INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Damage to Shannondale

LinK Event

Strengthen the Church

Jeff’s Schedule

Camp Mo-Val

Transitions

General Synod

Association News

Name the News

Mission Moments

Calendar

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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.

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Habakkuk Project

The reports of the Habakkuk project task group are now 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.  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.

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.  An email with the report 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. 

Watch for this e-mail on Tuesday, May 19.  The reports will also be available on the Conference web site if you have trouble opening the attachment.

Up-Date on Shannondale Storms

The power is back on, and chain saws are buzzing.  An insurance adjustor has come and gone.  While there is still a lot of damage to the area, Shannondale is happy to be getting back to normal.  There will continue to be a need for work groups at Shannondale and in the surrounding community so if you have a group that would like to help, please contact our Disaster Relief Coordinator, Steve Redman to make arrangements.  revsteohen@hotmail.com

The Spring Leaders in Koinonia (LinK) Event was held recently at the national setting offices in Cleveland, Ohio.  The purpose of the LinK Event is to strengthen relationships between the ministries of local churches, clergy, and lay leaders and the national setting of the United Church of Christ.  This event welcomed a lively group of 35 licensed ministers who serve small rural churches, hospital chapels, and medium church settings in the West Central and Great Lakes regions of the United Church of Christ.  Each licensed minister was nominated to attend by his or her conference minister to experience and engage in the national setting, with most making a first trip to the UCC national offices, affectionately known as the Church House in Cleveland. The Missouri Mid-South Conference sent licensed pastors Don Frandsen (St Paul, Defiance), Dan Johnson (Evangelical, Cape), and David Schaffner (St. John, Fruitland). “The Cleveland trip was excellent” said Don Frandsen.  “Meeting with the staff of the Church House was time very well spent.  Just spending time with those individuals and learning what types of support they offer was beneficial.  Having the time to talk to other Licensed Pastor's was enlightening. Most importantly, just having discussions with the national staff and hearing from them how important they feel the need for Licensed Ministry is, was very empowering.”

Link to full article: http://www.ucc.org/lcm/lcm-news/ 

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 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

Michael Kasevich will be Installed on Sunday, May 31, 2pm, at St. Paul UCC, Old Monroe.

Anissa Evans will be Ordained on Sunday, May 31, 2pm, at Evangelical UCC in Webster Groves.

Judy Fiocco will be Ordained on Sunday, May 31, 3pm, Evangelical UCC in Boonville.

Tim Biesemeier will celebrate a Service of Recognition on Sunday, June 7 at St. John UCC in Emma.

John Attaway will be Installed on Sunday, June 7, 3:30pm, at Good Shepherd UCC in St. Charles.

Ellen Martin will celebrate her Ordination/Installation service on June 14^th, 4pm at the First Congregational Church UCC in Lebanon.

Rick Reidel will be Installed on Sunday, June 14, 3pm at St. Paul UCC in Hermann.

The Rev. Mrs. Susan King Forbes has been called to serve Brentwood United Church of Christ in Brentwood as part-time minister beginning on May 24, 2009. Susan has served as Pastor and Teacher of Church of the Open Door in Webster Groves for a decade and will continue to serve this congregation part-time as well. We celebrate the developing relationship between these two churches of the St. Louis Association and congratulate Susan on her most recent call.

This week we would like to introduce John Attaway who was called to serve Good Shepherd UCC in St. Charles beginning on January 15, 2009.  He graduated from Phillips University in 1976 with a BS in Religion and Sociology and earned his M.Div. from Phillips Seminary in 1979. John is a Vietnam Veteran who was awarded the Bronze Star.  In 32 years of ordained ministry he has served as a Hospital Chaplain, Director of a homeless shelter, Program Director for a home for troubled teens, and 17 years as a UCC pastor, coming most recently from Hubbard, Iowa. His wife, Christine is a critical care R.N. in an I.C.U. unit. John and Christine enjoy travel, photography, reading, and collecting Biblical antiques.  Please welcome John and Christine to the Missouri Mid-South Conference.

GENERAL SYNOD

Are you attending General Synod as a delegate or visitor? Please join the UCC 2030 Clergy Network for a variety of events.  There is a flyer available on the Missouri Mid-South Conference website which lists all of the 2030 Clergy Events.  RSVPs are requested for the Thursday event, Sunday night’s cocktail party, and Monday night’s gathering with the Pension Board. RSVP to 2030clergynetwork@gmail.com

ASSOCIATION NEWS

The Western Association Meetings

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

The St. Louis Association Meetings

April 23rd at St. John's UCC in Chesterfield was the Spring Meeting.  Watch for a report soon.  September 26, St. Louis Association Fall Meeting – Save this date!

The Eastern Association Meetings

Read about the highlights of the spring meeting and check out the photos. September 27, Eastern Association Fall Meeting – Save this date!

NAME THE NEWS

The votes are coming in!  A race is heating up between “eCourier” and “MMS Connections”, with “eCourier” taking the lead!  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

Help Wanted! First Congregational Church UCC in Webster Groves is seeking a full time office manager. Salary and full benefits. Send resume to minister1@firstchurchwg.com

The Benevolence Commission of Bethel UCC in Kansas City worked with Sara Niederhauser on a special project to collect “Teddy Bears” for Children's Mercy Hospital. The hospital likes to give each child a small stuffed animal, a small teddy bear or beanie baby, to hold and cuddle as they are moved from different doctors and departments during their stay. We collected these on Mother’s Day. This picture shows the great outpouring of love and caring for this project. (Left to right) Pastor Karen Aitkens, Sara Niederhauser (Children’s Mercy Hospital employee) and Liz Guevel (grandmother of Sara and Benevolence member) with animals collected.

Interfaith Partnership/Faith Beyond Walls will begin its fourth summer of SLICE. All youth starting at age 12 are welcome to attend. It is a powerful week and a great way to have your youth experience how fun giving back and learning about other faith groups can be. Please take a moment to read and share the flyer on our website.

The latest newsletter is up on the web from Jeffrey Mensendiek serving in Japan.  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. If you have difficulty accessing this information on the website, please let Global Ministries know and they will be glad to mail a copy to you.  www.globalministries.org

LOCAL CHURCH & AFFILIATED AGENCIES NEWS

May 20, 10am – 3pm, New Clergy Orientation at Columbia UCC.

May 20, 6pm, Communications Task Force meeting at Columbia.

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 23, Annual Ice-Cream Social from 3:30pm to 8pm with Chicken Sandwiches & Homemade pie at St. James UCC Church, Morrison.  Call 573-294-6684 for directions.

May 25, Memorial Day – Office Closed

May 30, Neighborhood Houses Family Fun Fair in Fairgrounds Park.

May 30, 10am, 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 6, St Martin’s UCC (7890 Dittmer Ridge Rd, Dittmer) Annual Men’s Fellowship Chicken Supper with service from 3-8 pm. For more info call the church office at 636-285-4797  /  636-274-7078  /  geristmc@hughes.net

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.

June 26-June 30, General Synod at Grand Rapids, Michigan

July 14, Boundary Training, Evangelical UCC, St. Louis

September 12, Boundary Training, Evangelical UCC, St. Louis

September 21-23, Persons in Ministry Retreat at the Lake of the Ozarks

October 30- Nov 1, Missouri Mid-South Conference Biennial Meeting, Independence, MO

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.

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