We are excited to again be traveling to Trout Lodge for an all church overnight, April 29-30. Activities being planned are a pontoon ride Saturday afternoon, art activity, happy hour, and brief worship Sunday morning. Optional participant pay (some are actually free) activities include horseback riding, archery, mini golf, zip line, and much more. See Trout Lodge's website for more details and costs; sign-up in advance to guarantee your spot. Saturday night’s stay includes Saturday dinner, Sunday breakfast, and Sunday lunch. You may purchase additional meals and/or a Friday night stay if you’d like to extend your time at the lodge. Please make your room reservation online at http://www.ymcaoftheozarks.org/ as soon as possible. We have not reserved a block of rooms as in years past, so it’s first come, first serve.
Bobby and Laura Mortimer welcomed their son, Jack Douglas, on January 26. He weighed 9lbs 5oz. and is 22 inches long. Big brother Cy is very excited! Congratulations to grandparents Yolanda & Doug Mortimer as well as to Uncle Danny.
Dear Faith Des Peres Friends,
This Sunday Rev. Joe Marting is preaching while my daughter Julia and I, and sister and niece, attend the Women’s March on Washington on January 21. I hope you’ll be at church to hear Joe’s insightful words. There IS Disciples’ Gathering and nursery care on Sunday.
In the lead-up to the march, there have been posts on Facebook titled “Why I’m Marching”. Reading those posts has prompted me to write my own “why I’m marching” that I want to share with you here.
I’m marching because on Wednesday, November 9, I woke up with a sense of dread. Keep in mind, this isn’t the first time my chosen candidate has lost. In fact, of all the votes I cast on November 8, only one of them was victorious. I didn’t dread the other victors. But I dreaded Trump. My dread has now been replaced by what I can only call fear: fear that we are taking steps backwards on women’s rights (as well as others), steps backwards on how we treat other people with whom we disagree, steps backwards on how we care for the poor and people Jesus called “the least of these”, and steps backwards on how we treat people with civility and dignity. I do not see President-elect Trump caring about any of these issues or people based on his behavior and actions thus far. I hope and pray, truly I do, that he will prove me wrong. But thus far he hasn’t, so this is one reason I’m marching, because I feel called, as a woman, to march for justice, kindness and civility.
I’m marching knowing that as a woman of privilege there are many women (and men) who cannot march. They can’t take off work, or buy a bus ticket, or find someone to watch their kids while they go off to march. What Trump has said he wants to do will adversely affect them in ways that I cannot even imagine. I’m well aware of the fact that I may suffer very little from rules the Trump administration may pass. But others aren’t so fortunate. Thus, I’m marching so they’re not forgotten and not left to fend for themselves. Sometimes people can’t “pull themselves up by their bootstraps”, so they need someone to pull them up for them. I’m in a place to do that, so I am. It’s one of the reasons I went into the ministry, to give something back to a world that has blessed me greatly. So I’m marching to help others who don’t have a voice, who cannot march.
For me, the march isn’t about whether one is a Democrat or Republican. I think at the end of the day most of us want what is best for our country and its citizens, ALL of its citizens. As I said in my Faith and Politics sermon series, we just go about how we do that in two different ways. And those differences serve us well; they’re healthy for our democracy. But right now, I only see President-Elect Trump serving his own needs, and I don’t think that is good for our country. Again, I hope I’m proven wrong on this. And if you see it otherwise, I would welcome a conversation with you, because only by talking with people with whom we don’t see eye-to-eye will we move beyond the gridlock and hyper-partisanship that is so prevalent in our country.
Last, but certainly not least, I’m marching because as a Christian, I feel called to march. One of my favorite stories in the Bible is from Luke 4, the story where Jesus goes back to his hometown to preach. At first, everyone loved what he preached. It made the hometown crowd feel good and proud! But then he started talking about how God’s favor is extended to people they don’t like or don’t feel are worthy of God’s favor, and they don’t like hearing him say that, so they run him out of town. To the edge of a cliff, in fact. For me, that story sums up the heart of the Gospel. It tells me that as Christians, we are called to say and do hard things that aren’t always popular to say and do because we are called to be people of justice. We are called to be our “brothers-keeper”, and we’re called to use the gifts we’ve received from God on behalf of those in need.
