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,
|
|
Ginny's Gems
|
Web Chat with Ginny and 20/30 MMS Clergy!!!
Thursday, September 22nd at Noon!!!
Attention all authorized ministers in your 20's and 30's - Ginny invites you to a web/video chat on Thursday, September 22 from noon to 1 pm! Ginny invites you to a time of introduction, spiritual reflection, and networking as the 20/30 Clergy in the Missouri Mid-South Conference! Woohoo! Web/video information will be sent in the next few weeks!
Ginny's goal is to introduce the formation of this body and then step back and empower 20/30 clergy to lead, network, and advocate as a body within the conference. Ginny believes this 20/30 Clergy Chat celebrates all of the 5 Mission Imperatives of the Missouri Mid-South Conference:
1. Cultivating and Nurturing Authentic Covenantal Relationships
2. Strengthening Congregations
3. Supporting Authorized Ministers in All Settings
4. Improving Communication
5. Advancing a Mission of Advocacy for Peace and Justice
|
|
Ginny's Schedule
|
|
Location
|
Date
|
Description
|
| 8/12
| Out/Ginny's Sabbath Day
| St. Louis, MO
| 8/14
| Worship at Mt. Tabor UCC
Ordination Service for Guangyou Lou at Samuel UCC
| Columbia, MO
| 8/15
| UCC/Disciples of Christ Regional Staff Mtg.
| |
Kansas City, MO
|
8/15-16
|
Meet and lunch with KC clergy
|
| 8/19
| Out/Ginny's Sabbath Day
| St. Louis, MO
St. Clair, MO
| 8/21
| Preach/Worship at Parkway UCC
Installation Service for Rev. Laura Mignerone at St. John UCC
| Houston, TX
| 8/22-24
| Work from Houston
|
| 8/25
| Out/Ginny's Sabbath Day
| Union, MO
| 8/26-27
| Conference Council Leadership Retreat
| |
Kansas City, MO
| 8/28
| Worship at Country Club Congregational UCC
|
|
9/2
|
Out/Ginny's Sabbath Day
| Little Rock, AR
| 9/4
| Worship at Faith UCC
|
| 9/5
| Labor Day; Conference Holiday
| |
Houston, TX
| 9/6-7
| Work from Houston
| Cleveland, OH
| 9/8
| UCC Task Force
|
| 9/9
| Out/Ginny's Sabbath Day
| Columbia, MO
| 9/10
| Columbia UCC, Conference Annual Planning Event (CAPE)
| Springfield, MO
| 9/11
| Preach at St. Johns Chapel UCC
|
|
|
Tyler's Schedule
|
|
Location
|
Date
|
Description
| Lexington, MO
| 8/13
| Trinity UCC Fundraiser breakfast
| Mt. Vernon, MO
Springfield, MO
| 8/14
| Worship at Zion UCC
Dedication of Building Project at St. John's Chapel
| Columbia, MO
| 8/15
| UCC/Disciples of Christ Regional Staff Mtg
| Levasy, MO
| 8/17
| Host Missionary, Minerva Halteh
| |
Springfield, MO
|
8/18
|
Boundary Training
Ozark Cluster Meeting
| Higginsville, MO
| 8/20
| Salem UCC, Hands Around the World Mission Festival
| Kansas City, MO
| 8/21
| Worship at Country Club Congregational UCC w/Missionary Minerva Halteh
| Columbia, MO
| 8/25
| Boundary Training
| Union, MO
| 8/26-27
| Conference Council Leadership Retreat
| |
Mayview, MO
Kansas City, MO
|
8/28
|
Morning worship at Zion UCC
Evening worship at Open Table
|
| 8/29
| Out/Tyler's Sabbath Day
| |
Webster Groves, MO
| 9/4
| Worship at Peace UCC
|
| 9/5
| Labor Day; Conference Holiday
| Webster Groves, MO
| 9/9
| Eden Seminary Boundary Training
| |
Columbia, MO
| 9/10
| Columbia UCC Conference Annual Planning Event
| Higginsville, MO
| 9/11
| Worship at Salem UCC
|
|
MMSUCC Staff Schedules/Updates
|
Jeremy Force, Director of Outdoor Ministries-Camp MoVal, will be on vacation from 8/19 until 9/5. Enjoy!
|
|
Hands Around the World Mission Festival Event
|
Grand Mission Festival
August 20
9:30am-3pm at a location near you
Join us for our Grand Mission Festival to receive and share the Good News of Jesus Christ by joining with global and local partners.
