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THANK YOUS

To: My St. Philip church family

From: Walter Sr.

The warmth of our church is overwhelming and makes me so proud to be a part. My recovery is spectacular to this point. It has progressed from intensive severe pain to a moderate pain of 1 or 2 on a scale of 10. My prospects for a pain free hip are quite good. Your concerns and best wishes are a welcome boost to my recuperation. Gail and I appreciate your thoughtfulness.

Walter Knoll, Sr.

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(dated July 27, 2006)

Dear Members of St. Philip’s,

Thank you very much for providing four wonderful baskets for the silent auction to be held in conjunction with the 2 nd annual golf tournament for Camp Mo-Val. This event takes place on Monday, August 7 th at Tapawingo Golf Course. We greatly appreciate your willingness to support the Capital Campaign. The committee is working hard to improve and upgrade the facilities of our camp. The new swimming pool is nearing completion.

We extend an invitation to come to Tapawingo to participate in the auction and/or golf tournament. The cost of the dinner after the tournament is $25.00, but there is no fee to visit the auction in the Tapawingo Clubhouse.

Thank you again for the baskets and the thoughtfulness they express. God bless you!

Love,

(signed) Carl and Marilyn (Norton)

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To Pastor Sue and St. Philip’s Congregation

My sincere thanks go out to you for all the love and concern you have shown me these past months. You always had a smile, a pat or a handshake for Jim and I know he felt at peace and secure for that hour on Sunday.

Your cards and messages mean more to me than I could ever say. St. Philip’s is truly a loving and caring family.

God bless you all.

(signed) Susan Cochran

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I would like to extend a thank you to all of the congregation for helping send me to Camp Mo-Val every summer for the last eleven years. I just finished my last summer as a camper, but I will continue to serve as a counselor. At camp, I appreciate the beauty of God’s world at its finest, make friendships in Christ, and develop my faith. Thank you so much for helping make Mo-Val a part of my life. It really means a lot to me.

(signed) Claire Schillinger

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Thanks to Nancy Krenning for donating a case of coffee to the Fellowship and Service Committee to use for events and Sunday morning coffee at church.

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Thanks to the members of the congregation for your contributions to sponsoring a hole for the golf tournament. We collected at total of $358.25 (the hole only cost $300) so the balance was donated to the campaign fund as well.

Phil Ricks

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Thanks to the Vacation Bible School Committee for the refreshments that were served on August 6 th after worship.

Thank you, thank you, to the Continuity Board for serving refreshments on Sunday, August 20 th

Fellowship and Service Committee

KEEP IN YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS

Wanda Reidel at Delmar Gardens South

John Schuette at Green Park Nursing Home

Elsie Frye at Delmar Garden South

Irma Holster at Delmar Gardens Meramec Valley

Laura Ingram at home

The family of Wilma Mudd who passed away August 17 th

David Jackson who is serving our country in Iraq

BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS – SATURDAY, AUGUST 26th, 9:00 AM

Pets are an important part of our families and we are thankful for their presence in our lives. Bring your pet(s) and join us for a very special service – Blessing of the Animals on Saturday, August 26, 2006 at 9:00 am. We will meet on the front lawn. All pets are welcome, but please have them under control and/or contained. Dogs and cats need to be on leashes and bird, hamsters, mice, etc., in cages or carriers. Pets that are nervous, aggressive, or cannot attend for any reason, may be represented with photos. Even if you do not have a pet, come and share in the blessing!

We will have a short informal service and Pastor Sue will move among the animals bestowing a special blessing. Afterward, there will be doggie and kitty treats for the animals and plenty of time for fellowship and making new friends – animal and human!

Invite your pet loving friends and family members to come too. Mark your calendars and we hope to see you there!

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

Habitat Day for St. Philip’s is Saturday, September 23 rd. We need early sign-ups so I can send the release forms to Habitat two weeks in advance. If you sign-up, you need to sign a release form. They will be on the credenza.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

This year’s “Treasure Seekers” was wonderful - the many boys and girls who came – the VOLUNTEERS – this all made it our best in years.

