August 22 Presbytery Meeting Recap | Greetings of delight began at registration at 9:00 as we gathered for our Presbytery meeting on Saturday, August 22, 2026. Volunteers from First Presbyterian Church - Mexico graciously welcomed us to their building with good directions, coffee, tea and treats. The meeting began at 9:41 with an opening prayer and the reading of our mission statement by Moderator, John Grimmett. | | | | |
The Art of Hospitality
You Read the Book....Now What?
Debi Nixon Presentation
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Recap of the 227th General Assembly | |
The following was originally written by Michael Cuppett, a Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) serving in the Presbytery of the Highlands of New Jersey, and then edited and expanded by Barbara Chalfant, Transitional General Presbyter and Stated Clerk of Missouri Union Presbytery.
Every two years, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) meets to conduct business affecting the denomination. The General Assembly is the council of the whole church, “constituting the bond of unity, community, and mission” of the denomination. (G-3.0501)
| | | | September 2026 Prayer Circle | |
Lord of all creation,
As the season of autumn begins, we are grateful for the abundance that it brings, for harvest, for gentle cooler breezes, for the blessings of sweater weather and more family and community gatherings. May your abundance extend to our congregations in new leadership, new pastors, to commit to becoming a part of MUP. Bless our search committees with good solutions, with individuals delighted to answer the call to serve. May our congregations know the kind of peace and generosity that can only come from you. Amen.
| Due to a rare mid-year adjustment prompted by rising fuel costs, the IRS issued two distinct sets of standard mileage rates for 2026. For the first half of the year (January 1 to June 30), the business rate was 72.5 cents per mile. For the second half (July 1 to December 31), the business rate increased to 76 cents per mile. | High Touch Thrive Conversations | |
Plan to join us on Tuesdays,
October 6, 13, 20, 27 and November 3 and 10!
Noon to 1:00 p.m. on Zoom
In October and November, we will be doing another set of weekly zoom conversations. Instead of reading a book we will be reading articles, watching video clips and listening for the Spirit together. We will delve into what “High Touch” is and how it can enrich the way we do things in the church. Each week the next assignment will be given at the end of our noon gathering. It will also be emailed to those who have signed up to join our discussion.
To participate, please click the link below to register.
After your registration is submitted, an email will be sent to all participants before each gathering providing the Zoom link and the weekly discussion reference material.
| Fall Budgeting and Stewardship Things to Remember…. | |
We believe that everything we have, everything we are, everything that is good about us comes from God. So, when we talk about financial resources, we first understand that they belong, not to us but to God. Thus, when congregations pledge, plan budgets and talk about money, and use those resources, the goal is:
1. Transparency concerning the process, the gifts, the numbers.
2. Honesty about the needs of the church so that it can fulfill God’s call to our particular community, to our extended family (the Presbytery) and to the larger church here and around the world.
3. Thoughtful stewardship that expresses the mission of the church in numbers.
4. Reliance of God’s abundance, not on the scarcity that the world teaches. In and through Christ we are given the power to live with open hands, not hands that clutch tightly to what we have in fear and scarcity.
Remember: All the resources the church has been given (time, talents and funds) belong to Jesus to use. So, our money is Jesus’ money. It belongs to the one who fed the 5,000, who taught and teaches in story and parable, who willingly died and arose from the dead. When we fully give all our resources back to God, strange and amazing things happen. Our hearts lift and we can see and do amazing things in the name of Christ who saves us.
| Photos Needed for the Presbytery Office | |
We are working on a photo display of the congregations of the Presbytery, not of the buildings, but of the people. At the August Presbytery meeting, everyone was invited to pick up one of the 4x6 or 5x7 frames available to take home and fill with a photo of their congregation. All are asked to bring them back to the November meeting or send them to the Presbytery office. They will be displayed as part of our family photos. There, anyone who comes in the office can stand in front of our family photo wall and pray for our beautiful MUP community!
If you were unable to attend the Presbytery meeting, please take a picture of your congregation and submit a 4x6 or 5x7 photo to the Presbytery office at 3236 Emerald Lane, Suite 500, Jefferson City, MO 65109, and we will provide a frame!
| REMINDER - 4th Sunday Sermons Available | 4th Sunday Sermons from the Synod of Mid-America are posted to MUP’s website for easy access. When needed, the sermons can be found at the bottom of the page at mupresbytery.org/pulpit-supply. | |
A Reorganized PCUSA
General Assembly!
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Some of you know that the PCUSA has been restructuring staff and programs at the General Assembly level due to budgetary concerns and the need to evaluate and refocus why and how we do ministry together. At the General Assembly meeting this past June, the structure was reviewed and passed. There are still some changes ahead in Mission, Worship and other areas. However, we do now have access to a document that lays all of it out for us so that we can access the right offices for the correct items of business. Here is the link to that document.
For more information, click HERE
| Synod of Mid-America Newsletter - August 2026 | Rev. Emily Duncan Rosencrans, Vice-Moderator Ruling Elder Joseph Anderson, Treasurer Rev. Dr. Deborah Boucher-Payne, Synod Executive Rev. Brian Ellison, Stated Clerk Ms. Orlandra Brown, Admin. Asst. | | | | | | |
