September 1, 2020 Ladue Chapel Presbyterian Church - St. Louis, Missouri
GOD IS GOOD. ALL THE TIME.
ALL THE TIME. GOD IS GOOD!

As I prepare to end my ministry with you at the end of September, I am beginning to feel the tug of letting go of treasured people and treasured gifts. Though I have not gotten to know all of you in a deep way, I have been blessed to observe a committed and talented congregation, and an extraordinary set of lay leaders who have made wise decisions in these very difficult Coronavirus days. Any point of transition in the life of a community is fraught with problems and challenges, but COVID -19 has added both stress and great opportunity for Ladue Chapel. What I will miss the most is the professional staff who together represent an embarrassment of riches when it comes to spiritual gifts and excellence in ministry.

For the first six months of our time together, I looked forward to every Tuesday morning, when we would gather as a professional staff team – to review our ministries, dream up new ways of being faithful, and then create worship and program and service opportunities that would help to build God’s kingdom in Ladue – and in the larger world. There was constant laughter, prayerful consideration of the concerns and celebrations in your lives, and honest debate about how we could continue to build connections and commitments in your midst. When the virus hit and the building was closed, we adapted to Zoom meetings and online worship – and every week we grew in our understanding and skill about how best to worship God in virtual space. But enthusiasm and wisdom and creativity never stopped – and I marveled again at how blessed we are to have such talented people leading us into the future.

For a variety of reasons and purposes, many of the support staff have retired and moved on. Each leaving was bittersweet, as we bid goodbye to Rebecca and Emily and David (Westhoff) and Tom and Suzanne. And we felt tremendous anxiety about how we could continue without the long-term commitment and experience of these co-workers. And yet, with support from Session and committee leadership, the challenges have been met and a new support staff team is slowly being built (welcome to Jesi Hempstead, our Administrative Assistant and Jane Geer, our transitional Financial Secretary, as well as the hiring of an accounting firm to handle our basic financial oversight). Steady in the storm has been the courage and the commitment of the remaining staff – Dieter, Mel, David, Courtney, Anne, John, Rian and Harper.

Nobody is perfect, and that is true of each one of your staff. But when you put the variety of talents and experiences of this staff together, it is about as perfect as it can get (from one who has observed and endured church staffs for 45 years!). The wisdom, the intelligence, the technical and intellectual skill, the spiritual depth, the warmth, and the joy of this strong-minded and tender-hearted staff is a wonder to behold. In conversations with the candidate who is being recommended to be your next Pastor/Head of Staff, I have lifted up this unique staff strength of Ladue Chapel, and it is one of the main reasons that this candidate is eager to come and join the team.

The Apostle Paul reminds us: We are the Body of Christ, and individually members of him. Your Body, located at 9450 Clayton Avenue, is strong and faithful and true. Cherish each other – and cherish your exceptional staff. As you move forward, there is nothing you cannot do together to Glorify God and Enjoy God forever.

Blessings – Susan Andrews
Cares, Concerns and Celebrations

We are not aware of any members recently hospitalized
or recovering at home.

We offer our Christian love and sympathy to Nancy Allen and her family on the death of her husband Chris Allen, who died and entered the church triumphant on August 24, 2020.
Our Stewardship theme this year is “OUR LEGACY – OUR PROMISE.” In thinking about this theme, I can tell about the legacy and the promise through sharing some history.
I grew up in the early 1950’s at the Brick Presbyterian Church in New York City. I was a Preacher’s Kid (PK) and the church was our family’s community. At a very early age, I felt that the church was my home base.  I liked it when my father, a pastor, took me to Yankee games to see Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris (early 50’s), but I liked to go to church the most.

My husband, Ed, grew up at Kirkwood Presbyterian, and so when we were married in 1970, our natural Presbyterian legacy brought us to joining Ladue Chapel in 1979 when we moved to St. Louis. Through the 40 years’ we have been members of Ladue Chapel, we have enjoyed the community, the diversity, and the leadership. 

Our children, Barbara, Elizabeth, and Edmund joined Ladue Chapel, participated in Sunday School, Bell Ringers, and Youth Fellowship, and are now members. Our 5 grandchildren, Tonya, Eddie, Levi, Beckett, and Broderick, were all baptized at Ladue Chapel. The community of Ladue Chapel has been an important legacy to our family, and many of our most memorable moments have happened at Ladue Chapel for over 40 years.

