 August 2026 Vol.I, No.8 |
| Welcome to the new format for the this edition of The Ivy Vine, Ivy Chapel’s monthly newsletter. The newsletter can be opened in a pdf format by clicking this link. If you would like a pdf format of the Vine emailed, please contact Kara in the office at ivychapelucc@ivychapel.org . |
| August’s Message From the Pastor Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell |
| “Tell me the facts and I’ll learn. Tell me the truth and I’ll believe. But tell me a story and it will live in (my) heart forever.” Native American Proverb As human beings, we are wired for stories. They connect us with others through shared experiences. They spark our empathy. They help us understand the world around us. During chapel at seminary, I heard one preacher who only told stories to share the points of his message. In my first pastorate, a congregant said she would never forget the illustration I shared about being in line at the grocery store. Powerful, relatable stories stay with us. One of the things that I love most about the Bible is that it is full of stories of how individuals related to God. The story of Abraham who left his home with his family to go to an unknown land. The story of Joseph and his beloved coat of many colors. The story of a Moses seeing a bush on fire, but not consumed. The story of Mary’s visit by an angel telling her she would give birth though she was not yet married. The stories Jesus told of “The Good Samaritan” and “The Prodigal Son”. These are stories I heard first as a child, but they have informed me throughout my life about God’s nature and character. The theme for worship during August is “A Story of God’s People”. We will be reflecting upon the stories from Genesis and Exodus as well as from the Gospel of Matthew. These are stories about Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and the people of Israel during their slavery in Egypt. These are stories about Jesus and his interactions with his disciples. The hope is that in hearing these stories once again, we can discover insights to lead us forward through a time of change. In August we will also explore our story as the people of God at Ivy Chapel. On August 9 after worship, we will have an informational forum to review what has been done during the first year of our interim process. I will present a report on Key Actions that have been taken. We will review the ways we have expanded our Outreach in order to grow as a congregation. Our Moderator, John Weiland, will present an update from the Pastoral Search Committee about where we are in the process of seeking a Settled Pastor. We at Ivy Chapel will learn new stories as we kick off our 2026-2027 Christian Education program on “Rally Day”, August 23. I hope you will plan to attend and stay for our special time of fellowship hosted by Mary & Martha Women’s Group, “Dessert for $1.” Additionally, Confirmation Class will resume on August 30 to review materials covered and complete our final sessions this Fall. Finally, we can listen to each other’s stories as we continue to build relationships that add meaning and purpose to our lives. We all have a story to share. Perhaps your story will be just what God will use to give courage and hope to someone in need of it. |
 |
| 2 Aug 2026, Tenth Sun after Pentecost: Genesis 32:22-31, Matthew 14:13-21 9 Aug 2026, Eleventh Sun after Pentecost: Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28, Matthew 14:22-33 16 Aug 2026, Twelfth Sun after Pentecost: Genesis 45:1-15, Matthew 15:21-28 23 Aug 2026, Thirteenth Sun after Pentecost: Psalm 124, Exodus 1:8-14, 2:1-10 30 Aug 2026, Fourteenth Sun after Pentecost: Exodus 3:1-15, Matthew 16:21-28 6 Sept 2026, Fifteenth Sun after Pentecost: Exodus 12:1-14, Psalm 149, Romans 13:8-14, Matthew 18:15-20 All of the scripture we use for worship can be found through this link to the Vanderbilt University library’s lectionary collection. |
| Ivy will now be including Prayer Requests in our weekly KYPs.If you would like a prayer to be included in our weekly KYP or worshipannouncements, please contact Pastor Carol, the main office or submit them through our website on the prayer request page. |
 |
| A congregational forum will be held immediately following worship on Sunday, August 9. The forum will focus on reports regarding the Intentional Interim Period (August 2025-July 2026) to date. Reports will include:· Accomplishments Outreach endeavors to grow Ivy Chapel Information from the Pastoral Search Committee. All of the information distributed will be posted on the Ivy website following the event. |
 |
| Each month the Ivy Chapel Council will provide an update to the Ivy community in the monthly newsletter, The Ivy Vine, regarding the search for our new Pastor. If there are special updates those will also be announced in the weekly KYP’s and posted on the website. |
| SEARCH UPDATE:The Settled Pastor Search Committee has finalized the church profileand will be posting the position listing through theUCC Missouri Mid-South Conference at the beginning of August.Thank you for your continued support of the committee and Ivy. |
 |
| —Frank Purviance and Kara White for coordinating the Narthex door replacement project – it went well and it works! —Bob Meinz and Earl Kreder for their special music at the July 5th worship service and Valerie Waterman for her vocal offering at the July 12th worship service. Their gifts truly enhance our worship experience. —The Pastoral Search Committee for their commitment to completing Ivy Chapel’s Settled Pastor Church Profile document. —Kara White, Don Wolff and Valerie Waterman for “fighting the fight” with Ivy Chapel’s sound system. |
 |
