Near the beginning of Profiles in Courage, John F. Kennedy s book describing the character of eight U.S. Senators, he wrote the following:

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1 July 2017 The Messenger United Methodist Church 2210 Sixth Avenue East, Alexandria, MN Craig Haberman Office: Website: Mission: To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world Vision: To Grow and Live in the Spirit of Christ Editor: Kali Erlandson A Note from Pastor Craig Greetings! I hope the month of June is going well for each of you; that you are enjoying the beauty and opportunities of a central Minnesota summer. I pray that your travels are safe and without mechanical mishaps; further that you are finding time to be still and know that God is God! (Psalm 46:10) I have been taking the opportunity recently on Sunday mornings and other occasions to reflect on the increasing polarization that seems to be present across our society: How our differences in worldview and the news sources we access take us to very different places regarding lifestyle and politics. A recent Pew Research project points to what may be driving up the intensity of our diversity. Their findings indicate that the activist wings of both Republican and Democratic parties don t merely disagree with the others politics; they loathe each other, dismissing the personal value, worth, and dignity of their opponents. Pondering this some more, I wonder if there might be two factors contributing to this poisonous divisiveness; one, that the diversity of our opinions and politics are in fact quite a bit wider than in the past; and two, rather than seeking to find common ground or compromise, both sides push for an all or nothing solution that reflects their desires. Near the beginning of Profiles in Courage, John F. Kennedy s book describing the character of eight U.S. Senators, he wrote the following: I am convinced that the decline if there has been a decline has been less in the Senate [the courage of Senators] than in the public s appreciation of the art of politics, of the nature and necessity for compromise and balance, and of the nature of the Senate as a legislative chamber. It is compromise that prevents each set of reformers from crushing the group on the extreme opposite end of the political spectrum. The fanatics and extremists and even those conscientiously devoted to hard and fast principles are always disappointed at the failure of their Government to rush to implement all of their principles and to denounce those of their opponents. But the legislator has some responsibility to conciliate those opposing forces within his state and party and to represent them in the larger clash of interests on the national level; and he alone knows that there are few if any issues where all the truth and all the right and all the angels are on one side. (Profiles in Courage, page 3 and 5. Emphasis mine.) My opinion here: I don t think there is any way in marriages, families, churches, civic organizations, communities, states, or our country where any one viewpoint is going to be able to assume that theirs is the last word on any issue, or that it will or should be able to carry the day. At all levels of society, we are simply going to have to get to know and care for each other deeply, to listen to each other carefully, and to work diligently for the common values we share liberty, justice, and compassion. I hope you have a delightful Fourth of July and a blessed middle stretch of summer. With my deepest appreciation to each one of you. Pastor Craig

2 Published by Alexandria United Methodist Church Telephone (320) Pastor: Craig Haberman Administrative Assistant: Kali Erlandson Director of Children s Ministries: Kayla Brunkow kayla@alexumc.org Director of Youth Ministries: Brenda Thomson brenda@alexumc.org Custodian: Denise Dropik Organists/Pianists: Emily Thomas & Alli Prestby Nursery: Karen Murphy & Alex Anderson Sub: Emma Reilly Reminder that we are following our Safe Sanctuary Policy the church entrance doors will remain locked unless there are two people present in the building. Please call ahead before you come to church, as there are times when we are not in the building, even though we are working. Also, most days someone is in the office before 9:00 and later than 1:00 p.m. Office Hours Pastor Craig M-W-F -9:00-1:00 T-Thurs 10:00-1:00 Kali Mon-Tue-Wed-Thurs-Fri Office is open 9:00-1:00 Kayla Tuesday (8:00-4:00) Alternate Thurs/Fri (8:00-4:00) Brenda Wed & Thurs 5:30-8:30 pm

