COVENANT NEWS The Newsletter of the First Congregational Church of Webster Groves Inside this issue: CUE 2 Happy Juneteenth 2 Tracey’s Blessing 3 2018 Graduates 3 Congratulations! 4 Moderator’s Corner 4 Summer Issue Covenant News 4 Cliff’s Notes 5 History...Did You Know 5 Trip to Blues Museum 6 Adult Ed Opportunities 6 7 7 7 8 9 9 A Thank You June Birthdays Change is Good June Calendar Missing Someone? Meal-a-Month FROM THE PASTOR How to Keep ings New after 25 Years “I am doing a new thing.” (Isaiah 43:19) I was ordained on Sunday, June 20, 1993. e wife of one of my seminary professors was a fabric artist, and I got to wear for the first time my Pentecost stole she had made. Some friends had contracted a bagpiper, and we all had a magnificent party to celebrate. A couple of weeks later, I started serving the First Congregational Church of Forest Glen. Everything seemed new. Granted, I’d been serving churches for eleven years by then – five as a pastor, two as a youth pastor, and six as an office worker (overlapping the pastoring years). at means that I’ve been in ministry for thirty-six years and in the pastorate for thirty of those. I get this thing I call “age vertigo” every once in a while, from looking back a long distance. It comes on, almost the same way I can get height vertigo, from looking down a long distance. Everything can seem a little old then, or maybe it’s just me. Absolutely no one has ever asked me, except myself right now, how I keep things new in my work or, as I would say it, how I prevent age vertigo. I don’t know whether you haven’t asked because you think that I don’t keep things fresh, and you’re being polite, or you haven’t asked because I keep things so new that you hadn’t realized this could possibly be a valid question. (Either way, thank you!) I’ll tell you something about keeping fresh despite the vertigo. ings stay fresh and new for me in this work, because things keep changing. Take for example, this month. We’ll be confirming the faith of three young women on June 3 and receiving new members on June 17. e congregation is changing. We’ll be celebrating the Pride of being Open and Affirming on June 24. And although we’ve been ONA for ten years now, every week it seems there is some new aspect – or previously unrecognized aspect – of sexuality coming to light and demonstrating God’s brilliance in creating. What more than leading a congregation could one possibly need for keeping things new? Everything here seems new. Almost every day. Peace. JUNE 2018
Transcript
COVENANT NEWSThe Newsletter of the First Congregational Church of Webster Groves
Inside this issue:
CUE 2
Happy Juneteenth 2
Tracey’s Blessing 3
2018 Graduates 3
Congratulations! 4
Moderator’s Corner 4
Summer Issue Covenant News 4
Cliff’s Notes 5
History...Did You Know 5
Trip to Blues Museum 6
Adult Ed Opportunities 6
7
7
7
8
9
9
A Thank You
June Birthdays
Change is Good
June Calendar
Missing Someone?
Meal-a-Month
FROM THE PASTORHow to Keep Things New after 25 Years
“I am doing a new thing.” (Isaiah 43:19)
I was ordained on Sunday, June 20, 1993. The wife of one of my seminary professors was a fabric artist, and I got to wear for the first time my Pentecost stole she had made. Some friends had contracted a bagpiper, and we all had a magnificent party to celebrate. A couple of weeks later, I started serving the First Congregational Church of Forest Glen. Everything seemed new.
Granted, I’d been serving churches for eleven years by then – five as a pastor, two as a youth pastor, and six as an officeworker (overlapping the pastoring years). That means thatI’ve been in ministry for thirty-six years and in the pastoratefor thirty of those. I get this thing I call “age vertigo” everyonce in a while, from looking back a long distance. It comeson, almost the same way I can get height vertigo, from
looking down a long distance. Everything can seem a little old then, or maybe it’s just me.
Absolutely no one has ever asked me, except myself right now, how I keep things new in my work or, as I would say it, how I prevent age vertigo. I don’t know whether you haven’t asked because you think that I don’t keep things fresh, and you’re being polite, or you haven’t asked because I keep things so new that you hadn’t realized this could possibly be a valid question. (Either way, thank you!)
I’ll tell you something about keeping fresh despite the vertigo. Things stay fresh and new for me in this work, because things keep changing. Take for example, this month. We’ll be confirming the faith of three young women on June 3 and receiving new members on June 17. The congregation is changing.
