Maundy Thursday, March 29, 7:00 pm

The Worship Arts Committee invites you to take part in what is known as an “Agape Meal”. Loosely based on the Jewish Seder meal, this service will begin with a simple dinner around  tables in the Gathering Space. Towards the end of the meal, we’ll “Move” into a worship service that focuses on Jesus’ final meal with the disciples and a reading of the Passion story. Sign-ups are needed, so please sign up by emailing Tiara at adminasst@faithdesperes.org or by signing up in the Gathering Space. This event is for all ages. If you can bring soup or bread, please indicate that on the sign-up sheet, or if you’re willing to do a simple reading at the service, please indicate that, too. Thank you.

Go! Sunday 2018, April 8, 10:00 am

After the resurrection, Jesus told his disciples to “Go!” and on the Sunday after Easter, we’ll do just that!  Mark your calendars for Sunday, April 8 when we’ll go into the community and serve at several organizations in our community. Worship is at 10:00 am and is a brief commissioning service before going out to serve;  coffee and doughnuts are available at 9:30 am. More details to follow.

Circle of Concern

It’s a communion Sunday which means the kids will pull the wagon and collect food for Circle of Concern during the offering time. The idea behind Feeding the Flock is that while we are spiritually fed at Christ’s table, we are called to physically feed others. This is an important outreach ministry of Faith Des Peres, and is one that gets everyone involved. Even if you forgot food today, you can always donate food to Circle of Concern by dropping it off at the church. Thank you.

Calling all volunteers!

It’s almost springtime and it’s time for the church to have a Spring Cleaning day! We are looking for volunteers to stop by the church on Saturday,  March 10th, starting at 8 am, to help with a few Spring Cleaning chores. Nothing too strenuous, just a little mopping, a little wiping down of surfaces, a little vacuuming, and maybe a few light projects. Let’s get our beautiful church ready for Easter! All supplies will be made available, just stop by and we’ll put you to work. Ideally, we’ll be done by noon. However, if you can only stop by for an hour or two, that would be most welcome. Come anytime after 8am. Please let Tiara know or sign up in the Gathering Space.

Daylight Savings Time

                                                                                                                                                           It is time to “Spring Forward” one hour. Daylight Savings time begins at 2 AM on Sunday, March 11. You may want to turn your clocks ahead one hour before you go to bed on Saturday.

Easter Flowers

Again this year, we will decorate the Sanctuary with a variety of blooming flowers (6” pots). Cost per plant will be $10. See the sign-up sheet in the Gathering Space to place your order, or email Tiara in the office. Please designate if the flowers are being given in honor of or memory of loved ones. Make checks payable to Faith Des Peres and note that the funds are for Easter Flowers. Thank you.

Buddy Packers Needed

Looking for a quick and easy way to serve the church and wider community? Join the                 Mission  and Ministry Committee following church next Sunday to pack  Buddy Packs.

Adult Easter Egg Hunt, Friday, March 23, 7:30 p.m Cost:$10 Per Person

“In Darkness Do I Wander” is a fitting theme for our Easter Egg Hunt. Heck yes, after it gets dark outside, and with our flashlights, we’ll wander in the darkness of the church, searching for Easter Eggs filled with candy and prizes. Everyone is a winner at this Easter Egg Hunt! The Grand Prize is a pair of St. Louis Cardinal baseball tickets. Bring your own flashlight and something to put your Easter eggs in. We will gather afterward the hunt for a little refreshment. So bring some munchies or snacks to share, and bring your own beer, soda or wine. Adult friends and adult family members are welcome. We guarantee you will have good time and get a good prize. We need a head count to guarantee you a prize! So RSVP by calling, or texting Kathy Sherrick (314/302-3545) or sign up at church.  The deadline to sign up is Tuesday, March 20th. We need your money in advance, so pay Kathy by check, cash or use Venmo.com online. It’s a nifty way to pay online with no processing fee.

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.

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