To avoid leadership conflicts and accommodate Shrove Tuesday schedules, the postponed called Presbytery meeting and meeting of the General Council to follow, have been rescheduled to TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, same time(s), same place. The business of the special Presbytery meeting remains the same: to receive the report of the Bills & Overtures Committee and to take action on their recommendation concerning an overture to the General Assembly.

Julie Leverenz, Moderator; Ron Roberts, Moderator-elect; Richard Ramsey, Moderator of Council;Don Bay, Stated Clerk; David E. Meerse, Interim General Presbyter 

A Special Called Meeting of the Presbytery of Missouri Union scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on February 9 (and then Feb 16) at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Columbia, has been re-scheduled AGAIN for Tuesday, Feb 23 for the same time and location. The purpose of the called meeting is to vote upon a proposed overture to GA from Big Creek Presbyterian Church on Baptism and God’s adoption of us. Nine members of Council have also concurred with an overture from the Presbytery of Northern Kansas.
Click below for a copy of the proposed overture:Note: There is a file embedded within this post, please visit this post to download the file.
NOTE: Presbytery Council will meet immediately following  the Special Called Presbytery meeting. The Mission Teams Committee will meet at 8:30, before the called Presbytery meeting on Feb 23 in the library at Trinity-Columbia.

Regular and Special Presbytery Meetings scheduled for Tuesday, Feb 9, 2010 have been postponed until Tuesday, Feb 23.  The Special Called Meeting of the Presbytery of Missouri Union (to consider an overture to General Assembly from Big Creek Presbyterian-Hannibal) will convene at 9:30 AM at Trinity Presbyterian in Columbia.  Presbytery Council meeting will meet immediately after the special called Presbytery meeting.  The Mission Teams Committee meeting previously scheduled for 8:30 AM in the Library at Trinity PC-Columbia is also postponed until Tuesday, Feb 23.  All meetings will be held where originally planned with the same starting times.  Please contact the MUP office with questions or to be excused.  Thank you.

Camp Committee of Missouri Union Presbytery will meet as scheduled at 5:00 PM Tuesday, Feb 9 at First Presbyterian-Columbia (16 Hitt St. downtown) Contact Committee Moderator Rob Hoell for information. Meeting agenda Note: There is a file embedded within this post, please visit this post to download the file..

Effective January 1, 2010 the mileage reimbursement rate paid by Missouri Union Presbytery will be $0.44/mile, as approved by Presbytery on Oct. 31, 2009.  Actual IRS mileage reimbursement rate for 2010 is $0.50/mile. The mileage reimbursement paid to individual pastors depends upon your terms of call for the current year.  An individual donating mileage for church work (or other charitable organizations) is allowed $0.14/mile for IRS purposes.  Go to www.irs.gov for more information.

Jan. 25-Update – Rev. Jim Williams was thrilled to report that Selma is back home and is recouperating but indicated that cards would still be appreciated.  Jim and Selma will celebrate their 46 wedding anniversary on Monday, May 1.   

Prayers are requested for Selma Williams, wife of Rev.  Jim Williams (HR). Selma underwent surgery for colon cancer on Jan 13.  Jim reports that Selma received emergency treatment for anemia last weekend and more information will be available within a couple days.  Jim has had assistance at home. Both Jim and Selma are grateful for your prayers and care.

Hungarian Mission Trip Planned–the Hungary-Ukraine Mission Team of Missouri Union Presbytery is planning a mission trip during late May-early June 2010.  This trip marks the 25^th anniversary of the partnership between the Cistibiscan Church District of the Hungarian Reformed Church and Missouri Union Presbytery. See for yourself this wonderful mission partnership!

The itinerary for the 10- to 14-day trip will include visits to Budapest, each of the presbytery’s partner churches, the district’s headquarters in Miskolc, and the 475-year-old Reformed Church School located at Sarospatak, which consists of a school, college, and seminary.  Participants will also spend time in Ukraine, where the HRC Partnership has established schools for Roma children.  These schools have been supported with funds from individuals and congregations in Missouri Union Presbytery.  Over the years, more than a dozen mission trips have been sponsored, involving an increasing number of pastors and lay people.  Most return with stories of a life-changing experience. The person-to-person contacts established during these trips put a face on international mission and frequently launch transcontinental friendships that endure for many years.

All congregations in Missouri Union Presbytery are encouraged to consider sending both pastors and church members on the 2010 trip.  Up to 20 participants can be accommodated, first come, first served.  Contact Kent Burson at kentburson@hotmail.com or (573)636-9906 if you are interested in this wonderful opportunity for international mission.  

You can help people in Haiti devastated by the Jan 12, 2010 earthquake. Take a moment to pray that God provide for their needs, asking  how we can be of help. Go to the Presbyterian Church website:  www.pcusa.org  (listed under Links–to right, above).  The PCUSA homepage offers a prayer that God will bring wholeness from this terrible tragedy.  The site features links for updates from Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and where you can make a gift for Haiti Earthquake Recovery (designate your check with account # DR000064).  Put your faith into action! Offerings received for relief/assistance in Haiti may be directed to one of the following Presbyterian agencies. 1) for long-term recovery, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, which specializes in reconstruction. Designate your check for Haiti with # DR000064. Gifts can be made online at www.pcusa.org, by phone at (800) 872-3283, or by check. Checks may be given through your local congregation or mailed to: Presbyterian Church-Disaster Assistance, P.O. Box 643700, Pittsburgh, PA  15264-3700.

2) to provide medical aid, the Medical Benevolence Foundation (a validated Mission Support Group in covenant with PCUSA) is receiving and forwarding funds to Haiti, where they already have personnel and clinics. Mark checks “Earthquake Medical Response Fund #530-453 and mail to:  Medical Benevolence Foundation, 3100 S. Gessner, Suite 219, Houston, TX  77063  Or contact MBF at (800) 547-7627 or  www.mbfoundation.org  Email Susan Haas, Haitian contact for MBF at:  shaas@mbfoundation.org

3) Support Presbyterian mission work that is already in place and on going (but now with greatly increased needs) by sending funds to the Presbyterian Outreach Foundation  http://theoutreachfoundation.org (800) 791-5023. Checks may be marked for “Haiti Earthquake” and mailed to:  The Outreach Foundation, 318 Seaboard Lane, Suite 205, Franklin, TN  37067.

Rev. Raymond “Rim” Massey was installed as pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Columbia on February 14, 1985.  A special worship service at 10:45 AM Sunday, Feb. 14 at Trinity will be recognized these 25 years of ministry and service.  A dinner in Rim’s honor will be held at 5:00 PM at First Presbyterian Church-Columbia. Please make reservations by calling 573-445-4469 or by printing and mailing back this form by Feb. 3:Note: There is a file embedded within this post, please visit this post to download the file.
A special mission gift to Presbyterian and mission organizations will be received in honor of Rim’s many years for ministry and service. You may take part by printing and mailing back this Mission Gift Form (Due by Feb. 10):Note: There is a file embedded within this post, please visit this post to download the file.   Both Dinner Reservations and Mission Gifts contributions may be mailed to 1600 W. Rollins Rd., Columbia, MO 65203. Questions, please call 573-445-4469.

The Church & Society Mission Team meeting originally planned for Saturday, Jan 9, has been re-scheduled for Saturday, Jan 23 at First Presbyterian Church, Jefferson City from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The purpose of the meeting is to explore ways that Presbyteries in Missouri can effectively cooperate in advocating for those in need during the 2010 Legislative session.  For more information about the Church & Society Mission Team please see their website: http://www.fpcjcmo.org/society_mission  (A link to the site is included under ready Links above and to the right of this homepage.)