KUCC Newsletter December 2020 Page 1

Kirkwood United Church of Christ Our Welcoming Covenant Kirkwood United Church of Christ is called by God to be an open, diverse and caring community of ’ disciples. In following Christ’s commandment to love one another, we welcome all who wish to share in fellowship, membership, leadership, worship, ministry, sacraments, rites, responsibilities and blessings of our faith community. As we affirm every person is a child of God, no one is excluded, regardless of race, ethnic or socio-economic background, marital status, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, physical or mental ability, nationality or faith background. We are an Open and Affirming and an Immigrant Welcoming congregation. All are welcome here! A Word from the Pastor – December 2020

“While they were there, the time came for Mary to have her baby. She gave birth to her firstborn child, a son, wrapped him snugly, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the guestroom.” Luke 2:6-7 (Common English Bible)

Recently I listened to a broadcast of “To the Best of Our Knowledge” on St. Louis Public Radio about how holiday traditions are being impacted by the realities of the coronavirus (“A Pandemic Holiday Season Offers Opportunities for Community, Too” 11/28/20). It’s an interesting piece, and I recommend it if you’re looking for cre- ative inspiration as you plan your own holiday activities.

Accolades aside, there was one comment shared near the beginning that caught my attention, and not in a good way. The interviewer asked Priya Parker, author of The Art of Gathering, for ideas on how to deal with the complexity of , 2020- style. The interviewer mentioned she had friends who were so overwhelmed in try- ing to figure all this out that they were considering just skipping Christmas this year. Skipping Christmas. Let that sink in.

Sinking is exactly what my heart did when I heard this comment, and not because it meant no presents. Rather, it encapsulated for me the reality of what this season has become in the culture that surrounds us. That is, not about the birth of a Christ child; not about celebrating a powerful spirit that, 2000 years later, still compels us toward peace and social justice; not about singing “Silent Night” in the precious glow of lit candles. Instead, Christmas has become secularized to such an extent that some are considering just skipping it, as if it was a chore, like, say, cleaning the garage, where you have neither the time nor will to get to it. So, let’s just not do it this year.

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A Word from the Pastor – Continued

As if Christmas could be skipped. As if.

Un-uh. The real Christmas, the actual foundation upon which all the parties, orna- ments, presents and cookie exchanges are built is the birth of this child that is God revealed to us, God with us. This cannot be skipped. The power of God’s compassion and wisdom, known to us through this child, exists beyond us, exists in spite of us. The celebration will take place whether we have the will for it or not. In fact, that’s kind of the point: we could do nothing on and the power of Jesus’ agape love would still overtake us, would still work its transformation in and through us. We’ll wake up better people Christmas morning just because that’s how the spirit of our Christ works.

A year ago I suggested we might consider calling our December 24 church celebra- tion something other than “Christmas Eve,” as a way of distinguishing it from its more secular connotation. Given the unsettledness of our times, I decided this was not the year for shaking things up. I’m committed to the spirit behind such a name change, however: perhaps doing so would catch our attention. On the other hand, the name change might not matter, after all. We’ll wake up better people Christmas morning, just because that’s how the spirit of our Christ works.

God’s peace, Betsy

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Adult Education at Kirkwood United Church of Christ

December 6 & 13, 2020 at 11:00am via Zoom.

The Universal Christ, How a forgotten reality can change everything we see, hope for, and believe. By Richard Rohr will be the focus of our study during this time. Father Rohr, a Franciscan Priest and the founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, NM writes this book as a culmination of his work in discovering what he calls an “Alternative Orthodoxy” to the current teachings of the Church. Drawing on the wisdom of the ancient teachers of the church and melding it with modern science he lays out for us a basic teaching, found in scripture, that will give you a new perspective on our faith and our action in the twenty first century.

This will be a Contemplative Study, facilitated by Lev Reynolds, on the basics of Rohr’s view of the Universal Christ. Lev has found in reading this book, as well as other books by Rohr and other ancient writers of the Christian Church, that he has grown in his ap- preciation of this mystical approach to our lives as Christians. In a Contemplative Study we will seek ways that we integrate and react to the concepts of the book. Our goal is not to debate or compare but to understand and to grow. Through reading and reflecting on the book and on scripture; through sharing and discussion; and through quiet contem- plation we will unfold the “Alternative Orthodoxy” of the Universal Christ. We will also be using contemplative practices that will help us grow in our faith.

In order for you to fully participate in the class it will be helpful if you own a copy of the book so that you can read the chapters ahead of time to become familiar with his themes. The book is available online from the Center For Action and Contemplation Bookstore (cac.org) on sale for $20 right now or it is available on Amazon ($16.29 in hardcover, $13.96 in paperback). It is also available in a Kindle edition. Please indicate to Lev via email to [email protected] that you will be attending so that he can send you the study guides for each week.

Lev has found that this book has helped him bring together many threads of his faith into one unifying concept, It has better equipped him for a life of faith today that is both im- pacting his own personal life and is equipping him for Action in today’s world. We hope you will join us in this study. If you have further questions don’t hesitate to contact Lev at [email protected] or at 507-254-763.