| The Trustees had a busy month!• Earl replaced a broken carburetor on the tractor.• Replaced the broken door system on the main doors with an ADAcompliant operating system.• Trained all of our renters on the new use of the door system. • Dave and Julie cleaned up and mulched the planting at the islandsand at the front of the building. • Dave continues to maintain the vegetable garden.• Jim and Mary cut the grass and trimmed the Memorial Garden andthe flag pole bushes.• Mark and Earl cut the grass. Tom and Jim are also Grass Guys.• Bruce cut the Hill and Playground. |
 |
| The Mary and Martha Women’s Group met on July 21st with a lovely devotion from Jan Wirtz. The Dessert for a Dollar Bake Sale will be on Aug. 23rd. It is a serving of a dessert for 2 people for $1.00 or however much you might like to contribute. There will be small plates and plastic bags for wrapping the desserts available from Kay Kreder on the two Sundays prior to the Sale. Desserts will then be brought on Sunday morning before worship already wrapped and labeled as to what they are. We can use all contributions of baked items. The money raised will be divided equally between the two lunch pantries we support-Circle of Concern and Isaiah 58- to buy what they feel is needed, personal care, cleaners, food etc. The remainder of the meeting was spent planning the Salad Luncheon for the following Sunday. This money will be divided equally betweenthe Ivy Fund the Facility and the Sisters Rising World Wide(Uganda Mission). |
| The safety upgrades and new electronic entry system have been installed and are operational! Please note that the main doors now require an access code for entrybefore or after scheduled events, such as worship. Existing keys will no longer work at the main entrance (Narthex) doors. Please contact the office to set up a time to get your entry keycode.314-434-4991 or ivychapelucc@ivychapel.org |
 |
| The Confirmation Class will be starting up again at the end of the month. Mark your calendars for Sunday, August 30th for the first class following Fellowship time.Look for more information to be coming out soon regarding other youth classes and activities. Sunday School will still happen on the first and third Sundays of the month after the Children’s Worship portion of the service. |
| Please Let Tara know if you have any questions regarding the Youthby contacting her at tara@ivychapel.org |
| Sunday Youth Activities |
| Aug. 2— Sunday School for youth following the Children’s Message Aug. 9—Grab a worship bag and join us for the service Aug 16— Sunday School for youth following the Children’s Message Aug 23—RALLY SUNDAY!!! Grab a worship bag and join us for the service Aug 30— Grab a worship bag and join us for the service Confirmation Class following Fellowship after worship Sept. 6—Sunday School for youth following the Children’s Message |
| Media Team Recruitment! Are you interested in helping move Ivy Chapel towards more interaction with the community through our media outreach? Join the media team! Please contact the office if you are interested 314-434-4991 or ivychapelucc@ivychapel.org Help us to shape the future of Ivy Chapel online! New Media Release Forms As Ivy continues to move into the digital age through livestreaming our worship services and ournew website, we need to make sure we have permission from our members to show their images. We are asking you to review and sign our new media release form for us to include you in the livestream,on our website, and social media. Please check with Pastor Carol or the Ivy office to obtain a copy. |
| August Birthdays:Dottie Foster — Michelle Moody — Gloria Wintrode — Kathryn KuntzmanErin Winship — Earl Kreder — Brittany Wolff — Jim French — Nick Wintrode Claire Lowry — Michael Pfau — Michelle Purviance |
 |
| August Anniversaries: Carl and Pat Winship Earl and Kay Kreder |
 |
 |
| 2 Aug — Julie McAlister and Dave Mentzel —communion preparer Jan Wirtz 9 Aug — Diann and Jim Sheahan 16 Aug — Donna Grote and Jan Wirtz 23 Aug — Don Wolff and John Weiland 30 Aug — Dottie Foster and Gail Thoele 6 Sept — Kay and Earl Kreder—communion preparer Gail Thoele |
 |
| 2 Aug — Audrey Farrell 9 Aug — Julie McAllister 16 Aug — Kathryn Kuntzman 23 Aug — Jo Ann Moody 30 Aug — John Weiland 6 Sept — Linda Lowry |
| August —Debbie Glenn — Leader Evelyn Stecher — Co-leader September—Donna Grote — Leader Linda Lowry — Co-leader Please reach out to the office if you need their contact information. |
| Ahead on the Calendar –please click here for a downloadable August calendar. |
| Weekly Worship Service, Sunday, August 2, 10am Coffee Fellowship, Sunday, August 2, after worship Deacons Meeting via Zoom, Wednesday, August 5, 7pm Weekly Worship Service, Sunday, August 9, 10am Informational Forum/Update on the Interim Process, Sunday, August 9, 11am Coffee Fellowship, Sunday, August 9, after worship Council Meeting via Zoom, Monday, August 10, 7pm Weekly Worship Service, Sunday, August 16, 10am Coffee Fellowship, Sunday, August 16, after worship Mary & Martha Women’s Group Meeting, Tuesday, August 18, 1pm Men’s Luncheon, Wednesday, August 19, Mimi’s Cafe, 11:30am Rally Day, Sunday, August 23 Weekly Worship Service, Sunday, August 23, 10am Dessert for $1 fundraiser, Sunday, August 23rd after worship Weekly Worship Service, Sunday, August 30, 10am Coffee Fellowship, Sunday, August 30, after worship Confirmation Class begins, Sunday, August 30, following Fellowship Weekly Worship Service, Sunday, Sept. 6, 10 am Coffee Fellowship, Sunday, Sept. 6, after worship Labor Day Holiday, Monday, Sept. 7, Office Closed |
| For information between newsletters be sure to follow us on our other social media- FaceBook and Instagram |
 |
Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ 620 N. Woods Mills Road Chesterfield, MO 314-434-4991 ivychapelucc@ivychapel.org  |
