The “almost annual” bonfire is Friday, October 28 at 7:00 pm. Join us in the back parking lot for an informal evening. Bring a lawn chair and food and/or drinks to share. Kids, feel free to wear your Halloween costumes to church. It’s always a fun night!
· Calling all ghosts and goblins! On October 30 all children are invited to wear their Halloween costumes to church. Let’s have some fun!
· We’re accepting new members during worship on October 30! Come and welcome Ginny, Yolanda and Jane into our church family!
We’re looking for more people to help with Buddy Packs, our food program that provides backpacks of food for school children on the weekend. We’re looking for people to pack backpacks after church on Sunday and we REALLY need people to deliver the food on Friday to Robinson Elementary in Kirkwood. If you can help, please talk to Erica Abbett or Clarissa Schuller-Meyer.
Join us on Facebook in November to share your gratitude. We’ve formed a closed Facebook group (meaning your posts are only shared with the group) where every day there will be a prompt inviting you to give thanks for someone or something in your life. For instructions on how to join the group, please talk to Annie or message her on Facebook.
Believe it or not, it’s time to start thinking about this year’s Advent Devotion Booklet! We’re looking for writers to submit a devotion no more than 250 words. It can be a story, you can share a tradition, or write about something meaningful to you. We need submissions by November 1. You can find examples in previous years’ devotion booklets by using the link found in our weekly blog. Questions? See Annie Epling or Terry Baker.
Please support Presbyterian Women and Lydia's House by dining at California Pizza Kitchen (in the West County Mall) on Monday November 7. You can dine in or carry out all day long!
Join us for a special service of Word and Sacrament to honor, to celebrate and to remember the person in your life who molded you, mentored you, and made you who you are. We will also celebrate the saints of the church who have passed away this year. We hope to see you here at 10:30 am.
Time for the Christmas Giving Tree, that is. This year we’re kicking off our Christmas Giving Tree with a Thanksgiving meal after church on November 20. We provide everything, we just need to know if you’re coming. The Christmas Giving Tree will have ornaments listing Christmas presents needed by the families of Southside Day Nursery and Lydia’s House. Celebrate the season of giving with a Thanksgiving meal and take an ornament from the tree. You can RSVP on the sheet in the Gathering Space.
Dear Faith Des Peres Community,
Our country is more polarized than ever. The intense rhetoric of local and national campaigns spills over into conversations and Facebook feeds, and blue states and red states are pitted against one another. Yet, as Christians, we’re called to be peacemakers. How can we bridge the divide? Furthermore, what role does our faith play in politics? These are the questions we’ll address in my sermon series, “Seeing Purple in a Red and Blue Country” as well as the faith formation series.
While I know many of us are tired of hearing about politics, and you may even be thinking “I come to church to get away from that!”, one of my goals in preaching and education is to help you connect Sunday to Monday; i.e., how does your faith inform your daily life? And in this specific instance, how does your faith inform your vote and citizenship?
This series is a good opportunity for you to invite someone to church, perhaps someone who doesn’t agree with your political views! Because on November 9, all of us will wake up as citizens of this great nation, but some of us are going to be unhappy; either unhappy with who won or unhappy that we didn’t have better choices in candidates. So, our call to work together (remember “we the people”?) is more important than ever. And as Christians, we’re called to bridge the divide.
You can find a video about the series here on Facebook. Share it with your friends! It is the easiest way to invite someone to church. So don’t delay!
This Sunday after church, Terry Jones will speak about local and national races. His talks are always informative. I hope you’ll take the time to attend. A light lunch is provided. On November 23 and 30, I’ll continue the faith formation series before church at 9:30 when we’ll have a chance to talk about the sermon, as well as dive deeper into the subject of faith and politics.
See you Sunday.
Annie
On October 16th, at 12 noon, Dr. Terry Jones, Founders’ Professor of Political Science at UMSL, will kick off a series sponsored by the Faith Formation Center at Faith Des Peres titled “Faith and Politics”. Terry has agreed to speak on the current political climate for both the national and statewide elections. He has spoken at FDP on previous occasions and provided insightful and thoughtful perspectives. A light lunch will be served in the Gathering Space. On October 23rd and 30th, at 9:30 am, Annie Epling will speak on the “History of Religion and Politics” and November 6th will conclude the series with an Election Roundtable.
The Centering Prayer Group, a small group of Faith Des Peres members and friends, meets every 3rd Sunday of the month at 5 p.m. in the Gathering Space. Often referred to as Christian meditation, Centering Prayer is a method of contemplative prayer that places emphasis on inner silence. It offers a way to grow in intimacy with God, moving beyond conversation to communion. You are welcome to come!
The lunch gathering will meet at McArthur’s on Kirkwood Rd. in Kirkwood. McArthur’s serves soup, sandwiches and salads with a “walk-up” order bar. This should speed up the process for everyone coming on his/her lunch hour. Join us!
Have you attended a “Coffee with the Pastor” in the past and are now ready to become a member of the church? Have you attended for years and now is the time to join? If so, please let Kathy Sherrick, Cat Harper, or Annie Epling know. We plan on accepting new members later this month. And in case you’re wondering, “What is the benefit of joining a church?” which is a valid question, here are some thoughts as to why you might join:
A church is a community, one with values and beliefs like yours. Joining a church will help you better understand and grow your faith, and provide a more direct path to serve God and others in your community.
Church becomes a spiritual home for your faith. A church:
∙Helps you meet new people
∙Helps you discover yourself
∙Helps you grow as a Christian
∙Provides a place for you to “practice” your faith
∙Helps you find meaning and guidance in the world
∙Helps you experience God’s love
When people gather in a church setting, they work together as a community to learn and live God’s word. We hope you’ll consider joining Faith Des Peres.
