E-Connections

September 2009

   1. Directory Up-Dates

September 1, 2009

Page 17
Emmaus Homes (Corporate Offices) – remove Priscilla Bizer

Page 23
Friedens UCC, St. Louis – delete. Church has closed.

Page 28
Labadie, Pilgrim UCC – remove Sarah Bloesch as Licensed Pastor and replace with Dennis Ureche, Licensed Pastor, contact info: 314/918-2690 dureche@eden.edu


Page 30
St. Louis – Friedens UCC, 1908 Newhouse, St. Louis – Please remove, church is closed.

Page 36
Aitkens, Karen – change email address to: pkbethelucc@att.net 
ADD: Blackmon, Traci , 1564 Knollway Dr., Ferguson, MO 63115, 314-741-6808, 314-265-6990 (cell) pastortraci@yahoo.com 

Page 37
Edwards, Bruce – change email address to: bedwards09@clear.net 

Page 38
Jennings, Julie – change address to: 677 Cranbrook Dr., St. Louis, MO 63122

Page 40
Urban, Brad – change of address to: 4249 Summit Knoll Dr., Apt J, St. Louis, MO 63129; 314-803-2045

 

  2.  September Parish Paper (with attachment)

September 3, 2009

Attached above is the September issue of The Parish Paper, a two page newsletter edited by Herb Miller, Lyle Schaller, and Cynthia Woolever. Each edition will discuss issues, share ideas, or offer insights on an area of parish ministry. The topic for the September issue is: “Are We Singing the Right Hymns?”

Didn’t get the previous issues? Don’t know what The Parish Paper is? A statement from Jeff Whitman, Conference Minister can be found at www.mmsucc.org/resources/parishpaper.asp as well as past issues.

Below are some additional instructions on the use of The Parish Paper:

Our organization’s purchase of a subscription to The Parish Paper INCLUDES

1. Permission to provide copies to our staff and to the congregations within our jurisdiction in any of the following ways: E-mail, Postal, newspaper, newsletter, meetings, training events, and our Web site.

2. Permission for each congregation within our jurisdiction to (a) photocopy or electronically distribute for local use as many copies as it needs, (b) post them on its Web site, and (c) quote sentences and paragraphs.
 

  3.  It's Not Too Late to Register for PIM Retreat

September 3, 2009

Dear Friends:
I hope that your summer has been a good one filled with rest and renewal. As you return to the fall rhythm of life in your congregation I want to encourage you to consider joining us for the annual Persons and Ministry Retreat at Port Arrowhead. We are putting the finishing touches on what I believe will be an inspirational and fun event. Our leaders for PIM this year are planning a retreat that will engage us in rediscovering and unlocking the creative gifts that God has given each of us. There will be four sessions during the retreat: Uncovering the Imagination Within Us; Embracing God’s Imagination; Exploring Creative Community; and Releasing the Creativity of the Church in Mission and Ministry. Each session will be divided into 4 sections: Storytelling: to invite us to begin to reflect on the theme, A Focus presentation: to begin to explore that theme together, Art As Meditation: we will be divided into 3 groups one group will work with Chris to music to engage the theme; one group will work with Arianna to work with clay to engage the Theme; and the third group will work with Cliff to use storytelling to engage the theme. The fourth section will be Closing Ritual where we will share our creativity. As you can see this retreat will be interactive – more than sitting and listening passively to a presentation. On Tuesday Morning Participants will be divided into six small groups of similar ministries (pastors and laity [large churches, medium churches, small churches], chaplains, musicians, educators) to develop a creative Idea Action Plan for addressing a common challenge in their area of ministry and will be invited to share their plan as part of our closing worship.

All of this in addition to the opportunity to meet and talk with colleagues and to enjoy the beauty of the Lake of the Ozarks. I believe this will be prove to be a great time away, an engaging time to reflect on your ministry, and a restful time to prepare for the business of the fall season in the life of the church. It is not too late to register!! I hope you will plan to join us and be a part of PIM 2009. Register Here.