Our Promise is to help strengthen our church and our community, because it is important not only to our family but to all of our families. We live lives of abundant generosity, and so much has been given to us. We recognize the importance of the commitment to fulfilling the promise of growing, sustaining, and strengthening the church and the community of which we have become a part, because people of all ages and walks of life deserve the hope, the faith, and the promise of a future which is greater than ourselves and which will continue the legacy. 

As we move into the Stewardship Campaign this year, we are in the midst of an unprecedented pandemic which has isolated many of us. We participate in virtual Zoom meetings. We are barred from professional and community events. We steer clear of airports and travel. We avoid restaurants and crowds. Now more than ever before, we need to keep the Promise that the future will be bright and that the community will thrive. We hope for brightness in your lives and for the future that we all hope will come, so that current and future generations can benefit from OUR LEGACY and OUR PROMISE.

Mary Sumner
St. Patrick Casseroles

Thank you Ladue Chapel casserole makers! 46 casseroles were delivered to St. Patrick Center on July 29 and 32 casseroles were delivered on August 31. They help feed the homeless and near homeless, and are much needed.

Our next delivery is at the end of September.
Thank you for your continued generosity

Contact Lucie Staack or Jill Brown for any questions regarding this ministry.
Monday Madness Returns!

Miss Courtney and Mr. David are thrilled to announce that Monday Madness will be returning on September 14! Monday Madness is our afternoon fellowship and music activity time for students in Kindergarten through grade 5. Here is what we are planning:

  • Students will be divided into 2 groups: K-Gr 2 and Gr 3-5, and all activities will take place outside.
  • We will meet from 3:30 until 4:30 p.m.
  • No food will be served, so please have a snack before you arrive.
  • Each group will have a 25-minute music session and a 25-minute fellowship/Word and Wonder session.  
  • Each group is limited to 10 students, and pre-registration is required.
  • Masks will be worn at all times, and everyone will be appropriately distanced.
  • In case of inclement weather, Monday Madness will meet on Zoom as a single group for 30 minutes, beginning at 3:30 p.m.
  • We will begin on Monday, September 14 and will try to continue through November 23, weather and daylight permitting!
  • Pre-registration will be required for each Monday.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Registration will be available beginning Friday, September 4
on the Ladue Chapel website.
RESPONDING TO
HURRICANE LAURA

Our denomination is already at work responding to Hurricane Laura. If you would like to learn more about PDA and/or make a donation to assist their work, you can go to the pages below.



Checks can also be sent to the Ladue Chapel office.
Join us for the last Worship on Wednesday of the summer!
Sept 2, 7:00-7:30 p.m.
Join us for a service of prayers, readings and hymns.

Location: Circle Drive

Registration: Registration is required to help with contact tracing should someone contract Covid-19. Register online here.

Capacity: Maximum capacity is 25 attendees. Please register early to secure your spot.

Masks: Masks that cover your mouth and nose are mandatory at all times.

Seating: Please bring your own chair and hymnal (if you have one!).

Weather: this is a casual service-please dress appropriately for the high temperatures.This service is weather dependent--it will be canceled if there is inclement weather.

See you on Wednesday!
MUSIC MINISTRY

Music for Sunday, September 6: Cantor/soloist will be Adam Stefo, who will sing the African-American spiritual, “Don’t Feel No-Ways Tired.”
LET'S STAY CONNECTED!

Email Schedule: below is a schedule of when you can expect to hear from us throughout the week. There may be additional emails if need be. We hope this is an easy way to stay connected.
  • Monday: Worship on Wednesday Reminder
  • Tuesday: Chapel Bell
  • Wednesday: God in our Midst
  • Thursday: Special email regarding Sept 13 Congregational Meeting
  • Friday: Sunday Worship Reminder

Sunday Morning Worship - 10:30 a.m., on Facebook (no need to have a Facebook account - just go to www.laduechapel.org, click on Worship on the top and then find the link). Worship will also be available on our YouTube channel. Share our services with your friends on social media! We love meeting new people and growing our online community.

Sunday Morning Zoom Coffee Half Hour - Join us after worship, at 11:15 a.m., for a Zoom Coffee Half Hour. Click here to join the Zoom Coffee hour (the link to join will also be provided in the Facebook worship post and the worship information email on Friday.)