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Dear Partners in Ministry:

Every Sunday and several other times during the week we say the words, “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.” Some churches use the word “trespasses” or “sins” in place of “debtors”. Jesus was trying to teach us that part of a whole life in Christ involves being forgiven and forgiving others. Easier said than done for many of us.

How do we forgive someone who has really hurt us or our loved ones? How do we forgive someone who will not speak to us and how do we gain forgiveness from that person? Do I have to forget as well as forgive? How do I forgive myself? Where is God in the forgiveness business? What if I’m mad at God? These are all questions that we have to face some time in our lives and forgiveness is at the heart of the Good News in Jesus Christ. As Christians, we are in the forgiveness business also.

This summer, in July and August, I will offer a discussion group on the topic of forgiveness based on a book called How Can I Forgive? on Tuesday evenings at 7 pm. I hope that many of you will join us for all or part of the study. This is a crucial issue for us as human beings, as Christians and as children of God. Our ability to accept and give forgiveness affects all aspects of life. Join us.

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Sue

The Youth Group would like to thank the birds! birds.

The barbecue car wash raised over $200 that will be used by St. Philip’s Youth for the Mission Trip.

Thanks! The Kids

Please check the bulletin board for the letters from these organizations (I condensed them for the Crier.)

Dear St. Philip’s Sunday School:

Thank you for underwriting the cost of Gilbert’s allowance with your recent gift of $25.00. Your gift and encouragement is a great support for Gilbert in his efforts to overcome his troubles.

(signed) Michael P. Brennan, Executive Director – Evangelical Children’s home

Dear Friends in Christ:

Joint Neighborhood Ministry is very grateful for your donation of $50.00. We have been busy serving the families of South St. Louis City. Since January, we have served over 4,700 in our food pantry, clothing room and with utilities needs. We have opened our door to Grace Hill Health Center and Near Southside Employment Coalition to help our neighbors with their health and employment needs. We have a new Family Advocate, Cindy Kohlman, on staff now to better serve our families.

On behalf of the staff, Board of Directors and the families served, we thank you for your gift to Joint Neighborhood Ministry. Please know that your gift goes a long way to help those in need. We appreciate and thank you for your kindness.

Yours in Christ service,

(signed) Joan Hensley

P.S. We were able to purchase toilet paper and diapers with your donation.

To: St. Philip’s Congregation

From: Barbecue Dessert Committee

You did it again with flying colors!! The following desserts were donated:

• Cakes 19
• Pies 12 (sugar free 9 and regular 3)
• Cookies 128
• Brownies 103
• Grand total pieces: cakes 477
• pies 96
• Final total: 788

Left over:

11 brownies, 4 sugar free pieces pie, 1 cake

Thanks to you who so generously donated the desserts. A successful dessert table is because of each of you. You are SPECIAL!!!

I would like to thank everyone for their cards, calls, and prayers during my recent surgery. It is wonderful to belong to such a caring community.

Nancy Krenning

KEEP IN YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS

• Wanda Reidel at Des Peres Hospital
• Elsie Frye in Hospice Care
• Lucille Brand at Green Park Nursing Home
• John Schuette at Green Park Nursing Home
• Bob Stevenson at Des Peres Hospital
• Audrey Brill in Hospice Care at home

NEW MEMBERS RECEIVED

On Sunday, May 27 th we welcomed the following people into membership of St. Philip’s United Church of Christ. Please add their names to your church directory.

We hope you will make it a point to welcome them to the church family.

SUMMER MONDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY

Bible Study resumes on Monday mornings at 8:30 am on June 4 th. We will be studying the parables of Jesus. Everyone is welcome. This is a great way to start the week.

UCC ANNIVERSARY

The United Church of Christ will be 50 years old on June 25 th. Sermons on June 17th and June 24 th will feature history and celebration of our denomination. After worship on boththose days we will view “The UCC @ 50, Yesterday’s Visionaries and Today’s Voices.” Please be there.

Preamble to the Constitution of the United Church of Christ

The United Church of Christ acknowledges as its sole Head, Jesus Christ, Son of God and Savior. It acknowledges as kindred in Christ all who share in this confession. It looks to the Word of God in the Scriptures, and to the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, to prosper its creative and redemptive work in the world. It claims as its own the faith of the historic Church expressed in the ancient creeds and reclaimed in the basic insights of the Protestant Reformers. It affirms the responsibility of the Church in each generation to make this faith its own in reality of worship, in honesty of thought and expression, and in purity of heart before God. In accordance with the teaching of our Lord and the practice prevailing among evangelical Christians, it recognizes two sacraments: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper or Holy Communion.

