The steps in life’s journey
Can only bring you closer
To the people you love and
God, our Heavenly Father.
—Kailey
Spinks, Mo-Val middle high summer camper, 2007 [used with permission]
When
did your life path merge with Parkway’s journey? July 15, 2007 is the date I
celebrate. And what an adventure! The past nine months seem a whirlwind of
learning, growing, relationship-building, praying, leading, following,
listening, loving, inviting. Surprises
unfold around every bend!
When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of
the Philistines, although that was nearer . . . God led the people by the
roundabout way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. —Exodus 13:17a, 18a
Now in April, our Parkway pathway
emerges from Lent’s wilderness into the bright Easter season. But our journey continues! Each day surprising choices, challenges, and
moments of rest spring onto our paths like startled wildlife.
I believe in all that has never yet been spoken.
I want to free what waits within me
So that what no one has dared to wish for
May for once spring clear
Without my contriving.
—Rilke’s
Book of Hours
April marks brand-new life,
startlingly fresh colors blossoming, and an end to the beginning of a journey–
an installation ceremony and reception. Glad
to be sharing this journey!
~Joe
Please read and pray
through the scriptures before each Sunday.
April 6 Luke
24:13-35 What’s in the Fridge?
Come to our open table as we celebrate the sacrament of communion.
All are invited!
(This is also Give-A-Meal Sunday.
Whenever we gather at the table, we are mindful and intentional about
reaching out to people who do not have enough food on their tables.)
** Today we will also celebrate the Installation of Rev. Joe Rowley at
3:30pm **
April 13 Join us as we
welcome newly called Missouri Mid-South Conference Minister.
Kevin and Joe will be pleased to
introduce you to Jeff Whitman!
We will also receive the One Great Hour Sharing Offering!
[To learn more about Jeff and/or our conference, please visit www.mmsucc.org]
We welcome new members into the ministry
and mission of PUCC at both services today!
We will worship as
one family today — a blended service of Traditional and Informal.
Barbara Raedeke and
the Choir as well as Alan Stein and Random Act will lead our music.
Moving to one
worship service today will give us the time and space
we need to have our
Congregational Meeting regarding Open and Affirming
GIVE-A-MEAL SUNDAY!
Please be generous and bring non-perishable food
items on Sunday, April 6th. We are inviting you to bring the kinds of
foods that you are likely to see in your pantry and cabinets.
Kid friendly items, paper goods, toiletries and feminine hygiene items
are always needed. Questions? Contact
Ruth Murray at rbmurray@att.net or (314) 991-2623.
ADULT EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES - OUR MISSION
In response to God's transforming love, Parkway UCC commits itself to
the duty and joy of providing opportunities to increase each person's faith in
every stage of life. Together, as we worship, learn, and serve, we will offer
experiences which exercise both knowledge of God and trust in God. Adult
education will help persons to faithfully engage biblical, religious, social,
and political issues facing our contemporary community, thereby promoting
growth as Christ's servants dedicated to
fulfilling God's mission throughout the world. Do you have any
questions, comments, or ideas for adult education? Please contact the Adult Education team: Dottie Dwyer, Gale
Haggard, Edith Graber, Julie Stappenbeck or Lisa DiTiberio.
THIS MONTH IN ADULT EDUCATION
Adult Education is available to everyone – each
Sunday morning from 9:45-10:45 and 11:00-12:00. So, whether you attend the 9:30
service or the 11:00 service, there is an opportunity to participate in Adult
Education. Childcare is available for infants and toddlers and older children
are welcome in Sunday School. (9:30 & 11:00 Sunday School are very
different, so you can come to both!)
SOCIAL ISSUES
March 30th
“Faith and Society”
—exploring the
Adult Education Mission Statement, and how we look at political issues as
people of faith,
with Pastor Joe.
April 6th
“Can the Poor
Save?”
—an examination of
micro-financing with Parkway’s own, Edith Graber
April 13th
“Health Care for
Children”
—Amy Blouin,
founder and Executive Director of the Missouri Budget Project
April 20th
“Peace”
—the Rev. Michael
Vosler
April 27th
NO ADULT EDUCATION
Worship at 10am
followed by the Congregational meeting.
