INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Damage to Shannondale

Welcome Center Workday @ Mo-Val

Retreats – Men’s and Women’s

Strengthen the Church

Jeff’s Schedule

Camp Mo-Val

Transitions

General Synod

Association News

Name the News

Mission Moments

Calendar

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

DAMAGE TO SHANNONDALE NOT AS BAD AS FIRST THOUGHT

The week-end brought time to inspect the facilities and assess the damage from the tornado that struck Shannondale on Friday morning, May 8.  The entire area from Salem down to Eminence suffered massive tree damage.  At Shannondale there is damage to the roof of the Fulk’s home, some small amount of damage to the Bean Cabin and to the Shower House at the Camp Grounds.  The Shannondale van was struck on the rear fender by a falling tree but is still drivable.  The Basketball Court is covered with trees and the basketball shelter has a large tree laying on it.  In the Camp Ground one of the picnic shelters was destroyed. All of the power lines are down, many torn away from the buildings. Jeff Fulk has contracted with a local logger to purchase the marketable trees that are down. 

Steve Redman, Disaster Coordinator for our conference will be organizing work groups.  Jeff says “There will be enough work to keep work groups busy all summer cleaning debris, sawing, moving, and splitting wood.” There will also be an eventual need for an electrician to repair the power lines coming to the cabins.

If you want to help, please contact Steve Redman to schedule a date for your work group that won’t conflict with other happenings at Shannondale.  You can contact Steve at 816-650-3653 or email revstephen@hotmail.com   More pictures will be posted on the Conference website soon.

WELCOME CENTER WORK DAY AT CAMP MO-VAL

Saturday, May 16th

Progress is continuing on the new Welcome Center and Office at Camp Mo-Val. Skilled and general workers are needed for the Work Day on May 16th.

PROJECTS will include: installing ceiling grid & panels, installing one door and many knobs & locks, finish work around doors, priming and painting the bathroom, touching up some of the exterior walls, possibly priming and painting the interior trim, digging post holes for the platform and steps off the back door, and beginning to clean up the interior (especially the floor) in preparation for the next steps.

Arrival: 8:30 - 9:00 a.m.  ***  Departure: 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Lunch is provided. Please RSVP so we can plan accordingly.

For more information or to RSVP, contact the camp office at 636-583-2730 or 1-877-344-2267
toll free or moval@mmsucc.org

RETREATS

Men’s Retreat

Twenty-seven men from across the Conference gathered at Shannondale for a work camp and retreat.  Read about it and see pictures on the website.

Women’s Retreat

Once again Camp Mo-Val was filled to capacity as the women of the Missouri Mid-South Conference gathered for fellowship, learning, and fun at the Spring Women’s Retreat.  Information will soon be posted on the Conference website.

STRENGTHEN THE CHURCH

Faithfully Building the Body of Christ supports church growth and leadership development in the conferences and through the national offices of Local Church Ministries. Received annually on Pentecost Sunday (May 31st).

 Read more…

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

CONFERENCE MINISTER’S PREACHING SCHEDULE

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

CAMP MO-VAL
Male Counselors are needed for Adventures in Community, our camp for adults with developmental disabilities, from June 6-12.  The minimum age is 18 and our most senior counselor is 81.  The slower pace of the camp session makes it a good option for retired church members who are looking for a significant service opportunity.  Training and lots of support are provided and most of the campers are fairly high functioning.  For more information, contact Rev. Sue Leary at 314-843-5100 or pastorsue@stphilipsucc.com  or Rev. Bruce Moeller at (636) 228-4586 or revbrumoe@hotmail.com.

College Students home for the summer??  Paid service opportunities are still available at Camp Mo-Val for the 2009 summer camping season.  Serving on the summer Program Staff is a great way to gain valuable experience and a sense of satisfaction, while earning a little money along the way.  It’s almost like being on a mission trip all summer long.  Contact Shirley in the camp office for more details and to receive an application.  636-583-2730 or 1-877-344-2267 toll free or moval2@mmsucc.org. Home for the summer?  Paid and volunteer program positions are still available at Camp Mo-Val.

Fun in the sun!!   Sign-up for summer camp!!  There is still time to sign-up for summer sessions at Camp Mo-Val.  A couple camps are now full, but most still have openings.  Contact the Camp Office at 636.583.2730 or 1-877-344-2267 toll free or moval@mmsucc.org  to receive a brochure or check on a specific camp.  General information is also available on the camp web site at www.campmoval.org   MAKING MEMORIES THAT LAST A LIFETIME!

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

TRANSITIONS

This week we would like to introduce Rick Riedel who began as pastor at St. Paul UCC in Hermann on December 22, 2008.  Rick graduated from Catawba College in Salisbury, NC with a BA in Religion and Philosophy, and from Chandler School of Theology in Atlanta, GA with an M.Div. in 1987, and received his PhD in Business Administration in 2006.  Rick was Ordained in the UCC in 2002.  From 1989 until 2002 Rick served in two Chaplaincies – first in Georgia and then in South Dakota.  He then served as pastor to a congregation in South Dakota for four years and spent a year as an interim in a Lutheran Church in South Dakota.  Ricks interests outside of the church include spending time with his family as they enjoy outdoor activities from walking to sports.  Please take time to welcome Rick and his family to the Missouri Mid-South Conference.

GENERAL SYNOD

At United Church of Christ's 2009 General Synod (June 26-30) in Grand Rapids, Mich., a camera crew will be on hand to gather personal stories about how the UCC has changed peoples' lives and why folk love this church.

   The hope is to collect hundreds of powerful testimonies that will be shared in rotation on UCC's homepage in the coming year. Take a look at the testimonial done by Ben Guess, UCC Communications Director, as a template. The UCC hopes that others will begin thinking about their own first-person accounts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHik6S8cIEU

Start pondering what you will say!

