THE ENLIGHTENER - Epiphany UCC

THE ENLIGHTENER

FROM THE BEEbe HIVE:

Let’s Talk About Change!

When I was a young man — well not all

that young – I had finished four years of college, three

years of theological seminary, a couple of years as a

pastor, and was about to begin working on my graduate

studies – it was my good fortune to be married to a wise

woman, Judy Corfitsen Beebe.

We were at a moment in our lives when everything was

changing. Responding as I was taught, I assumed it

was time to fasten down the deck chairs and keep

things in place. Judy told me

“No, David. When things are

changing, when the applecart

is turned over, that is the time

to rearrange the furniture.” I

have learned that she was

right.

Change is hard for us,

especially change for a church

which had learned to walk its

ways together with a loved

pastor. But I have learned

about change that when things

are changing, things can

change.

(continued on page 2.)

Epiphany United Church of Christ, St. Louis, Missouri July / August 2017

In This Issue

BEEbe Hive from Interim

Pastor, David Beebe

Kitchen Table featured in

St. Louis Review

Remembering Bob Spike

Hunger Awareness Display

Denominational News

And MUCH more!

S peaking of change, beginning with General Synod

2017 in Baltimore this summer, the United Church

of Christ will begin the transition to a new logo (seen

above) for the denomination. The logo has been up-

dated to reflect both tradition and innovation within the

church as it faces the challenges and opportunities of

Christian witness in the coming decades.

For the full scoop on the new logo, go to www.ucc.org

and search “new logo” in the search bar.

2

Lectionary Readings for

July 2017

You can deepen your ex-perience of worship by reading the scriptures in advance of Sunday. Wor-ship services are often (but not always) based on one of the lessons of the week.

July 2 Genesis 22:1-14

Psalm 13 Psalm 89:1-4, 15-18 Matthew 10:40-42

July 9

Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67

Psalm 45:10-17 Song of Solomon 2:8-13 Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

July 16 Genesis 25:19-34

Psalm 119:105-112 Psalm 65:(1-8), 9-13

Romans 8:1-11 Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

July 23

Genesis 28:10-19a Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24

Romans 8:12-25 Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

July 30

Genesis 29:15-28 1 Kings 3:5-12

Romans 8:26-39 Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52

Be a rainbow in someone

else’s cloud.

~Maya Angelou

(Beebe Hive continued from page 1.)

Consider: change occurs in significant moments in a family’s

life. If for instance Cousin George and Cousin Nancy haven’t

spoken to each other for years, if they both show up at Aunt

Millie’s funeral, something changes and they can be

reconciled. On the other hand, if George doesn’t come to the

funeral, everyone else will remember that for years. The same

thing would be true for Millicent’s wedding.

It is the same with churches: when things are changing, things

can change. So, consider this a time when Epiphany United

Church of Christ is especially open to fresh new directions.

Enjoy that. Do not fear it, for it means that God is opening

windows and will open a door.

I expect that very soon we can begin the pastoral search

process. We will be consulting again with our Conference

Search and Call Support Steward, Lorin Cope, well known to

you already.

Don’t rush. Move, as the Supreme Court and the poet, Francis

Thompson, both said, “with deliberate speed.” God knows

where you are going.

Grace and peace,

David Beebe

Interim Pastor

3

MY FORGOTTEN HERO

David Beebe

The place was the Edmund Pettis Bridge in Selma, Alabama. The date was Tuesday, March

9, 1965. That day the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and a large company of men and

women, white and black, stood for the second time at the bridge, seeking to cross over and

walk to the state capitol in Montgomery, to speak for equality and freedom. Standing beside

Dr. King (and kneeling with him on the bridge in prayer) was the Reverend Dr. Robert W.

Spike, executive director of the Commission on Religion and Race of the National Council of

Churches and former General Secretary of the United Church Board for Homeland Ministries.

Bob Spike wrote a book about the expe-

riences of the Civil Rights Movement, of

which he was a leader, The Freedom

Revolution and the Churches. In it, he

said of that moment, “We were all

camped by the Red Sea,” referring to the

Passover Exodus from Egypt. Two years

earlier, he had been one of the organiz-

ers of the March on Washington.

