September 9, 2020 Ladue Chapel Presbyterian Church - St. Louis, Missouri
“God’s various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit.” These words from 1 Corinthians 12 (The Message) speak to the excitement your PNC feels in presenting our candidate for Pastor, Head of Staff. Soon you will “meet” the candidate by mail, email, on the website, and through videos. You will hear him preach on Sunday, Sept. 13 at 10:30 a.m.

It is clear he possesses many gifts which will complement the gifts of our other talented staff at Ladue Chapel. Our candidate feels called to Ladue Chapel and we believe God led us to him. We’re sharing a few bits of conversation we had with him so that you can begin to know him.

He says, “...the hub of our life together, worship, plays perhaps the most critical role in our spiritual vitality. We must seek to worship with passion and purpose every week... in ways that are both thoughtful and enthusiastic... Worship needs to be intentional. It is an offering we are making for God.”

“Pastoral care is what feeds me... if I’ve been in meetings all day long and then I have a pastoral visit, I feel like I have accomplished something!”

“Young families are stretched to the max… church is something they want to invest their time in… to feel known… We need to learn the names of their children, their challenges… need to be responsive to what their needs are… get down on the floor alongside them.”

 “The input/feedback of staff and lay leaders is key, but if we want to understand how the Holy Spirit speaks to us, get people together and see where the conversation goes … (I) trust in people around me…trust that God is present in that conversation.”

“We will particularly find the presence of God whenever we are in the midst of people in need.” Like LCPC, his current church is a Matthew 25 congregation. His leadership of mission and justice work in two congregations focused on developing relationships with those in need in inner cities and were joint efforts that were transformative.

 And from his Statement of Faith, “When the church is faithful it too stands in the midst of suffering with words and actions of hope.”

We believe this candidate is blessed with many gifts and is one who will lead, challenge and inspire us all.

Faithfully,

Your PNC: (Ralph Thaman (Co-Chair), Sarah Yancey (Co-Chair), Linda Bryant, Mary Carr, Laila Crabtree, Lisa Etzwiler, Rick Oleshak, Steve Peacock, John Spencer, Carol Wellman, Rick Wilhelm
Cares, Concerns and Celebrations

Recently hospitalized or recovering at home
Barbara Hibbard, Hank and Gini Schreiman, Brenda Melson
PDO at Ladue Chapel
We'd love to get your feedback!
We are excited to share that The Parent's Day Out Task Force Committee is working hard on preparing to reopen in 2021! In an effort to do so, we would like to ask that all families who have previously participated in the PDO program here at Ladue Chapel, or who plan to enroll in the program in the future, or who have pre-school age children, to please complete this survey no later than Thursday, September 17th.  Your input is greatly appreciated!

The PDO Task Force Committee
Staff: Dieter Heinzl, Mel Smith, Courtney Chandler 
Members: Patty Boehm, Amy Dunaway, Betsy Lewis, Rose Rudert
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
August Food Drive

Thank you Ladue Chapel! The August Food Drive was a great success! 
Your generosity resulted in 900 pounds of food delivered to
Isaiah-58 Ministries Food Pantry and to Waymakers.
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!
Midday Prayer (over Zoom)
Wednesdays beginning September 16
12:00-12:15 p.m.

You are invited to pause with us at the height of the day every Wednesday; a
reminder of God in our midst. Our time together will begin with a reading of
scripture or poetry. We will then share five minutes of silence; ending with
a spoken prayer. Join us for a moment to breathe and rest in God, allowing
the Spirit to renew our souls.

The same link (below) will be used each week. Feel free to share this
invitation with family and friends.


Installation Celebration Honoring Rev. Melanie Smith
Sunday, September 20
4:30-6:00 p.m. (drop-in any time)
Ladue Chapel parking lot
 
Seoul Taco food truck! (purchase your own food)
Ice cream truck! (compliments of the church)
 
Wear masks

Health waivers distributed to sign upon arrival

Church building closed

We need to keep numbers to no more than 50 at one time (socially distanced),
so we plan to keep guests flowing in and out.
MUSIC MINISTRY

Music for Sunday, September 6
The Chamber Choir returns with "O How Amiable" by Ralph Vaughan Williams and "Peace I Leave with You" by Michael Gandorf. Soloist Margaret Milligan Kerr will sing "How Beautiful are the Feet" with Violinist Hannah Frey.
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 11:15 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.)