Welcome to the Commonplace Blog of Faith Des Peres Presbyterian Church. Weekly updates of events and happenings will be posted here, as well as photos and reminders.
If you would like to contribute to the poinsettia fund to decorate the church during the Christmas season, you may do so by signing up in the Gathering Space. The suggested donation is $10.00. You may honor or dedicate your donation to a loved one. Please note on your check that your payment is for poinsettias. Thank you.
Our December cookie exchange will be Wednesday, December 11th, at 9:30am. Hosted by Terry Baker and her able partner in crime, Connie. We all try to bring a few dozen cookies to pack for congregation shut-ins and church staff. A delicious brunch is part of the Christmas festivities as well.
Dear Faith Des Peres Church Family,
A big THANK YOU! to Angie Hiner and Clare Dingus for their planning and leadership and to all who supported them in launching our Fall Family Fellowship last Sunday! Everyone seemed to enjoy the story time, crafts, light refreshments and conversations. A movie and activity night is now planned for Wednesday, December 4 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. and another Family Fellowship focused on the nativity story is planned for Sunday, December 15 at 9:15 a.m.
Our long-awaited parking lot construction project finally began on Wednesday and will still hopefully be completed by Thanksgiving. Pray for good weather! Grading for the bio-retention basin and new parking in the front began this week and depending on how that goes we may or may not be able to park in front this Sunday. After that is laid out, we will be able to park there until paving day. Work on the rear parking lot is expected to begin next week. I will announce any updates during worship this Sunday.
My sermon message this Sunday will be “Speaking of Mysteries” from Luke 20:27-38. This is the story of Jesus evading a trap set for him by the Sadducees and what it can teach us about practicing our faith in post-Christian America.
Our “A Little Touch from Home” collection for our deployed troops continues this Sunday. We will dedicate what we’ve collected during our Thanksgiving worship on Sunday, November 24.
Faith Formation will host a discussion of Barbara Brown Taylor’s Holy Envy: Finding God in the Faith of Others over lunch following worship Sunday, November 17. Hope you’ll join us!
Looking ahead, we’ll kick off our Christmas Giving Tree project during a special hospitality time after worship Sunday, November 24. The gifts will be dedicated during worship December 8.
Looking even further ahead, the theme for our Advent through Christmas Eve services beginning Sunday, December 1 will be “Heaven and Nature Sing! 300 Years of Joy to the World.”
I look forward to seeing you in and around our church as we share in mission and ministry together!
Shalom in Christ Jesus,
Pastor Marilyn
Our next book discussion will be on Barbara Brown Taylor's Holy Envy: Finding God in the Faith of Others. We will discuss the book over lunch following worship Sunday. Hope you'll join us!
The Faith Formation Center has decided to take a different approach to an Advent Devotional for 2019. We decided to give our wonderful writers, artists and publication coordinators a break for this year and have ordered “Straw for the Manger” from Presbyterian Church USA. The focus of the devotional is “caring for the least of these” and provides each day of Advent a Scripture excerpt, meditation and prayer to deepen the season’s experience. Devotionals are available Today in the Gathering Place. Will Ridley, 314-821-8524, Email: ridleywp@att.net.
Children and youth, join Disciples Gathering as they study . Classes for children (grades K4) meet during the worship hour from about 10:40-11:30.
Join us after church, Sunday, Nov. 24 in the Gathering Space for a special hospitality treat as we kick off our annual Christmas Tree Giving project. Again this year, we will be purchasing gifts and gift cards for families and children at Lydia's House and Southside Early Childhood Center. Ornaments will be available for your selection that Sunday. Please see Sandy Williams or Judy Sission before you leave with your ornaments, so they can record who's purchasing what. We will dedicate the gifts during worship on Sunday, Dec. 8, so please bring your gifts and gift cards to church by that date.
