St. Paul Messenger In This Issue Returning to Worship / From the Pastor ... 2-3

Getting Creative ........................................ 4-5

A Note from your Youth Leader ................... 5

Notes from the Music Staff / Consistory ...... 6

Child’s World / Mission News ....................... 7

September/October

Be the Good News of Jesus Christ in the heart of Waterloo and extend that Good News throughout the world

Apart but Together—Sunday, September 13, 9:30 AM

We have enjoyed our “parking lot worship” events the last 2 months, and September should be a real blast! We will welcome Sheltered

Reality back with their uplifting message, uplifting music and uplifting presence.

Come and join us for this special worship experience on the North parking lot.

Bring lawn chairs or tailgate as you like. We’ll have some of that delicious frozen

yogurt from Yo Toppings available.

Get beyond your “self” and take some socially distanced “ussies” to post on your Facebook, TikTok or

Instagram pages.

#InsipiringStories

#MusicWithMeaning

#PushBacktheNegative

#USSIE

Red Cross Blood Drive Please give the gift of blood at the Red Cross Blood Drive on Tuesday, September

15 from 1:00–7:00 p.m. at St. Paul UCC. The Red Cross has made the decision to

extend its testing of blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies

through early January. They will assess whether to extend this date even further

closer to the end of the calendar year as they continue to plan and respond to the

evolving challenges of this pandemic. As you know, the test may indicate if the donor’s immune system

has produced antibodies to this coronavirus, regardless of whether they developed symptoms. Anyone

who gives blood will be tested for COVID-19 and notified if they have contracted COVID.

To schedule an appointment go to www.redcrossblood.org. Please bring a photo ID and remember

to eat before coming to the blood drive.

Testimonial from a 17-year-old band member: "Because of SR I've be-

come so much more confident in myself. What others say about me no long-

er affects me like it used to because I'm happy with who I am. I don't know

where I'd be if I had never joined drums. I've stayed for so long because I feel

accepted."

Adult Social Group The Adult Social Group will meet on Thursday, September 10 at 6:00 p.m. at Mr.

BBQ Restaurant (Mystic Oak Golf Course). All are welcome for an evening of

food and fellowship. Contact Dale Reuss at 618-560-8559.

Page 2 September/October St. Paul Messenger

All of our schedule changes,

livestreaming and virtual VBS, Sunday

School and worship services have

distracted us from a lot of other things

these past few months.

Our MKMH’s volunteers have regrouped and are

serving 30+ meals every Monday night. We’ve

settled on one worship service at 9:30 on Sunday

and are trying the Wednesday evening services on

the lawn. We have upgraded our sound and video

equipment and streaming service. College students

are starting up the semester in “hybrid” fashion—

some classes online, some physically distanced in

lecture halls. Our younger school-age children are venturing back to class in similar fashion, and our

Child’s World teachers are taking temperatures and

unlocking the wonders of learning for the “COVID

generation.”

In settling into this new and I hope temporary

routine, it is now time to return to the work we

need to do for the future of St. Paul UCC. The

Search Committee has continued the search for a

new pastor, even during these challenging times. I

have continued my search process so that as I leave

you in the good and visionary care of your next

settled pastor God can use me elsewhere. For

those who have valued my time with you, I truly

hope that you will lead the congregation in

welcoming your new pastor. My greatest and most

cherished legacy for my time here will be a healthy

and fruitful relationship between all of

you and your new pastor.

Returning to that task from all the

distractions of the last few months, I

offer just a few thoughts this month:

Pray for your Search Committee. They

have had to try to get a sense of the candidates

through virtual meetings, phone calls and the

pastoral profile. Just as school teachers had to

reinvent curriculum and teaching methods last

March, your Search Committee had to become

comfortable with these new ways of building

their own sense of community as a committee and become more astute in their use of Zoom

and other interview platforms.

Pray for your new pastor. From the

moment the Search Committee and Consistory

release the name and some background on the

candidate, pray for them. They will be meeting

you all through facemasks and online. It is one

thing to maintain an existing relationship

virtually; it is even more daunting to try to form

new relationships virtually. Pray for the

candidate, his or her family and a successful

candidate weekend, trial sermon and vote.

Welcome them in whatever way you can.

