Learn about ministries in the Missouri Mid-South Conference and across the United Church of Christ.
People of the Missouri Mid-South Conference are doing God’s work in interesting ways. Take a look at recent ministry across a variety of church settings — from local congregations, to Conference work, to the national setting.
Sometimes our churches and ministry leaders make local and national headlines, and we celebrate when they do.
May 29, 2024
St. John’s Chapel UCC, Springfield, Mo. and Ivy Chapel UCC, Chesterfield, Mo. are the two most recent MMSC congregations to announce approvals of their open and affirming covenants.
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May 15, 2024
More than 50 women from across the Conference enjoyed the Women’s Retreat at Camp MoVal May 3-5, the first weekend in May. A team from Zion UCC, Union, Mo. planned this year’s retreat, focusing on the theme “God’s World, Handle with Care.”
Read MoreThe Settled Conference Minister Discernment Committee has organized small group listening sessions for congregants of the Missouri Mid-South Conference.
This committee was formed in November 2023 to discern current and future needs of the Conference regarding the Conference Minister’s role, and to create a job description reflective of that.
As they work to update the job description, they want to hear about your priorities, hopes, and ideas for the collective future of the Conference.
Committee Members
Apr 19, 2024
A group of four members from St. Lucas UCC, Sunset Hills, Mo. participated in a weeklong exploration of civil rights sites (in Selma, Ala.; Montgomery, Ala.; Birmingham, Ala.; and Memphis, Tenn.), including three of them riding in the Selma to Montgmery Race March 16.
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Mar 08, 2024
During President’s Day weekend, 17 high school students and adult volunteers gathered for Conference Youth Event 2024: The Power of Presence at Camp MoVal.
Keynote speaker Marcus Engel, who has been a part of Camp MoVal for many years, first as a camper and then as a counselor, joined them to lead discussion on the necessity of compassionate prayer and empathy.
Read MoreSt. Peter’s UCC, Ferguson, Mo., recently premiered a documentary born out of 18 months of conversation and relationship building between the church, Rev. Dr. Amy Butler of Invested Faith, and Good Faith Media.
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Feb 09, 2024
After much conversation and discernment with Rev. Eric Moeller, Associate Pastor, St. Peter’s UCC, Washington, Mo., and others, the MMSC Eastern Association is covenanting with Rev. Moeller and the All-In Music Project to create a new worshiping community called All-In UCC.
Read MoreAs 2023 comes to a close, MMSC recognizes our churches and clergy who celebrated milestone anniversaries this past year. While it is tradition to offer congratulatory recognition at Conference Annual Gathering (CAG), the following offers more information about each 2023 milestone anniversary:
Sep 14, 2023
This year’s Conference Annual Gathering (CAG) for the Missouri Mid-South Conference is set for Oct. 13-14 in Jefferson City, Mo. at the Capitol Plaza Hotel Convention Center. Keynote speaker, UCC Minister Ann Kansfield from New York City, is lined up with a full two-day agenda.
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St. Johns Evangelical UCC, St. Louis, Mo., recently opened “Logan’s Community Playground,” an accessible and inclusive playground in honor of a late member of the church, Logan Zielinski. (more…)
The Missouri Mid-South Conference Board of Directors at its regular July 2023 meeting approved extending its contract with Transitional Conference Minister Rev. Mary W. Nelson through December 2025. The Board wanted to provide continuity of leadership in the Conference as we prepare to host General Synod in 2025, and to ensure that the Conference’s discernment process can proceed free of pressure from our hosting responsibilities. (more…)
Jun 02, 2023
And they’re off…Transitional Conference Minister Mary Nelson and Board Member Rev. Andrea Asselmeier are driving across Missouri today from St. Louis to St. Joseph. Starting tomorrow, Mary’s seat will be quite different for her return trip.
She will begin the Strengthen the Conference Ride Saturday morning, June 3, departing on her bicycle from Zion UCC, St. Joseph, Mo. and ride daily to UCC churches across Missouri to arrive Saturday afternoon, June 10 in St. Louis, Mo.
