Month: November 2019

Sunday, Dec. 1: We welcome the season of Advent, and share in the sacrament of Holy Communion.

Note: In the event of poor weather, we’ll post church cancellation on our Facebook page and call those that do not have internet. Also, Pastor Paul will be here to answer phone calls and to welcome any brave souls.

Monday, Dec. 2: Bible Study, 6 pm: Each week we lift up a passage from this week’s lectionary and let our hearts, minds, and faith take a journey from those words. We’d love to have you join us!

Tuesday, Dec. 3:  AA meets in Fellowship Hall, 7 pm

Wednesday, Dec. 4:

**Women’s Fellowship meets at 1:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall. All women are welcome to attend.

**Grill’s On Community Potluck, 5-7 pm: As always, bring what you can, or just bring yourself! There is always enough.

**Choir Practice: 6 pm: Note: The choir will be practicing every Wednesday through Advent.

Thursday, Dec. 5: AA meets in Fellowship Hall, 7 pm

Saturday, Dec. 7: Spruce up the Sanctuary and trim the tree! We will be putting up the Christmas tree and decorating the Sanctuary, starting at 9:00 am. Anyone who wants to help is invited to attend. If you have a vacuum cleaner that is easy to transport please bring it as this is also a good time to vacuum the upstairs of the church. Call Mike or Marna Fasteland if you have questions (384-9872).

Looking Ahead

Readers wanted: We are looking for readers for Advent Candle lighting and Christmas Eve scripture. If you are interested please contact the office or Pastor Paul.

Blanket Drive: There is a box in the Narthex welcoming new or gently used blankets for the Carlton County Crisis Shelter.

The Mitten Tree is up in the Narthex. Let’s bring mittens/gloves, hats, scarves, socks to decorate the tree. Items go to Stowe School for the children.

Other Ministries and Events

**Thursday, Dec. 12: Cookie baking, 9 am. All are invited to come help bake and decorate Christmas cookies.

**Saturday, Dec. 14:  Bill Bastian & the Highland Quartet, 1:30 pm. Free of charge. Bake sale to support the church. Cookies & coffee in Fellowship Hall after the concert.

From Pastor Paul: Toward Sunday

“Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.” ~ Matthew 24:42    (Insert crabby tantrum-infused voice here) “I tell ya, the commercials these days! All their bright and flashy noise. The busy voices shouting ‘this’ and ‘that’ and ‘look how happy you could be’ if you only bought whatever newfangled thing is out there! You know what I do? I take the blanket on my lap and put it over my head! Too much!”    (Now resume calm and thoughtful voice here) I’m not the only one, I know. I mean, I’m trying my best to embrace the season, but all of that noise and flash just doesn’t feel like the sort of season I want to embrace. I’m loud and scatter-brained enough, after all. I like my fun, but here in the dark season, I embrace a more thoughtful temperament.    So here’s what I’m thinking: when Jesus says “stay awake,” what he’s really saying to us, here and now, is “do not be distracted.” I’m thinking it’s our good and holy work to get past the noise and flash of the season and hear the heartbeat of our faith. That beautiful child. That gift from God. That love and that welcome, attention and care. Jesus, the Christ, here and now.    I’m thinking the presence of Christ can be a still, small voice in the midst of the ranting and raving. I’m thinking the light in the darkness is the calm and the peace that arrive when I put the blanket over my head, tune out the flash and the noise, and remember what really matters.

Let’s talk!

Pastor Paul

Saturday, Nov. 23:  Fall Bazaar, Bake Sale & Lunch, 9am-1pm Also, 1 pm: Open House at Thunderbird House Contact Pastor Paul if interested in attending.

Sunday, Nov. 24: We close out the season of Pentecost with Reign of Christ Sunday, and lift up our thanksgiving for God’s abundance in our lives. The UP Choir will be singing!Sunday Evening: In honor of his family visiting, Pastor Paul has reserved a few tables at Old Chicago Pizza from 5-7 pm. Come join us!  NOTE: Some folk will be walking over to Bentleyville that eve, and you’re welcome to join!