The next year Dr. Spike became a pro-

fessor at the Divinity School of the Uni-

versity of Chicago. In the fall of that year, October, 1966, he was staying in a hotel room while

visiting Ohio State University. He was bludgeoned to death, in a murder that church leaders

believed was an assassination.

Dr. King gave the eulogy at Bob Spike’s funeral. In it he said, "He was one of those rare indi-

viduals who sought at every point to make religion relevant to the social issues of our time. He

lifted religion from the stagnant arena of pious irrelevancies and sanctimonious trivialities. His

brilliant and dedicated work will be an inspiration to generations yet unborn.”

And yet he has been largely forgotten. Why has this great leader of

the Civil Rights Movement and of the American churches been for-

gotten? Because, in the investigation of his death, it became evident

that Dr. Spike was bisexual. It was almost as though the Church had

a deliberate amnesia. Today, with our growing welcome of the

LGBT community, he should be rediscovered.

Dr. Spike was one of my heroes. It is time to restore him to his place

in the gallery of the prophets.

4

This Is Hunger Display July 5-7

Invites Us to Take Action on Hunger

More than a million Missourians visited a food pantry last year, and one in seven

receives nutritional assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance

Program (SNAP, commonly known as food stamps). Yet hunger remains hidden

and unrecognized all around us.

MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger is working to build hunger awareness and

advocacy to end hunger through a museum-quality interactive display pulled by a

semi-trailer rig. This Is Hunger takes individuals on a 45-minute tour that will

challenge their beliefs about who in America struggles with hunger and why and

inspire visitors to take action.

The display is in St. Louis from July 5-7 and then moves on to Kansas City for July

9-13. United Hebrew Congregation at 13788 Conway Road just west of St. Luke’s

Hospital hosts the St. Louis display along with the Federation of Reform Temples.

Empower Missouri also is a sponsor and is staffing a special Legislative Reception

with local, state and federal legislators on Wednesday, July 5, at 5:30 p.m. RSVP’s

are necessary due to limited space and the need to have a count for refreshments;

contact [email protected].

There will also be a Hunger Shabbat Service with the Federation of Reform

Temples on Friday, July 7, 5:30 p.m. People of all faiths are welcome.

Tickets to the display are free, but must be reserved in advance online. Go to the

Empower Missouri website and click on the This Is Hunger banner or type in:

http://empowermissouri.org/this-is-hunger/

Visitors are encouraged to bring donations of non-perishable food items (peanut

butter, pasta, canned tuna, etc.). A service project will also be conducted to

assemble soup mix packets for families in need.

*See the flyer for on Page 5*

6

General Synod Resolution Calls

the Church to More Disability Justice

June 12, 2017, excerpt republished from UCC.org

Written by Anthony Moujaes

The General Synod of the United Church of Christ and the denomination have been advo-

cates for the inclusion and well-being of people with disabilities for the better part of three

decades. But the experience of those with disabilities has changed in that time, so the

governing body will examine a resolution that reaffirms the UCC's previous commitment,

while stretching the church to do more and include persons with disabilities in its social

justice witness.

The latest resolution, sponsored by UCC Disabilities Ministries, will be considered at the

denomination's 31st General Synod in Baltimore, taking place June 30-July 4. "Toward

Disability Justice: A Call to the Church and Churches" is, at its core, a guideline for the

wider church on how to include persons with disabilities in their ministries.

"I think there is a sense the UCC wants to include people with disabilities and it does, but

that is not always clear to people without disabilities as to what the means," explains the

Rev. Kelli Parish Lucas, chair of UCC Disabilities Ministries. "So, in a sense, this resolu-

tion is a guideline of how that can be done."

Multi-cultural Sensitivity Resolution

Missouri Mid-South Conference is offering a multi-cultural sensitivity resolution to the 31st

General Synod of the United Church of Christ, meeting in Baltimore June 30-July4. The

resolution states that racial diversity become an integral part of professional Clergy Con-

tinuing Education required for maintaining good standing within the United Church of

Christ. That training will be based on the newly offered diversity curriculum from our UCC

Justice and Witness ministry.