ASSOCIATION NEWS

The Western Association Spring Meeting

Read about the highlights of the meeting and check out the photos.
The St. Louis Association Spring Gathering was held on April 23rd at St. John's UCC in Chesterfield.  Watch for a report soon.

The Eastern Association Spring Meeting

Read about the highlights of the meeting and check out the photos.

NAME THE NEWS

The voting is in full swing!  We will keep voting open until the 30^th of May.  A regularly up-dated graph is available on the website to show progress.  Check it out and VOTE!  www.mmsucc.org

MISSION MOMENTS

Campus Ministry needs your help!! They need at least fifty letters to present to the St. Louis Community College Board this coming Thursday. The letters are needed to support the request of campus ministry for some space, a desk, working telephone, and access to campus e-mail for our campus ministers.  Please address the envelope or e-mail to Rev. I. David Thompson, 7 Grand Circle Drive, Maryland Heights, MO. 63043-5009 or the e-mail to uccpastor2@juno.com   Address the letter itself to Chancellor Zelema Harris, St. Louis Community College.  David will copy the letters and present them to the Board of St. Louis Community College, the leadership team, and Chancellor Zelema Harris.  More information about this is available on the website. 

Following is the link to the latest newsletter up on the web from Patrick and Kimberly Bentrott serving in Haiti.  Bentrott Newsletter  If you would like to browse the Global Ministries website click on the "Home" link which is the first link on the left located in the header of the mission letter. Or, if you have difficulty accessing this information on the website, please let us know and we will be glad to mail it to you.

Keep updated on volunteers currently serving through UCC Volunteer Ministries programs or alumni.  New opportunities are included here.  Please take a look and share this newsletter to help get word out about service opportunities through UCC Volunteer Ministries!  The April/May 2009 edition of the UCC Volunteer Ministries newsletter can be found on-line at  http://www.ucc.org/volunteer/resources-for-volunteers.html   Check out new resources on http://www.ucc.org/volunteer

LOCAL CHURCH & AFFILIATED AGENCIES NEWS

May 14, Thursday, 11am - 1pm, Cape Albeon Retirement Community Open House. Valley Park, MO. 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.  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 16, Saturday, 11am. St. John's (N. Grand, St. Louis) hosts Beloved Community Theatre featuring The Black Rep's adaptation of "Porch Lies: A Tale of Slicksters, Tricksters & Other Wily Characters" a children's book by acclaimed author Patricia McKissack. Open to the public. All welcome. Freewill offering to benefit St. John's Outdoor Ministries activities. For more info contact sjucc@yahoo.com or call 314.534.0323.

May 16, Saturday, 7pm, Samuel UCC Multimedia Pop Culture Trivia Night. There will be prizes for the top three tables, food and drinks, and plenty of other entertainment. Reserve your space by calling the Church Office at 314-727-9540. Samuel UCC, 320 North Forsyth Blvd.; Clayton, Mo. 63105.

May 23, Saturday. 4-9pm, St. John's UCC in Bem, Missouri will be hosting their widely celebrated Bem Church Picnic.  Activities, Menu and directions can be found on Conference Calendar. For further information, contact Pastor Rick Oberle at 573.437.3698 or email rick@bemchurch.com  or carole@bemchurch.com

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

May 30, Saturday, 10 - 11:30am, a Social Security Disability Workshop will be held at Christ The King UCC, 11370 Old Halls Ferry Road, Florissant, MO. The workshop will include a discussion on: What medical conditions automatically qualify the applicant for benefits.

May 31, St. Peter’s Evangelical UCC in Ferguson Golf Tournament fundraiser.  Contact Rob Davis at (314) 521-5694. 

June 6, Saturday, a Tailgate Sale at Christ The King UCC, 11370 Old Halls Ferry Road, Florissant, MO. Parking spaces will be available for $15 each. You can call 314-741-6808 to reserve a space.

June 6, The LIFE program (Lay Institute of Faith Exploration) is offering a one-day retreat at First Congregational Church, 10 West Lockwood Avenue, Webster Groves.  The $110 registration fee includes lunch, worship, 6 hours of class time. Registration begins at 8 a.m. with worship at 8:30. Closing time is 5 p.m.  Register on-line at the LIFE website: www.lifeateden.com or email: life@eden.edu or telephone: 618-277-1273.

June 7, Sunday, 3pm, Prep for General Synod at St. Lucas UCC, 11735 Denny Road, Sunset Hills, MO. Join delegates Rev. Bob Keller, Rev. Margaret Philip, Rev. Tom Ressler and Ms. Diane Vargo in a consideration of the proposed resolutions,  They can be found at http://www.ucc.org/synod/resolutions This event is for all church members and the general public. There is no charge.

June 12, Christian Family Night at River City Rascals minor league baseball at T.R. Hughes Ballpark, O’Fallon, MO.  See calendar for flyer.

June 14, noon – 3pm, Labyrinth Festival and Picnic:  Zion UCC, 5710 North Highway 67, 1/4 mile west of Jamestown Mall, invites all members of the community to join them for BBQ, crafts, petting zoo, water slide, clowns, exhibits, critters, balloons, fun and fellowship at their permanent outdoor labyrinth. Please call (314) 741-1590 with questions or visit www.zionucc1.org  for more information about this free event. Come and join the fun!

June 14, 1:30pm, St. Philip's UCC, 10708 Lavinia in South County, will host an appraisal tea to benefit Joint Neighborhood Ministry.  Bring an antique or collectible for appraisal by an expert.   Also shop JNM boutique for new and gently used donated clothing.  Tickets are $15.00 and seating is limited.  Call 636-333-2244 for reservations.

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

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.