|
Volume 80, Issue 2 __February 2012
From the Minister:
They walked in looking for help. Kathy saw the three women through her office window. I was sitting behind Kathy's closed door. "I think someone is looking for help," Kathy said. I got up from my chair, opened the door and greeted the women. They were looking for St. Vincent DePaul's. I handed them a small piece of paper on which were printed locations, times, days, and phone numbers for various support services in Faribault. They thanked me and left.
I was thinking about the three and the story of the three strangers that visited Abraham and Sarah. Their purpose was to announce that God's promise to Abraham and Sarah would be fulfilled. They would have a child even though they were well beyond child-bearing years. What if the three women were sent to us to awaken our sensibilities? What might their lessons to us be?
Their appearance showed poverty. Their clothes and shoes were worn. Their hair was limp. They reeked of cigarettes and of neediness. They looked like life had chewed them up and spit them out. I felt badly for their struggles, but they were happy to have a plan for where they could get assistance. When they left, I went back into my office.
Then, from the perch of my desk, I looked across the street at our church building. It is looking pretty beat up. The steeple and trim need painting. The windows in the basement of the church are rotting. The roof is holding up but showing signs of its age. The paint on the doors is pealing.
What about the inside of our church? The carpet in the sanctuary looks terrible and is worrisome to all who have concerns about people's safety and the difficult combination of walkers, canes and carpet wrinkles. Our pew cushions are showing a lot of wear. Our organ is badly in need of repairs.
What is our presence saying to the people of Faribault? Do we look needy? Because if we look needy, there is very little that will attract new comers to our faith community. No one wants to be overwhelmed. No one wants to be the answer to every need.
Going in and out of my office, I pass a picture of Kate Remley on my bookcase. Each time I gaze on her picture, I hear the conversation I had with her two days before she died. I hear myself say, "I'm not leaving. I'm going to be here." Her look pierced me through as if imprinting the conversation in my heart and head. "You better be telling the truth," she seemed to say. "You better remember this promise," she seemed to insist.
But this church is not me. It is a we. It means that we must rely on one another. Let us accept our response-abilities and ask God for the vision and the strength to be faithful to our work. We have much to do - together
Jan Bodin, Pastor
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Call to Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting of the Congregational Church of Faribault, United Church of Christ, will be held Sunday, February 12, immediately following worship. We will review the 2011 Annual Reports. All members are asked to attend this meeting. Annual Reports will be available by February 5th so that you will have time to review them prior to the meeting.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
2012 Church Directory
The directory is now available. Copies are available in church or in the church office. Please pick up a copy.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Lenten Supper, Study and Prayers
Lent begins February 22 with an Ash Wednesday worship at 7:00 p.m. in our church sanctuary. On the following Wednesdays, we will gather to discuss This Odd and Wondrous Calling, a book by Lillian Daniel and Martin Copenhaver. Following our book discussion, we will follow an order of vespers.
Daniel and Copenhaver's book is an interesting and easy read about two pastors who are reflecting on ministry. Our discussion follows on the heels of Deb Braun's sharing of her spiritual autobiography and integrative music. What does it mean to be called to ministry? How are our callings different? What do you see yourself as called to?
This book promises to be a great congregational journey for Lent. If you can't come to Wednesdays, we hope you will read along anyway. Our congregation, gathered and scattered, might unite in thoughtful reflections this Lenten season. (Oh, the book is available for Kindle if you are interested.)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Bells, Bottles and Boomwhackers
We meet in the Federation Room on Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m. for a light supper: soup and sandwiches. Then, the bells are passed out and the music making begins. We have twenty bells, each brightly colored. If you read music, you can sometimes find your "notes" on the music printed on the newsprint; but if you don't read music, you can find your "colors" and ring when your colors appear. It's easy. It's fun.
If we have enough people, we'll add the bottles and boomwhackers. It doesn't take much effort to play these things so even people who have some arthritis can still join us. The boomwhackers say that anyone from age three to a hundred can play them. That's nearly everybody at the Congo. The boomwhackers are plastic tubes that you whack for a sound. If you haven't tried coming to bells, bottles and boomwhackers, you might want to give it a try. We're going to continue to ring
through Wednesday, February 15th.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Sunday School Format Changes
Sunday School is on the move to a new look! We are calling it Second Sundays because, you've guessed it...we meet the second Sunday of the month!
We will gather for breakfast at 8:30 a.m. in the Federation Room of the Parish House and then after clean up, will break for music, crafts, stories, and much more! It will be a family camp so children of all ages can attend with their family. All families are encouraged to attend.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Sunday Evening Communion Begins
On Sunday at 5:00 p.m., beginning on February 19th, we will begin a weekly Sunday Evening Gathering in the Federation Room of the Parish House. A light supper will be served from 5:00 to 5:30 p.m. Following supper, we will sing and pray and share communion in candlelight and informality. Guitars will accompany us.
