November 11, 2020 Ladue Chapel Presbyterian Church - St. Louis, Missouri
Dear Ladue Chapel Family,

During our October Session meeting, the decision was made to work toward re-opening the church for in-person worship on the first Sunday of Advent, November 29th. Following that decision, we have been working hard as a staff, along with the Health Task force, to put protocols in place that will allow us to re-open safely.

Part of this process has included developing a registration system for in-person worship and recording a “welcome back to worship” video which will walk through the steps of registering and what to expect during in-person worship.

As we continue to do this work and look forward to the day when we can be back in the sanctuary together—we are also keeping a close eye on the Covid-19 infection rates here in St. Louis. We recognize that the pandemic is not over—which means we will need to be nimble as decisions may need to be made quickly and timelines for re-opening adapted.

We recognize that these are challenging times—we are all making hard decisions about what our Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations will look like and who will gather with us in our homes and at our tables.

Even as we face hard decisions, there is also hope. With the good news of a possible vaccine, we have reason to trust that, while there’s a chance we may not be able to meet in-person in the next few months, re-opening will come and things will get better in the months ahead.

As Thanksgiving, Advent and Christmas are approaching we are once again reminded that while science can provide for us hope and relief, our ultimate hope rests upon the God of our Lord Jesus Christ who is the only one who gives us life, indeed life everlasting.

Session will be meeting next Wednesday, November 18th, and we will discuss re-opening. As we live into the next few months, know that we are here for you as a staff, and that as a congregation we remain united as one as the body of Christ.

Grace and peace,
The Staff of Ladue Chapel
Cares, Concerns and Celebrations

Recently hospitalized or recovering at home
Justin Williamson, Barbara Hibbard

We offer our Christian love and sympathy to Hank Schreimann on the death of his wife Virginia (Gini) Schreimann, who died and entered the church triumphant on November 7, 2020.

We offer our congratulations to Amira Fuller and Andrew Stapleton on their wedding, which took place on Sunday, November 8, 2020.

We rejoice in the baptism of Margaret May Neuner on November 7, 2020. Proud parents are Allison and David Neuner. Proud grandparents are Debby and Jeff Dieffenbach.
A Prayer for Veterans on Veterans day

Most Gracious God,
Today we remember and celebrate our veterans, worthy men and women who gave their best when they were called upon to serve and protect their country.

We pray that you will bless them for their unselfish service in the continual struggle to preserve our freedom and our safety.

Bless them abundantly for the hardships they have faced and for the sacrifices they have made.
We pray that you will watch over all who serve our nation and bless them with peace and joy. Amen.
ON CHRISTMAS NIGHT: ORGAN MUSIC FROM LADUE CHAPEL
A unique Christmas gift opportunity

David Erwin, Organist
Together with artists of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra
present a varied assortment of music for the Christmas Season.
 
Recorded in 2019 in our Sanctuary, featuring our world-class Schoenstein organ, this CD will be a special addition to your music library and a valued gift to friends and family.
 
To order, please contact Liz Higginbotham at 314-280-1374 or lizh@hbistl.com
Cost is $20 per CD, and checks may be mailed to Ladue Chapel, 9450 Clayton Road, St. Louis, 63124
 
Music from this CD will be featured on the national and international broadcast of the American Public Media program Pipedreams on November 23.
 
All proceeds from the sale of this CD go to support Ladue Chapel’s music fund.
GOBBLE GOBBLE – LADUE CHAPEL TURKEY & HAM DRIVE

Please help us make the holidays a bit brighter for our neighbors by donating to the Turkey & Ham drive. Many families need more help than ever before!
Since 1983 Ladue Chapel members have donated frozen turkeys and hams to make the holiday meals of the needy better. But this year, COVID is interfering with collection and distribution! 

You can still help this November & December by donating cash to the Ladue Chapel Turkey & Ham drive in lieu of an actual turkey or ham. 

To participate, you may:
OR 
Send a check to the church office
with a memo line of “Turkey & Ham Drive”

Please contact Jill Brown or Shari Klein with any questions.

Isaiah-58 Food Pantry estimates the cost of one full holiday meal at $30.
Christmas Flower and Music Fund
 
Donating to the Christmas Flower and Music Fund is a wonderful way to give glory to God and to honor a loved one. This fund is used to adorn the sanctuary with poinsettias, to decorate the exterior with wreaths, and to welcome guest musicians for our recorded Christmas Eve video worship and for a special videoed Christmas Concert. 
 
