Parkway UCC
THE GOOD NEWS
June
2007
Pentecost is in a few days … one of my
favorite days in the church! It’s
when we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit. It’s when we recognize that God’s love and peace extends to all
people. As a UCC congregation, we get
a great deal of our understanding
and experience of God from this Pentecost miracle. “When the
day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly
from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled
the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire,
appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were
filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the
Spirit gave them ability…. Now there were devout Jews from every nation under
heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them
speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked
...how
is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language?… all were amazed and perplexed…” After we sing songs of the Spirit and
open ourselves to the winds of strength,
tenderness, inspiration and
challenge this Pentecost Sunday, we begin the season of Pentecost. It’s a time to reach out to people and
hear “their own native language”.
It’s time to listen to one another and share a rich variety of stories
and perspectives. It is a time to allow the Spirit to echo
the words and ways of Jesus in our thoughts and actions. As we have done the last two summers,
there is a list of days and times in the church office when I am available to
come visit with you. I’d like to
spend time with you in your home, at a coffee shop or at the church. The agenda is to talk about life, love,
faith and the church — in “your own native language”. It also gives me the opportunity to thank you for being a part
of the covenant community at Parkway. Peace, Kevin PARKWAY UNITED
CHURCH OF CHRIST Kevin
Cameron, Pastor (kevin@parkwayucc.org) Beverly Clancy, Church Office
Administrator (info@parkwayucc.org)
Sally
Dischinger, Preschool Director
(puns@parkwayucc.org) John Jones & Johnny Brown, Caretakers
(info@parkwayucc.org) Kim Livengood, Financial Secretary
(puccfs@parkwayucc.org) Barbara Raedeke, Organist/Choir Director
(braedeke@aol.com) Barbara Eggebrecht, President of the
Congregation (bpeggebrecht@sbcglobal.net) Alan Stein, Music Director for Informal Worship
(just.us.3@sbcglobal.net)
Jan Wiese, Professional Nursery Attendant (info@parkwayucc.org)
Carol Wilbois, Parish Nurse (rpwilbois@aol.com) Lora Ann Whitten, Summer Christian
Education Director (dce@parkwayucc.org) All Members of Parkway Church
– Ministers
VISION STATEMENT We shall seek
the way of God in today’s world through… · Joyful Worshipping · Inclusive Caring · Compassionate Serving MISSION STATEMENT Parkway United Church of Christ seeks
within the church universal to respond
faithfully to the promises of God as witnessed in the Old Testament
and New Testament. We seek to follow the way of the crucified
and risen Christ. Therefore we will
worship God, educate and nurture persons for discipleship, build a caring
Christian community, participate in God’s mission to the world, and be stewards
of the resources God has entrusted to us.
May all that we are and do be to God’s Glory. CONGREGATIONAL STATEMENT Parkway United
Church of Christ, with God’s grace, seeks to be a congregation that includes
all persons, regardless of race, ethnic, or socio-economic background while
respecting differences of gender, marital status, age, sexual orientation,
and mental and physical ability. We
aspire to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God. We invite all to share in the life and
leadership, ministry, fellowship, worship, sacraments, responsibilities and
blessings of participation in our congregation. WORSHIP with us in
June!
Please read and
pray through the scriptures before each Sunday.
June 3 Psalm
8 Majestic
and Mundane We will gather around
our open table for communion The Children’s Choir will sing a
preview song from VBS 2007
It’s New Beginnings
Sunday — kids will move up to the next grade Our Annual Meeting will
be at 5pm — including pot luck dinner Don’t forget to visit
the Library — at our Grand Re-Opening today! June 10 Psalm 146; 1Kings 17:8-24 A Morsel of Bread
Installation
of Commissions, Council and Officers for the new year
We’ll
celebrate the 50th Ordination Anniversary of Dick Simonson
We all have a job to
do together after worship — filling the bags for the kids in
Nicaragua … to make their Christmas joyful! June 17 Psalm
5:1-8; Luke 8:1-3 The Providers
Father’s Day - please be
thinking of a brief story of your father and/or a father figure
in your life June 24 Psalm 42; Luke 8:26-39 Mind
Altering
Our UCC is 50 years bold
this weekend! We will mark this
significant moment in a special way. Please visit www.ucc.org to find out more about
our denomination and General Synod! Ultimately, we
have just one moral duty:
to reclaim large
areas of peace in ourselves,
more and more
peace, and to reflect it towards others.
