Mission Moments

This page is dedicated to all of the people who gave of their own time to go on mission trips.

2007 Church Mission Trips

Church of the Master, Florissant
Samuel UCC, St. Louis

Nine youth, six adults and one “little sister” from Church of the Master UCC traveled to Shannondale for an adventurous work camp. Their project was to remodel the kitchen in the Rock House. A youth group from Samuel UCC, St. Louis had already gutted the kitchen in preparation. The funds to renovate the kitchen came from many fundraising events as well as the Grace Baldwin memorial fund at Church of the Master. The group worked hard and learned new skills as they made a difference at Shannondale. Pictured at right, front to back, are Anna Wolfram, Alayna Bailey, and Sara Thompson painting the kitchen.

Ebenezer UCC, Augusta
Femme Osage UCC, Femme Osage
Friedens Peace UCC, New Melle
St. John’s UCC, Cappeln
St. Paul’s UCC, Defiance

Southwestern St. Charles County Churches Put Their Faith in Action

On September 23rd, 120 volunteers from five Southwestern St. Charles County congregations donned bright orange t-shirts and spent the day doing service projects throughout the community. Members from Ebenezer UCC, Augusta; Femme Osage UCC, Femme Osage; Friedens Peace UCC, New Melle; St. John’s UCC, Cappeln; and St. Paul’s UCC, Defiance spent the day working together to make a difference in their community. Projects included yard work and visiting with residents at the Emmaus Home’s Marthasville campus, baking cookies and visiting area folks who no longer get out and about, handing out bottled water and friendly greetings along the Katy Trail, tree trimming and other heavy yard work at a long-time area resident’s home, making fleece scarves to be distributed this winter through local shelters, and one team prepared a delicious spaghetti dinner for all the volunteers to enjoy at their gathering that evening. Even though they worked hard, volunteers enjoyed meeting each other and doing something helpful at the same time. Dot Clover remarked “Pulling weeds for someone else is more fun than pulling them at home!” The churches hope this is just the beginning and plan to coordinate more service projects in the future. If you’d like more information, or have a service project you’d like them to consider, contact the Friedens Peace UCC church office at 636-828-5980.

Pictured on right, top to bottom:

Carl Gerdiman, H Husmann & Dewey Clover trimming trees at Dora Smart's home in New Melle.

Carol Miller & Chris Cogswell preparing garlic bread for the volunteer dinner.

Lois Fulkerson & Jeanette Fischer making cookies for area shut-in's.

Rebecca Hinnah, Payton Keene & Sarah Hinnah making fleece scarves.

Pilgrim Congregational UCC, St. Louis
St. John UCC, Manchester
St. John UCC, St. Charles
St. John's UCC, Chesterfield
Kirkwood UCC, St. Louis
Parkway UCC, St. Louis

Group from area United Churches of Christ help rebuild New Orleans

"Are you going to New Orleans for work or for fun!"

"You mean there's still houses that haven't been rehabbed—it's been 2 years since Hurricane Katrina!"

On September 15, fifteen volunteers from five west county United Churches of Christ returned from a mission trip to New Orleans. Volunteers were from Pilgrim, St. John-Manchester, St. John-St. Charles, St. John's-Chesterfield, Kirkwood & Parkway United Churches of Christ.

Since the 2006 trip, more businesses are open (including a new Lowe's & Home Depot), less blue tarps are covering roofs, grass & weeds are under control.

After reaching the work sites in the 7th ward where homes were flooded with 5 feet of water, it appeared that nothing had changed since last year. Two years after Katrina 60% of the people have returned; however, there are still FEMA trailers dotting neighborhoods, homes that have not been gutted, businesses that remain boarded up. Over 950 people are still unaccounted for!.

The group worked on 3 homes painting (interior & exterior), glazing windows, replacing wood siding, shoring up foundations. The homeowners helped the volunteers and shared stories of their Katrina experiences.

The owners eagerly await the "green notice" on their doors that notify them that electrical work passed inspection & they now have permission to put up drywall.

Members of the 2007 New Orleans Mission team are Earlene Stewart, Robert Steen, Sheila & Jim Schnurbush, Cathy Pettibone, Gene Ostendorf, Tim Osiek, Syl Lincoln, Kim Klein, Terry Jones, Rita & Ron Hill, Nick Hennen, William Green & Marti Bartels.

Rehabbing is coordinated by Alan Coe, UCC Minister for Disaster Recovery in New Orleans, and is supported by our One Great Hour of Sharing offering.

Pictured at right:
Bob Steen, Andre (homeowner), Terry Jones, Lucy & Tim Osiek.

Kim Klein (Parkway UCC member) putting the finishing touch on some trim work.

Sheila Schnurbush, Cathy Pettibone & Bill Green replace a/c security cage.

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