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THIS SUNDAY - August 21 - 9:30 am worship
Sanya Pirani - fifth-grade student at Jeffers Pond Elementary School in Prior Lake, MN will speak to the congregation about her journey to do whatever she can to end hunger.
"I strongly believe every child deserves basic human rights like food, clothing, shelter, safety and education. I believe helping a child means helping the future of a community".
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It's time to register for this fun and important event!
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SOUTH OF THE RIVER CROP HUNGER WALK
Sunday, October 9, 2016
1 pm - registration
2 pm - start walking
Click here to visit the New Spirit UCC Crop web page where you can register for the walk and/or make a contribution. Questions?
Click here to contact Sue Jantscher.
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New Spirit United Church of Christ
A progressive, Open & Affirming, Anti-Racism Church
Weekly Update for August 12, 2016
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Greetings!
On Tuesday I met with the New Beginnings Leadership Team:
Toni Brown, Billie Walker, Karl Weissenborn, Sue Jantscher, Phil Allers-Hatlie, Michael Stoos. We went over the notes from each of the sessions, talked about similarities, differences, where some of the challenges lie, where the strengths seem to be. When we meet again on Monday, August 29 we will put together the presentation for our New Beginnings Summit on September 18, following worship. I am excited about this time and I want everyone to participate. This is NOT a congregational meeting where there is a vote. This is an opportunity for people to hear what's been discussed, consider some possibilities and talk with each other about how we will get to the next step.
I hope you will make some time to thank these 6 church leaders. They have given incredible amounts of time and energy to participate in the program, to attend training events on Saturdays that were in pretty far away places - and then to participate in the 6 sessions and follow up. New Spirit UCC is blessed to have them and I am deeply grateful for their intelligence, commitment, humor and love for this congregation.
If you click on their names, you'll be directed to their emails - make their day and say thanks!
I hope to see you in church this Sunday. Following Sanya's remarks I'll add a few thoughts as we remember the hunger needs of our community, our nation and our world.
Blessings!
Rosemary
LOOKING AHEAD
- RALLY SUNDAY - September 11 - the day we "go back to church" after the summer. During worship we have time to remember the events of that day in our past as we look to the future.
- NEW BEGINNINGS SUNDAY - September 18 - stay for a gathering during which time we'll review what we've learned from the small groups and consider several ideas and proposals for the future
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TWO IMPORTANT EVENTS FOR AN ANTI-RACISM CHURCH!
Friends - as a congregation committed to anti-racism, these two workshops are excellent opportunities to have our young people and adult leaders deal with the question and bring back to the church ideas and ways that we might address them.
I would like to attend one with either group - I am looking for young people and adults in the congregation who might be interested in going - please contact me right away.
Rosemary
rosemary@newspiritucc.org
612-703-5555
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MN CONFERENCE
YOUTH & FAITH FORMATION EVENTS
Fall Middle School Youth Even
t
(grades 6-8)
October 7-9, 2016
Pilgrim Point Camp, Alexandria, MN
Join Conference middle school youth, and confirmation groups accompanied by their adult leaders, for a fun weekend retreat at Pilgrim Point Camp in Alexandria, MN. We will be transformed – laying aside our internal biases while celebrating God’s Beloved Community! We will move from tolerance to acceptance; acceptance to respect; respect to affirmation; and affirmation to solidarity (with the “other” and with God).
Fall High School Youth Event
(grades 9-12)
October 14-16, 2016
Pilgrim Point Camp, Alexandria, MN
Join Conference high school youth (grades 9-12), and youth groups accompanied by their adult leaders, for a fun weekend retreat at Pilgrim Point Camp in Alexandria, MN. We will be transformed - laying aside our internal biases while celebrating God’s Beloved Community! We will move from tolerance to acceptance; acceptance to respect; respect to affirmation; and affirmation to solidarity (with the “other” and with God).
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LEADERS FOR BOTH EVENTS
Connecticut Conference UCC members Isaac Monts and Emily Hale - who just led the highly successful National Youth Event workshop, “Does This Mean I’m Racist?”
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Middle School Early Registration by Sept 16:
$75 youth, $50 adult
After September 16: $85 youth, $60 adult
Deadline for all registrations is September 30
Please Note: Check-in will begin at 6:30 pm on Friday, October 7th (dinner will not be provided Friday evening) and the retreat will conclude by Noon on Sunday, October 9th. Stay tuned for an informational email soon after registration closes. Your registration is not considered complete until we have received a signed Authorization Form.
High School Early Registration by Sept 23
$75 youth, $50 adult
After September 23: $85 youth, $60 adult
Deadline for all registrations is October 7
Please Note: Check-in will begin at 6:30 pm on Friday, October 14th (dinner will not be provided Friday evening) and the retreat will conclude by Noon on Sunday, October 16th. Stay tuned for an informational email soon after registration closes. Your registration is not considered complete until we have received a signed Authorization Form.
Questions? Email Zac at zacn@uccmn.org or call the Conference offfice at (612) 871-0359.
