Our Church Home

No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here at Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ. We strive to provide an open, nurturing environment where everyone can strengthen their relationship with God.

You can help – Haiti Earthquake Relief

The United Church of Christ responded immediately to the catastrophic January 12 earthquake in Haiti.

One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) money and resources are already on the way.  The United Church of Christ is sending disaster relief gifts to assist with the widespread needs in Haiti.

These resources are available because of our church’s annual One Great Hour of Sharing Offering Appeal. Thanks be to God that these resources are already in place!

More will surely be needed.

In addition to what is already being sent to Haiti, your SPECIAL GIFT is needed now.

Visit the UCC Disaster web site and click on the red DONATE box.

Or mail your gift to:

“OGHS – Haiti Earthquake Relief”
Wider Church Ministries
United Church of Christ
700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115

Please designate gifts in the memo portion :
“OGHS – Haiti Earthquake Relief”

Thank you for your generosity and for keeping the victims of this disaster in your prayers.

Update from Instituto El Rey

Every year, Ivy Chapel’s members support several students at Instituto El Rey, a Christian high school in Rio Viejo, Honduras that serves the rural poor.

The mission of Instituto El Rey is “to provide an oasis of hope and love in a region plagued by poverty, violence, abuse, superstition and ignorance.”  Every student comes from a situation where there would be little chance for high quality education.

Recent events, including political upheaval and an earthquake, have hit close to the school.

Following is an update from Sharon Washburn, the school’s administrator.

The school was established in 2001, and now serves 170 students in grades 7 through 12. It celebrated its first graduated class in 2006, and to date 61 students have graduated from Instituto El Rey. 60% of graduates are seeking college degrees or professional training. Among the most recent graduates are four students seeking medical degrees, three studying nursing, two pursuing systems engineering, one studying business administration, and one aiming to become a lawyer.

Students at IER come from 15 villages in the mountains south of La Ceiba. Many overcome tremendous obstacles to get their education – some just to get to school every day. Scholarships, family sacrifices and support from friends enable all their schooling. Each student’s family is required to pay a token amount (less than $5 month); the total cost per student is actually around $70 per month.  Students who cannot afford the small monthly tuition can work at the school on weekends to earn that amount.  A high percentage of students are supported through a sponsorship program administered by a separate foundation.

The faculty includes salaried Honduran teachers, plus American volunteers Earl & Sharon Washburn, who serve as both administrators and teachers. Earl’s brother, Russ, is a member of Ivy Chapel and over the past 7 years dozens of church members, including youth, have gone on mission trips to IER to help with construction and other projects at the school.

Subjects taught at the school include Spanish, English, math (incl. statistics & physics), science (including chemistry & biology), several computer classes including programming & design, social studies, accounting, art, music, P.E. and some practical skills such as carpentry, sewing and gardening (which will help them earn a living if they opt out of further education).

Click here to learn more about Instituto El Rey.

Supporting Joint Neighborhood Ministries & Circle of Concern food pantries

The current economic downturn has meant that many that families who were previously able to keep up with their bills and feed their families are now finding the only way they can manage is to come to food pantries for help. Ivy is proud to support food pantries in our area, including Join Neighborhood Ministries in the City of St. Louis, and Circle of Concern in West County. We are collecting basic food items, along with monetary donations to help families in crisis with utility payments. In addition, a portion of the proceeds from our Oct. 24 HarvestFest will go to benefit these two organizations.

If you want to help, contact our church office for information at (314) 434-4991 or via e-mail.

Spaghetti dinner raises over $2700