The Search Committee and, I hope, the new

Pastor Parish Relations Team will schedule

events at which you can meet and welcome

your new pastor. Early on these will be brief

From the Pastor Pastor Mike Southcombe

RETURNING TO GATHERING IN WORSHIP

We have resumed gathering in

person to worship on Sunday

mornings and Wednesday

evenings. On Sunday mornings

we are holding one service at

9:30 a.m. for the time being. We

will try to limit attendance to the

recommended numbers from the

Department of Public Health for

our region. This “safe” number

fluctuates, depending on the

restrictions in place due to

changes in case numbers,

hospitalizations and testing

capacity. We will post the

recommended numbers in the

Midweek and elsewhere. Please

use Sign-UpGenius on the

website to reserve your place for

Sunday gathered worship. The

Sunday morning service will be

streamed live on our YouTube

channel: St Paul UCC

Waterloo IL and saved for later

viewing.

The Wednesday evening service

starts at 6:30 on the south lawn.

Come early and enjoy a picnic if

you like. Leashed pets are

welcome. The service will be

informal, featuring guitar or

keyboard and some singing with

scripture, a brief message and

prayers.

Page 3 September/October St. Paul Messenger

encounters with the goal of your meeting the

pastor and letting the pastor share his or her

story. When the new pastor arrives, those

events need to be more informal, giving you

time to share your stories. Every single one of

these events or meetings will be inconvenient

for somebody. Change your plans if you can.

Encourage others to attend even if you cannot.

And send cards, notes or emails to express an

open, welcoming heart. Do not go into a

lengthy litany of complaints about a former

pastor. Your former pastors are gone. Start

looking forward, express your hope that your

new pastor (and family) settle into a community

you love. Share something special about Waterloo or a nearby historic site or park. Just

express a heartfelt welcome. And if you do not

understand something about the search process

or why your interim couldn’t just stay, ask a

member of the Search Committee or

Consistory, not your new pastor.

Say your name every time you meet the

new pastor—yes, every time for the first year.

Learning names is important for us pastors, but

every one of us is gifted in different ways. Some

learn names quickly; some take longer. Not

saying your name is to place an expectation on

the pastor that he or she will be just like so and

so who had no trouble learning everyone’s

name. It is destructively unfair to place that

burden or any other expectation to be just like

someone from the past on your new pastor.

And do not quiz, “Do you remember my

name?” (When I was feeling particularly

mischievous, the fourth time someone asked me

that, I answered with, “Yes, and I remember

you want Amazing Grace sung at your funeral.”)

Let’s just spare everyone any embarrassment. It

will help if you mention your name and maybe

something about yourself, “I’m _______,

otherwise known as ______’s father.” Or

maybe, “I’m ________. You’ll see me

volunteering at the Monday night meals.”

Receive your new pastor as a spiritual leader. These are challenging times. Do not

expect your pastor to understand the

technology we are using now, for instance, but

ask the pastor what he or she thinks all this new

technology is doing to our sense of community

and belonging. Those are the issues your pastor

worries about. How is this technology/

program/policy bringing us closer to God,

helping us to “Be the good news” or working to

build a sense of community when we must stay

physically distanced? Yes, your new pastor will

have a working understanding of governance,

administration, budgets and the like. His or her

first responsibility, however, is spiritual

leadership. Ultimately, budgets (stewardship

and vision), membership (fellowship), programs

(mission, outreach and discipleship) and

everything we do here is an expression of our

spiritual health and vision. Listen to your pastor’s thoughts on these spiritual matters and

share your thoughts as well.

Give your pastor permission to fail. In my

own search, one of the search committees

asked me what I need most from the church

council. I said, “Permission to fail and support

afterwards.” That intrigued them enough for a

2nd and 3rd interview with me. We are in

uncharted, rapidly changing times. One case of

COVID-19 within the church might send us

back to closing the church and having a home

video devotional posted on Facebook for a few

weeks. We are trying to figure out how to still

provide uplifting worship services but without

the hymns, passing of the peace and responsive

or communal prayers we rely on for that

spiritual lift throughout the service. Some of

the things we do will inevitably not work.

Failure is a sign that your new pastor and the

staff are working harder than ever to fill the

needs in the gaps created by all of these

restrictions on social interactions. Also,

something that falls completely flat for you

might be the best thing someone else has

experienced in a month. We have been trying

and you will continue to try a lot of new things.

Some will be wonderfully received and some

will not. All of them should elicit your

appreciation for the attempt.

I’ll have more tips in the Midweeks when changes

are announced and dates are set. For now, go to

step one and pray.

