JUne 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 / JUne 2018 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 3 THE UNITED CHURCH OF MAPLETON 9:30 am Sunday Worship Communion is held the 1st Sunday of each month 10:30 am Coffee & Fellowship Church Office Secretary Hours are Typically, Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday from 8:00 am Noon Special Offering for June America For Christ (ABC) / Strengthen the Church (UCC) Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 9:30 am Worship w/communion Loaves & Fishes collections 10:30 am Coffee Fellowship 1 Monthly Tue Wed Thu Fri 2 Sat Mission Jar Funds go to: Midwest Seminaries C.U.E. Breakfast in GT RECYCLE! MN Conference Breakfast in GT UCC Annual Meeting at St. Ben s (Fri.-Sun) Pastor Cindy out of office through June 12 Pastor Cindy on vacation / Pastor Cindy at Annual mtg. (UCC) :30 am Worship 10:30 am Coffee Fellowship Pastor Cindy at Annual mtg. (UCC) 11 3:30 pm Women s Fellowship 12 Breakfast in GT 10:30 am Bible Study RECYCLE! Father s Day 9:30 am Worship 10:30 am Coffee Fellowship 7:00 pm Council 24 9:30 am worship 10:30 am Coffee Fellowship Breakfast in Good Thunder Newsletter items are due Breakfast in Good Thunder 10:30 am Bible Study RECYCLE! 30 Pastor Cindy is generally in Mapleton Sunday Tuesday. Her typical office hours are from 10 am Noon Mondays and possibly Tuesdays.

3 1 When I became a dad I was not ready. What Does it Mean to be a Dad Today? I wasn t ready for the overwhelming feeling of love and protectiveness I would feel. I wasn't ready for the energy that my son would require of me. I wasn t ready for the constant demands my daughter would make on me. I wasn t ready for the uncertainty I would feel in their presence. I wasn t ready for the struggle to find balance in my life. I wasn t ready for the change of values in my life. I wasn t ready for the joy my daughter s smile would give me. I wasn t ready for the anxiety and fear I would have for each child s future. Being a father made me a better man. When my single friends ask me how it has changed my life, I tell them that is has been the most profound change since adolescence. Before my daughter was born I made a number of attempts to quit smoking, but once she arrived I put down the cigarettes for good. When my son was born I suddenly became connected to my father, and his father and all of the fathers that had gone before me. I felt that they were watching me, and would help me if I needed it. I would recall how my dad would have handled a situation with me and that told me how to raise my child. Some people look at fathers today as an unnecessary luxury for a child good if you have one, but in the final analysis optional. But, I ve seen how important I am to my son and my daughter. Each shares a bond with me that is different than what is shared with their mother. Some people say that a mother helps a child to survive while a father helps a child to succeed. What I see in our relationship, although continuous, is frequent change, As parents we connect our children to our past and to the world. Always, always, a dad is a partner in parenting each child DAUGHTER!!!! SON!!!! Sometimes fatherhood is a daily grind. But it is also a wordless prayer. A noble calling. A gift from God.

4 Search Committee is still a work in progress. Recently we had four interviews with candidates. Please continue to keep the Search Committee in your prayers during this journey. Search Committee Members: Karen Stanton- Chairperson, Gary Fritz, Kathy Cox, Louisa Belle Shuck, Jay DeLeon, Annalivia Bair & Carolyn Becker 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. Newsletter Submissions Please submit all items for the July newsletter into the church office no later than Tuesday, June 26, Thanks! 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 and how to reach her. To The United Church of Mapleton for your donation in the amount of $107 to Chicago, United, and Eden Seminaries! Graduate! Congratulations from the United Church are extended to Thomas Mason, grandson of Hugo and Pat John on his graduation from Maple River High School! Ministry Schedules & Coffee Hour Hosts June 3 Lay Reader: Linda Whitney Hospitality Team: Accompanist: Jola Walker Communion Set-Up & Serve: Ginny (intinction) Sound System: Dick Dietz Coffee Hour Host: June 10 Lay Reader: Ginny Kinzie Hospitality Team: Accompanist: Jola Walker Sound System: Dick Dietz Coffee Hour Host: Women s Fellowship June 17 Lay Reader: Louise Webb Hospitality Team: Accompanist: Ann DeWitz Sound System: Dick Dietz Power Point: Gary Fritz Coffee Hour Host: Youth Center June 24 Lay Reader: Pam Foster Hospitality Team: Accompanist: Kathy Byram Sound System: Dick Dietz Power Point: Kathy Cox Council Lanny & Kathy Coffee Hour Host: Garden & Grounds - (Pam) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Monthly Mission Jar Donations Midwest Seminaries C.U.E. Special Offering for June America For Christ (ABC) Strengthen the Church (UCC) 2