May 4th
“Assets for all:
The latest in structured savings for low-income households”
—Lissa Johnson,
Project Director at the Center for Social Development, Wash. U.
Questions about Sunday morning Adult
Education?
Please
speak with:
Lisa DiTiberio
(636) 256-8178 stldt@charter.net
Joe Rowley (314)
872-9330 joe@parkwayucc.org
THANK YOU TO FLORENCE SIMONSON
Florence Simonson has stepped down from the Adult
Education Committee after serving for many years. The Committee expressed their
gratitude for giving so much energy, ideas and time to this important
aspect of
Parkway's ministry. Thanks, Florence!
PATHWAYS OF FAITH SCHEDULE 2008
Resurrection
Visits March 30 – April 13
The Lord’s Prayer April 20 – May 4
PUCC: History/Heritage May 11 – May 25
Every Sunday: SENIOR AND MIDDLE HIGH
Church school and fellowship in the
downstairs youth rooms with music, games,
challenges, snacks, and faith exploration.
ON A MISSION!
April 5th - Lenten Workday @ Camp MoVal
April 12th - Camp MoVal Walk-A-Thon @ Hope UCC
JUST FOR FUN!
2nd Sunday: April 13th - Barbeque and swimming
(weather permitting)
WE’VE GOT A GIG!
May 4th - Youth Sunday
NATIONAL YOUTH EVENT
The NYE Planning
Team has been working diligently and is excited to invite you to NYE for four days of inspiring
worship, diverse workshops, excitingspeakers and fun for high school youth from
July 24-28, 2008
at the University
of Tennessee in
Knoxville.
NYE will also
involve mission, and will be our annual Parkway UCC high school Youth Mission
Trip this summer.
National Youth
Event is a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
Every four years,
United Church of Christ youth gather from across the country to engage in this
incredibly fun and
faith-feeding experience. Until the last General Synod, no U.C.C.
gathering was larger than NYE!
Check out the NYE info and video at:
See Joe for more
details, and catch the bus
at 5:00 a.m. July
24th!
[Funding available to
defray costs for all Parkway youths!]
PUCC FUN– BUILDING THE CHURCH FAMILY
Help us build a strong church family! Singles,
couples, families- everyone is invited to join us for these events! No need to
RSVP- just come! This year we will have a different host for each. Mark your
calendars now for the year ahead! Feel free to invite others – whether they are
currently connected with PUCC or not. Questions? Please contact Judy Lindquist at cjjslind@charter.net or
636-537-0877
Saturday, April 26th
Disco Night at Parkway
– 6:00 p.m. Questions? Contact Elise Bowman at pupp_e_love@hotmail.com
or 636-549-3041.
Saturday, May 17th – World Bird Sanctuary – meet at
9am at Parkway to carpool. We will work
on a project to help the sanctuary, have a picnic lunch, and then take a guided
tour with Linda Tossing, a member of our congregation.
SECOND SATURDAY CINEMA
This
month I thought I’d tell you why I think you should come. I was like you:
busy, busy --school, work, baseball with Nathan, homework with Nathan, homework
for me, cleaning the house, grocery shopping, school activity needing baked
cookies, etc. If I have learned anything from picking a movie each month
for us to gather together for a short 3-4 hours, it is how much it's worth
to refresh yourself with something for yourself.
What I
mean is, I had forgotten how much Kevin, my husband, and I enjoyed going
to a movie and forgetting about everything in life for a brief few
hours. Now that is not to say that all our movies will be for adults
only. In fact, Nathan, our son, went to see our first
movie, "The Great Debaters" and, at dinner, had an engaging conversation
with the family. Please feel free to drop me a line early each month sending
suggestions on what movie to choose or where you would like to go afterward.
So, what
does this mean for you --STOP what you are doing and COME to the 2nd Saturday
Cinema on April 12th. This month we will see "Horton Hears a
Who." Jim Carrey is wonderful! If it decides to be spring (ha!)
following the movie we will go for an ice cream. More information will be
coming in the weekly bulletin and email before 4/12.
Questions? Contact Steffanie Rauscher at
steffanir@sbcglobal.net or 314-994-9577.
SUNDAY MORNING FELLOWSHIP WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!
