-3316, or email tyler@mmsucc.org.
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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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Kansas City, MO
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6/19/16
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St. Marks Union UCC
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Independence, MO
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6/21-22/16
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Tyler Connoley Training
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Springdale, AR
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6/23/16
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JRD Marsallese Mtg
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6/24-30/16
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Vacation
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7/1-10/31/16
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Sabbatical
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Rev. Dale Parson - Time for Sabbatical
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The "blessing for sabbatical" that concluded our 2016 Conference Annual Gathering in Columbia shall always be remembered with abundant gratitude and joy! The words of farewell and sending forth shall be carried with me as I begin this sabbatical time of renewal, reflection and re-creation. The support of our Conference Minister, Rev. Dr. Ginny Brown Daniel, the Conference Council and indeed the entire Conference are deeply appreciated. 
My sabbatical focus might be described as "The Third Third of Life." Sabbatical will be a time to ponder, pray and prepare for the future. There will be some travel and study and writing, as well as re-connecting with family and friends. The sabbatical time will begin with a trip to Spain and Italy, experiencing the magnificent art, architecture and culture in these countries. This third-third-of-life sabbatical will provide opportunities for renewal of mind, body and spirit.
I already anticipate returning in the fall with new energy, strength and purposefulness for this ministry we share together. As I leave for sabbatical, it is clear that the Missouri Mid-South Conference is healthy and vital. There are amazing leaders across the Conference! Working with Rev. Tyler Connoley (who will be my "sabbatical replacement") is helping to make the transition into sabbatical mode. His leadership and presence are much-appreciated.
As the Conference Annual Gathering concluded, all sang with great feeling the old hymn, "I'll Fly Away." Of course, there was the apparent suggestion of literally flying away and leaving for sabbatical. But there was a deeper, underlying truth. In the midst of all our striving and living we are held in the palm of God's hand. Gathered or scattered, we can trust in the presence, love and care of a God who journeys with us. Always.
I am honored, humbled and privileged to have journeyed with you for twenty years! During my absence, I shall hold in love and thought and prayer each one of the Missouri Mid-South Conference.
Dale
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10 Ways Churches Can Show #Love4Orlando
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Because the grief and loss of LGBTQ life is so big. Because we live in times of polarization and Islamophobia. Because mass shootings are no longer surprising. Here are some ways - big and small - you can take action in your local  community to heal and change the world. This list is just a start - and in no particular order. But we hope it will inspire you to take action and lead your community at the speed of love, whatever that means in your context. And if you have more ideas, please please share them with us and we will share with our networks! 1. Say their names: Light a candle for each of those lost to hate during your prayers of the people this Sunday. Learn their stories here. When we know each other, we can love each other better. 2. Build an LGBTQ inclusive church: If you're not already officially an open and affirming community for LGBTQ people, now is the time to become one. LGBTQ people everywhere are hurting and need safe and loving faith communities for support. Learn how here with resources from The LGBTQ TaskForce.
4. Show your LGBTQ pride: Make your profile picture a visible sign of God's love for LGBTQ people with Twibbons. Just a little online visibility from people of faith can mean the world to a struggling, isolated LGBTQ person. Visit the MMSUCC Justice and Witness Covenanted Ministry website and Facebook page
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NYE Bus Transportation Update
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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. Registered NYE participants that would like to ride with the conference should email Alysha Petry ASAP at apetry@zionunion.org. We have room for ten more riders. Please consider riding the bus even if you have arranged other transportation.
There are several benefits to riding down as a group, inclu ding getting to know one another as a conference. The bus departs on the evening of Monday, July 25 and will return to the St. Louis area Sunday evening, July 31.
The total cost per person to ride the bus is $200 thanks to the support of the Conference and Eastern, St. Louis, and Western Associations!