Here is a video of Richard Rohr introducing you to The Universal Christ

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Photos, please... We’d enjoy seeing your nativity sets!

During this season (November 29 to December 24), it would be fun to see photos of the nativity sets being displayed throughout our homes.

If you would like to share a photo of your nativity set, please send it to Betsy at [email protected]. We’ll show the images during worship on the four Sundays of Advent.

Thank you for spreading Advent joy during this upcoming season of God’s light!

Evening Prayer for Advent

Wednesday Evenings at 9:00 pm (CST) on Zoom Theme: “The Word became flesh and lived among us…” (John 1:14)

To further prepare ourselves for the celebration of the Birth of Jesus we will be having an Evening Prayer service the first three Wednesdays in Advent. Drawing on the work of Richard Rohr in The Universal Christ, Lev Reynolds will lead us in a time of reflection on the theme “Incarnation” looking at three ways the Christ appears to us and in us in these times.

Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at 9:00 pm (CST) on Zoom Theme: The Word The creator speaks and light and life come forth, and all of creation is blessed by the Word.

Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at 9:00 pm (CST) on Zoom Theme: … became flesh… In the person of Jesus of Nazareth, the heart of God was revealed to us through a baby born to Mary.

Wednesday, December 16, 2020 at 9:00 pm (CST) on Zoom Theme: … lived among us. The Christ is a presented indwelling reality that is presented to the world in us.

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Women's Fellowship Gathering Wednesday, December 9th, 2020

Hi Ladies, Boy it's been a long time since I have said that and am I so happy to do so! I hope you all are well and doing great!

Betsy, Joyce, our Student Pastor and I would like to invite you to our first Zoom Women's Fellowship gathering happening on the second Wednesday, December 9th, 2020 beginning at 11:15 am! YES, I said our Women's Fellowship Gathering!!!

We will gather together on Zoom at 11:15 am to have a Christmas Devotional giv- en by Joyce, our Student Pastor and then we will gather together to experience our first Zoom luncheon! You will need to have your lunch and drink sitting near you so we can experience the joy of eating and chatting together just as if we were in our own Church setting!

In the past, we had a Exchange with each other. This year, as it is dif- ferent in many ways, we would like to suggest a different kind of Christmas Ex- change. For those of you who wish to participate, we are going to offer a Christmas Blessing for the New Year. This will simply be that you write a sentence as follows and share it with the group on that day! The sentence is:

My Christmas Blessing to all of you for the New Year is ______. (Example: Hope and Love for all.) or whatever you choose to say as your Christmas Blessing to everyone!

Betsy will be sending out a Zoom link for the Christmas Gathering as it gets closer to the date.

We hope many of you will choose to be a part of this gathering as we feel it will be a wonderful Christmas Present to the Women's Fellowship ending for the old year and welcoming in the new and hopefully better year to come!

Betsy, Joyce and Evie

KUCC Newsletter December 2020 Page 7 JOIN US FOR SOUL COLLAGE - THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17 at 7:00 PM

Soul Collage* is an easy collage process that uses limited space (a 5x8” card) and a lim- ited number of images to create a collage that intuitively expresses what’s resting in your soul at the moment. During these particularly stressful times, soul collage provides a unique opportunity to reflect and express your inner self in a creative way.

Betsy will lead the collage-making on Zoom on Thursday, December 17 at 7:00 pm. In order to participate, it will be helpful for you to have a packet of materials prepared ahead of time by Betsy. Betsy will be at KUCC on Friday, 12/11 and Tuesday, 12/15 between 2:00 and 2:30 pm to safely distribute packets to those who would like to participate.

Just drive up to the doors off the back parking lot. All you’ll need on your own is a pair of scissors. If you aren’t able to make a trip to the church, let Betsy know and a packet will be delivered to you!

The Zoom link for December’s Soul Collage will be sent out via email on Monday, De- cember 14. We hope you’ll join in!

Questions? Contact Betsy at [email protected].

* Soul Collage is a copyrighted art method

KUCC Bookstore

We are not able to hold book sales during the pandemic, but you are welcome to shop at the KUCC bookstore. We have a wide variety of books, DVDs and CDs available. There are signs throughout the store with all of the prices listed and the contribution jar is located on the desk. Stop by and browse at your convenience.

We very much appreciate donations of gently used books, DVDs and CDs. Please do not donate: VHS tapes, cassette tapes, vinyl records or magazines.

Thank you for supporting our bookstore.

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MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

Nurture and Education is excited to be offering these opportunities for our KUCC Families with children PreK through 8th Grade (older youth in your home are always welcome):

VIRTUAL LOGOS December 10 6:00-7:15PM Watch for more information via email. Plan to have dinner with your family at 6:00PM AND your KUCC LOGOS family via Zoom. We’ll provide you with table talk questions that coordinate with the session’s theme. You’ll join other families via Zoom for dinner together or possibly in a breakout space. At 6:15 we’ll gather for Recreation (virtual game or family craft), Bible Study and Worship Arts sometimes all together but also with the option of breakouts groups by age….