Monday, Nov. 25: There will be NO Bible Study this evening, as Pastor Paul will be out of town.

Tuesday, Nov. 26:**Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service, 7 pm, Bethany Community Church. Local churches are gathering together to give thanks. Pastor Paul has a part in the service. Proceeds from offering are going to the Salvation Army. NOTE: There is a “pick-up choir” from all the churches gathering at 6 pm to practice. You are invited! No experience necessary!**Also, AA meets in Fellowship Hall, 7 pm

Wednesday, Nov. 27: There will be NO community potluck or choir practice as people are traveling for Thanksgiving. NOTE: If you are in need of assistance for Thanksgiving, please contact Pastor Paul.

Thursday, Nov. 28: AA meets in Fellowship Hall, 7 pm

Other Ministries and Events

**Thursday, Dec. 12: Cookie baking, 9 am. All are invited to come help bake & decorate Christmas cookies. More details coming.

**Saturday, Dec. 14: Bill Bastian & the Highland Quartet, 1:30 pm. Free of charge! Cookies & coffee in Fellowship Hall after concert. Bake sale to support the church.

From Pastor Paul: Toward Sunday“He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son…”  ~Colossians 1:13    I smell the turkey…I see the steam rising from the mashed potatoes as they are stirred…I look closely at the stuffing to see what new alternatives were added for embellishment this year. (Giblets? Hope not!)…Thanksgiving is a feast of abundance in my world.    I’m lucky. I’m privileged. Just as I’m privileged to ask “what do you want for dinner?” any day of the week and (by and large) have the resources to accommodate my hankerin’ for the eve. I’m also blessed with family and friends. And while I’m at it, I’m still blessed with a metabolism that permits me to eat until full, or over-full, without hesitation.    Lucky boy, that one.    So, how do I say thank you? I acknowledge my fortune. I remember the times when the table was not spread so wide with abundance, nor the seats filled with loved ones. I remember that all of these good things I have here and now are by the grace of God, but also remember that there are systems in place in our world that create, and often keep separate, the “haves” from the “have nots.|    That’s where Jesus comes in. See, living (as I believe I presently do) in “the kingdom of His beloved Son” (to quote the letter above), I try to imagine my life as a walk with Jesus. I tend to walk a bit behind Peter, James and John on the trail, usually checking out the scenery, but I rush up beside Jesus when he talks and teaches and heals and loves. I like to think I’ve learned a thing or two, but the more I learn, the more it all seems to be a Holy Mystery.    …And when I sit at the table this Thursday, with all the food and friendship, I know Jesus is there, and I know all of that Holy Mystery is there, and I know Jesus isn’t just talking and sharing with the folks at the table, but he is looking around, offering a welcome and inviting those that weren’t anticipated…perhaps those that aren’t even wanted.    “Jesus!” I say, “Can’t I just eat in peace and abundance just this once?”    But Jesus doesn’t answer. For he knows that I know the lesson already. In his kingdom, all are fed. And as a disciple I know that if all aren’t fed, then he puts me to work.    Because when I was hungry, he put somebody else to work. When I was lonely, another disciple smiled at me and offered me a welcoming hand.    Beautiful Kingdom, isn’t it?

Let’s Talk!

Pastor Paul

Sunday, October 10:  Worship at 10:30 am; Cathy, Linda and Ashley will be sharing their gifts of music.

Monday, October 11: Council Meeting 7:30 pm, Trustees & Diaconate 6:30 pm. ***Note: Bible Study cancelled for this evening.

