A Note From Pastor Annie

Dear Friends of Faith Des Peres,

This Sunday we’ll welcome new members during worship. I Hope you’ll be here to celebrate their presence among us and welcome them into ministry with us. It’s an honor to welcome new members and privilege not all churches have.

This Sunday we’ll also continue our Lenten worship and sermon series on “Gifts of the Dark Wood”. How can times of uncertainty be viewed as a gift, and what can we learn from these times? This is what we’ll be exploring on Sunday.

I look forward to seeing you in church!

Blessings,

Annie

New Members

Join Us Sunday as we welcome new members to the church. Faith Des Peres Church counts it a honor to have you!

Presbyterian Women Bible Study

Join the Presbyterian Women group February 28th as they study the book of Hebrews this year. 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.

Lent 2018: “Gifts of the Dark Wood”

This series, based on the book by the same name by Eric Elnes, is about “seeing life through new eyes, recognizing that experiences of failure, emptiness, and uncertainty are as critical for finding our way through life as they are unavoidable.” We will see how experiences of life through the “dark wood” are clues to our “calling” or “life path.” How can the struggles of life be the seedbed of spiritual awakening to the fullness of life? Join us for worship during Lent. All are welcome, all the time.

One Great Hour of Sharing 2018

One Great Hour of Sharing 2018
Again this year, Faith Des Peres is collecting the One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS)                    offering on Easter. OGHS is a Presbyterian Church (USA) ministry that supports                             Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, Presbyterian Hunger Program, and Self Development of People. Next Sunday, we’ll distribute the fish coin boxes to all members and friends. Drop your loose change in the fish during Lent, and then bring it to church with you on Easter Sunday. (We’ll also take a check!) This year’s goal is $1750. Help us help others. Thank you.

Music Notes

We are looking for people interested in ringing in our new handbell choir., playing an                  instrument at the church or would you like to play an instrument?   If so FDP music department would love for you to join us. If  you’re interested in either please check the sign-up sheets in the Gathering Space. See Jeff White if you have any questions.

Dear Friends of Faith Des Peres,

This Sunday is the first Sunday of Lent and I, for one, can't believe this sacred season is already upon us. I'm beginning to set meeting for March but my brain is still in January, it seems! Yet here we are in Lent. As you probably know, Lent means "spring" and, as such, I like to think of Lent as the time to do some "spring cleaning" of the soul. For some people this might be taking on something, for others it's giving up something. No matter what, it's a time to grow closer to God so we're ready for Easter!

To that end, we're looking this Lent as how times of uncertainty can be gifts, not the hindrances we normally think of them as. How can a time of uncertainty be a time of growth for you, both personally and spiritually? This is the theme we're exploring, and I hope you'll be a part of our journey. Specifically this Sunday, we're looking at those times we're left on our own to complete a task and how during those times God is with us. I hope you can be here to join us during Lent.

See you in church!

Annie

PS: Anyone is invited to attend PALS this Sunday and learn more about Twigs and the Buddy Packs ministry. Join us!

PALS

PALS Guest Speaker, February 18 at 9:30 Everyone is invited to attend PALS next Sunday when Lisa Guilliams, founder of Twigs, will be our guest speaker. Twigs is the organization we get our food from for Buddy Packs. Launched in 2011, Twigs is a summer lunch program and school-year pack-a-sack program in multiple communities in Illinois. Their mission is to help the communities they serve grow strong, healthy children by eliminating hunger and to raise awareness about the widespread problem of childhood hunger. Their vision is: A child, a neighborhood, a community, a world, without hunger. We hope you can come and learn more about Twigs and how much they’ve helped our Buddy Pack ministry.PALS Guest Speaker, February 18 at 9:30 Everyone is invited to attend PALS next Sunday when Lisa Guilliams, founder of Twigs, will be our guest speaker. Twigs is the organization we get our food from for Buddy Packs. Launched in 2011, Twigs is a summer lunch program and school-year pack-a-sack program in multiple communities in Illinois. Their mission is to help the communities they serve grow strong, healthy children by eliminating hunger and to raise awareness about the widespread problem of childhood hunger. Their vision is: A child, a neighborhood, a community, a world, without hunger. We hope you can come and learn more about Twigs and how much they’ve helped our Buddy Pack ministry.

Lent 2018: “Gifts of the Dark Wood”

This series, based on the book by the same name by Eric Elnes, is about “seeing life through new eyes, recognizing that experiences of failure, emptiness, and uncertainty are as critical for finding our way through life as they are unavoidable.” We will see how experiences of life through the “dark wood” are clues to our “calling” or “life path.” How can the struggles of life be the seedbed of spiritual awakening to the fullness of life? Join us for worship during Lent. All are welcome, all the time.

One Great Hour of Sharing 2018

One Great Hour of Sharing 2018 Again this year, Faith Des Peres is collecting the One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS)offering on Easter. OGHS is a Presbyterian Church (USA) ministry that supports Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, Presbyterian Hunger Program, and Self Development of People. Next Sunday, we’ll distribute the fish coin boxes to all members and friends. Drop your loose change in the fish during Lent, and then bring it to church with you on Easter Sunday. (We’ll also take a check!) This year’s goal is $1750. Help us help others. Thank you.

