Celebrate Undie Sunday!

Far too many children right here in St. Louis can’t afford the things they need. One always-present yet often overlooked need is clean underwear. Join us for the fifth annual “Undie Sunday” as the Lambs/Genesis youth groups collect new underwear for children in need through Joint Neighborhood Ministry. Collections begin on January 30. February 20th is Undie Sunday! Drop your donations of new underwear in the basket in the Narthex. Want to help? Want to know more? Send us an e-mail.

Congratulations to the 2011 Elmer Award Winners!

Each year at Ivy Chapel, we celebrate those members who have contributed their time and talents to our church and our mission.

We call these awards “The Elmers.” The name comes from the idea that our members are the glue that hold us together.

The Elmer Awards were awarded during the Annual Meeting, which was held after worship on Jan. 23.

Thank you to outgoing Moderator Jan Wirtz for her hard work putting together (literally) this year’s awards, and to the Senior High Youth Group who provided the day’s lunch.

The 2011 Elmer Award Winners are:

Sew special – Kay Kreder and Julie McAllister– making the Baptism Baby Quilts.

Inspiring Graduates – Alex Glenn and Liz Carr – our seniors who gave the Youth Sunday sermon and were so involved with Ivy before they left for college.

The Guardians of Ivy – Frank and Carol Purviance – they have dedicated many years of service to our God and Ivy.

Thank You Lord for – Ray and Rosalie Bunte, Pat and Carl Winship – jumping into the life and work of Ivy.

Yum Yum Sugar Cookies – Nancy Gerdes and her sister – for baking and helping our youth decorate cookies for many years.

Starry Starry Night -  Bruce, Janet, Alex and Kevin Wilking – for organizing Ivy Star Gazing night to see the beauty God has created.

Thank you – Marsha Medley – her service as our Music Minister and giving Ivy the opportunity to hear her original composition of God Has Blessed America.

How Does Our Garden Grow – with the help of Tara Lowry, Chris Moody, Maggie Olver, Sue, Johanna and Sarah Wilson, Diann Sheahan, Jo Ann Moody and Linda Lowry – for the plantings around the parking lot.

Ivy Elves – Erin Winship and Shannon Farrell – leading Santa’s Workshop.

Ivy Artists and Baby Lovers – Erin and Mike Winship – Creating and organizing the painting of the Nursery mural and the “baby shower”.

Truly Dedicated to Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ –Frieda Clark and Linda Lowry – they showed their devotion to do God’s work for Ivy by filling in when we really needed them this summer.

Let’s Perform Then Leave and Perform at Another Venue – Skylar Droege and Gloria Wintrode – they served Ivy then left immediately to serve our community.

Nothing trivial about Trivia Night??? –Fred Olver, Dottie and Ronn Foster – organized a successful Trivia Night with little time to plan.

Ivy Office Assistant’s – Lee Headrick and Evelyn Stecher – thank you for helping in the office when needed.

Chili Mama’s – Debbie Glenn and Sarah Heend – lead our successful Chili Supper.

A Woman of Caring – Marsha Ramey – she is always available to assist the Emmaus people; sit with them, help them find the right pages for the hymns, etc. and for her service to Ivy Chapel U.C.C…

I’ll Do It; I’ll Take Charge – Nelie McNeal – her involvement with our youth and leading our Rummage Sale and Youth Sunday.

‘What If’ we reached out into our Community – Rich Heend (Webmaster), Diane Droege (Flyer Queen), Nancy Litzinger (P.R.)

Amen – Laura Mignerone –Ivy’s child and God’s child with a lot to give. Praise the Lord!!!

Moving Forward – C & M members, Carol Faust, Bruce Wilking, Carolyn Wolff and DFT members,   Jo Ann Moody, Bruce Wilking, Peter LaSalle and Todd Armstrong for faithfully listening to our members and seeking God’s will to guide Ivy through difficult times.

Traveling Elmer’s:

Youth Power – This Little Light of Mine and so much more – our Acolytes – who begin and end our Sunday worship with a smile and joy:  Calvin Heend, Anna Arnold, Morgan Arnold, Natalie Arnold, Mackenzie Duvall, Brook Hilton, Brad Hilton, Nick Wintrode, Gloria Wintrode, Emily Pfau, Michael Pfau, Skylar Droege, Kate McNeal, Sarah Wilson, Tara Lowry, Alicia Carr, and Gavin Tichey (Linda Lowry will be the keeper of this Elmer)

HOG – Carol Purviance, Carolyn Wolff and the Trustees – our long time and faithful decorators at Christmastide.

Ivy Involvement – Council: Jo Ann Moody, Julie McAllister, Don Wolff, Steve Lowry, Sarah Heend, Donnagail Carr, Nancy Gerdes, Debbie Washburn, Frank Purviance, Carol Faust and Linda Lowry and Pastor Dan – faithfully and diligently working for God in unity and keeping Ivy focused on our call through these challenging year, all for the good of God’s work and Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ’s mission.