Tuesday, October 12: AA meets in Fellowship Hall, 7 pm

Wednesday, October 13:**Grill’s On community picnic, 5’ish-7’ish.**Choir Practice, 6 pm

Thursday, October 14: AA meets in Fellowship Hall, 7 pm

Other Ministries and Events

**Sunday School: We are looking for a few volunteers to help lead Sunday School during worship. Story and crafts are provided. Please contact Pastor Paul if interested.

**Fall Bazaar, Bake Sale & Lunch: Saturday, November 23, 9am-1pm. Sign-up sheet to help is posted in Fellowship Hall.

**Christmas: Cookies, Crafts and Carols: Cookie making is planned for Thursday, December 12. Watch for details as to time, etc.

**Concert – Bill Bastian & the Highland Quartet: Saturday, December 14, 1:30 pm. Wonderful music! Free of charge! Bake sale to support church.

From Pastor Paul, Toward Sunday:“Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth…”  Psalm 98:4Disclaimer: Any potentially useful information to follow is not to be treated as the product of stellar objective reportage, nor disciplined scholastic research. Your pastor sometimes likes to collect random things and see how he can put them together.“Hygge” was the word (and lucky me, I do not need to pronounce it here), from the Danes, that roughly translates to “coziness.” I was trying to remember it this week as winter arrived (and oh, don’t refer to the calendar, by my measure, winter arrives when I have to scrape my windshield with any degree of exertion).    Here’s my thought: for the majority of folks I’ve talked to these past few weeks, this season arrives with an expression of dread, or at the very least a rolling of the eyes and grudging acceptance. But…last I checked, the majority of you come from Northern European (or more specifically Scandinavian) heritage, eh? So I’m thinking somewhere in your genetic background there are tips and tricks of how not simply to get through this season, but even thrive during it!    Therefore, for your sake, I declare that this winter, for my part, is the end of my “winters of discontent” – and I declare that I’m going to do all that I can to celebrate this season in church and in home and in snow and what-have-you with a fresh motivation and joy, in the hopes that I can trigger those genetic instincts inside of you…  So, like a retriever will fetch and a sheepdog will herd, given the right stimuli, you will find a way to draw deep in the recessive behaviors of your being and remember how to enjoy this season of your life!    Hey…don’t roll your eyes at me! Here: this might help:

Hygge: a Danish word to describe a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being.

Gemutlichkeit: a German-language word used to convey the idea of a state or feeling of warmth, friendliness, and good cheer.

Craic: an Irish term for news, gossip, fun, entertainment, and enjoyable conversation.

Hwyl: a Welsh word for a stirring feeling of emotional motivation and energy.

Kalsarikannit: a Finnish term for staying home and enjoying food and drink in your…um…well…”most casual” attire (love this one!).‘Det finns inget daligt vader, bara daliga klader’: I hear that’s Swedish for “there is no bad weather, there are only bad clothes.”And lest we forget the Norwegians, koselig is the word for things that engender coziness, intimacy, warmth, and happiness.    It’s a start, friends. I welcome your tips and tricks. May we be a deep well of hope and love and comfort and welcome and all those words above that I cannot pronounce, especially to those that could really use a place from whence they could draw them!

Let’s Talk! (Craic!)

Pastor Paul

I want to take a moment to give a huge thanks to everyone who contributed to the Halloween Carnival this year! We welcomed around 150 kids and families to enjoy the various games. Without all the volunteers coming together to set up, decorate, run the games, make food, pack up, and clean, there is no way we could do this. A huge thank you as well to our sponsors who help us to bring in pizza, soda, prizes, and cupcakes:

• Dr Pepper Snapple Group
• Super One Foods
• Sue Coen State Farm Insurance
• Grand Avenue Veterinary Clinic
• Northern Orthotic & Prosthetic
• World Block

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Sunday, November 3:  Worship at 10:30 am. All Saints’ Day – we will remember those who have gone before.

Monday, November 4: Bible Study, 6 pm.

