News from the February 21, 2026

Missouri Union Presbytery Meeting

We gathered at the lovely Community Presbyterian Church in LaPlata and our Moderator, Pastor John Grimmett, opened our meeting with prayer just after 10:00 a.m. We welcomed two new ruling elders and Corresponding Member, Mike Williams, UCC Pastor and Moderator of FPC – Marshall. Susan Miller was also welcomed as she begins service as the 2026-2028 Recording Clerk.

The 2026 Presbytery directories are now available. An electronic copy, which is updated monthly, is also available at https://www.mupresbytery.org/directory using 2026MUPDIR as the password. Additions or corrections should be communicated to Diane Braun, Office Manager, office@mupresbytery.org. 

Plan to join us for a book study on

Thursdays, March 5,12,19, 26 and April 2

Noon to 1:00 p.m. on Zoom

Same Zoom link for all dates above!

We will be reading “Thriving Church”

by Erin Cash and Kory Wilcoxson.

Books are still available through the MUP office.

Session Records Review for 2025

Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Curryville Presbyterian Church, Curryville – 10:00 a.m.

Thursday, March 19, 2026

Coates Street Presbyterian Church, Moberly – 10:00 a.m.

Monday, March 23, 2026 

Covenant Presbyterian Church, Marshall – 10:00 a.m.

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

First Presbyterian Church, Columbia – 6:00 p.m.

Please give this information to the current Clerk of Session.

Either the Clerk of Session or Session Moderator

must attend one of the review sessions.

If your 2024 minutes have not yet been reviewed, please bring them as well.

Once, in a congregation I was serving, we had a little boy, named George, who was diagnosed with “failure to thrive”. He just was not growing at the same pace as other children. He was the youngest child in his family, at age 3. He was just as bright and active as you could imagine, but he looked like he was two. George knew his way around the church well, and knew how to get to the preschool classroom, the fellowship hall, the sanctuary, the elevator and the parking garage all on his own. This was not good news! One day George was with his parents and siblings in the fellowship hall and he vanished. The whole congregation deployed to find him, as the church building was a large, downtown facility with 13 different doors that exited to the street. Once out of the building, George could go anywhere. It took about 10 minutes to figure out that George had decided he was done and wanted to go home. So, he had gotten in the elevator, pushed the button to go down and then, seeing the bright red button, decided to push that one too. The elevator abruptly stopped between floors and George’s hands were not strong enough to pull the red button back out. I heard him crying in fear and frustration, poor kid! We could not find the elevator key, so we had to wait for the fire department. I sat on the floor in front of the elevator door and talked to him, sang to him and in general tried to let him know he was not alone. It took 20 minutes to get him back in his dad’s arms.

We learned a lot that day as a congregation. We learned that finding a lost child of God is the most important thing, and that we would drop everything else to make sure they are found. We learned that sometimes it takes longer to solve a problem than it takes to create a problem. We learned that we need to pay closer attention to each other so that we can keep everyone safe, healthy, happy and whole.

As for George, he was resilient. Within minutes he was running about the fellowship hall as usual. He also overcame his diagnosis of “failure to thrive”. He is now a 6’2”, 32-year-old young man.

This year, as we wrestle with what it means for the church to thrive, we may find that some of us have chronic “Failure to Thrive” and need special nourishment to become stronger and to become what we were called to be. We may find that others are trapped in elevator-like boxes of our own making and need to be comforted and then rescued to be placed in the Father’s arms. There are others of us who just need to find the space to run, to grow, to do the things we were born to do. It should be an amazing year as we focus on who and whose we are and do the work together of thriving. Come join the conversation!

March Prayer Circle

Lord of heaven and earth,

We rejoice that you have called us to be your beloved children and have gathered us together in this time and place as a part of Missouri Union Presbytery. You have given us good work to do together and have nourished us with your word. We know you are about the work of sustaining us by calling leaders to come and work with us, to speak your word from our pulpits, to listen well and to hold our hands as we serve you, as we live into the life you have given and learn to thrive. We trust you. We believe in you. We love you. Amen.