Whale of a Fellow(s) – they show and live their devotion to God and Ivy on a daily basis with their involvement in JNM, Instituto el Ray, Fellowship, the Fall picnic at Millennium, our garden and grounds, committees, activities and ALL other  aspects of Ivy’s life – Debbie and Russ Washburn

Christmas Cantata, Dec. 12

The Ivy Chapel Choir’s Christmas Cantata will be held on Dec. 12, during our 10 am worship. Please join us for this very special celebration of the love of God and the Birth of Jesus. This year, Minister of Music Marsha Medley and the choir worked together to put together an original selection of music, scripture readings and reflections on the Season.

What are Chrismons?

When you visit Ivy Chapel during Advent, you’ll see a large, green tree with beautiful, hand-made white decorations in our Sanctuary. These are Chrismons.

Chrismons are Christmas decorations with traditional Christmas symbols on them, designed to help us remember the real reason for Christmas: the birth of Jesus Christ.

The word “Chrismon” is a combination of the word Christ and Monogram, which means “symbol.” The Chrismons at Ivy Chapel are white, as this is the traditional color for Christmas.

Before or after worship this Christmas season, be sure to take a close look at the beautiful tree in the Sanctuary at Ivy Chapel, and take a moment to think about the meaning behind the symbols on the tree.

The youth of the church will be hanging the Chrismons on the tree during worship on Dec. 2, 2012.

Children’s Christmas pageant, Dec. 19

The children’s Christmas pageant is always a highlight of the Season at Ivy Chapel. Come, hear the Christmas story told by our youth. The pageant takes place during our 10am worship on Dec. 19. Need more information? Want to participate? Send us an e-mail.

Hanging of the Greens, Dec. 4-5

Come help us celebrate Advent and the Birth of Christ on December 4 and 5. On Saturday Dec. 5, starting at 2:30, we’re starting out with our Hanging of the Greens set-up. We’ll get everything ready for the next day’s worship and celebration. After we’re done, we’ll relax with pizza and fellowship. This is an all-church event… so everyone is invited! It’s a new approach to kicking off Advent and the Christmas season.

Then, on Sunday, Dec. 5, watch the sanctuary come alive with greenery during our 10am worship as members and friends of the church hang wreaths, and the youth hang our traditional Chrismons on the large sanctuary tree

After worship, we’ll celebrate with our traditional Soup & Bread lunch, followed by cookie baking and Santa’s Workshop.  Kids from age five to sixth grade are invited to create some very special Christmas gifts for their families. The cost for the Santa’s Workshop is $6 per child. Need more info? Send us an e-mail, and we’ll give you the merry details.

And the answer is… Success!

Over 100 people turned out for Trivia night on November 13, bringing in over $2,300 for Ivy Chapel. A portion of the funds will go to one of the community organizations we are proud to support. Thanks to everyone who helped with the event… and thanks to those who brought (tons of) food and their big brains!

Here are just a few photos…

[flickr album=72157625267879413 num=20 size=Thumbnail]

Thanksgiving Worship at St. Thomas UCC

Join us at 7:30 p.m. on November 23 at St. Thomas UCC in Chesterfield for a Community Thanksgiving Worship celebration.

Here is a map and directions to the church:

From Hwy. 109:
Turn east unto Wild Horse Creek Road. The church is about
2 miles east of Hwy. 109

From Hwy 40/64 Westbound:
Take the Long Road exit. Turn right on Wildhorse Creek Road.
Proceed 1.5 miles. St. Thomas is on the left hand side of the street.

From Hwy 40/64 Eastbound:
Exit on Chesterfield Airport Road. Turn right on Long Road.
Turn right on Wildhorse Creek Road. Proceed 1.5 miles. The church is
on the left hand side of the street.

Come see the new nursery, Nov. 14!

Several members of Ivy Chapel have lent their creative expertise over the past several weeks painting and cleaning our nursery. The freshened, kid-friendly space is now ready. Join us as we unveil the new nursery during a short ceremony after worship on Nov. 14.

Thank you to the Christian Education Board and the Trustees, and to the Alpha Omega and Ark youth groups for their help. A special thanks to Jan Wirtz, Mike Tichy, Jason Lowry and everyone who lent their artistic talents to the beautiful new space.

Here are some teaser photos of the work in progress:

Put that useless knowledge to good use!

Saturday, Nov. 13 is Trivia Night at Ivy Chapel. Finally, those obscure facts in your head can be used for good… rather than just amazing your co-workers and entertaining your family.

Admission is $15 (or $120 for a table of 8). You can buy tickets in advance by calling the church office at 314-434-4991… or you can buy them at the door. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Ivy Chapel’s community outreach programs.

The fun begins at 6 p.m… doors open at 5. Hotdogs and soda will be served. BYOB (wine or beer) if you want something else. The festivities also include a silent auction and 50-50 raffle.

Need more info? Drop us a line, and we’ll fill you in.

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