Gifts of any amount are welcome! To donate, please go to our website:  www.laduechapel.org/give and use the contribution button to make your donation online. You may choose your donation amount and fill in the section with whom the donation is in memory or honor of. Alternately you may mail your donation to the church office. All donors will be acknowledged in the church bulletin and in the worship videos for December 20 and Christmas Eve.
 
Thank you for your gift to the Christmas Flower and Music Fund which will beautify our worship and will bring enjoyment to the entire congregation.
Passing of the Peace

We would like to invite you to participate in passing the peace in one of our upcoming worship videos!  The videos that you send in really help our church family to connect with each other. If you and your family or group would like to do this, just make a short video (10 seconds or so) on your cell phone, saying “the peace of Christ be with you…and also with you” and then email it to Jesi Hempstead at jhempstead@laduechapel.org Submissions must be received by Wednesday at noon to be included in the following Sunday’s worship. If you are uncomfortable making the video yourself, please contact David Erwin to arrange a time to meet at the church to do a recording. That’s all there is to it! Thank you for sharing the peace of Christ with your Ladue Chapel family near and far. 
What does it mean to be
a Matthew 25 church?

Please join us via Zoom Thurs evening, Nov. 19, 7:00-8:00 pm for the first in a series of seminars to learn more about how Ladue Chapel is fulfilling our PCUSA commitment to: building congregational vitality, dismantling structural racism, and eradicating systemic poverty.


You will learn in more detail what it means to be a Matthew 25 Church and hear from Mr. Michael Milton the St. Louis site manager for The Bail Project, a national effort to combat mass incarceration.

We look forward to sharing our commitment to “serve the least of these” in our community and around the world.
Monday Madness, for children in grades K-5th, will begin meeting inside from 4:15-5:15 (note time change)  on Monday, November 9th! Weekly registration is required (limited to 2 groups of 10 each) as is the signing of a new parent waiver. Masks are required for everyone, and we are unable to serve snacks at this time.
 
We hope you will join us for fun, fellowship, music –
and to work on the Christmas pageant!
Be an Angel this Christmas
Spread Joy – Collection December 6 – 10, 2020

Ladue Chapel has supported Uni-Pres Kindercottage in East St. Louis for 35 years. Uni-Pres provides day care and other services to children, ages 6 weeks through 12 years, providing an environment where children have opportunities for learning through educational, social and development programs. They work in a holistic model with the whole family to address the child’s well -being.
 
COVID-19 has strained the agency’s small budget as they provide day care and education for up to 43 kids; half their usual capacity due to COVID-19. The needs in this community and agency are real and deep.

To participate, please bring your donation to church during office hours (9 am to 2 pm). Bins will be kept in the entryway, just inside the door closest to the church office. 

Needs
  • Personal Protective Equipment: Masks- adult and child sizes; Latex gloves- size large
  • Cleaning Supplies: Bleach, Disinfectant, Comet, Bathroom tub and tile cleaner, Clorox wipes, Hand soap
  • Paper products: Paper towels, Kleenex, TP
  • Gifts for Families: Gift card $25 to Walmart or Schnucks
  • Gifts for children: New or gently used puzzles (ages 2 and up);New or gently used blocks (ages 2 and up); Art supplies- construction paper, glue sticks, scissors (child size); Diapers- size 1-6; Pullups sizes 4-6; Underwear, T shirts and socks for children age 2 months – age 12 

Questions?
Please call or text Karen Gheesling Mullis at 314-221-1219
Watcher’s Eve is Happening!
Sunday, November 29
3:30-5:00 p.m.*

A celebration of Advent as we anticipate the joy of Christmas

Stroll the church campus with family and friends

Visit the following stations safely distanced outside
-Signing Christmas cards for homebound members
-Christmas caroling
-Take home Advent wreath kit
-Storytelling
-Blue Christmas communion kit and candles pick-up
-Chapel Ringers perform songs of the season
-Take home Advent devotion books and leave with a treat!
-Concluding with a tree lighting at 5:00 p.m.

*There is no cost to attend, however you must make a reservation for every attendee for one of three time slots (3:30-4:00, 4:00-4:30, 4:30-5:00).

All participants must sign a waiver prior to the event.
Parents/Guardians must sign waivers for any children attending prior to the event.

All participants ages 4 and older must wear a mask at all times
while on Ladue Chapel property.

In case of inclement weather,
this event will move to the following Sunday, December 6 (3:30-5:00)

Registration for Watcher's Eve coming soon!
MUSIC MINISTRY

Music for Sunday, November 15
Chapel Ringers will play “A Day of Celebration” by Brian Childers.
Chamber Choir will sing “What Does the Lord Require” by Eric Nelson.
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.
  • 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.)