Peace,
Jeffrey A. Whitman
Conference Minister
Missouri Mid-South Conference UCC
314-962-8740
 

  4.  Boundary Training Opportunity this Thursday

September 15, 2009

There has been some confusion over the Boundary Training Opportunity for this Thursday, September 17th at Southwood UCC in Raytown. While it was once cancelled it has been reinstated and will be happening. Times are 8:30am to 3pm. Facilitator is Dane Sommer. If you are interested there is still time to sign up. Please call Renee at 314-918-2602 or toll free at 1-877-877-5884 ext. 77602.

Boundary Training is a requirement for maintaining your standing with the Associations of the MMSUCC. Please register for the following opportunity that best fits your location and schedule. Send your registration form along with a check for $20 made payable to "Missouri Mid-South Conference." Or you can fax or email your form and pay via the donate page.

Please pre-register. Please do not plan to attend a Boundary Training Event without first letting the Conference office know that you plan to attend. Thanks!

DATES FOR 2009

September 17th, Thursday, 8:30am - 3pm, Southwood UCC, Raytown (Facilitator: Dane Sommer)

October 30th, Friday, 9am - 4pm prior to the Biennial Meeting to be held at the Hilton Garden Inn, 19677 East Jackson Drive, Independence, MO 64057 in the Sante Fe Ballroom C. The room will be set "theater style" and will accommodate up to 60 people. Facilitator: Dale Sommer and Martha Robertson.
 

  5.  Eastern Association Fall Meeting

September 16, 2009

EASTERN ASSOCIATION FALL MEETING
Come from the east, from the west, from the north and south and gather for our annual business meeting as the Eastern Association, Missouri Mid-South Conference, United Church of Christ on Sunday, September 27, 2009. Our host church is Good Shepherd United Church of Christ in St. Charles, Missouri. Registration begins at 1pm, our worshipful work begins at 2pm, and dinner will be served at 5:30pm.

The deadline for registration for the meal is Monday, September 21. However, if you don’t plan to join in table fellowship, you can register up until the day of the event. Registration materials and annual reports are available on-line at http://www.mmsucc.org/association/eastern.asp 

Looking forward to seeing you then!
 

  6.  Prayers Needed for Mauri Peaco

September 17, 2009

Please hold Mauri Peaco in your prayers. Mauri will be undergoing breast cancer surgery next Thursday at Barnes Hospital. Mauri is the pastor at St. Peter’s Evangelical UCC in Florissant. Any well wishes can be sent to Mauri at 12185 Oakwide Court, Marlyland Heights, MO 63043
 

  7.  Telephone Network Volunteer Needed

September 17, 2009

Camp Mo-Val Welcome Center -- Telephone Network

WANTED: Volunteer Help on planning and installing telephone network in Welcome Center.

If you have experience in telephone network wiring and wish to help please contact George Conlee at geoconlee@yahoo.com  or 314-822-4627.

We are in the midst of remodeling the old maintenance building at the camp entrance into a welcome center and staff office. We plan to install a half dozen used two-line phones in a parallel circuit but also allow for future upgrade.
 

  8.  Death of Geraldine Cordes

September 22, 2009

Our prayers are with Renee Cordes on the death of her mother, Geraldine Cordes, last night around 9:00 pm following a lengthy illness. Renee is the Conference Office Administrative Assistant who joined our staff in August.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, September 23 at Kutis Funeral Home, 10151 Gravois in Affton from 3 to 9pm. Funeral mass will be held at St. Mark's church at 9:30am followed by burial at Jefferson Barracks on Thursday.

Condolences may be sent to Renee at the MMS Conference Office, 411 E Lockwood Ave., St. Louis, MO 63119 or via email to renee@mmsucc.org
 

  9. Bulletin Insert

September 25, 2009

Subject: Download Geoffrey Black announcement PDF's to distribute at your local church

Personal Message:
This bulletin insert is to introduce Rev. Geoffrey Black as the new General Minister of the United Church of Christ, replacing the Rev. John Thomas, after his years of wonderful service and ministry. I would urge all my pastor friends to use this insert as a way to connect us with the National UCC. Just a thought. PEACE! Dennis Gilbert

Page title: Download Geoffrey Black announcement PDF's to distribute at your local church
Link to full page: http://www.ucc.org/news/pdf/geoffrey-announcment.html