And the more peace
there is in us, the more peace
there will also be
in our troubled world.
— Etty Hillesum
P PUCC ANNUAL MEETING – JUNE 3RD
We have a great deal going on this
day! Please add 5 p.m. to your
calendar as well. Our Church Council will provide the meat for the evening
meal… the rest is up to you. We will
elect new Council and Commission members as well as do some other business
together—including a camp MO-Val proposal.
It will be a great night.
Questions? Please contact
Barbara Eggebrecht (314) 576-1375 LORA ANN WHITTEN - SUMMER CE DIRECTOR The Christian Education Commission and
Church Council are pleased to introduce Lora Ann Whitten who will be our
Summer CE Director. She will be
working from 8:30-12:30 every Sunday throughout the summer months with the responsibility of overseeing our
children, youth, and adult Sunday morning opportunities. Lora will also be at the church about two
hours per week preparing for the next Sunday. We are thrilled to welcome her to PUCC! Lora Ann grew up in Alton and attended
the Alton First Baptist Church where her family was very involved. As a teenager she worked in the nursery at the church. Lora felt the call of God early in her
life, but her denomination did not believe in ordaining women. So, after attending two years of general
studies at SIUE she transferred to Lewis and Clark Community College to study
nursing. However, after the first
year in the program, Lora decided nursing wasn’t her calling. She worked several different jobs
including church secretary, medical records clerk and a unit secretary in an
Emergency Room. But she never felt
that any of these jobs fulfilled her calling from God. In 2004, Lora became a student at Eden
Theological Seminary. She is “In
Care” in the United Church of Christ with membership at St. Peter’s
Evangelical UCC. During her field
work at St. Peter’s Lora focused on teaching Adult Education and leading
Children’s Time during worship. This
coming fall Lora’s field placement will be at Evangelical UCC Webster Groves
where she will work in Youth
Ministry. Lora is looking
forward to graduation in May 2008. Lora’s family includes her twelve
(almost thirteen) year old son, Daniel and her life partner, Becky. Becky and Daniel are also part of the St.
Peter’s family where Becky sings in the choir and Daniel is involved in his
youth class. We hope they will be
able to worship with us as often as possible. Welcome to Parkway, Lora, Becky and
Daniel! — Marsha
Peek, Christian Education Commission Convener [Lora will be attending General Synod! We are eager to hear of her experience!] PUCC LIBRARY GRAND RE-OPENING ON JUNE
3RD! You won’t
believe the transformation – including the children’s area! There have been so many angels working on
this… and we are so very grateful for all their efforts! Here is a sampling of some of the books in
our library. Come take a look: The
Illustrated World’s Religions by Huston Smith Retaining all
the beloved qualities of Huston Smith's classic The Religions of Man
and the current fully revised and updated The World’s Religions, this
stunning pictorial presentation refines the text to its wonderful essentials.
In detailed, absorbing, richly illustrated, and highly readable chapters on
Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Islam, Judaism, Christianity and
primal religions, we find refreshing and fascinating presentations of both
the differences and the similarities among the worldwide religious
traditions. God’s
Politics by Jim Wallis Since when did
believing in God and having moral values make you pro-war, pro-rich, and pro-Republican?
