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E-Connections
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1. Eastern Association
Meeting
April 1, 2009
The Eastern Association Mission and Social Concerns Committee would
like to remind everyone that the time to register for the Eastern
Association Spring Meeting--like Spring itself--has arrived! The
theme of the meeting is: "Facilitators of Hope: equipping faith
communities to work for economic justice". Please send your
registration materials to: Zion UCC, 725 S. Main St., Troy, MO
63379. If you do not have access to the registration form it is
available on the Conference website under the Eastern Association
heading. Also, PLEASE MAKE YOUR MEAL CHECKS PAYABLE TO: EASTERN
ASSOCIATION, MMSUCC. The cost of the dinner is $7 per person. The
deadline for Registration is April 17! If you have questions, please
contact: Rev. Craig Blaufuss, ph. 636-358-0292; email
revcraigblaufuss@centurytel.net
Click here to read more
information about the meeting and to download registration
materials.
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2. St.
Louis Association Ministerium
April 1, 2009
Venue: Bethel UCC
Bethel UCC is located at: 14700 New Halls Ferry Road, Florissant,
63033
Date: Wednesday April 8, 2009
Time: 10:00am
Host Pastor: Lansford Lawrence
Presenters: Joe Rowley (Parkway UCC) and RJ Morgan (St Pauls UCC
Telegraph)
Theme: Worship and Music to close out the Lenten season
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3. ‘Revival’ for a Compassionate Missouri Budget
April 2, 2009
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ:
I am writing to invite you to join me on Sunday April 5th for :
‘Revival’ for a Compassionate Missouri Budget
When: Sunday, April 5, 2009
Time: 2pm
Where: Old St. Louis Courthouse (11 N. 4th Street)
Recently the Missouri House Budget Committee passed the budget bills
for fiscal year 2010 where members made close to $300 million in
cuts to critical state services. They also are refusing to use
federal stimulus AND private money (offered by the Missouri Hospital
Association). Missouri Health Care for All realized, along the lines
of our Principles, we had to mobilize around this critical issue. To
show our moral concern, several faith leaders met with the House
Budget Chair, Rep. Icet, March 17th and a town hall meeting was held
on March 19th with the House Budget Vice Chair, Rep. Stream. These
faith leaders and others wanted to keep the moral message raised
above all the many partisan voices. A press conference was held at
Kirkwood Baptist Church on March 23rd and now that same powerful
group is planning what Rev. Dr. David Greenhaw, President of Eden
Seminary, is calling, not a ‘rally’ but a ‘revival’ – to start
raising the voice of people of faith, in unity, that what the House
approved hurts millions of Missourians. Cuts are not the answer. We
need to stop the bleeding and start the healing!
Telling the Senate that as people of faith, our concern about our
family and neighbors is aligned with IP/FBW’s mission and
encompasses one of the 6 focus areas of the Cabinet. We need to use
all resources available to make sure as many Missourians as possible
are cared for in this critical state of emergency we all find
ourselves.
This is NOT about politics. This is about people. This is about a
faithful response.
I encourage you to join me on Sunday as we lift up our voices for
the poor and disadvantaged of our state.
Peace ,
Jeffrey A. Whitman,
Conference Minister
Missouri Mid-South Conference
United Church of Christ
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4. April
Directory Up-date
April 1, 2009
Up-Dates to the 2009 Missouri Mid-South Conference Directory
PAGE 3
Rott foundation Legal Counsel – please delete the information for
James McDaniel and list Mike McKee as Legal Counsel. His information
is found under Conference Legal Counsel.
PAGE 16
Persons In-Care, please remove Leah Atkinson from Eastern
Association.
