FEBRUARY 2016 IN THE FIRST PLACE

Transcription

1 FEBRUARY 2016 IN THE FIRST PLACE First Congregational United Church of Christ An Inclusive, Open & Affirming Congregation Mankato MN Check us out on Facebook! JOIN US ON SUNDAYS: Worship 9:30 am Nursery available Sunday School 10:00 am Fellowship following Worship FEBRUARY 2016 WORSHIP HIGHLIGHTS AND COMMON LECTIONARY READINGS: February 7 Last Sunday after the Epiphany Transfiguration Sunday Communion Music: Senior Choir Exodus 34:29-35; Psalm 99; 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2; Luke 9:28-36 (37-43) February 14 First Sunday of Lent Music: Christi Smith and College Students Deuteronomy 26:1-11; Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16; Romans 10:8b-13; Luke 4:1-13 February 21 Second Sunday of Lent Music: Senior Choir Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18; Psalm 27; Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 13:31-35 or Luke 9:28-36 (37-43a) February 28 Third Sunday of Lent Isaiah 55:1-9; Psalm 63:1-8; 1 Corinthians 10:1-13; Luke 13:1-9 WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 10 TH ASH WEDNESDAY WORSHIP SERVICE 7 PM Soup Supper 6-6:45 pm Join us for a soup and bread supper, followed by a worship service that begins the season of Lent, the season of reflection. Together we ll remember the frailty of our lives, the love with which they re made, and the journey that we re on. The Deacons, who are hosting the SOUP SUPPER, are in search of: 6 SOUP MAKERS 6 LOAVES of BREAD The soup and bread can be any kind, but please include an 'ingredients card' to go along with what you make for those who have sensitivities. Please sign up on the kiosk in the Narthex if you are able to help!

2 Intergenerational Lenten Project 2016: The Sunday School Program's Offering from the last couple of years has been shared equally between ECHO Food Shelf and Partners for Affordable Housing. Each program received a check in the amount of $ Now, as we enter the season of Lent, the children invite the whole congregation to join us in a special Lenten Project. It is their wish to continue to help the families in our community through these two agencies. Lenten Project Description: We will get together in teams of six people and each team will fill a bucket (the size of a cleaning pail), that will be donated to one of the agencies. Teams start collecting Feb 21st. Already we have 8 team leaders in search of team members! Please see the kiosk or talk to Pat. The point is for everyone to be involved in the buying and conversation -- especially the young. If you would like to start a team, please sign up on that same kiosk in the narthex, or let Pat know! When the buckets are filled, please bring them into the Education Area (Pat will have a spot for them). Then on Sunday March 13th we ll bring them into the sanctuary to see and bless them before they are distributed the following day. To fill an ECHO Food Shelf bucket, please choose from the items below as requested by Echo: Diapers Personal Care Items Size 3 Size 4 Size 5 Baby Wipes Soap Shampoo Toothbrushes Toothpaste Combs Brushes To fill a bucket for Partners For Affordable Housing, please choose from this list as they requested: Laundry Basket Bath Towels Wash Cloths Kitchen Towels All-Purpose Cleaner Toilet Paper Paper Towels Toilet Brush & Cleaner Broom & Dust Pan Dish Soap Body Soap Laundry Soap Shower Curtain Soap Dish Oven Mitts/Pot Holders Spatula/Wisk Spoons Baking Pans Cookie Sheets Questions? Text or call Pat or her at Patfirstucc@gmail.com. Love, kindness and have fun! EDUCATIONAL MINISTRIES/FAITH FORMATION Adult Education: A NEW BOOK STUDY BEGINS Sundays 4-5:30pm January 31 February 7, 14, 28 March 6

3 Join in a reading of Jesus and Nonviolence: A Third Way, by Walter Wink. Here s a little about it... More than ever, Walter Wink believes, the Christian tradition of nonviolence is needed as an alternative to the dominant and death-dealing "powers" of our consumerist culture and fractured world. In this small book Wink offers a precis of his whole thinking about this issue, including the relation of Jesus and his message to politics and nonviolence, the history of nonviolent efforts, and how nonviolence can win the day when others don't hesitate to resort to violence or terror to achieve their aims. SYNERGY Youth Group: The SYNERGY Youth Group (4-6 gr) will be meeting on Wednesday, February 17 from 6:30-8 pm in the Education Hall. Youth Faith Formation: Confirmation (8th grade): February 3 Wednesday Class 7:15 8:15 pm February 10 Ash Wednesday Worship 7:00 pm Confirmands will be participating in worship Please be in the Sanctuary by 6:30 pm! February 24 Wednesday Class 6:45 8:00 pm Please note the change in time! We will be gathering with the Deacons for a pizza party and discussion of credos and upcoming Confirmation Sunday! The Gathering (7th grade): Wednesday Gatherings, 6-7:15 pm February 24 Wednesday Class 6:00 7:15 pm We will be joined by the Confirmation Class and the Deacons at 6:45 pm for a pizza party! Youth Group (9th-12th grade): Lock In Event!! Friday, February 12 th from 7pm to Saturday ending at 1:30 am for Youth Group, Confirmation Class and The Gathering. Complete information, schedule, youth sign-up sheets, permission forms and adult volunteer sign-up sheets are posted on the bulletin board at the entrance to the Fellowship Hall. Sunday School 2016: Sunday School News: As we begin a new year, we have new themes for teaching the Spark Rotation Curriculum. Again, the first week in every month will be a shortened Sunday School time. This will allow children to return to worship to observe and participate in Communion. The 4 Friends and The Disciples will be the themes used to teach Sunday School on January 10, January 17, and January 24. The Storm will be the theme for January 31 and February 14. Feeding of 5000 will be the theme for February 21 and February 28. These themes will take us up to the Season of Easter. Again, we are so thankful to have faithful, loving individuals facilitate our weekly lessons. Parents are always welcomed in the Education Wing. Your support of our programs is greatly appreciated. Dear Members of the Congregation, The Faith Formation/Education Ministries Team is looking for help to cover the nursery during worship. We have some volunteers who help monthly to make our church more welcoming by providing this service.