There are people who say that those of us who lost need to get over it, move on, and unify. But I was reminded this week in Will Willimon’s essay for MLK Day, that sometimes we’re called to be impatient. He wrote: “There’s a time for reconciliation, for prayers for unity and healing. This is not such an hour.
It is not for me to ask that women be reconciled to a man who has publicly, repeatedly wronged them in misogynistic word and deed, a man who boasts of his inability to admit wrong. I’m not the one to tell Hispanic Americans to support a person who built a political powerhouse by lying about them.
We must not allow our silence or passive acquiescence to suggest ‘we like the way we are being treated.’”
Willimon reminded me that King urged his white friends against “patient caution and bland moderation”, and that acquiescence in the face of injustice is not an option for those of us who call Jesus Lord.
So this is why I am marching. I wanted you to know. But I especially want you to know that I truly believe with all my heart and soul that we are all God’s children – no matter how we cast our votes. When we can truly recognize that in one another, I believe we will all be the richer for it and so will our country.
May God’s peace prevail on all of us and on the United States of America.
Blessings,
Annie
We’re sleeping outside on the front lawn of the church to raise awareness about homelessness in St. Louis. Join us that night for the entire night, or join us for as long as you can. We’re gathering at 8pm on January 28 for the Freeze-Out/Sleep Out. The next morning, those of us who slept outside will talk about our experience in worship. There are a number of ways you can participate other than sleeping outside. We need help setting up a bonfire and setting up tents. We may need camping gear. We’re also assembling kits to deliver to homeless individuals after church on February 5, so you can assemble and/or deliver them. Everything you need to know is on our Facebook page and sign-up sheets are in the Gathering Space or by using the links below. Thank you!
Freeze Out/Sleep Out volunteer sign-up:
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d4aabaa23a5fe3-freeze
Item Collection sign-up:
The 21st annual FDP Book Study is scheduled for the final two Sundays in January (the 22nd, 29th), and February (the 5th). This year’s book is St. Paul: The Apostle We Love to Hate by Karen Armstrong. Although Armstrong is best known for long, difficult religious histories (A History of God, Jerusalem), St. Paul is small (125 pages of text), readable, and offers a fascinating portrayal of Paul’s life drawn primarily from his own writings.
Armstrong’s Paul is not the misogynistic and anti-Semitic character too often portrayed in books and pulpits across America. Rather, he is a self-appointed missionary, primarily to Gentiles, who wrote passionate letters to congregations he had established in what are now Syria, Turkey and Greece, desperately trying to prevent them from being “led astray” by competing missionaries proclaiming differing views of Jesus and the “Christian” life.
The book is available from Amazon for Kindle ($5.39), or in hard cover ($13.51) or paperback ($5.33 and up). We will meet each Sunday after church (about noon) in the Adult Room upstairs. A light lunch will be provided. Ron Scott will lead the discussion. Contact Will Ridley (821-8524ridleywp@att.net) for additional details.
Dear Faith Des Peres Friends,
This Sunday I’ll conclude my sermon series “Living the Life God Intends”. This short series is meant to help you think about 2017 and what you want to do with it. Each week I’ve lifted up two questions: What would you like to see happen in 2017? What new perspective do you wish to gain, or what new horizons do you want to explore?
This Sunday we conclude the series by looking at John’s Gospel, chapter 1. It all starts with a question and an invitation. And I find that both interesting and instructive.
First the question. When disciples of John the Baptist come looking for Jesus, he asks them, “What are you looking for?” The question can also be translated, “What are you seeking?” or “What do you hope to find?” And we might expand that to “What do you need? What do you long for? What do you most hope for?”
It’s a great question, and one I’ve been asking the past two weeks. In reply to the question, Jesus tells the questioners, “Come and See”. As you think about the year, particularly the end of the year, what do you hope people saw in you? What do you hope you’ve seen, either literally or figuratively, personally or globally? We’ll look at those questions, action steps we can take toward our goals, and more on Sunday.
