 Conference Minister's 2016-2017 Worship Calendar
If your church is interested in inviting Ginny to preach at your church or visit with your congregation in 2017, please contact Kris Scott at the MMSUCC Conference office at 314-918-2605. At this time, Ginny's 2016 schedule is filled. Thank you to all of the congregations for their "Extravagant Welcome and Hospitality" in 2016! 2016 Mercy Hospice Summer/Fall Community Grief Support Groups
Groups are open to the community, free of charge. -Morning Drop-In Group is the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month, 10-11:30am -New members are welcome to join at any time, no registration required.
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-Evening 6-week Closed Group, August 15th thru September 26th, and October 10th thru November 21st. These groups close to new members after the 2nd meeting of the 6-week session. Pre-registration is required. Please call the Mercy Hospice Bereavement Program at, 314-729-4419. Mercy Hospice is located at, 1000 Des Peres Rd., Des Peres, MO 63131. Second Saturday of Each Month, "Friendship Plate" 4:30pm The Friendship Plate is a new community organization providing free meals to anyone who would like to enjoy good food and fellowship. On the second Saturday of each month, you are invited to join us for a free meal and table fellowship. The church doors open at 4:30pm and the meal is served from 5-6pm. Volunteers are also welcome to come and help us serve the community. St. Peter's UCC is located at 607 Maupin Ave., New Haven, MO. For more information about the Friendship Plate organization, checkout their page on our website at www.nhucc.org September 16-17, LIFE Program
The LIFE (Lifelong Learner Institute of Faith Exploration) program will kick off the new academic year with a weekend retreat on the Eden Campus. The LIFE Program welcomes laity and clergy seeking to explore their Christian faith. Participants spend Friday evening and Saturday on campus in fellowship with others, taking either a certificate or an elective course, worshipping and eating together. The certificate course is NT Scriptural Studies with Rev. Dr. Deb Krause. This class will offer participants an introduction and overview of the New Testament. Deborah is Eden's Academic Dean and Professor of New Testament. The elective class is Welcoming the LGBTQ Community to Your Church, taught by Dr. Jill Baker, adjunct professor at Eden. This class will provide an overview on formal and informal ways clergy and congregations can be welcoming to the LGBTQ community.
For more information on the LIFE retreat, contact: Jill Schantz, jschantz@eden.edu or call 314-961-3627. To register, click link below:
September 17, Blessing of the Animals, 1-3pm Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ, 620 N Woods Mill Rd., Chesterfield, will be celebrating our annual "Blessing of the Animals." This is a life-affirming, sacred event. All creatures of God are welcome! Ever since our inaugural "Blessing" (which took place here in 2001 merely days after 9-11), this deeply meaningful gathering has been a beloved tradition. Each autumn, we gather to praise God for blessing this world with miraculous life - in all its glorious forms! If you have a treasured creature with whom you share your home and your life, we urge you to take part in this marvelous celebration on Saturday, Sept. 17. Bring your life companion(s) for a memorable afternoon on Holy Ground. Blessings will be offered at the rustic altar and cross near our outdoor pavilion. there will be complimentary refreshments for all of God's creatures to enjoy. Join us! September 18, Chicken Dinner, 11am-5pm St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Marthasville, MO is hosting this annual dinner. This year, besides having the chicken dinner along with homemade desserts, there will be games, a quilt raffle, and a country store. We will also be selling homemade ice cream by the bowl. Please post the attached flyer on your bulletin board, and post it in your Sunday bulletin. Hope to see you there! Event FLYER September 19-21, Persons In Ministry (PIM) Retreat 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. 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. Accomodations are at the Inn at Grand Glaize, site of the 2015 PIM (www.innnatgrandglaize.com). Rooms are $89 (king) and $99 (double beds) plus tax, and must be reserved directly through the resort. See the Missour Mid-South website (www.missourimidsouth.org) for registration and further details. Questions? Contact Betsy Happel at betsy@kirkwooducc.org Read new details about the retreat, see link below.