I want to thank each and every one. What a blessing you are to not only our church children, but the community. Thanks to Shirley Nottelmann, Cindy Lewis, and Allison Lamont for their part in organizing and work. The Tuesday evening group who has worked since the last Tuesday in May – cutting, gluing, getting everything ready, Linda Kammerer preparing for the Bible Story telling, Nancy Krenning getting all the Missions things together [the flower pots for shut-ins, taking all the canned goods for the boys and girls to Shannondale] (with the help of Jil Yarsheski - a parent of one of the participants), Shirley Nottelmann for getting all the crafts together, Cindy Lewis for all the backdrops for storytelling, Janet Remmers and Ann Goetz for getting all the snacks together and Kit for getting games together, plus Nick Balzer and Jason Karcher for being there to do them with the kids each day, Jean Paul and Haylee Thibodeaux were helpers. Our group leaders were Allison LaMont [pre-K – K] Sue Bowles [1-2-3], and Terri Karcher [4-5-6]. The many others who volunteered and helped, Paul Shrout, Harry Jennings, Jim Caldwell, Audrey Brill, Laura Ingram, Shirley Jennings, Jan Freese, Betty Moore, Elvira Rebienne, Alilce Hillyard, Linda Kotthoff, Karen Moran, Amy Balzer, Bob Leber who got the sand for our dig, and Harry Jennings who helped build the tunnel and to my right hands – Shirley Nottelmann, Cindy Lewis, Joan Schumacher, and Allison LaMont.

Be sure to look on our church web site www.stphilipsucc.com and see under vacation bible school 2006 what the 4 th, 5 th, and 6 th grade group (the archaeologists) did; The NEWSLETTER each day with pictures – via Bob Kammerer. They had reporters to gather the news and put it together. What a good experience for them and what a good job they did.

Thanks again to everyone.

Another special thanks for the pretty flowers and flower pot and then the card. How special and meaningful that is to me. You boys and girls and volunteers are a TREASURE.

Lovingly,

Virginia Hladnick

PRAYER REQUESTS

We recognize that it is sometimes difficult or uncomfortable to verbalize a prayer request during our worship service. Yet prayers are still needed. If you would like to have a prayer request printed in the Sunday bulletin, we are making that option available to you. You may also request ongoing prayers be printed, such as prayers for our shut-ins, our loved ones in the military, etc. If you would like to have a prayer request printed in the Sunday bulletin, please turn the request in to Shirley Nottelmann by Wednesday.

FESTIVAL OF SHARING

Another year and it is time to gather our backpacks and school supply kits for Festival of Sharing of Missouri. This large gathering of supplies helps all the food pantries of Missouri. This year we are buying the items instead of taking donated items. Each kit has specific items required, so to make it easier to have the correct items, we are asking for cash donations – then the women of the church will be purchasing these items.

The back packs go to children who will go to foster homes. The school kits go to any needy area. Last year a lot was sent to the Katrina children; most of the time it stays in Missouri.

We are proud that our church has the interest to participate in this worthy cause. We will have a special collection several times until September. The Women’s Fellowship will then pack the kits in boxes, then tape and mark each one appropriately.

Thank you so much for your participation.

Janet Remmers 845-7796 Virginia Hladnick 843-3605

CHANCEL CHOIR

Chancel Choir will sing September 10 th as the first Sunday of the new fall season. We will not sing September 3 rd as originally scheduled. Rehearsals will begin officially on Wednesday, September 13 th.

BELL CHOIR

It’s time again for Bell Choir to begin practicing for the upcoming year. We will begin rehearsing on Tuesday, September 12 th at 7:00 pm. If you would like to join the Bell Choir we do have an opening.

Please call Shirley Nottelmann 843-3089 if interested.

PLOW SHARES EVENT

A holiday sale of handicrafts from around the world is scheduled for Sunday, November 26 th and Monday, November 27 th at St. Philip’s. The crafts are made available through the Ten Thousand Villages Program and Plowshares and benefit third world artisans who would otherwise be unemployed or underemployed. Proceeds will provide a fair income, and will help pay for food, education, health care, and housing.

Items available are very nice, of high quality, and range from inexpensive to moderately priced. A sale at the recent Women’s Retreat at Mo-Val included place mats, napkins, baskets, wooden and ceramic bowls, purses, jewelry, toys and decorative items.

This is a great opportunity to get a head start on Christmas shopping. Find lovely and unique gifts and help impoverished artists throughout the world.

