Welcome Our New Gap Pastor

Sunday help us welcome Rev. Dr. June (Junie) Burks Ewing will join Faith Des Peres as our gap pastor to fill the vacancy following Pastor Annie Epling departure. Please join us  and give Junie as enthusiastic FDP welcome on her first Sunday in the pulpit and in the Gathering Space after worship.

Junie was ordained in 2006 after receiving her Masters in Divinity from Vanderbilt University, Nashville TN. Most recently, she served an interim associate pastor of congregational and      community care at Mt. Washington Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati. She was the pastor and head of staff at Westminster Presbyterian, Topeka, KS from February 2010 through January 2016 and prior to that she served as pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Ste. Genevieve, MO for approximately four years. Prior to entering the ministry, Junie had careers in sales and financial management. She also served for more than six years as administrative director of Cumberland Pediatric Foundation, Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

We are pleased to have Junie join the FDP community to provide spiritual leadership as we      prepare to seek an interim pastor.

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.

Volunteers for Old Des Peres Church clean up, June 9th

On June 17th FDP will be hosting the General Assembly at the Old Des Church formally known as Old Meeting House. We would like to make sure that everything is clean and in order for our guest.  Those that would like to volunteer for clean up on June 9th from 7:30 until can sign up in the Gathering Space or see Andy Richter for more information.

Hosting General Assembly, June 17

General Assembly is a little over a month away. FDP is hosting roughly 40 guests from around the country on Sunday 17, 2018 at the Old Meeting House. We will be having a   special service and a catered lunch after. We are needing some volunteers to help with the event. If you are available here are the areas we could use some help:

· 2 Members to ride with the commissioners on the bus from the Convention Center to FDP. The two members will need to be downtown by 8:30 to help escort them  on the correct bus.

·  Members who will help set up at the Old Meeting House. (Tables & Chairs)

·  Members that will donate bottled waters, soda, bottled tea, Coolers

·  Members who will want to help with clean up.

Please let Danny Mortimer, Erica Abbett, or Ashley Laws know if you can help.

Welcome Rev. Joe Marting June 17

When GA Commissioners come to Faith Des Peres' Old Des Peres Church (aka Old Meeting House) on Sunday, June 17 the Rev. Joe Marting will be preaching and leading the worship service.  Rev. Marting is a retired minister who served Southminster Presbyterian Church in Crestwood before his retirement several years ago.  Joe has filled in as preacher at Faith Des Peres on a number of occasions since his retirement.  We are happy he will be with us at the historic Old Des Peres Church to help welcome approximately 40 Commissioners to the 223rd General Assembly being held in St. Louis.  Worship begins at 10:30 a.m. and will be followed by lunch under tents on the lawn.  Please plan to join us for worship on June 17.

Volunteers Needed for 223rd General Assembly in St. Louis

From Saturday, June 16 through Saturday, June 23 several thousand Presbyterians from all corners of the country will be in St. Louis for the Presbyterian Church (USA) 223rd General Assembly.   Volunteers are needed in many areas -- helping to prepare and serve communion, usher at worship services, greet arriving guests at one of several downtown hotels and a           myriad of other tasks.  A website -- stlouisga.org -- hosted by the Committee on Local           Arrangements (COLA) lists the many volunteer opportunities during the gathering, which will be held at the Convention Center in downtown St. Louis.  Please visit the website --               stlouisga.org -- in the next few days and sign up to volunteer.  Ushering or helping with    communion at the opening worship service at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, June 16 offers a special opportunity.  On June 23 at the closing worship service each church in the Giddings-Lovejoy Presbyterian is encouraged to have two volunteers to help serve communion.  Hopefully, you will consider being a part of this exciting and important gathering of Presbyterians.  If you have questions, check with Dianne Modrell, Roy Lenox or Barb Abbett who are volunteering with COLA in some of the planning areas.  

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.

Sunday Morning Worship

Please join us at our Clayton Road location this Sunday, May 27th at 10:30am for worship with guest preacher Rev.Jay Summerville. After service stick around and fellowship with our church family and friends and enjoy some nice refreshments . Hope to see you Sunday!

Welcome Our New Gap Pastor

On Sunday, June 3rd the Rev. Dr. June (Junie) Burks Ewing will join Faith Des Peres as our gap pastor to fill the vacancy following Pastor Annie Epling departure. Please join us  and give Junie as enthusiastic FDP welcome on her first Sunday in the pulpit and in the Gathering Space after worship.

Junie was ordained in 2006 after receiving her Masters in Divinity from Vanderbilt University, Nashville TN. Most recently , she served as interim associate pastor of congregational and community care at Mt. Washington Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati. She was the pastor and head of staff at Westminster Presbyterian , Topeka, KS from February 2010 through January 2016 and prior to that she served as pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Ste. Genevieve, MO for approximately four years. Prior to entering the ministry,  Junie had careers in sales and financial management. She also served for more than six years as administrative director of Cumberland Pediatric Foundation, Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

We are pleased to have Junie join the FDP community to provide spiritual leadership as we prepare to seek as interim pastor.

Hosting General Assembly, June 17

General Assembly is a little over a month away. FDP is hosting roughly 40 guests from around the country on Sunday 17, 2018 at the Old Meeting House. We will be having a special service and a catered lunch after.