We’ll be celebrating the Pride of being Open and Affirming on June 24. And although we’ve been ONA for ten years now, every week it seems there is some new aspect – or previously unrecognized aspect – of sexuality coming to light and demonstrating God’s brilliance in creating.
What more than leading a congregation could one possibly need for keeping things new? Everything here seems new. Almost every day.
Peace.
JUNE 2018
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THANKS FROM CUEThe Congregation on February 25 collected $325 to benefit the UCC seminaries of the Midwest – Chicago, United of the Twin Cities, and Eden. The office received a certificate of thanks, acknowledging the gift.
HAPPY JUNETEENTH!From 1865 onward, June 19 or “Juneteenth” has been celebrated as Freedom Day in many African American communities. This year in our area, the Alliance for Interracial Dignity with partner organizations Touchy Topics Tuesdays and Sisters CARE (Christians Advocating Racial Equality) will host a Juneteenth gathering at Tilles Park in the SKOW Pavilion, Tuesday, June 19 from 5:30 to 8:30PM. Their invitation is to everyone who wishes to participate.
The cost is $15 per adult, $7 per child 5-10 years old, and free for children under 5 years old. Advanced registration is required. Register at:
https://form.jotform.com/81357546809164!
About Juneteenth
On Monday, June 19, 1865, Gen. Gordon Granger of the United States Army, who had been recently appointed the commander of the District of Texas, read
General Order No. 3 on the steps of the Ashton Villa in Galveston, Texas, to a gathered crowd:
The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection therefore existing between them becomes that between employer and free laborer.
This was the last announcement of liberty to black captives after the Civil War. Similar pronouncements had been made throughout the states that had practiced slavery since the founding of the nation, by the occupying forces of the federal government. But the message reached Texas last.
The Galveston announcement represented the culmination of the efforts of hundreds and hundreds of thousands of faithful people throughout our country. Some would have considered themselves faithful according to their Christianity or other liberty-based religion, such as the Abolitionists; others would have considered themselves faithful according to their patriotic duty, such as the soldiers and sailors who fought for the Union.
General Order No. 3 was designed to change our country forever – society and culture, politics and business. Most white citizens of the South were horrified and offended by the extremity of change the Order initiated. Carried out for only twelve years, the Order was the beginning of the process of Reconstruction. This process was interrupted and ceased in 1877 when a compromise between Northern Republicans and Southern Democrats awarded moderate Republican Rutherford Hayes the presidency. Part of that compromise was for Hayes to end the military occupation of the South, and thereby also Reconstruction.
So, even though freedom came long ago to our area, our annual Juneteenth celebration will finally arrive, 153 years in the making. of the Three-in-One.
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TIME FOR VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL!We are seeking registrants and volunteers for Vacation Bible School (VBS) 2018! This year’s VBS will be done in cooperation with our sister congregation Old Community Baptist Church, 238 W. Kirkham Ave.
Programming for VBS will come in two portions. Participants may attend either VBS at one or both churches:
The first portion will be June 6-8 at Old Community Baptist Church, 6:30 - 8:30 pm, with classes for ALL AGES, preschool through adult. A light meal will be served. On June 9th there will be a picnic at Memorial Park in Brentwood, where there will be games and food.
The second portion will be June 10-14 at First Congregational Church. Participants may attend either portion or both. There will be classes for Pre-K –5th grade as well as adult sessions. The youth are encouraged to volunteer. A light meal is served at 6:00 pm, each night of the program. Classes immediately follow and are in session until 8:30.
To enroll for VBS, simply go to our website and fill out a form for each participant enrolling. To volunteer as a teacher of any age except adult, and for either portion or both, please contact me. I am also your contact, if you want to volunteer for meal service at First Church.
Peace, Tracey Harris, DCE
2018 GRADUATES
The future looks bright as we honor all of the 2018 graduates.
High School
Ella Marie Schmidt graduated from John Burroughs School. She will attend Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine in the fall. Her parents are Marie Griffith and Leigh Schmidt and her Grandparents are Charlie and Nannelle Griffith.
Emma von Weise graduated from Webster Groves High School: Magna Cum Laude. She will attend Parks University in Kansas City this fall. She is the daughter of Chris von Weise and David von Weise.
Trevor Zink graduated from Webster Groves High School. He is taking a hiatus from his studies this fall and will be reporting back on future endeavors. His parents are Terri and Mark Thompson.