Join our Mission & Ministry Center for A little touch from home ministerial program to send packages of items that will brighten the day for our deployed armed service members. Various snacks, hygiene items, and some clothing will be shipped to deployed units in Afghanistan & Iraq for their enjoyment. The deadline for the collected items will be Next Sunday, November 24th
Dry snacks that heat will not effect– Cheezits, pop tarts, granola bars, fruit bars, cereals (no chocolate), pretzels, chips, jerky, nuts, powered drink mixes, etc. Hygiene products for male & female– toothpaste, cough drops, qtips, baby wipes, etc. Clothing items most often requested are boot-high absorbent white socks. Items that are against Islamic law shall not be permitted. (Pork rinds. Bacon, etc.)
Join the Presbyterian Women group. They meet the last Wednesday of the month from 9:30-11:30. You can join the group any time as each lesson stands alone. They meet in the Gathering Space.
Dear Faith Des Peres Church Family,
A big THANK YOU! to the 20 people who helped us pack meals during the St. Louis World Food Day last Friday. With our help 440,370 meals were packed that day to feed hungry people here in St. Louis and Tanzania. Our two tables packed over 450 meals. Way to go!
A reminder that everyone is invited to attend the Presbytery Gathering this Saturday, November 9 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church of Washington. Faith Des Peres will be among 44 churches in the Presbytery who will be honored as either a PCUSA Certified or Covenanting Hunger Action Congregation. The preacher and guest presenter will be the Rev. Dr. Diane Moffett, President and Executive Director for the Presbyterian Mission Agency. She will particularly be sharing about the new Matthew 25 initiative.
I hope you’re planning to bring your young children and join us at 9:15 a.m. this Sunday for our first Family Fellowship of story time, crafts and light refreshments being led by Angie Hiner. Meet other families and fill your heart with a child friendly message. For those who stay for worship at 10:30 a.m. childcare will be provided by Beth Willock in our recently spiffed up Nursery.
This Sunday we will observe Veterans Sunday during worship with a special time to thank anyone who has served or is serving in one of the branches of the military. My sermon message will be “Being Joyful in Our Commitments” from Luke 19:1-10. This is the story of Jesus and Zacchaeus.
Also this Sunday please look for a list of items we’ll be collecting for our next “A Little Touch from Home” for our deployed troops. We will dedicate what we’ve collected during our Thanksgiving worship on Sunday, November 24.
Our next Buddy Packing will follow worship this Sunday. So far this school year we’ve delivered 484 buddy packs containing 1,900 weekend meals for University City children.
Faith Formation will host a discussion of Barbara Brown Taylor’s Holy Envy: Finding God in the Faith of Others over lunch following worship Sunday, November 17. Please sign up in the Gathering Space so we know how many to plan for lunch. Hope you’ll join us!
Looking further ahead, we’ll kick off our Christmas Giving Tree project during a special hospitality time after worship Sunday, November 24.
Keep watching our weekly blogs, emails and bulletins for more information about these and other upcoming events and activities being planned by the Faith Formation, Mission and Ministry, and Worship Arts centers for November.
I look forward to seeing you in and around our church as we share in mission and ministry together!
Shalom in Christ Jesus,
Pastor Marilyn
Please join us for a relaxed and fun family morning. Meet other families and fill your heart with a child friendly message. Storytime, crafts, and refreshments will be provided. Childcare will be provided should you like to stay for Worship at 10:30 am.
The Presbytery of Giddings Lovejoy invites you to join us as we welcome Rev. Dr. Dianne Moffett, Executive Director of Presbyterian Mission Agency and Rev. Rosemary Mitchell, Senior Director of Mission Engagement and Support as our guest speakers. This will be an exciting day in the life of our presbytery! We will learn what it means to be a Matthew 25 church and presbytery as we make this our focus for 2020! This is a full day meeting, so lunch will be offered. Childcare is available, upon request, at pre-registration. To register please go to: https://www.glpby.org/presbytery-gathering/
The Faith Formation Center has decided to take a different approach to an Advent Devotional for 2019. We decided to give our wonderful writers, artists and publication coordinators a break for this year and have ordered “Straw for the Manger” from Presbyterian Church USA. The focus of the devotional is “caring for the least of these” and provides each day of Advent a Scripture excerpt, meditation and prayer to deepen the season’s experience. Devotionals are available Sunday in the Gathering Place. Will Ridley, 314-821-8524, Email: ridleywp@att.net.
Join us Sunday as we do our Buddy Packing for the University City School District.