Be the first to learn about inside information and new resources from Global Ministries. Become  familiar with the range of church partners and the issues they face in the context in which they face them. Find out how we as church members can become active in
supporting the programs and witness of our partners in the region.
Our Festival will be live-streamed from Colonial UCC in Prairie Village, Kansas to several church download sites. A missionary or mission advocate will be present as facilitator with the group at each site. Join your friends and bring your youth group or class to one of the sites near you.
Our keynoter for all is Dr. Peter E. Makari, who is Global Ministries' Executive for the Middle East and Europe. An Egyptian-American, Peter has lived and served in Egypt and Cyprus on many interfaith and ecumenical committees. Peter earned his M.A and Ph.D. in Politics and Middle East Studies and is the author of Conflict and Cooperation: Christian-Muslim Relations in Contemporary Egypt
Two Palestinian Christian women will also be presenting that day. They are serving as Missionary-in-Residence Peace Interns this summer in US church camps and conferences.
Minerva Halteh is from Jericho, Palestine and has served on the national YWCA Palestine Peace and Justice Task Force traveling to Norway and New York. Since graduating from college, Minerva wishes to apply her study to benefit people in need.
Rachel Shomali is from the West Bank and is a student at Birzeit University. She enjoys sports and uses sports to teach about social justice and women's empowerment. Last summer, she worked in South Africa in a sports ministry internship with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
All three have a profound and powerful message to share. There will be plenty of time for discussion and dialogue with them.
Choose the location nearest to you:
Colonial UCC Prairie Village KS (live streaming)
or download sites:
- Webster Groves Christian Church in Webster Groves
- St. Paul's UCC in Marthasville, MO
- Community Christian Church in Camdenton, MO
- Salem UCC in Higginsville, MO
RSVP by contacting the MMS Conference office: 877.877.5884 or kris@mmsucc.org
|
Conference Annual Planning Event (CAPE)
|
September 10
10am-3pm
Columbia UCC
Save the date! On September 10 at Columbia UCC, we will gather for our second Conference Annual Planning Event (CAPE). We are asking those who plan to attend to please REGISTER. There is no cost for lunch at noon or to participate. 
All clergy, church leaders, association members, and committee and covenanted ministry chairs/members are invited and NEEDED to help us move forward with the implementation of the Vision Team's recommendations for our Conference.
This is your opportunity to - Take Action. Join the conversation. Be part of the plan. Be part of the vision. Listen to new ideas. Have your voice heard. Make things happen. Establish our future!
We will be determining our priorities for the upcoming year and deciding how we can go about achieving the work we are being called to do in our communities. Your input is vital. We hope you attend - YOU ARE THE CONFERENCE.
|
|
Second Communications Mailing
|
In an effort to be more inclusive and expansive in our communications activity as a Conference, the Communications Covenanted Ministry will be instituting an occasional hard-copy mailing to some of the following groups: churches, Pastors and Association/Conference leadership. This mailing will be assembled by a volunteer team coordinated by the Communications Covenanted Ministry and distributed 2-3 times/year. Our second mailing will be sent later this month at the end of August. 
We are again inviting Conference and Association settings to send flyers for inclusion. Examples of the material to be included are Association Fall Meeting flyers and registration information; planned activities by Conference Covenanted Ministries or Association Ministry Teams; information from our ministry partners (Eden Seminary, ECH, Emmaus Homes, etc.); Upcoming Conference/Association Youth Activities, and so on. (Information for inclusion will be limited to Conference/Association events, not local church dinners, trivia nights, etc.)
We will duplicate black and white flyers, and these can be emailed to Rev. Rick Oberle (rick@bemchurch.com) or Renee Cordes (renee@mmsucc.org ). If you would like to include a color flyer, please deliver them to the Conference office. Quantity = 225. ALL MATERIAL FOR INCLUSION IN THIS SECOND MAILING MUST BE RECEIVED BY AUGUST 26. Any questions about suitable materials for inclusion should be directed to Rick or Renee at the above email addresses.