From the Pastor continued

Page 4 September/October St. Paul Messenger

Edward de Bono is credited with

saying “Creativity involves break-

ing out of expected patterns in

order to look at things in a differ-

ent way.” In that spirit, we’ll be

breaking out of many of the pat-

terns we’ve had at St. Paul in the

year ahead as we try to think cre-

atively in order to adapt to the

new world in which we find our-

selves.

Sunday School

Sunday School will be returning to

St. Paul in September (on the 27th to be specific). We’ve had to get

creative to make that a possibility.

With the move to hold only one

service at 9:30, the decision was

made to break our normal pattern

of having children in worship by

holding Sunday School at the same

time as worship. While this is not

ideal as we do firmly believe that

children ultimately need to be in

worship, I do think it will work

out for the best for several rea-

sons.

First, the welcoming sanctuary

and family-friendly worship ser-

vices we are used to are no long-

er possible due to COVID-19 re-

strictions. Thus, it makes sense to,

once again, give children a time

and space that is designed for

them, since worship in the sanctu-

ary is not able to do so.

Second, we’d like to provide chil-

dren a safe space to see and inter-

act with each other. With the ma-

jority of children participating in

remote learning, it will be nice to

give children a space and time to continue their social development

by interacting with each other.

I look forward to the

day when our sanc-

tuary and services

will welcome our

children back. In the

meantime, we’ll be

of fer ing Sunday

School to any child

aged 3 to grade 6

during worship beginning on Sep-

tember 27 at 9:30 a.m. Masks will

be required for all attendees

whenever indoors. We’re already

planning on holding our Sunday

School classes outside as much as possible to give the children time

outside in the fresh air. While

Sunday School will be an option,

children are obviously welcome to

attend church with their families

on Sunday mornings if that is pre-

ferred.

4th Grade Bible Workshop

Another area where we’ve gotten

creative in the last month is our

annual Bible Workshop, which

will be virtual this year (with an

in-person date possible in the fu-

ture). During the virtual work-

shop, each youth participant will

learn all about the Bible through

activities and discussion. Following

completion of the workshop

(which will be available the final

week of August), youth will be

presented with their own Bible

during the parking lot worship on

Sunday, September 13. Please let

me know if your 4th grader would

like to participate either virtually

or in person.

Messy Church

The program that’s required the most creativity to resurrect at St.

Paul is our Messy Church, which

will return on Wednesday, Sep-

tember 2 at 5:30 p.m.

There will be quite a few

changes to this worship

service in order to make

it safe for all who attend.

Registration will be re-

quired in advance (You

can sign up on SignUp-

Genius. Check the Mid-

week/Facebook for a link.) in or-

der to keep the number attending

under capacity.

Once a registered family arrives,

they’ll head directly to their as-signed table/area where they will

stay for the entire Messy Church.

At each table will be dinner

(pizza!) and several Messy Church

activities to work through togeth-

er after eating. Following the ac-

tivities and dinner will be a socially

distanced celebration.

For those unable to attend, there

will be Messy Church at-home

kits available. Please let me know

if you’d like to receive a kit.

Confirmation

Looking back, I am so grateful that

the Christian Education Commit-

tee put in so much time last sum-

mer getting creative and revamp-

ing St. Paul’s confirmation pro-

gram and making it hybrid (part

online learning and part in per-

son). It is because of this work

that only minor modifications

were needed in order to make

our confirmation program worka-

ble for the youth and families of

our church and community during

this pandemic.

A virtual orientation will be availa-

ble for all interested families the

first week of September. Check

Getting Creative Dr. Jill Mayer

Page 5 September/October St. Paul Messenger

the church website, church Face-

book page, and church YouTube

channel. I will be hosting two

Zoom meetings to answer any

questions that families might have

on Sunday, September 20 and

Monday, September 21. The links

for these meetings will be availa-

ble in the Midweek.

Socially Distanced

Service Projects

We’re getting creative

this program year and

proving that you don’t have to be able to gather together

or even leave your home to help

make the world a bit better. Be-

ginning in September, I will have

monthly service project kits avail-

able for pickup from the church.

(Let me know if you need it deliv-

ered.) In September each kit will

have the supplies needed to cre-

ate and send postcards to some of

the individuals hit the hardest by

this pandemic, residents of local

nursing homes.

DuBois Family Retreat

We’ll be getting creative at Du-

Bois in November, so mark your

calendars now! Our annual Family

Retreat at Camp DuBois is on for

this fall. Make plans to join us on

November 7 and 8 for a week-

end of family time, faith building,

enjoying nature, and, of course,

horse riding! As with all of the

programming this year, our re-

treat will be

modified to cre-

ate a safe envi-

ronment for all

attending. For

example, each

family will have its own side of a cottage to share,

which means that there is room

for only 8 families this year.