PAGE 25
Billings, St. Peter’s Evangelical – please list John Sellers as
Supply Pastor
PAGE 27
Grand Pass, St. Luke – c/o Christy Windmeyer, 4014 Third St., Grand
Pass, MO 65339; also delete Andrea Mockridge and add Patricia Glover
as Interim
Herman, St. Paul – correct typo so it reads: Hermann, St. Paul
High Ridge, St. Martin – list website as:
http://stmartin-ucc-hr.sowebs.com
PAGE 29
New Melle, Friedens (Peace) – remove Jerry Reisinger as Supply and
add Jerry Keeney as Interim
PAGE 30
St. Louis, Prince of Peace – add email:
popucc@att.net
PAGE 31
St. Louis, Garden Light – name is changed back to St. Lukes UCC
Sedalia, Immanuel – new email for church:
iuccsedalia@chaterinternet.com
Union, Zion – remove Geraldine Proctor as Interim and add Michael
Bone as Pastor
PAGE 32
Wentzville, Faith – add email:
office@faithucc.net and website:
www.faithucc.net
PAGE 36
Abel, Brady – new email address:
pastoriuusedalia@charterinternet.com
Batten, Jack – new address: 3380 Lake Bend Dr., Valley Park, MO
63088; 636-225-3339. Email remains the same.
Bilinski, Leah – new address: 282 Carriage Ct., Washington, MO
63090; 913-310-9117. Email remains the same.
Bortz, Peter – new email:
bcucc2@juno.com
Cameron, Kevin – Correction to Carmen’s last name: should be
“Bumgarner”
PAGE 37
Engel, Gail & Donna – new email:
dgengel@att.net
PAGE 38
Lawrence, Lansford – new phone number is 314-338-6753
PAGE 39
Merrell, James – new address: 826 Cleveland Ave, St. Louis, MO
63122, cell phone #314-420-6243
Poe, David – new email:
davidwpoe@gmail.com
PAGE 40
Shumway, Susan – new email address:
uccsss@yahoo.com
Addition: Wilson, Starsky, 11939 Rosevalley Lane, St. Louis, MO
63138; 314-570-1901; email:
sjucc@yahoo.com
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5. April
Parish Paper
April 1, 2009
Attached is the April issue of The Parish Paper, a two page
newsletter edited by Herb Miller, Lyle Schaller, and Cynthia
Woolever. Each edition will discuss issues, share ideas, or offer
insights on an area of parish ministry. The April issue discusses:
“Permanent Endowment Fund.”
Didn’t get the previous issues? Don’t know what The Parish Paper is?
A statement from Jeff Whitman, Conference Minister can be found at
www.mmsucc.org/resources/parishpaper.asp as well as past issues.
Below are some additional instructions on the use of The Parish
Paper:
Our organization's purchase of photocopy rights for The Parish Paper
INCLUDES:
1. Permission to provide copies to our staff and the congregations
within our constituency in any of the following ways: E-mail, U.S.
Mail, newspaper, meetings, training events, and our Website.
2. Permission for each congregation within our constituency to (a)
photocopy or electronically distribute for local use as many copies
as it needs, (b) post them on its Website, and (c) quote sentences
and paragraphs.
Your Congregation does NOT have permission (a) to delete the
copyright notice on page 2; (b) to re-write, paraphrase, or change
the wording of sentences and paragraphs; or (c) to give ANY THIRD
PARTY - other than your staff and constituents - permission to
photocopy or reprint (in any quantity, no matter how small, whether
for free distribution or for sale).
If your congregation uses a U.S. Post Office Nonprofit Mailing
Permit to distribute photocopies with its newsletter or other
mailings, most local Post Offices require that every item carry your
congregation's name and address. Above The Parish Paper masthead,
type your congregation's name, address, and "Photocopied by
Permission."
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6. Death of
Sheldon Culvers mother
April 6, 2009
Please hold Rev. Sheldon Culver and her family in your prayers as
they mourn the loss of their mother, Kate S. Culver, on Friday,
April 3. There will be a memorial service for her at St. Paul UCC,
127 St Paul Street, Columbia, IL on Thursday, April 9. Visitation
will be from 11 am to 1 pm with a service at 1 pm. Following the
service, lunch will be served. Memorials can be made to Wellesley
College Scholarship Fund or to the Alliance for Democracy.
Rev. Culver has served the Missouri Mid-South Conference in many
venues, most recently as Associate Conference Minister to St. Louis
and Eastern Associations. She is now the Conference Minister at
Illinois-South conference. She appreciates all of your thoughts and
prayers.
