Let's Celebrate !!!

at Washington Presbyterian Church

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At this Presbytery Gathering we will celebrate our Hunger Action Congregations and our congregations that are "4 for 4" in Mission Giving for 2018. We are so excited to celebrate all of the mission work done within our Presbytery, with the head of the Presbyterian Mission Agency, Rev. Dr. Diane Moffett, who will be bringing the message during worship! Plan to attend now!

NOTE: Meeting locations are as follows: Oaks - is the meeting room next door to the presbytery office; St.Andrew - refers to the Board Room of St. Andrews on the second floor, directly above the presbytery office; Pres - refers to the Presbytery Office Resource Center; Ladue - refers to Ladue Chapel; WG - refers to Webster Groves Presbyterian, Kirkwood - refers to First Presbyterian of Kirkwood. Contact the office at 314-772-2395 if you are unsure where you will be meeting.

DID YOU KNOW?

Four percent of the One Great Hour of Sharing Offering is used to address homelessness. The lack of affordable housing is one cause of homelessness as well as a root cause of hunger and poverty in the United States. Congregation-Based Community Organizing has a great track-record of successfully pushing towns, cities and counties to finance and incentivize affordable unit creation through Affordable Housing Trust Funds and other methods.

Continue to read here.

Uprooting Hunger - Hunger Action Team

In 2019 the presbytery will work toward establishing Certified Hunger Action Congregations. This  handout will be helpful to your congregation, as we journey together.

We welcome any questions you might have - email us at [email protected] or call 314-772-2395.

We celebrate, in thanksgiving, our 19 Certified and 25 Covenanting Congregations for their dedication to eradicating hunger in their communities!

Questions on how to get your congregation involved email us here.

Calling All College Students

Travel with UKirk - StL from January 1-5, 2019 to the College Conference in Montreat, NC! Join students from all over the Presbytery and 1000+ others from around the U.S. to hear amazing speakers, experience Spirit-filled worship, and play in the mountains of Montreat. 

This year's keynote speaker is Dr. Lauren Winner. Her books include Girl Meets God, Mudhouse Sabbath, a study of household religious practice in 18th-century Virginia, A Cheerful and Comfortable Faith, Still: Notes on a Mid-Faith Crisis, and, most recently, a book on overlooked biblical tropes for God, Wearing God.  

Sign up by NOVEMBER 9 for the best pricing. You can find the registration form for this year's conference here:  

https://www.ukirkstl.org/uploads/5/6/8/7/56879897/2020_montreat_registration.pdf

FINAL DAY TO SIGN UP NOVEMBER 20TH!!!!

A Place of Grace Creativity Challenge

The 2019 12-Week Creativity Challenge is going so well  that I am offering three  next year with minor modifications. Check out the Fact Sheet Flier for more information, and feel free to post it on your bulletin board or share the post from the A Place of Grace Facebook Page!

Read more here

Commissioned Pastors

Save the Date - May 13 to 16, 2020

The “Empowering Commissioned Pastors’ Conference” will be held May 13–16, 2020, in Richardson, Texas, and will be sponsored by the Commissioned Pastors’ Network of the Synod of the Sun.

A brief introduction to the event can be found here.

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Honorably Retired Pastors

Luncheon - Thursday, December 5th at 11:30 a.m.

at St. Mark Presbyterian Church

FOR YOUTH

A New Earth: Thinking Theologically about Environmental Justice

June 14-28, 2020

Millions of youth from around the world have participated in climate strikes and environmental justice campaigns over the last few weeks. Presbyterian-related Monmouth College (Illinois) invites high school youth to continue their efforts by applying for the 2020 Lux Institute for Youth. June 14-28, 2020, theologically curious high school students from around the country will focus on environmental justice: diving deep into the world of theological and biblical studies, intentional community, vocational discernment, and worship.

Application deadline: January 1, 2020 - Priority consideration for applications received before December 1, 2019

Learn more here.

UPDATED INFORMATION

Joining Hands - Your Mission Partnership with Peru!

You are invited to be on the 2020 Joining Hands Partnership 20th Anniversary Peru Pilgrimage, to support someone else to participate, or to share this information with your congregation, group, friends and family.

This Pilgrimage includes journeying to the coastal, mountain and rainforest regions of Peru, meeting with our Joining Hands Partners, hearing updates about the socio/economic context of Peru, experiencing historical and cultural events and places, and joining with Red Uniendo Manos Peru (Peru Joining Hands Network) and others in a 20th Anniversary Celebration.

Attached is a flyer (revised from previous announcement flyers) with details about the Pilgrimage which will be August 1-15, 2020, click here for that information.

