Welcome to the Commonplace Blog of Faith Des Peres Presbyterian Church. Weekly updates of events and happenings will be posted here, as well as photos and reminders.
Flat Jesus is Trekking…
Flat Jesus made trips this week to the County Library bounce house with the Willocks, hung out with nine kids at FDP’s Parents’ Night Out while their parents had an evening off, AND went to Ireland with Sam Stout! View pictures here. Keep Flat Jesus with you – in your purse, in your car, in a backpack – to remind you that Jesus is with you everywhere! Please send in your photos of you with Flat Jesus so we can post them and add them to the GS bulletin board.
Short Term Mission Project Coordinator Needed
Mission and Ministry plans to sponsor a school supply drive this summer in coordination with Circle of Concern. The drive will start on Sunday, June 29th and end on Sunday, August 3rd. We have the information needed to get this started, and are looking for a person who would enjoy organizing and running this short term project. If you are interested please contact Elizabeth Pribor at efpribor@gmail.com or 314-630-4417.
We Dared to Dream . . .
Since last Sunday when we celebrated the success of our Dare to Dream for Today and Tomorrow campaigns a few more pledges have been received. As of Thursday, June 5 pledges received total approximately $103,000 for stewardship (Today's Dream) and $256,000 for Gathering Space loan reduction (Tomorrow's Dream). The generosity of Faith Des Peres' members and friends is overwhelming and we thank you so much for your dedication to our mission and ministry. Special thanks to the committee members who helped to make our dreams become realities: Dare to Dream for Today -- Daniel Mortimer, Will Ridley, Samantha Stout, Clarissa Schuller-Meyer. Dare to Dream for Tomorrow -- Bernie & Leila Davis, Jim & Joanna Gerst, Erica Abbett, Terry Baker. Thank you so much for all you do for FDP!
~ Kathy Sherrick, Dare to Dream for Today Chair and Barbara Abbett, Dare to Dream for Tomorrow Chair
A Reminder About 2014 Pledges
June 30 will mark the end of our current fiscal year. Are you current with your pledge payments for stewardship and the Gathering Space loan reduction? If not, please make an effort to submit your final payments before the end of the month. The gifts we pledge to the church help meet many of our day-to-day operating expenses. If you have questions about the status of your pledges, please contact FDP's treasurer, Kathy Sherrick, or the church's bookkeeper, Cathy Luetkemeyer, who is in the church office (314-432-8029) on Tuesdays from 9 to 11 a.m.
Summer Sermon Series at Faith Des Peres
What does faith look like? How does it manifest itself in your daily life? In this summer sermon series, "Practice Makes Perfect?,” we'll look at different faith practices that we can incorporate into our daily lives that nourish us and sustain us. Topics include keeping sabbath, forgiveness, worshiping well, saying thank you, and shaping our communities, among others.
The Year of the Bible Continues . . .
There is a small group of Faith Des Peres members who are reading the Bible in a year. They meet (almost) monthly to talk about what they’ve read and encourage one another to keep going. If you’d like to join them, you can do so anytime. If you’d just like to know what they’re reading, we can e-mail it to you. Make the Bible your summer beach read! Email Annie to let her know you’re interested.
Annual Report
For those that missed the annual congregational meeting last Sunday, the FDP Annual Report has been posted on the home page of the website (scroll to the links at the bottom of the page).
Items Left at FDP
As a gentle reminder, we no longer collect items such as empty food containers or bags of clothing for soup kitchens or charities, unless we specifically ask for them. Thank you.
This Sunday is Pentecost. Wear RED! Pentecost is the day we celebrate the birth of the church. Speaking of the church, we will have our annual congregational meeting this Sunday following worship. We will elect elders, the 2014-2015 church wide Nominating Committee, hear reports from our committees, and hear a recommendation from the Session pertaining to the size of the Session. I hope you’ll be here for worship and the meeting.
See you in church!
~ Annie
PS: I’ll continue my summer sermon series on spiritual practices. This week it is the practice of listening well.
Pentecost and Annual Meeting of the Congregation, June 8
The Annual Meeting of the congregation will take place on Pentecost Sunday, June 8th, after worship. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend this short but important meeting.
