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Volume 81, Issue 6 June 2013
From the Pastor:
Remember the visioning we did two years ago? How have we fared? What has been done? What did we have to let go of and where are we now?
2012 items that did not get addressed in 2012:
Replace boiler room roof
Investigate cost of replacing church roof
Replace steam traps on radiators
Install changeable outside sign
Re-do t-shirts
Partner with hospice, hospital, nursing home
Of these items, we still hope to replace the boiler room roof. (2013) We still hope to replace steam traps on radiators and re-do t-shirts. We've checked into a changeable outside sign, but it was cost prohibitive. We have not gotten an estimate on replacing the church roof and we have not explored a partnership with hospice, hospital and nursing home. That said, we do have folks who are involved in the hospice program and we do offer nursing home worship in a rotation with the ministerium.
2012 items that did get addressed:
Heating system redo
Made a decision on parsonage
Painted Church doors
Cleaned out Parish House Storage Area
Painted the steeple
Replaced metal valleys
Filed Articles of Incorporation
Filed and received 501 c 3 status with IRS
Began giving again to OCWM
Replaced Jan's computer (2013 goal)
Items not Envisioned which we addressed:
Set up commuter apartment (bathroom, carpet, paint,
windows) (2012)
Painted Parish House bathroom (2012)
Beginning to offer interpreted worship for the deaf
and hard of hearing (2013)
Bilingual ASL/English Vacation Bible School being
planned (2013)
Painted upstairs bathroom at church (2013)
Painted hallway in Parish House (2013)
Painted woodwork in Federation Room (2013)
Surveyed parking lot, reclaimed lot usage and
awarded bid to redo parking lot (2013)
Offered an outreach program by Project 515 on
marriage equality (2013)
Fifth Sunday "Help Keep Us Out of the Red" appeal
(2013).
Jan
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Vacation Bible School
July 29 through August 1 - 5 to 7 p.m.
in the Parish House
Camp-out August 2 at Lynn & Dick Cook's home
Vacation Bible School will begin with supper each evening at 5 p.m. Families are invited to join us for supper and group learning. We are trying a new design this year to incorporate our deaf and hard of hearing community and those who have recently joined us. We will have an opportunity to learn how to communicate with American Sign Language. The program will be taught in ASL the first evening and someone will interpret in voice. On the second evening, the program will be taught in voice and be interpreted in ASL. This format will continue on into the 3rd and 4th evening. Then on Friday, we will celebrate the conclusion of VBS with an overnight camp-out at the Cook's home. Registration forms will be available soon as well as sign-up sheets for helping with all the little details. Contact Jan if you have questions, comments, or suggestions.
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Free Wellness Screenings at the Congregational UCC
Thursday, June 20th, 7:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Call the church office to get on the schedule.
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Thank You to:
¨ Tina Madson for embroidered dish towels for the church kitchens. The stitching is wonderful!
¨ Those who gave to our Strengthen the Church offering. To date, we have received $111.00.
¨ Helen & Howard Sauer and Linda & Tom Gagnon for planting the flowers in the clay pots and urns on our church grounds!
And WOW to Deb Braun who received scholarships from Eastern Star, Armstrong-Voss (MN
Conference) and Make a Difference (UCC).
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The June 16 worship service will be interpretted
for the deaf and hard of hearing.
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Congregational UCC Garden Tour
July 21, 2013
Details are being worked out at this time but mark your calendar and save the date! If you would like to offer your garden for the tour, contact Jeanie Mortenson. Sign-up sheets will soon be posted for workers and donations of bars.
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Graduates:
Nathan Draper is graduating from the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf on June 6.
Zachary Klemer graduates from Faribault Senior High June 2. He plans to attend the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
Joseph Lindberg (grandson of Helen & Howard Sauer) graduates from Minnetonka High School on June 6. He is planning to attend Gustavus Adolphus College in the fall.
Congratulations! We will recognize our graduates on Sunday, June 16th, during worship.