4 However, many Sundays we could use an extra hand. My goal is to have two volunteers for each week of the month. This is the schedule that is currently in place. As you can see we have quite a few OPEN spots. If you are a family with a new baby or young children, or a grand-parent, please consider taking one week a month to help with the nursery. First week of every month: Sue Wear, OPEN Second week of every month: Amy DeMaster, OPEN Third week of every month: OPEN Fourth week of every month: Erin Lutterman, OPEN Fifth week of every month: Arlene Crotty, OPEN If you could add your name to one week a month or one week every two months, that would be very helpful. Please call or text Pat if you have questions about our Safe Church Policy or Nursery Helper expectations. Thank you for considering this volunteer service. MISSION AND MINISTRIES NEWS: One Great Hour of Sharing: One Great Hour of Sharing, as part of Our Church s Wider Mission, is a special mission offering of the United Church of Christ that carries God s message of love and hope to people in more that eighty countries. The UCC works with international partners to provide sources of clean water and food, education and health care, small business micro-credit, emergency relief, and advocacy and resettlement for refugees and displaced persons. OGHS also supports domestic and international ministries for disaster preparedness and response. You will be receiving a letter soon and this offering will be received on Sunday, February 28 th, Thank you for your support. Pedal Past Poverty: Fourth annual Pedal Past Poverty Bike Race on Saturday, February 27th, from 9 am to 2 pm at the YMCA. Money raised will support guests at the Theresa House and Welcome Inn Ava Adams-Morris is gathering our church team "A Wing and a Prayer." A $1,000 team donation is required. If you are interested in supporting our team, please make you check payable to our church and we will forward as one large check. These donations are due on February 4th. You may also donate on line, our team code is FISTPSU7 If you are interested in being a bike riding team member please sign up in the church Narthex or call Ava. ECHO Food Shelf: ECHO is joining food shelves across Minnesota to collect donations of food and funds. Out collections will be used in Blue Earth County and North Mankato. We encourage donations to help provide food assistance to our neighbors who are in need. If you chose to contribute you can bring nonperishable food products, paper products or household goods on any of the four Sundays in March and place them on the ramp leading to the chancel. At the end of the month we will take these products to the ECHO Food Shelf in Mankato. Another choice is to donate money to the Food Shelf and it is then used to purchase necessary food products. Food shelves can stretch donations of cash further that donations of food because of their access to discount products and programs. If you wish to write a check, make it out to 1 st Congregational UCC and mark ECHO in the memo area. At the end of the month we will write on large check to ECHO.

5 Salvation Army Noon Meal: Our next opportunity to serve will be Sunday, April 10 th. On Sunday, January 3 rd, our congregation served lunch to over 125 guests at the Salvation Army. A choice of 3 different hot dishes and salads, plus vegetables and bread were served. We were lucky to be able to offer home baked cookies originally donated to Santa s Little Helpers and not a crumb was left! Even though we were without Lynn Ries s guidance, we put together some of our church s most awesome talent, both in cooking and serving. A huge thank you to: Linda Hachfeld, Harriet Bliese, Pat Thompson, Sue Grunzke, Gloria and Jim Matteson, Jerry Peterson, Bob Morris, Tina and Lori Plemens, Madison, Emma, Joey and Lily Plemens-Schunk, Buffy Jacobs, Charlie Saffert, Margaret Naslund, Lana Karstens, Pastor Dana, Mike Barnett and Sue Taylor. And a very special thank you to Allison and Jack Jennings who kept us on track with kitchen and cleaning detail. COMMON HOPE PRESENTATION March 6th, Sunday, 12 pm Fellowship Hall Come join with a representative from Common Hope who will share the context of the community that we serve when we go to Guatemala and some of what we do when we are there. Come whether or not you plan on attending this year s trip in August! There will be a second meeting in the spring to talk about the details of this year s trip. Guatemala Mission Trip 2016: The dates have been set. A group from our church will be traveling to Guatemala August 14-21, If you would like to be part of that team, or just want more information, contact Kathy Taylor. We will build a home, help in school, go on social work visits, visit sponsored children and learn a lot about Guatemalan culture. We need to start getting our team together soon. There is also a sign-up sheet on the kiosk in the Narthex. Craft & Bake Sale for Common Hope Guatemala: Thank you to everyone who donated goodies and other items for the Craft & Bake Sale held in December. All proceeds support our Common Hope mission. $669 was raised for the 2016 Guatemala Mission Trip. CONGREGATIONAL LIFE The Men s Group: Saturday, February 13, 8:00 am at the WOW! Zone The Women s Group: Saturday, February 13, 9:00 am at the WOW! Zone Dinner Out Event: The next Dinner Out Event is scheduled for Saturday, February 20 th at Eatery Tap House on Madison Avenue, starting at 5:30 pm. February s coordinators are Rita Goblirsch and Dar Boettcher and a sign-up sheet is posted on the kiosk in the Narthex.

