Welcome to the Commonplace Blog of Faith Des Peres Presbyterian Church. Weekly updates of events and happenings will be posted here, as well as photos and reminders.
GUN VIOLENCE is a crisis for public health. What is the church doing? What individual responses are possible? Please plan on attending. Older Youth and Adults might want to do a quick read of Jason Reynolds’ short book, LONG WAY DOWN, for insights. This is available at the St. Louis County public library, Amazon or your favorite book store. There will be a light lunch and a lively discussion. Please sign up in the Gathering Space for planning purposes.
Our PW Women bible study meet the last Wednesday of the Month at 9:30am in the Gathering Space. Our Bible Study guide for the year is GOD'S PROMISE - I AM WITH YOU.
Join us for a fulfilling morning of mission on Saturday, February 2nd at Food Outreach (on Olive and Compton). Beginning at 8am, we will don our hats and hair nets and get to work packaging meals for those in need. No prior experience necessary- the Food Outreach program is very well organized- simply show up and everything you need will be provided there. We are seeking to establish a group of 15-20 participants ages 12 and up. Please sign up in the gathering space and indicate if you have interest in carpooling! This event is loved and enjoyed by many- we are excited to have you join!
FDP's Chili Cook-Off will be held in the Gathering Space Friday evening February 22nd. Please sign-up in the Gathering Space to bring your best chili! There is a list of complimentary foods ( cornbread, oyster crackers, shredded cheese, etc.) if you don’t want to enter your chili. We'll eat, cast votes for our favorite chili, and enjoy each other’s company. Prizes will be awarded to the top 3 entries. Doors open at 6:30pm. Chili eating and judging begins at 7pm. Hope to see you there!
Help feed Hungry College Students! Support Presbyterian campus ministry in St. Louis with homemade Sunday dinner. UKirk gathers on Sunday evenings at Trinity Presbyterian - 6800 Washington Ave - for dinner, fellowship, and worship. We gather to be fed in body and spirit (dinner at 7:15 and worship at 8). If you'd like to prepare a meal for us (to be dropped off that evening or at another time coordinated with Pastor Miriam), learn more and sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f054da8af2babf85-ukirk3
As our ministry has grown, we are in need of administrative help. Here is a job description for our new part-time position that we're calling a "ministry associate." Here is the link to the document on our website.
If you are willing to serve as a greeter or a liturgist on Sunday mornings or are willing to bring refreshments for fellowship in the gathering space after worship, please sign up by using one of the links below or calling Tiara in the church office.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4AABA82BA1F49-volunteering
The Rev. Marilyn Gamm comes to serve with us as our Transitional Pastor after having served a little over a year as the Transitional Pastor for Pacific Presbyterian Church, Pacific, MO and First Presbyterian Church, Union, MO. She is an experienced pastor and transitional/interim pastor, transitional presbytery executive, presbytery and national church leader.
Pastor Marilyn is a native of Missouri, having grown up on a farm near Bowling Green. She is a cradle Presbyterian, which increasingly is an anomaly in our denomination. For most of her 28 years in lay and ordained ministry Pastor Marilyn has served smaller Midwestern congregations in Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana, Kansas and Wisconsin. She has also served in transitional pastoral roles with a large church in Wisconsin and as a presbytery executive in southern California.
Smaller congregations with their close, caring relationships hold a special place in her heart. She is a trained and experienced interim/transitional pastor who enjoys collaborating with congregations and presbyteries to discern and live into what the prophet Isaiah calls God’s new thing, whatever that new thing may be.
Pastor Marilyn is also an experienced presbyter, having served in leadership roles and on many of her different presbyteries’ committees. Most recently she served the national church as an elected member of the Presbyterian Mission Agency Board of Directors, and as Board Chair from 2014 to 2016. She currently serves on the Presbyterian Mission Agency’s Mission Resources Development Committee.
Prior to seminary, Pastor Marilyn was a broadcast journalist and executive for nine years, working in television in Jefferson City and St. Louis, and in radio in Bowling Green and Louisiana. She is a graduate of William Woods University in Fulton, the St. Louis Broadcast Center, and Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. She has memberships in the Daughters of the American Revolution and PEO. Pastor Marilyn is a life-long St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan, and also enjoys watching the Triple Crown horse races. She is an avid gardener, which she finds both enjoyable and at times therapeutic.
Pastor Marilyn lives in Ballwin with her spouse, the Rev. Dr. Craig Howard, who is the Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy’s Presbytery Leader. They share his two adult daughters, Jacqueline Howard and Judith Howard, both of Chicago.
