Sacred Conversations on Race
Faith Des Peres will join other congregations in the presbytery for Sacred Conversations on Race. Sacred Conversations on Race was designed by Metropolitan Congregations United (MCU) to support congregations as they broach the difficult, but necessary conversations centered on racial tensions. These conversations will lead to ACTION led by better-informed and more self-aware people. With a community in need of understanding, healing and great systemic change, the conversation must begin. As the conversations begin, it is our hope that it will be easier to understand the plight of others, have your stories heard and begin to work together for an undivided community.
There will be two “mass congregation” gatherings on September 13 and November 8 (time and place TBD), and two with Faith Des Peres only. Dianne Modrell and Terry Epling are serving as facilitators.
I hope you’ll join us for these necessary conversation.
PALS Program – New this Fall
In July, Session approved implementing a new program called the “Pals Program”. Pals is an opportunity for children, youth and adults in the congregation to develop meaningful relationships across generations. It is also an opportunity for children, youth and adults to live into our mission to “reflect and live God’s love, accept and affirm all and inspire passion to do God’s work.” The Pals program is for children and youth who are entering Kindergarten-Senior in high school. Any adult may be a Pal.
Experiences the adult and child/youth may have include:
· Spending time together and talking together, particularly on “Pals Sunday”.
· Sit together in a Sunday worship service on Pals Sunday.
· Participate in a mission project together, such as Food Outreach or Go Sunday.
· Discuss aspects of your faith in your daily life.
Details:
· The Pals program follows the academic year: September-May.
· The Pals program will kick-off with an acknowledgement of the pairs in worship in September and conclude with a celebration in May.
What is Pals Sunday?
· Pals Sunday is the 3rd Sunday of the month and is set aside for you and your Pal to connect. Pals will gather at 9:30 in the Gathering Space for informal conversation and doughnuts. There will be a “table topic” to help get conversation started.
· While Pals are meeting, there will be a roundtable conversation in the Adult Conference Room geared for parents, though anyone in the congregation is welcome to attend. Nursery care will be provided for little ones.
Pals is a product of Vision 20/20’s goal to focus on the development of an Intergenerational Faith Formation program at Faith Des Peres that centers on bringing generations together in learning, caring, praying, celebrating, serving faithfully and inspiring the passion to make Christ known.
In the next couple of weeks we’ll be asking children, youth and adults if they want to take part in Pals and then matching Pals for the school year.
If you are interested in being a Pal or learning more about Pals, please email Annie at pastor@faithdesperes.org. Thank you!
Shared Ministry Fair and Ice Cream Social, September 13
MARK YOUR CALENDARS for the Shared Ministry Fair in the Gathering Space after worship. This will be a time for you to learn about what ministry opportunities exist and in return to let us know what you’re interested in doing this year at Faith Des Peres. Want to take part in Buddy Packs, or help plan Advent? How about serving as a liturgist, or assisting with communion? These and many more opportunities are available. Each of us is uniquely gifted by God to share our gifts, energy and passions with others to build the kingdom of God, and shared ministry helps us live out the affirmation that God calls all people to ministry. Hope to see you there!
Blessing of the Packs, Sunday, August 16 during worship
The return to school, starting a new grade with new teachers and students, even new schools is huge for children and their families. It sometimes feels more like the beginning of the new year than does January 1.
We’ll recognize this important time in the life of children and families with a special blessing on August 16. Children and teachers and students of all ages are invited to bring their backpacks to worship and get them blessed because God is with them at school and the church cares about what happens there!
Sunday School for Grades K-5 starts August 23
In July, Session approved hiring Claire Dingus as the lead Sunday School teacher for grades K-5. Claire, a member of Faith Des Peres, is a Junior at Webster University majoring in education. Sunday School will take place on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month during worship. It will kick-off on August 16 with a special Blessing of the Backpacks in worship followed by a “get to know you” Sunday School time with Claire, and August 23 is the first “official” day of Sunday School. We will also be using the new PC(USA) curriculum “Growing in Grace and Gratitude”. We hope to see everyone there!
Center Orientation, August 20, 6:30pm
As most of you know, we’re in the process of transitioning to a new structure for how we do ministry. In short, committees are transitioning over to “centers” and “teams”. This transition will take some time and may get a little messy, but the good news is we hope this will mean you’ll have fewer meetings and feel more like you’re doing ministry.
In order to get everyone on the same page, the Session has set Thursday, August 20 at 6:30 as the orientation night. This orientation is crucial! Committee members, please mark your calendars and plan on attending. This is the only orientation, but all centers will meet again the 3rd Thursday of October at 6:30. Childcare and food will be provided.