6 HEALTH MINISTRIES: Blood Pressure Check: Blood pressure check will be on Sunday, February 7 th. The Parish Nurse will be in the Church Library after worship service. Assistance Available: There are crutches, a walker and a wheel chair available for loan if someone has a need. Please contact Rochelle Major, rochelmajor@gmail.com ALL IN THE CHURCH FAMILY: Prayer Requests: PLEASE NOTE: Because of privacy issues, from now on we will only list the names of individuals for prayer when specifically requested by that person or an immediate family member. We are always happy to list any prayer concerns as you request them. Prayer requests will be listed for two months unless you indicate otherwise. We lift up to God s healing presence all those struggling in body, mind and spirit and pray for all caregivers and all those serving our community, our nation and our world. Birthday & Anniversary Celebrations! This month we will celebrate the February Birthdays and Anniversaries immediately following the Sunday Worship Service on February 28 th in the Fellowship Hall. This monthly event is hosted by the Board of Deacons. February Birthday & Anniversary List: 1 Blake Couey 2 **Mike & Lyn Dauffenbach **Alfred & Amy Mukamuri 4 Anthony Palesotti 5 Jaxson Grau Aurora Kahmann 12 **Brian & Marcia Robertson 13 Erin Healy Sam Gilbert 14 **Andy & Mandy Garbers **Jared & Amy DeMaster 15 Becky Taylor 25 Joan Kaiser 26 Eliana Palesotti 28 Jacob Grau Indigo Kahmann

7 **Anniversary If we missed your special day, please call Diane in the church office and corrections will be made to the Birthday/Anniversary list PASTORAL CONTACT: If there is a pastoral emergency, please call Pastor Dana Mann at (C) FROM THE OFFICE COORDINATOR: Office Hours: Monday thru Friday, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., the church office is closed 12 1:00 p.m. Church Office: (507) February 2 nd through February 12 th, Donna Sandon will be in the Church Office for Diane Bartelt. First Congregational United Church of Christ 150 Stadium Court, Mankato, Minnesota Phone: 507/ katoucc@mankatoucc.org Web Page Pastor: Rev. Dana J Mann dana@mankatoucc.org Moderator: Silas Danielson sdanielson@bgklaw.com Choir Director: Angie Braunwarth-Hartwell angiegovie@gmail.com Organist: Rosalyn Spear Director of Christian Education: Pat Thompson patfirstucc@gmail.com Parish Nurse: Rochelle Major rochelmajor@gmail.com Office Coordinator: Diane Bartelt katoucc@mankatoucc.org Financial Secretary: Donna Sandon dlsandon@newulmtel.net Web Steward: Darcy Stueber stuebers@hickorytech.net February 2016 S unday V olunteer S chedule Coffee Hour Coordinator is Lyn Dauffenbach Feb 7 Feb 14 Communion Sunday Worship Participant: Kim Shaffer Greeters: Al & Ann Obernolte Ushers: Christi & Steve Smith Coffee Servers: **Doug & Bev Wood, Sue Grunzke Nursery Attendants: Sue Wear Communion Stewards: Tina Case, Nick & Helen Healy Communion Servers: Nancy Peterson, Jill Branson, Steve Smith, Sue Grunzke Worship Participant: Lyn Dauffenbach Greeters: Dave & Bonnie Knutson Ushers: Jon & Lois Hedman Coffee Servers: **Jim & Gloria Matteson, Chris & Karen Cavett Nursery Attendants: Amy DeMaster

8 Feb 21 Feb 28 Worship Participant: Renee Schunk Greeters: Dar Loiselle, Tina Case Ushers: Doug & Bev Wood Coffee Servers: **Mike & Lyn Dauffenbach, Jack & Allison Jennings Nursery Attendants: Open Worship Participant: Amy DeMaster Greeters: The Smith Family Ushers: Myra & Myron Vugteveen Coffee Servers: **Tom & Lynn Ries, Marilee Rickard Nursery Attendants: Erin Lutterman PLEASE NOTE: Coffee Servers with ** before their names are assigned the job of picking up the order from CUB West. Sunday Helper Schedule: ***If you are unable to be in church on the Sunday that you are scheduled, please look at the schedule and find someone to switch with, then contact Diane in the office at if any changes are made. Look in the Weekly 1 st News for the up-coming Sunday Helper Schedule.

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