Parkway United Church of Christ  E-news
November 25, 2016

 
Worship with us this Sunday!
Worship with us this Sunday - the first Sunday of Advent! Traditional Worship at 9:30am and Informal Worship at 11:00am. Gather our Advent Wreath as we light our first candle - the candle of HOPE. Our scriptures are Matthew 24:36-44 and Romans 13:11-14 both calling us to be alert and awake as we expect and prepare for God's arrival in a new way - at Christ's birth. The sermon is entitled Set the Timer, Siri because we are on our way to Christmas. How will you make this time count?
 
Advent synonyms - arrival, appearance, emergence, occurrence, dawn, birth, rise, development... sounds exciting to me!
 
Advent Devotion - you're an author for 2017!
As we find ways to be fully present to each day in Advent - an active waiting approach, we would like your help. Please consider being part of our homemade PUCC Advent Devotion Booklet 2017. We are seeking submissions for next year now. Here's what are looking for - 300 word (plus or minus) reflection on something you saw, felt, remembered, dreamed about during Advent - this time of preparation for Jesus to be born again. Please align/support/enhance your reflection with an appropriate verse(s) of scripture. End your piece with a brief prayer.

Please feel free to send a photo, drawing, artwork, original song or some other creative expression too! Thank you! Please contact kevin@parkwayucc.org 314-872-9330 if you have questions and/or would like to talk through any of this. 


Adult Education
Sundays | 9:30am & 11am | Heritage Room

This Sunday, Nov 27: No Adult Education


Prayer Updates
Advent!
Hope, peace, joy and love for our family and friends who are experiencing a variety of celebrations and/or struggles in body, mind, spirit and relationship.

Karl Klausmeier - hospitalized with complications from Alzheimer's (Karla Shelton's father).


Into the Mystic is the Rev. John C. Dorhauer's weekly podcast on UCC.org. 



Community

Families Adopted with Shaare Emeth
November 17-December 17
 
PUCC is partnering with Shaare Emeth to help two refugee families feel welcome and prepare for their first Missouri winter. 
 
When refugee families arrive in St. Louis, the International Institute provides basic household items, furniture, and bus passes using a small government allocation received on the individual's behalf. However, families' initial apartments are quite sparse and budgets are tiny so the Institute looks to the community for additional help. In addition to winter accessories, blankets, art and school supplies and easy books (to learn English), the families need monetary assistance to pay for their apartment and utilities.
 
We are creating a Sign Up Genius form to allow our congregations to work together to best meet the needs of these families. The needs of the refugee families will be listed, showing an up-to-date status of what has already been supplied and where opportunities to contribute still exist. Those not comfortable utilizing Sign Up Genius can communicate directly with Lisa or Jill to ensure the contributions are noted. We anticipate sharing the list of needs next week.
 
Let's show these refugee families the generosity and love of our community - any help will be greatly appreciated. 

More info: Lisa Mason | lmason624@sbcglobal.net
Jill Schatz | jdschatz@msn.com

Eden Seminary Christmas Concert
Monday, December 5 | 11:40am | Wehrli Chapel

AWOL + (plus anyone else who'd like to join us!)
'ALL IS CALM'   Sunday, Dec 11th 2pm
Mustard Seed Theater 
6800 Wydown Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63105
  $35/$30 Sr. 
RSVP by this Sunday, Nov 27th!
Checks to Parkway UCC 
Questions? Carmen Bumgarner
cfbum@charter.net 314-330-0813

All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914
was originally produced by Cantus and Theatre Latte Da. The world premiere was broadcast on Minnesota Public Radio. The spoken text is taken from letters and documents describing the events of the play. The music ranges from Celtic ballads to World War I songs to Christmas Carols from participating countries. When I first read about this play and heard the music, I knew it would be a great show for Mustard Seed Theatre. While not shying away from the horrors of war, it presents a moment of hope that seems to have been transformative for the men involved in the event. I hope that spark of peace finds a place in your heart.


Read our Missouri Mid-South Conference publications to find out what is happening around the Conference:



Video of the Week: No Matter Who You Are
This UCC video, also featured on our website, extends and inclusive welcome to all.

Spread the word! Parkway UCC is a safe space for everyone, including the marginalized. Look for the banner sign, soon to be displayed with the hashtag: #pucc safe space

 

Announcements
 
Have you ever had a moment or experience when you felt the true presence of God in your life? We are looking for people to share their faith experiences through a personal story, life event, family tradition, scripture reading, poem or song. You would present your experience in a 2-3 minute presentation during both church services. These will be on the second Sunday of each month. Sharing the experiences will help us gain a deeper understanding of each other and how God has touched your life. We hope many of you will participate and be willing to present your experience in the upcoming months. For more details and scheduling your time to share, please contact Helen Race raceh@att.net phone 314-401-4382 or Karen Boyd kkseib@gmail.com.


Joke
What do you call a shoe made out of a banana?
A slipper.

                                                       
 
Inspiration
Jesus didn't come to create a new or exclusive religion. He came to reform and reinvigorate the very meaning of all religion-and ground it in human nature and creation itself-which is universal. Indeed, we are called "to become wholemakers, uniting what is scattered, creating a deeper unity in love." -Richard Rohr