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7. Spaghetti
Dinner at Faith, Wentzville
April 6, 2009
Faith UCC in Wentzville will hold its 1st Annual Spaghetti Dinner on
Saturday, April 25 from 4-7:00 pm. Tickets are $5 for adults and
children 6 & up; children 5 & under free. Menu includes spaghetti,
salad w/Italian dressing, garlic bread, dessert, drink. Carry-outs
are available. Tickets may be purchased in advance or at the door.
Call 636-327-4795 or email
office@faithucc.net for directions.
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8. Zion,
Florissant helps USO - you can too!
April 6, 2009
Zion United Church of Christ (5710 N. Hwy 67) will be collecting
items from the list below throughout April in support of the James
S. McDonnell U.S.O. Donations will be accepted Monday - Friday,
9:00am - 2:00pm or on Sundays until 12:00pm. Other arrangements can
be made by calling (314) 741-1590.
The James S. McDonnell U.S.O. receives no financial support from the
federal government or from the national U.S.O. organization. All
donations will stay in St. Louis to support the men and women of the
armed services who pass through the James S. McDonnell U.S.O. We
would like to encourage the community to support our troops by
making a donation of items or a monetary contribution.
Types of items needed:
Individual soup mixes; Single serving cans of soup/chili/pasta;
Individual drink boxes; Single serving cereals; Single serving
chips/crackers/snack cakes; Candy bars; Individually wrapped
candies; Tums; Cough drops; Individual packets of
acetaminophen/aspirin/ibuprofen; Snack size zipper seal plastic
bags; Paperback books; Money to purchase phone cards -- make checks
payable to James S. McDonnell U.S.O. Please indicate "for phone
cards" in memo section of check.
For more information contact: Connie Skiles, Administrative
Assistant, Zion United Church of Christ, 5710 North Highway 67,
Florissant, MO 63034 (314) 741-1590 www.zionucc1.org
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9. Rummage Sale
at St. Johns Evangelical, Mehlville
April 6, 2009
Saturday, April 25!
The bargains are back at the St. Johns Evangelical United Church of
Christ (I-55 and S. Lindbergh) Spring Rummage Sale, benefiting
special projects, local food pantries, Camp Mo-Val and other area
charities. Shop 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the church gym. Learn more at
www.stjucc.org
or call 314-892-0848.
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10. Sharing a mission
trip to Heifer Ranch
April 6, 2009
A message from Hope UCC, St. Louis:
Hello! My name is Emily Butchart and I am the Director of Children's
Ministries at Hope UCC in St. Louis. We are planning a trip to
Heifer Ranch in Perryville, AK this summer and are looking to join
up with a few others from churches in our area. Right now we have 10
people from Hope that are interested. We are looking at doing the
Global passport experience from July 20-24. It is $200/person which
we are hoping to offset with some fund raising. This particular
program is geared toward 9th grade and up and there is more
information on the Heifer Ranch website
www.heifer.org
We would need to have a rough estimate of how many people are
interested by April 26th. You can give your congregation my phone
number if they have any questions. (314) 846-2768. We are still in
the early planning stages so if you have any ideas for fundraising
or if you have any questions yourself, please feel free to call or
e-mail me at
ebutcharthope@aol.com Thanks!
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11. Special Lecture
"Mysticism and the Lord's Supper"
April 6, 2009
“Mysticism and the Lord’s Supper” by The Rev. Dr. John W. Riggs – a
Special Lecture Open to the Public on Tuesday, April 21 from
8:30-10:00 a.m. in the Dining Room at St. Peter’s UCC, 20 E. Fifth
Street, Washington, MO. Dr. John W. Riggs is the Professor of
Historical Theology and Church History at Eden Theological Seminary.
John is an ordained minister of the United Church of Christ, and has
served rural parishes in Indiana and Missouri. His essays and books
have concentrated on early church and Reformation issues, as well as
issues in postmodern theology.
The Reformed tradition began with (among others) John Calvin,
Huldrych Zwingli and the Reformed Confessions, and led into modern
American traditions such as the Presbyterian Church (USA), Reformed
Church in America (RCA), Christian Reformed Church (CRC) and the
United Church of Christ (UCC). Unique to this Reformation family was
the belief, tracing back to Augustine of Hippo (354-430 CE), that
the Lord’s Supper is already grounded in, and stems from, a true
mystical union with Christ. Wouldn’t our church folk be amazed to
learn that? Wouldn’t seekers at our churches, looking for something
spiritual, also be amazed to learn that?