For more information or to volunteer to help with the sales, talk to Barbara Barnes.

SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS
Gene Siewing 2	Cindy Lewis 21
Danielle Knoll 3	Peggy Schiele 23
Rob Wodicker 4	Tom Nottelmann 23
Lois Mohesky 6	Dan Kelly 23
Joan Schumacher 7	Tara Stevenson 23
Jack Eason 8	Brandon Rohlfing 25
Leona Gottschlich 10	Susan Yung 26
Tom Kelly 13	Jackie Meeks 26
Sydney Siewing 15	Oscar Wenk 26
Carl Meyer 16	Cathy Gutjahr 27
Rob Kammerer 20	Kevin Nickel 28
Carole Armistead 20	Melba Schulz 30
George Brand 21

TIME AND TALENT

Enclosed with the Crier is a Time and Talent Sheet for 2006-07. We ask that you fill in the information requested and return it to the church office as soon as possible. Thank you.

COMING EVENTS

Dear Partners in Ministry,

The weeks of my sabbatical proved that this church is indeed involved as partners in ministry. I cannot thank you all enough for allowing me to have a time of Sabbath and for filling in for me in so many ways.

I have returned refreshed and renewed and I am so pleased with the rave reviews I have heard about your worship experiences and with the ways the life and work of St. Philip’s carried on. I must especially thank Sandy Stevenson and Bob Leber for organizing and leading worship and Bob for heading the visitation team. We are so blessed to have them in our congregation.

I am grateful for Kit Norton and his work with our youth and with the mission trip and the worship that followed. I am grateful for Virginia Hladnick and her band of teachers and helpers who made VBS a success again this year. I’m grateful to the Church Council for my new bathtub and shower enclosure and new faucets. I’m grateful for Shirley Nottelmann because I know when she’s around I don’t have to worry. I’m just grateful to God for the many amazing and talented and faithful servants of God who keep this church moving and for the Holy Spirit which keeps us stirred up. Sometimes we have to step back in order to see how blessed we are.

I spent my time on Sabbatical about as I expected. I read a lot. I read for fun and I read for spiritual growth and I read for new knowledge. I rested, I took a course and I renewed relationships with friends and family. Most of all, I found space and peace to strengthen my faith and restore my soul.

As a result, at least for the two Sundays since I have been back, I am working hard to continue a sense of Sabbath rest in the afternoon and evening. I’m deliberately not scheduling work things. I’m trying to keep that sense of peace and rest. Try it.

Again, thank you dear friends for the gift of time.

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Sue

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Sunday, August 27 th – Pool Dedication and Conference Family Picnic at Camp Mo-Val. See the bulletin board for more Details.

Thursday, September 7 th – the St. Louis Square Dance Education Committee is planning a new workshop in the area. It will be held on Thursday evenings from 7 to 9 pm at the Affton Christian Church – 9625 Tesson Ferry Road. The call is Bud Cutter. See the bulletin board for more information.

Saturday, September 16 th - The Alzheimer’s Association, St. Louis Chapter, is holding its annual Memory Walk, Saturday, September 16 th in Tower Grove Park. The Memory Walk raises funds for Alzheimer’s research and support programs for people with Alzheimer’s and their families. To sign up individually or form your own team, visit www.alzstl.org or call 314-801-0412.

Sunday, September 17 th – The annual Manna March for Feed My People will be held at Jefferson Barracks Park Walking Trail from 1-3 pm. The bulletin board has more information about this event.

MANNA MARCH

Feed My People’s Manna March (their walk to raise money for food and services for the needy) will be held on Sunday, September 17 th at Jefferson Barracks Park. Walkers can start any time between l:00 pm and 3:00 pm. This is a very easy walk in a beautiful setting close to home and supports a good cause. Registration forms are on the credenza in the entryway. Consider either being a walker or sponsoring someone who walks. You’ll be helping your neighbors in need.