SUMMER STUDY

This summer, during the months of July and August, Pastor Sue will be leading a study of forgiveness. We will read How Can I Forgive?by Joretta Marshall, a professor at Eden Seminary. The course will run for 7 weeks. We will meet on Tuesdays at 7 pm. It is best if you also read the book. To order it, sign up on the sheet on the bulletin board. The back cover of the book is on the bulletin board also so you can see the broad scope of the study. I hope you will join us.

• How Can I Forgive?
• Tuesdays – July 10, 17, 24, 31
• August 7, 14, 21
• 7 pm at church

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

There will be NO WORK on Tuesday, June 12 th. I will be at Mo-Val; as a counselor for the adult developmentally disabled group. Otherwise plan on coming Tuesday evening at 6 pm starting May 29 th.

We are planning on a fun Soaring to New Heights with God for VBS this year. The theme is LIFT OFF with hot air balloons. We need volunteers to help assist in the 1 st, 2 nd, 3 rd grade group and in the Discovery Time. All the planning will be done.

Anyone who would like to take the part of a character(s) for Story Telling, let us know. We will also need helpers to set up for VBS on Saturday, July 28 th. If you can help in any way please call Shirley at the office or Virginia 843-3605.

We appreciate your help and I know you will have a good time.

Virginia Hladnick

WANT TO PURCHASE

The Christians Education Committee would like to purchase a used Overhead Projector. If you know of any available, please call Virginia Hladnick at 843-3605. Thank you.

DRESS SUNDAYS

Just a reminder that casual Sunday attire will begin on Sunday, May 27 th. Please use your discretion as to what is appropriate to wear for church. Be comfortable but also be respectful. Thanks!

SUMMER SERMON SERIES

During the summer Pastor Sue would like to preach and teach on topics that you suggest. So – look for the sermon suggestion box on the credenza in the gathering space. If you have sermon topics, scriptures you want to hear more about and/or hymns you want to sing – please leave suggestions.

GRADUATESI

Congratulations to the following who have graduated from:

High School:

College:

These graduates will be recognized at our worship service on Sunday, June 10 th. We hope you will be here to congratulate them on their achievement.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS

Please note the change of address for the following members:

MISSING ITEMS AT CHURCH

We are missing the lace tablecloth that covers the table in the gathering area. If you took it home to wash it, will you please let the church office know?

Also we are missing the white pages telephone directory from the church office. We use it more than you might realize. If you have it, will you please bring it back?

Thank you.

WOMEN’S RETREAT RECIPE BOOK

When the St. Philip’s UCC women held their retreat at Camp Fenwick we were all asked to bring a recipe that had been handed down to us by someone in the family. We compiled the book and have run extra copies. If you would like to have one, they are on the credenza in the gathering space.

SAVE THE DATE

Sunday, August 19th

St. Philip’s all-church worship and rec-day at Camp Mo-Val. Worship at 10:00 am following by lunch, fun and fellowship for all ages!

There will be something for everyone – swimming, table games, canoes, fishing, hiking, and just enjoying the fresh country air! Stay tuned for more info, including carpool options.

We hope everyone will be there!

FAITHFUL READERS BOOK CLUB

The next selection will be “I Can’t Wait to Get to Heaven” by Fannie Flag, to be discussed on June 24 th. Following that “Faith and Politics” by Jack Danforth will be discussed on August 12 (tentative date). September’s book will be “Atlas Shrugged” by Ayn Rand, with date for discussion to be set later.

3 RD ANNUAL MOVAL GOLF TOURNAMENT

Saturday, August 18 thhas been selected by the MOVAL golf committee as the date for the 3 rd annual golf tournament to support the ongoing capital campaign for Camp MOVAL. The tournament this year will be held at The Landings Golf Course at Spirit in Chesterfield and will begin with a 1:00 pm shotgun start.