Summer Sermon Series at Faith Des Peres
What does faith look like? How does it manifest itself in your daily life? In this summer sermon series, "Practice Makes Perfect?,” we'll look at different faith practices that we can incorporate into our daily lives that nourish us and sustain us. Topics include keeping sabbath, forgiveness, worshiping well, saying thank you, and shaping our communities, among others.
The Year of the Bible Continues . . .
There is a small group of Faith Des Peres members who are reading the Bible in a year. They meet (almost) monthly to talk about what they’ve read and encourage one another to keep going. If you’d like to join them, you can do so anytime. If you’d just like to know what they’re reading, we can e-mail it to you. Make the Bible your summer beach read! Email Annie to let her know you’re interested.
Annual Report
The FDP Annual Report will be posted to the website Friday afternoon. A link will be posted on the home page when it is available. This will be used for the annual meeting on Sunday, so please take a few minutes to review it before the meeting so you can ask questions.
We're Missing Our Flat Jesus Photos!
We need MORE photos of you with Flat Jesus!! Keep Flat Jesus with you – in your purse, in your car, in a backpack – to remind you that Jesus is with you everywhere! Send in your photos of you with Flat Jesus so we can post them and add them to the GS bulletin board.
Flat Jesus enjoying Boogie Night at the Zoo with Kathy.
Can you Bring Flowers this Summer?
We currently have many holes in our summer flower schedule, so please use the sign-up sheet in the Gathering Space, email Marie, or register online. Thank you (in advance) for offering to bring flowers. They will adorn our communion table and your home beautifully!
Books
A nice set of children's Usborne Spanish books was found in the Sanctuary a few weeks ago. If these are yours, or if a basket full of ribbon and yarn belong to you, please contact Marie.
Who likes Ted Drewes? I do. Do you? We are CELEBRATING this Sunday in a big with way Ted Drewes after church. Yum! What are we celebrating, you might ask? So much . . .successful Dare to Dream for Today and Tomorrow campaigns, Elias Klein and Lennon Benben receiving their first Bibles, and an overall great programmatic year at Faith Des Peres. I hope you will be here to celebrate! And don’t forget, this Sunday is FEEDING The FLOCK. Bring your food for Circle of Concern. Food pantries need well stocked cupboards in the summer when kids are home from school and go without a free or subsidized breakfast or lunch.
See you in church!
~Annie
PS: Is Flat Jesus travelling with you? Don’t forget to e-mail your pictures to Marie.
Bring Back Our Girls Rally
Many of you know that Tola Olayefun is the President of the Egbe Omo Yoruba of Greater St. Louis. He was interviewed at the “Bring Back Our Girls” Rally on Friday, May 16th, at the Central Library downtown. Click on the interview and share it. And remember: Jesus is everywhere!
Feeding the Flock, June 1
The children of FDP will be gathering non-perishable food items for Circle of Concern. Current needs for Feeding the Flock are posted in the Gathering Space weekly and now include: peanut butter, jelly, cereal, tomato products (whole, sauce, diced), canned pasta, toilet paper. Any donations are welcome! Drop off items any time in the wagons in the closet between the Gathering Space and the Sanctuary.
It's Not Too Late to be Part of the FDP Dream!
If you have not had a chance to turn in your pledge cards for the Dare to Dream for Today and Tomorrow campaigns, there's still time. On Sunday we'll celebrate the success of the campaigns when we gather on the lawn after church for an ice cream social. We're getting very close to 100 percent participation in the annual stewardship campaign, and pledges to the 3-year Gathering Space loan reduction campaign have been extremely generous. There's still time to mail your pledge cards, drop them by the church or bring them with you Sunday morning. And be sure to join us for ice cream, cupcakes and other goodies after church. (Donations of cupcakes will be appreciated. Email Terry Baker (terrylvb@live.com) to let her know you will bring a dozen cupcakes to church that morning.) Thank you so, so much for your pledges and for all you do for Faith Des Peres!
Pentecost and Annual Meeting of the Congregation, June 8
The Annual Meeting of the congregation will take place on Pentecost Sunday, June 8th, after worship. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend.
Flat Jesus is Making Appearances around Town! Flat Jesus has been appearing all over St. Louis. Send in your photos of Flat Jesus so we can post them and add them to the GS bulletin board.
