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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I share with the Missouri Mid-South Conference the recent news of the Medicaid23, which refers to the 23 Kansas City clergy, who, in 2014, protested Missouri's refusal to expand medicaid by standing and singing hymns in the state legislature's gallery. They were arrested at the time and immediately released. Two of the 23 ministers are the Rev. Dr. Vernon Howard and the Rev. Nia Chandler, both of St. Mark Union, UCC in Kansas City.
Unfortunately, the district attorney filed charges, and the trial was this week. On Wednesday, the jury found them innocent of obstruction charges and guilty of trespassing. They had to stay in a hotel in Jeff City one more night in order to learn of the sentencing, which could be a maximum of $500 fine and/or 6 months in jail.
When I talked to them on Wednesday, Rev. Dr. Howard said, "We will continue to stand for justice." And Rev. Chandler said, "Know that God is always in the midst and watches over the called who stand for the least of these." Dr. Howard also shared that because we are teh United CHurch of Christ together, all of us stood with those 23 ministers as they faced trial and sentencing. Powerful. Truly powerful.
One of the 5 Mission Imperatives of the Missouri Mid-South Conference is to Strengthen Congregations. Rev. Chandler and Rev. Dr. Howard's courage has embodied this mission as our congregations are strengthened when we stand against injustice and demand that all citizens of Missouri deserve to be healthy and have access to health care. In the spirits of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi, and our spiritual teacher, Jesus, we give thanks for these 23 ministers. Thanks be to God.
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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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| 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
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| Thursday, 8/25
| Out/Ginny's Sabbath Day
| Union, MO
| 8/26-27
| Conference Council Leadership Retreat
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Kansas City, MO
| 8/28
| Worship at Country Club Congregational UCC
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9/2
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Out/Ginny's Sabbath Day
| Little Rock, AR
| 9/4
| Worship at Faith UCC
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| 9/5
| Labor Day; Conference Holiday
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Houston, TX
| 9/6-7
| Work from Houston
| Cleveland, OH
| 9/8
| UCC Task Force
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| 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
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Tyler's Schedule
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Location
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Date
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Description
| 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
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Mayview, MO
Kansas City, MO
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8/28
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Morning worship at Zion UCC
Evening worship at Open Table
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| 8/29
| Out/Tyler's Sabbath Day
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Webster Groves, MO
| 9/4
| Worship at Peace UCC
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| 9/5
| Labor Day; Conference Holiday
| Webster Groves, MO
| 9/9
| Eden Seminary Boundary Training
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Columbia, MO
| 9/10
| Columbia UCC Conference Annual Planning Event
| Higginsville, MO
| 9/11
| Worship at Salem UCC
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MMSUCC Staff Schedules/Updates
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Jeremy Force, Director of Outdoor Ministries-Camp MoVal, will be on vacation from 8/19 until 9/5. Enjoy!
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Hands Around the World Mission Festival Event
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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
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Conference Annual Planning Event (CAPE)
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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.
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Medicaid 23 Trial - UCC Ministers Stand Strong for Justice, Love and the Poor
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Two United Church of Christ (UCC) clergy within the Mid-South Conference (Dr. Vernon Percy Howard, Jr., and Rev. Chaunia Chandler of St. Mark UCC-Western Association) are part of a group of 23 ministers and activists standing trial this week in Cole County, MO, for their brave and prophetic efforts in protesting, advocating, and demanding Medicaid expansion for the poorest of the poor in Missouri.
In May of 2014, Dr. Howard, Rev. Chandler, and the ministers (called the Medicaid 23) led a coalition of 300 persons from across Missouri in a non-violent, direct action, demonstration to call attention to Missouri's refusal of Federal dollars that health and welfare analysts say would help keep thousand of people alive and well in the state. Due to the human lives at stake, the Medicaid 23 led a Civil Disobedience action in the Senate Chamber to protest and dramatize the injustice.
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Photo credit - kansascity.com
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Dr. Howard led the 300 protesters in chants of "Expand Medicaid!" "Do Justice" "Love Mercy" "Defend the Poor!" The 23 clergy led the 300 protesters in chants, prayers, and hymns until the Missouri Senate interrupted its proceedings for approximately 2 hours while the chamber was cleared and the 23 were arrested. The action was covered by MSNBC as Dr. Howard and Rev. John Bennett of the Medicaid 23 were interviewed on the Lawrence O'Donnell Show the following day.