For more information, contact the Rev. Dr. Paul Koch – 636-239-6176
or
www.stpeters-washington.org
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12. A message from
Pastor David Poe:
April 6, 2009
A message from Pastor David Poe:
Noe Guzman is a student that has been adversely effected by our
nation’s immigration laws (read the entire story on the Missouri
Mid-South Conference UCC website). I am urging you to join me on
Tuesday, April 7, 2009 at 12:00 p.m. to advocate for the DREAM Act
and for a private bill for Noe Guzman. U.S. Senator Clair McCaskill
will be speaking at East Central College’s Theater.
Clergy please wear black shirts and clerical collars, so we can be
easily identified.
Lay leaders please wear green, which is the official color for New
Haven High School where Noe attends.
Use the link below to RSVP and contact her St. Louis Office to let
them know we would like to talk to her about Noe Guzman and the
DREAM Act.
Once again, I thank you for your support.
Pastor David W. Poe
St. Peter’s United Church of Christ
New Haven, Missouri 63068
Let me know if you will attend by emailing me at
davidwpoe@gmail.com
or calling the church office at (573) 237-2182.
Franklin County (12:00 PM – 1:00 PM)
East Central College
Theater
1964 Prairie Dell Road
Union, MO 63084
Please join me for this important discussion. These events are free
and open to everyone. You can RSVP from my website:
http://www.mccaskill.senate.gov/kitchentable as well as
get more information. If you have questions or concerns, please
contact my Saint Louis Office at (314) 367-1364. Senator Clair
McCaskill.
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13. Death of Jim
Skaggs
April 6, 2009
Our prayers are with Marcia and Paul Koch on the death of her
father, Jim Skaggs. Jim was a long-time member of Prince of Peace
UCC, and was active within the Missouri Mid-South Conference. Paul
Koch is pastor of St. Peter’s UCC in Washington.
Visitation for Jim Skaggs will be Tuesday, April 7, from 4 – 8 pm at
Kutis South County chapel, 5255 Lemay Ferry Road. The funeral will
be on Wednesday at 11am at Prince of Peace UCC, 4966 Towne South
Road, St. Louis, MO 63128. Memorials are requested for Prince of
Peace UCC. Condolences may be sent to Rev. & Mrs. Koch at St.
Peter’s UCC, P.O. Box 510, Washington, MO 63090.
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14. Death of Esther
Hollander
April 7, 2009
Esther Hollander died Tuesday morning, April 6th at St. John's
Hospital in Washington, Missouri. Although Esther had been
recovering from heart surgery, she was recently hospitalized with a
multitude of complications and her death will come as a sudden
shock. Esther was a life-long member of St. James (Charlotte) United
Church of Christ, where her son, Glenn Hollander is the Licensed
Pastor. We have no additional details at this time. Condolences may
be sent to Pastor Hollander at 2463 Hollander Rd, Rosebud, MO 63091.
Please keep the Hollander family in your prayers.
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15. New Weekly News
format & contest
April 7, 2009
A reminder to you that we will be changing our communication’s
format this coming week.
As of Friday we will no longer be sending out individual
E-Connections except for special situations (i.e. death notices,
etc.). We have designed a Weekly News Email which will be mailed to
you every Monday afternoon. We hope that you will enjoy receiving
your news from around the conference in this way and we encourage
you to forward it to all who might like receiving it.
Please send names & email addresses and we will send the Weekly
News Email directly to your friends and church members.
Please note that for now this Weekly News Email will be taking the
place of The Courier. The UCNews will be bringing its publication to
a close later this year and The Courier will no longer be published
in print. The recent April/May edition of the Courier was the last
edition. This was a financial decision.
We ask your participation in two ways:
1) We want to come up with a catchy name for our new Weekly News
Email. Please submit any ideas you have to our
“Name
the News” contest. All reasonable names will be listed in a
future Email and you will have a chance to vote on your favorite.