As our congregation grows, fellowship time on
Sunday also grows. It’s a wonderful way to connect with others at our church,
and meet our visitors. We’re grateful to those who provide pastries, set up,
make coffee, and clean up. Now WE NEED MORE VOLUNTEERS to help with these
tasks. Would you be willing to occasionally help with set up or cleanup? We are
especially looking for people to set out the pastries (brought by someone
else), do an initial cleanup following first service, and final cleanup
following the second. Contact the office if this is something you would be
willing to do. Thank you!
2nd ANNUAL PROGRESSIVE DINNER - Act now, the day is very near!
Since
we are a progressive church, let’s have another progressive dinner! Join us on
Saturday, April 5th for a great adventure. After signing
up on the poster in the Gathering Space, you will receive an invitation to
arrive at someone’s home at 5:00 p.m. for an appetizer/salad. While there you
will receive an envelope with the location and directions to the host of your
main course… where you will dine with a different group of people. Finally, we
will all meet at church at 7:30 p.m. for a yummy dessert and more fellowship.
This is an alcohol free event.…casual dress… adults only…
Childcare will be provided at the church. Kids will have dinner also – organized games and crafts… popcorn
& movies for two age groups. We will ask for $5 per child or $10 per family…
a missions fundraiser for the St Louis Crisis Nursery.
Questions? Can't wait to sign up and join in the fun? Are you willing to host? Please contact Kevin Cameron at
kevin@parkwayucc.org or 314-872-9330.
CARE
TEAMS - A UPDATE AND REQUEST
We now have two care teams in place. One is an
ongoing team for a specific family, the other is the team of “Visitors” (those
who visit shut-ins and other special friends of our church).
It is
now time to begin organizing our other teams. Care teams are made up of
volunteers who provide support to persons in our church who have special needs
(either ongoing or temporary). These include transportation, child care, meals,
errands, yard work, and more. Please think about what you enjoy doing and how
you could use that gift to help someone else. You determine the amount of time
you wish to commit.
We are
also in need of care team leaders. This would be a person who would coordinate
the activities of a specific team, to be sure everyone’s needs are being met,
and that each person on the team is being called upon. Training and ongoing
support would be provided to the team leaders, as well as any volunteers who
feel the need for this information.
Bring who you are and what you have!
Bring your ears to hear stories of life,
your hearts to hear the wisdom and the wishes of
the elderly.
Bring your souls to touch another’s soul as it
moves from the known to the unknown.
Bring your hands to hold another’s hand, cook
meals, arrange flowers,
fluff pillows, write letters.
Bring your backs to tend a garden, carry
groceries, lift a child.
Bring your legs to walk a dog or run an errand.
Bring your voices to read stories or sing at a
bedside.
Bring your arms to embrace a grieving family or
frightened friends.
(By Carol Padgett, Ph.D.)
Please help
us “Share the Care.” Volunteer forms will be available in the bulletin April
20. If you have questions, please contact Judy Lindquist cjjslind@charter.net
or 636-537-0877.
THE PRIORITY OF MISSIONS GIVING AT PUCC
Each month three payments are made: one to the
Missouri Mid-South Conference of the UCC, one to Eden Seminary, and one to the
St. Louis Association of the UCC. These payments are made as regularly as
the electric and gas bills. The
funds for these payments come from your weekly giving to our church’s General
Ministries. Based on the 2008
budget just approved by the congregation, the monthly amount sent to MO
Conference is $1330, to Eden $290, and to St. Louis Association $665.
Of the monthly $1330 sent to MO Conference,
25% is sent to support the programs of the UCC National Office, programs that
include missionary work, disaster relief, leadership education, new church
starts and church renewal. The
remaining funds are used to provide support and resources to our local area
churches and pastors, camp opportunities, youth and adult events, and mission
outreach through Shannondale Community Center and projects of local churches
and agencies.1
Of the monthly $665 sent to the St. Louis
Association:
84% provides direct financial support for
St. Louis area outreach organizations including Joint Neighborhood Ministry,
Isaiah 58, Doorways, St. John’s Community Services Ministry, Lydia’s House,
Ecumenical Campus Ministry, Friedens Neighborhood Foundation, Union Communion
Ministries and the largest amount of support to Neighborhood Houses
3% is used for administrative costs
4% supports St. Louis Association programs
such as the Committee on Ministry (Pastor Kevin is currently co-chair),
Preparation for Ministry, Ecumenical Coordinating Council, Interfaith
Partnership, and In-Care book grants
9% is used to support the UCC identity
campaign
The monthly $290 sent to Eden Seminary
helps sustain the graduate education programs of the Seminary, preparing women
and men for ministry in God’s church. If you haven’t been by the seminary
recently, take a drive down Lockwood Avenue in Webster Groves and enjoy a walk
around the campus this spring.
