Dear Faith Des Peres Community

Dear Faith Des Peres Community,

This week I’ll conclude my sermon series on Faith and Politics. Thank you for your kind and encouraging words about the series and for being a congregation willing to talk about faith and politics. Not all congregations are willing to talk about faith and politics (nor all preachers), but I think it’s an important conversation to have. John Calvin believed wholeheartedly that because Christ ushered in God’s kingdom here on earth, we are called to live in the political world, which means that sometimes we support it, sometimes we challenge it, sometimes we critique it, and sometimes we resist it – all in the name of Christ. We may not always agree on how to do that, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do it.

This Sunday we have two fun things happening in worship: we’re accepting new members and kids are invited to wear their Halloween costumes. I hope you’ll be here! We all could use some fun these days!

Last, don’t forget the bonfire Friday night at 7 pm. Arrive when you can and bring a munchie to share. Bring a chair, too!

Blessings,

Annie

PS: Please note that the Faith and Politics class on October 30 and November 6 at 9:30 has been cancelled. 

Bonfire Friday, October 28 at 7:00 PM

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!

October 30 Happenings!

   ∙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!

Faith and Politics Class October 30 and November 6 at 9:30 am

These classes have been cancelled.

Advent Devotion Booklet

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. Questions? See Annie Epling or Terry Baker. 

All Saints Sunday, November 6

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.

California Pizza Kitchen Fundraiser, Monday, November 7

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!  Fliers to give your server are available in the Gathering Space, here, or you can just ask your server to credit Faith Des Peres when you are there.

Let Us Give Thanks!

Please join us after church on 11/20 for a thanksgiving turkey luncheon! We will provide turkey, gravy, green beans, and mashed potatoes, but would appreciate volunteers for stuffing, pies, drinks, or rolls. This Sunday will also be the first week for the Christmas giving tree, so come and join us for food, fellowship, and to choose your ornaments! Let us know you are coming by signing up in the Gathering Space. Please see Whitney Payne if you are willing to bring a dish for the luncheon.

30 Days of Gratitude Facebook Group

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.

Buddy Packs Update

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.

Dear Faith Des Peres Community

Dear Faith Des Peres Community,

This Sunday I’ll continue my sermon series “Seeing Purple in a Red and Blue Country”. I’ll talk directly this week about how to bridge the divide that plagues our country. You can think of the subtitle of this sermon as “what to say and what not to say on Facebook when you disagree” or “be careful with those comments”. It goes without saying that the words we use matter, but I think in the presidential election that has proven to be true at a level none of us really expected to see. Words do matter – a lot. As Christians, we’re called to use our words in a weigh that build people up, and we’re called to be quick to listen and slow to speak. This weekend in preparation for worship, I challenge all of us to do just that both in person and online.

Before church, I’ll lead a class at 9:30 on the intersection of faith and politics. This is a time for you to respond and talk about last week’s sermon (found here), and we’ll look at how two people, Senator John Danforth and President Barack Obama, might collaborate on issues that divide.

Last, if you weren’t here last week or are shying away from coming because you’re tired of the election, I encourage you to come. In many ways, this series is aimed more for how we work together after the election than it is how we get along before November 8. So while we are talking about politics, it’s not only focused on the current election. It’s a much broader approach, and one we all need to think about as concerned Christians and citizens.

I hope to see you Sunday!

Blessings,

Annie

Faith and Politics Education Forum & Sermon Series

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.

Bonfire, Friday, October 28 at 7 pm

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!

October 30 Happenings!

·         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!

Buddy Packs Update

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.

30 Days of Gratitude Facebook Group

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.

Advent Devotion Booklet

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. 

Save the Date! California Pizza Kitchen Fundraiser, Monday, November 7

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!  

All Saints Sunday, November 6

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.

Yes, It Really is that Time of Year

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.