Update February 28, 2024

News Events Resources Groups Congregations About

Upcoming Events

March

4 - Congregational reports due in the ALEX database

5 - Lenten Lectio @11 via Zoom

11 - Mid-America board meeting, via Zoom, 12 noon

12 - Lenten Lectio @ 11 via Zoom

12-14 - Black Ministers Retreat, STL

17 - Ordination of Heather Johnston Patten, 3pm, FCC Fulton

Opportunities

Pension Fund tax resources available.
Get Imagine Together stewardship resources from the Center for Faith & Giving.
Register for the March 6 Past, Present, & Future of New Church webinar featuring Rev. Dr. Dick Hamm.
Pastor Partners is open to all clergy partners on the 1st Tues. of each month via Zoom.
Youth Leadership Symposium 2024
Phillips University Legacy Foundation scholarship apps due 3/22. Learn more>
HELM scholarships available. Applications due March 31.
There are still camp song books available. Contact the St. Louis Regional office.
Apply for a Disciples Church Extension Fund green loan.
Return to Reverence four-week study on earth stewardship available from Ron Routledge.
Mental health resources available for clergy and families through Pension Fund.
Digital Worship Resources
Online clergy continuing education opportunities.

Prayer Requests

Please pray for retired pastor Rev. Pat Jones as she is struggling with COVID and its complications which had required hospitalization. She had most recently served at FCC in Carrollton.

Please hold in prayer Rev. Dr. Ron Farmer of Oakland CC in Columbia as his stepfather recently passed away at 102 years of age, and his mother is also in very poor health.

Thank you to the 56 Mid-America congregations that have already completed the annual report in ALEX! We are grateful to you for your diligence. Unfortunately, this represents only 27% of our churches. Please don't wait until the last day of Monday, March 4. Report today and contact the St. Louis office with any questions. Thank you!

Join in this free webcast next Wednesday, March 6 at 11:00 am. The panel of experts will discuss six trends shaping the future of pastoral leadership. Learn more and register>

Congratulations to our Mid-America clergy who are celebrating milestone anniversaries of their ordination in February.

Gail Holstein, 25 years

LeAnn Sapp, 15 years

The Common Cup

I grew up in a tradition that celebrated what they called "The Lord's Supper" occasionally, like on the 5th Sundays. For the past decade plus, however, I've become part of a tradition that celebrates "communion" "The Lord's Supper" every Sunday as a central part of the worship experience. Read Rev. Dr. Goode's entire message here>

Burns Night in Columbia

Burns Night is an annual fundraiser led by the youth of First Christian Church in Columbia to support their annual mission trips. A traditional Scottish celebration, Burns Night is a commemoration of the Romantic poet Robert Burns. It is also an opportunity to don your fanciest kilt, try some haggis, and dance the night away! The youth do a bit of everything to facilitate the event, including cooking, serving, setting up, childcare, dishwashing, and cleanup. This was the second year the congregation held the event, so it will evolve as the tradition continues. See more photos and learn more about this year's planned mission activities here>

Organizing Eco-Justice Transformations

Join eco-organizers as they train to mobilize communities and communions and denominations, congregations, and individuals to protect, restore, and rightly share God's creation.

This seminar is taking place this Saturday, March 2 and can be attended either online or at Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis. The registration fee is normally $275, but as a supporting member of the Center for Lived Faith & Organizing, the Mid-America Region can send a number of participants at no charge. Please contact the STL Regional office by noon on Friday if you'd like to attend. Learn more>

An invitation to embrace & embody Black History Month by Rev. Dr. April G. Johnson, Minister of Reconciliation.

2/29 - Mental Health from the Sacred Desk, webinar, 6pm

Guide to Black History Month events in St. Louis.

Apply for the 2024-2026 NBA Black Women's Leadership Experience. Applications due March 8.

Convocation April 13th

Make sure your calendar is marked for our annual African American Convocation coming up on Saturday, April 13. Fifth Street Christian Church in Columbia will be hosting the event. The special guest speaker will be Dr. Delesslyn Kennabrew, Executive Director of the National Convocation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and Associate General Minister.

More information and registration options will be posted here when available>

Drum Birthing Retreat

Participants will experience the joy of constructing their very own Native American style drum made by their own hands while in fellowship with other men. Together we’ll participate in deep conversations. Through sharing our stories and listening to the experiences of other men, we will learn from one another. May 3-5 at Jabez Retreat Center. Space very limited. Learn more & register>

Celebration in Troy

On 2/11, FCC in Troy celebrated "Retirement of the Education Building Note." In about one year, the congregation paid off a $1 million loan, that was utilized for the construction of a brand new education building. With a very successful capital campaign, and gifts from the church and First Step Preschool, the church built the new facility which features modern restrooms, a conference room, and four classrooms. Participating in the "tearing up" of the symbolic loan note was Dream Team Co-Chairmen, George Tucker and Dr. Scott Falls, along with Rev. Seth Rash, Associate MInister of Family and Youth, and Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Moore, Senior Minister.