March The United Church of Mapleton. The Voice Newsletter of. The United Church of Mapleton. PO Box 413, 201 Troendle St SW. Mapleton, MN 56065

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1 The Voice Newsletter of The United Church of Mapleton 201 Troendle Street SW; PO Box 413 Mapleton, MN March 2017 Address Service Requested The United Church of Mapleton is a Christian fellowship of mission, worship, and faith formation dedicated to the Maple River community. The United Church of Mapleton PO Box 413, 201 Troendle St SW Mapleton, MN 56065

2 THE UNITED CHURCH OF MAPLETON 9:30 am Sunday Worship 10:00-10:30 am PreK 5th Grade Sunday School 10:30 am Coffee & Fellowship March 2017 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 7:00 pm Worship Ash Wednesday Service 5 1st Sunday in Lent 9:30 am Worship with Communion and Loaves & Fishes Food Shelf Collection 10 :00-12:30 am Odd Fellows Pancake 12 2nd Sunday in Lent 9:30 am Worship 10:30 am Workshop with Pastor Cindy 19 3rd Sunday in Lent 9:30 am Worship with Youth Center Collections :00 pm Women s Fellowship :00 pm Quilters 1:00pm Quilters 7:00 pm Council 1:00pm Quilters :30 am UCC Clergy Cluster Mtg. in Mankato 3:00-8:00pm Maple River Wrestlers Banquet RECYCLE! 17 Happy St. Patrick s Day RECYCLE! 11 8:30 10:30 am Community Breakfast at St. John Lutheran th Sunday in Lent 9:30a m Worship 10:30 am Workshop with Pastor Cindy Pack the Pews wknd. Newsletter articles/ reports are due into the church office :00pm Quilters

3 The Voice The Newsletter of The United Church of Mapleton Phone: (507) During the Season of Lent we travel with Jesus on a journey. We start in the wilderness away from the things that normally comfort and sustain us and continue in the steps of Jesus ministry and through to the last days of his life. At this like maybe no other time of year, we are invited to examine our spiritual lives and identify where God is calling us. What does God desire for our lives here in Mapleton and the surrounding area? How might God be speaking to us as we travel this wilderness time known as an interim period? Let us mark the beginning of this shared journey as one faith community on March 1st Ash Wednesday in worship at 7 pm. On those Wednesdays following, we will gather at 6 pm to share in a simple meal. Everyone is asked to bring a side dish or desert to share. The main course will be provided while donations to offset its cost will be accepted. Dinner will be available between 6 pm and 6:30 pm after which we will begin our. These conversations will last until 8 pm. If you are unable to stay until 8 pm, please join us for as long as possible. Your contributions to these conversations is valued. These conversations will consist of one-on-one, small group and large group discussions. We will be seeking to identify our core values and discern where God is calling us as a faith community. It is my hope that these holy conversations will allow us the opportunity to be open with one another and God s Holy Spirit. If you are in need of childcare after we share in the meal, please contact the church office no later than Monday morning the week before each Wednesday you plan to attend. - Continued - March 2017 Page 3 In addition to our Wednesday, we will be holding various workshops and further conversation after worship in the fellowship hall following worship on Sundays, 3/12, 3/26 & 4/2. These workshops, along with our Wednesday evening, will provide important information for our church profile as a Search Committee seeks to select a settled pastor for our United Church. O hope you will make it a priority to join us for these upcoming opportunities as we walk our Lenten journey in search of the mission God has in store for us all. With the Greatest of Hope, Pastor Cindy Contact Information If you have a pastoral emergency or need, please contact Pastor Cindy Mueller. Please check your bulletin each week for Pastor Cindy s office hours. Prayer Chain If you have a prayer request, please call Karen Stanton at (507) or Joyce Johnson at Please let them know your prayer request, including the name of the person to pray for if applicable, and whether or not you would like your request included in the church s public prayer list or if you d prefer the request be kept privately within the prayer chain. Local Mission Jars During the month of March, the mission jar donations will go towards the Jackson Foster Home. Daily Devotions Online You may visit the following website for daily devotions:

4 In Our Prayers Our church prayer list includes: Those members living in Care Facilities: Norma Baack., Kathy Cramer, Alberta Samuelson Those members with health concerns: Eli Alvarado, Larry Bowen, Jack Madsen, Donna Webb Family members and loved ones who are ill Traveling mercies for our members, family, and friends All those who are grieving and mourning Those affected by mental illness, including anxiety and depression All those affected by the ongoing crisis in Syria and the hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing the Middle East The prayer requests and praises shared with the congregation during last month s worship services include: Prayers: For families. May God bless them always and build their faith in God s wisdom. For a dear friend that she will feel God s love and peace Continued prayers for Tyson McPal For our country to become united in God s love For Joyce and family in the loss of their beloved Wally To God to help us amid the chaos of our nation to find our way to peace and unity in the love of Christ For a friend s granddaughter s premature birth Our friend Kate who has leukemia Thanksgiving: From Joyce: Thank you to our United Church family for kindness following Wally s death. And praise to God for a new baby granddaughter, niece and cousin, Eliana Grace Happy Birthday Hugo as he turns 88 this week. Page 4 Church Council narrows down a list of potential Search Committee members The Church Council has met and selected names of several members to serve on the Search Committee. These people will be approached to serve in this capacity in the very near future. Once a team of 7 people is completed, the final group will be commissioned during worship. Please keep the membership of this faith community in your prayers as people are approached to serve in this critically important role. One Great Hour of Sharing We will be receiving the One Great Hour of Sharing mission offering during the month of March. This money funds health, education and agricultural development, emergency relief, refugee ministries, and both international and domestic disaster response. Your contribution can be put in the offering baskets Sunday mornings or mailed to the church. Please consider this prayerfully and give generously. The money received is divided evenly between our two affiliations, the American Baptist Churches and United Church of Christ. Let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. - 1 John 3:18 Worshipping As a Multi-Generational Faith Community Beginning this past month we began welcoming children to remain in worship with us throughout the entire worship service on Communion Sunday. This practice will continue as we invite the children, as well as the rest of us, to experience this sacred meal. Since, at the United Church, we believe Christ is the host of this table, we welcome the presence of children into our midst to partake in the meal Jesus gave us as a mark of God s unconditional acceptance of us all. It is also our hope to involve children in preparing the table of Communion on each of these Sundays. If your child(ren) are interested in participating, they need merely speak to a Congregational Relations Member or the Pastor and arrive to worship 15 minutes before the service begins. May our sharing in this meal with the smallest of these be an enriching experience for us, as well as, for them. Service to Mankind If you would like to nominate someone for the Sertoma Service to Mankind Award, please send your letter to Louise Webb, PO Box 93, Mapleton, MN by March 15th.

5 SW Cluster Congregational Get-Together Bring Your Light! (Matt. 5:14-16) Those who are interested in attending this event with Pastor Cindy should let her know so the correct amount of food can be made. When: Sat. April 29 th, 11am to 2pm Where: First Congregational UCC 150 Stadium Dr. Mankato, MN This is a time to connect with other UCC ers in our southwest Minnesota area. What to bring: a salad or dessert to share (one per church) an unscented candle (one for each person attending from your congregation) to share in the closing Child Care Available: Please let Pastor Cindy know if you will need child care. Lunch: Main dish provided (each congregation covers a share of the total cost). Bring a salad or a dessert to share. Before you come, please take time to think about the following discussion items that will be discussed at the event: 1. Individuals will introduce themselves and say how long they have attended their church. And one person from each congregation (not the pastor) will be asked to share some info on the congregation. 2. Where is the energy in our community of faith? 3. How could we share that energy with other communities of faith? Process: 1) Gather as a whole and share the first discussion item, one congregation at a time. 2) Share in the prep of lunch and eating together. 3) Gather again to discuss next two items (one question at a time, by congregations). A brief Closing of the Event Maple River Coaches A Scholarship & Wrestler Pancake Breakfast will be held at the Maple River HS Commons on Sunday, March 5th, from 8:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m. Cost $6 (age 6-adult) under 6 are free. Blue Earth Co. Thrivent Supported. Page 5 Taizé Meditation Retreat May 17-19, 2017 at Pilgrim Point Camp in Alexandria, MN Come experience a few days apart within the tranquility and wonder of Pilgrim Point Camp. Experience a more spacious rhythm of life organized around praying the hours - through silence, word, music and chants in the tradition of the Taizé Community. Each day, our temporary community will share meals, conversation, hospitality, reflection, and worship. There will also be space for folk to spend time alone for rest or exploring the natural beauty of Pilgrim Point. Each participant will be invited to share an afternoon of silence and an optional experience of prayer during the "small hours," in additional to a variety of other contemplative spiritual practices. Come be renewed. About our Taizé Retreat leader: Richard Bruxvoort Colligan is about adventurous and imaginative music for the ever-evolving church. As a freelance composer and musician, he serves across denominations singing and teaching about worship and spiritual formation. Richard has eight albums of original worship music and tours throughout the United States. Richard leads psalm workshops and concerts nationwide, teaches at Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa and contributes weekly to the Pulpit Fiction podcast. Recent publications include "Our Roots Are in You," a collection of short, contemplative Psalm songs and a new psalm collection for Ash Wednesday called "Children of the Earth." Cost: $90/person When: 3pm on Wednesday, May 17th until 11am on Friday, May 19, 2017 Where: Pilgrim Point Camp, 2059 Pilgrim Point Rd NW, Alexandria, MN Who: Open to ALL (youth must be accompanied by an adult leader or guardian; be aware participants will need to be quiet for 60 minute sessions) Deadline to register: Wednesday, May 10, 2017 Questions? the Pilgrim Point Registrar or call (612)