LITURGIST - CHILDREN’S TIME – USHERING - ACOLYTE SCHEDULES FOR SEPTEMBER

Liturgists

September 3 -Sandy Stevenson

September 10 -Dana Faerber

September 17 -Gary Karcher

September 24 -April Schillinger

Children’s Time

September 3 - Terri Karcher

September 10 - Kit Norton

September 17 - Sarah and Charles Spencer

September 24 - Sandy Stevenson

Ushers

September 3 - Church Council

September 10 - Guys and Dolls

September 17 - Early Childhood Center

September 24 - Women’s Fellowship

Acolytes

 September 3 -

September 10 - Bradley Knoll

September 17 - Scott Karcher

September 24 - Emily Mikusch

FREE TRADE COFFEE

Free Trade Coffee is available for purchase most Sundays. There are many reasons to try Free Trade Coffee. Watch the Sunday bulletins for interesting “Coffee Facts”

BOOK CLUB NEWS

Faithful Readers Book Club will meet on Sunday, October 1 st to discuss After This by Marcus Engel. Marc has visited our church on several occasions and is a friend of Kit Norton’s. As a college freshman, Marc was involved in an auto accident. This book is an account of his struggles to recover and to cope with blindness. Copies of the book are available for $10 and can be ordered by Barbara Barnes.

GNOSTICS AMONG US!

At this writing we have completed two weeks of the four week class. Probably by the time you are reading this they will be done with the class. The book being used for the class is an “easy reader” written by a scholar who can make sense out of very complex events and times. (The Gnostic Gospels by Elaine Pagels). There is already talk of doing another class on her second book on this subject – Beyond Belief ..the Gospel of Thomas) which is a more in depth look at just one of the 52 Gnostic Gospels. The present class is providing mostly background about what is a Gnostic? Where did they come from? Were they members of the early church? Why did it take almost 2000 years for their writings to reappear? And the politics involved in the formation of the early church. (Yes! I did say church and politics in the same line.) And of course we learned about how they were found around the time of the Dead Sea Scrolls but kept kind of secret for another 30 plus years.

The class members are Barbara Barnes, Bob Kammerer, Linda Kammerer, Nancy Krenning, Allison LaMont, Pastor Sue, Bob Leber, Jean Mullgardt, and Sarah Shelton. Getting acquainted with this Gnostic background material is helping us better understand why some of the Gnostic writings are so different. In addition the class is adding to the picture we may have of the history of the early church and its struggle with many and diverse views to emerge as “ One Holy Universal Church”. How exciting and fresh this class is. Perhaps when they are through with it we can get them to share some of its “good News” with us at worship some Sunday.

LYDIA’S HOUSE COMMUNITY MEALS

Many thanks to everyone who helped with the food, or the cost of food, for the last community meal on August 16 th. Food was provided by Virginia Hladnick, Nancy Krenning, Shirley Nottelmann, and Patty Siewing and a whopping $33.00 was donated by Sharon Jackman, Jan Freese, Alice Hillyard, Ann Goetz, Paul Shrout, and Patty Siewing (and perhaps others who didn’t sign the sheet.) Your help is greatly appreciated by both Lydia’s House and perhaps especially me.

Also, for the last community meal in June, food was provided by Sue Bowles, Betty Moore, Ann Goetz, Hilda Leonard, Joan Schumacher, Alice Hillyard, and Kathy Shelton. I belatedly thank all of you.

While I hope this doesn’t sound ungrateful to those who have been such loyal supporters of this very worthy cause, I’m wearing down. Here’s the situation: We feed approximately forty people six times a year, the whole meal being provided by St. Philip’s. In order to have enough food, I took a vacation day from work and baked thirty pounds of chicken, made two salads, two vegetables, a rice dish large enough for all and a dessert and provided the bread and butter. We also picked up the food made by St. Philip’s members and delivered everything to Lydia’s House. The food and donated money helped tremendously but much time, energy, and additional money was spent in order to have a complete meal for forty people. I truly believe in Lydia’s House and what it does for so many women and their children but I’d like this to be an outreach from all of St. Philip’s. So, please Mark October 18 th on your calendars and try to participate. It really wouldn’t be such a tremendous job if more people helped even a little. Thanks for your understanding and, yes, I know I’m getting old and cranky!

ARK-E-OLOGIST AND THE GREAT WALL (PLUS!)

What a wonderful week we had at VBS. I always like that week because this usually busy building is even busier and filled with excited, energetic youngsters eager to participate. Did you know the Teaching and Learning that goes on in one week of VBS is equal to more than thirty Sundays at Sunday School?