Each time you place your weekly giving in the
offering plate or set up your bank’s online bill pay option for PUCC’s General
Ministries, your donation is reaching far beyond the walls of our building on
Ballas Road.
Your Christian Services and Stewardship
Commission
1 Excerpt from Feb 6th letter of
Conference Minister Jeffrey Whitman
THE PARKWAY UCC TWENTY-SOMETHINGS AT HEART!
Thanks to everyone who came to Hacienda last
month! Eight of us had tons of fun and enjoyed some yummy Mexican food and
superb company. Missed
it? Don’t be sad, there’s another fun event this month! On Friday, April
25th, we will be having a LOCK-IN! Ah, remember those days? However, our
lock-in will be just a little bit different than lock-ins past. We’re beginning
at 6:00 p.m. here at the church, and everyone will go home to their own beds at
around 11:00 p.m. Come fed, but bring your favorite dessert to share. Also,
please bring video games, board games, and any other fun activity ideas. We’ll
have a blast!
Questions? Contact Cassie Schulenburg in the
church office (info@parkwayucc.org or 314-872-9330.) We hope to see you there!
**Is the official
number of your age keeping you away? Come anyway! We’re glad to
welcome anyone that
wants to join us. So, toss your age away and join in the fun.**
ESCRIP – PARKWAY UCC #164503343
It’s FREE, It’s Easy, and It’s Powerful—Buy
groceries, swipe your card, earn $$!
Take time to visit the eScrip website ( www.escrip.com) to register for other fundraising
opportunities to help PUCC youth. Start raising money one card swipe at a time.
Schnucks Community cards are available for pickup at the church office or your
local Schnucks store.
If you
have any questions, please contact Diane Tallyn, PUCC eScrip Chairperson at diane_tallyn@hotmail.com
or 314-567-5433.
DO YOU GOODSEARCH?
Parkway United Church of Christ has earned $28.83
just from people searching the internet! You can help us earn more! Visit
www.goodsearch.com, enter “Parkway United Church of Christ” as your charity,
and start searching! Instead of googling, try goodsearching! Search and earn
for your church. We have decided to put this profit toward items for our church
kitchen. Questions? Contact the church
office. Ladies and gentlemen… start your searching!
www.goodsearch.com
ST LOUIS ASSOCIATION SPRING MEETING
On Thursday, April 17th, The St. Louis
Association of the Missouri Mid-South Conference of the United Church of Christ
will come together at Church of the Master for our Spring Gathering. Our
Mission Partners will have their exhibits ready to view at 4:30 pm. Dinner will
be served at 5:30, followed by the program and service. Clela Anderson
will talk with us about Global Missions. The evening will conclude with saying
goodbye to John Dorhauer. Some of John's friends will share their thoughts and
reminiscence. There will be laughter and tears as we wish John well as he
becomes the Conference Minister of the Southwest Conference.
[There’s a Conference-wide party being planned for
John in mid-may]
NEW SANCTUARY & CONGREGATIONAL ANNIVERSARY
Mark your calendars
for Sunday, June 1st.
One worship
service, celebration, a great lunch and our annual meeting to elect leadership.
Our 10th
anniversary in our new sanctuary. Our 170th anniversary as a congregation.
Two wonderful
reasons to celebrate!
We want and need
YOU here!
PARKWAY PAPER CRAFTERS
The Parkway Paper
Crafters meet the 3rd Monday of each month in the Heritage Room from
5:30-10:30pm.
We welcome anyone
regardless of crafting experience to this new group!
Basic tools are
available to borrow and snacks are provided.
Please bring your
own beverage with a lid.