College
Lauren Albeneseius graduated from Webster University with a Masters in Business and Organization Security Management. She graduated with Academic Honors. Her parents are Bob and Cathy Buerk.
Alice McHugh graduated from Webster University with a Bachelor of Arts in General Studies. Her parents are Peter and Julie McHugh.
Tyler Woodsmall graduated from University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), with a degree in Marketing and a minor in Legal Studies. He is employed by GFI Digital in St. Louis. His parents are Rob and Ibby Woodsmall. He is the grandson of Carolyn Woodsmall.
Eden Theological Seminary
Philip Barbier | Amy Brooks | Christopher CzarneckiAll graduated the Master of Divinity (M. Div.) program
CONGRATULATIONS!Memorial Day, May 28, ten members of the First Church Chancel Choir - (back row) Erick Falconer, Marilyn Davis, Director Ray Landis, Dawna Williams, Roger Barnes, Charley Craig, (front row) Helen Moody, Nina Thompson, and Terri Thompson - joined with other choristers from across the country at Lincoln Center in New York, for a performance of Composer-In-Residence Rosephanye Powell’s Gospel Trinity. The composer’s spouse Maestro William Powell conducted.
The full concert, “The Sacred and the Profane” (also featuring Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, conducted by Jonathan Griffith), is now available for streaming online from the Facebook page of the sponsoring organization, Distinguished Concerts International New York - DCINY.
MODERATOR’S CORNER JUNE 2018OK, I admit it, I was sucked in again!! I said, “I’ll just watch a little to see how things are going.” Three cups of coffee later…I wasn’t looking for “the dress”, but I was hooked. It was the memories of my daughter watching royal weddings as a child, and now her texts as we compared notes. And then… there was the Gospel choir and the message about Love.
This black American Episcopal male bishop succeeded in speaking very personally, not only to the couple and their guests, but to the whole watching world! He essentially said, “Love can solve it all. Strong as fire, it can do it all.”
As we endure the heartbreak of yet another school shooting, the divisiveness of politics and faulty communications, can Love fix it all? Can we reach right through our negative thoughts and feelings to love one another, though we may not understand their point of view or their personal experiences?
The first hymn used in the Royal Wedding was ”Lord of All Hopefulness” (you know my weakness for good hymns). This hymn actually hangs on the side of my fridge, the side that I see as I work. It reminds me to be hopeful, eager, and kind. It reminds me that God is the joy, strength and Love in our hearts. Come what may, “at the end of the day” we must always apply our Love for each other.
“…the joys and struggles of Discipleship”
Linda Kopetti
SUMMER ISSUE OF COVENANT NEWSJuly and August will be a combined issue of Covenant News. Please submit all articles, pictures, events, etc. to Debbie by Wednesday, June 20th.
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CLIFF’S NOTESGone fishing! Actually, fishing has never been a forte of mine, so it’s more like—out for an extended hike on a mountain trail, or just working in the garden. Which is to say, MICA is on a summer holiday. Not that the Aerie life isn’t busy but my attention has turned to the planning mode.
The past two months have included leading “Good Friday Blues,” assisting in Ray’s concert production of “Wound in the Water,” and presenting the premier edition of “Inner Jazz.” We had a nice turnout for Inner Jazz. The Sample Chapel was transformed into a coffeehouse setting. Blending jazz and the Tao Te Ching we offered creative meditation reflecting on the inner journeys we take on our life’s quest. A particular highlight for me was putting my sax down and listening to Kim Fuller sing, “What a Wonderful World.” For indeed it is!
With summertime approaching my First Church time will focus on planning: “Jazz Noel” (yes, Christmas is just around the corner) and the next edition of Inner Jazz (date yet to be determined). I’ll also be preaching on July 8 while Pastor Dave is on vacation.
I won’t be around much on Sundays until the end of August due, in part, to trips to Milwaukee and Cleveland for UCC General Synod preparations. If you’re not aware, I serve as the Program Coordinator/Artistic Director for our denomination’s biannual gathering, and there’s much to prepare for the next synod in June of 2019. My wife and I will also be in UK for three weeks this summer reveling in our role as grandparents of Fiona (3 years old) and Owen (just 4 months old).
I wish you summer blessings and hope that you all have time to go fishing, hiking, traveling, or just lazing about in a hammock, under a shady tree, sipping lemonade and reading a good book.
