September 30, 2020 Ladue Chapel Presbyterian Church - St. Louis, Missouri
THANK YOU – AND AU REVOIR!

Dear Ladue Chapel Friends:

Thank you for the warm goodbye you have given to me in these final days:
  • A worship service on September 27th that lifted up the exceptional gifts of this congregation: the music that warmed my soul (including a glorious descant and jazz!); the whole staff Passing the Peace; Courtney’s loving words; Dieter’s gracious prayer; Annie’s phenomenal scripture reading, and glorious flowers from the Esthers.
  • The Drive By Goodbye – organized by Shari Klein and the Mission Committee -where boxes of food were gathered for Isaiah 58;
  • Notes and e-mails and gifts expressing appreciation and affection;
  • A Staff Luncheon where your extraordinary staff bid goodbye;
  • The generous Gift Certificate from the Session for Ghost Ranch – the Presbyterian Conference Center in the high desert of New Mexico, which is one of my favorite places in the world.

Friends, your hospitality, generosity, and love is a sign of God’s grace embedded in the fabric of Ladue Chapel Presbyterian Church.

Some of you have asked what is next for me. My husband and I relocated to St. Louis in 2015, in order to be near my daughter, her husband, and two of our four grandsons. We will continue to enjoy our condo in the Central West End, where our sixth floor condo rewards us each morning with a view of the Basilica Dome as the sun rises. We love to walk in the CWE, Forest Park, and the Botanical Gardens. And the museums and artistic treasures of St. Louis feed our souls.

This is my third retirement (!) – but this time I mean it. After two weeks enjoying our family property in the Western Mountains of North Carolina, I will begin to discern the next chapter of my life – reading, writing, time with grandsons, travel (post-Covid-19), and meaningful volunteer work with social service agencies and political causes that are important to me. I have been blessed with 46 years of professional ministry – and now is the time for a whole new chapter to unfold.

I will continue to lurk online as I watch the Ladue Chapel community move forward in ministry. Your new Pastor/Head of Staff, in partnership with seasoned professionals and the elected leadership, are well equipped to follow God’s call and lead you into the future.

In the PCUSA, retiring pastors are asked to step back and refrain from connections with former parishioners and staff. I will honor that commitment – even as I pray for you, and keep you in my heart.

What a wonderful final chapter this has been for me! You have brought me great joy - and hope for the Church of Jesus Christ in the years and decades before us. May it be so!

Blessings – Susan Andrews

PS. To read the Interim Pastor's Report that I shared with the Session, Click Here. 
There will be a Congregational Meeting on Sunday, October 18 at 11:45am over Zoom. The purpose is to receive the Nominating Committees recommendations for our new slate of elders and deacons to the Class of 2023.

If you have questions or nominations from the floor, please submit them to Anne Duncan via email by Wednesday, October 14.

Interfaith Partnership invites you to join them for their virtual celebration “Repairing the World: Strengthening Connections in a Fractured Time”
on Oct. 29th at 7pm.

During the evening’s program, Rev. Dr. Dieter Heinzl will be recognized as the recipient of the 2020 Interfaith Lifetime Achievement Award for his years of service to Interfaith Partnership and his commitment to furthering interreligious dialogue and understanding in St. Louis and beyond.

To join the celebration, visit interfaithstl.org/repair on Oct. 29th at 7pm. No registration or fee is required to join.
Cares, Concerns and Celebrations

We offer our congratulations to Ralph and Sharon Thaman as they celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on October 7th-Blessings for many more years to come! 

Recently hospitalized or recovering at home
Mike Hardgrove, Nancy Reycraft

We offer our Christian love and sympathy to Steve Nystrom (Jean) and his family on the death of his brother, Michael Neil Nystrom, who died and entered the church triumphant on September 24, 2020.
IN MEMORIAM

Our prayers are with the family of Tom Sargent, our former Director of Finance and Facilities. Tom died and entered the Church Triumphant on Wednesday, September 23rd. Tom was diagnosed with a terminal illness three weeks ago. After two weeks in the hospital, he went home, and died peacefully in his sleep. A Funeral Mass will be held at Little Flower Roman Catholic Church in Richmond Heights on Friday, October 2nd at 10:30am. Notes of condolence to the family may be sent to the church (attn: Jesi Hempstead), and the church will forward them to Tom's children.
Save the Date!

The fall building day coordinated by Rebuilding Together
will be Saturday, October 10th.

Rebuilding Together repairs homes for those who cannot afford to and they are adjusting their regular model to accommodate the current Covid-19 conditions. Plans include: smaller volunteer teams, increased sanitizing on-site of hands and tools, work that adheres to social distancing and additional precautions are being implemented. All are welcome; no building skills are required to participate. More details will follow. Anyone interested in volunteering please contact Bobby Sandage or Les Hill.
Monday Madness

Monday Madness continues outdoors on Mondays from 3:30-4:30 p.m., weather permitting.
For students in Kindergarten through Grade 5
Don't forget to register each week!

We look forward to seeing you there!
MUSIC MINISTRY

Music for Sunday, October 4
Music for Sunday, October 4 will include hymns from Zimbabwe, Jamaica and Malasia in observance of World Communion Sunday
Chamber Choir will sing “Come Before the Table” by Karen Marrolli
LET'S STAY CONNECTED!

Fall Email Schedule: Beginning next week, our email schedule will be updated for the fall. Below is an updated 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: God in our Midst
  • Tuesday: Midday Prayer Reminder
  • Wednesday: Chapel Bell
  • Thursday: Special Emails
  • 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 11:30 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.)