Inside This Issue

Boundary Training

Men’s & Women’s Retreats

Five for Five

Camp Mo-Val

Jeff’s Schedule

Association News

Local Church News

Transitions

Donate Electronically!

The Missouri Mid-South Conference, United Church of Christ, depends on the generosity of members and friends to fund its ministries.

Please use the link below to contribute electronically to Our Church's Wider Mission (OCWM) or to The Friends of the Missouri Mid-South Conference.

Donate Now

SHANNONDALE SUNDAY
You can still designate a special Sunday for Shannondale.  Congregations are asked to receive a special offering to support our ministry at Shannondale.  Your gift of three dollars a member will go toward the general operating expenses of this important ministry of the Conference.  Promotional information including a bulletin insert and a sample newsletter article describing the ministry at Shannondale can be found by following this link:  www.mmsucc.org

YOUTH MINISTRY COLLEAGUES

Good news for those still making summer plans: the deadline for the week-long Youth @ General Synod program has been extended to Friday, May 1st!  It is not too late to register your group.  The forms needed for this program includes adult and youth covenants and medical forms (downloadable at www.ucc.org/youth ).  INFO: Rev. Kelly Burd, Interim Minister for Youth and Young Adults, Local Church Ministries/Justice and Witness Ministries, United Church of Christ  

NAME THE NEWS CHALLENGE

Below is a list of suggested names.  We’ll wait one more week if anyone else has a name they would like to submit.  Send it to Sandy.

eCourier      Mid-Missouri Musings     Heartland Herald

Crossroads     Missouri Mid-South Messenger

MMS MeMoS           Ubutu       The Advocate

BT

BOUNDARY TRAINING

Boundary Training is a requirement for maintaining your standing with the Associations of the MMSUCC.  To find up-coming dates and registration forms check out the website

TRANSITIONS

Christ the King UCC in Florissant, MO has called Rev. Doris Ford-Brown as Pastor and Teacher beginning May 1, 2009.

Kirkwood UCC in Kirkwood, MO has called Rev. Betsy Happel as Pastor and Teacher beginning on June 15, 2009.

We want to welcome Pastor Denise McGary to the Missouri Mid-South Conference.  Denny began her ministry with Calvary UCC in St. Louis on November 3, 2008.  She was installed on February 15, 2009.  Denny, who lives in Bridgeton, is a native of St. Louis, graduating from Riverview Gardens High School and earning her BS in Elementary Education at the University of Missouri St. Louis.  She earned her M.Div. at Eden Seminary in 1997 and was ordained by Illinois-South Conference on February 15, 1998.  She served as Associate Pastor for St. John UCC in Granite City from 1998 to 2008.  Pastor McGary was widowed on Thanksgiving Day 2006.  She enjoys music, puzzles and games, going to movies, and visiting with friends.

MAY 1—3, 2009

Women’s Retreat (FULL)

Held annually at Camp Mo-Val.  Find out more on our website.

Men’s Retreat (Still taking reservations.)

A multi-church event that will be held at Shannondale Community Center.  More info.

IS YOUR CHURCH FIVE FOR FIVE?

Being 5 for 5 is one sign of congregational vitality in UCC churches that fully support Our Church's Wider Mission. These leadership churches give to Basic Support and all four special mission offerings. Read how your church can be 5 for 5.

For more information, contact Kate Huey at (866) 822-8224, ext. 3855.

CONTINUING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY

The 26th Craigville Theological Colloquy will be held on July 13 - 17, 2009 at the Craigville Conference Center, Cape Cod, MA.  The theme for the colloquy will be Spirituality and the Holy Spirit: A New Awakening for the Church.  Join others on Cape Cod for five days of interrelated Biblical reflection, worship, theological study, "hands-on" workshops and small group discussions.  For more information go to www.craigvillecolloquy.com   

CONFERENCE MINISTER’S PREACHING SCHEDULE

May 3  –  St. John’s UCC, Bem; 9am

May 17 – Marshallese UCC, Springdale, AR

May 31 – Trinity UCC, Lexington

June 7 – St. Paul UCC, Gerald; 8am

June 14 – Ebenezer UCC, Levasy

June 21 – Ivanhoe UCC, Kansas City; 10:30am

ASSOCIATION NEWS

The Western Association Spring Meeting

Approximately 100 delegates, clergy and visitors met April 18th at Bethel UCC, Concordia, Missouri, for the Annual Meeting of Western Association. The meeting provided an opportunity to conduct important business in the midst of change and challenge, as well as embracing hope and possibility.  Read about the highlights of the meeting and check out the photos on the Western Association webpage.
The St. Louis Association Spring Gathering was held on April 23rd at St. John's UCC in Chesterfield.  Watch for a report on the website soon.