Please contact one of the following for questions or more information:
T-SHIRT INFO - We have the opportunity to show our Missouri Mid-South pride with NYE t-shirts. Cathy Pettibone sent t-shirt information to congregations attending NYE. Please contact Cathy (cathypettibone@gmail.com) if you did not receive information about ordering shirts. The deadline to order shirts is Tuesday, July 5th.
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Help for ONA Churches Fighting Anti-Trans Laws
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North Carolina was just the tip of the iceberg: in state after state, proposed  laws are targeting the trans* community and carving out broad "religious exemptions" that allow private businesses and public offices to discriminate against LGBTQ Americans in employment, housing and public accommodations (including restaurants). The right to marry wasn't the end of our journey towards equality and freedom! This excellent toolkit published by the National LGBTQ Task Force helps ONA churches respond to this challenge! And you'll find more information on the Coalition website, including a list of LGBTQ advocacy groups in your state!
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National Church Leadership Initiative Event
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August 9-11, 2016 Atlanta, GA #NCLI2016 We believe your church's best days are ahead. Make your future now at NCLI2016! SKILL DEVELOPMENT TRACKS:  Skill Development Tracks are the core of NCLI16. Each attendee will be part of one of these high quality, professionally curated tracks. NCLI16 will help you develop skills to be the most effective church leader you can be. Whether you are a clergy or lay leader these tracks will provide a top-notch level of instruction, coaching, and take-aways for your leadership growth. Each Skill Development Track is led by a CPR team member and will connect you with the country's leading church innovators and practitioners. Read More.NCLIve NCLIve are talk-show style sessions hosted by Doug Pagitt and will include interviews with top church and non-profit leaders from across the country. These fun and insightful sessions will include music, stories, fun, and inspiration that will energized and refreshed you for the next stage of your church's journey. Read More.The CPR faculty is excited to connect with you and build an exciting learning community! Come hear Carol Howard-Merritt, Doug Pagitt, Cameron Trimble, Gregg Carlson, Chris Davies, and more! And there is a limited scholarship fund for UCCer's only (members and clergy) which makes registration only $100! Sign up here. Register NOW |
MMS Fall Association Meetings
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While it's difficult to think about the fall during the dog days of summer, now is the time to mark your calendars for the upcoming fall Association meetings: 
The Eastern Association Fall business meeting will be held on Saturday, September 24th and hosted by Emanuel UCC in Jackson, MO. 11 am lunch and meeting 1-3 pm. More information to follow.
The Fall Business Meeting of the St. Louis Association will be held on Saturday, September 24 beginning at approximately 9:00 a.m. at St. John's United Church of Christ in Chesterfield, Missouri. More details will be announced later. The Western Association Fall Meeting will be announced at a later date.
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Member In Discernment Event
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August 17-19, 2016
Cleveland, OH 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 local 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.
Be watching the website (http://www.ucc.org/ministers_considering-ministry) for more information and for the Registration Link, which will be available in Spring 2016.
Questions? Please contact Rev. Kathy Clark, Minister for Members in Discernment at clarkk@ucc.org. Event flyer. |
Upcoming "Be The Church" Contest
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In an effort to help foster more connection between the national setting and local churches, the UCC Resources team has put together a "Be the Church of the Month" contest, based on the popular "Be the Church" message and associated identity items introduced last year.
In a monthly email to churches and via social media, they will pull out one of the "Be the Church" statements ("Protect the environment," "Reject racism," etc.) each month and ask churches what they're doing in that area by sending info, photos, and/or video.
A monthly winner will be selected as "Be the Church of the Month" and feature that church and its work on UCC social media and in UCC News. The winning churches will also get a BTC banner or other BTC product. If all goes well, the contest will continue for the next 8 months, starting in June. They'll be looking for ways to recognize churches of varying sizes and accomplishments, and hope this will be both inspiring and fun. Check out the other available graphics in the Still Speaking Toolkit 2.0. More info to follow!
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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 - 6/17/2016
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Rev. Tyler Connoley
Contact Info
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Weekly Podcast by the Rev. John Dorhauer
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African American Women in Ministry Event
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