A significant change in the tournament this year from previous years is that the entry fee will be much less than in the past, hopefully encouraging more of our UCC members to participate. The fee this year is $135 per golfer, which entitles the participant to 18 holes of golf in a scramble format, lunch being served during the round and dinner to follow with a silent as well as live auction. Additional competitions will be held which may include skins games and putting contests. St. Philip’s supported the tournament last year with several wonderful gift baskets for the auction as well as sponsoring a hole in the tournament. Four golfers represented St. Philip’s including Carl Schillinger and Philip Ricks. Please mark your calendars and plan on supporting the tournament by either participating in a fun afternoon of golf or attending the dinner following the tournament which is open to all for $15 per person. There are many sponsoring opportunities for individuals or businesses to take advantage of. Brochures will be available in the church office and also posted on the bulletin board in the gathering space at church explaining the different levels of support available Any questions can be directed to either Philip Ricks or Carl Schillinger who are both on the MOVAL golf committee.

Thanks again for your support of this important campaign.

Philip Ricks

JUNE BIRTHDAYS

David Knoll	1		Dawn Schillinger	18
Chris Vogt	1		Gene Engelhardt	19
Jim Caldwell	2		Don Siewing	20
Brett Rohlfing	5		Ruth Ann Nuelle	22
Jacque Walker	5		Janet Remmers	24
Nadine Saulka	5		Roland Balzer	25
Russ Hickman	6		Drew Larsen	25
Sheryl Treaster	9		Jordan Lewis	26
Kathy Shelton	13		Ann Davis	28
Art Kuhn	13		Robert Leber	29
Jean Paul Thibodeaux	16		Benjamin Armistead	30
Kent Kotthoff	17

50 th ANNIVERSARY PLANNING

A brief organizational meeting to discuss 50 th anniversary events will be held after church on Sunday, June 3rd.

COMING EVENTS

Friday, June 1 Spring BBQ – Eden UCC Church 11:30 am – 7:00 pm – 8920 Eden Avenue

Sunday, June 10 Chicken Dinner – St. Thomas UCC 11:30 am – 6 pm – 17842 Wild Horse Creek Road

LITURGISTS, USHERS, ACOLYTES AND CHILDREN’S TIME FOR JUNE

Liturgists

Children’s Time

Ushers

Acolytes

 HARVEY ’S COLUMN – guest columnist Carl Meyer (charter member)

I have been asked to write about some of the events concerning our starting as a mission church and the merger of St. Philips E & R with the UCC.

Remember that was 50 year ago and as I will be 84 years old this year I have many senior moments in recalling past events. Here are a few things I can recall, hopefully they are exact.

My wife, Gloria, deceased, and my Mom and Dad, Viola and Carl A. Meyer were all charter members. We had meetings in many of our homes regarding this issue. We went door to door attempting to recruit new members for our mission church. We had the able assistance and guidance of Rev. R. Brueseke and another pastor, whose name I forgot in forming the church.

We held our first services at Corky Tholes’ Tile and Linoleum store located on Old Tesson Ferry Road at the foot of the old railroad tracks. The building is still standing there. We worshipped there until we met at Dressel School which is now some denominational church on Musick Road, just off of Tesson Ferry Road. We finally purchased the old farm home or building on the present land close to the present parsonage. I don’t recall if the present acreage was included or purchased later.

My three children, Kathleen, deceased, Susan and Carl were both baptized and confirmed here. Kathleen the exception, was baptized at St. Matthews E & R in the city and confirmed here.

Obert Behrens and I were in charge of the first potluck dinner held at Corky’s Tile Company. I went to Lou Stecher‘s IGA grocery store which was located at the site of the swimming pool business in Concord Village, and asked Lou for donations for many items which he generously donated.

One incident I remember, I asked about a coffee maker, one charger member said he had one. The day of the dinner I picked up the pot and low and behold, it was an 8 cupper. Hurriedly I went home, looked up and called a place who would rent urns as well as the coffee. I rushed into the city, picked up two urns, plus coffee, paid for them and after the dinner returned them. We had plenty of coffee.

We needed desserts, so I asked Gerry Gerfen, a sales rep for Proctor and Gamble, to donate a few boxes of box cakes which he did. I took these box cake mixes to a few of the ladies and said “Here, bake a cake for our potluck dinner”, my wife included which they did. We had plenty of cake.

We had called Rev. Altenbernd as our pastor and he and his wife attended the dinner. All went well and the meal was a success.

