Who is Doing What at FDP

As we head into the time of transition here at FDP, we wanted to let you know who to contact when you need to talk with someone about what is going on at the church.  Tiara Payne, our administrative assistant, will continue to be available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  You can reach Tiara by calling the church office, 432-8029, or emailing her at adminasst@faithdesperes.org.  Also, if you have information that should be published in the Sunday bulletin or posted on the weekly blog, please get that to Tiara by noon on Wednesdays. 

Members of the Session also are available to answer your questions and are going to be working with Tiara to provide communications through the weekly blog and Sunday bulletin.  You can either contact one of the members directly or ask Tiara to put you in touch with them.  The members of the Session are:

Erica Abbett, moderator, Mission and Ministry, for information about Buddy Packs and other mission projects and activities.

Ashley Laws, member, Worship Arts Center, who can help answer questions about worship services.

Dianne Modrell, moderator, Faith Formation Center, for information about PALS, Disciples Gathering and other faith formation activities that are planned from time to time.

Danny Mortimer, moderator, Worship Arts Center, for information about worship services, music and the status of the search for a new director of music.

Kathy Sherrick, moderator, Administrative Center, has oversight for the finance committee, stewardship, building and grounds and personnel. 

Beth Willock, moderator, Membership Expansion Center, for information on membership retention, outreach and growth.

Barbara Abbett, clerk of Session, for information about the work of the Session and also about the planning and process for the search for a new pastor.

Help Welcome Rev. Craig Howard Sunday

The Rev. Craig Howard, transitional leader of the Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy, will be our guest minister for worship on Sunday.  Rev. Howard has also agreed to stay for a Q&A time after the worship service.  We will meet in the Gathering Space and have an opportunity to ask Rev. Howard questions about the process for searching for and calling a new pastor.  We are pleased that Rev. Howard will be joining us again; he was with us on April 29 when we celebrated Annie's time with FDP and said fond farewells to her and her family and prior to that on April 15 when he was the moderator for a congregational meeting.  Please plan to join us for worship at 10:30 this Sunday and also to stay for the Q&A after church.

It's Communion Sunday

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.

Friday Foodies! Friday, May 11th at 7pm

Come wine and dine with great food and great people. At Katie’s Pizza & Pasta Osteria  located at 14171 Clayton Rd,  Town and Country MO. Childcare will be provided at the church starting at 6:30. 

Mother’s Day Lunch and Photos May 13th

Our church will once again be celebrating Mother’s Day together on Sunday, May 13th             following worship service.  Photographers will be on hand to take photos in the Gathering Space. This year we will be serving a light lunch of sandwiches and chips.  Please mark your calendars and join us to celebrate mothers and families on May 13th. 

California Pizza Kitchen Fundraiser, Monday, May 14th

California Pizza Kitchen Fundraiser,  Monday, May 14th
Join FDP at California Pizza for our church fundraiser. 20% of the sales generated from the fundraiser will come directly to the church. Invite your family and friends to join us. Come for lunch or dinner and you can dine in or take out. If you can please reserve a spot to get an approximate number of all who will join us. https://www.groupraise.com/events/60660

Ladies Tea, Saturday, May 19th at 1pm

Join the Presbyterian Woman for our Annual Ladies Tea Hosted by  Lori Gilley at 1pm  For more information contact 585-230-3179 or lori.a.gilley@gmail.com

Donate to the Janet Boyer Music Fund

Janet Boyer was a long-term member of Faith Des Peres. She and her husband started and owned Music Folk in Webster Grove. Since her passing, FDP created the “Janet Boyer  Music Fund” to hire special musicians throughout the year. All donations to the fund will go directly into the special music provided here at FDP

Pals, Sunday May, 20th at 9:30am

PALS , Sunday, May 20th at 9:30am, A Special Day in Many Ways                                          PENTECOST! That will be the theme for the youth gathering.  Pals will have the last school-year gathering at 9:30 AM. All adults are invited to be part of a discussion on Gun Violence, Gospel Values. With special guest, Rev. Susan Andrews, in the adult room-upper level. What is being done -- and what can be done. Please be sure to join us!

After worship, join us for a celebration cake for our youth who are moving to a next step in their life journey: Those starting Kindergarten are Ellis Ludlow and Brooklyn Payne. Mathew Willock will be moving on to Middle School. We want to embrace each youth in these significant steps with FDP congregation's shared best wishes.

Dear Faith Des Peres Friends,

It's hard for me to believe my last Sunday with you is this Sunday. I'm a jumble of emotions: anxious, excited, sad, nervous, hopeful. We've been through so much these past 17 years. I'm not sure I have the words to adequately sum them up in my final sermon. But with the Spirit's help, I'll do my best. Of course, I've spent time thinking about what I want to say, and the story I keep going back to (or the Spirit keeps leading me to), is the one I preached on in my first sermon at Faith Des Peres, the story about Ezekiel and the valley of the dry bones. It's a fitting bookend, I think, to my final Sunday because it's all about hope.

