Words for Tough Times
By Reverend Robin Roderick

Let me share with you a quote I found especially interesting in the times in which we live. “It is not enough to be willing to make the best of things as they are. Resignation will get us nowhere. We must build what amounts to a new country. We must revive the ideals of the founders. We must build to what amounts to new values of money. It is a time for pioneering – to create a new security for the home and the family... Where we were specialists in spending, we are becoming specialists in living.”

What I found fascinating is these words originated in an October 1932 issues of Ladies’ Home Journal. They encouraged their readers to remember, “The return of good times is not wholly a matter of money. There is a prosperity of the living which is quite as important as prosperity of the pocketbook.” The quote comes from a book, Simple Abundance, which was written during the economic downturns of the 80’s and early 90’s.

We have seen hard times before. With them comes the hidden blessing of once again recognizing what makes for living rather than consuming; of being rather than doing; and to see in our faith the abundant life. As we enter this Lenten journey may we all remember the important things are never things. May we realign where our treasures lie.

Office of Creative Ministries
By Billy Collier

First, a little history: the Book of Discipline mandates that each annual conference is to organize a Board of Global Ministries to maintain the connectional relationship and provide for responsibilities related to the objectives and scope of work of the General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM). The GBGM is the largest of the thirteen agencies asked to serve and facilitate the work of five jurisdictional conferences, sixty-five annual and missionary conferences in the United States, and seven central conferences. Our Office of Creative Ministries was started in the early 1970’s and has since grown from an area office to one that is included as part of the Missouri Board of Global Ministries (which falls under the GBGM).

As written in The Discipline, 2008, connectionalism is an important part of our identity as United Methodists. It is a vital web of interactive relationships that equips local churches for ministry and provides a connection for the ministry throughout the world, all to the glory of God. Thus, all of the missions within our District are supported by the Office of Creative Ministries and its staff, and all of the volunteers who serve on the boards and teams. There were around 50 team members from all over Missouri at the meeting.

This wonderful organization helps to develop strategies and plans for implementation of Missouri’s mission trips, Heifer Project International, youth work camps, 28 years of Festival of Sharing, Mozambique projects, Volunteers in Mission, and Disaster Response. They also help to educate and place missionaries around the world. These are just a few of their on-going projects – it was overwhelming!

I will be serving on a Congregational Health Ministries Task Force, so if anyone has suggestions on ways that we can enhance our ministry to support better health, please let me know. One of our first goals is to determine how to bring a holistic perspective to health issues to our local congregations. Our desire is for congregations to discuss all elements of health and healing, which will promote prevention and wellness.

I will provide updates as we move forward. In the meantime, please note the MissionCasts that are shown on our congregational video screens throughout the church. MissionCast shares information about upcoming events and results of past events from this very active organization. Thanks for the opportunity to work with some energetic and highly motivated Christians.

Easter Egg Hunt

Plans for our annual Easter Egg Hunt and Lunch that will be held on April 5, 2009 are under way.

We need donations of plastic eggs and wrapped candy to fill the eggs.  Please put your donations in the collection bins in the atrium or drop them off at the church office no later than March 15.

We also need volunteers for the egg hunt and lunch. If you would like to volunteer, please call Dawn Orndorff at the church office or Brenda Ward at 636-926-0048.

Communion Changes

We have been blessed for several years to have communion bread lovingly made by hand by Janna Wallis.  That's a big job and a lot of loaves as she baked, brought and cut up communion bread for most services, including our weekly contemporary service.  Thank you, Janna, for your faithfulness!

Beginning on March 1st we will receive communion from one loaf.  Using a full loaf of bread, the celebrants will take a piece from the one loaf and give it to you, just as they have given you a pre-cut piece in the past.  Clergy and staff have reflected, along with input from the communion teams (traditional& contemporary) that we can be open to this slight change.

Big City Studios

We are "making a scene" at Big City Studios Children's Worship every Sunday morning from 10:45 a.m. to noon. As the name implies, the setting is a movie studio and every week we focus on a new "scene" from the Bible. And WOW...is it fun!

It is said that if you tell a child something, they will forget it quickly. If you show a child something, they will remember it. But, if you involve a child in something, they will understand it and integrate it. At Big City Studios it is all about involving the children in worship.

We will also offer communion on the first Sunday of each month. Communion will be presented by a pastor in an easy to understand manner. We hope that this helps the children connect with Jesus in a whole new way. This quarter’s theme is "The Big God Theory - Lessons from Creation." Children in Kindergarten through 5th grade are invited to join us.