And since when did promoting and pursuing a progressive social agenda with a
concern for economic security, health care, and educational opportunity mean
you had to put faith in God aside? God's
Politics offers a clarion call to make both our religious communities and
our government more accountable to key values of the prophetic religious
tradition—values of love and justice, reconciliation, and community that
Jesus taught and that are at the core of what many of us believe, Christian
or not. In the tradition of prophets such as Martin Luther King Jr., Dorothy
Day, and Desmond Tutu, Wallis inspires us to hold our political leaders and
policies accountable by integrating our deepest moral convictions into our
nation's public life. Home to Harmony by Philip Gulley In this
inaugural volume in the fictional Harmony series, master American storyteller
Gulley draws us into the charming world of Rev Sam Gardner in his first year
back in his hometown, capturing the essence of small-town life with humor
& wisdom. The Complete
C. S. Lewis This classic
collection includes C. S. Lewis's most important spiritual works: Mere Christianity; The Screwtape
Letters; The Great Divorce;The Problem of Pain, Miracles; A Grief Observed; The Abolition of Man. SO LONG — FAREWELL We have all been blessed with the
presence of the Oberle family. Lindsey, Alexander, Shelby and Joey have all
given us reason to smile and often to laugh. They have certainly
brightened our Sunday mornings and for some of us our Wednesday
evenings. Kim with her wonderful warm smile has been a joyful presence we will truly miss. Rick has helped us through some
difficult times. Remember when we
didn't have a pastor for a few weeks? He has energized Adult Ed,
finding wonderful, interesting, and
informative speakers. Sunday school is buzzing and Musical Wednesdays
are so special for the children. He is always smiling and cheerful even
when he has another paper to write or has a final coming up. We wish them blessings and much
happiness in their new life in Bem. --
Barbara Eggebrecht, Council President, for all of us at PUCC! ERIN
BODE CONCERT
The Erin Bode Concert on
May 6 was terrific!! It was well
attended; and delightful and amazing music filled the Sanctuary during the
evening! Through the effort of lots
of PUCC members, this event came together in relatively little time. The ushers generously donating their time
were David Peek, Craig Lindquist, Tom McKenzie and Pierre Tung. The ticket takers were Harold Cobb and
Richard Scherrer. The important
people selling tickets were the Livengoods.
Those wonderful ladies responsible for selling refreshments were
Stephanie DeLong, Marsha Peek, Judy Lindquist, Kris McKenzie, and Kay Tung. Bill Haack was the photographer, who
captured some amazing pics! And most
of all a HUGE thank you to the Cobbs, Mary Jo Cannon, Elise Bowman, Betty
Scherrer and Rick Oberle for working tirelessly on the committee. Of course, most of all the event would not
have happened but for the generosity and participation of all of the PUCC
members in attendance. Thank you for
assisting in making this evening possible and especially a big debt of
gratitude for those members placing ads in the playbill – Doug Dischinger,
the Burkhardts, Judy Lindquist, Leslie Tupper. The profit generated by the concert will be given to Camp
Mo-Val to enhance their outstanding program. THE DYNAMIC MINISTRY and MISSION of
PARKWAY UCC We will welcome new members
into the ministry and mission of this local church on Sunday, July 15th
during each of the worship services.
Some people ask why church membership is important. It gives individuals a chance to do a
whole host of things including: grow personally, find a deep sense of
belonging, renew your purpose, make valuable friendships, experience joy,
discover your spiritual gifts, respond to the needs of the world, heighten
your senses to receive and become more intimate with God, develop your prayer
life, reclaim peace, ask tough questions, widen your boundaries, prioritize
your life, put your faith into action, learn more about scripture, be
inspired by the Holy Spirit, become more Christ-like …. and more! With our congregational polity, as a
church member, you have a voice and vote when we adopt an annual budget, call
a pastor and make decisions about our properties and buildings. If you would like to talk more about church
membership, please contact: Harold Cobb
(314) 965-4147 ccjcobb@aol.com Kevin Cameron (314) 872-9330 kevin@parkwayucc.org Strengthen
the Church As the UCC celebrates its 50th
Anniversary, we hear spirited voices speaking about God's deeds in our midst:
reaching out to new communities, new immigrants, and new populations through
new church starts, mobilizing youth and young adult leaders, and calling new
generations to ministry in our increasingly diverse church. Through our gifts
to Strengthen the Church, our spirited voices speak about God's deeds of
power. Through our gifts to Strengthen
the Church, we further our commitment to be a multiracial, multicultural
church, open and affirming and accessible to all. We strengthen and renew
existing congregations. We fund leadership for new congregations. We provide
exciting new programs for youth and young adults. We fund leadership
development for the whole church. Your generous gifts are used, half by your
Conference and half by Local Church Ministries, for these purposes. The Strengthen the Church offering
is received at this time of the year—Pentecost! 50% of this offering stays within our Missouri Mid-South
Conference. Currently, the Conference portion has been primarily used
to support our ministry with youth through the staff position of our Youth
and Young Adult Coordinator, Carol Shanks. Carol not only works to
support youth events within the conference, but continues to provide
consulting to local churches who seek to strengthen their own youth
ministry. Please give generously.