September 19, Faith & Life Matters, 7:30pm Please come to the PSU Theater (Plaster Student Union), 1110 E Madison St., Springfield, MO 65897, to hear guest speaker, Ursa Ghazi where she will discuss "How Interfaith Dialogue and Awareness Informs Us as Citizens and People of Faith." Ursa has worked in the nonprofit sector on interreligious engagement for over ten years. She has previously worked with HRH Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad in Amman, Jordan and developed interfaith youth initiatives in both Jordan and the U.S. Event FLYER September 20, Greening Your Community:Saving the Planet One Garden at a Time
Please join us at 7pm at the Saint Louis Ethical Society, 9001 Clayton Rd. 63117. Keynote speakers include: Meteorologist Mike Roberts, Sweet Potato Project Executive Dir. Sylvester Brown, Jr. Panelists include, Matt Schindler with Gateway Greening, KB Frasier with Cultivating Justice, Kim Reiss-Sugar Creek Gardens, and Christ Hartley-Butterfly House. Don't miss this informative and inspiring event. It's free and open to the public, but registration is required at: Event FLYERSeptember 21, Gay-Straight Christian Fellowship Discussion, 6:30pm
Tyler Connoley, Sabbatical Associate Conference Minister, will speak to the GCF (Gay-Straight Christian Fellowship of Zion Church: an Open and Affirming congregation, 816 Faraon St., St. Joseph, MO. A fellowship dinner will be served. Tyler will speak on Hathach, the transgender hero from the book of Esther. GCF is reading "The Children are Free: Reexamining the Biblical Evidence on Same-sex Relationships" co-authored by Tyler along with the Reverend Jeff Miller. You are encouraged to attend. September 24, Eastern Association Fall Meeting, 11am-3pm Emanuel UCC, 304 E Adams St. Jackson, MO will host the Fall Business Session of the EA. Lunch will begin at 11am - with the meeting from 1 until 3pm. Please visit the Eastern Association page of the Conference Website for further information and registration. Hope to see you there! September 24, St. Louis Association Fall Meeting, 8:30am-3pm It's that time of year! St. John's United Church of Christ, 15370 Olive Blvd., Chesterfield, MO 63017 will host the Fall Business Session of the SLA. Registration will begin at 8:30. The building is fully accessible, and members of St. Johns are planning tasty breakfast treats as we gather, and a delicious lunch to share. The theme for the Fall Meeting is: Mission to Motion: A Model for Church Vitality. We are very excited to welcome as keynote speaker, Rev. Cheryl Cornish, pastor of First Congregational Church in Memphis, TN. As many of you know, First Congregational has become a thriving hub of community engagement and deeply-valued ministry in its city, and Cheryl has had a vital role in shepherding its growth. Registration FORM September 24, Festival of Sharing Traveling Quilt Show, 8:30am-2pm
St. Paul's United Church of Christ, 5508 Telegraph, St. Louis, MO 63129, will be hosting the Festival of Sharing Traveling Quilt Show. Admission is free.
September 24, Joint Neighborhood Ministry Trivia Night & Auction, 6pm For the 9th year, Joint Neighborhood Ministry presents this event. First Congregational United Church of Christ, 10 W Lockwood Ave will be hosting, where the doors open at 6pm, and the fun begins at 7pm . $20 per person, 8 ppl per table. Find your 7 smartest best friends and be ready to win! Please bring non-perishable food items to help stock JNM's food pantry. Bring food, wine and beer for your table to enjoy. JNM provides soda and water. In addition, there will be a Silent Auction, Raffle, Mulligan's and Door Prizes. Come join the fun! $ Cash Prize $ for Trivia Winning Table. RSVP to Sonya at, 314-771-3987 or Jan at, 314-352-6645 by September 17th. Event FLYER September 25, 2016 CROP Hunger Walk, 12:30pm The walk will be held at Eden Theological Seminary, 475 E Lockwood Ave., Webster Groves, where registration/check-in will begin at 12:30pm, and step-off at 1:30pm. As in the past, we will have both a one-mile and a three-mile route through the lovely neighborhoods of northeastern Webster Groves. Also, please check our website for updates: www.crophungerwalk.org/stlouismo and please see our Facebook page. On Facebook, search "CROP Hunger Walk St. Louis 2016" and please "like" the page to help us spread the word. Church World Service, of which CROP is the division that addresses issues of hunger and poverty, both locally and throughout the world. Hunger remains a reality for nearly 20% of the world's population; and in Missouri, 17% of families are regularly hungry and/or food insecure. The needs are real, and CROP helps to address these needs, both with direct aid and with development assistance. Our local partners for 2016 are Operation Food Search, Circle of Concern, and Webster-Rock Hill Ministries. 25% of funds raised stay in the St. Louis to benefit these partners. Questions? Contact Clint McCann at 314-395-5826; or contact Jordan Bles, CROP's Community Engagement Specialist at JBles@cwsglobal.org September 25, Sausage and Turkey Dinner, 11am-5:30pm Join us at St. Paul's United Church of Christ, 150 Defiance Rd., Defiance, MO for this dinner which includes fresh made Apple Butter for sale, a Quilt Raffle and a Country Store. Adults-$11, Children-$5 - kids under five eat free. All you care to eat! September 25, 26 & 28, German Brass Band Concerts St. Johns Evangelical United Church of Christ, 11333 St. Johns Church Rd, Mehlville, hosts a German Brass Band from Reichenbach, Germany. Reichenbach is the hometown of Rev. Louis Nollau. On Sunday, September 25, at 7pm, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Columbia, IL will host. Then on Monday, September 26, at 6pm, an Ice Cream Social and concert, will be held at St. Johns Evangelical UCC. Wrapping up on Wednesday, September 28, at St. Paul's United Church of Christ, Oakville, there will be more brass band music at 7pm with a reception immediately following. Join us on any or all of these great nights of wonderful music and fellowship! September 29, Boundary Training, 9am-4pm Southwood United Church of Christ, 7904 Raytown Rd., Raytown, MO will host a Boundary Training session. The Rev. Jane Fisler-Hoffman will facilitate. To register, please call Kris Scott at the conference office, 314-918-2605, or kris@mmsucc.org Or register online: Registration FORM
October, Global Ministries Missionary Visit Opportunity
James and Jayanthi Wilson, who have most recently served the Theological Education by Extension College (TEEC) in Johannesburg, South Africa, will be visiting our region the whole month of October.