As far as the merger I can’t recall anything. I sang in the choir and served on the Day Care Board in its infancy. Painted the first two daycare rooms and removed the screens and washed all the screens and windows which had never been done before and many other odd jobs that had to be done in the center.

We have called three or four ministers who were all very good, but let me tell you there is none as good as Pastor Sue.

This is a few things I can remember. Hopefully it wasn’t too boring.

Just a historic note, Concord Village originally was called South Affton, as I lived in the area from the age of 2 until 1945 and later after marriage.

I was confirmed and later married in Eden E & R Church in Affton.

Carl V. Meyer

Guest columnist – Gene Engelhardt (faith journey)

When I was eighteen months old, my parents divorced and I was taken to live with my maternal grandparents. They did not attend church due to my grandmother’s inability to walk very far and the lack of transportation. My early religious training consisted of hearing sermons on the radio and, more importantly, the expectations and examples set for me by my Christian grandparents.

My first contact with actual church services was attending a revival meeting at a brush arbor. Visiting preachers were concerned with saving souls, and they preached hell-fire and brimstone to frighten the devil out of us. It was daylight when I walked to the brush arbor by myself, but darkness had fallen by the time church ended. The preacher had made a believer out of me, and I wanted nothing to do with the devil. I knew he wanted me. I had to pass a graveyard on the way home and, knowing the devil wanted me, I knew he was behind every tombstone or fence post I passed. I ran so fast my feet barely touched the ground. Not only was I able to avoid an encounter with Satan, but I also found out I was a fast runner and later, won many races as a member of my school’s track team. In addition, I was baptized and joined the church.

However, it was when I met Delba that attending church became a part of my life. Delba and I were married in the Presbyterian church she had attended, and we had our four children baptized there. When we moved to St. Louis, we transferred our membership to Southminster Presbyterian Church in Crestwood. When I was thirty-six years old, I was in the hospital for seven weeks with myocarditis. With four children ages three months to eight years, Delba began taking them to St. Philip’s, which was meeting at Dressel Elementary School, located at the end of our street. The children liked going to St. Philip’s and we found its members to be warm and caring so we decided to make it our church home. The kindness of the members of St. Philip’s was especially helpful when our youngest son, Jon, died suddenly from a brain aneurysm almost eight years ago.

I have always believed in God, in prayer, and in life everlasting. I believe life is a precious gift and our purpose is to be of service to others. I am not as well-acquainted with the Bible as I should be, but I have faith and I believe. I have also tried to serve others in all areas of my life, including my work as a teacher, coach, and principal, and as a Kiwanian, husband, father, and grandfather.

JOKES OF THE DAY

(Thought you Dads might enjoy these.)

A teenage boy was going to turn 16 in three months. He went to his father and asked him if he could have a car for his birthday. His dad said, “Son, your mother and I have been talking about that and we have a few problems with you getting your own car. First, your hair is entirely too long. You really need to get it cut. Secondly, your grades leave a lot to be desired. You really need to bring them up to at least a C+. Finally, your mother really wants you to spend more time reading the Bible. You take care of those three things, and then we’ll talk about a car.”

Three months later, it’s the boy’s 16 th birthday. He comes to his dad and asks again about the car. His dad says, “Well son, your mother and I have been talking about that and we’re really happy about how well you’re doing in school. When last we checked, you had a B average. Also, your mom says that you’ve been keeping up with your daily Bible readings real well. However, you haven’t bothered to get a haircut since before we started talking about a car.”

The boy says, “Dad, I’ve been reading in the Bible and I’ve learned quite a few things. For one thing, I’ve learned that both Moses and Jesus had long hair. I think that if long hair was good enough for Moses and Jesus, it ought to be good enough for me.”

His dad replied, “You know son, you’re right about Moses and Jesus both having long hair, but if you remember from your Bible reading, Moses and Jesus both walked everywhere they went!”

When a man volunteers to barbecue, the following chain of events are put into motion:

1. The woman buys the food, makes the salad, vegetables, and dessert.
2. The woman prepares the meat for cooking, places it on a tray along with the necessary cooking utensils and sauces, and takes it to the man who is lounging beside the grill - beer in hand.
3. THE MAN PLACES THE MEAT ON THE GRILL.
4. After eating, the woman clears the table, and does the dishes.
5. The man asks the woman how she enjoyed “her night off.”

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