It makes a difference - for youth and young adults and for our local
churches! FROM THE ASSOCIATE PASTOR SEARCH COMMITTEE
We have narrowed the field to a few very good candidates. This has
been done through discussions at our meetings about the profiles that have
been submitted to us, as well as talking with the references listed in those
profiles.
We have arranged one on one interviews with the remaining candidates,
and have been visiting other settings to observe these candidates. We are pleased to report that there are
some exciting people applying for the Associate Pastor position at Parkway.
This committee is working very well together. It is a good cross
section of the church, and each member is contributing significantly in this
process. We appreciate your continued prayers and support. As always, if you
have any questions or suggestions, we would love to hear them. Our names are
posted by the east door to the sanctuary. Judy Lindquist cjjslind@charter.net (636) 537-0877 EXTRAVAGANT WELCOME Have you noticed something exciting
at Parkway on Sunday morning? We have had lots of visitors!! Parkway is a
warm, faithful, friendly place. How do we extend an extravagant welcome and
hospitality? Practice welcoming and greeting others. Look for someone you do not know and introduce yourself. Wear your nametag. Inform visitors about upcoming events in which they may be
interested. Don’t do church business on Sunday — be intentional about people. Think of the word GUEST as opposed to VISITOR. Invite a guest to have coffee with you. Introduce a guest to someone else. Write a note of welcome — tell them you enjoyed meeting them. Check in with the Evangelism Commission and the pastors if you would like to help in other
ways. Welcoming congregations
are made up of welcoming people, where everyone extends hospitality. They see
hospitality not as a task but as a spiritual attitude that expresses their
faith. This Sunday, meet someone new. Practice extravagant welcome! GRADUATES
2007 - full detailed list was in May High School: JT Lindquist,
Laura McKenzie, Meara Schneider, Denyse Schrenker, Kyle Schwent, Ryan Sheton, William Simons, Steven
Tallyn. College: Rachel Livengood, David
Schulenburg, Jameson Tallyn Grad School: Christina Gregor, Matthew Scherrer Seminary: Rick Oberle, Mauri Peaco Our apologies for missing Steffanie in the May newsletter — Steffanie Rauscher, RN, BA, MHA - Masters in Hospital Administration GIVE-A-MEAL SUNDAY! Please remember our friends who have real needs. Be generous and
bring non-perishable food items on Sunday, June 3rd. Now that school is out, we are inviting
you to bring kid friendly foods ie. cereals, 100% juices, macaroni &
cheese, pb & j. Paper goods,
toiletries and feminine hygiene items are always needed. Questions? Contact Ruth Murray (314) 991-2623. PRAYER CORNER - an opportunity to pray with someone
Have you spent time praying in the Prayer Corner of the
sanctuary? Our current prayer list,
prayer books, prayer journal, a kneeler and 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 Cameron
will be in the Prayer Corner on Tuesday, June 19 from 8-9:30am. Join us for coffee and conversation at the St
Louis Bread Company — Manchester & 270 on Tuesday, June 5th at
10am Questions? Contact
Kevin (314) 872-9330 kevin@parkwayucc.org Have you walked & prayed a Labyrinth? Here’s your opportunity! Meet at
the church at 2pm on Monday, June 11th 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. ADULT MISSION TRIP TO NEW ORLEANS We’re Going Back - To NOLA, that is! After the incredible experience by our
19 member Recovery Team made up of members from 5 different West County UCC
churches, we have begun plans to return to New Orleans and continue the work,
which continues to be extensive. We have already confirmed the dates