See you in church,
Annie
PALS on Sunday is open to everyone, especially anyone wanting to know more about the Freeze-Out. We’ll learn about homelessness in St. Louis, get tips for sleeping outside in the cold, and make cards for the homeless kits we’re distributing to homeless individuals on February 5. Even if you’re not in PALS, join us! There’s coffee and doughnuts, too.
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 join us!
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!
Come join members of Faith Des Peres at Food Outreach on Saturday morning, January 21. There we will pack food into individual meals that will be given to those living with HIV/AIDS and cancer that are living at or below the poverty level. We start at 8am and are done before 11 am. Food Outreach requests that volunteers be at least 11 years old and in 5th grade. Please sign up in the Gathering Space.
The 21st annual FDP Book Study is scheduled for the final two Sundays in January (the 22nd, 29th), and February (the 5th). This year’s book is St. Paul: The Apostle We Love to Hate by Karen Armstrong. Although Armstrong is best known for long, difficult religious histories (A History of God, Jerusalem), St. Paul is small (125 pages of text), readable, and offers a fascinating portrayal of Paul’s life drawn primarily from his own writings.
Armstrong’s Paul is not the misogynistic and anti-Semitic character too often portrayed in books and pulpits across America. Rather, he is a self-appointed missionary, primarily to Gentiles, who wrote passionate letters to congregations he had established in what are now Syria, Turkey and Greece, desperately trying to prevent them from being “led astray” by competing missionaries proclaiming differing views of Jesus and the “Christian” life.
The book is available from Amazon for Kindle ($5.39), or in hard cover ($13.51) or paperback ($5.33 and up). We will meet each Sunday after church (about noon) in the Adult Room upstairs. A light lunch will be provided. Ron Scott will lead the discussion. Contact Will Ridley (821-8524 ridleywp@att.net) for additional details. Reading assignments for the book study are available in the Gathering Space.
The Latin origin of the word "compassion" is “to suffer with”. In the cold, bleak winter, the suffering of the homeless is greater than we know. Join us as we express compassion by leaving our comforting heated homes behind and spend a night camping outside Faith Des Peres. Bring your flashlights and sleeping bags on January 28th to sleep in solidarity and raise awareness for our homeless brothers and sisters. We will conclude our experience of living compassion with a collection of helpful goods for the homeless one week later. In addition, you can participate by lending camping gear, food, or drink for the evening and morning. Wear your long john's and invite your friends!
"Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." Matthew 25:40
The following thank you notes were received.
Dear Annie,
Thank you for donating holiday gifts for 15 students and 30 gift cards. This in-kind gift helps ensure that SouthSide Early Childhood Center (SouthSide) can carry out its mission to nurture, educate and inspire children and families in a diverse and inclusive environment, promoting healthy development and a strong foundation for success.
Thank you so much for ensuring that all of our children had a special holiday season…this means so much to us. I hope you know what a difference your generosity has made.
Katie Rahn
Executive Director
SouthSide Early Childhood Center
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Thank y’all so very much for your continued generous support of UKirk! Your contribution makes this ministry possible. From our upcoming trip to the College Conference at Montreat to our spring semester dinner and worship gatherings, UKirk in 2017 will continue to help college students explore and discover what it means to be a follower of Christ. Many thanks for your support and I pray that our Savior’s peace and joy finds you in 2017.
In the hope of Christ,
Pastor Miriam Foltz
What does the New Year have in store for you? What are your hopes and dreams for the year?
A new year is a new beginning, and a chance to do things differently.
This Sunday we’ll hear the story of Jesus’ baptism. His baptism marked a new beginning for him because it signaled his commitment to God and God’s intentions. Getting baptized was Jesus’ way of saying, “I’m onboard, God. I’m going to commit to your way of doing things.” His baptism is also his way of saying to us, “Wash off the old dirt and shake the dust from your feet. God has created a new day and a new way. Come, walk with me in this new way.”
At the beginning of a new year, many people make resolutions “to walk in a new way” in the hopes that a new day will dawn for them. Perhaps you made a resolution. I sometimes make them and sometimes I don’t. This year I did because, like many people, I was more than ready to say good-bye to 2016 and hello to 2017.