St. Mark Annual Christmas Boutique

and Angel Street Cafe

Tues., Nov. 12 & Wed., Nov. 13

Christmas Decorations and Ornaments, Handmade Holiday Items, Children’s Items, Jewelry, Hand Painted Folk Art Items, Floral Arrangements, Personalized Items, Cookbooks, and Many More Unique Gift Ideas. Enjoy wonderful hand-made items and fresh baked delicacies by the women of St. Mark Presbyterian.

Learn complete details here.

Faith & For the Sake of All presents Mobilizing the Faithful: Housing Workshop.

Tues., Nov 12 | 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The report Segregation in St. Louis: Dismantling the Divide details how systematic injustice towards African Americans has negatively affected the entire St. Louis region in health, housing, education, and economics.

How do housing and lending practices affect our local 63119 area? How should faith communities respond? Come find ways we can respond as a community to have a positive impact on housing and dismantling segregation in our community for the sake of all.

For more information, click here . Directions may be found here.

Second Presbyterian Church Fall Concert

Sun., Nov. 17 at 4 p.m.

The Second Church Chorale and Chamber Orchestra with conductor Andrew Peters present music for the Thanksgiving season. The program opens with enchanting, brief orchestral works by Karl Abel, William Boyce, and Henry Purcell. Singers of the Chorale conclude the concert with George Frederick Handel’s magnificent Dettingen Te Deum. Commissioned in 1743, the work celebrates the British victory in the Battle of Dettingen. Additional singers are welcome to join the Chorale for this concert. Please contact the music office for further details including the rehearsal schedule. Directions found here. 

FREE Hymnals Available

Southminster Presbyterian Church, Crestwood, has 196 The Singing Church hymnals. These hymnals were published by the Hope Publishing Company. These need a new home and are free to whoever will come and claim them. First come first serve, must take all of them. Please contact, Bill Thomas at 314-323-8041, if you are interested.

UKirk Meal Sign-Up

Calling all chefs and potluck masters! - Would you support this ministry by signing up for meal coordination for this upcoming year? We gather at Trinity Presbyterian Church every Sunday evening. You can sign up and find more information  here.

Space For Rent in Imperial

1600 square foot space, five rooms and common room, second floor. Perfect for office, preschool, daycare, etc. Rent all or individual rooms. Located at Rock Presbyterian Church, Imperial, Missouri. Call 314-420-9477

Hearing and Preaching the Gospel of Matthew

Thur., Nov. 21 | 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Zion Lutheran Church

Lutheran School of Theology is pleased to offer the workshop, "Hearing and Preaching the Gospel of Matthew," which will cover major themes in Matthew's gospel.  A majority of workshop time will be spent exploring samples of Matthean lectionary readings and exploring avenues for preaching on Matthew.

The teacher is The Rev. Dr. Deborah Krause, Professor of New Testament, Eden Seminary, St. Louis.  She is an ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church (USA) who serves the church through social justice advocacy work, teaching, preaching and scholarship.

Zion Lutheran Church is located at 123 Carson Rd., Ferguson, MO 63135. Directions found here.

Tuition, which includes lunch, is $45 by Nov. 11 and $50 after that. Register online at:  www.lststl.org/courses; by phone at 314-918-2556 and leave a message if necessary; by email to: [email protected]; or by mail to: LST, 475 E. Lockwood Ave., St. Louis, MO 63119

APCE Annual Event

Little Rock, Arkansas - Jan. 29 to Feb. 1

Invitation from Annual Event Co-chairs

“See I am sending you out,” Jesus boldly announces to seventy of his disciples in the Gospel of Luke. Likewise, this January, you are invited to Little Rock, Arkansas, to escape the cramped boxes of conventional church programs and to explore “discipleship through retreat, mission, and justice ministries.” 

This coming January 29 – February 1, join us in Little Rock for an “outside the box” APCE Annual Event! Bring your ideas, questions, imagination and passion as we discover together how God is sending us out to make disciples through retreat, mission, and justice ministries. Learn more here.

Discovering Renewal

Finding Renewal in the Everyday

A Montreat Conference Center Event

April 13–16, 2020

 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthews 28:11

Our culture values hard work over rest. Burnout is rampant. Our jobs, obligations, and churches often expect us to work relentlessly. Hard work is good, but is it our ultimate goal? We often preach about the importance of Sabbath, but how often do we take our own advice? We need time to breathe, think, and engage our senses. We may need to discover the feeling of renewal. Discovering Renewal will focus on seeking respite in everyday experiences.

Learn more here.

224th General Assembly (2020)

Hands and Feet Service Opportunities

During the 224th General Assembly (2020) and as a part of the OGA’s Hands and Feet initiative, The Center: Mission Outside the Box will offer hands-on service opportunities for GA-affiliated visitors, family members, youth groups, and friends. We will offer up to four service options, from 8:30–noon, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, June 22, 24, 25, and 26. 

Find our more by clicking here.