Upcoming
gatherings: April 21st, May 19th,
June 16th
Kindly RSVP
to Elise Bowman at pupp_e_love@hotmail.com or 636-549-3041.
Have you
spent time praying in the Prayer Corner of the sanctuary? Our current prayer list, prayer books,
prayer journal, a kneeler & chair, and a perpetual candle are there as
well. Please help us to become a more
prayerful community when we are here and out in the world. Amen! If you would
like to pray with someone, Kevin will
be in the Prayer Corner from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 15th.
Join us for coffee AND CONVERSATION
At the St Louis Bread Company - Manchester
& 270 on Tuesday, April 22nd at 1:30 p.m. Questions? Contact
Kevin at kevin@parkwayucc.org or 314-872-9330.
Have you walked & prayed a Labyrinth?
Here’s your opportunity! Meet at the church on Wednesday,
April 30th at 11:00 a.m. in Kevin Cameron’s office. We’ll talk a bit about
labyrinths and then head for the great labyrinth at the nearby Mercy Center.
This is a wonderful spiritual exercise. If you can’t be with us that day, you
can always go there on your own. The Mercy Center is at 2039 North Geyer Road,
just a few miles from our church.
MEN’S BREAKFAST
Join us Wednesday, April 16th at
7:30am for a presentation by Roxanne Crawford, Director of Programs for
Neighborhood Houses. She will be addressing the physical needs of St. James
Center, and how groups from UCC churches can mobilize to save this important
community center. Bring your hammer, heart, and ideas to this breakfast!!
Questions? Please contact Bart Coleman
attwocolemans53@gmail.com
or 636-227-2671.
MMSUCC ANNUAL SPRING WOMEN’S RETREAT
“POWERFUL WOMEN, AWESOME GOD” is the theme for the
annual Missouri Mid-South Conference Women’s Retreat at Camp Mo-Val in Union (May
2nd - 4th). The keynote speaker is Rev. Dr. Deborah Krause, Academic Dean
and Professor of New Testament at Eden Theological Seminary. Activities
will include workshops, bible study, good food, crafts, fellowship, rest,
reflection and a few surprises. All women and friends of the Missouri Mid-South
Conference are invited to come and celebrate the many ways our awesome God is
transforming us into powerful women! Registration materials will be sent
to churches and recent past participants in a few weeks; there is also a PDF
file on the Conference web site ( www.mmsucc.org) that can be downloaded now. A third option is to
contact Shirleen at (314) 741-1590 to request a brochure.
THE 6 SHOOTERS GET THE THIRD DEGREE
www.the6shooters.com
Susan Dietz-Schmidt
- Marianne Pepper - Joan Proffer -
Harriet Thomas - Naomi
Runtz - Kay Wood
Third Degree Glass
Factory - 5200 Delmar, 63108 - www.stlglass.com
The show runs
March 21st through April 15th
Monday -
Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Wednesday, 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
*Congratulations to
PUCC’s own Naomi Runtz!*
TAG - TIMELESS AUTHENTIC GARMENTS - GRAND OPENING
www.tag-stl.com
“It’s time to bring new style and glamour to St.
Louis and we need your help to do so! Fashion is about having fun and taking
risks, and tag is all about fashion! So, whether you are already a lover
of vintage, or just enjoy creating your own style, come check us
out! Timeless Authentic Garments is excited to be joining The Loop
neighborhood as the newest addition to the vintage clothing scene in St.
Louis! Please join us for our Grand Opening Saturday, April 5th!”
(from the website)
tag - timeless
authentic garments
6314 Delmar Blvd,
University City, MO 63130
314.721.1370
**Congratulations
to PUCC’s own Laney Stout, tag General Manager!**
AWOL – ADVENTUROUS WOMEN OUT LATE!
First, let's bring a friend to Second Saturday
Cinema (April 12th - see page 6) to enjoy “Horton Hears A Who” (more
details TBA). Then, Friday, April 18th, let's enjoy good food and
conversation at a local restaurant! We
will be leaving the church at 6:00 p.m.
Please RSVP to Carmen Bumgarner at
cfbum@charter.net or 314-330-0813.
