E-Connections

May 2009

  1.  Swine Flu Outbreak and Preparations Churches Need to Make

May 1, 2009


All of us are aware that the world is confronted with a possible pandemic of the H1N1 (Swine) Flu at this time. If this occurs it will present us with the greatest natural disaster of this type since 1918. The question is: are we prepared? The Rev. Deb Patterson, who heads our Deaconess Parish Nurse Association has informed us there are some very good resources available from the National Council of Churches Health Care Task Force and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The internet addresses are: www.health-ministries.org  and www.cdc.gov/swineflu  Deb also has recommended a Bulletin Insert which is attached to this message. And Deb suggests that local churches assign “buddies” to all of the homebound members that they are checked on daily by phone for any signs of illness or confusion.

All of us are concerned about this possible crisis and we want to be able to respond as proactively as possible at this time. One simple way suggested is that all human contact in worship services be curtailed (i.e. such as takes place with the passing of the peace or greeting times in worship) until the crisis is ended. Another is to begin to utilize as much information about this disease in communications as possible. Perhaps a simple listing of the typical symptoms of the onset of the swine flu together with an urging of members to seek medical help in light of the presence of these would be in order. The symptoms listed by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention are: fever, headache, upper respiratory symptoms (cough, sore throat, rhinorrhea) myalgia, fatigue, vomiting, or diarrhea. Groups at very high risk are: children less than 5 years of age; persons over 50 years of age; pregnant women; adults and children who already have chronic pulmonary, cardiovascular, hepatic, hematological, neurologic, neuromuscular, or metabolic disorders; adults and children who have immunosuppression (including that caused by HIV); residents of nursing homes and other chronic care facilities.

We hope to communicate more about this with all of the churches of the Missouri Mid-South Conference in the near future. Please know that all of you are in our thoughts and prayers at this time. If there is anything we can do, as your covenant partners, please do not hesitate to call on us.

“May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.”
 

  2.  May Directory Up-date

May 1, 2009

UP-DATES TO THE 2009 MISSOURI MID-SOUTH CONFERENCE DIRECTORY

Page 18
Missouri Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice – change name to Faith Aloud, new address is 462 N. Taylor, Suite 102, St. Louis, MO 63108. Phone doesn’t change.

Page 27
Gerald, Ebenezer (Stone) Church – add Carlton Norton as Interim Pastor

Page 29
Owensville, St. James (Charlotte) – add the location as 2800 Charlotte Church Road and keep the current address for mailing purposes
 

  3.  May Parish Paper

May 4, 2009

Attached is the May 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 May 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."
 

  4.  Tornado Strikes Shannondale

May 8, 2009

We write today to ask for your prayers and help. Shannondale Church and Community Center have been hit by a tornado this Friday afternoon, May 8, 2009. Tornados touched down in Salem, Eminence, and Pamona as well as Shannondale. First reports indicate that no buildings on Shannondale escaped damage. Trees are down everywhere and so are all the power lines. The Shannondale van was hit by a tree, the roof to the parsonage was damaged as well as damage to Timber Lodge. According to Minister/Manager Jeff Fulk no one was hurt. Jeff was in Timber Lodge and went to the basement for cover. His wife, Laurie was teaching at the grade school in Eminence and while the school was damaged none of the teachers or children were hurt. Jeff also reports that Highway 19 is covered with downed trees and power lines and closed to traffic through that area. The saw mill near Shannondale is completely gone.

Our Disaster Coordinator, Rev. Steve Redman is already responding with contacts to FEMA and our National Office. Steve will begin organizing work groups with chain saws. If you are able to help please be in touch with Steve at 816-650-3653 or revstephen@hotmail.com  Your donations will also be of great help. Please send them to: Missouri Mid-South Conference, 411 E Lockwood Ave., St. Louis, MO 63119 and note for Shannondale Disaster Relief.

We have also been in contact with Rev. Ellen Martin in Lebanon where 4 tornados touched down. First Congregational in Lebanon was not damaged although the area received 4 ½ inches of rain in a very short time which caused massive flash flooding.

Most important of all, please lift up Shannondale in your prayers for the week to come.
 

  5.  Shannondale tornados from Disaster Relief Coordinator

May 5, 2009

From the Disaster Relief Coordinator for the Missouri Mid-South Conference

As you may have heard, several tornadoes have ripped through Shannon County, one of the poorest counties in Missouri. We have only sketchy reports so far, but we know there has been damage to buildings, trees, and power/phone lines. At this point we have not heard of any injuries. While there is a great temptation to "rush" to the scene, as coordinator, I would suggest that before getting the "troops" together and descending on Shannondale, Please, Please, contact me. I , as coordinator, will be organizing work crews to do needed clean-up. I have already been in touch with FEMA to arrange for generators. But without a plan to work from we might end up with too many or not enough at the places that need our assistance. Jeff Fulk and others are just now assessing the needs. FEMA will need to look at and review damage before repairs are completed. Power companies will be checking for "hot wires" in the area before volunteers are allowed in to work. If you contact me, I will know what you have to offer, when you are available and what tools you might bring. I will then coordinate this with Rev. Jeff Fulk. Thanks for your cooperation!