Music Notes

We are looking for people interested in ringing in our new handbell choir.  We could use 2-4 people who are willing to learn.  Note-reading helpful, but not required.  Right now, we’re practicing for 45-60 minutes after church on Sunday mornings. Do you play an instrument?   We’d like to put together a database of people who are willing to share their gift in church services.  Any level of ability is welcome!  If we have enough, we might be able to have a small orchestra!  Would you like to play an instrument?   We have some folks who play the recorder, and would be interested in putting together an ensemble (technically called a “consort.”)  This not the squeaky instrument that 4th graders bring home (which are soprano recorders), but larger, lower-pitched instruments. If you’re interested in bells, playing, or learning, check the sign-up sheets in the Gathering Space.  See Jeff White if you have any questions

A Note From Annie

Dear Members and Friends of Faith Des Peres,

                Have you ever had to pick up and carry the mantle of someone else’s legacy? I have. In fact, every pastor I know has. We pick up and carry the mantles of every pastor who has preceded us. Here at Faith Des Peres, that’s a lot of mantles because we have two churches in our history (Des Peres Presbyterian and Faith Presbyterian) and Des Peres’s history goes back to 1833! While I don’t find the weight of those mantles as heavy as I did back when I was called to serve as your pastor, there are days when the mantle seems more present than others. Of course, pastors aren’t the only people who have to carry the mantle of someone else. Parents pass on things to their children; professors to students; mentor to mentee.

                I’ve been thinking about mantles because this week we’re going to hear a story we rarely here, the one about the prophet Elijah passing the mantle to his protégé Elisha. Elijah’s mantle was heavy since he was one of the greats of the Bible and all. Elisha wasn’t sure he could carry it. He was scared, felt inadequate, and even asked for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit just to make sure he could carry on without him. But in the end, he carried it.

                All this talk about mantles and legacies and transitions has got me thinking about Faith Des Peres and where the church is in its lifecycle. Whose mantle are we carrying? How are we preparing to pass the mantle to the next generation of members? How can we empower people to pick up new mantles? I’m going to talk about all of this on Sunday! I hope you’ll come on Sunday. There’s lots of good news to share. And yes, there’s work to be done, too. But fear not, as the Bible always says. We don’t do this work alone. God is with us.

I hope to see you Sunday.

Blessings, Annie

Friday Foodies, Tonight at 7pm

Join the Friday Foodies at Canyon Cafe, 1707 S. Lindbergh Blvd., at Plaza Frontenac. Childcare will be provided at the church starting at 6:30 pm. Please RSVP to Whitney Payne by text 773-339-6642.

Buddy Pack Packers

Looking for a quick and easy way to serve the church and wider community? Join the Mission and Ministry Committee following church today to pack buddy packs. This week we're packing 160 packs. Grab a pancake and then come and help pack!

Come for Pancakes, February 11th at 11:30am

The Worship Arts Team is hosting a pancake breakfast Sunday . Why? Because it's the Sunday before Lent begins and it's time to clean the cupboard of all that yummy fattening stuff! Come as you are and stay as long as you can. Who doesn't like pancakes?!

Glitter Ash Wednesday Service, February 14th at 6:45 pm

WE WILL BE SEEN

Glitter is like love. It’s irresistible and irrepressible. 

WE WILL TELL THE TRUTH

Ashes are a statement that death and suffering are real.

Glitter is a sign of our hope, which does not despair.

Glitter signals our promise to repent, to show up, to witness, to work.

Glitter never gives up -- and neither do we.

Food Outreach Follow-up

Last Saturday 16 volunteers from Faith Des Peres helped out at Food Outreach. Along with two other groups, they packed 5100 meals!! They also stuffed envelopes for Food Outreach’s biggest fundraiser and organized their warehouse and pantry. The next Food Outreach morning is Saturday, April 28. Thank you to everyone who volunteered!

Lent 2018: “Gifts of the Dark Wood”

This series, based on the book by the same name by Eric Elnes, is about “seeing life through new eyes, recognizing that experiences of failure, emptiness, and uncertainty are as critical for finding our way through life as they are unavoidable.” We will see how experiences of life through the “dark wood” are clues to our “calling” or “life path.” How can the struggles of life be the seedbed of spiritual awakening to the fullness of life? Join us for worship during Lent. All are welcome, all the time.

One Great Hour of Sharing 2018

Again this year, Faith Des Peres is collecting the One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) offering on Easter. OGHS is a Presbyterian Church (USA) ministry that supports Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, Presbyterian Hunger Program, and Self Development of People. Next Sunday, we’ll distribute the fish coin boxes to all members and friends. Drop your loose change in the fish during Lent, and then bring it to church with you on Easter Sunday. (We’ll also take a check!) This year’s goal is $1750. Help us help others. Thank you.

PALS Guest Speaker, February 18 at 9:30

Everyone is invited to attend PALS next Sunday when Lisa Guilliams, founder of Twigs, will be our guest speaker. Twigs is the organization we get our food from for Buddy Packs. Launched in 2011, Twigs is a summer lunch program and school-year pack-a-sack program in multiple communities in Illinois. Their mission is to help the communities they serve grow strong, healthy children by eliminating hunger and to raise awareness about the widespread problem of childhood hunger. Their vision is: A child, a neighborhood, a community, a world, without hunger. We hope you can come and learn more about Twigs and how much they’ve helped our Buddy Pack ministry.