with the UCC Volunteer Office and with sibling St. Matthew’s UCC church in New Orleans where we will once
again be staying. So mark your calendars now for September 8-15,
2007. Maybe this year will be your year to share in this important
ministry. We are beginning to receive your applications for
consideration as a part of this year’s Recovery Team. As last year,
each of the five churches will have 4 spots reserved on the Team until July
1. After that remaining spots will be filled on first come first served
basis. Please fill out the attached form, including your $50.00 deposit
and return to the church office. (If things hold true as last year, the
total cost for each team member will be your $50.00 deposit, plus meals
enroute and any spending money you wish to have in New Orleans.) If you
want to be assured a place with the Team, do not delay your registration. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ This form is an application to be
considered as a volunteer for the UCC Recover Team to St. Matthew’s UCC,
New Orleans. September 8-15, 2007 Name Phone
Address ________________________________________________________ e-mail ________________________________________ Member of Church
Enclosed
reservation fee $50.00 Mail checks, payable to Ivy Chapel UCC, to: Rev. Dan Wilson, Ivy Chapel
UCC, 620 N. Woods Mill
Road Chesterfield, MO 63017-3219. Thanks!
Office Use: Check #
Date
Received A
NEW CHRISTIANITY FOR A NEW WORLD?
|
|
1620: Pilgrims seek spiritual freedom |
Seeking spiritual freedom, forbears of the United Church of Christ prepare to
leave Europe for the New World. Later generations know them as the Pilgrims.
Their pastor, John Robinson, urges them as they depart to keep their minds
and hearts open to new ways. God, he says, "has yet more light and truth
to break forth out of his holy Word."
|
1700: An early stand against slavery |
Congregationalists are among the first Americans to take a stand against
slavery. The Rev. Samuel Sewall writes the first anti-slavery pamphlet in
America, "The Selling of Joseph." Sewall lays the foundation for
the abolitionist movement that comes more than a century later.
|
1773: First act of civil disobedience |
Five thousand angry colonists gather in the Old South Meeting House to demand
repeal of an unjust tax on tea. Their protest inspires the first act of civil
disobedience in U.S. history—the "Boston Tea Party."
|
1773: First published African American poet |
A young member of the Old South congregation, Phillis Wheatley, becomes the
first published African American author. "Poems on Various
Subjects" is a sensation, and Wheatley gains her freedom from slavery
soon after. Modern African American poet Alice Walker says of her:
"[She] kept alive, in so many of our ancestors, the notion of
song."
|
1777: Reformed congregation saves the Liberty Bell |
The British occupy Philadelphia—seat of the rebellious Continental
Congress—and plan to melt down the Liberty Bell to manufacture cannons. But
the Bell has disappeared. It is safely hidden under the floorboards of Old
Zion Reformed Church in Allentown.
|
1785: First ordained African American pastor |
Lemuel Haynes is the first African American ordained by a Protestant
denomination. He becomes a world-renowned preacher/writer.
|
1798: 'Christians' seek liberty of conscience |
Dissident preacher James O'Kelly is one of the early founders of a religious
movement called simply the "Christians." His aim is to restore the
simplicity of the original Christian community. The Christians seek liberty
of conscience and oppose authoritarian church government. O'Kelly writes that
"any number of Christians united in love, having Christ for their head,
... constitutes a church."
These are just some of the UCC FIRSTS! To see the complete list, go to UCC.ORG or
speak with Kevin Cameron for a printed copy.
Happy 50th Birthday, UCC!
WHAT
A PARTY IT WAS!
