E-Connections

June 2009

   1.  June Parish Paper

June 1, 2009

Attached is the June 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 June issue discusses: “One Congregation – Many Locations.”

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."
 

  2.  June Directory Up-date

June 2, 2009

Page 18
Evangelical Children's Home – Change of name to ECH Every Childs Hope

Missouri Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice – change name to Faith Aloud, new address is 462 N. Taylor, Suite 102, St. Louis, MO 63108. No change to phone number.

Page 26
Chamois, St. Johns UCC – New pastor is Denise Walker

Page 27
Gerald, Ebenezer Stone Church – Interim Pastor is Carleton Norton

Page 29
Owensville, St. Peters – New pastor effective August 24 is Christopher Ross

St. Louis, Brentwood Congregational – New pastor is Susan King Forbes

Page 30
St. Louis, Carondelet – New pastor effective July 1 is Brad Urban

St. Louis, First Congregational Webster Groves – remove Jan Barnes as AP

St. Louis, Kirkwood UCC – New pastor effective June 15 is Betsy Happel

Page 32
Wentzville, Faith UCC – add email address: pastor@faithucc.net 

Page 38
Konrad, James & Ruth – new email address: jrkon23@yhti.net 
 

  3.  Western Association Reports

June 18, 2009

The following Annual Meeting reports from the Western Association Spring Meeting are now available for you to download and read. They have been posted in both PDF and MSWord formats. Follow this link and scroll through the Annual Meeting information.

www.mmsucc.org/association/western.asp 

Approved 2009 Annual Meeting Minutes;
Corrected and Approved 2008 Annual Meeting Minutes;
Jerry Cundiff’s Chairperson Report;
Committee on Ministry Report;
Nominating Committee Report;
Jerry Cundiff’s Chair Thank You.
 

  4.  St. Louis Association Pastors

June 18, 2009

To: St. Louis Association Pastors
From: Your St. Louis Association UCC Committee On Ministry
Subject: We’re listening – you’ve been heard

In our interactions with pastors over the past year, The St. Louis Association Committee On Ministry has identified two issues of wide concern among pastors. These concerns affect such a wide portion of clergy, that action of some kind seems warranted.

So we have a question for you: If a session were offered, would you attend a discussion to work together to provide (or request) concrete help on these issues? The issues are:

1) financial trouble in the congregation / congregational viability / demographics /
grief about lack of needed resources and
2) Self Care for professional effectiveness

The conversation might be arranged like this to:
1) say your concerns / listen to others in similar circumstances / be heard,
2) strategize a method of providing mutual support,
3) consider a joint request for Association wide consultation,
4) schedule peer focus moments for brainstorming and synthesizing solutions..
5) challenge each other to schedule time for spiritual renewal

If you are willing to give about an hour to a conversation on these issues – please send an email to Pastor Mike Krewson at pastor-cotm-ucc@juno.com 
 

  5.  Please plan to attend Habakkuk Meeting tomorrow

June 19, 2009

The Habakkuk 223 Project

The reports of the Habakkuk project task group are ready. This group has been engaged in an evaluation of our conference structure and staffing and has been working to discern strategic priorities to guide our conference ministry. It is important that each church send delegates to the regional Habakkuk meetings. The voice of your church IS important in the future of the Missouri Mid-South Conference.

We encourage you to provide copies of this report for your delegates and other members of your congregation who might be interested in reading and responding to the proposals. The full report is available on our website www.mmsucc.org 

Western Regional Meeting Dates:

June 20th, at St. Luke's UCC, Independence – THIS IS TOMORROW!
August 8th, at First Congregational UCC, Lebanon

ALL meetings are on a Saturday from 10am - 12:30pm

Plan to attend one of the Regional Meetings to discuss the Report. Please RSVP the number attending from your church by replying to this email.
 

  6. Habakkuk Meeting in Cape Girardeau on Saturday

June 23, 2009

Greetings! Please let us know if you are planning to attend the meeting in Cape Girardeau so that we can make preparations for the correct number of people. RSVP to sandy@mmsucc.org 

The Habakkuk 223 Project

The reports of the Habakkuk project task group are ready. This group has been engaged in an evaluation of our conference structure and staffing and has been working to discern strategic priorities to guide our conference ministry. It is important that each church send delegates to the regional Habakkuk meetings. The voice of your church IS important in the future of the Missouri Mid-South Conference.

We encourage you to provide copies of this report for your delegates and other members of your congregation who might be interested in reading and responding to the proposals. The full report is available on our website www.mmsucc.org 

Up-Coming Regional Meeting Dates:

June 27th, at Evangelical UCC in Cape Girardeau
July 11th, at Zion UCC, Union
July 25th, at Parkway UCC, St. Louis
August 15th, at St. John UCC, (5th St.) St. Charles

ALL meetings are on a Saturday from 10am - 12:30pm

Plan to attend one of the Regional Meetings to discuss the Report. Please RSVP the number attending from your church by replying to this email.