REV. STEPHEN J. REDMAN
 

  6.  Habakkuk Project Reports

May 19, 2009

Dear Friends:

Attached to this e-mail are the reports of the Habakkuk project task group that 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. The task group has been meeting every other month beginning in April 2008 and has offered two series of cluster meetings to invite members of the conference to engage in a discernment process around the strategic priorities. Attached is the report of their work. If you have a problem opening this document or it is not attached, you can find it on the front page of our website: www.mmsucc.org  on the right side near the top.

The Habakkuk project report is divided into four sections. The first section is an introduction and summery of the proposals for a new conference structure, conference staffing, and strategic priorities. The next three sections provide a detailed report for each of these three areas. We encourage you to provide copies of this report for your Conference delegates who will be representing you at this year’s Conference Biennial Meeting October 30-Nov 1 and other members of your congregation who might be interested in reading and responding to the proposals. This e-mail is being sent to all authorized ministers in the Missouri Mid-South Conference, all churches, and to the conference directors who serve on one of our ministry teams.

The Habakkuk Project Task Force has arranged a series of regional meetings throughout the summer to provide an opportunity to present the proposals and receive feedback from the members of the conference. It is our hope that churches will send their Conference delegates and any other interested parties to these meetings. The meeting dates and places are listed below. All of the gatherings will be held on Saturday’s from 10:00 AM – 12:30 AM. Please inform your members of these meetings and invite them to go with you to one of these meetings. We want to hear from you!!

June 20 – St. Luke’s UCC in Independence
June 27 – Evangelical UCC, Cape Girardeau
July 11 – Zion, Union
July 25 – Parkway, St. Louis
Aug 8 – 1st Congregational, Lebanon
Aug 15 – St John’s, St. Charles

In September the Habakkuk Project Task Force will meet to review the feedback we have received from these regional meetings and to develop a final report and recommendations that will be presented for a vote at our October Biennial Meeting. We want to express our deepest appreciation to the members of the Habakkuk project for their dedicated work over the past 14 months and to all of those who took time to share in one of the cluster meetings. The Spirit is moving among us and calling us to a new future together as the Missouri Mid-South Conference. We look forward to meeting with you this summer as together we discern where that Spirit is leading.

Peace,

Joyce Bathke                                 Jeffrey A. Whitman
Habakkuk Project Chair                  Conference Minister
                                                   Missouri Mid-South Conference UCC
Habakkuk 2:3
If the vision seems slow wait for it; It will surly come, it will not delay
 

  7.  St. Louis Ministerium

May 21, 2009

Sorry folks – Stephanie was in a hurry to get this out last night. Wednesday is the right day and the date is the 27th.

SLA Ministerium Meeting Wednesday, May 27 at 10am

The St. Louis Ministerium will be meeting at St. Paul’s Oakville at 10am. Jeff Whitman will be there to discuss the Habakkuk Project. Please bring a copy of the Habakkuk Proposal with you. Copies may be found on the website at www.mmsucc.org 

Sandy Roland, Office Administrator
Missouri Mid-South Conference UCC
 

  8.  Death of Lela Stevesand Blesi

May 21, 2009

We are saddened to report the death of Lela Stevesand Blesi on May 13, 2009. Lela was a long-time member at Zion UCC in Union, where her late husband, John Stevesand was a pastor for 30 plus years.

Visitation will be on Saturday, May 23 at Oltmann Funeral Home in Union from 10am – 2pm. A Memorial Service will be held at 3pm on Saturday at Zion UCC, 115 South Washington Avenue in Union. We lift up the soul of Lela Stevesand Blesi in our prayers.
 

  9.  St. Louis Association/General Synod Preparation

May 22, 2009

The St. Louis Association determined that it was important that their members understand the Resolutions that will be address and voted on in Grand Rapids at the 27th General Synod meeting in June. In order to meet this need the Association is holding a Preporation Event to be hosted by St. Lucas UCC, 11735 Denny Road in Sunset Hills on Sunday, June 7th at 3pm.

Because the Association believes this is a very important event we attach a bulletin insert as a PDF document and ask that you please print this and include it in your Sunday Bulletin. If you didn’t receive the attachment please go to the St. Louis Association page and there will be both a Word document and a PDF file for you to download.

Thank you for publishing this insert.
 

10.  Prayers for Marlene Becker

May 22, 2009

Marlene Becker, wife of the Reverend Gene Becker, had open heart surgery on May 4. She is now recovering at home. Your prayers would be appreciated. Well wishes can be sent to Marlene Becker, 5134 Castlegate Ct., St. Louis, MO 63128. Rev. Becker is co-pastor of Zion UCC in Oakfield near Pacific, MO.