PROPHETIC RENEWAL EVENT
Spend a day learning ways in
which you can help your church have a future. The Keynote Speaker of this
event hosted by the Missouri Mid-South Conference is Michael S. Piazza, a
spiritual visionary, author and social justice advocate who currently serves as
Dean of the Cathedral of Hope, known as the world’s largest liberal Christian
church with a predominantly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender outreach, as
well as President of Hope for Peace & Justice, a non-profit ministry of
Cathedral of Hope whose mission is equipping progressive people of faith to be
champions for peace and justice. A native of Georgia, Rev. Piazza has
served in ministry for more than three decades, pastoring churches in Texas,
Georgia, Oklahoma and Florida. He holds Bachelor Degrees in history and
psychology from Valdosta State College in Georgia and a Master of Divinity from
the Candler School of Theology, Emory University in Atlanta. The Advocate
magazine named Rev. Piazza one of the most influential people in the gay and
lesbian movement (August 1999). He has six published books, Holy Homosexuals
(to be re-released in 2008 as Gay by God), Rainbow Family Values, Mourning to
Morning, Growth or Death, Queeries: Questions Lesbians and Gays have for God,
and the recently released The Real antiChrist: How America Sold its Soul. He is
currently at work on Prophetic Renewal, a book designed to help restore
vitality to liberal congregations. Rev. Piazza and his partner Bill have been
together since 1980 and have two daughters.
Conference
Schedule:
Tuesday, April
8th at St. John’s UCC
(Olive Blvd. in Chesterfield)
1 – 3 p.m. Session 1: Can these bones live again?
Breathing New Life into the Body of Christ
3:30 – 5:30 p.m. Session 2: A Living Parable of Renewal: The
Story of the Cathedral of Hope
7–9 p.m. Session 3: 21st Century Liturgy: Speaking an
ancient word so it can be heard by modern ears
**To register, contact John Dorhauer:
john@mmsucc.org or 314- 918-2601.
2008 MEN’S RETREAT AT CAMP MO-VAL
Bringing Home The
Fire Of the Holy Spirit
(how to build and
maintain a life-changing, church-changing men’s ministry)
April 18th -
20th at Camp Mo-Val in
Union, MO
Featured speakers:
Rev. David Holden, National UCC Conference,
Minister for Adults & Leadership Development
Rev. Jeffrey
Whitman, MO Mid-South Conference Minister
Participants can
enjoy organized recreation, seminars, fellowship with other attendees,
visiting friends,
or spending time in prayer and meditation.
Cost for this all
inclusive (lodging and meals) retreat is $90
The retreat is
being sponsored by Prince of Peace UCC.
For more
information, please contact:
Bill McFadden at
314-920-5915 or mrbill5915@yahoo.com.sg
OUR CHURCH COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS - MARCH 2008
The ONAE Committee presented its unanimous report
to Council. They recommend a 3 word change (addition of “open and affirming”)
near the end of the current congregational statement, if the vote for ONA
status is affirmed. This proposal was approved unanimously by Council. A letter
will be sent by 1st class mail to all members/friends early in April
with the proposed change in the congregational statement as well as a review of
the meaning of the ONA designation. This letter will also address questions
raised in the straw poll. A final
forum will be held on April 20 to answer and clarify any remaining questions
or issues. The congregational meeting and vote will take place on Sunday,
April 27th after a blended 10:00 a.m. worship service. Questions? Please speak with our PUCC President — Barbara Eggebrecht (314) 576-1375 or bpeggebrecht@sbcglobal.net
TUESDAY EVENING DIALOGUE
This month our dinner and discussion group will be
meeting on April 8th and April 22nd at 6:00 p.m. in the Heritage
Room. We will be starting a new book and, due to the huge response and
enthusiasm for our last book, Being Peace, we will be continuing that
focus. Watch for an announcement in the bulletin or via email about the book.
Questions? Want to suggest a book to study?
Contact: Dottie Dwyer - 314-821-6073, jjdwyer@charter.net or Mary Jo
Cannon - 314-469-3485, maryjo991@aol.com
No reservations are necessary - just bring some
food to share (entree, salad, or dessert). Childcare is available until the
conclusion of the session at 8:00 p.m. All are welcome.
BE MINE PARTY RECAP
On Saturday evening, February 16th, almost 60 children, teenagers and adults
had a gre