Creative Blessings,Rev. Cliff Aerie MICA Director (Ministry of Imagination, Creativity and the Arts)
HISTORY...DID YOU KNOW?In the Narthex foyer is a plaque showing that the event sign on Lockwood Ave. was given in memory of Allen E. & Gertrude Richardson and Allen G. & Maxine Richardson by the Inglis Players.
Allen G. and Maxine directed plays professionally. As church volunteers they, about 1944, started the Inglis Players with a committee of people interested in producing plays. Backed by the Board of Christen Education they produced three shows a year, financed by goodwill offerings. Rev. Ervine Inglis wrote in 1947, “I consider you and Maxine one of the
ministers of religion in this church.” They continued their ministry into the 1960s.
In the Narthex are five arches with the names of people who contributed to the building fund for the new sanctuary built in 1993-4. A quote from Winston Churchill is printed in the center arch, “We share our buildings and afterwards our buildings shape us.”
Kay Roush 2018
THE BLUES MUSEUM & SUGARFIRE BBQ – SATURDAY, JUNE 9Delve into the legacy of Blues music, and enjoy some of the best BBQ in town! Meet at the Church to car pool at 10:45 or join us at 11:30 at the Blues Museum, 615 Washington Ave. in downtown St. Louis. Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for children. Lunch will be at Sugarfire located next door to the Museum. Parking is available on the street or at the garage across the street from the museum.
Please sign up in the office for this SAGE sponsored event so we can alert the museum and restaurant we are coming. For more information contact Kay Roush
ADULT EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIESA Day in the Life of (Women) Scientists – June 10, 2018 at 11:15 am
Recently, the #metoo movement called attention to the challenges that women often face in the workplace. Science, like any social endeavor, is not immune to those challenges. First Church will host a discussion of “scientific life” with five women scientists from the St. Louis region on Sunday, June 10. The panelists are eager to share their journeys and answer your questions. They will discuss what they love about science, why they chose a career in science, what difficulties they have experienced during their career, and what advice they would tell aspiring scientists. Our discussion will also touch on how social biases influence the life of women in science.
PANELISTS Elena Claudia Ciotir, Plant Evolutionary Biologist, Saint Louis University
Stacy Donovan, Cell Biologist, Maryville University Aimee Dunlap, Cognitive Ecologist, University of Missouri-St. Louis
MODERATOR Nicole Miller-Struttmann, Evolutionary Ecologist, Webster University
Understanding Memory Loss - Aging vs Alzheimer’s Disease Mary Coats, MSN – June 24 at 11:15
There will be a presentation by Mary Coats, MSN, of the Washington University’s Memory and Aging Project, who will be discussing the dementing illnesses associated with aging, with a special focus on Alzheimer’s Disease. Mary served for 28 years (1986-2013) at the Alzheimer Disease Research Center (ADRC) at Washington University as an Advanced Practice Nurse, Educator, Researcher, and then as an Assistant Clinical Core Leader. Since 2013, she has been working part-time with the WU Memory and Aging Project. She reports that the toughest job she ever had was caregiving for her father who had Alzheimer Disease in the 1990’s.
On Sunday, June 24, from 11:30-12:30, in the Kishlar Room, Mary will discuss the insights that she has accumulated in her many years of work in this area. She will also provide a status report on the current understanding about multiple aspects of Alzheimer Disease and on cutting-edge research initiatives that hopefully will permit early identification and treatment of this difficult disease and stem the flood of new cases that will occur in the next several decades if successful remittive therapies are not created. Our society has a tremendous stake in the success of these endeavors.
We hope that many of you will be able to attend this very informative and important presentation.
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THANK YOU!
I was very surprised to be called to the front of the church on Sunday, May 6. What an honor it was to be recognized for my involvement at church and more precisely for serving as church Archivist.
Thank you so much.