NEWS FROM THE DENOMINATION

8

The Kitchen Table

was featured in the

May issue of St.

Louis Review. Here is

an excerpt from that

article…

At mid-morning on a recent Thursday, the kitchen was a flurry of activity as the chef and

her assistants prepared the luncheon fare for that day.

Ham and cheese sliders, with potato wedges and fried pickles, for the main course, and

homemade pudding for dessert.

Yum! And these sliders weren't just ham and cheese slapped on any old bun; they were

the loving creation of Bertha Wherry, the lead chef for the day. She put her twist on a

standard recipe to make it special.

With Wherry's recipe, assistant cooks Darlene Murphy and Angelique Bryant helped with

preparation. They assembled King's Hawaiian buns on a tray, added ham, Swiss cheese, a

dash of this and a dash of that, then topped the buns with copious amounts of melted

butter. The sandwich tray went into an oven for heating.

Wherry wasn't done, though. She made her own dipping sauce, bringing spoonfuls to a

couple of visitors for taste tests. They gave the sauce — and her — a thumbs-up.

Finally, Wherry whipped together the dessert pudding with cookies, candy and cream.

Double yum! It was all in a day's work at The Kitchen Table, a weekly restaurant serving up

good food, good cheer and good conversation at Epiphany United Church of Christ near

Benton Park.

To view the full article from the May 28 issue of St. Louis Review,

visit: http://stlouisreview.com/article/2017-05-18/kitchen-table

https://thekitchentablestl.wordpress.com/

9

OUR CONGRATULATIONS to Adelle

Tibbs and James Bellamy, who were united

in marriage in Benton Park on May 17 by

Dr. David Beebe. Adelle is a member of

Epiphany United Church of Christ.

Your Values Venue for Lunch Meetings

THE KITCHEN TABLE

(Worker Owned)

A private room or

Seasonal seating in the garden

All homemade including

entree, side, salad, drink and des-sert for $8.50

Thursday’s 11:30-1:00

Call 314-728-9800

Or visit us on Facebook

@ The Kitchen Table

Turnover

Hot Braised Chicken, Fried Rice, Crab Ran-

goon, Mandarin ng

THE KITCHEN TABLE

2911 Mc Nair

St. Louis, MO. 63118

Your Place is Set at The Kitchen Table

OUR SYMPATHY is with Mike Jones, the

partner of John Todd, who passed from this

life into eternal life on May 26. Following

cremation, arrangements are still being

made for a service of memorial and

thanksgiving. Our prayers are also with his

mother Ollie, brother David and sister

Cindy in Lexington, S.C.

The Enlightener has been asked to host a page about ministries and ministers at Epiphany. Send your entries to Anne Little at [email protected] or Wes Buchek at [email protected].

Epiphany hosted two Urban Ministry Experience groups in the month of June. Thank you to Lauren Verseman and all that helped host these groups of young people.

Have you ever wanted to experience the joy of ushering? There are plenty of openings on the sign-up sheet in the back of church. Pick a week or two and sign up.

Discussions are continuing with regard to Epiphany serving in the Sanctuary Movement within the UCC.

Ministries Page

If you have a story or experience to share in The Enlightener,

please contact Wes Buchek or email it to [email protected]

11

Thank You

Friends of the Congregation

For Special Financial Gifts

J Reuben Rigel

Donald & Lynnea Mayer

Cindy Mueller & Nancy Shrewsbuty

St. Lucas UCC for the

Breakfast Ministry

Stewardship Update

For 12 months ending May 31, 2017

Actual Budget

Contributions $ 61,136 $ 61,000 Memorials 150 500 Special Appeals 715 5,500 Fundraisers 2,639 5,650 Facilities Rental 6,220 5,920 Urban Mission Exper. 3,050 5,000 JNM Utilities 9,000 7,200 Interest 355 250 Parsonage 12,661 11,300 e-scrip 127 150