Can you bring flowers this summer?
We currently have many holes in our summer flower schedule, so please use the sign-up sheet in the Gathering Space, email Marie, or register online. Thank you (in advance) for offering to bring flowers. They will adorn our communion table and your home beautifully!
Mission News
Visit the "Mission News" page on the website to see the special award that Faith Des Peres received from the SouthSide Early Childhood Center.
Books
A nice set of children's Usborne Spanish books was found in the Sanctuary a few weeks ago. If these are yours, or if a basket full of ribbon and yarn belong to you, please email Marie.
I was so proud of our confirmands as they made their pubic profession of faith last Sunday. It isn’t easy to get up in front of a group of people and talk about one’s faith, but they made it look almost effortless. Thank you to everyone who was present to welcome them as official members of the church.
I also want to thank everyone who turned in pledge cards last Sunday. If you have not yet turned in your card, please do so by May 30. And, please know that every gift matters. Your support is critical to the life of the church!
This Sunday we’ll worship at the old church (2250 North Geyer Road). I hope you can join us for worship on this long holiday weekend.
See you in church!
~ Annie
Sunday Worship, 10:30am
Sunday School for kids (K-5), 10:45am
Many of you know that Tola Olayefun is the President of the Egbe Omo Yoruba of Greater St. Louis. He was interviewed at the “Bring Back Our Girls” Rally last Friday, May 16th, at the Central Library downtown. Click on the interview and share it.
Worship at the Old Des Peres Church this Sunday, May 25
Remember to come to the Old Des Peres Church (a.k.a. the Old Meeting House) for worship this Sunday, May 25th, at 10:30am. Please remember there are no bathrooms and parking is limited in the side streets and subdivisions along Geyer Road, so plan accordingly. Summer OMH worship dates will be July 6th, August 3rd and August 31st.
Memorial Day
The church office will be closed on Monday, May 26th, in observance of Memorial Day.
Feeding the Flock, June 1
The children of Faith Des Peres will be gathering non-perishable food items for Circle of Concern. Current needs for Feeding the Flock are posted in the Gathering Space weekly and now include: peanut butter, jelly, cereal, tomato products (whole, sauce, diced), canned pasta, toilet paper. Any donations are welcome! Drop off items any time in the wagons in the closet between the Gathering Space and the Sanctuary.
Dare to Dream Celebration of Pledges and Ice Cream Social, June 1
Dare to Dream that on Sunday, June 1st you can look forward to an ICE CREAM SOCIAL after church … and you'll find that the dream will become reality that morning. June 1st is the day we will celebrate the completion of our Dare to Dream for Today (annual stewardship) and Dare to Dream for Tomorrow (Gathering Space loan reduction) campaigns. We'll also have cupcakes galore and, for those who don't have a sweet tooth, there will be fresh fruit, cheese and crackers. Donations of cupcakes will be appreciated. Email Terry Baker (terrylvb@live.com) to let her know you will bring a dozen cupcakes to church that morning. The Dare to Dream team will provide the rest and we can all look forward to celebrating our successful campaigns. Please plan to join us on Sunday, June 1st for worship and fun at the ice cream social!
Pentecost and Annual Meeting of the Congregation, June 8
The Annual Meeting of the congregation will take place on Pentecost Sunday, June 8th, after worship. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend.
Flat Jesus is Making Appearances around Town!
Here are photos of Flat Jesus at a Dare to Dream meeting and at church. Where has Flat Jesus accompanied you? The zoo? The pool? The lake? The library? Another city or state? Send photos to Marie in the church office. We’re looking forward to seeing “Where in the World” Jesus is!
No Flowers this Summer?
One has to admit that it adds a welcoming touch when there are fresh flowers in the Sanctuary during worship. We currently have many holes in our summer flower schedule, so please use the sign-up sheet in the Gathering Space, email Marie, or register online. Thank you (in advance) for offering to bring flowers. They will adorn our communion table and your home beautifully!
This Sunday is a great Sunday to come to church! As we welcome four young people into membership this Sunday, I’m certainly aware of how our history of daring to dream has led us to this point. Gwen, Tommy, John and Annie will confirm the promises that you made at their baptisms when they join the church. They are prepared to present their statements of faith. We will also dedicate our Dare to Dream for Today and Tomorrow pledges. We have so many blessings to celebrate!
