We would like to extend our greatest sympathy to Andy Richter and family on the passing of his mother. Please remember to keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Last week about 8 of us volunteered at Food Outreach to pack food for people living with HIV/AIDS and cancer. The church volunteers at Food Outreach about 3-4 times a year and has been involved with Food Outreach for as long as I can remember. In fact, they were recipients of one of the grants we distributed from the funds set aside for mission from the first capital campaign; we donated $7500 to pay for a new stove. If you've never volunteered at Food Outreach, consider doing so the next time we're there. In about 3 hours, you can make a big difference in someone's life.
This Sunday, Rob Jacklin will join us during the PALS hour at 9:30 to talk about parenting in the digital age. As a mom, this is a topic that hits home. If you're a parent or grandparent, or an inquisitive or concerned person, I encourage you to attend the class. Phones and social media are a part of our daily lives, so let's figure out how to be responsible users of them and help our kids to do the same.
Finally, the sermon series “Searching for Truth: What Christians Believe and Why”, which looks at the Apostles’ Creed as a framework for Christian belief, continues. This week I'm talking about Jesus Christ, what the creed affirms and leaves out about Jesus, and what it all means for us today. I hope you'll come to listen and learn and find strength and hope for your faith. This is a great time to invite someone to church who wrestles with his or her faith or hasn't grown up in a church because we're covering some of the nuts and bolts of Christian belief. Invite someone!
See you Sunday!
Annie
We extend our deepest to Andy Richter and family on the passing of his mother. Please remember to keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
THIS SUNDAY! Rob Jacklin, “Parenting in a Digital Age” at 9:30am
Rob Jacklin returns for a “2.0” presentation based on his successful “1.0” presentation last year. Raising children in the digital age is challenging. With new technologies, websites, and apps appearing every day, parents feel overwhelmed. In this talk we will look specifically at why children so easily gravitate toward digital tools, what are the benefits that should be embraced by families, what are the true dangers families need to be on the lookout for, and what resources exist for parents to help their families use media in a God pleasing way. Join us for an informative discussion.
Touchy Topics Book Club
Join us to read and discuss 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. Join us after church (lunch provided) on October 22 for about 1-1 ½ hours to talk about the book. See Annie. RSVP via the sign-up sheet in the Gathering Space or by email. (Lunch count needed.) Thanks!
Presbyterian Women Bible Study, Wednesday October 25th
Join the Presbyterian Women group as they study the Book of Hebrews Lesson 3 in the leader guide. They meet the last Wednesday of the month from 9:30-11:15. You can join the group any time as each lesson stands alone. They meet in the Gathering Space.
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.
Bonfire, Friday, October 22 at 7 pm
The “almost annual” bonfire is Friday, October 22 at 7:00pm. 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!
All Saints Celebration
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 Tiara at adminasst@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 22. Thank you.
Bell Choir Forming
We’re forming a bell choir for Advent! The bells are on loan to us from First Presbyterian Cape Girardeau, now we need willing ringers. We already have 7 people, but ideally we’ll have 10-11 so we can play with more bells. You don't need experience playing bells, but the ability to read music is helpful. Questions? See Annie or Jeff White, our interim Director of Music. Thanks!
In this new sermon series, “Searching for Truth: What Christians Believe and Why”, we’ll look at the Apostles’ Creed as a framework for Christian belief. The creed is not a checklist of things that one has to agree with in order to be a Christian. It is the place where we begin our conversation about what we believe God has done in Jesus Christ and what that means for the church and us as disciples in our own day and time. Children and youth will also study the Apostles' Creed in October and November. Classes for children (grades K-4) and youth (grades 5-8) meet during the worship hour from about 10:40-11:30.
The church is in the process of switching its internet service to Charter but needs someone with IT skills to help us get better wifi coverage to all parts of the building. If you are knowledgeable about wifi or know someone who is, please contact Tiara in the church office: adminasst@faithdesperes.org. We need someone who knows something about routers, extenders, and the like. Thank you.
