September2026 Vol.I, No.9
Welcome to the new format for the this edition of The Ivy Vine, Ivy Chapel’s monthly newsletter-please click at the bottom of the email to view the entire newsletter in this format. The newsletter can be opened in a pdf format by clicking this link (opens in a new tab). If you would like a pdf format of the Vine emailed, please contact Kara in the office at ivychapelucc@ivychapel.org (opens in a new tab) .
Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell
September’s Message From the Pastor
Summer break is over! Children and youth are back in school. Ivy Chapel is awash in planning for our last few Confirmation classes, our annual Fall BBQ, and a new
Drive-thru Blessing of the Pets. Over the last few weeks, my focus has been preparation for Stewardship Season.
The theme this year is “There Our Hearts Will Be”. This is drawn from the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 6. It is part of the Sermon on the Mount attributed to Jesus. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” We give our energy, our time, our gifts and skills, our hope in the areas about which we are most passionate.
Our tagline for Stewardship Season is “Be A Blessing”. You will hear more in September worship about this tagline and why we were inspired to choose it. We will focus on some practical ways the members and friends of Ivy Chapel can carry this out. Our hope is that it will continue to inspire and inform us throughout the coming church year. As we await the selection and arrival of a new Settled Pastor, our ministry continues.
For me, I am passionate about kindness and compassion. The tee shirt I am wearing today is an example: “In a world where you can be anything, BE KIND”. I strive to be kind to family, friends, our church community, and to strangers. This grows from my belief that every person is a beloved child of God. It is also grounded in the example of Jesus from scripture. Of course, there are moments when I fail to achieve this. Yet, I return to this desire repeatedly because that is where my heart is.
So, where is your heart? What is your passion in life and faith? How do you seek to be a blessing to others? I hope you will begin to reflect and pray about these things as we enter this season and church year.
Give as ‘twas given to you in your need;
Love as the Master loved you;
Be to the helpless a helper indeed;
Unto your mission be true.
Make me a blessing,
Make me a blessing,
Out of my life
May Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing,
O savior, I pray,
Make me a blessing to someone today.
“Make Me A Blessing”
Songwriters: George S. Schuler/Gloria Roe
6 Sept 2026, Fifteenth Sun after Pentecost & First Sunday of Stewardship:
Joel 2:12-18, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
13 Sept 2026, Sixteenth Sun after Pentecost & Second Sunday of Stewardship:
Deuteronomy 6:1-9, Mark 8:27-38
20 Sept 2026, Seventeenth Sun after Pentecost & Third Sunday of Stewardship:
Proverbs 3:1-12, John 14:1-6
27 Sept 2026, Eighteenth Sun after Pentecost & Final Sunday of Stewardship:
1 Corinthians 2:1-5, 10-13, 2 Corinthians 4:5-12
4 Oct 2026, Nineteenth Sun after Pentecost:
Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20, Psalm 19, Philippians 3:4b-14, Matthew 21:33-46
All of the scripture we use for worship can be found through this link to the Vanderbilt University library’s lectionary collection. (opens in a new tab)
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 worship announcements, please contact Pastor Carol, the main office or submit them through our website on the prayer request page
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:
In August, the Settled Pastor Selection Committee finalized the UCC Church Profile and the position for Settled Pastor was listed with the UCC. The committee met with the Missouri Mid-South Associate Conference Minister, who provided guidance about next steps in candidate review and interviews. The committee has received several candidate profiles and are currently conducting preliminary reviews of these profiles.
— John Weiland and Pastor Carol for putting together the pastoral search committee
update.
— The Ivy youth for always being willing to make announcements when asked.
— The M&M‘s Women’s group for the salad luncheon.
Starting Labor Day weekend you will noticed the empty spaces where the two Sweetgum trees used to be in our parking lot and entrance area! Phase One was the removal of the trees on Fri., Sept. 4, and after consultation with an arborist, Phase Two will occur in Fall 2027. The replacement for the island will be Missouri native tree(s) that benefit our local ecosystem of birds and bees. The replacement near the office is under discussion at this time due to underground wiring and pipes. More information to come and opportunities to help plan and plant as we move into 2027.
There Our Hearts Will Be invites us into a season of deep spiritual alignment—an honest, hopeful exploration of how our practices, priorities, and resources reveal what truly claims our hearts. Rooted in Jesus’ teaching from Matthew 6, this theme reframes giving not as performance or obligation, but as the quiet, courageous work of placing our hearts in God’s care. Turning to the breadth of our sacred scripture, we’ll examine what we love, whom we trust, and how we live out our faith.
| Ultimately, There Our Hearts Will Be is an invitation to Re-center our lives on God’s quiet faithful presence. Let our giving reflect our deepest values and commitments. Align our actions with our confession of Christ. Allow God to transform, heal and renew our hearts. Practice a generosity that is not performative, but rooted, joyful and Spirit-led. Through this journey, we will discover again that faithful stewardship is not primarily about money—it is about placing our hearts in God’s hands, trusting that where our hearts go, our lives, choices, and resources will follow. Together as a community shaped by grace, we will ask: Where is our treasure? How can our hearts more fully align with God’s? In this season, we commit to making our answer clear. There our hearts will be. |
Each Sunday in September Ivy will be focusing on a different example of how to practice ‘There Our Hearts Will Be’ in our own lives through the examples in scripture and from a special guest speaker sharing their experiences. We will then observe together with the global community, World Communion Sunday, on October 4th followed by Ivy’s Consecration Sunday on October 11th which will conclude with a luncheon for all after worship. We invite you to join us on this journey to where “Our Hearts Will Be.”