Mission: 10,654 10,648 Christian Educ./Camp 481 1,500 Worship & Leadership 42,629 53,118 Comm./Evangelism 6,204 6,090 Hospitality & Insurance 15,135 16,075 Utilities 16,601 16,040 Fundraising 248 1,010 Other 3,948 1,079

Income: YTD YTD

Other 1,970 0

Total Income $ 98,023 $ 102,470

Expenses:

HOSPITALITY SCHEDULE 1st Sunday: Gail Auhmada

2nd Sunday: Lois Yatzeck

3rd Sunday: Will you sign up?

4th Sunday: Will you sign up?

5th Sunday: Wes Buchek

USHER SCHEDULE 1st Sunday: Will you sign up?

2nd Sunday: Wes Buchek

3rd Sunday: Will you sign up?

4th Sunday: Will you sign up?

5th Sunday: Wes Buchek

12

July Calendar

July 1—Saturday

July 2—Sunday

9:15 a.m. Christian Education

10:30 a.m. Worship with Communion

July 5—Wednesday

8:30 a.m. Breakfast at Epiphany (Hope

UCC)

July 6—Thursday

11:30 a.m.—1 p.m. The Kitchen Table

July 7—Friday

10 a.m. JNM Auction

UME—St. Peters from Ferguson 7th—9th

July 8—Saturday

July 9—Sunday


10:30 a.m. Worship

July 12—Wednesday

8:30 p.m. Breakfast at Epiphany

(St. Lucas UCC)

July 13—Thursday


July 16—Sunday



July 17—Monday

6:30 p.m. Church Council

July 19—Wednesday

8:30 a.m. Breakfast at Epiphany (St.

John—Mehlville)

6:15 p.m. Meditation / Prayer Group

July 20—Thursday


July 23—Sunday


10:30 a.m. Worship

July 24—Monday

6:30 p.m. JNM Board at Curby

July 26—Wednesday

8:30 a.m. Breakfast at Epiphany

(1st Congregational UCC @ Wydown)

July 27—Thursday


5—8 p.m. Neighborhood Accountability

Board in Council Room

July 30—Sunday


10:30 a.m. Worship

S M T W T F S

1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Members who cannot be with us but would love to hear from you!

John DeClue #529925 H.U.-9-B-11

Farmington Correctional Center 1012 W. Columbia

Farmington, MO 63648

Shirley Bax Beauvais Manor Nursing Home

3625 Magnolia Ave. St. Louis, MO 63110

RaeKwon Kinnard [email protected]

David Hon 2005 Frenken St.

Pocahontas, AR 72455

Joan Kernebeck c/o Altenheim

5408 S. Broadway, # 584 St. Louis, MO 63111

Read The Enlightener online at http://epiphanyucc.org. Click “Newsletter.” Archived back is-

sues also available.

Interim Pastor, David Beebe President, Rev. Dorothy Gannon Vice President, John Scott Secretary, Rev Doug Kaufman Treasurer, Linda Paglusch Asst. Treas, Chris Heckendorn Financial Secretary, Dorothy Gannon Acct. Payable, Jeanette Mott Oxford Council Members: Anne Little, Donna Schaeffer,

Lauren Verseman

Building Care, Gail Ahumada Choir, Dorothy Gannon Christian Educ. Chair, Lois Yatzeck Church Office, Anne Little Enlightener Editor, Wes Buchek Hospitality and Usher Coordinator, Wes Buchek Safe Church Coordinator, Jennifer Everett Musician, Peter Ruthenburg