Coffee with the Pastor
You’re invited to “Coffee with the Pastor” on Sunday, October 8th at 9:30 am in the
Gathering Space. You will have the opportunity to get answers to questions about what it means to be Presbyterian in a friendly and fun environment while also meeting some great people. If you’ve already attended a “Coffee with the Pastor” and are interested in joining the church, we plan on accepting new members during worship in October. Any Questions? Ask PastorAnnie. It would be an honor to be your church family.
Food Outreach is October 7th, 8 am
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. Meet us there.
Join the Mission and Ministry Committee following church today to pack buddy packs. Thank you!
Rob Jacklin, “Parenting in a Digital Age”, October 15 at 9:30am
Rob Jacklin returns for a “2.0” presentation based on his successful “1.0” presentation last year. Raising children in the digital age is challenging. With new technologies, websites, and apps appearing everyday, parents feel overwhelmed. In this talk we will look specifically at why children so easily gravitate toward digital tools, what are the benefits that should be embraced by families, what are the true dangers families need to be on the lookout for, and what resources exist for parents to help their families use media in a God pleasing way. Join us for an informative discussion.
All Saints Celebration
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 Tiara at adminasst@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 22. Thank you.
Bonfire, Friday, October 22 at 7 pm
The “almost annual” bonfire is Friday, October 22 at 7:00pm. 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!
Touchy Topics Book Club
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!
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.
Dear Faith Des Peres Friends,
This Sunday is World Communion Sunday. World Communion Sunday began at Shadyside Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, PA, in autumn 1933. Think about what was happening then . . The country was in the throes of the Great Depression.
· The cloud of Nazism and Fascism hovered all over Europe and threatened the entire world.
· And anxiety about the economy, the world order, and the future enveloped the people.
As a faith response to those fears, a group of leaders at Shadyside sought to do something both real and symbolic to proclaim that God is God indeed, in spite of politics, economics and future shock. So they conceived of a day when Christians would gather around the Lord’s Table in a show of unity to counter the pessimism and walls that were dividing them.
The idea caught on, and in 1940 World Communion Sunday was endorsed by the National Council of Churches.
Personally, I think it’s one of the better ideas to spring from a Presbyterian Church, or any church, for that matter. We need the reminder that there’s unity, a oneness given to us in Jesus Christ. We need the reminder that God’s will for creation is peace and harmony. And we need the reminder because there’s a great deal of disunity in the world. While I’m not able to be here to celebrate with you because I’ll be celebrating my parents’ 65th wedding anniversary in Akron, I hope you’ll be here to show your unity with one another and the wider world. Rev. Joy Myers, retired pastor and Acting Stated Clerk, will lead worship and preach.
Thank you all so much for being a part of the Faith Des Peres community and welcoming everyone to the table.
Blessings,
Annie
IT Help Needed
The church is in the process of switching its internet service to Charter but needs someone with IT skills to help us get better wifi coverage to all parts of the building. If you are knowledgeable about wifi or know someone who is, please contact Tiara in the church office: adminasst@faithdesperes.org. We need someone who knows something about routers, extenders, and the like. Thank you.
At its last meeting, the Session approved a contract to install a new HVAC system for the sanctuary. Half of the work will begin immediately, and the other half will be done in the spring. This will give us working AC in the sanctuary again. Thank you for being patient the past 4-5 weeks as we've tried to address the best way to replace it. Who knew September would be so hot?!
The hard-scape for the new columbarium is finished at the Old Church. We are waiting for the actual columbarium insert to arrive. Once it’s in place, all new landscaping will be planted and the old will be torn out. A dedication ceremony for later this fall is in the works, provided all of the landscaping is completed by then. If you haven't been by the old church to see it, take a look. It looks great.
Special thank you to Joy Myers and Jeff White for serving as out guest preacher and guest organist today.