Outdoor movie night Oct. 10
The Intergenerational Team invites you to join us Saturday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m. in the church parking lot for an outdoor, physically distanced movie night. We will be showing the “Shaun the Sheep” movie, which is fun for all ages. You may arrive early to pick a spot in the parking lot.
Please be mindful of others around you and keep six feet apart. Please bring your own masks, lawn chairs, blankets and snacks. Remember to dress appropriately for evening weather. Please park on the north end of the parking lot or on the street. We look forward to seeing you, being in community, and having a few much-needed laughs!
(Please note that the event will be canceled if rainy weather occurs.)
Protect democracy: make a voting plan
In conjunction with Isaiah MN–a coalition of faith communities fighting for racial and economic justice in Minnesota–our church is taking part in two Democracy Sundays, one this week and one on Oct. 25. These are an opportunity to take action to protect democracy during this election and to put our values at the center of the conversation about voting.
You’re encouraged to make your plan, vote, and help friends and neighbors to do so as well. Isaiah has an online toolkit with things you can do — from talking to your own circle about their voting plans, to disseminating voting messages via social media, to participating in a virtual phone bank this Sunday evening. Find out more here.
This week’s emphasis is on making a voting plan. Here are resources for:
checking one’s registration status
registering to vote
how to find your polling place
other ways to vote
Important dates to know
- Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.
- Registration deadlines
- By mail: Received by Oct. 13
- In person: By Nov. 3. You can register and vote on Election Day.
- Absentee ballot deadlines
- Request: By Nov. 2
- Return by mail: Postmarked by Nov. 3
- Return in person: By Nov. 3 at 3 p.m.
- Early voting
- Sept. 18 – Nov. 2, but dates and hours may vary based on where you live.
Voting by absentee ballot
Looking to mail in your vote this year rather than standing in line at a polling place? This page has everything you need to request an absentee ballot.
Become an election judge
Anyone of voting age and up can be trained for the job, but younger people are especially needed to replace older people who’ve stepped up in the past but who are now at greater risk for COVID-19. More information and sign-up links
Worship in parking lot Aug. 30
Join us outside in the parking lot for 9:30 a.m. worship on what’s forecast to be a beautiful Sunday, Aug. 30. Lon and Nancy Hendricks will provide music. We’ll also be broadcasting a prerecorded version of the service as a watch party on our Facebook page at 9:30 a.m. Scroll down the page to find it and worship with others online.
Monthly communion is being moved up to this Sunday, so whether you come to the outdoor service or watch from home, please prepare your own elements.
There will be physical distancing at the parking lot service. Bring a mask and your own lawn chair or stay in your car. We hope to see you at either version of the service!
Worship in the parking lot Aug. 2
We’re having a drive-in communion worship service in the church parking lot at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 2. The lot is directly across from the church, on the northwest corner of Garden and Holton in Falcon Heights.
How it works:
- You may drive in, park, stay in your car, or bring a lawn chair and sit in a shady spot for the service.
- Masks and six-foot physical distancing are required. Bring your own elements for communion.
- We will use our PA system, and the service will be about the same length as our online services–between 35 and 40 minutes. A printed order of service will be available.
- We will have music by Lon and Nancy Hendricks, but no congregational singing. You’ll be invited to say the responsive parts of the liturgy to yourself.
- There will also be a prerecorded version of the service on Facebook for those who need or prefer to worship online at home.
- Bring an open heart, your community spirit and the commitment we all share to care for one another as we gather safely on a summer’s morning!
Holy Hammers/Habitat volunteers, donations needed
With the gradual reopening of businesses and gatherings in Minnesota, our Holy Hammers/Habitat for Humanity build at 588-590 Wells is starting up again. Construction has been resuming in phases, and there are safety restrictions, including reduced numbers of volunteers, shorter work days, physical distancing and required masks and gloves. But we now have opportunities to help build this house in August through early September.
If you are interested, please click the following link to take a brief survey so Holy Hammers can determine if we have enough volunteers (eight are needed each day, a reduction from the usual 15):
https://forms.gle/Rib4cdGC5qu7tHcL6
You can also support Holy Hammers financially. Donate via our FHC link and select Holy Hammers-Habitat for Humanity as the recipient of your gift.
Racial justice webinar series
On Wednesday, July 15, the second in a series of racial justice webinars will examine our responses to the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The Minnesota Conference UCC series, “Justice Talk to Justice Walk,” is free but requires registration (see the link below).
“Sacred Disruption: Standing with Jesus at the Corner of 38th and Chicago” features the Rev. Gary Green and the Rev. Dr. Justin Tabia-Sanis, faculty at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities. Join in from 7 to 8:30 p.m. for a dynamic conversation about how our sacred scriptures and our theologies can help shape our responses to Floyd’s killing and a history of racial oppression. How can we disrupt existing realities to create something new?
On Thursday, Aug. 6, Samantha Fuentes, a survivor of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, will speak on “Youth Lead Now: Equipping Young Leaders for Social Change.”
Share your garden produce
Help supply fresh, healthy food for hungry neighbors this summer. Starting July 6, The Sheridan Story (which we support in feeding students at Falcon Heights Elementary) will be collecting donations of garden produce from area gardeners through its Grow and Give program.
You can drop off donations at The Sheridan Story at 2723 Patton Road in Roseville on Mondays and Tuesdays July 6 through Sept. 30. Please email Summer Programs Manager Christine Dummann (cdu[email protected]) with a brief description of your donation and to arrange a dropoff time.
Read more about the most-needed garden produce.
Father’s Day/Summer Solstice party
Don’t miss one of the highlights of summer 2020: a neighborhood Father’s Day/Summer Solstice Dance Party and Celebration on Sunday, June 21, starting at 4 p.m. in our FHC parking lot.
We’ll be dancing from 4 to 5 p.m. with social distancing, followed by a special children’s activity around a maypole. There will also be a chalk labyrinth and a special area for just talking and connecting. Bring a mask, your own lawn chair and refreshments, and a vase for one of the activities. You’re also invited to bring offerings of love, hope and peace, such as rocks, flowers or writings, for a fairy garden.
We’ll be collecting donations of food and household and personal supplies (download the list of needs here) for our neighbors in McDonough Homes. Let’s see if we can surpass the approximately $2,500 worth of food and supplies we collected at our last gathering!
This is a time to come together in joy and friendship, solidarity and hope. Please join us, whether at the parking lot or walking by or from your front yard (if you live nearby)–and invite friends and neighbors. All are welcome.