Of course, the preparation is more intense because of the higher numbers of students and the shorter time there is to deliver the lessons. For those of you who may have forgotten what an “Ark-I-Ologist” is, let me refresh your memory. An “Ologist” is someone who studies, cares for, or looks after something. Take for example a biologist. They take care of or look after bio’s (don’t they?” or perhaps a Dermatologist. I think they must be caring Dermat’s..right? And what about a Geologist? They are there for the Ge’s (but I am not sure what a Ge is.) Oh well you get the idea. Our VBS Ark-I-Ologist were there for the Arks, right? We all know about the Arks, don’t we? The youngsters were discovering things about them (I guess). You know: the Ark of the Covenant and the Ark that Noah built. It seems they were trying to find them because there was all this digging. I don’t know why there were all those funny looking hats around but maybe Arkiologists wear them to keep the sun off their heads while they dig for the Arks. There was a BIG” Rock wall built, but it’s gone now. There must have been a few Rockologists in the group that looked after the Rock wall. Again this year, there was scenery that made me feel like I was stepping back in time when I came to story times. It was beautiful. There were a few more “Old” people from the past who came to visit the youngsters to help tell the stories of old. I wonder if they were part of the growing number of “Senior Citizens” who have been helping these past few years. Keep it up folks! What I hear the kids saying about you when you leave is good! For some reason when people of your age take time to share time out of your life with youngsters like that, they are impressed and touched. Don’t ever underestimate the power of the Holy spirit being able to use you just as you are to share the good news in some small touching way. In fact, if we could ever mobilize more of our St. Philip’s seniors to occasionally assist with Sunday School we just might see that program take off like a rocket climbing to “New, Greater, Higher Heights”. Things as simple as reading a short story for the teacher, coming into the classroom dressed in a simple costume of the Biblical times that is part of the lesson that day, or help one morning with a craft project. I am sure there are other ways. Remember! Even you ole timers are looked up to by the kids and it’s important they see you care enough to share with them once in a while. Don’t worry…I think if enough of you say to the “Christian Education Chairperson” I will tell a story or dress up or help with a craft no more than once every two to three months there will be a teacher who would work your offer into a lesson plan in the future. Don’t let what we learned about ourselves at VBS end with the summer. Let’s be Growologists and study and care for and look after the good news to help it grow and spread in our midst so that we all (young and old) may be better prepared to share and practice it when we are apart from one another. Well done VBS staff and helpers. Well done!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you ! Thank you! Thank you!

I love it! I asked for a seamstress to make me a St. Philip’s tee shirt, a mouse ized L and I received one. It was in a gift wrapped box laying on the name tags (no bill enclosed) and the sticker said “to Harvey from St. P’s UCC. I am so happy and proud - my very own St. Philip’s shirt. It’s blue and has the logo on it and everything. I sent off right away to the Mears and Mousebucks Catalog store for a “mouseeqin” (you humans call them “mannequins”. As soon as it comes I’ll display it for you as I know I would scare some of you if I modeled it myself.

Your Faithful Church Mouse,

Harvey

EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER NEWS

Where did the summer go? It seems like it flew by this year! However, we are happy that the weather is a little cooler so that everyone can enjoy the new playground.

The teachers are busy preparing for the upcoming school year! A lot of new and exciting things will be happening this year. It is not too late to register as we still have openings in all of our classrooms. Our Mother’s Break Program on Friday’s (9:30 am – 2:00 pm) has several openings. If you know of someone who is looking for infant care – we will have a full time opening beginning October 1 st.

 This poem was written by a terminally ill young girl in a New York Hospital. It was put on the internet by a medical doctor.

 Slow Dance by Sharon Richardson

Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain slapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly’s erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
You better slow down. Don’t dance so fast.

Time is short. The music won’t last.
Do you run through each day on the fly?
When you ask,” How are you?” Do you hear the reply?
When the day is done! Do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores running through your head?
You’d better slow down. Don’t dance so fast.

Time is short. The music won’t last.
Ever told your child, we’ll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste, not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch, let a good friendship die
Cause you never had time to call and say, “Hi”.
You’d better slow down. Don’t dance so fast.

Time is short. The music won’t last.
When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.
It is like an unopened gift….. thrown away.
Life is not a race. Do take it slower.
Hear the music before the song is over.

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