Board of Pensions Offers Dues Relief and Deferments
In recognition of the challenges impacting employers of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) due to COVID-19, the Board of Directors of the Board of Pensions last week approved dues relief for churches with congregations of 300 or fewer members that have a single pastor enrolled in Pastor’s Participation. These churches may be eligible for a dues waiver of up to three months.

For other churches and employers, including presbyteries and affiliated organizations, Directors approved deferments of up to two months on payments for benefits. In both cases, there will be no reduction in benefits to ministers or employees.

Important takeaways to remember:
  • Dues Relief is NOT automatic
  • Churches need to call 1-800- 773-7752 to apply for dues relief and deferment.
  • If church have questions, they should call the BOP.

Churches are urged to take advantage of this important benefit of assistance from the Board of Pensions.
Nominations for Evelyn Bedell Award Now Being Accepted
Each year Missouri Union Presbytery recognizes the contribution of older adults to its work and ministry by presenting Evelyn Bedell awards to outstanding older adults. Individuals are honored for their faithfulness in a congregation or for Presbytery-wide service. The award is named for Evelyn Bedell, who demonstrated the energy, imagination, intelligence and love with which a person of any age can serve the church. Evelyn came out of retirement to attend San Francisco Theological Seminary and at the age 72 was ordained by Missouri Union Presbytery as the "Tentmaker Pastor" for Bellflower Presbyterian Church. 
 
Please click HERE to submit your nominations . Nominations must be received by May 1, 2020. 
 
Missouri Union Presbytery plans to honor all Evelyn Bedell recipients at the May 19 th Presbytery meeting.
Special Virtual Easter Celebration to be Offered by OGA and PMA
J. Herbert Nelson, Diane Moffett, Bill McConnell, Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri, and Cindy Kohlmann are collaborating to share Resurrection joy with the PC(USA). A special virtual Easter worship service will be presented by the Office of General Assembly and the Presbyterian Mission Agency. This Easter worship video link will be emailed to all congregations and mid councils by April 9. Elements of the service have already been recorded, and production—including in English, Spanish, and Korean—is continuing. 

The link will also be shared on the  Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)  website and the  PC(USA) Facebook  page on Holy Saturday.

As Presbyterians respond to God’s grace by giving generously to their local church, providing support for their congregation and community, they will also have an opportunity to participate in  One Great Hour of Sharing , the whole church coming together in service to the most vulnerable among us. To accompany the Easter service, download  this bulletin insert  highlighting the offering and how it enables the church to respond in times of crisis.
by Joe Park, CEO of Horizons Stewardship

If you have established live streaming capabilities, I have a favor to ask of you. Consider adopting a church that hasn’t or simply doesn’t have the capacity to do so. 

If God has blessed your church with this resource, I strongly encourage those of you who have online worship to consider inviting a nearby congregation who does not to begin to worship.

  • Invite the pastor of the guest church(es) to participate with you during the worship service and to have a moment to speak directly to their congregation. 
  • During your offering talk, ask viewers from other churches to give to their own churches who need them today more than ever. 
  • If you have online giving, add the guest church as a donation optionso that their members can use your electronic giving platform to give to their church during this season. 
  • Offer to provide technical assistance to help the guest church establish the means to connect and mobilize their ability to use social media, recurring electronic giving, online worship, online mission mobilization efforts that your church has already established. 
  • Take the long view and creatively consider how your church and the guest church can collaborate after social distancing to have a greater impact on the community. When you do, you will be helping to steward the potential that God has already placed within your reach.
Make a Joyful Noise in a Truly Presbyterian Way
Join the 2020 MUP Summer Choir!
Everyone across our presbytery who loves to sing is invited to join our traveling MUP Summer Choir! Just commit to participating at least 4 Sundays over the summer and attending one Spring Rehearsal during May to prepare and practice the music. We’ll prepare an introit, an anthem, and a benediction that will be used throughout the summer at each church we visit. If you enjoy singing, your talents are needed! 
 
If you enjoy playing the piano and would like to accompany our summer choir (at least 4 Sundays), we need you, too! Please join us! Pianists are asked to attend one Spring Rehearsal as well.
 
The summer Schedule will be provided before the Spring Rehearsal – at which time all singers and accompanists will be asked to commit to specific dates over the summer.
 
To sign up, send us your Volunteer Form . It is (a) available in the MUP Pack for the February 22 nd , 2020 Presbytery Meeting, (b) in downloadable from the MUP website ( www.mupresbytery.org ), or it can be emailed to you upon request! 
 
Please sign up by March 31 st !
 
Churches:  Would you like to host our MUP Summer Choir for a summer worship service? Any church that does not have a choir during the year may be visited by the choir – first come first served. Just let us know which Sundays (between May 31 st and August 16 th ) might work for your congregation, and tell us if any Sunday is a special occasion for your congregation. Send your “Host Church” form by March 31 st . We’ll prepare the Summer Schedule and circulate it by late April.
 
Coordinator: Anne Schneider (FPC-Jefferson City)
Home Address: 5507 Old West Road, Jefferson City, MO 65109
Email:  akrsch@aol.com    Cell #: 573-418-1853
MUP and DOC Teaming Up for a Great Camping Experience
Missouri Union Presbytery and the Disciples of Christ church are partnering up again to bring you another amazing camp experience!

There are camps for elementary, middle and high school youth, plus much more.

Registration and information, including bulletin flyers, about summer camps can be found on the Missouri Union Presbytery website.

You can also get updates on the MUP camping program on their Facebook page at facebook.com/mupministry or on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (keyword: mupministry)

Join us this summer!
Events and Programs
Sometimes a Little Rain Must Fall...
With sadness, Presbyterian Women of Missouri Union Presbytery are CANCELING the Spring Gathering that was planned for April 30 th  at the First Presbyterian Church in Boonville. We received word that Warm Springs Ranch has also canceled all tours of the Anheuser Busch Clydesdales as well.  Our treasurer, Ruth Thompson, will be issuing refunds to all the women who had purchased tour tickets, returning the money as it was sent.  
 
We are hopeful that we can try this again NEXT Spring!  We look forward to meeting up at the Boonville Church and enjoying fellowship and interesting programs as well as a tour to see the baby Clydesdales. So, stay tuned for the Spring 2021 Gathering.
 
If you have specific questions regarding a refund, please contact Ruth Thompson at  RAThompson7@socket.net  or call her at (573) 499-1423. Otherwise, refunds should be received by the end of March.  If there are any other questions or ideas for other PW-MUP activities, please contact Anne Schneider, PW-MUP Moderator at  akrsch@aol.com  or (573)418-1853.
Coffee with Colleagues
Missouri Union Presbytery announces a weekly Zoom meeting for pastoral leaders.

Join us on Wednesdays at 9:00 AM. The event is called “Coffee with Colleagues” and an announcement with the Zoom link was sent to pastors. If you did not receive the announcement and would like to join in, call the Presbytery office for log-in information.
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

Empowering Commissioned Pastors Conference
Rescheduled to
October 7-10, 2020

Canyon Creek Presbyterian Church, Richardson, TX
(Dallas/Ft. Worth area)
Mo-Ranch Celebration
Hunt, Texas
June 20-27, 2020
Current 8th-12th graders

Contact:
Michael Moore
PYT Registrar for Missouri Union
mmoore@fpcmexico.com
(573) 473-1741
MUP Prayer Basket
This is Our Prayer Basket. If you have prayers of intercession or thanksgiving, please submit them via the e-mail link below.