We’re still working on what our

meals will look like, so the price

for this fun weekend has not yet

been determined.

Adult Education

Creativity is not just for kids!

We’ll be getting creative in our

adult programming in the coming

months. Here’s a sneak peek at

what’s in store…

BARE Book Study/

Program: Join me beginning

in October for a hybrid book

study/program following along

with Susan Hyatt’s BARE. This

book introduces a seven-step

program to transform your

body, get more energy, feel

amazing and become the brav-

est, most unstoppable version

of yourself. While this pro-

gram could be done in 7

weeks, we’ll be stretching it

out over 7 months because

who has the time or energy

right now to overhaul his or

her life in less than 2 months?

All you need to do to partici-pate is grab a copy of BARE

and let me know you’re inter-

ested.

Adult Spiritual Develop-

ment Opportunities: Look

for more information in the

Midweek and bulletins in the

coming weeks for details

about upcoming opportunities

for adult spiritual develop-

ment. I’m currently mapping

out possible classes that can

be made available virtually (on

Zoom or pre-recorded) as

well as in person, following all

social distancing guidelines.

Getting Creative continued

We are currently making plans to

bring back junior and senior high youth

group activities this fall. Potential

activities include frisbee golf at

Konarcik Park, an afternoon/evening at

Camp DuBois, an outdoor movie

showing and Zoom meetings.

We’re still working on finalizing the calendar, so be

on the lookout for dates and times in the Midweek

and on the church and youth group Facebook pages.

We’re hoping to bring back weekly youth

group meetings sometime this fall; our

regular meetings are currently on hold as

families get used to remote learning and

we figure out the safest way for our

youth to gather. We’d like to provide

plenty of safe opportunities for our

youth to get together for fellowship and faith

development, so if you have any ideas for youth

group activities, let us know!

Andy Mayer

Page 6 September/October St. Paul Messenger

Notes from the Music Staff Gary Humphrey I’m sure many of you are wondering

what in the world is going on with the

music program here at St. Paul in light of

the pandemic. While it may appear that

nothing is the answer to that question, in

truth the answer is quite different.

Because of CDC guidelines and state mandates, live

singing of almost any type is pretty much not going to

happen. The one exception to that is perhaps having

one soloist singing occasionally in our live Sunday

service. Even that is a bit difficult given the hesitation

by many to be in a gathering of people when not

necessary. We are constantly monitoring local

agencies as well the Illinois South Conference to see if restrictions are lessened and will respond promptly

if that happens. I’m also looking into some other

options.

We have ordered some masks that are designed for

singers that might help us possibly offer quartets or

small groups of singers. Conference

musicians are meeting via Zoom to look

for alternatives that are working

elsewhere and sharing ideas. I am doing

research with my colleagues both

nationally and locally to attempt to find

any possible alternatives that might work.

One thing that I can tell you is after much discussion

we will be getting the bell choir back together in the

fall. By social distancing, wearing masks and sanitizing

everything we touch, we think that this group can

safely meet to practice and then possibly perform in

our live Sunday services.

In the meantime, please keep the faith, knowing that as soon as we can offer more musical choices in

church we will surely do so. We continue to record

weekly devotionals, band offerings and the like.

God will take care of us and help us through this

most difficult time if we have faith in Him.

Consistory Report Lloyd Wacker, President

The Consistory met on August 11 with a

combination of in-person and Zoom

participation.

For the original federal stimulus program,

our church had a choice of applying for

the Payroll Protection Program (PPP) or the

Families First Response Act. Julie Whelan filed on

behalf of the church for the latter, and we have been

granted a credit of $36,487.50, which can be used

for the federal payroll taxes we pay for our church

employees. This will not show up in any church

account but will reduce our expenses, as the tax

portion of salaries will be deducted from this credit

and not paid by us. Another stimulus program is

possible and the Consistory authorized the

president, treasurer and staff to make an application

as soon as it becomes available, and if it applies to

our situation. Congress has not yet acted and the

rules have not been written. It is also uncertain if

this would be a forgivable loan or one to be paid

back at a possible 1% interest.

Pastor Mike has always kept the Consistory

informed of his future plans. It now seems likely

that he will be leaving us sometime this fall, probably

in October. While the Search Committee has some

new leads, St. Paul will probably need another

interim or bridge pastor until a permanent pastor is

here. Our Conference minister, Shana Johnson, is

aware of our situation and will assist and advise us

on how to proceed to have continuous pastoral

service.