5 The 2018 Annual Meeting of the Minnesota Conference June 8-10 at the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota Friday through Sunday, Noon Our church is allowed 2 adult delegates & a young adult delegate (up to age 29) plus our Minister If you are interested in attending this meeting with Pastor Cindy, please be in contact with her. She has all the registration materials. I hope you will consider attending this important meeting as our delegate the meeting of our United Church of Christ congregations in the MN Conference. Mid-ABC Women's Conference June 22-23, 2018 First Baptist Church Fort Dodge, IA Guest Speaker - Rev. Soozi Whitten Ford Special Offering Received During June Strengthen the Church (UCC) and America for Christ (ABC) mission offering will be received during the month of June. This offering supports missions within the United States. The money received will be divided between our two denominations. The focus of the UCC offering is to support the expansion of ministry and revitalization of the UCC. Half of what we give to UCC will be used to support ministry in our own MN conference! The ABC offering is focusing on cultivating leaders, equipping disciples and healing communities. Your offering can be mailed to the church or put in the manila envelopes found in the pew racks at church. ~ Women s Fellowship ~ Monday, May 14, 3:30 President Louise W. called the meeting to order with eight women of the church participating. Devotions: A past, prayerful, Dear Abby piece was read: Just for today...only just for today. Mabelle L. led in prayer that expressed daily, sometimes overwhelming, human needs/ circumstances; and assurance of God s spirit guiding, moment by moment, building resilience through His power. Secretary Report: April minutes were read/ accepted. Treasurer Report: Checkbook balance was reported. Sunshine Report: Seven greeting cards were sent 2 get well, 3 birthday, and 2 thinking of you. Mission/Service: * Quilting continues most Tuesday afternoons, 1-3 pm at the church. All are welcome experienced, inexperienced, even single-time visitors. Following today s meeting, bandages (long strips of sheets sewn together) were rolled/tied to be sent for use in world mission/crisis settings an ongoing project. * Town and Country Days Silent Auction is Saturday, June 9. United Church work shifts are 9-10 am (Joyce J. and Linda W.) and 6-7 pm (Ruth C. and Need one more person). Church members are to bring items for the auction by June 6 to the church; they will be transported to the auction site for labeling and display. T & C receives 10% of proceeds from our items; the remaining proceeds are received by our church (or other designated recipient). Items remaining (with no bid) may be picked up, OR will be placed in groupings with other items for a second round of bidding. Discussion: *(of congregational concerns) support needs of the Maple River Youth Center; all -church December events (Parents Night Out, and Mapleton s holiday Snowflake Dazzle Parade). * WF monthly meeting time preferences. Coffee Hour Schedule: Sunday, June 10, hosted by WF (Circles II & III). Next Meeting Date: Monday, June 11 at 3:30 pm. Respectfully Submitted, Kathy Kunkel 3

6 4 Property Report The sump pump has been install at the parsonage. Hopefully our water problems will no longer be an issue. Right now there is only a temporary electric line to that pump. I have contacted Healy Electric to do a permanent hook-up with an alarm system. We also need to replace the sanitary lift pump at the parsonage. I will be contacting a plumber in the near future to have this work done. So far the sump pump that was installed last year at the church has taken care of the water issues there. Ireland Electric will be burying the electric line to the sign this week barring any rain. We will need to finish landscaping and seeding at both the church and parsonage once that line has been buried. School superintendent Anderson contacted me last week for a tour of the church building. I will report on this at the council meeting. Some people have come forward to plant the Garden of Eatin I will till that area on Monday 5/21. Respectfully Submitted, Dave Byram Assessment As Spring has finally arrived, the church is facing a $2,300 assessment for the parsonage and the church. Due to lack of cash flow, the Church Council is asking those of you who are able to send any remaining 2018 financial commitment early. Summer has arrived and with it giving tends to drop (and doesn t pick up until September). Which is why we are making this request. If there is any way you can be of assistance by contributing at this time vs. later in the year would be greatly appreciated. Thank you! Youth Center The Maple River Youth Center is hosting a hot sandwich and salad bar at the Mapleton Community Center on Monday, June 4 from 11:00 am. Free will offering. Town and Country Days Silent Auction Our church has been asked to contribute items for the Silent Auction for T&C Days on Saturday, June 9. Please bring your items to the church Fellowship Hall by Wednesday, June 6. Place a value on them and designate where you want your bid money to go: United Church, Youth Center or T&C Days fund. The T&C will get 10% to help with expenses on all items. Items can be handmade, unique theme baskets, antiques, small furniture and almost new items. In order for our church to receive the bid money, we need to fill 2, one hour shifts (2 person per shift). Our shifts are 9:00 10:00 am and 6:00 7:00 pm. I have the early shift filled and need 1 more person for the 6:00 7:00 pm shift. If you have any questions, please contact Joyce Johnson at Town and Country Days Quilt Show St. Teresa's Catholic Church Saturday, June 9th from 10am to 3pm and 5pm to 7pm. Bring your quilts to display (set up is 8am on Saturday) If you have any questions, contact Rita Caron T & C Days Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser All you can eat pancakes and sausage at Library Park Sunday, June 10th from 9 am to 1pm Sincerely, Your Church Council

