Inside This Issue

 Habakkuk
     Project

General Synod

Prayer

PIM Retreat

Mission Moments

Transitions

Name the News

Preaching
    Schedules

Camp Mo-Val

Local Church
    Events

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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. 

Regional Meeting Dates:

June 20th, Saturday, 10am - 12:30pm, at St. Luke's UCC, Independence

June 27th, 10am - 12:30pm, at Evangelical UCC in Cape Girardeau

July 11th, Saturday, 10am - 12:30pm, at Zion UCC, Union

July 25th, Saturday, 10am - 12:30pm, at Parkway UCC, St. Louis

August 8th, Saturday, 10am - 12:30pm, at First Congregational UCC, Lebanon

August 15th, Saturday, 10am - 12:30pm, at St. John's UCC, St. Charles

Plan to attend one of the Regional Meetings to discuss the Report. Copies of the Report are available on our website: www.mmsucc.org Please RSVP to Sandy (314-918-2605 or toll free 1-877-877-5884 ext 77605) the number attending from your church.

GENERAL SYNOD 27

In a very short time the UCC will gather in Grand Rapids for the Twenty-seventh General Synod, and plans are progressing nicely for this time together. We hope you have visited the UCC website www.ucc.org  to look at the tentative agenda and to begin to read and study the business that will be before the General Synod.

PLEASE PRAY . . .

The United Church of Christ offers a daily Calendar of Prayer that lifts up the stories of our shared ministry and our mission partnership with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).  We are encouraged to add these prayers to our spiritual disciplines.  Please visit The Calendar of Prayer today.

PIM RETREAT

Please mark your calendar for the Persons In Ministry Retreat at Arrowhead Resort, Lake of the Ozarks September 21-23, 2009.  Gather with colleagues, refresh your spirit, and experience worship renewal.  Special entertainment by Cliff Aerie will highlight this event.  Watch for information to be mailed this month.

MISSION MOMENTS

Help nurture the next generation of church leaders.  Attached you will find a flyer advertising openings for two Peer Ministers with campus ministry (United Ministries in Higher Education) at Missouri State University (MSU) in Springfield, Missouri.  You may know young adults who are or will be attending MSU and who may also be considering a call to Christian ministry.  If so, our Peer Ministry Program is ideally suited to help them in this discernment process.  Please help by sharing this opportunity with as many people as you can.  Find out more about campus ministry and find a link to the Peer Ministry Application by visiting our website www.organizations.MissouriState.edu/umhe 

Older Adult Ministries offers the attached resources.

Help Emmaus gain additional funding for adults with developmental disabilities!

     For 116 years, Emmaus Homes, a mission of the United Church of Christ’s Council for Health and Human Service Ministries (CHHSM), has provided compassionate care to adults with developmental disabilities. Today, Emmaus serves 285 men and women throughout the St. Louis metropolitan region, but it is in need of additional funding from the Missouri Department of Mental Health to continue providing quality services to its residents. 

     Emmaus is currently in negotiations with the Missouri Department of Mental Health to increase the rate at which it is reimbursed for mandated services, which have been historically under-funded by the state. Emmaus is asking for the immediate help of its UCC supporters in advocating for the hundreds of men and women who call Emmaus home. These vulnerable members of God’s family rely on the voices of a caring faith community to make their plea known. Please contact Gov. Jay Nixon, leaders at the Department of Mental Health and state legislators by phone, letter or e-mail by June 11 to express your support for Emmaus. A sample letter and legislative contact information are available at the Emmaus Homes website at www.emmaushomes.org  If you would like to receive e-mail updates regarding our efforts, send your request to advocacy@emmaushomes.org

     On behalf of the entire Emmaus family – volunteers, staff, Board of Directors and, most importantly, the residents – thank you for helping to ensure a strong future for the Emmaus mission.

TRANSITIONS

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, 9440 Big Bend Blvd, Webster Groves and as a resource person to the St. Louis Association.  The service is to be held on Saturday June 20th, 2009 at 3:00pm.

NAME THE NEWS

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

CONFERENCE MINISTER’S PREACHING SCHEDULE

June 14 – Ebenezer UCC, Levasy

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

June 23-July 1 – Attending General Synod

July 5 – Hope UCC, St. Louis, 9am

July 12 – Church of the Master UCC, Florissant, 9:30am

ASSOCIATE CONFERENCE MINISTERS PREACHING SCHEDULE

Jack Seville

June 21 – St. Stephens UCC, St. Louis

June 23-July 1 – Attending General Synod

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

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!

LOCAL CHURCH & AFFILIATED AGENCIES NEWS

(For more details check here….)

June 12, Christian Family Night with the River City Rascals

June 13, Gateway City Corvette Assn. Car Rally at Christ The King UCC

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

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

June 14, Hope UCC, St. Louis, is sponsoring a BBQ

June 19, Missions Festival at Bethany UCC, Berger hosted by the Grape Country Cluster

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

June 20, Hope UCC, St. Louis, is sponsoring a TRIVIA NIGHT

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

June 26 – 28, St Martin’s UCC, Dittmer, will host CERT Training Classes.

June 28, Faith UCC, Wentzville, holding a BBQ Dinner.

July 11, Shannondale Disaster Fund-Raiser Benefit Concert with Christian Band “Thy Will” at Faith UCC, Wentzville

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.