We are needing some volunteers to help with the event. If you are available here are the   areas we could use some help:

· 2 Members to ride with the commissioners on the bus from the Convention Center to FDP. The two members will need to be downtown by 8:30 to help escort them  on the correct bus.

·  Members who will help set up at the Old Meeting House. (Tables & Chairs)

·  Members that will donate bottled waters, soda, bottled tea, Coolers

·  Members who will want to help with clean up.

Please let Danny Mortimer, Erica Abbett, or Ashley Laws know if you can help.

June 3rd, Graduation Celebration

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.

UKirk

UKirk                                                                                                                                                Are you a college student spending the summer in the St. Louis area? UKirk (the         Presbyterian Campus Ministry in St. Louis) hosts fellowship gatherings for college students like you! E-mail Pastor Miriam (ukirkstl@gmail.com) to get on our contact list about planned events. (A June pool party is in the works!) Our last gathering for this  summer is on July 31 from 7-9 p.m. at Trinity Presbyterian Church; we'll meet for dinner and an information session about the Montreat College Conference (January 1-5, 2019). 

Thank You

We welcome the Rev. Vanessa Hawkins, designated associate leader of the Presbytery of   Giddings-Lovejoy, as our preacher this Sunday, May 20.  

On Sunday, May 27 we will welcome Rev. Jay A. Summerville as our guest preacher.  Rev. Summerville served as chaplain at Aberdeen Heights in Kirkwood from July 2016 through April 2018.  He is a lifelong Presbyterian and has been active at the  Presbytery level since his ordination in September 2016.

Thank You - Celebration for Annie and Family

Faith Des Peres Members and Friends - Thank you for your support of the farewell           celebration for Annie and the Epling family. Because of your generosity, we were able to host a wonderful farewell luncheon for Annie, Terry, Tommy, Julia and Charlotte (and Henry, in spirit), as well as purchase a few St. Louis-themed gifts for Annie and the whole family. In addition, we had an advent-themed stole custom made for Annie with our Faith Des Peres vision embroidered on the inside of the stole. See this weeks blog for photos of the stole. Thank you again for your generous support to show our love for Annie and family.                                               

Sincerely, Session

Postponements for PALS, Other May 20 Activities

Due to numerous conflicting schedules, PALS will not meet on Sunday, May 20 at 9:30 a.m.  We will reschedule the last PALS event of the current church year in June or July.  Please watch the Sunday bulletin and the weekly blog for more information.

We also have to postpone the celebration for our "graduates" that was schedule for May 20, due to conflicting schedules.  We'll find a day to reschedule when Ellis Ludlow, Brooklyn Payne and Mathew Willock are available.

The adult discussion on Gun Violence, Gospel Values, also scheduled for May 20, will be postponed until sometime in the fall.

Congratulations Laura Rakestraw and Family

Congratulations to Laura & Family on the birth of their son,  Aiden Lee Rakestraw. He was born on Thursday, May 3, at 3:18 am. Welcome to the world Aiden!                                                                                                                

Hosting General Assembly, June 17

General Assembly is a little over a month away. FDP is hosting roughly 40 guests from around the country on Sunday 17, 2018 at the Old Meeting House. We will be having a   special service and a catered lunch after.

We are needing some volunteers to help with the event. If you are available here are the   areas we could use some help:

· 2 Members to ride with the commissioners on the bus from the Convention Center to FDP. The two members will need to be downtown by 8:30 to help escort them    on the correct bus.

·  Members who will help set up at the Old Meeting House. (Tables & Chairs)

·  Members that will donate bottled waters, soda, bottled tea, Coolers

·  Members who will want to help with clean up.

Please let Danny Mortimer, Erica Abbett, or Ashley Laws know if you can help.

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.

A Note From Annie

Dear Faith Des Peres Friends,

Thank you so much for hosting the lovely luncheon on my last Sunday with you all. I so appreciated the time to say goodbye, share memories, and celebrate our many years of ministry together. The food was delicious, and the champagne added a festive touch!

We wore our Cardinals shirts to our first Tincaps game (Fort Wayne’s minor league team) and met other Cardinals fans. So don’t worry, we won’t start rooting for the Cubs! The keepsake with your signatures, reminding me of you, will hang in my new office. And, of course, I’ll wear my stole proudly! Thank you for your thoughtfulness.

As I said in my last sermon, even though I no longer call you “my congregation “ and you no longer refer to me as “your pastor”, we can always call each other friends. I look forward to maintaining a friendship with you! Know that I think of you often and wonder how you all are doing.

With blessings and many thanks,

Annie

PS: my new address is 1927 Inverness Lakes Crossing, Fort Wayne, IN, 46804, and email is anne.epling@gmail.com. Cell is the same.

Looking Ahead at FDP

Sunday, May 20, Rev. Vanessa Hawkins will be our guest preacher.  Rev. Hawkins is the         designated associate presbytery leader of the Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy.  She has served previously as a Presbyterian campus minister, mission partner, pastor and staff at denominational and presbytery levels.                                              

Sunday, May 27, we will welcome Rev. Jay A. Summerville as our guest preacher.  Rev.             Summerville served as the chaplain at Aberdeen Heights, a senior living community in Kirkwood, from July 2016 through April 2018.  He is a lifelong Presbyterian and has been  active at the Presbytery level since his ordination in September 2016.

Please join us for worship on May 20 and May 27 to welcome Rev. Hawkins and Rev.               Summerville.  We will be at the Clayton Road Church both Sundays