2008

December 2008

31st, Wednesday, 7pm - 12:30am, St Johns Evangelical UCC, Mehlville announces a New Years Eve Dinner Dance. Dance to music provided by DJ Cindy Royale. Menu: Chicken cordon bleu, roast pork loin, tortellini, vegetable, twice baked potato mash, salad, fruit, dessert, rolls, coffee and tea. (soda & ice provided, you may bring your own alcoholic beverage) reservations required (314) 843-6160. Cost : $25/person, $50/couple.

31st, Wednesday - Conference Office closed.

2009

January 2009

1st, Thursday, New Years Day - Office Closed

2nd, Friday, Conference Office Closed

18th, Sunday, 4pm, Neighbors United Undoing Racism will sponsor the annual Martin Luther King Jr service of Franklin County at Rose Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Villa Ridge.  For more information call Arlys Hopkins at 636-390-9490 or arlyshopkins@hotmail.com

19th, Monday, Martin Luther King Jr Day - Office Closed

19th, Monday, Mass celebration of Martin Luther King Jr  in Kansas City at the Metropolitan Baptist Church with Michael Livingstone of the National Council of Churches preaching.  For much more information check it out at www.kssclc.org

29th, Thursday, Boundary Training opportunity at Parkway UCC in St. Louis (Thursday, Feb. 5th is backup snow date.)

31st, Saturday, Boundary Training opportunity at Southwood UCC in Raytown (Saturday, Feb. 7th is backup snow date.)

February 2009

14 - 16th, The annual Conference Youth Event. Rev. Steve Miller will be back – by popular demand – as the key note / retreat leader. A promotional flyer, with times and prices, is now available. The full registration packet will be available in mid-November.

16th, Monday, President's Day - Office Closed

17th, Deadline for articles to be submitted for the April/May issue of The Courier.

22nd, United Church of Christ Seminary Sunday.

22nd, Sunday, 3-5pm, The St. Louis Association in cooperation with the Association Church and Ministry Committee will hold a CHURCH LEADER'S WINTER WORKSHOP for Church Council/Consistory Presidents, Vice-Presidents, Moderators, Treasurers, Financial Secretaries, and Clergy newly called, installed, or ordained at Parkway UCC.  The purpose of the workshop is to exchange information, resources, and advice that may be pertinent to your role as church leader. You will have a chance to ask questions of and share ideas with church leaders in similar positions. You will have the opportunity to meet our Interim Associate Conference Minister Rev. Dr. Jack Seville.  As a part of this event, the Association Church and Ministry Committee will hold a clergy orientation for those clergy new to the area or new to their position. Registration information will follow in January.

28th, Saturday, 10 - 2, Meeting of the General Synod Delegates at Columbia UCC in Columbia.

25th, Ash Wednesday

March 2009

6-7th, Heartland Cluster Congregational Transformation Event at the Ramada St. Joseph in St. Joseph, Missouri.  Purpose – congregational transformation, the unique journey for your church. Gain the resources and insights. This event promises meaningful and measurable outcomes!  Keynote Speaker – Sally Morgenthaler, best known perhaps for her book, Worship Evangelism, brings a great spiritual journey and clear, inspiring leadership for transformation.
Costs – Early Bird Discount: Registration fee for one or two persons is $100 each, 3 or more people from one congregation is $80 per person. After February 1, fees increase to $120 and $100.  Coming soon – watch for registration info at www.heartlandtransformation.org  Contact for additional information is Bill or Donna Rose-Heim, 816-632-2237 or nwareacc@nwareacc.org  Sponsored by Disciples of Christ

9-12, 8:30am - 5pm, A “Foundations for BeFriender Ministry” workshop for leaders who want to implement and maintain a listening ministry of lay pastoral care in their churches. A team of 2 to 5 leaders from a church should attend – the team would include clergy and/or at least one paid staff person as well as one or more lay volunteers.  It will be hosted by St. Paul UCC, 115 West “B” Street, Belleville, IL 62221. To register or for more information call toll free 1-866-468-8708 or email info@befrienderministry.org  or check their website at www.befrienderministry.org

14th, The Eastern Association Confirmation Retreat will take place at Friedens UCC, Warrenton. More information and registration materials will be mailed to all EA churches.

20-21st, Committee on Ministry Retreat at Rickman Center, Jefferson City.  Mark your calendar now!