If you are unable to make it to Sunday morning worship, you may want to come to the Federation Room on Sunday nights. Children are welcome as well. Invite your friends and neighbors to join us.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Coffee Concerts
Join us for:
Concordia Triow February 12
Classical music with a touch of jazz
Larry Gavin w February 26
Poet
Barb Piper w March 11
Folk music
Trio Dolce w March 18
Classical music
Cost: $20.00 for four concerts
Individual tickets at the door: $10.00
7:00 p.m.
Congregational Church Parish House
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Thank You to ...
¨ Sandra Thomas for dusting the church while Ron Carpenter tended to boiler repairs.
¨ Those who donated tools for the custodian's tool closet.
¨ Those who phoned the congregation with a special invitation to "In the Black Sunday"--Cheryl Morris, Jeanie Mortenson, Diane Larson, Jane Ketterling, and Jan Bodin.
¨ To Deb Braun for preaching and leading worship on January 8th while Jan was away.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Save the Date!
On April 15th we are excited to have Kurt and Kathy Hunter here to assist with worship and then lead a puppeteer workshop in the afternoon. The Hunters are fantastic and the marionettes are very talented.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
From the Moderator
Friends,
Well, 2011 has come and gone, and the books are officially closed. I am just going to throw a few numbers out, so you can see what you all accomplished. First off, we ended the year in the black, $3,695.54. Not only were we able to cover all our expenses, we also raised an additional $10,765 towards the Parish House Grant Program, and $11,610 to finish matching the $25,000 for our lift project. Well done and congratulations to you all!
Now, you all need to know what the Church Boards are focusing on for 2012. Vision. We are all looking to the future, trying to figure out what needs to be done, where we want to be, and how we're going to get there (say a five year plan). An example would be: the Trustee's are looking at maintenance type items, carpet, the organ, heat, and so on. I encourage all of you to pass on any ideas you have on this topic to any Church Board member.
Thank you everyone.
Respectfully,
Tary Draper
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Newsletter Article Due
The deadline to submit items for the March 2012 newsletter is Friday, February 17.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Thank You!
Thank you to the anonymous donor for the Barnes & Noble gift cards to help me with my text books and for many other kindnesses!
Deb Braun
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Quilts Needed
The Spiritual Care Department at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis is seeking churches to partner with them in providing "Comfort Quilts" to patients who are in the process of dying at the hospital. Because HCMC is a Level One Trauma Center as well as Minnesota's "safety net" hospital, often serving a very vulnerable population, the Chaplains encounter many situations in which a comfort quilt can humanize and bless the dying process for the more than 400 patients who die at HCMC each year. Providing the quilts is a tangible sign of the love and hospitality of God which knows no boundaries. Their need is for twin bed-sized quilts, especially of the "tie-quilt" variety. They are looking for ones designed tastefully; neutral colors are always good. If you are interested in beginning this ministry of compassionate care, please contact our church office (334-5910) or Chaplain David Hottinger at 612-873-9159 or through his email david.hottinger@hcmed.org.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Scripture & Worship for February 2012:
Sunday, February 5
I Corinthians 9:16-23; Mark 1:29-39
Sermon: Obligated
Sunday, February 12
I Corinthians 9:24-27; Mark 1:40-45
Sermon: Blabbermouth!
Sunday, February 19
2 Corinthians 4:3-6; Mark 9:2-9
Sermon: Silly Disciples
Ash Wednesday, February 22
Genesis 18:22-27; Job 42:1-6;
Matthew 11:20-22
Sermon: Dust and Ashes
Sunday, February 26
Gensis 9:8-17; Mark 8:31-33
Sermon: Here We Go Again
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
In Our Thoughts & Prayers
Helen Sauer's sister, Barbara, died December 29, 2011. We extend our sympathy to Helen and her family.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Notes from the January 17, Cabinet Meeting
¨ Memorial Board has learned of some possible grant funds that may be available. These Legacy Grant Funds can be applied for by a building on the National Register along with bids for exterior repairs. The Cabinet approved a request from the Memorial Board to hire Ron Dwyer to request bids for repair of the church steeple, roof, tuck pointing, trim, lower level church windows, and some chapel windows.
¨ Ron Carpenter has purchased a pizza oven for the church. It is available in the Parish House kitchen.
¨ Watch for more information on: a) Four Coffee Concerts are scheduled for February and March 2012, and b) Pastor Jan will be scheduling weekly Sunday evening worship gatherings beginning February 19, 2012, in the Parish House Federation Room.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Birthdays this month - see the poster
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Church Event Calendar is posted on the Church bulletin board.
| 
You Are Welcome...
