Announcements
Mark Your Calendars!
REUNION SUNDAY!!!!!
On September 13th, we will have brunch in our basement fellowship hall following worship. Please make a gigantic effort to come to this ReUnion Sunday. If you have ideas about what might be served or want to volunteer in some way, please let Jan or Deb know.
WOW! THE TWIN CITIES STRING QUARTET WILL PERFORM AT UNION
On Sunday, September 27th , at 3:00 pm, Union will be treated to a great concert by four extremely talented string players: cello, viola and violins! You won’t want to miss this free concert.
Reflection on Recent Book Study & Owámniyomni Okhódayapi Tour
With our most recent book study, Is a River Alive?, on our minds, we had a great tour of Owámniyomni Okhódayapi (St Anthony Falls Restoration) with Barry Hand, who coincidentally is a close relative of Michael B’s. Here are some comments from
some of the twenty folks who attended:
- I thought it was great. Barry was a great speaker. I really enjoyed learning about how Native Americans view the earth and its inhabitants: all four-legged related, as well as two-leggeds, fish, insects, etc., and that humans are related to all of them. Also I love that they believe in one Creator of all. I think it was a wonderful way to express our reverence. Maybe we could use “Creator” in the Lord’s Prayer. It is also gender neutral. Barry mentioned the project would be completed in two years. I would like to return in a year and see how far along they are.
- I keep hearing in my mind, Barry’s quote: we are not a land of immigrants. We are a land WITH immigrants. There were many more who were part of this land before Western Europeans arrived.
- Kinship with all creation and acting accordingly has become important to me personally.
The restoration of the Sacred Space, the honoring of the Earth, and being in dialogue with nature is exemplified by Owamniyomni. For all of our relations, Tatanka. - I was shocked and appalled that so many injustices are still being inflicted on Native
Americans in the recent past. - We are all related.
- When we enter the river, we have to ask for permission….
- Relationship to all living things, perspectives of cultural connections, spiritual connections and relationships, respect for everything of nature, differences: Western view: relationships to me; Native American view: relationships to we.
- It was a wow! experience for me. Imagine all the ways our dominant culture got it wrong. They have a complete, comprehensive world view. It is different in many ways from our Western European view, in some ways, perhaps a better view. If only we had taken time to learn and appreciate the people we met when we colonized North America. How different history might have been for both cultures.
- We pray with the river, with the sun…. We pray to the Creator.
Helix Benefit Concert Success!
Ann Reed was a remarkable performer: funny, musical, talented, charming, humble. Her haikus, her banter, her clever lyrics and her rich voice were a treat beyond measure. We had a great crowd come to hear her and raised over $4400 in donations which we passed on to STEP. You may have even seen us in the local news!
Thank You Summer Musicians
This summer would not have been possible without all the amazing contributions from the musicians who so graciously gave their talents and time to fill our sanctuary with joy. Thank you!
Next Executive Council Meeting
The next Executive council will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 16th @ 1:00pm. We will meet in the Conference Room at Union. Everyone is invited to come. If there is anything you would like to add to the meeting agenda for the Council to address, please let Randy know.
Leadership Teams
In an effort to let everyone have a say about what is happening at the church, leadership teams have been established. The next teams will meet on Saturday, September 19th at 10:00 am. These teams will address issues and concerns and make decisions about items that need to be taken care of at Union. Decisions that need final approval by the Executive Council, will be discusses and recommendation will be sent to the council. Everyone will be able to attend at least one Leadership meeting. There is a list of groups in the Narthex with dates and times of the meetings. Thank you in advance for your participation. If you are not assigned to a group, but wish to have input concerning an agenda item, you are welcome to attend. Your input is valued and essential for the health of the church and the plans for our church’s ministries. We are a congregation based church. You make this church work.
Choir
Our choir is about to begin practicing in September! All are welcome.
Schedule below shows rehearsal data/service date for performances.
All Wednesday/Thursday rehearsals are 7-8pm. Sunday 9:30 rehearsal, 10am service. Christmas Eve time TBD
- September (Thursday) 24th/27th
- October 21st/25th
- November 18th/22nd
- December 16th/23rd/24th
- January 20th/24th
- February 17th/21st
- March 24th/28th
- April 21st/25th
- May (Thursday) 20th/23rd
STEP Donations
When We Eat, They Eat! Please remember to bring something for the Food Shelf whenever we have holy communion. If you cannot or just forget to bring a food item, cash donations are welcome. We will bless the food shelf items along with our morning offerings.
Memorial Blood Centers Bloodmobile Success!
Thank you to the 26 donors who participated in the blood drive on June 20th, to the wonderful staff of the Memorial Blood Center and to the community for its support. SAVE THE DATE: next year’s blood drive will be on Saturday, July 17th, 2027.
There is an urgent need for blood and Minnesota is now in a blood emergency. If you weren’t able to join us (or even if you were), please consider signing up to donate blood with www.mbc.org .
Book Sale for Shadrach Furnace Fund
Our pop-up book sale raised over $200 for the Shadrach Furnace Fund, which is growing incrementally. The books that did not sell went to Magers and Quinn, wherewe will receive a credit for our next book study. Thank you, everyone!