6 Thank Yous Received Dear Members of the United Church, Your support of Our Church s Wider Mission (basic support given to our United Church of Christ) is so important. Be assured that working together we make an enormous impact for the MN Conf. UCC. Mary Kay Sauter; on Behalf of the Development Team of the MN Conference United Church of Christ Dear Members of the United Church, Here at International Ministries (American Baptist basic support) we give thanks for you! Thank you for joining us as we respond to the call to see God s kingdom come on earth as in heaven. Sharon American Baptist Churches USA On behalf of American Baptist Churches USA and the 2017 Biennial Mission Summit Planning Team, we invite your church to attend the Biennial Mission Summit June 30th July 2nd in Portland, Oregon at the Oregon Convention Center. Information is posted on the church bulletin board. If you plan on attending, please contact the church office for the registration information. Odd Fellows Pancake Breakfast Pancakes with a Purpose will be held on Sunday, March 5th in our Fellowship Hall. You will enjoy a delicious breakfast of pancakes and more from our Mapleton Odd Fellows! All proceeds will go to help sponsor our local youth s attendance at Camp FaHoCha, (Faith, Hope, & Charity) located at German Lake. What a wonderful and delicious way to help out some of our local youth! Maple River Dollars for Scholars A fundraiser for the Maple River Dollars for Scholars with proceeds going to the class of 2017 will be held at Maggie J s on Monday, February 27th, 4:30 7:30 p.m. Cost: $9.95 (age 13+) and $6.95 (12 & under). Menu: Burger with fixings and French fries. Come have a burger before the basketball game or watch the BBB game against USC streamed live at Maggie J s. Page 6 Maple River Loaves & Fishes The March, MN Food Share Campaign, is the only statewide food and fund drive that raises more than half the food distributed by the 300 food shelves. The Pack the Pews event will be the weekend of March You are encouraged to bring a grocery bag of non-perishables to your worship service to be donated to Loaves and Fishes. The March campaign also matches the dollar amount donated throughout the month of March. Remember, for every dollar you donate, we can buy $10 worth of food using our network which includes Second Harvest, Dietz Foods and other organizations. Thank you! Maple River Loaves and Fishes. Meeting February 13th, 2017 President Louise Webb called the meeting to order with nine women in attendance, including Pastor Cindy. Devotions were given by Louisabelle Shuck and were based on dirt roads. Minutes were read and accepted. Sunshine Committee: Mabelle sent out 11 cards including, birthday, get-well, sympathy, and think of you. Business: There was discussion on a refrigerator for flowers. We will check into this to see what we can get. We also discussed holding a cooking class again this year as was held last year. Coffee Hour host for March 12th will be Circle #1. Our next meeting will be held Monday, March 13th. Meeting Adjourned. Kathy Cox served lunch. Linda Whitney will serve lunch next month. Respectfully Submitted, Darlene Fezler, Secretary

7 Page 7 United Church of Mapleton Council Meeting February 8, 2017 Attendees: Darlene Fezler, Keith McCutchen, Dick Dietz, Pastor Cindy Mueller, Hugo John, Chad Kunkel, Pam Foster, Gary Fritz Devotional and Prayer: Pam Secretary's Report: Report read; Motion to approve, Chad, seconded Darlene - approved. Included in motion to approve report was motion to correct (typo) error in the Minutes of the Annual Meeting. Correction: Pastoral Search Committee will receive $ , not $ as was incorrectly stated. Treasurer's Report: Report read (partial report as council meeting is a week early); Motion to approve, Chad, seconded, Darlene approved. Pastor's Report: Report read; Motion to approve, Chad, seconded, Darlene approved. One issue brought out in the Pastor's Report was the thought of an ongoing conversation, ongoing education, of how well the congregation understands what comprises our affiliations with the UCC and ABC, of how it makes the Untied Church of Mapleton unique, of how that could be a draw for an incoming pastor, and to know ourselves how the affiliations differ and are similar. Financial audit of church finances: It has not been decided as to who will do this. Hugo John, Financial Secretary, is resigning his position. The search for a new financial secretary will commence hence forth. Pastoral Search Committee: A list of possible candidates was narrowed to 14; 7 main candidates, 7 alternate candidates, and a chair person. Candidates will be contacted to assess their willingness and availability to serve on the committee. Conversation on asking the visiting missionaries from Honduras to participate in a future morning church service. Agreed that this was something good and should happen. Request to purchase the flower 'frig from the Plaid Piper was discussed but did not receive a second to the motion and thus died for this meeting. Action Points: Review job descriptions of all paid church employees. Review church constitution, including renaming the Deacon's Fund to the Assistance Fund. Next Council Meeting: March 15, pm Motion to Adjourn: Keith Respectfully Submitted, Clerk, Gary Fritz