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.
Children and youth, join Disciples Gathering as they study Moses in September. Classes for children (grades K-4) and youth (grades 5-8) meet during the worship hour from about 10:40-11:30. Youth meet with Sydney downstairs in the youth room, and children meets upstairs with Clare in the classroom next to the nursery.
Join the Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy 2017 History Tour as we explore the Religions of the World. Cost is $47.00 per person. Lunch at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church at your own expense. Make reservations with Betsy Stoll 314-821-0533.
Looking for a quick and easy way to serve the church and wider community? Join the Mission and Ministry Committee following church on September 24th to pack buddy packs. Buddy Packs provides food on the weekends for children in the University City school district. We pack 240 packs that are then distributed to 60 kids a week. It takes about one hour to pack, and packing is downstairs in Fellowship Hall (directly under the sanctuary). Packing takes place on the 2nd Sunday of every month. Thank you!
Come join members of Faith Des Peres at Food Outreach on Saturday morning, October 7th. 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. Food Outreach is located at 3117 Olive Street.
The Faith Formation Center is starting a new book group called Touchy Topics Book Group. The idea is to read a book (religious or not) about a touchy topic and then come together to talk about it. The first book we’re reading is Small, Great Things by Jodi Picoult. In Small, Great Things, Jodi tackles the profoundly challenging yet essential concerns of our time: prejudice, race, and justice. In its review, The Washington Post wrote: “Frank, uncomfortably introspective and right on the day’s headlines, it will challenge her readers...The difficult self-awareness is what sustains this book...forcing engaged readers to meditate on their own beliefs and actions along with these characters.” Join us after church (lunch provided) on October 22 for about 1-1 ½ hours to talk about the book. You can purchase the book at any retailer or find it in your local library. Questions? See Annie. RSVP via the sign-up sheet in the Gathering Space or by email. (Lunch count needed.) Thanks!
Dear Faith Des Peres Family,
I’m looking forward to being back with you all this Sunday. Also, the choir will be back after their summer recess. I’m looking forward to having them back in worship and most especially to welcoming our new Director of Music and Organist, Amy Mazzeo. Don’t forget that after worship we’ll have the congregational meeting.
On Wednesday, Chris Mabe and Roy Lenox made the first delivery of buddy packs to U City schools. We really ramped up Buddy Packs this year by providing 60 packs a week to kids in the U City schools. Our partnership with Twigs allows us to do this because we get food for pennies on the dollar. I want to thank Roy and Gina Bright for co-coordinating this year’s Buddy Pack program. The next pack date is September 24 after worship. It takes about an hour to pack food. Consider volunteering; any age can help. It's a great way to get involved in a ministry here at FDP!
See you in church!
Blessings,
Annie
Join the Friday Foodies at Lester’s Bar and Grille, 9906 Clayton RD. Ladue, MO. Childcare will be provided at the church starting at 6:30 pm. Please RSVP to Whitney Payne by text 773-339-6642.
Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. — Song of Solomon 8: 7. Hurricane Harvey struck the Texas coast late Friday, bringing lashing rain and sustained winds of 130 miles per hour. Even as its force has waned, Harvey has brought historic flooding, forcing rivers and streams from their banks, submerging homes, churches, businesses and roads, stranding thousands of people. Your gifts are urgently needed now to support the communities devastated by this historic storm and those throughout the Gulf region who are still in the path of Harvey’s torrential rains. Donate Now to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.
Children and youth, join Disciples Gathering as they study Moses in September. Classes for children (grades K-4) and youth (grades 5-8) meet during the worship hour from about 10:40-11:30. Youth meet with Sydney downstairs in the youth room, and children meets upstairs with Clare in the classroom next to the nursery.
Looking for a quick and easy way to serve the church and wider community? Join the Mission and Ministry Committee following church on September 24 to pack buddy packs. Buddy Packs provides food on the weekends for children in the University City school district. We pack 240 packs that are then distributed to 60 kids a week. It takes about one hour to pack, and packing is downstairs in Fellowship Hall (directly under the sanctuary). Packing takes place on the 2nd Sunday of every month. Thank you!
Join the Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy 2017 History Tour as we explore the Religions of the World. Cost is $47.00 per person. Lunch at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church at your own expense. Make reservations with Betsy Stoll 314-821-0533.
