More...LOTS MORE!!
Updated 11/08/2009
Opportunities
ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR OUR MEMBERS AND FRIENDS
Thank you for the School Tools!
In 2009, 38 congregations and community groups collected an estimated $25,000 in supplies! These supplies should serve nearly 1,000 children.
Building evacuation plans are posted near exits. Be prepared - take a look at them! Trustees are also looking for a few "fire marshals" who are willing to help with evacuation drills and the real thing!
Welcoming the Stranger: the Church’s Response to Immigration
Potential New Members
If you would like information about becoming a member, please contact Beth Donaldson through the church office.
Stumbling Blocks to Stepping Stones, A Conference for Women
Antiracism Study Dialogue Circles (R)
Saturdays, September 10 to December 12 and Tuesday, November 10 at Cherokee Park UCC. Cost is $150, which includes meals and all resources. To register, call 651-227-4275 or cpuc@usfamily.net
Recycling
The white plastic bowls that come in the altar flowers - return them to church so they can be recycled to Pletscher's Greenhouse.
DID YOU KNOW...
The first, second, and third graders are assembling shoe boxes of toys, school supplies, and hygiene items for Operation Christmas Child. For more information, see the flyers on the back table.
FUN
20- and 30-Somethings!
For 20- and 30-something UCCers! Common Roots Cafe, Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. to approx. 9:00 p.m. (OK to arrive late); sometimes there's a social activity afterwards. Talk to A. White or M. White at UCCNB, or call Amy Wick Moore at 651 645-3765 for more info.
GIVING OPPORTUNITIES
Your fruit harvest
If you have a fruit tree that produces more than you can eat, donate that fruit to the Minnesota Project's fruit gleaning iniative. They will harvest the fruit and deliver it to local food shelves. For more information, call Ben at 651-789-3320 or send an email to localfoods@mnproject.org.
CEAP (Community Emergency Action Program)
This program helps people with emergency needs in our community - needs such as gas vouchers to drive to work, dealing with utility turn-offs, purchasing medicine, getting clothing or shoes required for work, and avoiding eviction. Local pastors regularly direct people to CEAP for help. Your donations are appreciated. "Churches are the foundation of CEAP and CEAP is the vision of the church." Your donation also helps purchase household items that are needed, such as toothpaste, diapers, and razors.
CEAP has been serving the Twin Cities community since 1970. The majority of families who seek help from CEAP are experiencing a temporary setback such as job loss, illness, an unexpected and costly car repair, or a family crisis. In April, CEAP gave 70,000 pounds of food to 1,100 families.
Habitat for Humanity ReStore
Looking for gently-used appliances, furniture, cabinets, sinks, tubs, toilets, windows, doors, and miscellaneous building materials. 510 County Rd. D West in New Brighton
Support for local schools is being coordinated by the Christian Education Committee; Box Tops for Education from General Mills and Betty Crocker products (these boxtops expire, so get them in before then), Campbell soup labels (with UPC code) and Kemps milk caps can be dropped off in the collection box in the lower hallway. Collection bags for your home are available; CE committee will distribute to various local schools.
Local Food Shelf
The Ralph Reeder Food Shelf (now located in the Pike Lake School building) needs donations of food and money. The need is great, especially with current unemployment. Special needs: dry kidney beans, stewed tomatoes, black-eyed peas, corn tortillas, canned salmon, corn meal, milo, fish sauce, green tea bags, and pickled ginger. Please bring non-perishable foods or write a check to UCCNB with the memo "Local Food Shelf".
COLLECTING:
Bring contributions to the white cabinet downstairs.
Alexandra House provides shelter and support for abused women and their children. Cell phones and diapers (large size), baby wipes, household cleaning products, unopened paper products, and new clean socks and slippers are needed.
Loaves & Fishes Small toiletries for personal care kits; small toys or games for kids.
Ralph Reeder Food Shelf Non-perishable food.
SPECIAL FUND RAISING
Share the Bounty!!
Extra books? Crafts? Garage sale stuff?
Each Sunday, bring items that you would like to donate and sell to a table in the Fellowship Hall. Items will be on sale for a half hour after the church service ends.
Basics:
You (the donor) set the price for the item.
You are responsible for watching the table.
If your item does not sell, you must take it home.
Special Fund Raising Booklet - SIGN UP NOW!!
Sign-up sheet in the August Direction or get one from the church office
Members sign up for activities for which they are willing to volunteer. This information is put in a booklet that is available to members. When members need a service, they can get in touch with those who volunteered for that particular service, such as rides to appointments, yard work, pet care, etc. Instead of paying the volunteer for the service, you pay the church an amount that you feel is fair. Sign up your talent now for the next booklet.
Fair Trade Coffee - updates
The opportunity to purchase high quality, delicious, environmentally-friendly, and ethically-traded coffee, described as "an Alternative Approach to Coffee, Based on the Belief That Coffee Should Reward your Taste Buds While Respecting Coffee Farmers and the Environment" (Peace Coffee Cooperative in Minneapolis).
This coffee is fair traded, and shade- and organically-grown. Order peace coffee during Fellowship Time. Prices:
Whole beans - regular $11.00 and decaf $12.00
Ground coffee - regular $12.00 and decaf $13.00
Tea and chocolate now available!
Special note: Studies have shown that coffee contains antioxidents - even more than red wine! And it's also good for diabetics to drink. Doesn't matter if it's regular or decaf either!
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
BREAD pickup on Saturdays and delivery of extras on Sundays
If you want to help, please call the church office. Pick-up is on beautiful GRAND Ave. (near Lexington) in St. Paul. Left-overs on Sunday can be taken to Mary's Place and Sharing and Caring Hands, or the Union Gospel Mission in St. Paul.
Wednesday Community Night is looking for volunteers:
Do you have a talent or hobby that you're willing to share?
Maybe you'd like to work in our new kitchen?
Or drive the child care workers back and forth from Northwestern College.
Let Beth know.
American Cancer Society is looking for drivers to take cancer patients to their treatments. Call 651-255-8161.
American Red Cross is looking for volunteers as Volunteer Drivers and Blood Services Volunteers. For more info please call 651-291-6707.
Guild Incorporated, a non-profit that works with people with mental illness, is looking for volunteers who would be willing to do a variety of things from being a friend to driving. If interested, see Beth.
Maintenance Requests
The Trustees Board wants your input when you see a maintenance need or if you have an idea on how to improve the facility. In order to communicate the maintenance need or problem to the person most appropriate to handle the need, the Trustees created the Facility Maintenance Request form, available in the church office.
WHITE CABINETS DOWNSTAIRS in lower entryway are for various donations. If this is inconvenient, put items in Fireside Room (clearly marked).
SAMPLE-SIZE TOILETRIES are needed for Loaves & Fishes.
Items Available
Copies of our 2008-2009 Annual Reports.
2008 Annual Report of the Minnesota Council of Churches
Issues of COMMAntary, the newsletter from the Minnesota Conference, will no longer be printed unless specifically requested. The newsletter is available online at www.uccmn.org.
The July/August/September issue of These Days (regular and over-sized text)
Various CareNotes.
Beth Donaldson’s sermons:
When Power and Passion Meet (July 12, 2009)
Competing Conceptions (July 5, 2009)
The Investment That Expands (June 14, 2009)
Letting the Spirit Move Us (May 31, 2009)
Following the Shepherd's Lead (May 3, 2009)
Note: Other sermons are available in our Sermon Archive, on this website.