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May 25, 2023
Missouri Mid-South Conference (MMSC) treasured friend Norma Klemme of Union Mo. received a Doctor of Humane Letters at Eden Seminary’s 173rd commencement May 19.
Before the ceremony, Norma and her husband Rev. Armin Klemme also received a surprise announcement that family and friends established a new Eden Seminary scholarship in their name.
Read MoreThe MMSC Board of Directors recently created two new positions, keeping Glenn and Tiffany Svetnicka on staff in Outdoor Ministry roles for both Shannondale and Camp MoVal.
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Apr 25, 2023
More than 100 years of worship services ended earlier than expected at Peace UCC, Webster Groves, Mo.
While members of the congregation had planned their last worship service to be Christmas Eve before making a final move to Eden Theological Seminary, it ended up being Palm Sunday April 2.
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Mar 30, 2023
Aware of their shared work on behalf of the Missouri Mid-South Conference, the Board of Directors and staff met together March 17-18 at Shannondale for a second annual retreat.
“It was a great success,” says Transitional Conference Minister Rev. Mary Nelson. “The Board and staff are working actively to deepen relationships and ‘de-silo’ our ministries, clarify responsibilities and priorities, and strengthen and inform their common approach to our ministries.”
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Mar 16, 2023
The Conference has a new Pursuing Justice & Equity (PJ&E) Core Ministry Team called to serve as an ally against acts of injustice and inequity as well as a resource and conduit to connect individuals, congregations, and organizations with an interest in justice and equity issues.
Co-Chairs Rev. Tom Baynham (Eastern Association representative) and Rev. Krissy Avise-Rouse (St. Louis Association representative) are joined by other members Rev. Andrea Asselmeier, Joyce Bathke, Rev. Laura Callendar (Western Association representative), and Randy Hundley.
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Mar 16, 2023
The United Church of Christ has officially recognized Hope UCC, St. Louis, Mo. as a Creation Justice Church.
As the first church in Missouri to receive this designation, the congregation is dedicated to helping heal and restore the earth and working on behalf of all those who face issues of environmental injustice and oppression.
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Mar 02, 2023
After a year-long search, the United Church of Christ Board’s Search Committee for General Minister and President has made a historic choice in recommending Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson as nominee. If elected, she would be the first woman, and the first woman of African descent, to lead the denomination.
Feb 17, 2023
The Board of Directors recently approved an updated COVID-19 Safety Policy with guidelines for Conference-sponsored events.
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Jay Wiesner, part-time pastor at Zion UCC, Troy, Mo., joins the MMSC staff as our new Youth Ministry Resource Coordinator. He is a Member in Discernment with the Eastern Association.
Wiesner began Feb. 13 and will work part-time for MMSC, while continuing to serve as pastor at the church.
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Shannondale UCC, the Community Center, and its Outdoor Ministries were in transition with new staff, following the departure of Executive Director Nathan Fulk this past summer.
The transition has been smooth with the arrival of Acting Executive Director Glenn Svetnicka, whose contract will extend into 2023.
Read More
From hiring two new key staff members and hosting volunteer work days, to reopening summer camps, launching a new fall Sunday family dinner series, and scheduling retreats and youth events, Camp MoVal was a busy place throughout 2022.
After a long two years of closure at Camp MoVal due to COVID-19 and staffing changes, here’s how MMSC was working hard to reopen, bringing back campers, forging ahead for fall, and setting sights on summer 2023.
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The Missouri Mid-South Conference Board of Directors at its regular July 2022 meeting approved a recommendation from the Personnel Committee to extend its contract with Transitional Conference Minister Rev. Mary W. Nelson through April 2024.
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The decision has been years in the making. Peace UCC, Webster Groves, Mo., recently voted to sell its 2.5-acre campus — home to the congregation since 1920, and including its current 1937 building — to partner with Eden Theological Seminary in a new vision of “Being the Church” in the 21st century.
Read MoreIs your church doing ministry we should know about? Tell us what’s happening in your setting so we can share the good news throughout the Conference.
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