We had such an incredible day
on May 20th here at Parkway! After a
many textured worship service with participation by Kinderbellls, Youth
Chimers, Random Act and the Traditional Choir; and gathering at our open
communion table, we went into the Fellowship Hall for a delicious meal
and warm fellowship. The celebration
continued as gifts were given to Rick Oberle and family.
What a send off! The Oberles were surrounded by love,
laughter and deep appreciation.
Blessings upon blessings to
each of you!
SAVE
THE DATE – SUNDAY, AUGUST 26th
Pool Party and Conference Family Picnic – Celebrate a summer
of fun, fellowship and faith development, and the one year anniversary of the
new accessible pool and shower house at Camp Mo-Val. Join with your Conference family as we bid
farewell to summer with one last picnic.
Bring your lawn chair or picnic blanket, your swimsuit and sunscreen,
and friends from church! Pack a
picnic lunch or pick up something along the way. The grounds will be open from 11:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; the pool
from 12:30-4:00 p.m.
YOUTH MISSION SHARE - Take a
swim from 12:30-3:00 p.m. Then gather
in the Fireside Lodge from 3:30-5:30 p.m.
This annual event is a great opportunity to share the details of your
summer mission experience or to learn about specific mission opportunities
your youth group can participate in.
PARKWAY CHURCH PICNIC - SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7th
Mark your calendars now for the church picnic on the afternoon of
October 7th. The Picnic Committee from last year was thrilled with the site
and response generated by the first annual Parkway UCC picnic, and is equally
thrilled to be hosting another one.
We will return to Stacy Park in Olivette for another afternoon of
fun.
For those of you who missed this opportunity for PUCC fellowship last
year, you may have heard about the 100+ people who attended and how much fun
they had. You don’t want to miss it
again! Mark your calendars now, and
save the date!
The church library is officially reopening after undergoing major
renovations. We will have an open
house on New Beginnings Sunday, June 3rd. Stop in to see the changes and peruse the
collection. Someone will be available
all morning to assist you. Every
Sunday this summer a volunteer will be in the library to answer any questions
and help you find what you need. Also
look for a few books to be out in the Gathering Space just as a reminder of
this valuable resource here at Parkway.
Amy Cobb and Lisa DiTiberio headed up the process. Special thanks also to the following
people who helped with painting, furniture moving, book preparation and other
tasks: Kelly Biest, Evelyn Buretta,
Mary Jo and Jamie Cannon, Bart
Coleman, Carol and Harold Cobb, Roger Fauss, Edith Graber, Anna Hurley, Skip
Larson, Ben McDougall, Judy McLachlin, Tom McKenzie, Mike Mohl, Marsha Peek,
Joe Runtz, Rich Schanbacher, Bob Spieler, Linda Tippett, and Lynn
Toombs. And thanks also to Cynthia DiTiberio of Harper San Francisco, who donated three boxes
of books from that publishing company.
K-PLUS
ADVENTURE CLASS – WORLD TRAVELERS!
Monday, Wednesday and Thursday
AM class 8:45-11:45; PM class
12:30-3:00
PUNS - Parkway
United Nursery School 314-872-3018
Calling all half-day
kindergarten students for fall 2007!
We have a special program just for you! In this unique enrichment class we explore the culture,
geography, music and art of countries around the world. You will keep a journal of your travels,
have your own passport, fly on a magic carpet, and star in two programs for
your families featuring the music and language of the countries we
visit. This fun filled class has
something for everyone and surpises around every corner. Come and explore the world with us! Call the office for more information or to
come visit us. — Sally Dischinger
PATHWAYS
OF FAITH SCHEDULE 2007
New Beginnings June
3
Creation June
10 - 24
David, the boy July 1 - 15
David, the King July
22 - August 5
Daniel
August 12 - 26
Jonah
September 16 -
30
Ruth & Naomi October 7 - 28
PUCC History/Heritage November
4 - 25
NEW BEGINNINGS SUNDAY COMING UP June 3, 2007!