This is just one aspect of a multi-faceted plan by the Communications Covenanted Ministry to enhance Conference Communications. Watch the eCourier for more announcements and initiatives as we work towards being ever more inclusive and expansive in our Communications Activity!
|
Clarification of Conference Office Staff Responsibilities
|
As Ginny works with Conference Office Staff to clarify their job descriptions and responsibilities, we have designated certain ministries specifically to Kris and Renee, respectively. We share these designations so that you will know who to contact directly for your ministry needs. This list will continue to be revised as new and current ministries are identified. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Kris, Renee, or Ginny.
Kris Scott Designated Ministries: 
- Boundary Training
- CAPE
- Conference Directory (2017)
- Conference Minister Worship Scheduler
- eHappenings
- Global Missions
- Annual Clergy Information Reviews (IR's)
- Persons in Ministry Retreat (PIM)
- Website Events Calendar
Renee Cordes Designated Ministries:
- Committees on Ministry
- Conference Annual Gathering (CAG)
- Conference Council
- Data Hub (National level)/ACS Database (Conference level)
- eCourier
- Search and Call for Churches and Clergy
- Website
|
Persons In Ministry (PIM) Retreat - Register Now
|
September 19-21, 2016
The Inn at Grand Glaize, Osage Beach, MO 
Theme: Many Paths, One Mountain
The World's Religions: Primary Perspectives and a Closer Look
Local church pastors, retired clergy, chaplains, youth ministers/directors, Christian educators, and music directors are all invited to this year's PIM! Our journey will begin with an overview that groups religions into three families with similar traits and vastly different ways of approaching the central questions of faith. Then we will spend time exploring Islam, Daoism and Hinduism in more detail. How can we better understand our neighbors? How can really seeing them help us better understand ourselves and our own faith?
Our presenter will be Brian Carwana, Director of the Encounter World Religions Centre in Toronto. His presentation comes highly recommended by our clergy colleagues, Michael Stephens and Karen Aitkens. Enjoy time for fellowship, rest, and renewal, as well. Spouses/partners are welcome!
The cost of registration is $125 until 9/8/16; $135 after that date. Registration is now OPEN. 2016 PIM brochure. Contact Kris at the Conference office with any questions about registration. All hotel reservations must be made directly with The Inn at Grand Glaize by calling 800-348-4731 or visit their website. Be sure to use the code MMS16 when making your reservation to receive the discounted price of $89 per night for a king bed or $99 per night for two double beds, plus tax.
|
|
Pension Boards UCC Webinars
|
PBUCC's Member Education Webinar/Conference Call series offers members an opportunity to learn more about benefit plans and programs and have their questions answered by Pension Boards staff. Webinars/conference calls begin at Noon (Eastern Time).
Please refer to the schedule below for instructions on how to join the next upcoming event.
If you are unable to participate in the event, an audio recording or webinar replay will be made available within five business days of the event and may be accessed by clicking on the link below. You may also download presentation slides for any webinars.
For more information on PBUCC's Member Education program, call 1.800.642.6543, ext. 2838.
~Upcoming Presentation
Wednesday, October 19, 2016, Noon (ET) (WebEx)Overview and Discussion: The 2017 Medicare Supplement Benefits Plan ~Past Presentations Wednesday, July 27, 2016, Noon (ET) (WebEx)
Overview and Discussion: The 2017 Non-Medicare Health Benefits Plan Wednesday, June 8, 2016, Noon (ET) (WebEx)
Understanding Your Investment Options Wednesday, April 20, 2016, Noon (ET) (WebEx)
Navigating the Health Plan Vendor/Partner Websites: Formula for Success! Wednesday, February 17, 2016, Noon (ET) (WebEx)
Annual Open Enrollment for the Vision Benefit Plan Wednesday, January 13, 2016, Noon (ET) (WebEx)
Make Health a Priority, and Start the New Year with Healthy Stewards Wellness Program!
|
|
You Say You Want a Digital Revolution - Youth Group Name Contest
|
Out of a workshop at the 2016 National Youth Event, interest was expressed in starting an ongoing group of youth from across the country who would use social media to raise awareness and encourage action on climate change. The first job of our digital revolution is to come up with a name for our group! We are having a name contest. Submissions are due by next Friday (August 19th). The winner gets a $50 gift card for iTunes (or another digital source of music, books, and movies). Send submissions to Brooks Berndt via twitter,facebook, instagram, or email. Only submissions from UCC or DOC Youth (ages 13-18) are allowed for  this contest. After we receive the submissions, then group members will get a chance to vote on the winner. Curious as to what this group will be about? Here's the brief snapshot...