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Capital Campaign Update by Phil Hatlie
The graphs on page 8 of this month's newsletter
(click here to open newsletter) show the progress of our capital campaign and the progress of paying off our mortgage. We believe the mortgage will be paid off by the end of the year, but only if people continue to pay as pledged.
To date, we have received $15,177 of the pledged amount of $25,813. This is excellent progress. I want to thank everyone for their generosity. Paying off our mortgage will have a major financial impact on our congregation. Paying off the mortgage will improve our cash flow by $8,400 next year.
Soon I will be sending out reports that will update each individual/family progress on their capital campaign pledge. I cannot say this enough, so I will say it again. Thank you for your donations. In you have questions about your pledge balance, please contact me.
Phil Hatlie
952-484-3470
phatlie@mchsi.com
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DURING THE SUMMER - It may be quiet around the church and you may be traveling and enjoying the warm weather -
BUT - bills still need to be paid -
please remember your pledge toward the annual operating budget. If you can't be in church, mail it to
Michael Stoos, Treasurer
New Spirit UCC
14394 Quebec Avenue
Savage, MN 55378
Don't remember where you are with your pledge?
Contact Michael
952-440-8610
michael@stoos.net
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5th Annual All Generation
CANOE THE CANNON RIVER . . .
Saturday, August 27
10:15 am - Meet @ Cannon River Canoe Rental, 615 North 5th, Street, Cannon Falls, MN 507-407-4111
Questions or RSVP by Aug 23 to Sue Jantscher
The Cannon River a gentle river which runs through some farmland and the low-bluffs making it very easy to canoe. If you are not comfortable canoeing or have never gone before, we can have you ride with experienced people. We can fit three in a canoe so the middle person can just sit and enjoy the day.
We will be canoeing the short route. Expect it to take about 4 hours with stops for lunch (bring your own) and swimming. We will be renting from the Cannon River Bike and Canoe Rental, and using their return shuttle
service. They do have a few options for renting.
- Canoe (which holds up to 3 people) $40
- 4 person raft $50
- single person kayak $25
- Want to bring your own canoe or kayak? Shuttle fee is $20.
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Community Outreach
Questions, comments about the outreach activities described? Click on the name of one of our Mission Board members to send an email.
ABOUT F
amilies Moving Forward
BEACON Interfaith Housing Collaborative in St. Paul is an interfaith collaborative of congregations ending homelessness through housing, shelter and advocacy. Families Moving Forward is one of their programs
working to end homelessness one family at a time by offering families experiencing homelessness hospitality, emergency shelter and a path to home with support for stability. Volunteers from about 80 congregations throughout the Twin Cities metro area create shelter space for a safe place to sleep, a warm meal, and volunteers to share kindness and compassion with families experiencing homelessness.
A professional staff work closely with each family to address their unique barriers to stability so they may leave our shelter program for permanent housing. To read more about the program
click here
IN OUR AREA,
help NEXT WEEK OF AUGUST 21-28
New Spirit is working with Spirit of the Lake Lutheran Church in Prior Lake in the fight in the Families Moving Forward Program. Spirit of the Lake Lutheran Church will be hosting local families experiencing homelessness overnight at their church the week of August 21-28. Many volunteer are needed to help set up, serve meals, help and or plan activities. The experience is very rewarding, and your help is very much appreciated!
Click here to volunteer.
New -
If you are creative and fun - we need you! A volunteer slot for one adult to plan childrens' or family activity each night from 6:30 - 8 pm, as well as three time slots for activities on Saturday afternoon. By providing more structured activities, everyone has more fun! An activity can be almost anything, such as a baking project, scavenger hunt, BINGO, sing-alongs, crafts, magic show, outdoor games, etc.
TRAINING - two great training opportunities for us to share and learn about working with FMF.
Understanding homlessness and what's involved in hosting. Beacon will be holding a hosting volunteer training for all FMF volunteers at Spririt of the Lake, Saturday, October 8, 9 am - noon. The training is an opportunity to better understand reasons behind homelessness in our community, expectations of guests and volunteers, and how the whole programworks. Please click here to register.Beacon
Trainings There is also an option on August
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looking ahead .....
- Sun, Aug 21 - 9:30 am - worship - Sanya Pirani speaking
- Sat, Aug 27 - All generations Canoe Trip on the Cannon River
- Sun, Aug 28 - 9:30 am - worship
- Mon, Aug 29 - 6:30 pm - meeting of New Beginnings Leadership Team
- Sun, Sept 4 - 9:30 am worship & Communion
- Tue, Sept 6 - 7 pm Boards Meet; 7:30 pm Rep Board
- Wed, Sept 7 - Choir practice
- Sun, Sept 11 - 9:30 am worship Rally Sunday -
- Sun, Sept 18 - 9:30 am worship - New Beginnings Sunday;
10:45 am - New Beginning Summit
- Sun, Sept 25 - 9:30 am worship
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Rev. Rosemary Rocha | New Spirit United Church of Christ
14394 Quebec Avenue, Savage, MN 55378
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