Announcements
August Highlights
Guest Preachers - Benefit Concert - Lake Harriet Worship
Aug. 13th: Group tour of Owámniyomni Okhódayapi from 11am-noon. Read more below.
A Special Learning Opportunity:
A Union group tour of Owámniyomni Okhódayapi Thursday, August 13, 2026 11am-noon
Who are our rivers? This question has been on our hearts and minds this summer as we’ve been reading and talking our way through Robert Macfarlane’s book Is A River Alive? It flows nicely as a counterpart to Sarah Augustine’s The Land is Not Empty, which we read together last fall. We are trying to take their messages, our land acknowledgement statement, and our commitment to care for creation seriously. As we continue to learn from our indigenous relatives here at home and around the world, we have this exciting opportunity this summer!
We are thrilled to participate in a tour of the Owámniyomni Okhódayapi restoration project of the Owámniyomni, or “turbulent waters,” area (St. Anthony Falls) on the Ȟaȟa Wakpá (Mississippi). We’ll be led by indigenous leaders who are shepherding this multi-year, multi-phase reclaiming of the river – one of our oldest living relatives!
The tour is free, and there is still room to join. (We RSVP’d for up to 30 people total). Sign up at church, or talk with Jan or Deb. For more information, visit owamniyomni.org.
Memorial Blood Centers Bloodmobile Success!
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 .
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, July 18th at 10:30 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.
Book Study
This summer we will study Robert Macfarlane’s book, Is a River Alive?. The books will again be provided for free from a generous anonymous donor. The donor suggests that, if you are so moved, perhaps you could make a thank you gift for receiving the free books since we began holding book studies in September. You might consider the Shadrach Fund for our furnaces or the General Fund.
Here is the schedule for discussions:
6/17 & 6/20 : Prologue & Intro
6/24 & 6/27: Pages 32-73
7/1: Pages 73-114
7/8 & 7/11: Pages 115-154
7/15 & 7/18: Pages 154 – 192
7/22 & 7/25: Pages 193-227
7/29 & 8/1: Pages 227-261
8/5 & 8/8: Pages 261 – End
Book Sale for Shadrach Furnace Fund
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.