23-27, “Mediation Skills Training Institute for Church Leaders” will be presented at the New Summit Presbyterian Church, Lee’s Summit, Missouri. The institute is designed to equip church leaders with the skills necessary to deal effectively with interpersonal, congregational, and other forms of group conflict. It also includes a component on congregational intervention and consultation, placed within the context of family systems theory. For registration information, call Lombard Mennonite Peace Center at 630-627-0507 or visit the website www.LMPeaceCenter.org   

April 2009

4th, Saturday, Lenten Work Day at Camp Mo-Val

16-19th, The 2009 UCCOSSN Annual Meeting: “Moving Forward with Faith”  in Madison, Wisconsin. Keynote Address by Rev. David Moyer, Wisconsin Conference Minister; Worship by Rev. Gail O'Neal and Rev. Joanne Thomson, Associate Conference Ministers.  United Church of Christ church support staffs from local churches, Associations, Conferences and the National Office are invited. Come share worship, workshops and peer group discussions with colleagues from all around the United States.  Location: Best Western on the Park, on the Capital Square in Madison, WI and The Wisconsin Conference Center. Room Cost: $104 Single (1-2 people), $114 Double (1-4 people), $144 Suite (4-5 people). Program Fee and Meals: $100 includes breakfast, lunch and dinner on Friday and breakfast and lunch on Saturday. The cost for Friday only is $60. The cost for Saturday only is $40.  The meeting schedule and registration form will be sent in January, 2009. For information contact Carol Martell at the Wisconsin Conference UCC, cmartell@wcucc.org  or 608-846-7880 . City of Madison website: www.cityofmadison.com 

20th, Good Friday - Office Closed

22nd, Easter Sunday

23rd, Thursday, 4-8:30pm, St. Louis Association Spring Gathering at St. John's UCC in Chesterfield.  The theme of the meeting will be "The Greening Church" and speakers, displays, and workshops will be offered on ways in which our local churches can function in benefit to our environment.  Dinner will cost $10 per person.

26th, Sunday, 2-5 pm, Eastern Association Spring Meeting. The Mission and Social Concerns Committee of the Eastern Association is putting together a program that will focus on topics of economic justice, and we are wanting to include a food pantry roundtable, which will discuss topics such as: strategies for food drives/collections; food storage and distribution; data collection, screening, and tracking; recruiting and managing volunteers or paid staff; site issues such as rent/lease, location, parking, insurance, and accessibility. Rev. Armin Klemme has agreed to represent the small food pantry of Zion UCC in Union; we are hoping to recruit presenters from 1 medium (serving 150-250 families per month), and 1 large (serving greater than 300 families per month) area food pantry. If you would like to volunteer to represent your local food pantry, or if you have suggestions for contacts, please contact Rev. Craig Blaufuss. E-mail: revcraigblaufuss@centurytel.net  Phone: Office: 636 528-7550 Cell: 636 358-0292

27th, Deadline for articles to be submitted for the June/July issue of The Courier.

May 2009

1st - 3rd, Annual Women's Retreat at Camp Mo-Val.  The theme this year is Creating a Global Village and the Keynote speaker is Jan Aerie of the Wider Church and Global Ministries, UCC.  Come for spiritual renewal, fun, and fellowship.

5th, Tuesday, Boundary Training opportunity at Columbia UCC in Columbia.

9th, Saturday, 9-3, Meeting of the General Synod Delegates at St. John UCC, Chesterfield.

9th, Saturday, Eastern Association Quilt Show at St. Peter's UCC in New Haven.

16th, Saturday, Boundary Training opportunity at St. Johns UCC, Wolfrum Rd., St. Charles

25th, Monday, Memorial Day Holiday - Office Closed

June 2009

10-25, The Philippine Immersion Trip. The cost will be $2,799. This includes air fare, lodging, meals, transportation in the Philippines, honoraria and other expenses directly related to the immersion. Schedule of payment: Dec. 1, 2008 ($150.00); Jan. 30, 2009 (700.00); Feb. 27 ($950.00); March 30 ($999.00). Make checks payable to United Theological Seminary and write Philippine Immersion Trip on memo line.  If your church would like a copy of the brochure please e-mail either Dr. Fernandez or Rev. Karen Aitkens at pk@bethelucckc.org  If you have anyone interested at this time, please let Revs. Fernandez & Aitkens know as soon as possible.

22nd, Deadline for articles to be submitted for the August/September issue of The Courier.

July 2009

3rd, Friday, Office Closed in celebration of Independence Day.

14th, Tuesday, Boundary Training opportunity at Evangelical UCC in St. Louis.

August 2009

31st,  Deadline for articles to be submitted for the October/November issue of The Courier.

September 2009

7th, Monday, Office Closed for Labor Day.

12th, Saturday, Boundary Training opportunity at Evangelical UCC in St. Louis.

October 2009

19th, Deadline for articles to be submitted for the December/January issue of The Courier.

30-November 1st, Biennial Meeting to be held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Independence, Missouri.  This will be an important Business Meeting and all churches will want to send their delegates. Watch for more information in the future.

November 2009

26th, Thursday & 27th Friday, Office Closed for Thanksgiving.

December 2009

24th, Thursday, Christmas Eve Day - Conference Office closed

25th, Friday, Christmas Day - Conference Office closed

28th, Monday - Conference Office closed