They were arrested, charged with "trespassing" and "interfering with a government operation" and released. Over the past two years the Cole County prosecutor's office has pursued this criminal case refusing formal requests to have the case dismissed. The maximum sentence, if found guilty, is 6 months in prison and a $500.00 fine. The trial began on Monday, August 15th, 2016, 9am, at the Cole County Courthouse in Jefferson City, MO, Division 2 Courtroom.
Dr. Howard leads the Racial Justice Team of our Justice and Witness Covenanted Ministry here with the Conference and is president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Greater Kansas City, a non-violent, direct action Civil Rights and Social Justice organization founded by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Rev. Chandler is a prophetic voice who serves on the Western Association Committee on Ministry, our JWM, is integral to our social media/communications operation in the Conference, and also serves as Special Assistant with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Greater Kansas City. Also, among the Medicaid 23 are retired minister Rev. Samuel Mann and Christian minister Rev. Rodney Williams.
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Interfaith Partnership Cabinet Statement Imploring Civility During Election Season
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One of the privileges of living in America is the opportunity to participate in the democratic process either by candidacy, by putting forth ballot initiatives, or by voting. In recent years the tone and tenor of campaigns has coarsened and is stridently divisive. 
We, the Cabinet of Interfaith Partnership, believe that political participation and the surrounding conversations need not be exercises in dehumanizing speech or action. While political positions can be in sharp contrast and partisan, respect for people is a bipartisan and universal principle all can agree upon.
We call upon our community to model civil discourse, and we challenge all candidates from municipal to the presidential level to present their issues and discontinue the practice of personal attacks. Every office holder is beholden to the betterment of the whole, with justice and fairness as universal principles of good governance. The current nature of divisive politics and the surrounding discordant atmosphere makes it difficult to unite or heal post-elections.
Let us challenge the conventional wisdom that the public only responds to negative political messaging. This is in the best interest of all Americans.
Rev. C. Jessel Strong, Cabinet Chair
African Methodist Episcopal Church
Dr. Paul F. Hintze, Vice Chair
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
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Calling all Volunteers - MoVal Needs YOU
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As you all know, Camp MoVal relies heavily on volunteer help and program staff to supplement its programming in the off camp season. Well, it is that time of year again - we need YOU. Here's a list of staffing and volunteer needs for the fall operation of Camp MoVal. If you are interested or can be of service on any of the dates, please contact us at MoVal and we can discuss details. Email moval@mmsucc.org or call 636-583-2730.  It is also important for us to put together a volunteer team if MoVal-oween is going to happen this year. We need a group of 5-10 people to plan and execute the event. It will take 25-30 volunteers for the actual event to have enough coverage. Marci and I will be able to assist the planning group, but we need more hands to make this event happen. Please let us know if you are interested in helping by September 2 with MoVa-loween.
Thank you for your continued support of Camp MoVal and Outdoor Ministry,
Jeremy Force
Camp MoVal Outdoor Ministries Director
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Second Communications Mailing
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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!
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Clarification of Conference Office Staff Responsibilities
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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
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You Say You Want a Digital Revolution - Youth Group Name Contest
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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!
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Partners in Building Training Event
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September 23-24
Long Beach, CA
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.
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.
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National Church Leadership Institute Follow Up
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On August 9-11th, several MMS clergy and our Conference Minister, Rev. Dr. Ginny Brown Daniel, attended the NCLI event in Atlanta, GA with the Center for Progressive Renewal. Read their comments and how the event theme of "Reenergize, Revision, Redesign, Reimagine" inspired them.
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Rev. Dale Parson is on Sabbatical from July 1 to October 31, 2016 |
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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 - 8/19/2016
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Installation for the Rev. Laura Mignerone
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2016-17 Worship & Preach Schedule for Ginny
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Weekly Podcast by the Rev. John Dorhauer
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20-30 Clergy WebVideo Chat with Ginny!
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Persons in Ministry Retreat Event
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MMSUCC Fall Association Meetings
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Evangelical and Reformed Historical Society Event
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African American Women in Ministry Event
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