The Eastern Association Spring Meeting was April 26th. Watch for information on the website soon. The Mission and Social Concerns Committee of the Eastern Association wants to thank all those who attended the Spring Association Meeting, and a special thanks to Zion UCC, Union, for their hospitality as hosts of this meeting.  As part of the evaluation process, the committee would welcome any feedback from participants. Please send your comments and suggestions to Rev. Craig Blaufuss at revcraigblaufuss@centurytel.net
"On behalf of Faith United Church of Christ and the Rapha Clinic, please accept my heartfelt thanks and appreciation of selecting the Rapha Clinic for the offering during the Eastern Association Meeting. On behalf of all the clients and the lives who will be somewhat easier through the clinic, we thank you!" With Affection and gratitude, Fondly, Pastor John Hogue Faith UCC and Rapha Clinic.
 

The Eastern Association Quilt Show will be at St. Peter’s Church in New Haven on Saturday, May 9. Arrive at 9:30 am. The program will be presented at 10:30 a.m. There is no admission charged but attendees should bring “finger foods” to share.  St. Peter’s is at 607 Maupin Avenue in New Haven.  New Haven is on Missouri Highway 100, between Washington and Hermann. 

LOCAL CHURCH & AFFILIATED AGENCIES NEWS

April 28, Tuesday, 10am, Friends of Emmaus Spring Meeting will be held in the friendship hall Marthasville Campus. Lunch will be served. More info: Betty Shrum

April 30, Saturday, 6:10pm, CROP Hunger Day at the "K" Kansas City Royals vs. the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium.

May 1, Friday, 6pm, "Call Me Malcolm," a documentary put out by the United Church of Christ (a film that chronicles a UCC pastor's journey as a transgendered individual.) Open to everyone in the community - gather in room 101 of the Press Building at Eden Theological Seminary. Please email Jack Lewis at JLewis@eden.edu
May 2, Saturday, 11am – 1:30pm, Emmaus Homes “Heart to Help” potluck brunch at St. John UCC, St. Charles.  RSVP potluck@emmaushomes.org or call 636-534-5213.
May 3, Sunday, 11am-5:30pm, St. Paul’s, Defiance holding Chicken Dinner.  Hwy 94 & Defiance Rd.  636-987-2696 for info.

May 10, Sunday, 11am - 2:30pm, Friends of Parkway UCC and Thai Bu-ree are hosting a Mother's Day luncheon Benefiting Lydia's House. For menu and more information, please visit: www.parkwayucc.org  

May 14, Thursday, 11am - 1pm, Cape Albeon Retirement Community Open House.  Refreshments served.  Register to win a 9” under the counter, drop down television with built in DVD player!

May 15 & 16, Friday & Saturday, Heifer International Workshops scheduled in Cape Girardeau and Kirkwood.  To register or for more information, please contact Isaac Johnson at 573-474-7155 or at Johnson@umocm.com  Registration by May 11th is requested.

May 30, Neighborhood Houses Family Fun Fair in Fairgrounds Park.  Check the calendar for more info.

May 31, St. Peter’s Evangelical UCC in Ferguson will be hosting a Golf Tournament fundraiser.  For more Information or for entry forms, please contact Rob Davis at (314) 521-5694. 

Information and more details about these items and more can be found on the Conference Calendar

MINISTRY MEETINGS

April 28, Tuesday, 10am, Congo Partnership Meeting at Columbia UCC

CAMP MO-VAL

Adults with Developmental Disabilities

Each June Camp Mo-Val sponsors a camp for adults with developmental disabilities.  Four male counselors (ages 18-80) are still needed for this session: Saturday, June 6 to Friday, June 12.

Sign Up for Camp

There is still time to sign up for Summer Camp at Mo-Val.  A couple sessions are full but most still have openings.

College Students

Home for the summer?  Paid and volunteer program positions are still available at Camp Mo-Val.

For more information please call 636-583-2730 or toll free 877-344-2267; email: moval@mmsucc.org or check the website.

MM

FACEBOOK AND SOCIAL NETWORKING – FRIEND OR FOE?

For many churches it would probably be easier to count the number of congregants who are not using Facebook than to count the number who are. The popularity of social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter has exploded recently, leaving many ministry leaders wondering how they should respond. If you haven't yet answered that question, you may be surprised to find that it is already being answered for you. There's little doubt that your church already has a presence on Facebook, official or not. You may even have a group out there with the church name on it, started by some enterprising church member. Even worse, he's probably a member of the youth group! Like it or not, we're beyond questioning whether our churches will be involved in online social networking. The question for today is what difference will that involvement make?  Learn more…

THIS EMAIL NEWSLETTER is published to promote the mission and ministry of the Missouri Mid-South Conference, United Church of Christ, its congregations, and other settings of the United Church of Christ.

These announcements are brief and timely, providing readers with supporting links whenever possible. Please forward these materials to others in your church and share them in your bulletins and local church newsletters.

You are welcome to send news from your congregation to MMSUCC Communications.  Items will be included as space allows.  Be sure to include your name and contact information.