Purpose:
For youth to create and distribute social media that raises awareness and encourages action on climate change.
How:
Youth participants will determine monthly themes around which social media will be shared and created. To coordinate and strengthen our efforts, we will hold monthly video calls.
Who:
(1) Any youth who like the purpose of the group can participate. Regardless of your current skills or knowledge, we want you! We will search for everyone to have a role. For some, it might mean putting artistic skills to use. For others, it might mean helping us do research on climate change or how to reach a wider audience. For still others, it might be coming up with catchy phrases and captions for our social media. Simply sharing items on social media will be a big help! There will be lots of ways to contribute. (2) While youth are the ones driving this project forward, we also want adults who will help us share social media posts online. The more helpers the better.
Got ideas for how we can improve our efforts? Got questions of any kind? Contact Brooks via twitter, facebook, instagram, or email. Also, if Brooks does not have you on the digital revolution contact list already, please let him know if you wish to be added.
And when you enter the contest, be sure to share your idea with our Conference, too!
|
Partners in Building Training Event
|
September 23-24
Long Beach, CA
Greetings from the United Church of Christ Church Building & Loan Fund (CB&LF), the successor organization to the nation's first church building society founded by the American Congregational Union in 1853. CB&LF is a subsidiary of Local Church Ministries, a Covenanted Ministry of the United Church of Christ.
You are invited to attend CB&LF's upcoming Partners in Building (PIB) training event to be hosted by the UCC Southern California Nevada Conference on Friday, September 23 to Saturday, September 24, 2016, at the Courtyard Marriott Downtown, 500 E. 1st Street, Long Beach, CA 90802. PIB is CB&LF's premier training event for church leaders. Since 2009, PIB has helped over 500 UCC and other church leaders to gain valuable information and  assistance on how to build, renovate, purchase, raise money for and/or finance church building projects.
At PIB you will receive expert assistance on managing, re-purposing, renovating, selling, owning, leasing, financing or re-financing church-owned property (and for specific church property challenges, and they will offer an opportunity at PIB for a 30-minute consultation with CB&LF staff). Please forward this email directly to any church leaders you'd like to refer to sign up for PIB.
Both paid and volunteer Conference staff have benefited greatly from the resources shared in PIB. In addition to our Conference Minister host Felix Villanueva and other UCC Conference Ministry leaders, judicatory officials and church leaders from the Disciples of Christ, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Episcopal Church, and the Parish Collective have confirmed their participation in this year's PIB. If you have not done so already, we welcome you to register and participate.
The registration cost to PIB participants for 2 days of training is only $100 per person. CB&LF pays for housing, meals and travel expenses for up to three leaders of each church or church organization.
The deadline to register for this year's PIB has been extended to August 26, 2016. We ask interested church leaders to please click here to complete a 10-minute survey that will take you afterwards to the PIB registration website. Additional information is available at cblfund.org.
This year, in addition to PIB training, we are offering two pre-PIB seminars on Friday afternoon, September 23rd. The registration fee for each seminar (listed below) is an additional $70 per person and includes lunch:
- The Future of Stewardship: Partnering to Build a More Vibrant Church -Learn about the United Church of Christ's new program to help churches strengthen finances and increase giving. Lead by Melina Higbee, Associate Director, Campaign, Appeal and Special Events-Office of Philanthropy and Stewardship, UCC.
- Partners in Vision: Taking on Large or Complex Church Building Projects -Learn how CB&LF assists churches and church organizations with large and/or complex building projects. Lead by Sandra Acosta, Principal of AIM Development Group.
For PIB registration information, please contact our Office Administrator Donyale Copeland at CopelanD@ucc.org, 216-736-3834. Or contact Patrick Duggan at dugganp@ucc.org.
|
|
|
Rev. Dale Parson is on Sabbatical from July 1 to October 31, 2016 |
|
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.
|
|
|
|
In This Issue - 8/12/2016
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ordination & Installation for Guangyou Lou
| |
|
Installation for the Rev. Laura Mignerone
| |
|
2016-17 Worship & Preach Schedule for Ginny
| |
|
Weekly Podcast by the Rev. John Dorhauer
| |
|
|
MMSUCC Fall Association Meetings
| |
|
Evangelical and Reformed Historical Society Event
| |
|
African American Women in Ministry Event
| |
|
|
|
