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Sat, Dec 4 | 10:30am–2:00pm | Cave Springs Lanes | 4055 Mexico Rd 63303

You will have a GREAT TIME getting to know some special people and cheering for them as they compete.

Lane Assistant is by far the BEST job at the Special Olympics Bowling Tournament! Lane assistants get to know the athletes bowling on their lane and will keep athletes in order and bowling at a good pace all while making sure everyone is having fun. Lane assistants will track scores at the end of each game. 15 Volunteers needed. Please sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0d4ca4ac23ab9-special

From a backyard summer camp for people with intellectual disabilities to a global movement, Special Olympics has been changing lives and attitudes since 1968.

When people speak of the origin of Special Olympics, they look no further than the first Camp Shriver - founded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver in the early 1960s. They talk of one woman’s dream that started in her own backyard. They speak of her vision: how through sports, the lives of people with intellectual disabilities would be transformed and public perceptions would be changed forever.

Back in 1960, a woman from Bethesda, Maryland called up Eunice and told her that she was having trouble finding a summer camp for her child with intellectual disability. The child wouldn’t be accepted into a mainstream camp, and, at that time, the public education system couldn’t figure out what to do with special-needs children never mind supply them with summer activities. Then another woman told her almost the same thing.

“Enough,” said Eunice.

In Eunice’s world, “enough” has always meant “do something about it.”

The Second Sunday of Advent! We will light the first and second candles in our Advent Wreath – the candles of Hope and Peace. As we go further into the season of waiting, as we have a few weeks of additional darkness before the daily light begins to grow again, our scriptures are Malachi 3:1-4 (paying attention and preparing) and Luke 3:1-6 (the gospel story of Jesus’ arrival aligns with what the prophet Isaiah says about preparing the way). We seek peace – deep and wide. We follow the Prince of Peace and grow the light!

“Making a list, checking it twice. Did I remember to do my pledge card?"

We are still accepting pledge cards. So you can mark it off your “to-do” list. We continue to accept your pledges. Pledge cards are available in The Gathering Space. Mail your pledge card to the church office, place in the basket in the Gathering Space, or send it in by email. Thank you for your participation.

~Your Stewardship Commission

Sunday School Live and via Zoom

Our conversation the last couple of weeks was around CRT - Critical Race Theory. Our partner has been David Spener, Professor of Sociology at Trinity University in San Antonio and adjunct professor in the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas in Austin. He teaches Critical Race Theory, a body of scholarship and an academic movement that seeks to critically examine the intersection of race and US law. His introductory and background session on CRT was pre-recorded and is still available if you haven’t experienced it yet - https://youtu.be/6BxKaG3ehds

We will continue our own conversation and action steps going forward. Please find ways to be a part of this.

Ellen Albers and Jeff Mitchell and family - grieving the sudden death of her daughter, Kayla… prayers for her husband and young son.

Steve and Andrea Barnes - preparing for surgery on his elbows and wrists due to nerve damage from sarcoidosis and as his mother undergoes treatment for cancer.

Grieving families at the Holidays - incl Larson, Nolte, Sperry, Stappenbeck, Wessel.

Marv Herpel - healing after back surgery at Delmar Gardens, Chesterfield.

Conrad Damsgaard - healing after heart surgery at REACH Rehab.

Bill Haack - beginning the lengthy prep process for extensive back surgery in early summer - approximate recovery time will be one year.

Victims and their families after fatal shootings in a Michigan high school.

All impacted by Covid-19 - individuals, families, healthcare workers. If anyone needs help getting vax/booster or if anyone vaccinated would like to be on our Care Team, please reach out to kevin@parkwayucc.org

St Louis Assn UCC Covenant Partner  

Week ending December 5 - St. Martin UCC, High Ridge; stmartinucc-hr.com

Week ending December 12 - Ivy Chapel UCC, Chesterfield; ivychapel.org

Month of Grace + Prayer: An Advent Retreat in Everyday Life

Get ready for Christmas by praying on your own 20 minutes each day and meeting one-on-one with a spiritual companion one hour each week for four consecutive weeks. All meetings will be virtual (Zoom or phone if you prefer). Weekly meeting times set around your schedule. This is an individually directed retreat tailored to your own deep desires. Committed couples also have the option to participate as a couple. This is an ecumenical ministry, with all adults are welcome regardless of denomination or affiliation. For more information, visit www.momentsofgraceandprayer.org and to register contact Clarence Heller at clarenceheller@gmail.com.

Because of the need during the pandemic for video streaming of our church services, and because of the desire of members and friends to continue streaming even after the pandemic, we will be installing a new video system in the sanctuary. This will remove videography duties from our busy pastor’s responsibilities, and will allow for more automatic and seamless video streaming of services. Council recently approved a contract for the purchase and installation of video equipment, and Kent Tallyn and others are assisting with the installation. The project will cost about $30,000.

The Ruth Murray Memorial Fund, funded in part by insurance proceeds that she left to the church, will pay for a portion of this project. We welcome further donations for this project.

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