2) Jeff Whitman would like to bring together a small task force to
discuss future communications within the Conference. If you know of
a member of your congregation with experience in communications,
marketing or public relations,
please forward
their name to us. The task force will probably only meet once or
twice at the most, but we hope to talk about all methods of
communicating and what works and doesn’t work.
Any questions or comments about the new Weekly News Email, to
subscribe or unsubscribe, please contact
Sandy@mmsucc.org or call
Sandy at 314-918-2605 or toll free at 1-877-877-5884 ext 77605.
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16. Help Wanted at
St. Thomas, Chesterfield
April 8, 2009
St. Thomas United Church of Christ of Chesterfield, Mo. is seeking a
part time Secretary. This position is one that requires a minimum of
20 hours a week. At times there will be more hours needed. The
salary is negotiable. Good computer skills are required. Currently
the hours are 9:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. Tuesday through Friday. These
hours can be adjusted some to meet the persons schedule. Contact
person is Pastor Dollgener at 314-753-3056 or
dollgenerd@yahoo.com
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17. Death of Edith
Fauth
April 8, 2009
With great sadness we share the news that longtime Evangelical UCC
Webster Groves member Edith Fauth died on Palm Sunday, April 5th.
She was the wife of former Eden Seminary President Bob Fauth. You
are invited to a memorial service on Saturday, April 11th at 11am at
Evangelical UCC, 204 E. Lockwood Ave., Webster Groves, MO 63119.
Edith is survived by three granddaughters: Stacy Goldenberg,
Elizabeth Ruiz and Courtney Dickerson. Condolences may be sent to
all c/o Stacy at 1063 Gardenbridge Place, St. Charles 63303.
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18. Local Campus
Ministry Needs Your Help
April 8, 2009
LOCAL CAMPUS MINISTRY NEEDS YOUR HELP
The campus ministers for St. Louis Community Colleges have been
recently notified that the Community College system will no longer
provide designated space for them on campus. The campus ministers
have been supported through Ecumenical Campus Ministry, a combined
ministry of the United Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ, and
the United Presbyterian churches. Chairperson, The Rev. David
Thompson, says of this action by the Community College System, “In
my 22 years in St. Louis the community college system has provided
office space on the campuses of Forest Park and Meramec campuses.
The system has also provided office space for Bishop Jones on the
Forest Park campus. The “leadership” body which made this decision
is ignoring the value of religion and religious counseling which we
have provided for about 30 years.”
The Ecumenical Campus Ministry ministers have provided religious
counseling, financial support, supportive relationships, seminars,
to students, faculty and staff and their families. They have also
provided leadership to various campus organizations sponsoring
events including conservation as Earth Day and MOPIRG, improvement
in race relations, religious observances including Bible study, Ash
Wednesday Good Friday, and Memorial Services. They have served as
advisors to student interns. Their offices have provided a haven for
students to rest, converse, study, and relax.
The campus ministers are sensitive to the issues of “separation of
church and state” but also feel that religion is a part of our
United States culture and a part of education. Campus ministers have
taught courses in Comparative Religions and religious history. They
understand that they are representatives of all denominations and
faiths. They have ministered to students, faculty and staff and
their families regardless of the faith position of those people.
They have shared their office space with other college staff people
and student workers.
They see themselves as representing the compassion of Christ to all
people and as a connection to Christian churches when appropriate.
They have made referrals for people of other faiths.
Ecumenical Campus Ministry requests that church members and pastors
write letters to the Chancellor Zelena Harris of the St. Louis
Community Colleges asking that the campus ministers be given office
space in a suitable location with telephone, desk, file drawer and
access to the campus mail and e-mail systems on each campus of the
St. Louis Community College system and send those letters to The
Rev. I. David Thompson, Chairperson, Ecumenical Campus Ministry, 7
Grand Circle Drive, Maryland Heights, MO 63043.
Rev. Thompson will present those letters to the Chancellor with a
request from the Board of Ecumenical Campus Ministry asking for
reinstatement of the policy of providing suitable space for the
campus ministers because of the valuable services the campus
ministers provide for the community colleges at very little cost to
the community college.
