Spring Meeting
April 26th, 2009
Economic Justice was the focus of the day
when over 130 people gathered at the Eastern Association’s 2009
Spring Meeting, held April 26th at Zion UCC, Union, Mo. The
theme of the program was “Facilitators of Hope: equipping faith
communities to work for economic justice”.
Following words of welcome by Zion’s Pastor Rev. Michael Bone
and devotionals by Rev. Kemery Baldwin of St. John UCC, St.
Charles, the attendees were dismissed to attend two consecutive
breakout sessions lasting 50 minutes each. Each participant
could choose to attend two of these four presentations:
• a Food Pantry Roundtable, featuring speakers Rev. Armin Klemme
(Zion UCC, Union), Judy Schneider (St. Peter’s UCC, Washington),
and Cheryl Barta (Hope Food Pantry, O’Fallon) discussed topics
such as site location, staffing, food acquisition and
distribution, clientele, and record-keeping.
• Rev. John Hogue, Pastor of Faith UCC, Wentzville, and Mandy
Doumit, R.N. presented on the RAPHA clinic, a medical clinic for
transients and the working poor which operates out of Faith UCC.
• Dorothy “Dottie” Kastigar, Community Development Coordinator
of the Community Council of St. Charles County, presented on the
topic “Support to People Experiencing Homelessness”.
• JoAnn Toerper, Program Administrator for the Missouri Career
Center in Warrenton, presented on workforce retraining programs
and resources available in Lincoln, Warren, and Montgomery
Counties.
An offering was taken up during opening devotionals to benefit
the RAPHA Clinic. Session participants were also given packets
with extensive resource materials for Lincoln, Warren, Franklin,
Gasconade, and St. Charles Counties, in addition to the
materials available at each breakout session. The afternoon
finished with a catered dinner, and time for informal discussion
and fellowship.
Submitted by
Rev. Craig Blaufuss
Zion U.C.C. Troy, Mo. 63379
Office: 636 528-7550
Cell: 636 358-0292
Kemery Baldwin with some of the assembly for
the meeting.
Michael Bone, pastor of Zion UCC, Union, our
host church.
Kemery Baldwin leading the worship. |
|
Kristy May of Emmaus Homes and Ed Wilson, pastor of Mantels and
Casco at registration.
Jeff Whitman, Conference Minister with Norma
Klemme, and Priscilla Bizer.
Vickie and Craig Blaufuss with another guest
in a discussion.
Don Bizer and Mary Anne Kemper, members at
Zion UCC, Troy and of the Mission and Social Concerns Committee.
Photo's provided by Charles Adams |