Don't miss an opportunity to have the Wilsons' share their stories and adventures with you. If you would like to have a visit at your church, men's group, women's group, youth group, etc., now is the time to speak up! Do not think you have to have a large group present. A simple dinner in a home can be relaxing and informative. Perhaps you have a civic group to which you would like to invite them to speak.
To arrange a visit, contact Clela Anderson alelc1@att.net She will assist you with arrangements
October 1, All-You-Can-Eat Spaghetti Dinner, 4:30-7pm Brentwood Congregational United Church of Christ, 2400 S. Brentwood Blvd, St. Louis, is hosting this dinner. Adults - $8, Children under 12 - $4. Homemade desserts and take outs are available. Join us! October 2, 48th Annual Chicken Dinner, Noon-6pm
Immanuels United Church of Christ, Holstein, 17510 Church Street, Marthasville, MO is hosting this annual dinner. Featuring a Country Store, inside and outside dining, Fried Chicken and all the fixin's, Apple Butter and Homemade Pie! October 2, Eastern Franklin County 25th Annual CROP Walk for Hunger, 12:30pm
This year's walk will begin and end at St. Peter's UCC in Washington, MO. Registration for the walk begins at 12:30pm. The Walk will start at 1pm. The route is one mile long, but can be walked as many times as a walker wishes to walk it. The 1/4 of the proceeds for local ministry will be divided among the six food pantries in Washington and Union. Everyone is invited to walk to help the hungry! A CROP Rockathon will be held on Saturday, October 1, the day before the Walk at Frick's Grocery Market in Union. The Rockathon will begin at 10am and end at 4pm. Volunteers will rock in a rocking chair, to raise money for CROP Hunger Ministries. We hope many of you will join us for the two days of Walking and Rocking-you will find a blessing in helping---SEE YOU THERE! October 2, Sausage & Turkey Dinner, Noon-6pm Friedens Peace United Church of Christ, 3560 Mill St., New Melle, MO 63365, invites you to enjoy their whole-hog sausage or their new special roasted turkey. Also new this year is Homemade Apple Sauce and Cranberry Relish. The dinner includes kraut, green beans, mashed potatoes and gravy, homemade bread, a dessert and beverage. All that for just $11-adults, $6 for ages 6-11. Pastors and those under 5 are free. Call 636-828-5980 today to reserve sausage and apple butter to take home! October 3-7, Mission Trip: New Orleans, Louisiana, St. Bernard Project (SBP) Parkway United Church of Christ is sponsoring this mission trip. There is much to be done to get Katrina victims back in their own homes. We will be traveling Sunday the 2nd and Saturday the 8th. This will be about a 12-hour drive. SBP has volunteer housing available for a very reasonable fee. We have worked with the SBP folks before, and they have a great operation. Please send any questions to Tom at mckenzie1947@att.net or visit the SBP website at http://www.stbernardproject.org/ Please do some thinking and praying and consider this opportunity. . October 5, Schmiechen Lectures, 9:30am-2pm Please join us at Eden Theological Seminary, 475 E. Lockwood Ave. Webster Groves, for the 29th Annual Schmiechen Lectures. Dr. Robin Jensen, the Patrick O'Brien Professor of Theology at the University of Notre Dame, will share two lectures; "The Cross as Icon: The Emergence of the Cross in Early Christian Art" and "The Cross as the Tree of Life: Reimagining the Cross in Christian Tradition." The day begins with worship at 9:30am in Wehrli Chapel followed by the morning lecture at 10am. Lunch takes place at 11:30am followed by the afternoon lecture at 1pm. Lunch tickets may be purchased for the price of $7 in the Eden Bookstore -now located in the Press Building. October 8, Rummage Sale, 8am-1pm Eden United Church of Christ, 8920 Eden Ave., Affton, MO 63123, will hold this annual sale. Parking in the rear of the church. Anyone wishing to donate items please call the Eden church office at, 314-631-8930. October 8, Honest Conversations About Race, 10am-3pm Join us in the conversation at the Mayview Community Building, Mayview, MO. This is a free event sponsored by MORE2 of Kansas City. Lunch is provided.
