Special collection for Lydia’s House

The Mary and Martha Women’s Group is collecting some much-needed items for Lydia’s House during the month of February. These items include diapers and pull-ups, toilet paper and 32-gallon plastic storage containers. These might seem like an interesting mix of items, but they can make a real difference for people in need. Please drop off your donations in the Ivy Chapel narthex. If you would like more information about Lydia’s House or about this effort, send us an e-mail.

A unique way to tell the Christmas story

On Sunday, December 17, the youth of Ivy Chapel presented the annual Christmas pageant – with a twist. The kids told the familiar story of Mary and Joseph’s journey, leading to the whole world’s discovery of the miracle of Jesus’ birth, and punctuated it with jokes about aliens and other pop culture references.

Thanks to Linda Lowry for her hard work pulling the pageant together in what seems to be a shorter and shorter time every year, and to all of the parents who helped make it happen. And, of course, congratulations to all of the kids who turned in such wonderful performances.

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11 Days. 1 Million Items of food. You can help!

Join Ivy Chapel from Nov. 1-11 on a shared mission to feed the hungry and confront food-related injustice. We are working with the United Church of Christ on Mission: 1.

This is MISSION: 1

•  In 11 days, the United Church of Christ will collect more than 1 MILLION ITEMS OF HEALTHY FOOD and other household items for local food banks and outreach services. Please drop off your food donations at Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ, 620 N. Woods Mill Road, Chesterfield, MO.

•  In 11 days, the United Church of Christ will make an extra-special push to gather online contributions of more than $111,111 DOLLARS for Neighbors in Need food-related ministries, offerings that will be shared for hunger-action purposes with  agencies of justice and compassion throughout the United States; and $111,111 for East Africa famine-related ministries.

•  In 11 days, the United Church of Christ will offer more than 11,111 LETTERS to Congress asking our government to reform U.S. foreign assistance in a way that more effectively benefits hungry and poor people worldwide, helping to provide a major final push to Bread for the World’s 2011 “Offering of Letters” campaign.

Will you help? Have you already helped? Let us know in the comments or send us an e-mail and let us know, or call (314) 434-4991.

Trunk or Treat, Ivy Chapel Style!

Trunk or Treat has been one of the fellowship highlights at Ivy Chapel for several years. It’s always a lot of fun to see the kids dress up and get lets of treats.

But this year we decided to kick it up a notch. Of course, costumes were still the rule of the day. But we also roasted marshmallows, cooked hotdogs and enjoyed the afternoon under the pavilion. It was a great time at what is usually a very busy time of the year.

Thanks to everyone who took time to plan this event, and thanks to everyone who shared their Halloween spirit with us!

Here are some photos from the event. Check out more on the Ivy Chapel photos page.

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Let’s bake bread together

As has become our tradition at Ivy Chapel, early in October members gathered together to learn to bake a variety of international breads. We shared the bread with the congregation on World Communion Sunday, the first week in October.

This year, we made Mediterranean flatbread, Finnish barley bread and dark German Rye.

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Special Offering for Neighbors in Need Oct. 2

Sunday, October 2 Ivy Chapel will observe World Communion Sunday. We will also have a special mission offering for Neighbors In Need fund—UCC that supports ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States. One-third of NIN funds support the Council for American Indian Ministry (CAIM). Two-thirds of the offering is used by the UCC’s Justice and Witness Ministries(JWM) to support a variety of justice initiatives, advocacy efforts, and direct service projects.

Click here to make contributions on the NIN website.

Record turnout for Blessing of the Animals!

Thanks to everyone who brought their furry (or shelled) friends to the 11th annual Blessing of the Animals at Ivy Chapel. We had a record turnout this year, despite the weather. And an extra-special thank you to everyone who made donations the Bi-State Pet Food Pantry. The food and funds will go a long way to helping struggling local families keep their pets in these tough economic times.

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“Adopt” a new idea for fall…

Chris Adams, director of volunteers for Emmaus Homes, gave a brief presentation about EH during worship at Ivy Chapel  on Aug. 28.  A concept she’s developed to give more people opportunities to interact with Emmaus clients involves ‘adoption’ of an Emmaus community home.

Chris is looking for families or congregations to serve as pilots for this new idea that partners groups with Emmaus community residences.  Given our existing relationship with Ross House residents, who regularly attend worship (and always enjoy coffee hour and the picnic), this initiative seems like a natural fit with Ivy Chapel.  The goal is to provide diverse voluntary opportunities for Ivy members, depending on interests and comfort level.  Some involvement may be with the house grounds; other engagements may be one-on-one with residents; others may just be simple extensions of activities we already do–like adding Ross House to the sites where youth Christmas carol.

Nancy Litzinger is recruiting members to work with Chris Adams and the Ross House manager to identify needs and set parameters for the project.  If you’re interested in helping lay the groundwork for this pilot partnership, contact Nancy: 314-434-4162; nancywl@sbcglobal.net

Youth Mission Trip this week

Ivy Chapel’s Alpha Omega youth group is headed on a mission trip this week!

Stop by here for updates and photos, or join the Alpha-Omega Facebook group.

We look forward to sharing the week with you!

Unexpected guests invade picnic!

We invited local entertainer Serengeti Steve to our Spring picnic… and he brought along several of his pets, much to the delight of most at the picnic — and to the chagrin of the more skittish among us.

Thanks to Debbie Washburn for organizing the event, and for the whole crew of volunteers who made it a great event.

Check out photos in the album below:

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