Now that our Sunday School is in session all year, and since the
public schools are starting so early, it does not make sense for our children
to wait until the middle of September to advance to the next grade
level. Starting this year, our Sunday
School will begin its new year and new rotations the first Sunday of
June. Our Adult Ed program will start
up again too. This year, June 3 is
New Beginnings Sunday!
On New Beginnings Sunday, we will be recognizing all the workshop leaders
and teachers who have shared their gifts with us this year. If you are one of them, you will want to
attend! We will also have a special
“moving up” ceremony for our Sunday School classes! This will be a great arrangement for our children, and it will
help us to emphasize that our relationship with God does not stop in the summer. Get ready for New Beginnings Sunday!
SUNDAY SCHOOL MISSION
Our Sunday School children always appreciate the lessons they learn as
they work in mission with others.
This year, the mission dear to their hearts has been Heifer Project. We have surpassed our goal for this
year! We have raised over $1000 for
Heifer Project. Check out
www.heifer.org to find out more about
Heifer Project.
This has been a great opportunity for our children to learn the
lessons of Christian discipleship; giving to others, and helping make God’s
Dream a reality in the world. As we
continue with our mission work in the world this coming year, take advantage
of this great opportunity to practice discipleship with your children!
SUNDAY SCHOOL PERFECT ATTENDANCE– APRIL
Jenna Watson; Julia Watson; Julie Connors; Emily
Oehler;
Joseph Oberle; Grant Oehler; Nathan Rauscher; Maya
Cameron;
Jessica Connors; Julia Kapsis; Shelby Oberle; Andrew
Wessel;
Tavis Cameron; Alexander Oberle; Ryan Bowermaster;
Lilly Bowman; Iris Cameron; Jill Dean; Eddy DeLong;
Johanna Kapsis; Lindsey Oberle; Abby Sperry; Will
Stappenbeck;
Tyler Wessel; Ivey Bowman; Patrick Clifford;
Thomas Clifford; Sam Sperry; Alexandra Toombs; Graham
Toombs
Congratulations!
COUNCIL
HIGHLIGHTS—MAY 2007
Council received the annual report from
PUNS and approved their budget.
In response to demand,
some classes will be expanded in duration and some afternoon classes will be
cancelled.
The Annual Meeting will be June 3rd
at 5 PM. We will vote at that meeting
to make a donation to the MoVal Welcome Center. The vote will include using remaining funds from an earlier
land sale for this purpose. Our 2007
budget is ambitious, but so far we are meeting expenses with
contributions. The Congregation is
reminded to maintain giving over the summer months when we traditionally face
cash-flow problems.
The Council approved the hiring of a
summer replacement for managing the
Sunday School. More
information about this person is presented in another section.
Council approved a commitment to
providing child care at all major events where families attend.
Council also expressed
gratitude to its members who are going off this year:
Jamie Cannon, Tom McKenzie, Richard Scherrer and Bill Schulenburg. A great deal of appreciation was also
shared with the current officers for their year of service:
Barbara Eggebrecht, President; Jamie Cannon, Vice President; Richard
Scherrer, Treasurer; and John Russell, Secretary.
Mentors
Needed for Released Ex-Offenders
Beginning June 1, 2007, men released from Missouri correctional
centers will have the option of having a mentor for as long as six months, as
part of a full-service re-entry program called Project Re-Connect. As
many as 15 mentors may be needed by mid-summer, some in early June. This
mentoring program for men is coordinated by the Institute for Peace &
Justice (IPJ) in collaboration with the Center for Women in Transition.
IPJ is a St. Louis-based interfaith non-profit education and advocacy center
working for peace and justice since 1970, serving families, schools, youth,
faith communities, offenders and ex-offenders.
To learn what being a
mentor will entail, what the qualifications are, and what training/assistance
is available to mentors, for more information and/or to apply to
become a mentor, contact Jim McGinnis at the Institute for Peace &
Justice (IPJ), 475 E. Lockwood, St. Louis, MO 63119; jimppjn@aol.com; 314-918-2630 (work), 314-726-5367
(home), 314-922-6994 (cell).
ADULT EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES