Missouri Union Presbytery

I just finished a book published by the Alban Institute entitled “When Better Isn't Enough – Evalutation Tools for the 21st Century Church.” The book is written by Jill Hudson, a PC(USA) minister. In the book Jill addresses not only the church's need for change but also how that change will inevitably bring conflict. The most helpful part of the book, in my opinion, is her section on 12 characteristics for a 21st century church and then evaluation tools for both the pastor and a personnell committee to use for review purposes. Some of the questions she proposes are pretty challenging for pastors and churches but are questions that really do need to be addressed. I highly recommend the book if you are planning to set goals, either personal or church related, for the next year. The synod wil order the book for you from Alban so you can get the discount. The number is AL279.

In February of 2005 First Church in Columbia began a Prayer Shawl Ministry. This ministry is really very simple. A shawl may be either knitted or crocheted. The creation of each shawl begins with prayer adn the prayers are continued throughout the making of the whole piece. The shawls may be made individually at home or in small gatherings for intercessory prayer. Here at First Church, the completed shawls are given to the deacons to distribute to people facing some difficulty in life, as a reminder that the church continually wraps this person in prayer. Every month as the deacons meet, those who have received shawls are lifted up in prayer. This ministry was officially dedicated during worship on Pentecost Sunday in 2005. Since then, 37 shawls have been made and 31 have been distributed to members and non members of the church. This ministry is really very simple to begin and maintain, and the cost is just a few skeins of yarn for each shawl. For a more complete history of this ministry as well as knitting and crocheting patterns, check out the website www.shawlministry.com or email me at kathie@fpccolumbia.org