October 9, 11th Annual Sausage Supper, 11am-6pm St. John United Church of Christ, 405 S Fifth St., St. Charles will host this supper which will also feature Roast Beef. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children. There will also be a quilt raffle for a queen-size embroidered quilt made by the St. John social Service Sewing Group. Raffle tickets are $1 each or $5 for 6 tickets. Call the church for more information or stop by to purchase tickets. 636-946-0961 October 9, Annual Sausage Dinner, 11am-3pm St. John United Church of Christ, St. Clair, MO, is hosting this dinner which features; sausage, kraut, potatoes, green beans, applesauce, and desserts family style. $10-Adults, $5-Kids. Questions? stjohnuccstc@live.com or 636-629-3235. Hope you can join us! October 12, ECH Ladies Aid Fall Luncheon & Market, 11am Join the wonderful ECH Ladies Aid members for a delightful afternoon of food and fellowship. All funds go directly to support the children and families of ECH Every Child's Hope. Parkway United Church of Christ, 2841 N Ballas Rd., St. Louis 63131 is hosting this event. Tickets are $10 and includes lunch, dessert, raffle, and shopping at the vendor market. To register by October 5, please call the ECH Development Office at 314-427-3755. October 13, Sacred Conversations on Race, 7pm This working group (of the St. Louis Association) continues to meet on the second Thursday of the month, 7pm, in the McCarthy Room on the campus of Eden Seminary (475 E. Lockwood Ave, 63119). Come on the 13th or come to the St. Louis Association Fall meeting on September 24th, and hear about all our activities. October 21, A Day For Sharpening 02717, 9:30am-4pm You are invited to join us for this event at First Christian Church, 2500 University Ave, Des Moines, IA, where we'll continue the dialogue: "Dear White Christians: For Those Still Longing For Racial Reconciliation."
For more information:
For registration: October 22, Western Association Fall Meeting, 10am-3pm The Fall Business session of the Western Association is fast approaching. Southwood United Church of Christ, 7904 Raytown Rd., Raytown, MO 64138, will host. Our theme will be "Creating Vibrant Worship: Engaging Our Senses and Our Souls" We'll explore Prayer and Painting, Liturgical Dance, Contemporary Music, and more! We hope you'll plan to attend this important event. Registration will begin at 9:30am. Please register no later than October 17th. The cost is $30 before October 11th, $35 after October 11th. October 22, Boundary Training, 8am-3pm First Congregational Church, 1000 South Cooper Ave. Memphis, TN 38104 will host a Boundary Training session. The Rev.Joe Pfeiffer will facilitate. To register, please call Kris Scott at 314-918-2605 or kris@mmsucc.org Or register online: October 23, Hymn Festival, 3pm St. John United Church of Christ, 405 S Fifth St., St. Charles, presents this festival in the sanctuary. The Hymn Festival will feature St. John Chancel & Adult Handbell Choirs with organ and piano. All are welcome! Contact the church office for more information. 636-946-0961. November 3-5, Ecumenical Symposium: Revitalizing Ministry through Jazz
Register Now! "Jazz for the Journey" featuring Keynote presenter The Reverend Geoffrey Black, retired General Minister and President of The United Church of Christ. Join us at Eden Theological Seminary, 475 E. Lockwood Ave., Webster Groves, MO for this second National Jazz Symposium! For more details, visit www.eden.edu/jazzjourney. For further information, contact Cliff Aerie, Symposium Producer at cliff@worshipjazz.com
November 4, Art & Soul VI, 6:30pm
SAVE the DATE!
Now in it's 6th year, Art & Soul is a celebration of Neighborhood Houses and how art reaches across the boundaries such as poverty and challenging urban neighborhoods to help strengthen children and youth. The emcee will be Cory Stark, weekend anchor from KMOV. The event will feature unique works of art in many forms, done by artists of all ages. Guests will enjoy cocktails, fabulous food, Howl 2 Go Dueling Pianos, silent and live auctions, and Fund the Need.
April 28-30, 2017, Women's Retreat SAVE the DATE! The 2017 Women's Retreat will be held at Camp MoVal on April 28-30, 2017. More details available closer to the event! |