3 CARE TEAM VISITORS are available to provide personal support to church members in times of special need. These may include hospitalization, rehabilitation, family crisis, or senior home visitation. The CARE TEAM is a compassionate, volunteer ministry of our congregation. Call the church office to request a visit ( ). In your prayers, please remember Larry Gettel, Mandy Gustafson, Ron Hoffman, Darlene Lunemann, Phyllis Mounsdon, Lori Lindstrom. Publication Date for the next Messenger: is the last week of July. Articles for the July issue need to be in the office by NOON on Thursday, July 20th. Worship Attendance :00 9:30 8:00 9:30 May June June June COMMUNITY EVENTS July 13, 2017 The First Congregational / UCC Church is having their Summer Bazaar Celebrating 150 Years from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Salad Luncheon begins at 11 AM - 1PM. Cost is $8 (No-waiting Take-Out Lunches Available) July 15, 2017 The First Congregational / UCC Church is having their open house Birthday Celebration from 2-4 PM, 5-6 PM will be a Social Hour with Honored Guests and from 6-8 PM there will be a Catered Dinner (reservations required), Memories and Program July 16, 2017 The First Congregational / UCC Church is having a 10AM Worship with a rededication to the future fellowship following the service. July 30, 2017 Fundraiser for Alexandria Sr. Center Evening Lions Belgian Waffle Feed, 9AM-1PM. Price is $8.00 (5 and under free). Helen Glade has tickets

4 New Way of Giving Online: Available now, there is a new way to give to our church. We have implemented the company Tithe.ly to help expand our options of giving. Visit our website at and select the GIVE NOW! button. This option allows you to donate using a Credit or Debit Card or your checking account information. You may donate one time or set up an automated giving. There is a nominal processing fee for using this program; however, there is an option for you to help cover the costs. If you have any questions, please feel free to stop by the office for a quick demonstration. Check it out! Nursery is available on Sunday morning during worship services and coffee fellowship time. Nursery is for children 5 and younger. If you have an older child and need a place to go with them during worship time, Classroom 1 is available. Finance Committee April showed significant progress toward reducing the amount we were behind for the year; however, the same cannot be said of May. We ended May just over $9,000 short in apportionments and our line of credit, and around $4,000 negative in the mortgage fund, for a total of negative $22,580! The good news is this is over $5,000 better than We trust all will remember that even though we may be busy and gone Sundays over the summer, our obligations do not take a vacation. Please prayerfully consider our church and community needs and assist in cutting this deficit. Thank you.

5 Open to the community! No cost or registration required. Family VBS Sundays, July 9 th Aug 6 th 5:30PM 7:30PM A summer family event called Maker Fun Factory VBS will be held for 5 weeks on Sunday evenings beginning July 9 th. At Maker Fun Factory we will discover that God made us and for a purpose! We will participate in interactive storytelling, sing catchy songs, play games, create some wonderful crafts together, and collect Bible Memory Buddies to remind us of God s love. Families at Maker Fun Factory VBS will join a missions effort to fund the digging of clean water wells for remote villages in Peru. Families are encouraged to attend together and invite others to join in the fun! a Sunday, July 9th a Sunday, July 16th a Sunday, July 23rd a Sunday, July 30th a Sunday, August 6th Bible Point : God made you. Bible Story : God lovingly creats people. (Psalm 139; Genesis 1:26-2:4) Key Verse : "Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!" (Psalm 139:14) Bible Point : God is for you. Bible Story : Rahab believes in God's might power. (Joshua 1-2) Key Verse : "If God is for us, who can ever be against us?" (Romans 8:31) Bible Point : God is always with you. Bible Story : God is with Gideon (Judges 6:11-7:25) Key Verse : "The Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9) Bible Point : God will always love you. Bible Story : Jesus dies and comes back to life. (Luke 22:66-24:12) Key Verse : "Your unfailing love will last forever." (Psalm 89:2) Bible Point : God made you for a reason. Bible Story : Abigail brings peace. (1 Samuel 25) Key Verse : "'For I know the plans I have for you,' says the Lord." (Jeremiah 29:11)