Join us at Ivy Chapel for a special drive-thru Blessing of the Animals on Saturday, October 3rd, 3-5pm at Ivy Chapel. We will be honoring the animal-human bond in honor of the feast day of St. Francis, the patron saint of animals. We invite you to bring your pets for an individual blessing from the safety and comfort of your personal vehicle.
Simply drive up to receive your blessing – animal-friendly pets of all shapes, sizes and species are welcome! Please bring a photo of pets who are more comfortable at home so they can also receive this special blessing.
AND THEN STICK AROUND FOR….
Saturday October 3rd, 5-7pm at Ivy Chapel. We will have hamburger or bratwurst plate options and hotdogs for the kids. There will be indoor and outdoor seating available. For more information about either event, please contact the office.
Ivy Chapel will be hosting their annual Fall Blood Drive on Thursday Nov. 5th– please sure to add it to your calendar to be able to give. Look for more information to come in future KYPs and Vines. Give Blood- SAVE A LIFE!
Trustee’s continue to maintain the grass cutting. They acquired bids for the removal of the two sweetgum trees in the parking lot causing issues as well as a third tree that is dead near the vegetable garden that also needs to be removed. The removal is scheduled for Friday, September 4th. Annual fire marshal and fire alarm systems inspections occurred and everything is up to code. Continued thanks to all of those helping to maintain Ivy’s property inside and out!
The Mary and Martha Women’s Group met on Aug. 18th and had a touching devotion from Linda Ledbetter called The Red Marble about a grocer who gave food to destitute boys by asking them to trade food for a marble.
The final funds raised by Dessert for a Dollar was $260.00 and it was decided to give $130.00 each to Isaiah 58 and Circle of Concern .The food pantries appreciate this kind of contribution so they can buy what they need.
Programs for the autumn months were discussed as follows:
September – Make favors for Lydia’s House’s communal Thanksgiving Meal.
October – New gift books for Christmas for all ages by Sarah Heend, Librarian.
November – Project with Seven Pines Residents?
The Confirmation and FAITH 101 classes will be starting up again this month. Sunday School will still happen on the first and third Sundays of the month after the Children’s Worship portion of the service. Look for more information to be coming out soon regarding other youth classes and fall activities.
Please Let Tara know if you have any questions regarding the Youth by contacting her at tara@ivychapel.org (opens in a new tab)
Sept. 6— Sunday School for ALL youth following the Children’s Message
Confirmation Class following Fellowship after worship*
Sept. 13—Grab a worship bag and join us for the service
Sept. 20—Sunday School for ALL youth following the Children’s Message
Confirmation Class following Fellowship after worship*
FAITH 101 following Fellowship after worship*
Sept. 27—Grab a worship bag and join us for the service
Oct. 4— Grab a worship bag and join us for the service
Confirmation Class following Fellowship after worship*
*Tentatively scheduled-please check with Christian Ed
September Birthdays:
Sarah Heend – Frank Purviance – Gail Thoele – Stuart Kirk – Nathanial Thompson –
Calvin Heend – Linda Lowry – Holly Winship Dick Volz – Rich Heend – Jo Ann Moody – Mark Gerdes
September Anniversaries:
Gary & Sue Lindhorst Trish & Mark Baker
Frank Pfau & Beth Noonan
6 Sept — Kay and Earl Kreder
communion preparer Gail Thoele
13 Sept — Kathryn Kuntzman and Jack Molyneaux
20 Sept — Donna Grote and Jan Wirtz
27 Sept– Julie McAllister and Dave Mentzel
4 Oct — Diann and Jim Sheahan
communion preparer Valerie Waterman
6 Sept — Linda Lowry
13 Sept — Jim French
20 Sept — Julie McAllister
27 Sept– Kathryn Kuntzman
4 Oct — Jo Ann Moody
September
Donna Grote — Leader Linda Lowry — Co-leader
October
Jan Wirtz — Leader Julie McAllister — Co-leader
Please reach out to the office if you need their contact information.
Ahead on the Calendar –please click here for a downloadable September calendar. (opens in a new tab)
Stewardship Begins, Sunday, September 6
Weekly Worship Service, Sunday, September 6, 10am
Coffee Fellowship, Sunday, September 6, after worship
Labor Day Holiday, Monday, September 7, Office Closed
Weekly Worship Service, Sunday, September 13, 10am
Coffee Fellowship, Sunday, September 13, after worship
Council Meeting via Zoom, Monday, September 14, 7pm
Mary & Martha Women’s Group Meeting, Tuesday, September 15, 1pm
Men’s Luncheon, Wednesday, September 16, Mimi’s Cafe, 11:30am
Weekly Worship Service, Sunday, September 20, 10am
Coffee Fellowship, Sunday, September 20, after worship
Weekly Worship Service, Sunday, September 27, 10am
Coffee Fellowship, Sunday, September 27, after worship
Blessing of the Animals, Saturday, October 3, 3-5pm
Annual Ivy BBQ, Saturday, October 3, 5-7pm
World Communion Sunday
Weekly Worship Service, Sunday, October 4, 10 am
Coffee Fellowship, Sunday, October 4, after worship
For information between newsletters be sure to follow us on our other social media- FaceBook (opens in a new tab) and Instagram (opens in a new tab).
We hope you can join us in-person on Sunday for worship but you can always join us online via our YouTube channel- ALL are Welcome Here! (opens in a new tab)
| Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ 620 N. Woods Mills Road Chesterfield, MO 63017 314-434-4991 |
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