The Consistory voted to go from two Sunday

services to one service starting at 9:30 a.m.,

beginning August 23. Also a Wednesday evening

service will be held on the south lawn, as weather

permits, at 6:30 p.m.

The staff has done a lot of work to provide worship

alternatives during this pandemic. The Search

Committee has kept the faith, overcoming setbacks

caused by the pandemic, and is pursuing new and

promising leads. Committees are finding ways to

meet. Volunteers have continued to work to fulfill

the church’s mission. Participate wherever you can,

in person or online, and I am sure you will feel a

sense of community with each other.

Page 7 September/October St. Paul Messenger

Child’s World Child’s World staff is so appreciative that

we were the July mission for St. Paul. We

would like to give a big THANK YOU to

our wonderful congregation for your

generous donations of school supplies and

monetary donations during our July

mission. We could not continue to help

so many children become successful learners

without you! With your donations, we will be able

to purchase many new items for our students and

cleaning supplies that will be very much needed to

provide a safe and prosperous school year!

THANK YOU!

We are busy gearing up for an exciting

school year! We have many children who

are excited to come and learn and to make

new friends, along with teachers who are

eager to see those smiling faces walk through

the doors of Child’s World Preschool. We

ask that you pray for the health and safety of

our staff, students and families during this

unprecedented time. This school year will be

different, but we have faith that God will be right

beside us throughout each obstacle that we need to

jump over!

In September we

prepare for the Illinois

South Conference

A n n u a l M e e t i n g

offerings. Every year

during our Conference’s

Annual Meeting, churches contribute to an offering

during worship. This year’s AM will be online via

Zoom, but we will still send in our offering to the

Conference.

The Conference Gatherings Team asks churches to

contribute to the “Hunger Project” this year with

proceeds being distributed to the food pantries that

serve throughout the Conference area. House of Neighborly Service has received grants from our

Hunger Action Network before and is considered

one of the food pantries serving within the ISC

through its relationship with Monroe County UCC

congregations.

St. Paul will designate our September

mission giving to this offering. If you would

like to contribute beyond your usual

mission designation, simply mark your

envelope or check with “Hunger Project” and we

will handle accordingly.

October’s mission is the Neighbors in Need

offering, which supports the UCC’s ministries of

justice and compassion throughout the United States.

Two-thirds of the offering is used by the UCC’s

Justice and Witness Ministries to fund a wide array of

local and national justice initiatives, advocacy efforts

and direct service projects. Our national Justice and

Witness Ministries office offers resources, news

updates and action alerts on a broad spectrum of

justice issues. Working with members of the UCC

Justice and Peace Action Network, Justice and

Witness continues its strong policy advocacy work

on issues such as the federal budget, voting rights,

immigration, health care, hate crimes, civil liberties

and environmental justice. Neighbors in Need also supports our American Indian neighbors in the UCC.

One-third of the offering supports the UCC’s

Council for American Indian Ministries (CAIM).

Even though the special offering will be

received on October 4, your regular

monthly mission will continue to go

toward Neighbors in Need. This month’s

mission also goes toward our being

recognized as a 5 for 5 church. On behalf

of the Mission & Stewardship Committee, we hope

you will consider giving to the October mission,

Neighbors in Need.

Mission News September Mission: ISC Annual Meeting Hunger Project October Mission: Neighbors in Need

Memorials/Gifts Kindercottage in loving memory of Charles Southcombe

Non-Profit Organization

U.S. Postage

PAID

Waterloo, Illinois

Permit No. 10

Change Service Requested

St. Paul United Church of Christ 200 N. Main Street Waterloo, IL 62298

Office Phone: (618) 939-7123 Office Fax: (618) 939-7144 Office Hours: 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Monday thru Thursday Child’s World Preschool: 939-7125 Prayer Requests: angie@stpaulonline.org Website: www.stpaulonline.org

Worship Times Sundays at 9:30 a.m.

Wednesdays on the lawn at

6:30 p.m.

Christian Education Time Currently online

Beginning September 27 at 9:30 a.m.

All submissions for the next Messenger are due to the church office by 10/22/20. We reserve the right to edit submissions for publication.

Next Deadline: 10/22/2020 Next Issue: 10/29/2020

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Sunday, September 13

9:30 AM

FEATURING SHELTERED REALITY