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April 2, 2008                                                                                                                             VOLUME 60, NO. 14

Today’s youth face a multitude of issues that create stress. Whether due to a family crisis, a school-related trauma, a local disaster or a national emergency, your faith community needs to be prepared to help youth cope with stressful situations. Clergy and lay people who work with youth are encouraged to attend a Saturday workshop presented by licensed professional counselor, Eve Dyson. People of all faiths are welcome. The $35 registration fee covers presentation materials and lunch. Checks should be payable to MMSUCC. Send your name, religious affiliation and contact information to: rhonda.coleman@hotmail.com or MMSUCC, P.O. Box 594, St. Albans, MO 63073 (636/451-6032). These workshops are made possible by a grant received by the Mid-Missouri South Conference of the United Church of Christ.

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Meet Nicaraguan people from Rainbow Network

villages and help them celebrate Christ’s miracles.

(Your $10 ticket provides 100 meals!)

Tickets available online at www.rainbownetwork.org

By action of the Area Assembly on November 3, 2007, the Ozark Lakes Area is beginning a special program to start new ministries within our area called, "Keep Funding the Church [KFC]," with a subtitle of "Don’t Be Chicken." The program is asking each congregation to have a special offering one Sunday a month asking for $1.00 from each person. Funds are needed to help start new congregations in our area. By many reports we are one of the fastest growing areas in the state of Missouri. New Church Ministries in Indianapolis has identified an area south of Springfield, northwest of Ozark and northeast of Nixa as a potential location for a new church start. The area has put together special buckets for our use in this project. Buckets will be passed around the first Sunday of each month starting in April.

CWF CIRCLE NEWS

MARY MARTHA CIRCLE will meet in the parlor on Tuesday, April 8, at 10:00 a.m. Karah Joiner will serve as hostess and Chris Fox will lead the worship and study. There will also be a lunch at Soo’s Korean Restaurant, 3644 S. Campbell, following the meeting.

ABIGAIL CIRCLE will meet in the parlor on Tuesday, April 8, at 7:00 p.m. Jeanne Gamble and Suzanne Rohman will serve as hostesses and Ellie Harris will lead the study and worship.

There will be an Executive Board meeting on Tuesday, April 22 at 5:45 p.m. in Room 107 and a General Meeting/Salad Supper that same day at 6:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. Connie Ess, Mid-America Minister for Disciple Women, will speak on "New Directions in Women’s Work." Susan Wheeler will lead the worship.

CONDOLENCES . . . to our Office Administrator, June McLean and her family in the recent passing of her older brother in Japan.

THOSE BAPTIZED ON MAUNDY THURSDAY, MARCH 20

Elani Barber is the daughter of Jeff & Anissa Barber. She attends 5^th grade at Rountree Elementary and likes poetry, geocaching, swimming, and camping.

Jake Luellen is the son of Tom & Heather Luellen. He is in 4^th grade at Wilder Elementary. Jake likes playing soccer and collecting bouncy balls.

Wyatt Biggs is the son of Mark & Debora Biggs. He is in 6^th grade in the Middle Years Scholar Program at Central High. Wyatt likes playing video games and reading.

Ben Roberts is the son of Huck Roberts and Tracy Roberts. Ben is in 5^th grade at Wilder Elementary. He likes to collect baseball cards.

Duncan Hilsabeck Sappington is the son of Sherry Sappington and Mary Hilsabeck. He is in 4^th grade at Westport Elementary. Duncan likes to play basketball and baseball.

This banquet will have varying menus based on world poverty statistics and would be a great chance for people to get better acquainted with hunger issues and Fair Trade. Guest speakers will be Karen Eagles and David Crump, local Fair Trade store owners. Proceeds will go to Fair Trade workers and to continuing Fair Trade education in Springfield. RSVP by April 4 to Caleb Lines at 865-8711 (x14) or email him at: caleb123@missouristate.edu.