Good News from Mount Tabor UCC!Mount Tabor United Church of Christ in south St. Louis city is pleased to announce our new direction of faithful ministry! Effective August 23, 2016, we have closed on the sale of our building and property at 6520 Arsenal St., and have moved to a new space and time in the life of our congregation which allows greater focus of our financial resources to being the Church. We welcome St. Michael’s Church of Universal Peace to the property and neighborhood, and give thanks to Rev. Gene Bartell, a UCC clergy colleague whose connections as former Director of Neighborhood Houses here in St. Louis brought the potential buyer into conversation with us. Relationship makes the difference, and our wider UCC covenantal relationships matter in particular!

This new direction happened with guidance and encouragement from various colleagues in our Conference, including our Conference Lawyer Mr. Barnet M. McKee, Rev. Dr. Martha Robertson,Professor and Eden Theological Seminary President Rev. Dr. David Greenhaw, Rev. I. David Thompson, Rev. Susan King Forbes, Rev. Jody Furnas-Wright and former acting Interim Conference Minister Rev. Dr. Allen Fluent, as well as our President and General Minister in the UCC, Rev. Dr. John Dorhauer. In recent months, our new Conference Minister, Rev. Dr. Ginny Brown Daniel, has offered support during this transition and lead worship for us in early August. A critical component of our journey has been our growing relationship with the intended buyer, and our own United Church of Christ Church Building and Loan Fund, under the direction of Rev. Dr. Patrick Duggan. St. Michael’s approached the UCC Building and Loan Fund, and we have journeyed together over the course of the past yearto complete the closing of this sale.Through such ventures and collaboration, the United Church of Christ is mega Church in the best possible way!

At the core of this journey? The faithfulness and tenacity of the Mount Tabor UCC leadership and membership. We have prayed, studied, asked questions, and trusted the leading of the Spirit, keeping communications open throughout the journey. Bishop Michael West, BishopWilfert Lee, Greg Stevenson, and Herschel West of St. Michael’shave represented their congregation; Bert Nollmann, Elizabeth “Libby” Crofts, Gary Ebrecht, Mary Kinnaw, Nancy Schwab and Rev. Carole Barner make up the task force from Mount Tabor UCC. The work of these two teams bears witness to what is possible together with the Spirit’s leading.

While the sale is complete, the partnership in collaborative ministry is not. Mount Tabor UCC and St. Michael’s Church of Universal Peace hosted a blood drive together in recent months and look forward to more ventures to strengthen the community and our witness to the new life possible in Christ.

Mount Tabor UCC engaged Gregory D. Vescovo, attorney at law in South St. Louis County, whose specialty is real estate matters and who was recommended by our sister congregation, Grace UCC, where Pastor Carole also serves.

Says Rev. Ginny Brown Daniel, “Today, I celebrate with Mt. Tabor United Church of Christ as they have been living their change with integrity, courage, and vision. Through the strong leadership of their pastor and teacher, the Rev. Carole Barner, Mt. Tabor UCC has reimagined what it means to be a Church within and beyond the walls of their building. Through the sale of their beloved church, they now offer another church community the opportunity to worship, fellowship, serve, and love their neighbors in the Lindenwood community. I am thankful for our covenantal relationship with the Church Building and Loan Fund that has supported Mt. Tabor in the sale of their building. May God continue to inspire Mt. Tabor UCC with opportunities of creative ministry!”

Mount Tabor UCCmoved to rental space, with a new address of 4205 Watson Rd., St. Louis, MO 63109. We have been welcomed to that space by Watson Terrace Christian Church (DOC) and their pastor Rev. Carl King. Collaborative ministry is already taking shape through that relationship moving forward.Giving thanks to Godin this moment and always, and praying “That All May Be One,”

Rev. Carole R. Barner, Pastor, and all the faithful of Mount Tabor UCC