Mission 4/1 Earth

Many of us were witness to a phenomenal level of generosity displayed by this congregation in response to our 2011 United Church of Christ “Mission: 1” initiative.  All across our denomination, people responded faithfully and we far exceeded lofty “Mission: 1” goals.  Now, a new denomination-wide “mission initiative” is in the works.  We are calling it, “Mission 4/1 Earth: Fifty Great Days.”

This future mission effort already has a time-frame:  April 1 to May 18, 2013. (These are the dates of Eastertide 2013.  Historically, God’s Church has described the Season of Easter with the superlative name “The Great Fifty Days.”)  Beginning the day after Easter Sunday, all of us who are the United Church of Christ will join together in 50 Great Days of Mission 4/1 Earth.  Goals will include hopes of reaching more than 1 million hours of engaged earth care, 100,000 tree plantings across the globe, and 100,000 advocacy letters written and mailed in support of environmental care.

Working on behalf of environmental concerns is not new to our denomination.  Our United Church of Christ has been embracing this cause for over 30 years, so we see this shared ministry of caring for God’s Planet Earth as a continuation of ongoing U.C.C. work for environmental justice.  Mission 4/1 Earth will provide simple yet meaningful ways that each of us can take action wherever God places us  -  living out our faith by caring for God’s creation.

To learn more; please visit  www.ucc.org/news/mission-for-one-earth-website.html

Hurricane relief information

Our thoughts and prayers are with those whose lives have been affected by Hurricane Sandy.

If you would like to donate to relief efforts, please mark your check with “Hurricane Sandy Response” and place it during the basket during worship. Checks should be made payable to United Church of Christ.

If you prefer, you can also mail donations to United Church of Christ; Financial Services; 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115. If you prefer you may also click here to donate via a secure form through the United Church of Christ.

Following this and any disaster, Emergency Clean-Up Buckets and Hygiene Kits through Church World Service, are urgently needed. Click the links to learn how you can help.

 

Celebrating Mustard Seeds and Connections

Rev. Carolyn Held, Spirit-filled Lydia’s House Chaplain, will be at Ivy Chapel UCC this coming Sun., Oct. 28. Rev. Held will be sharing in worship and selling Lydia’s House pins in support of their ministries.

Rev. Held writes: “As I picture all of the people and places connected with Lydia’s House, I imagine a large web of sorts. And I realize this web is invaluable in our work… So many people have been hurt directly because of domestic violence, and even more have been hurt indirectly because someone they know and/or love has experienced domestic violence. This web of connections, which surrounds Lydia’s House and extends into the larger community, has the potential and ability to make a difference in the many lives affected by domestic violence and plays a crucial role in ending domestic violence. For this, we give thanks.”

To learn more about our connection with Lydia’s House, click here.

The apostles said to Jesus, ‘Increase our faith!’

Jesus replied, ‘If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea,” and it would obey you.’ (Luke 17.5-6)

Sell your wares at our Vendor Fair, Nov. 30

This year, Ivy Chapel is putting a new spin on fundraising – and we need your help. We’re having a Vendor Fair on Nov. 30, and we’re looking for crafters, bakers, builders & sellers of all kinds to provide a fun holiday shopping experience. It’s a chance to give your new, growing or established business some great exposure.

The Vendor Fair is Friday, November 30 from 6 to 10 p.m. We’re opening the doors for set-up at 3 – so there will be plenty of time to get ready for shoppers. The registration fee is $30 for a 6 ft. table, and $35 for an 8 footer.

Need to know more? Call (314) 434-4991 or email vendorfair@ivychapel.org.

Ready to register? Download the registration form and email it or drop it in the mail to: 620 N. Woods Mill Road, Chesterfield, MO, 63017.

Congratulations to our Graduates!

Congratulations to our graduates! And thank you to all of Ivy Chapel’s youth who helped make Youth Sunday 2012 truly special.

Plus check out these highlights from the service:

Easter Egg Hunt!

We had a beautiful day for the Annual Ivy Chapel Easter Egg Hunt. Thanks to everyone who helped plan this fun event… and apologies to anyone who finds any still-hidden eggs in the heat of the summer.

The album below also includes photos from our Palm Sunday worship service.

Ivy Members Open their Hearts for Emmaus homes

The  annual Open Your Heart dinner-auction benefits residents of Emmaus, a faith-based organization serving more than 250 men and women with developmental disabilities in the St. Louis metropolitan area.  As in the past, this year’s event, held February 4, netted thousands of dollars to help supplement governmental funding for Emmaus.  For every $1 needed to cover program and operating expenses, there’s a 15 cent shortfall in state support.  The Emmaus Foundation is charged with raising funds to close the gap between government payments and actual costs.  The 2012 OYH gala raised just over $50,000.  Attending from Ivy Chapel UCC were Ronn and Dottie Foster; Rod and Judy Hertenstein; Carl and Marsha Ramey; Annie and Shyam Sampath; Nancy Litzinger; and Nancy Hawkins.

The first Emmaus homes were established in 1893 by members of the German Evangelical Church in Marthasville, Mo., to care for individuals with epilepsy and developmental disabilities.  Currently Emmaus operates nearly 50 homes throughout local communities and on its two campuses in St. Charles and Marthasville.  In 2011, Ivy Chapel UCC ‘adopted’ Ross House, a community home in Creve Coeur where six Emmaus residents live.  Ivy members and Ross residents are developing new relationships through this pilot partnership.

Thank you to Brandi Brown Photography for capturing the event in pictures, and for sharing the photos with us.

Introducing the Mary & Martha Women’s Group

On the third Tuesday of each month, a group of women from Ivy Chapel meet for bible study, prayer and faith building. Join them this tuesday, March 20th, for an interactive Lenten program, led by Ann Molynaux. More details will be available in the bulletin – or click here to get more information.

A Pilgrimage to the Holy Lands

In February, 2013, our Conference Minister, Rev. Jeffery Whitman, will embark on a two-week pilgrimage to the Holy Lands. If you’d like to learn more about his trip, there is an informational Meeting on March 8, at 7 p.m. at St. John UCC in St. Charles. If you’re unable to attend and would like a brochure or additional information, please contact Jeff Whitman or call him at the Conference office at 314-962-8740.

World Vision Offering

Over the next few weeks, Ivy Chapel will be fighting world hunger with a special collection for World Vision. Learn more about the organization here and donate during worship – or contact us to learn more.

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