Dear Faith Des Peres Family,
Can you believe it's Labor Day weekend already? I can't! Where has the summer gone? Because it's Labor Day weekend, worship is at the Old Des Peres Church on Geyer Road. I'll be out of town visiting colleges with Tommy, so Rev. Carol DeVaughan is preaching in my absence. If you haven't been to the old church in a while you're in for a surprise, because the columbarium expansion is in full swing. The new sidewalk and "patio" is complete and the masonry around the new columbarium is almost done. It's a huge improvement! When the hardscape is done, the new landscape will be planted. I hope you like how it looks as much as I do.
If you're in town, I hope you'll be in worship. If you're out of town, I hope you have a peaceful last weekend of summer. I look forward to seeing everyone when I'm back on the 10th.
Blessings,
Annie
Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. — Song of Solomon 8:7 Hurricane Harvey struck the Texas coast late Friday, bringing lashing rain and sustained winds of 130 miles per hour. Even as its force has waned, Harvey has brought historic flooding, forcing rivers and streams from their banks, submerging homes, churches, businesses and roads, stranding thousands of people. Your gifts are urgently needed now to support the communities devastated by this historic storm and those throughout the Gulf region who are still in the path of Harvey’s torrential rains. Donate Now to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
Congratulations to Clarissa Schuller-Meyer and Jason Meyer on the birth of their son, Andy Ezekiel, born August 29, 2017. Andy weighed in at 9 pounds, 3 ounces and joins big brother Nathan. Welcome to the family, Andy!
Children and youth, join Disciples Gathering as they study Moses in September. Classes for children (grades K-4) and youth (grades 5-8) meet during the worship hour from about 10:40-11:30. Youth meet with Sydney downstairs in the youth room, and children meets upstairs with Clare in the classroom next to the nursery.
Amy Mazzeo graduated in May from Millikin University with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and will be pursuing her Master of Music in Voice at Webster University this fall. Amy has served as church organist for two different churches over the past 8 years and is excited to begin her service at Faith Des Peres this fall. Outside of school and church, Amy will also be appearing with Winter Opera as a chorus member for four productions this season. She is excited to begin this new chapter of her life in St. Louis, and is looking forward to getting to know the wonderful community at Faith Des Peres beginning September 1. Her first Sunday at the organ will be September 10. Choir rehearsals September 6th at 7:15pm.
Dear Faith Des Peres Family,
This Sunday I’ll continue my sermon series on Moses. We’ll hear the story of the burning bush which was a definitive moment in Moses’ life. He was reluctant to do what God told him to do and came up with every excuse in the book as to why he wasn’t qualified to lead the Hebrew people out of Egypt. Have you ever been asked to take on a task you were reluctant to do? It’s a silly question, because who among hasn’t been asked to do something we were reluctant to do? The better question is, how did you respond to your reluctance? Moses could have ignored God and continued to herd sheep. But he didn’t; he worked through his reluctance and sense of inadequacy and followed God’s call. Moses’ story encourages us to reflect on those types of moments in our lives and to remember that in them, God is present. I hope you’ll join us Sunday.
On another note, I’m pleased to let you know that we have hired a new Director of Music and Organist. Amy Mazzeo officially joins us September 1. You can read her bio below, but I’m very excited to welcome Amy and begin working with her. Please make a point of introducing yourself and welcoming her on September 10, her first with us.
See you Sunday!
Blessings,
Annie
Welcome to the 2017– 2018 Presbyterian Women Bible study “Cloud of Witnesses: The Community of Christ in Hebrews”. In nine monthly lessons, we’ll explore major themes found in Hebrews, relate these themes to other parts of our faith tradition, and tie them together with the overarching motif of community. The community for which the letter was written interacts, in a sense, with all communities of which we are a part, as we bring these groups with us wherever we go. This ever-present “great cloud of witnesses”(Heb. 12:1) strengthens and encourages us as we “run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith” Study books will be available in the Gathering Space. Join us!
Worship on Sunday, September 3, 2017 will be at the Old Des Peres Church (a.k.a Old Meeting House). If you have not been there before our old stone church is on Geyer Rd. about 1/2 mile south of Clayton Rd. Parking is available on side streets near the church. There are no bathrooms, so planahead. Our guest preacher will be Reverend Carol DeVaughn
Brainstorm for possible Mission Trip? Join us after worship on Sunday, August 27th to see what may be of interest. Leadership, location and likely accomplishments could develop. Day-trip nearby? Overnight destination? Help shape the possibilities. See Tola or Dianne, if interested.