Kay Roush
JUNE BIRTHDAYS
Mia Genazzi – June 19 Darryl White-Lenard – June 22 Gus McLean – June 23 Abigail Monoco – June 23 Sam Short – June 23 Jonathan Brader – June 24 David Hamsher – June 24 Bob McCoy – June 24 Lucy Corelli – June 27 Rosemary Hensley – June 27 Peter Waltz – June 27 Cindie Luhman – June 28 Ron Gomez – June 29 Aiden Kaalberg – June 29 Kate Stepleton – June 29 Randy Whitman – June 29
Donna Hull – June 1 Jenny Jones – June 3 Nolan Breitenbach – June 4 Christina Hood – June 5 Michael Monaco – June 8 Payton White-Lenard – June 8 Charles Griffith – June 9 Lauren Bakker-Arkema – June 11 Suzie Barnes – June 11 Ryan Rosebrock White-Lenard – June 11 Ken Musbach – June 13 Tom Stepleton – June 14 Ginny Conlee – June 16 Laszlo Kopetti– June 17 Nick Paci – June 18 Cliff Aerie – June 19
CHANGES CAN BE GOOD!We have officially and successfully migrated our church management software from Fellowship One to Breeze (an appropriate name for software that is so easy to use). If you have not received an email, inviting you to create an account (see image on right), you may access the member area by typing in: https://fccwgstlmo.breezechms.com/login/create. This will allow you to browse the church directory online, see your own information, and check your giving status. If you have any questions, feel free to give me a holler in the office at 314-962-0475.
9:00 AM Confirmation Rehearsal 10:00 AM Confirmation Breakfast
3 – Confirmation Sunday Sacrament of Christ’s Table 9:00 AM Brown Baggers 9:00 AM Nursery Care 9:55 AM Worship 9:55 AM Youth in Worship 10:15 AM Sunday School 11:05 AM Coffee Fellowship 11:15 AM Unichords
4 9:00 AM Monday Morning Men 1:00 PM Center for Counseling and Healing 7:00 PM Boy Scouts
59:00 AM Endowment Counselors 1:00 PM Center for Counseling and Healing
61:00 PM Center for Counseling and Healing 6:00 PM VBS (Old Community)
7Missouri Mid-South Conference (UCC) Annual Gathering 10:00 AM FAITH: Continuing the Search 1:30 PM Recorders 6:00 PM VBS (Old Community)
9 Missouri Mid-South Conference (UCC) Annual Gathering 11:00 AM SAGE – A Trip to the Blues Museum & Lunch 12:00 PM VBS Picnic (Memorial Park, Brentwood)2:00 PM Memorial Service: Edith Graber
10 9:00 AM Nursery Care 9:55 AM Worship 10:15 AM Sunday School 11:05 AM Coffee Fellowship 11:15 AM Adult Education: “A Day in the Life of (Women) Scientists” 11:30 AM Worship Reflection 6:00 PM VBS (FCCWG)
119:00 AM Monday Morning Men 1:00 PM Center for Counseling and Healing 6:00 PM VBS (FCCWG)7:00 PM Boy Scouts 7:00 PM Three Ministries
12 9:30 AM Willing Workers 11:30 AM Devine Diners6:00 PM VBS (FCCWG)6:30 Practicing Our Faith
13 1:00 PM Center for Counseling and Healing 6:00 PM VBS (FCCWG)
14 10:00 AM FAITH: Continuing the Search 1:30 PM Recorders 4:00 PM Auction Committee 5:00 PM Missouri Chamber Music Concert 6:00 PM VBS (FCCWG)
156:00 PM Healing Touch Advanced Class
16 8:00 AM Healing Touch Advanced Class
17 Father’s Day9:00 AM Nursery Care9:55 AM Worship 10:15 AM Sunday School 11:05 AM Coffee Fellowship 11:30 AM Music Committee
18 9:00 AM Monday Morning Men 1:00 PM Center for Counseling and Healing 7:00 PM Boy Scouts7:00 PM Executive Ministry
19 9:30 AM Willing Workers 7:00 PM Boy Scout Leaders
201:00 PM Center for Counseling and Healing 7:00 PM Healing Touch Practice
21First Day of Summer10:00 AM FAITH: Continuing the Search 1:30 PM Recorders
225:00 PM Room at the Inn 6:00 PM Dinner & A Movie
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24 Pride Sunday 9:00 AM Nursery Care 9:55 AM Worship 10:15 AM Sunday School 11:05 AM Coffee Fellowship: Ice Cream Social 11:15 AM - 2:00 PM Youth Group 11:30 AM Adult Ed - Understanding Memory Loss
25 9:00 AM Mon-day Morning Men 1:00 PM Center for Counseling and Healing 7:00 PM Boy Scouts
25 9:30 AM Willing Workers7:0 PM Lady Elect
27 1:00 PM Center for Counseling and Healing
28 10:00 AM FAITH: Continuing the Search 1:30 PM Recorders