Birthdays in July Linda Paglusch 7/10

Elizabeth O’Reilly 7/13 Sylvie Williams 7/13

Jeanette Oxford 7/16 Lois Yatzeck 7/20 Anne Little 7/22

Jackson Ruthenburg 7/24 Hannah Ruthenburg 7/24

Fred Tilinski 7/24

Anniversaries in July Dorothy Gannon & Jeanette Oxford 7/4

MINISTERS AT EPIPHANY

14

Birthdays in August Jennifer Everett 8/9 Fred Hudson 8/12

Angie O’Gorman 8/12 Virginia Gilbert 8/17

Anne Nancy Vosler 8/19 Dwaine Sell 8/25

Dawn Martin 8/31 Shirley Bax 8/31

Anniversaries in August

Chance Beeler & Chris Guelbert 8/16

Dwaine & Karen Sell 8/24

August Calendar

August 2—Wednesday

8:30 a.m. Breakfast at Epiphany (Hope

UCC)


August 3—Thursday


August 5—Saturday

1:30 p.m. Christian Education Committee

August 6—Sunday




8:30 p.m. Breakfast at Epiphany

(St. Lucas UCC)

August 10—Thursday


August 13—Sunday


10:30 a.m. Worship


8:30 a.m. Breakfast at Epiphany (St.

John—Mehlville)


S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28 29 30 31



August 20—Sunday



August 21—Monday

Total Eclipse

6:30 p.m. Church Council


8:30 a.m. Breakfast at Epiphany

(1st Congregational UCC at Wydown)



August 27—Sunday


10:30 a.m. Worship

August 28—Monday

6:30 p.m. JNM Board at Epiphany


8:30 a.m. Breakfast at Epiphany (Prince

of Peace)



5—8 p.m. Neighborhood Accountability

Board in Council Room

15

Lectionary Readings for

August 2017

You can deepen your ex-perience of worship by reading the scriptures in advance of Sunday. Wor-ship services are often (but not always) based on one of the lessons of the week.

August 2 Genesis 32:22031

Isaiah 55:1-5 Psalm 145:8-9, 14-21

Romans 9:1-5 Matthew 14:31-21

August 13

Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28 Psalm 85:8-13 1 Kings 19:9-18 Romans 10:5-15

Matthew 14:22-33

August 20 Genesis 45:1-15

Isaiah 56:6-8 Psalm 67

Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 Matthew 15:(10-20), 21-28

August 27

Exodus 1:8-2:10 Isaiah 51:1-6 Psalm 138

Romans 12:1-8

Dear Epiphany UCC,

Thank you for your recent gifts to the St. Louis Asso-

ciation. Your generous support helps strengthen the

work of our local mission partners, as ministry touch-

es lives in Christ’s name. We appreciate your commit-

ment to the work of the St. Louis Association.

With gratitude,

The St. Louis Association Council

________________________________________

Dear Friends,

Thank you for your faithful prayers and sup-

port. I am forever grateful for your partner-

ship in extending care — where we sought to

meet people where they are: be a presence of

love, mercy and grace daily and provide a

space for connecting one another to life

changing resources. Your commitment to

gathering at this table has been a great

source of blessing and encouragement.

...please be with in prayer this next month.

Serving together,

Lorren Z. Buck,

Transitional Executive Director

Messages to Epiphany

16

SUNDAY SCHEDULE

9:15 A.M. Christian Ed.

10:30 A.M. Worship

TELEPHONE: (314) 772-0263

EMAIL: [email protected] ,

or [email protected]

WEBSITE: www.epiphanyucc.org

JOINT NEIGHBORHOOD MINISTRY:

(314) 771-3987

Our Purpose: We love God by: Accepting and affirming all, fostering

growth, and working for social justice.

Our Commitments:

We are “Open and Affirming” – welcoming people of all sexual orientations

and gender identities into church life and leadership.

We are a “Just Peace” Church – seeking to bring peace by working for

social justice.

We are a “Whole Earth” Church – committed to caring for creation and

bringing a ‘green’ consciousness to our living.

We seek to become a “Multicultural” Church – celebrating the diversity of

racial and ethnic traditions.

WE SEEK TO BE MULTI-CULTURAL

AND ACCESSIBLE TO ALL

Epiphany United Church of Christ 2911 McNair Avenue St. Louis, MO 63118 Return Service Requested

THE ENLIGHTENER July/August 2017

mailto:[email protected]

THE ENLIGHTENER - Epiphany UCC

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