I do hope you'll come on Sunday. Your presence would mean so much to me. And so, I will end this final letter as I have ended most of my letters to you, saying "I hope to see you Sunday". 

Many Blessings,

Annie

A Time to Celebrate Annie and Her Family

As you know Sunday is Annie’s last day in FDP pulpit. Following worship, we will have a catered lunch and will share fond memories with Annie and the Epling family. Please join and celebrate with us. 

Food Outreach, April 28th at 8am

Come join members of Faith Des Peres at Food Outreach on Saturday morning, April 28th. 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.  Sign up in the Gathering Space. Meet us there or let us know if you want to carpool on the sign up sheet.

A Night at the Opera, April 28th at 7:30pm

Madeline O’Meara, choir section leader at Faith Des Peres, will be hosting a musical recital on April 28th, 2018 at 7:30 pm in the sanctuary. This is a totally free event, though she will be  accepting free will donations if anyone feels inclined to give. All donations will be going       towards her tuition for a summer program she is attending this summer. She was accepted to Opera NEO, which is a prestigious music program in San Diego, California.  She will be      accompanied by Ines de Erausquin.  All are welcome and there is NO need to RSVP. If you have any questions, please contact Madeline via email: momeara4477@gmail.com Thank you and we hope to see you there!

St. Louis Story Telling Festival, May 11th 7:30PM

The best kept secret in St. Louis and it's free! Once again Faith Des Peres Presbyterian Church will host the 39th. annual St. Louis storytelling festival Friday may 4th starting at 7:00 PM.  Featured Storytellers: David Gonzalez, Gayle Ross, Donald Davis, Bobby Norfolk,  Regi Carpenter, Alton Chung and Peter Cook with adult stories that inspire!

Mother’s Day Lunch and Photos May 13th

Our church will once again be celebrating Mother’s Day together on Sunday, May 13th             following worship service.  Photographers will be on hand to take photos in the Gathering Space. This year we will be serving a light lunch of sandwiches and chips.  Please mark your calendars and join us to celebrate mothers and families on May 13th. 

California Pizza Kitchen Fundraiser Monday, May 14th

California Pizza Kitchen Fundraiser Monday, May 14th
Join FDP at California Pizza for our church fundraiser. 20% of the sales generated from the fundraiser will come directly to the church. Invite your family and friends to join us. Come for lunch or dinner and you can dine in or take out. If you can please reserve a spot to get an approximate number of all who will join us. https://www.groupraise.com/events/60660

Friday Foodies! Friday May 18th at 7pm

Come wine and dine with great food and great people. At Katie’s Pizza & Pasta Osteria     Childcare will be provided at the church starting at 6:30. Katie's is located at 14171 Clayton Rd, Town and Country, MO 63017

Ladies Tea. Saturday, May 19th at 1pm

Join the Presbyterian Woman for our Annual Ladies Tea Hosted by Lori Gilley at 1pm. For more information contact 585-230-3179 or lori.a.gilley@gmail.com

Dear Faith Des Peres Community,

I can hardly believe I only have two more Sundays with you. I've thought a lot about what I want to say with only two sermons left and what scriptures speak to the thoughts I want to convey. This Sunday, I'm circling back to a passage that is familiar -- the story about Jesus walking on water. So often, this story is interpreted like this: like Peter, we're invited to step out of the boat where Jesus calls us to have courage and leave our safety nets behind. It's a good message, and the last time I preached on this passage I said just that! But on Sunday my message to you is the exact opposite: stay in the boat. Now is not the time to jump overboard, let others do the paddling for you, or try to walk on water. Now is the time to stay in the boat. 

If you weren't at church last Sunday, you missed a wonderful cantata by the choir. Thank you to the choir members and Jeff White and Laura Rakestraw for a wonderful worship service!

I hope I'll see you all this Sunday!

Blessings,

Annie

Looking Ahead to May

For the next two weeks (April 22 and April 29) we will continue to celebrate Annie's ministry with Faith Des Peres.  After we say our fond farewells and best wishes to Annie and the fabulous Epling family on the last Sunday in April, we will welcome visiting clergy to our weekly worship services as we start our journey in the next chapter in the life at FDP.  Please be sure to join us on a regular basis on Sunday mornings in May and throughout the summer.

Sunday, May 6 -- The Rev. Dr. Craig Howard, transitional presbytery leader, will be our guest minister.  Rev. Howard will also join us in the Gathering Space after worship for a Q&A roundtable and light lunch, when he will answer our questions and talk with us about the process of calling a new pastor for Faith Des Peres.

Sunday, May 13 --  The Rev. Miriam Foltz, pastor of UKirk - St. Louis, will lead us in worship.  Rev. Foltz (whom we have all come to know as Miriam) has been with us on various occasions and is always welcome at FDP.

Sunday, May 20 -- The Rev. Vanessa Hawkins, designated associate presbytery leader, will be our minister for worship service.  Rev. Hawkins came to the Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy earlier this year and we look forward to having her with us.

Sunday, May 27 -- More information to come about this holiday weekend in the next week or two.