Missouri Union Presbytery

These non-preachy, reflective, actuality-based stories told by the person who experienced the life situation are heard on over 500 radio stations nationwide, the Armed Forces Overseas TV/Radio System, and into 16 foreign countries via the DX Shortwave Network. This long-standing, award-winning production reaches over 15 million listeners.
The stories come from everyday people who tell in their own words how life-changing problems or tragedies touched their lives and that through God's love found in Jesus Christ they made it through the passage point. It's not the usual kind of testimony, in fact, nothing about the program sounds like a conventional approach to radio ministry. It is God being active in people's everyday lives over and over again that captures the interest of the listener. Folks come from all walks of lives as special guests on the Passages Radio Program. Passages are produced by Dennis C. Benson with co-producers Bill Wolfe, Melodie Davis, and Gregg Hartung as a joint Presbyterian, United Methodist, and Mennonite public affairs program
For more information on Passages go and listen to some of the feature length programs (60seconds) at www.passages.org or contact Gregg Hartung at pmm@passages.org

A really superb response to “Faith Questions & Reflections” DVD produced by PMM for the “Summer Youth Institute” at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary is out in presbyteries and churches. For more information on this exciting program for theologically inclined youth in junior and senior high school contact Ellie Johns at mjohns@pts.edu

Presbyterian Communicators Network Regional Conference
Stronghold Conference Center, Oregon, IL
August 25 – 27, 2008

Experience interactive workshops, stimulating plenary, reflective worship and and lively conversation with others who have similar communication responsibilities for the PC(USA). Learn to upload multi-media to your website, create an online social network, develop a communicators network in your presbytery, or freshen up your writing skills. Listen to and talk with church experts on communicating in a Web 2.0 world and how to reach out to others that are beyond the four walls of your church.

The event starts at 1:00 pm, Monday, August 25 and concludes at 11:30am, Wednesday, August 27. Registration is $250 and includes all conference programs, group meals and two night lodging. Go to www.pcusa.org/comnet for complete details.

Who should attend: People who have the responsibility to communicate via hard copy, online or other electronic media, the ministry and mission of churches, presbyteries and synods. Members and friends in MUP, if you're planning to attend this conference, please contact Vicki at the MUP office 1-800-635-3178. She will be attending–free ride available!

Can’t make Stonghold? Then save these dates for a similar opportunity:
Montreat Conference Center, Montreat, NC April 30 – May 2
Menucha Retreat and Conference Center, Corbett, OR October 29 – 31. If you have questions about the event, contact one of the planning committee members:

Duane Sweep, Director of Communications – Synod of Lakes and Prairies, 800-328-1880 *206, dsweep@lakesandprairies.org
Pat Wakeley, Blackhawk Presbytery, 815-732-3258 x610 or x5, patw@blackhawkpresbytery.org
Dennis Sanders, Twin Cities Area Presbytery, 888-323-4714, communications@ptcaweb.org
Kim Coulter, Des Moines Presbyter, 515-276-4991, pbycommunication@qwest.net OR www.presbyteryofdesmoines.org

Collegues in Ministry,

Please consider attending or inviting others in you congregation to attend “Tools and Techniques for Tomorrow's Church” hosted by the Iowa Religious Media Services. This one-day conference will be held Saturday, August 16, 2008, at Plymouth Congregational Church in Des Moines, IA from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Cost for the conference is $65/person. Rodger Nishioka, from Columbia Seminary and keynote speaker at the Feb 2008 ASPE conference in San Diego, will also keynote this conference and lead 2 of the 26 planned break-out sessions.

More information about the conference is available on the MUP website or at www.irms.org or by call IRMS at 1-800-777-8661. We will gladly send (email or surface mail)a flyer and registration form (in PDF foramt) to you from the MUP office. This will be worth your time!

Best Personal Regards,
David E.Meerse
Interim General Presbyter
Missouir Union Presbytery

The Board of Pensions has created a new member advocate position under the Medical Plan, effective April 1, 2008. The Board recognizes that navigating the complexities of our third-party providers, especially those for healthcare, can be a daunting experience for members of the Benefits Plan. With this new position, the Board will help Plan members through difficult situations arising out of administration of the Medical Plan. The advocate position will be filled by Ms. Annette Donald, who has many years of service with the Board and is knowledgeable about the Benefits Plans and its relevant administrative processes. For additional information, please visit www.pensions.org

Rev. James (Tim) Kizer has accepted a position as Assistant Director of the Lombard-Mennonite Peace Center in Lombard, Illinois. (www.lmpeacecenter.org) Following training in Syracuse, New York, he officially began work on February 11, 2008. Lombard-Mennonite Peace Center, 101 W. 22nd St., Ste 206, Lombard, IL. 60148. 630-627-0507

Tim's new address is 1458 Fairway Dr, Apt 302, Naperville, IL 60563.

congratulations!!!! how Great! Bruce

The Reverend Patrick Gruber of Mexico and Karen Johnson of Eureka, MO are delighted to announce their engagement. The couple is planning an August 2nd wedding at 2pm at First Presbyterian Church of Mexico. The Reverend Charles Waddle (step-father of the bride) and the Reverend Terry Kukuk will be officiating. A reception will follow the ceremony in the activities hall of the church.

ELDER DAVID E. MEERSE to assume leadership in Missouri Union Presbytery November 1, 2007. David will be here for our next presbytery meeting at First Presbyterian-Columbia on Friday, November 2, 2007.

A native of Ogallala, Nebraska, a graduate of Doane College at Crete, Nebraska, and of the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, David E. Meerse was ordained a Presbyterian elder in 1968. While teaching United States history at the State University College in Fredonia, New York, and chairing the history department, he was active as a volunteer in the Presbytery of Western New York. There he served on the Budget & Finance Committee, as Moderator of the Presbytery, and as Synod Commissioner and General Assembly commissioner to the reunion General Assembly in 1983.

After 20 years of college teaching, he answered God’s call to full-time church service. In 1986 he was elected Stated clerk of New York City Presbytery, the first elder to ever serve that Presbytery in that capacity. While in New York City, he served on the Permanent Judicial Commission of the synod of the Northeast, and on the Advisory Committee on the Constitution of the General Assembly.

In 1997, he began his career in interim executive service. He has served as an interim Pastoral/General/Executive Presbyter in 3 presbyteries (Lake Erie, Muskingum Valley, and John Calvin). He has also served as Interim Manager of Judicial Process in the General Assembly’s Office of the Stated Clerk, and as co-Stated Clerk of the Synod of the Trinity.

About himself, David says: “From my first marriage, I have two wonderful (grown) children. My daughter, Katherine, works for the Hennepin county (St. Paul, Minnesota) government, heading a program to reduce teen pregnancy. Her husband is a college professor. My son, John, teaches high school mathematics in Portland, Maine, where his wife is a lawyer. Music is very important in my life, as indicated by my singing in church choirs since my high school days. I enjoy all forms of classical music–live performances, recordings, and radio productions. I remain an active scholar in my research interest, the politics of pre-Civil War America, and maintain my membership in a number of professional historical associations. When I can find the time for it, I enjoy cross-country skiing. I follow a regular exercise routine. I read for relaxation & listen to audio books while driving. I watch old movies (especially from the 1930's and 1940's), and a number of mystery programs on PBS, A&E, etc. I have recently acquired (or been acquired by) two mixed Siamese felines, who bring pleasure and relaxation to my life.??? (From October 2007 MUP Newsletter)

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