6 JULY VOLUNTEERS Liturgists: 8:00 July 2, 9, 16 Connie Good July 23 & 30 Darlene Lunemann 9:30 July 2, 9, 16 Bruce Jordan July 23 & 30 Kay Kortlever Ushers: 8:00 July 2, 9, 16 Brad & Kayla Brunkow; Carol Meyer July 23, 30 Scott & Vicki Johnston; Pat Vickerman 9:30 July 2, 9, 16 Marsha Haugen; Paul & Jessica Nelson; Margaret Anderson July 23, 30 Rollie & Kay Kortlever; Otto & Phyllis Freier Greeters: July 2 8:00 Keith & Karen Nelson 9:30 Carol White July 9 8:00 Jerry & Jeanne Miller 9:30 Dennis & Arlyn Cin July 16 8:00 Sue Walker 9:30 Jim & Marge Jensen July 23 8:00 Darlene Lunemann 9:30 Mitch & Allison Loch July 30 8:00 Darlene Lunemann 9:30 Tami Miller Coffee Servers: Organists/Pianists: July 2 Otto & Phyllis Freier July 2 Gale Maxwell July 9 Dave & Lucie Battey; Brian & Pat Baustian July 9 Alli Prestby July 16 Keven & Beth Jansen; Ken & Heidi Ryan July 16 & 23 Emily Thomas July 23 Aaron & Brenda Thomson July 30 Lonnie Kriel July 30 Brad & Kayla Brunkow; Roger & Doris Thompson Nursery Workers: July 9, 23 Alex Anderson July 2, 16, 30 Karen Murphy 1 Megan Bristow Gavin Olson Wes Smith 2 Wyatt Cavers Ross Winger 3 Arlyn Cin Glen Haburn Bryson Scribner 4 Kara Gerdes Nick Heydt Rosemary O Brien 6 Wendy Watts 7 Desiree Galbraith 8 Cindy Perkins Shawn Reilly 9 Mark Pitcher 10 Amanda Ford Kaitlyn Gimbel Gail Tweet Shannon Vickerman 11 Jack Nelson 12 Carol Windels 13 Lowell Gess Griffin Heydt 14 Mark Jahnke 15 Chris Schuldt 16 KoleBert Feda Sue Rishavy 17 Sarah Swanson 18 Oran Goodell Chuck Holm Ken Ryan Maria Schlapkohl Nicolas Witt 19 Andy Vano 20 Brian Denke Spencer Olson 21 Jacob Balcome Marsha Campbell Pat Fearing Amelia Golde Aubrey Meyer 22 Brian Baustian Bob Olson 25 Rick Christensen 27 Don Baustian Katie DeGier Bruce Jordan Chloe Loch Bernie Van Zomeren 28 Betty Olson 29 Inez Okerlund Charlene Schroeder 30 Heidi Becker Arlue Beheng Jim Carpenter Michael Helgeson Samuel Helgeson DeeAnn Kraemer 31 Connie Gratias Karen Morgan

7 Adult Sunday School: The Adult Discipleship and Spiritual Formation Team will be meeting in July to select study options for the coming year. We recognize that each of us is at a different point in our spiritual journey; therefore, starting this fall, we will be offering two or three different studies during the Adult Sunday School hour. This is a trial basis in an effort to reach out to all members of our congregation. Our hope is that each and every study will help us to fulfill our vision To Grow and Live in the Spirit of Christ, to reach out to one another and to our community in love and understanding, and to fulfill our United Methodist Mission To Make Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World. If you have or know of a study or a subject you would like us to consider, please inform a member of the team on or before July 27 th. Team members include: Pastor Craig, Geri Zabrosky, Lori Mingus, Judy Florell, Paul Florell, Bernie Van Zomeren and Chuck Holm. The Missions / Social Concerns Team would like to thank those that helped assemble Health Kits on Wednesday evening, May 31st. Cheerful and willing hands were provided by Alea Balcome, Brynne Pass, Grace Evink, Caris Pass, Jacob Balcome, Aaron Thomson, Brenda Thomson, Zachary Thomson, Brad Brunkow, Kayla Brunkow, Nathan Brunkow, Mary Carpenter, Jack Carpenter, Arlana Langner, Julie Vincent and Ken Ryan. Thanks to them, 214 Health Kits were assembled and will be delivered to Annual Conference on June 20th. Thanks again to the crew of Arlana Langner, Lucie Battey, Kay Kortlever, Rollie Kortlever, Nancy Christiansen and Ron Reiber for the great job they did on the window cleaning on June 1st. Windows are clean, shiny and inviting. Thanks again for the great job.

