Inside This Issue

Habakkuk Project

Conference AA
    Resigns

Gulf Coast Project

Name the News

Transitions

Preaching
    Schedules

Camp Mo-Val

Mission Moments

Strength the
    Church

Local Church
    News

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HABAKKUK PROJECT REGIONAL MEETINGS SCHEDULED

     Six Regional meetings have been planned for this summer to discuss and receive feedback on the Habakkuk Project proposals for conference structure, staffing, and strategic priorities.  The Habakkuk Project proposals were e-mailed to every authorized pastor and congregation last week and are available on the Conference website by clicking on this link …

    The first two regional meetings are scheduled for June 20 at St Luke’s UCC in Independence, MO and on June 27 at Evangelical UCC in Cape Girardeau. Information about the July and August meetings can be found on the Conference Web Site by clicking on this link…  Each meeting will begin at 10:00 and end about 12:30 pm.  All interested people are invited to attend one of these meetings; clergy and delegates to this year’s Biennial Meeting are urged to participate in one of these regional meetings.  Please contact Sandy at sandy@mmsucc.org or 314-962-8740 and let her which meeting you plan to attend and how many from your congregation will be attending. 

REV. STEPHANIE DELONG RESIGNS AS CONFERENCE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

    It is with regret that we have received the resignation of Rev. Stephanie DeLong as the Administrative Assistant of the Missouri Mid-South Conference.  Rev. DeLong brought many unique and special gifts to her job and she will be deeply missed.  Her last day with us will be June 10.  We pray God’s continued blessings with Stephanie as she leaves us to spend more time with her children and discerns God’s call in her life.

    We are pleased to announce that Mark Roberts has agreed to join our staff as the temporary Administrative Assistant.  Mark is a 2009 graduate of Eden Seminary and is currently seeking his first call to parish ministry.  Mark has agreed to work with us through the summer which will give us time to evaluate the position description for the Administrative Assistant and work through the process of advertising the position, interviewing and calling a new person.  We welcome Mark to the conference staff. 

GULF COAST CIVIC WORKS CAMPAIGN

Nearly 4 years after the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, residents of the Gulf Coast continue to struggle to recover and rebuild their lives. The Gulf Coast Civic Works Campaign is organizing to bring 400 advocates to Washington DC.  Read more…

NAME THE NEWS

The votes are in!  “eCourier” won by a landslide.  The results are still available on the website with the final graph.  Check it out: www.mmsucc.org

TRANSITIONS

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.

Ande (Andrea) Reiter will celebrate the Commissioning of her older adult ministry to Open Door UCC, and as a resource person to the St. Louis Association.  The service is to be held at Church of the Open Door, 9440 Big Bend Blvd, Webster Groves (at the corner of Big Bend and Grant Road) on Saturday June 20th, 2009 at 3:00pm.

Brad Urban is the Pastor-Elect of Carondelet UCC Church. Brad is a 2008 graduate of Eden Seminary. Following graduation Brad completed a summer unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Since September of 2008 Brad has been an intern in youth and young adult ministry in his home church, Zion UCC in Union, MO. He also worked part-time at Camp Mo-Val. Brad did his undergraduate studies at the University of Missouri in Columbia where he earned a Bachelor of Journalism degree. Prior to entering Eden Seminary Brad worked as a news reporter for the Warrenton Journal in Warrenton, MO.  Brad Urban will begin his service as pastor and teacher at Carondelet UCC on July 1, 2009.  Please welcome Brad!

CONFERENCE MINISTER’S PREACHING SCHEDULE

June 7 – St. Paul UCC, Gerald; 8am

June 14 – Ebenezer UCC, Levasy

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

June 23-July 1 – Attending General Synod

ASSOCIATE CONFERENCE MINISTERS PREACHING SCHEDULE

Jack Seville

June 7 – Christ the King UCC, Florissant

June 21 – St. Stephens UCC, St. Louis

Krista Betz

As part-time Acting Associate Conference Minister Rev. Krista Betz is unable to lead worship in other churches on Sunday mornings as she is the called pastor at Ebenezer UCC in Augusta.  She is available in the evenings and throughout the week as necessary.

CAMP MO-VAL
Male Counselors still 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.

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.

MISSION MOMENTS

Celebrate Heifer Through Festival of Sharing

Heifer International had its beginning in the summer of 1944 when a shipment of 17 dairy heifers was delivered through a group known as “Heifers for Relief,” to impoverished families in Puerto Rico.  Now, 65 years later, the organization has provided livestock and training to millions of families.  Congregations and individuals are encouraged to celebrate this remarkable accomplishment by contributing so that Heifer may continue its extraordinary work.  For more information about the Festival of Sharing, or Heifer International, please contact Missouri Representative for Heifer, Carol Oliver at 573-474-7155 or at oliver@umocm.com or read this document…

The name, ECH Every Child’s Hope, was developed by a constituent and overwhelmingly endorsed by the community.  However, while our name and look may be different, the mission of Evangelical Children's Home has not changed.  Today, children and their parents or caregivers, continue to participate in a variety of treatment plans to heal wounds usually caused by neglect, abuse and misunderstanding. Our well-trained staff provides a therapeutic environment that we call the “culture of caring”. We work to help children heal and grow from the violence done to their lives, while always working on a plan to return them to a permanent home in the community. If you would like to know more about the programs please visit our new web-site at www.ech1858.org or feel free to contact the Development Office in St. Louis at (314) 427-3755.

Christian Theological Seminary presents its annual Spanish Speaking Summer School August 3-7, 2009.  Click here for a brochure.

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.

LOCAL CHURCH & AFFILIATED AGENCIES NEWS

(For more details check here….)

June 6, Tailgate Sale at Christ The King UCC, Florissant

June 6, LIFE program one-day retreat at First Congregational Church, Webster Groves. 

June 6, St Martin’s UCC, Dittmer Annual Chicken Supper

June 7, Prep for General Synod at St. Lucas UCC, Sunset Hills

June 12, Christian Family Night with the River City Rascals

June 14, Labyrinth Festival and Picnic at Zion UCC, Florissant

June 14, St. Philip's UCC, South County, hosts an Appraisal Tea

June 20, Habakkuk Meeting at St. Luke’s UCC, Independence.

June 20, White Elephant Auction and Ice Cream Social at Emmanuel UCC, Weldon Springs

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

June 27, Habakkuk Meeting at Evangelical UCC, Cape Girardeau

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