7 Council Minutes April 22, 2018 Present: Pastor Cindy Mueller, Dick Dietz, Pam Foster, Dave Byram, Lanny Cox, Kathy Cox, Darlene Fezler, Linda Whitney, Cindy Alleven Guest: Kathy Kunkel Devotional by Darlene Fezler who will also do devotions next month 5 ITEM DISCUSSION ACTION/ASSIGNMENT Consent Agenda Secretary s Report Amendments Motion by Dave on the parking lot and lighting was to not go forward Change Cindy to Cindy A. to designate this as Cindy Alleven and not Pastor Cindy Delete sump pump cost Pastor s Report Taking 2 weeks vacation May 25-June 7 Starting May 25 th Cindy is taking the last week of vacation due to her from 2017 contract The 2 nd wk of vacation is the first of six weeks of vacation under her 2018 contract Property Report Community Outreach Report No CE/FF or CRC report Water damage to parsonage Darlene asked the Council about sponsoring a student in the Graduation Tabloid this year at a cost of $45 per graduate. It was agreed that we pay for this for any Seniors from our congregation plus Tommy Mason who is living with his grandparents who are members Discussion regarding what our support for the Youth Center goes toward. Pastor Cindy will confirm with Sheila if we have any members who are graduating, other than Thomas Mason. Darlene will ask Ceal Caldwell to give an update of the Maple River Youth Center to the Community Outreach Committee. Darlene will give the Council a report at the June meeting. Then, the Council will review the annual $3000 donation at the May Council mtg. MSP (moved Dave, Darlene passed) to accept the consent agenda

8 New Business Treasurer s Report Set Cost of Nonmember use of Fellowship Hall/ Kitchen Corrections: Void Check #16326 to Ireland, must come out of the Capital Improvement Account Subtract CCLI amount of $129 from Guitar Fund Subtract Dietz Foods amount of $58.05 from Women s Fellowship The main church checking account has not been reconciled since 12/31/17. It is critical that this be done every month. Reminder: Typical monthly bills (like utilities) that are budgeted for are to be paid immediately. They do not need to be brought to the Council for approval (thus no need to list them in the highlighted area of Pam s report). Dedicated Funds Total and Special Account Total under the Financial Status of Church need to be negative amounts since that money is only there on paper. We have borrowed this money to pay bills and will replace the funds when revenue improves. Pam brought to the attention of the Council the tax assessment due May 15. With the current checking account balance, this is a major concern. Quarterly statements have not been given out yet. Women s Fellowship has at least one person who monitors the kitchen during all events utilizing the kitchen. Discussion regarding children running all over the building during non-member events. MSP; Darlene, Dave passed - to accept the treasurer s report with noted corrections. Pam will reconcile both checking accounts by the May meeting. Pastor Cindy will ask the congregation to pay pledges early if at all possible. Pam will give Kathy information for the Quarterly Giving Statements so that they can be mailed. MSP; Darlene, Lanny passed - to accept the cost of nonmember use of Fellowship Hall/Kitchen as follows: $100 deposit (returned if no damage) and $200 rental Pastor Cindy will talk to Sheila about getting ropes to put across the steps as a warning of no entrance Property Dave discussed the water damage to the parsonage. MSP; Darlene, Lanny passed - to authorize Dave to add a sump pump and replace the sanitary lift pump using funds from the Capital Improvement account.

9 Signature for safety deposit box Building Key Audit Update on Building Use Ad Hoc Committee Currently, only one key is available for the safety deposit box, so it will be kept in the office. Went through list of who has keys. Deleted Kathy Byram as having a key. Pastor Cindy and Dick Dietz invited 14 people to the meeting and 7 came. Discussed ideas of elder care, day care, and performances. Some ideas are not feasible because of the cost of bringing the building up to building codes for different functions. Pastor Cindy and Dick communicated we are looking to lease / sell with the idea that we could lease the building for our worship needs. MSP; Lanny, Darlene passed - to remove Mike Johnson and Hugo John as signatories on the United Church of Mapleton s safety deposit box and replace them with Dave Byram, Dick Dietz, and Pam Foster as signatories. Cindy A. will get a key back from Keith McCutchen and give it to Linda Whitney. Old Business Audit 2017 Still no 2017 audit conducted Cindy will call Keith to set up a date for the audit or proceed without him. Personnel Committee report of cleaning person medical leave Adjourn The cleaning person asked for a one-month medical leave. Pat Carter, per sonnel chairperson, will have Alysa sign a medical leave form stating the date she will leave and the date she will return. MP; Darlene passed - to adjourn the meeting Next Church Council Meeting: Sunday, June 17 at 7:00 pm Respectfully submitted, Cindy Alleven, Clerk