Stock up on perennials for your garden at the annual plant sale sponsored by the Women’s Fellowship. The sale runs from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 13, with leftovers also for sale after worship on Sunday. Proceeds go to charities and church ministries. Plant donations are also welcome.
The Outreach Ministry Team invites you to join them Tuesday, May 30, for a “breaking of the Ramadan fast” meal at the nearby mosque located next to the Fairgrounds, Masjid at-Taqwa. The mosque has invited the public to attend one of its “Iftar” meals that day at 8 p.m. There is no specific program or worship time, but simply an opportunity to eat and converse with our Muslim neighbors.
The month of Ramadan is a holy time for Muslims around the world, in which they celebrate the first revelation of their holy scriptures, the Quran, to Mohammed. It is a time of fasting during the daylight hours, introspection and prayer. Many mosques throughout the Twin Cities will be opening their Iftar meals to the public again this year during Ramadan (May 26-June 27).
RSVPs are needed for the May 30 meal. Go to the Minnesota Council of Churches website to register. Contact Pastor Anne if you have questions or need help registering.
The congregation got to share in the distribution of loaves and “fishes” as an intergenerational cast presented our spring musical April 23. “Table for Five…Thousand!” was based on the story told in all four gospels about the miracle by which Jesus fed a huge crowd.
On Saturday, April 29, 2017, the Minnesota Conference United Church of Christ will offer workshops and celebrate in worship with the Open and Affirming ministry settings from across Minnesota. The 2017 Minnesota Celebration, “Open and Affirming as Beloved Community,” will be held at Hazel Park Congregational UCC, 1831 Minnehaha Avenue East in Saint Paul. The day will include workshops at 11 a.m., a time of kinship over lunch, and worship at 1:30 p.m. Child care is provided.
“The Divine Dance” —
Join with Pastor Anne and others in exploring ideas and spiritual practices that can help us experience God’s presence more fully. We’ll use the Rev. Richard Rohr’s new book, “The Divine Dance: The Trinity and Your Transformation” as our starting point. Four Thursday nights in May (4,11,18 and 25) from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Gathering Room. RSVP with Pastor Anne if you plan to attend, [email protected].
Everything you’ve always wanted to ask Pastor Anne! —
The Adult Faith Formation Team has asked Pastor Anne to respond to your questions about the Bible, theology, spiritual practices, social justice perspectives or other queries regarding your life of faith. In our Sunday adult First Hour group at 9:30 a.m. May 7, 14 and 21, we will draw random topics you have suggested and invite her to reflect with us in an “everything you’ve always wanted to ask” format. Send your topics/questions to Rachelle Roeckeman at [email protected].
Thanks to the work of Children’s Ministry Team member Jill Dent, we are now experimenting with a new program in our church nursery. Building on the safe and caring environment provided by our nursery staff person, Sara Nedeau, and her volunteer helper, David Meeter-Biggs, we have added some educational (and fun!) activities into the children’s time. Our purpose is to nurture the faith formation of our 2- and 3-year-olds through personal relationships based in trust, and with a simple introduction to Christian faith and practice.
Using the “Wee Wonders” curriculum specifically designed for this age group, Sara is leading the group in simple songs, abbreviated Bible stories and responsive play activities. The stories and activities align with our church’s core values of community, spirituality, inclusivity and love, and serve as a soft introduction to the concepts of church and God.\
The first week was a rousing success. The children participated in the “We Go To Church” module. They sang a song welcoming each child individually by name, listened to the story, and then, through some silly movements, practiced different ways we could to go to church (walking, skipping, hopping, flying like an airplane). We then colored a picture of a family going to church and the children had the chance to use blocks to make a church or use diverse family figures to pretend a family was going to church the way it was modeled in the short story.
Contact Jill Dent at [email protected] for more information or if you would like to serve as an additional volunteer some Sunday.
Photos taken by members of our congregation during Lent, Palm Sunday and Holy Week, and Easter are now online on our Flickr page.
While you’re on the site, check out our other albums to see what’s going on at Falcon Heights Church.
Bring family and friends to worship at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, April 23, as we present our intergenerational spring musical, “Table for Five…Thousand! The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes,” by Tom S. Long and Allen Pote.
Margot Olsen directs the retelling of this miracle, the only one (apart from the Resurrection) that is reported in all four gospels.
Our version includes details from all four, but particularly the narrative as it appears in John. One young boy with five loaves and two fishes is the catalyst for everything that follows. We don’t really know anything about the boy, other than his apparent willingness to share, but we know the results! It was an event so startling that members of the crowd wanted to proclaim Jesus as king.
Later, the event leads to an even greater revelation as Jesus tells his disciples: “I am the Bread of Life. Those who come to me will never never go hungry.”
Come hear this wonderful story and learn more about how God is with us in everything we do. There will be songs, movement, lines for the entire cast, and of course bread and fish for everyone.
This 6:30 p.m. outreach project on Thursday, April 20, is a great way to get your whole family involved. We don hairnets and plastic gloves (all provided) and assemble 300 sandwiches, along with a number of lunch bags. Outreach Ministry Team members drive these to the Simpson House shelter in Minneapolis later that evening. The next day, the sandwiches go into bag lunches for the residents. The residents vacate the Simpson House premises during the day for school, appointments, jobs and/or job hunting. They often do not have resources for lunch, and these sandwiches make all the difference.
This ongoing project is supported by your special offerings received on the First Sunday of each month, in the Communion offering taken at the rear of the sanctuary as worshipers depart. Sign up on the clipboard in the church lobby if you can help, or contact the church office.
Join us for Palm Sunday and Holy Week observances April 9-16 and share in the mystery and joy of Jesus’ death and Resurrection.
Palm Sunday, April 9 – Worship at 10:30 a.m. We join in a festive blessing of the palms at the beginning of our worship service, coming forward to receive fronds as we sing our opening hymn together.
Maundy Thursday Service of Shadows, April 13 – A moving and meditative Service of Tenebrae (Service of Shadows) at 7 p.m. commemorates the night of the Last Supper and Jesus’ arrest with scripture readings, beautiful anthems by our choir, Holy Communion and the slow extinguishing of candlelight.
Good Friday, April 14 – On this solemn day, we remember the crucifixion of Jesus. Our candle-lit sanctuary will be open from noon to 3:00 p.m. for private meditation and prayer. Come and go as you are able; all are welcome.
Easter Sunday and Breakfast, April 16 – Our Easter Breakfast, sponsored by the youth of the church, begins at 9:15 a.m. At 10:30 a.m., all ages join to celebrate the Resurrection with bells and brass. Our sanctuary will be filled with spring blossoms and the joyful music of a professional brass ensemble will accompany the choir. A designated Easter offering will go to support the home-building work of Habitat for Humanity. (No First Hour faith formation this day, but nursery care will begin at 9 a.m.)
1795 Holton St.
Falcon Heights, MN 55113
651-646-2681
[email protected]