Join us after church, Sunday, Nov. 24 in the Gathering Space for a special hospitality treat as we kick off our annual Christmas Tree Giving project. Again this year, we will be purchasing gifts and gift cards for families and children at Lydia's House and Southside Early Childhood Center. Ornaments will be available for your selection that Sunday. Please see Sandy Williams or Judy Sission before you leave with your ornaments, so they can record who's purchasing what. We will dedicate the gifts during worship on Sunday, Dec. 8, so please bring your gifts and gift cards to church by that date.
Our next book discussion will be on Barbara Brown Taylor's Holy Envy: Finding God in the Faith of Others. We will discuss the book over lunch following worship on Sunday, November 17. Hope you'll join us!
Children and youth, join Disciples Gathering as they study . Classes for children (grades K4) meet during the worship hour from about 10:40-11:30.
Join our Mission & Ministry Center for A little touch from home ministerial program to send packages of items that will brighten the day for our deployed armed service members. Various snacks, hygiene items, and some clothing will be shipped to deployed units in Afghanistan & Iraq for their enjoyment. The deadline for the collected items will be November 24th
Dry snacks that heat will not effect– Cheezits, pop tarts, granola bars, fruit bars, cereals (no chocolate), pretzels, chips, jerky, nuts, powered drink mixes, etc. Hygiene products for male & female– toothpaste, cough drops, qtips, baby wipes, etc. Clothing items most often requested are boot-high absorbent white socks. Items that are against Islamic law shall not be permitted. (Pork rinds. Bacon, etc.)
Dear Faith Des Peres Church Family,
Happy Halloween! May it be a day of more treats than tricks!
A reminder to those helping with World Food Day this Friday night that we’re asked to car pool from Faith Des Peres, and we will leave the parking lot at 5:25 p.m. Wear your blue Faith Des Peres shirts and comfortable closed toe shoes.
Don’t forget to set your clocks back one-hour Saturday night as daylight savings time ends.
This Sunday we will observe All Saints Sunday during worship with a special time to remember our loved ones. My sermon message will be “Remembering Our Cloud of Witnesses” from Hebrews 12:1-3.
It’s communion Sunday, so please bring your items for our Circle of Concern collection.
Saturday, November 9 everyone is invited to attend the Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy Gathering from 9:00a.m.-3:00 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church of Washington. The preacher and guest presenter will be the Rev. Dr. Diane Moffett, President and Executive Director for the Presbyterian Mission Agency. She will particularly be sharing about the new Matthew 25 initiative.
At 9:15 a.m. Sunday, November 10 Angie Hiner will lead our first Family Fellowship of story time, crafts and light refreshments. Meet other families and fill your heart with a child friendly message. Childcare will be provided during worship at 10:30 a.m.
Our next Buddy Packing will follow worship, Sunday, November 10. Last month we packed 240 buddy packs for University City school children to take home for the weekend.
Faith Formation will host a discussion of Barbara Brown Taylor’s Holy Envy: Finding God in the Faith of Others over lunch following worship Sunday, November 17. Please sign up in the Gathering Space so we know how many to plan for lunch. Hope you’ll join us!
Looking further ahead, worship November 24 will be a Thanksgiving service.
Keep watching our weekly blogs, emails and bulletins for more information about these and other upcoming events and activities being planned by the Faith Formation, Mission and Ministry, and Worship Arts centers for November.
I look forward to seeing you in and around our church as we share in mission and ministry together!
Shalom in Christ Jesus,
Pastor Marilyn
Join us for St. Louis World Food Day on Friday, Nov. 1 from 6 – 7 p.m. at the Field House at John Burroughs High School (Clayton and Price Roads)! Faith Des Peres has sponsored two tables at this year’s event and we need 20 volunteers to fill those tables! Friends and family members are welcome to join our group (children ages 7 and up are welcome, with 1 adult for every 2 children age 7 – 9). We will need the FDP group at the Field House at 5:40p.m. Please sign up in the Gathering Space Today, and include the names of everyone in your group who will be participating. Please also indicate if you would be interested in going to dinner as a group after we finish our packing session. PLEASE SIGN UP! Please see Roy Lenox for additional details.