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From the Moderator:
Change. Just saying the word can freak most people out, but if you look at all that has changed just in my simple life time, it really shouldn't.
I have seen so much change in my 46 years, it's unbelievable. Just in farming alone, the fall harvests with my Dad. My job was hauling corn from the field to home. I started out hauling a 100 bushel of ear corn in small gravity boxes, pulling them with an old DC Case, hand clutch, no cab. I wore a homemade knitted ski mask, coveralls, coat, gloves, over boots, and a Minnesota Vikings stocking cap. Getting in the wagon and kicking the corn out the door on the wagon, down a shoot, into the elevator, filling the corn cribs.
Today I sit in our trucks, hauling 600 bushel of shelled corn, wearing a tee-shirt, back up to an auger, hit a button, and dump it. It takes 10 minutes at the most, and then it's automatic from there; wet bin, into the drying system, grain bins, it just takes care of it.
Yes, change can be good for everyone. Our church is changing too (signing for the hearing impaired, Open and Affirming) and its being good for us as well. Change is bringing in new members, families, kids; our community is finding that we are very open, inviting, and just plain, good folks. This change is exciting, seeing our pews filling more and more each week.
This change has been possible because of all of you, so be proud of who we are, what we've done, and what we're still doing, and thank you everyone for not being scared of change!
Respectfully,
Tary
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Men's Group Breakfast & Gathering
Saturday, June 8
8:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Congregational Parish House
Breakfast begins at 8:30 a.m. followed with discussion on humility and arrogance. Which end of the spectrum do you find yourself? Joseph from the Old Testament is the featured model character. Bring something for breakfast if you wish but do not feel that you must to attend. All men are invited! Questions? Concerns? Contact Gary Kasten or Jim Callaway.
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Notes from the Cabinet meeting of April 16:
· The cabinet voted to pursue Member in Discernment status for Joyce Atkinson. Pastor Jan Bodin will be in an advisory and mentoring role for Joyce. The MN Conference will provide her with direction. If they agree, she is a Member in Discernment.
· The trustees have accepted a bid from LaCanne Paving to replace the church parking lot. It will be completely dug out and a new base installed.
· The church has received notice from the City of Faribault that 3rd Avenue between Division and 3rd Street is scheduled for improvement in 2013. The Trustees will schedule the parking lot replacement to be completed before the street project.
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Congo Sale
We are always collecting items for our annual summer Congo Sale in August. Clean, quality items may be dropped off during church office hours.
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Thoughts of Sympathy
We extend our sympathy to George Wickstrom Jr. on the death of his wife, Karen L. Johnson. Karen died May 20. A memorial service will be held Wednesday, May 29th, at 10:30 a.m. here at the Congregational Church.
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Donations to the Faribault Food Shelf
In April and May, 19 items and $10 was donated to the Food Shelf.
Thank you!
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Work Day - 2013
Our Church Work Day is set for Saturday, June 15, beginning at 8 a.m. We plan to be done by noon.
Projects that we will tackle:
· Paint some of the church exterior
· Move the roof membrane on to the boiler room roof (heavy work--need STRONG folks!)
· Edge sidewalk
· Fill some cracks/holes with caulking (bring a caulking gun)
· Plant beds in front of the Parish House
Contact Sandra Thomas or the church office if you can help.
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June Scripture and Sermons:
Sunday, June 2
Galatians 1:1-12; Luke 7:1-10
Sermon: People Pleasing
Sunday, June 9
1 Kings 17:8-16; Luke 7:11-17
Guest preacher
Sunday, June 16
1 Kings 21:1-10; Luke 7:36-8:3
Sermon: Thoughtful Righteousness
Sunday, June 23
1 Kings 19:1-15a; Luke 8:26-39
Sermon: In Discouragement...God
Sunday, June 30
2 Kings 2:1-14; Luke 9:51-62
Sermon: Elisha
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For the Birthday/Anniversary list and the Calendar of Events - check the church bulletin board.
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