The Nurture and Ed Team and our LOGOS Volunteers are really, really, really looking forward to our time together! Hope to see you there!

JOIN US FOR WORSHIP Sunday Worship @ 9:30 am on Zoom see details on our website www.kirkwooducc.org

If you are unable to participate in KUCC Sunday Worship you can go to KUCC website https://www.kirkwooducc.org/, or the Kirkwood UCC Facebook page, and watch the entire service. These are posted every Monday morning.

MISSION IN ACTION UPDATE Go to our Mission in Action page on KUCC website to see the latest ways you can take action for social justice. www.kirkwooducc.org/mission-action

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What’s Tanya Jeffcoat Been Up To?

KUCC member, Tanya Jeffcoat, is currently working on her Master of Divinity degree at Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa. She recently moved to the St. Louis area to begin serving in two ministerial capacities: as a part-time pastor at a UCC church in Augusta, and as a chaplain resident at DePaul Hospital. Con- gratulations, Tanya! Here’s an update on Tanya’s life:

Ebenezer UCC Welcomes New Pastor, Dr. Tanya Jeffcoat Ebenezer UCC in Augusta, MO, would like to welcome Dr. Tanya Jeffcoat as their new pastor. Pastor Tanya graduated from Southern Illinois University Carbondale with a Ph.D. in philosophy and is completing her Master of Divinity degree at Phillips Theological Seminary. Prior to coming to Ebenezer, she taught philosophy and diversity classes at University of Central Arkansas in Conway, Arkansas, and was a chaplain resident at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, AR.

Pastor Tanya brings a love of teaching and commitment to pastoral care to her ministry. She emphasizes the love of God and neighbor, drawing upon Micah 6:8 and Mat- thew 22:37-39. Micah calls us “to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God,” while Jesus tells us to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” and to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” These verses under- pin the extravagant welcome of the UCC: “No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!”

Pastor Tanya is excited to be in Augusta and is looking forward to meeting everyone. She can be reached by email at [email protected] or by phone or text at 479-857-6303.

Currently, Ebenezer UCC is holding in-person Sunday Worship at 9:00 a.m. Masks and social distancing are required. Online worship options are currently under development. For more information, call the church office at 636-228-4822.

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A note about financial giving for KUCC during these extraordinary times: We are grateful for the many ways KUCC members and friends support our wonderful faith community. Truly, we are a body of Christ’s spirit, and our connected with each other, and the world around us, will hold strong. We recognize that the financial realities of some of us will change in the weeks to come. If you are able to continue supporting KUCC financially as you have, thank you. If you find yourself unable to do so, we ask that you give as you are able. We’ll get through this and make temporary adjustments as necessary. Every little bit will help in order to maintain KUCC outreach ministries (needed more than ever), staff compensation, church facility utilities, etc. There are three ways for you to give financially to KUCC:  through the GIVE button on the home page of our website, www.kirkwooducc.org.  through automatic deductions from your checking account, established through your own bank.  by sending a check to the church at 1603 Dougherty Ferry Rd., Kirkwood, 63122. The mail is being checked regularly. We thank you for your support!

KIRKCARE IS IN NEED of non-perishable goods for their food pantry. If you are shopping for your own grocery needs and could purchase a few extra items for KirkCare, it would be greatly appreciated. Food items can be left on Rose and Doug Brockhouse’s front stoop, 612 Rosewood Lane, Kirkwood, 63122. Or, you can send a check donation to the church, indicating KirkCare on the memo line. Or, you can make a donation on the Kirkwood UCC website (www.kirkwooducc.org) and send an email to Carol Bender, one of our Financial Secretaries, [email protected] indicating the purpose of the donation. Thank you!

Neighbors in Need 2020

Neighbors in Need (NIN) is one of the special mission offerings Kirkwood UCC support with our Mission and Outreach funds. The NIN funds support ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States. One third of the NIN funds supports the UCC’s Council for American Indian Minis- tries. Two-thirds of funds contributed to NIN is used for the UCCs justice and wit- ness ministries to support a variety of justice initiatives, advocacy efforts and direct service projects through grants They provide grants to local churches and organi- zations doing justice work in their communities. This year special consideration will be given to projects focusing on serving our immigrant neighbors and communities.

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Kirkwood United Church of Christ 1603 Dougherty Ferry Road Kirkwood, MO 63122

Visit us at www.kirkwooducc.org

Postmaster: Please deliver promptly (time-dated material)

December Newsletter 2020

No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!

Sunday Worship @ 9:30 am on Zoom see details on our website www.kirkwooducc.org KUCC STAFF

Betsy Happel, Pastor ([email protected]) CONTACT US

Amelia Lloyd, Director of Music Ministry ([email protected]) Kirkwood United Church of Christ 1603 Dougherty Ferry Road Ron Bryant, Accompanist Kirkwood, MO 63122 ([email protected])

Gail Hintz Accompanist Website ([email protected]) www.kirkwooducc.org

Donna Bay, Administrative Assistant Phone ([email protected]) (314)822-2240

Jennifer Johnson, Nursery Care Giver Facebook us All articles for the next Newsletter are due to the church office at [email protected] no later than December 22.