I hope you will make every effort to be here for these two very important occasions in the life of the church: confirmation and dedication of pledges. See you in church!
~ Annie
Sunday Worship, 10:30am
Sunday School for kids (K-5), 10:45am
Welcome Confirmands!
This Sunday we’ll welcome our confirmands Gwen Emery, Tommy Epling, John Onken and Annie Wyman into membership at Faith Des Peres. They have been meeting and studying all year in preparation for this Sunday. They will each present a statement of faith during worship. Afterwards, there will be cake and punch in the Gathering Space. Join us to welcome them!
Dare to Dream Pledge Dedication
We will also be dedicating our pledges for the Dare to Dream for Today (annual stewardship) and Dare to Dream for Tomorrow (Gathering Space loan reduction) campaigns. If you’ve not done so already, we are asking all FDP members and friends to give prayerful consideration to their pledges and bring them to church this Sunday or mail them to the church office by Wednesday, May 28th. (Print extra Dare to Dream for Tomorrow pledge cards here; print extra Dare to Dream for Today pledge cards here.) We are pleased to announce that, to date, advance pledges and gifts to the Gathering Space loan reduction campaigns total $207,940. Stewardship pledges to date total $50,840. We have long known that Faith Des Peres members and friends are very generous with their time, treasures and talents. This is another demonstration of that and an indication that we give out of a sense of abundance that acknowledges the blessings of God's generosity to us. Thank you so very much for your gifts and for all you do for Faith Des Peres!
Ever heard of Flat Stanley, the popular children’s book? Well, the Worship Arts Committee brings you (drumroll, please) Flat Jesus! What the heck is Flat Jesus? It’s a fun project that helps us share our faith and reminds us that Jesus goes with us wherever we go. It’s also a way to keep us connected over the summer while people are travelling hither and yon. You’re invited, and encouraged, to take a cut-out of Jesus from church (or print one here), decorate him, take him with you this summer, snap pictures of your Flat Jesus, and send them to FDP at adminasst@faithdesperes.org. Let us know where Jesus is, and we’ll post it here: “Where In the World Is Jesus?” We already have a few photos—let’s add more!
Where will you go with Jesus? The lake, the beach, the mountains, or the neighborhood pool? We look forward to hearing about your adventures!
Mark your calendars for the following important events:
Press release shared by Tola Olayefun: Egbe Omo Yoruba of Greater St. Louis and concerned citizens in the St.Louis area will unify in front of the Central Library in Downtown St. Louis, Missouri on Friday, May 16, 2014 at 6pm.
On April 15, 2014, over 200 girls were abducted from their school in Nigeria by the terrorist group that goes by the name Boko Haram. Our country and many countries around the world are outraged and saddened by this horrific act of terrorism. This inhumane act of terror on innocent children is unthinkable and is unacceptable. There is an outcry in the St. Louis community to rally together as a unified effort to express empathy, sympathy, and support for the families and the young girls who were abducted.
The Egbe Omo Yoruba of Greater St. Louis and concerned citizens have collaborated to host the “Bring Back Our Girls” Peace Rally. The rally will be held in front of the Central Library, located at 1301 Olive Street in downtown St. Louis, on Friday, May 16, 2014 from 6pm-7pm. Supporters should bring signs that state “# Bring Back Our Girls.” Children, teens, college groups, all organizations and civically-minded people are encouraged to attend and stand unified on this issue.
Please forward this blog post to friends and concerned citizens in the St. Louis area in solidarity with the ongoing campaign to bring the abducted Nigerian girls back home. This concerns everyone – make it your business to speak against terrorism! Come out and join us!
We’ve added new Lent & Easter photos, as well as pictures of members (young AND old) with their decorated Flat Jesus’, to the website—check them out at faithdesperes.org/photos. If you have photos you’d like to share on the website (GO! Sunday, Women’s Tea, etc.), please send them to Marie in the office.
There is a sign-up sheet in the Gathering Space. It’s easy: reserve a date, pick up flowers at your favorite florist, bring them into church a few minutes early that day and take them home with you after the service. Or you can email Marie for available dates and to sign up. They will adorn our communion table and your home beautifully! Thank you!
