Inside This Issue

Important!

General Synod

Mission Moments

Older Adults

PIM Retreat

Ministry Meetings

Habakkuk Project

Transitions

Preaching Info

Local Church
    Events

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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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IMPORTANT COMMUNICATION MESSAGE

   The MMSUCC computer system will be shut down and out of service all day on Wednesday and probably most of Thursday, with trouble shooting on Friday.  We are having some major maintenance work done that’s going to take time. 

   If you need to contact anyone in the Conference Office after Tuesday, you will need to do so via phones.  Support Staff will be here.   Sandy – 314-918-2605; Laura – 314-918-2606; Mark – 314-918-2602.

GENERAL SYNOD 27

   The 27th General Synod of the United Church of Christ will begin on Friday June 26 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  Our Missouri Mid-South delegation of 22 delegates will be led by our Conference Moderator Karin Olzen from Immanuel UCC in Ferguson and Conference Minister Jeff Whitman.  The list of delegates can be found on our website by following this link. 
   The business of this synod will include the election of a new General Minister and President and action on a variety of resolutions.  In addition to the business of synod our delegates and visitors will have the opportunity to participate in a number of inspiring worship services throughout the 5 day meeting and to share in the speakers and festivities of River City Saturday on June 27.  Next Tuesday evening our delegates and visitors can share in a Missouri Mid-South Conference dinner that will include former Conference Minister Gayle Engle and his wife and former MMS conference staff John Dorhauer and Sheldon Culver. 
   We invite you to participate in General Synod by joining in the webcast or reading updates at our UCC website www.ucc.org  Look for reactions and reports from our synod delegates in upcoming issues of the eCourier.   

MISSION MOMENTS

Many of the Missouri Mid-South Churches have sent Mission Trips to New Orleans.  It may be of special interest to read the South Central Conference Disaster Ministries Report.

Church World Service Hotline for the week of June 22, 2009
- Assisting people displaced in Pakistan and on the Thai-Cambodian border
- Nicaraguans in the Rio Coco area participating in demonstration farms
Latest news & features--at www.churchworldservice.org/news

For the past six + years the Men's Fellowship of the St. John's UCC in Chesterfield, MO, has been supporting through donations from the congregation and its friends a special mission to the elderly in Ghana, West Africa. The Shepherd's Center for the Aging now numbers over 60 rural community centers dedicated to improving the health and general well-being of its senior citizens. In January two of us from St. John's joined with a group of pastoral students and leaders from Eden Theological Seminary and journeyed to Ghana to meet with Rev. Dr. Seth Agidi and review several of the centers.  Find out more…

Emmaus Homes is in continued negotiations with the state for additional funding, of which we are in critical need. The letters and calls from church supporters have made an impact on our legislators, but we have not yet secured the funding needed. Therefore, we ask please that UCC congregations in Missouri continue their letters, calls and e-mails to the state.  Read more…

OLDER ADULT MINISTRIES

The VINE is a column of older adult ministry, reporting on practical and spiritual issues for seniors (and for those aspiring to become seniors)—in the United Church of Christ.  Read it here… (This time hopefully the link is active!)

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 and ‘Oikos’ will highlight this event.  Registration Forms are available on the website and payments can be made online through the “Donate” webpage. 

MINISTRY MEETINGS

Implementing

The Missouri Mid-South Conference Minimum Compensation Guidelines for 2009-2010 are now available on our website.  Thank you to the Implementing Ministry Team.

Administrating

Meets on July 11 at Columbia UCC

Coordinating

Meets on July 18 in Wentzville

HABAKKUK PROJECT

The reports of the Habakkuk project task group are 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. It is important that each church send delegates to the regional Habakkuk meetings. The voice of your church IS important in the future of the Missouri Mid-South Conference.

Regional Meeting Dates:

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 UCC, (5^th St.) 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.

TRANSITIONS

A St. Louis county UCC Church is seeking a Director of Youth Ministry.  More info…

We would like to introduce the Rev. Betsy Fisk Happel who has been called to Kirkwood UCC and began her ministry there on June 15, 2009.  Betsy earned a BA in Psychology from Northwestern University, an MS in Ind. Relations from Loyola University, and MDiv at Eden Theological Seminary.  She was ordained in May 2004 by the Disciples of Christ (DOC).  Betsy’s work prior to entering the seminary was in the field of Human Resources where she has worked with several large companies.  Betsy is married to Rick, a management/financial consultant and while they have no children, they love their Labrador Retriever, Ellie.  Please welcome Betsy and Rick to the Missouri Mid-South Conference.

CONFERENCE MINISTER’S PREACHING SCHEDULE

June 23-July 1 – Attending General Synod

July 5 – Hope UCC, Cosby, 9am

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

On Sunday morning our Conference Minister Jeff Whitman preached at Ivanhoe UCC in Raytown and participated in the commissioning of the pastoral search committee.  The pastoral search committee is working on the congregational profile and will begin receiving pastoral profiles in the near future.  Pictured with Rev. Whitman are Rev. Janet Weiblen interim pastor and retired UCC pastors Ernie Bischoff and Harold Potts who are members at Ivanhoe.   Shown below is the commissioning of the Ivanhoe Search Committee.

ASSOCIATE CONFERENCE MINISTERS PREACHING SCHEDULE

Jack Seville

June 23-July 1 – Attending General Synod

Dale Parson

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.

LOCAL CHURCH & AFFILIATED AGENCIES NEWS

(For more details check here….)

June 24 & 25, Conference Office computers off-line.

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.

June 28, St. John's, (Mantles) Washington hosts a community picnic

June 28, The Perfect Play Date - A private event at the Magic House

July 3, Conference Office Closed for Independence Day

July 7, Lawn Concert to Benefit Lydia's House at Bethlehem UCC

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

July 12, Report from General Synod at St. Lucas UCC, St. Louis

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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