Tuesday, November 5:  AA meets in Fellowship Hall, 7 pm

Wednesday, November 6: **Women’s Fellowship: 1:30 pm in Fellowship Hall

**Grill’s On! Community picnic, 5-ish to 7-ish. The welcome continues. Bring something to share or just bring yourself!

**Worship Planning Meeting: 6 pm in the Sanctuary. All are invited to join us in a conversation about our ministry of Worship and plan for the months ahead. Contact the office or Pastor Paul if you have thoughts or questions.

Thursday, November 7:  AA meets in Fellowship Hall, 7 pm

Other Ministries and Events

**Sunday School: We are looking for a few volunteers to help lead Sunday School during worship. Story and crafts are provided. If this is of interest to you, please contact Pastor Paul.

**Christmas: Cookies, Crafts and Carols: There’s talk of having special events for Christmas, including making cookies and crafts and sharing in Christmas carols. If you are interested, contact the office or Pastor Paul.

**Fall Bazaar, Bake Sale, Lunch: Saturday, November 23, 9am-1pm. Sign-up sheet to help is posted in Fellowship Hall.

**Concert – Bill Bastian & the Highland Quartet: Saturday, December 14, 1:30 pm. Wonderful music!  Free of charge!  Bake sale to support church.

From Pastor Paul, Toward Sunday:  Geek alert ahead. Pending on our kinship of interest in woody plants, you’ll either be engaged or bored by the following…in the latter case, I can only hope you smile and nod and think “well, he’s an interesting fellow, I suppose.”     Here goes: Stand on the front steps of the church and look out toward the hillside. On the ridge line, tall above the steady canopy of trees in the Magney Snively forest, are a sweet bunch of old-growth pine, interspersed with spruce and cedar. Every Sunday, during our opening hymn sing, I stand on the front steps and look out at those trees while singing (and I wave to the cars passing by, and sometimes make a passing dog-walker feel a bit uncomfortable, but that is beside the point now). I wanted to see them up close, but driving on Skyline, it was hard to place them among the twists and turns, so a few weeks ago I took a compass bearing from the front of the steps (between 280 and 282 degrees for those who share kinship here) and walked directly to them.    They’re gorgeous up close. And this began a goal to seek out all of these old growth groves up in that area. Notably (and here’s where I get really geeky), there is an elusive grove of Hemlock that is tucked somewhere on that hillside. It’s in the old notes and the chit-chat of woodsy folk, and likely not cut down, given the rumored dates, but nobody seems to know where it is. And by the way, this is Eastern Hemlock we’re talking about – not the4 hemlock of Socrates fame. We’re talking Tsuga canadensis here. It’s a common tree in the northeast of our country, but stops near the Michigan border. There are only a few patches of Hemlock in Wisconsin and even fewer in Minnesota. Cool. Worth searching for. Beats that Pokemon thing on the phone folks are doing in my book.    Anyway, my dear friends, I find some! Saplings among the rocks near Stewart’s Creek! And I look up and there’s a big ol’ hemlock right above me. I’m all excited about this and send the message to a forester friend to show off my discovery, thinking I’m cool beans and a naturalist rock-star for a moment.    …For a moment. Turns out I was way off. What I thought were saplings were actually Canadian Yew. Taxus canadensis. Oh! And that large tree that I thought was an old growth Hemlock? Turns out to be a Spruce. I suppose I just wanted it to be Hemlock so much that my will overcame my discerning eyes.    I am not the first, nor will I be the last, to have my hope and my will for something to be what I want it to be cloud my judgment of what it really is.    Also, I am not the first to be wrong.    So my prayer? God, let me be wrong. Let the palm of my hand slap my forehead with my eyes closed and my head shaking “no”…but then let me inhale, look up, laugh, and get back to exploring. In other words, God, let me learn from being wrong.    …and God, really, if you don’t mind..do what you can so that I don’t confuse my Taxis with my Tsugas in the future. I kinda felt silly, after all.

Love from your Geeky Pastor (oh, and “Let’s Talk”) Paul