In our baptisms, God calls us to the resolution to live a new life that has purpose and meaning and is committed to God’s ways. What would leading a life like that look like for you?
Join us to explore this question and more in the new sermon series "Living the Life God Intends". It runs through January 15. For a promo of the series, check out the video below.
See you in church, and may your new year be filled with hope, peace, and joy.
Blessings,
Annie
Kathy Sherrick, Faith Des Peres member, joined the Advisory Board of Southampton Presbyterian Church earlier this year as its finance person. Southampton Presbyterian Church is one of our presbytery’s New Worshipping Communities. It’s pastor, Jillian Embrey, visited us in 2016, and we supported them on Go Sunday and with a nice mission donation.
Some of you have asked, "How can I support Southampton?" Well, Kathy wants us to know about something small but important that we can personally do to support them now. Southampton’s two theater tenants are sponsoring a fundraiser. KTK Productions and Take Two Productions present "Faith, Hope & Charity," to support The Southampton Presbyterian Church. You will enjoy uplifting selections from Broadway and beyond.
$25 tickets include the performance and a reception (wine, beer, coffee and refreshments) immediately following the show. Tickets are available at www.taketwoproductions.org
Performance dates:
Fri & Sat, January 13-14, 7:30 pm
Sun. Matinee, January 15, 2:00 pm
Southampton Presbyterian Church
4716 Macklind Ave at Notthingham, St. Louis MO 63109.
I hope you will consider attending one of these performances!
Kathy Sherrick
Come join members of Faith Des Peres at Food Outreach on Saturday morning, January 21. There we will pack food into individual meals that will be given to those living with HIV/AIDS and cancer that are living at or below the poverty level. We start at 8am and are done before 11 am. Food Outreach requests that volunteers be at least 11 years old and in 5th grade. Please sign up in the Gathering Space.
The 21st annual FDP Book Study is scheduled for the final two Sundays in January (the 22nd, 29th), and February (the 5th). This year’s book is St. Paul: The Apostle We Love to Hate by Karen Armstrong. Although Armstrong is best known for long, difficult religious histories (A History of God, Jerusalem), St. Paul is small (125 pages of text), readable, and offers a fascinating portrayal of Paul’s life drawn primarily from his own writings.
Armstrong’s Paul is not the misogynistic and anti-Semitic character too often portrayed in books and pulpits across America. Rather, he is a self-appointed missionary, primarily to Gentiles, who wrote passionate letters to congregations he had established in what are now Syria, Turkey and Greece, desperately trying to prevent them from being “led astray” by competing missionaries proclaiming differing views of Jesus and the “Christian” life.
The book is available from Amazon for Kindle ($5.39), or in hard cover ($13.51) or paperback ($5.33 and up). We will meet each Sunday after church (about noon) in the Adult Room upstairs. A light lunch will be provided. Ron Scott will lead the discussion. Contact Will Ridley (821-8524ridleywp@att.net) for additional details.
The Latin origin of the word "compassion" is “to suffer with”. In the cold, bleak winter, the
suffering of the homeless is greater than we know. Join us as we express compassion by
leaving our comforting heated homes behind and spend a night camping outside Faith Des Peres. Bring your flashlights and sleeping bags on January 28th to sleep in solidarity and raise awareness for our homeless brothers and sisters. We will conclude our experience of living compassion with a collection of helpful goods for the homeless one week later. In
addition, you can participate by lending camping gear, food, or drink for the evening and morning. Wear your long john's and invite your friends!
"Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." Matthew 25:40
Just another thank you to those who donated gifts and gift cards this past Christmas to our Giving Tree. Your generosity touched many in need.
Come join members of Faith Des Peres at Food Outreach on Saturday morning, January21. There we will pack food into individual meals that will be given to those living with HIV/AIDS and cancer that are living at or below the poverty level. We start at 8am and are done before 11 am. Food Outreach requests that volunteers be at least 11 years old and in 5th grade. Please sign up in the Gathering Space