As many of you know by now, Ron Robinson resigned as our Music Director effective 12/30 and his last service with us was Christmas Eve. Rene Zajner, who was with us much of last summer, has agreed to join us for the immediate future. We are already enjoying his wonderful organ music! Please join Worship Arts in welcoming Rene to Faith Des Peres.
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.
GUN VIOLENCE is a crisis for public health. What is the church doing? What individual responses are possible? Please plan on attending. Older Youth and Adults might want to do a quick read of Jason Reynolds’ short book, LONG WAY DOWN, for insights. This is available at the St. Louis County public library, Amazon or your favorite book store.
There will be a light lunch and a lively discussion. Please sign up in the Gathering Space for planning purposes.
Our PW Women bible study meet the last Wednesday of the Month at 9:30am in the Gathering Space. Our Bible Study guide for the year is GOD'S PROMISE - I AM WITH YOU.
Join us for a fulfilling morning of mission on Saturday, February 2nd at Food Outreach (on Olive and Compton). Beginning at 8am, we will don our hats and hair nets and get to work packaging meals for those in need. No prior experience necessary- the Food Outreach program is very well organized- simply show up and everything you need will be provided there. We are seeking to establish a group of 15-20 participants ages 12 and up. Please sign up in the gathering space and indicate if you have interest in carpooling! This event is loved and enjoyed by many- we are excited to have you join!
FDP's Chili Cook-Off will be held in the Gathering Space Friday evening February 22nd. Please sign-up in the Gathering Space to bring your best chili! There is a list of complimentary foods ( cornbread, oyster crackers, shredded cheese, etc.) if you don’t want to enter your chili. We'll eat, cast votes for our favorite chili, and enjoy each other’s company. Prizes will be awarded to the top 3 entries. Doors open at 6:30pm. Chili eating and judging begins at 7pm. Hope to see you there!
If you are willing to serve as a greeter or a liturgist on Sunday mornings or are willing to bring refreshments for fellowship in the gathering space after worship, please sign up by using one of the links below or calling Tiara in the church office.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4AABA82BA1F49-volunteering
Your time and help in this part of the ministry of Faith Des Peres is always appreciated.
The Rev. Marilyn Gamm comes to serve with us as our Transitional Pastor after having served a little over a year as the Transitional Pastor for Pacific Presbyterian Church, Pacific, MO and First Presbyterian Church, Union, MO. She is an experienced pastor and transitional/interim pastor, transitional presbytery executive, presbytery and national church leader.
Pastor Marilyn is a native of Missouri, having grown up on a farm near Bowling Green. She is a cradle Presbyterian, which increasingly is an anomaly in our denomination. For most of her 28 years in lay and ordained ministry Pastor Marilyn has served smaller Midwestern congregations in Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana, Kansas and Wisconsin. She has also served in transitional pastoral roles with a large church in Wisconsin and as a presbytery executive in southern California.
Smaller congregations with their close, caring relationships hold a special place in her heart. She is a trained and experienced interim/transitional pastor who enjoys collaborating with congregations and presbyteries to discern and live into what the prophet Isaiah calls God’s new thing, whatever that new thing may be.
Pastor Marilyn is also an experienced presbyter, having served in leadership roles and on many of her different presbyteries’ committees. Most recently she served the national church as an elected member of the Presbyterian Mission Agency Board of Directors, and as Board Chair from 2014 to 2016. She currently serves on the Presbyterian Mission Agency’s Mission Resources Development Committee.
Prior to seminary, Pastor Marilyn was a broadcast journalist and executive for nine years, working in television in Jefferson City and St. Louis, and in radio in Bowling Green and Louisiana. She is a graduate of William Woods University in Fulton, the St. Louis Broadcast Center, and Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. She has memberships in the Daughters of the American Revolution and PEO. Pastor Marilyn is a life-long St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan, and also enjoys watching the Triple Crown horse races. She is an avid gardener, which she finds both enjoyable and at times therapeutic.
Pastor Marilyn lives in Ballwin with her spouse, the Rev. Dr. Craig Howard, who is the Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy’s Presbytery Leader. They share his two adult daughters, Jacqueline Howard and Judith Howard, both of Chicago.
You do not want to miss this Sunday. Faith Des Peres is on the move and we have some exciting news to share with our members, family and friends! Please plan on attending and join us in the excitement.
It is an honor and a pleasure to have Rev. Dr. Miller as our guest minister Sunday. Rev. Miller will be our guest preacher for the month of January.
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.
Join us for GAME NIGHT in the Gathering Space on Friday evening, January 11th at 6:30 pm. Bring your favorite board games, drinks, and a snack to share. Fun for the whole family. All are welcome!