8 July Parish Health News This month I would like to focus on some healthful living ideas that reduce our toxic chemical exposure as well as protect our environment and pocketbooks. It takes little time to make these products and is much more economical in the long run. I have made my own laundry detergent for several years and I use distilled vinegar in my cleaning products for the kitchen, windows, bath etc. I hope you find these tips helpful do-it-yourself ideas that you can incorporate into your daily living. We have over 84,000 new man-made created chemicals that we have been exposed to since 1976 with only 200 of them being tested by the EPA. Many are in the cosmetic industry which is not required to be regulated. Over 300 contaminants have been detected in cord blood of newborns. More and more people are experiencing adverse reproductive and developmental outcomes and cancers due to toxic environmental agents. We need to be made aware and to act to protect ourselves and our future generations. God has given us a great gift with this earth and all its possibilities but we are the stewards and are entrusted with its care. We are responsible for what we do. We may not be able to change the other guy but we can change what we do to affect the environment and our bodies. If we don t take the time to do that we won t have much time left at all. The antibacterial soaps, antibiotics and general germaphobia in this country is affecting our own microbiome (located in our gut) in a negative way. We are creating super bugs which are killing more hospitalized people every year. We have no natural immunity as we have empowered some bacteria to proliferate while attempting to kill others. Like all things on this earth BALANCE IS ESSENTIAL TO LIFE! We need the bacteria and viruses that are in and on our bodies as they protect us from imbalance which causes illness/infections. The relationship we have with our microbiome is symbiotic, meaning we need each other to exist. An unhealthy gut (microbiome) is the root cause of nearly all disease because it is the home of 80% of our immune system. There is an epidemic of autoimmunity in this country of over 300 diseases due to the toxins in our environment. To find cleaning products that have been tested and are rated for safety, go to They also have tested many cosmetics but not all. DIY recipes for products using common household food grade things for cleaning can be found at and among others. I have used some of these products primarily distilled vinegar and essential oils, washing or baking soda, borax for laundry and surface cleaning. I think trying the products and changing them slightly until you find what works for you is the best way to go. Essential oils are naturally antibacterial and a few drops can be added to your solutions to make them stronger. Our bodies react better to natural whole foods, clean filtered water (or reverse osmosis), natural cleaning products from shampoos to dish soaps. There is a better way and it is time we looked for it. Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul. 3 John 2 Judy Lightowler, MS, RN, CLM PN North Star District Parish Nurse (218) Cell/Text Nsdpn2015@gmail.com

9 July 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Mitch & Kali s Wedding Office Closed 5 6 1:00 CARE Team 7 8 Tara Gimbel Baby Shower 9 5:30 VBS :30 Brush & Pallet 9:30 Coffee Group 2:00 Prayer Group 6:30 Church Council 12 6:30 Worship Meeting 13 6:30 Education Team Meeting Pastor Craig on Vacation July :30 VBS 23 5:30 VBS 30 5:30 VBS :30 Brush & Pallet Pastor Craig on Vacation July :00 Prayer Group 5:30 Missions Team :30 Brush & Pallet 2:00 Prayer Group :30 Joy Circle :00 Adult Discipleship Pastor Craig on Vacation July Butterfly Hill Nature Preschool Midwest Play Workshop 28 29

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