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19. Rummage Sale at
Mt. Tabor, St. Louis
April 8, 2009
BIG RUMMAGE SALE - Friday, April 24, 3-7 p.m. and Saturday, April
25, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Mount Tabor UCC, 6520 Arsenal St., St. Louis,
63139. Household, Furniture, Boutique, Clothing, Books, Kid's stuff
and more. For more information, call 314-645-9025.
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20. Family looses all
in house fire
April 8, 2009
This past week, fire destroyed the home of members of a family who
are members of Friedens UCC, St. Charles. There are 5 children and
they lost everything. If you feel that you may be able to assist
this family, contact Sharon Brune at 636-946-2884 or
friedensoffice@friedesn-ucc.org for a list of the children
and their needs. Any donations may be brought or sent to Friedens
UCC, 1703 Old Hwy 94 South, St. Charles, MO 63303, Attn: Church
Office.
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21. CERT Training and
Cardinal Kick-Off at St. Martin's, Dittmer
April 9, 2009
St Martin’s UCC, 7890 Dittmer Ridge Rd, Dittmer MO
636-274-7078 - 636-285-4797 - email:
geristmc@hughes.net -
fax: 636-274-4797
C.E.R.T. Training – (Community Emergency Response Team) Training
will take place at St Martin’s April 24th – April 26th. This is a
free three day course given by members of the Cedar Hill Fire
Protection District. Friday, April 24th 6-10 pm, Saturday, April
25th 8am – 5 pm, Sunday, April 26th – Scenario Day will begin at 2
pm. Anyone who would like to participate can contact the church
office to reserve a spot.
“CARDINAL KICK-OFF” – St Martin’s Field of Dreams Athletic
Organization will be holding a fundraiser to help with field upkeep
and softball & volleyball registration costs on Sunday, April 26th
1- 5 pm at Sorrellie’s Restaurant in Cedar Hill. The restaurant will
offer lunch and happy hour specials. FOD is selling raffle tickets
$1.00 each for a chance to win Cardinal Baseball tickets – 1st prize
is a 4 pack/ 2nd & 3rd or both 2 tickets each. In addition there
will be door prizes, giveaways, hourly 50/50 and oh yes, a Cardinal
Game on the big screen! Join us for – and thank you for your
support!
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22. Benefit Dinner
and Auction at First Congregational Webster Groves
April 9, 2009
Benefit Dinner Auction to be held at First Congregational UCC in
Webster Groves on Saturday, April 18. Silent Auction begins at 6pm,
dinner at 7pm, and live auction at 8pm. Tickets are $20 per person.
Some of the special live auction items include: San Diego Condo,
Orange Lake Resort Condo, Gulf Shores Condo, golf outings, quilts,
antique chairs, basketball camp scholarship, and many other items
too numerous to mention. First Congregational UCC is located at #10
West Lockwood Avenue, Webster Groves, MO 63119. For reservations
call the church office (314-962-0475) or email
welcome@firstchurchwg.org
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23. Death of Adele
Davis
April 28, 2009
We are saddened to share the news of the death of Adele Davis on
Sunday. Adele was 102 years old! She is the mother of Pastor Glenn
Davis of Immanuel UCC in Wright City.
Visitation for Adele will be Tuesday from 4 – 8pm at Quernheim
Funeral Home in Waterloo, Illinois, and the funeral service will be
on Wednesday at St. Joseph UCC near Waterloo.
Condolences can be sent to Rev. Glenn Davis, 141 North Service Rd
West, Wright City, MO 63390-0151. Please keep the Davis Family in
your prayers.
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24. Death of Cathryn
Furi
April 28, 2009
We ask your prayers for Rev. Mary Ann Lawrence on the death of her
mother, Cathryn Furi on Monday, April 27th. Rev. Lawrence is pastor
of St. Matthew UCC in St. Louis.
Visitation will be from 4 – 8 pm on Thursday, April 30, at Kutis
Funeral Home in Affton. The funeral service will follow viewing from
9:00 to 10:30 am on Friday at St. Matthew UCC, 2613 Potomac in St.
Louis.
Condolences may be sent to Pastor Lawrence at 2613 Potomac, St.
Louis, MO 63118-3125.
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