Believe it or not, it’s time to start thinking about this year’s Advent Devotion Booklet! We’re looking for writers to submit a devotion no more than 250 words. It can be a story, you can share a tradition, or write about something meaningful to you. We need submissions by November 1. You can find examples in previous years’ devotion booklets found here. Questions? See Annie Epling or Terry Baker.
The “almost annual” bonfire is Friday, October 28 at 7:00 pm. Join us in the back parking lot for an informal evening. Bring a lawn chair and food and/or drinks to share. Kids, feel free to wear you Halloween costumes to church. It’s always a fun night!
Dear Faith Des Peres Community,
This week we’ll welcome Rev. Miriam Foltz as our guest preacher. Miriam is the founder of UKirk, the Presbyterian campus ministry at Wash U and SLU. Miriam preached a year ago when she was just getting UKIrk started, and I’m excited to have her back and hear what she says about UKirk now that she has a year behind her. Did you know our own Clare Dingus is active in UKirk? We’re also welcoming a second Disciples Gathering teacher this Sunday, Sydney Curtis, who is active in UKirk. Sydney is a sophomore at Wash U and a member of First Presbyterian Church in Durham, NC where she is a deacon and an elder. I hope you’ll come to hear Miriam and support our students at UKirk.
Next Sunday, October 16, I’ll start a 3-week sermon series titled “Faith and Politics: Seeing Purple in a Red and Blue World”. Our country is more polarized than ever when it comes to politics. As people of faith, how can we help? What role does our faith play in politics, and what about the separation of church and state? This sermon series is aimed to help you be a more faithful voter. The faith formation series is aimed to make you a more informed voter, and will include time to discuss what was said in the sermons. Join us, and invite a friend. Our intent is to educate and inform, not sway or influence.
And finally, I want to say a word about the screen in the sanctuary since some of you may be wondering “Is it staying?” The short answer is “no”, you won’t see it for a few weeks. But the longer answer is “yes”. Let me explain . . .
Like everything the Worship Arts Center does, our goal is create a meaningful worship experience. In order to create that experience, we use certain tools. Some of our tools are large, like the pews, windows, communion table, and pedestals. We use lots of tools you never see, like books, bricks, tape, pins, and needles. And other tools you do see, like fabric, scarves, water, candles, and flame. When we develop a theme, we ask, “How can we best interpret this theme?” For the Half Truths series, we wanted you to see what people on the street said about the half truths and that required a screen. When we had the pews in a circle a year ago, we wanted to create a community feel to symbolize our collective journey of faith while symbolizing our individual journeys with the scarves. At Advent, we wanted the congregation to embody the Advent wreath, so we moved the pews accordingly. When the screen helps us to interpret a theme, we will use it. We also use it when we want to incorporate different ways of learning and hearing the Word.
I’m reminded of our vision: to challenge the present to change the future to make Christ known. Everything we do here, from worship to faith formation, to how we serve others to how we spend our resources, should align with our vision. When it does, we’re on the right track. When it doesn’t, it’s time to correct course. As we seek to make Christ known and live into our goals to increase both spiritually and numerically, we will use the necessary tools to do that in every aspect of our church life.
Blessings,
Annie
The Worship Arts Center wants pictures of YOUR SAINT for a special All Saints Day worship service. Your saint might be your Mom or Dad, brother or sister, coach or mentor; your saint is the person who molded you and helped you and shaped you into the person you are today. You can email your picture to Annie at pastor@faithdesperes.org , or bring your picture to church and leave it in the saint basket in the Gathering Space. We’ll make a copy of your picture and return the original to you. You won’t want to miss having your saint in the display, so don’t delay. We need your pictures by October 16. Thank you.
On October 16th, Dr. Terry Jones, Founders’ Professor of Political Science at UMSL, will kick off a series sponsored by the Faith Formation Center at Faith Des Peres titled “Faith and Politics”. Terry has agreed to speak on the current political climate for both the national and statewide elections. He has spoken at FDP on previous occasions and provided insightful and thoughtful perspectives. On October 23rd and 30th, Annie Epling will speak on the “History of Religion and Politics” and November 6th will conclude the series with an Election Preamble. Please join us after worship in the Gathering Space for a light lunch and informative presentations.
Also on these Sundays the sermon series will be “Faith and Politics: Seeing Purple in a Red and Blue World”. Our country is more polarized than ever before. As people of faith, how can we help? What role does our faith play in politics, and what about the separation of church and state? This sermon series is aimed to help you be a more faithful voter. The faith formation series is aimed to make you a more informed voter, and will include time to discuss what was said in the sermon. Join us, and invite a friend. Our intent is to educate and inform, not sway or influence.
This month the lunch gathering will be at McArthur’s on Kirkwood Rd. in Kirkwood. McArthur’s serves soup, sandwiches and salads with a “walk-up” order bar. This should speed up the process for everyone coming on his/her lunch hour. Join us!
Have you attended a “Coffee with the Pastor” in the past and are now ready to become a member of the church? Have you attended for years and now is the time to join? If so, please let Kathy Sherrick, Cat Harper, or Annie Epling know. We plan on accepting new members later this month. And in case you’re wondering, “What is the benefit of joining a church?” which is a valid question, here are some thoughts as to why you might join:
A church is a community, one with values and beliefs like yours. Joining a church will help you better understand and grow your faith, and provide a more direct path to serve God and others in your community.
Church becomes a spiritual home for your faith. A church:
∙Helps you meet new people
∙Helps you discover yourself
∙Helps you grow as a Christian
∙Provides a place for you to “practice” your faith
∙Helps you find meaning and guidance in the world
∙Helps you experience God’s love
When people gather in a church setting, they work together as a community to learn and live God’s word. We hope you’ll consider joining Faith Des Peres.