UCC Local News

Just a reminder that the brainstorming meeting for Bazaar ideas on Wednesday (tomorrow) morning at 10:00 is not just for department chairs, it’s for anyone.  Our COVID task force is looking for ideas where we can meet in small groups.  So we’re hoping we have ideas that they can look at as well.  So far I have 6 who are willing to come to Church and 4 more who will Zoom.  Looking for more participation.  The zoom link is listed below:.  

Bizarre Bazaar Planning Meeting

Time: Jun 10, 2020 10:00 AM
Join Zoom Meeting
Bizarre Bazaar Planning Meeting
Time: Jun 10, 2020 10:00 AM
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 999 001 5170
Or Call in: +1 312 626 6799

  

Monday through Thursday evenings at 6:30 pm join Pastor Jill for “Prayer Connection” (connection information follows)

Tuesday, June 16 6:30 pm  Church Council meets by Zoom (connection notes to follow by email)

Wednesday, June 17Newsletter items for the July issue of the VISITOR are due 7:15 pm  Zoom connection to review/discuss last Sunday’s sermon theme based on “The Lion King” (connection  notes)

Next Sunday, June 21/”The Wizard of Oz”  10:00 am  Worship online with us:YouTube/First Congregational UCC Alexandria, MN

Today, we begin our summer series: “Spirit on the Screen.”  You are invited to join “Musings on the Movie” at 7:15 each Wednesday evening.  This week, we will talk about “The Lion King.”   To join via Zoom, click on this link– https://zoom.us/j/9990015170.  To participate via telephone—call +1-312-626-6799 and, if prompted, enter the code 9990015170#.

Please join us for our Annual Programmatic Meeting to be held this morning after the worship service on Zoom at 11:00 am.  This is an opportunity to learn what has transpired within our congregation between May 1, 2019, and April 30, 2020.  Minutes of previous meetings will be reviewed, and votes on the proposed slate of officers for the upcoming programmatic year will be taken. Zoom connection for Programmatic Meeting is for June 14, 2020, 11:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)
https://zoom.us/j/9990015170 Meeting ID: 999 001 5170

Are you interested in learning more about race relations in our country?  A group is forming to read:  ME AND WHITE SUPREMACY, by Layla Saad. The time and frequency of meeting will be determined by those who choose to participate.  If you are interested, please email Pastor Jill (jill@firstcongregationaluccalex.com or call the church office.

Pastor Jill invites everyone to join her Monday through Thursday evenings at 6:30 pm for “Prayer Connection” using Zoom.  As a participant, you can use the following information for your online device; or you can use your phone to join in.  These are drop-in sort of sessions and no attendance is taken, so join us whenever you wish.  We have been having good groups these past weeks and we are reminded by these gatherings how much we need each other and each other’s prayers-Pastor Jill      

1)  TO JOIN VIA YOUR CONNECTED DEVICE:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/9990015170?pwd=MGMwU0lycTNQSFI0cVJVT0xpcC9Udz09    Meeting ID: 999 001 5170          Password:  PRAY

2)  To dial in by phone:
 +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
Meeting ID: 999 001 5170               Password:  427210

WE NOW HAVE ONLINE GIVING AVAILABLE!    
As you know, the Church continues to incur expenses, even though our ministries have had to change for this season while we live with COVID-19.   

We have made it easier for you to support the Church financially.  You can go to the Church website: www.firstcongregationaluccalex.com
and click on the “give” button to give directly.  Or you can text the word “Give” to 1-(844) 913-1752.  Thank you for your generous and ongoing support!

We are still taking measures to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.  Until our Re-Opening Task Force determines a safe way for us to worship in person, our worship services can be found on YouTube and also each weekday morning at approximately 11:45 on Charter cable channel #181.

To watch our recorded services or to watch live on Sundays:  Enter the Church’s website: firstcongregationaluccalex.com; then click on the “watch live” bar to take you to the video page.  If you don’t see the service you want, click on “see all videos” and it will take you to our YouTube page.  All videos should be listed there, and you can choose the one you want to watch.  We continue to use the screen in worship, which you can see at home, so you can follow and sing along if you wish.  If you have questions, please call the Church office or Barb at home (320-846-7801).  We are trying to keep everyone “connected” as a Church family, and we’re meeting those challenges and keeping the faith.

Thanks to Barb and Morris Grover for sharing their hostas with our Church—and to Barb Brown and Chris and Marie Hillemeier for planting them near the west entry!A Re-opening Task Force recently held its first meeting to imagine what “re-opening” means for our Church and congregation and to chart a safe way toward our being together once again.  Each member of the group assumed a task. 

My purpose in writing is to solicit/brainstorm ideas that members might have for some limited possibilities of reasonable and safe mini-gatherings we could consider doing BEFORE a time when we can have actual in-Church meetings and Sunday services (which could still be a ways off).  Any other ideas that you may have of various creative ways we can all continue to hold each other in our thoughts or actions would also be welcomed.  We all want to all remain connected.  Therefore, I am asking our Church members to submit any thoughts you can come up with and send them to me as soon as possible to consider for our next meeting .
Keep in mind —that singing together is not in the cards!
 
Call or Text me at 320-766-6247 or email to: cap715@gmail.com. Thanks, Joe Capistrant

Programmatic Report booklets are available in the West entry on the little table to the right as you come in.  (This entryway is open 24/7 to accommodate access to face masks.)  Please, just 1 booklet per family; although more copies can easily be made if necessary.  Thank you-Barb, Church office
 
 

Welcome & Announcements
Pouring of the Baptismal Water
Responsive Call to Worship
Opening Hymn
Unison Prayer
Scripture: Isaiah 43:1-4a (on screen)
The Gospel: Mark 1:4-11
Sermon Hymn
Sermon:  “Remember Who You Are!” (based on the movie, “The Lion King”)
Litany Remembering Holy Baptism:  “We Renounce”
Musical Interlude
Sharing of Celebrations and Concerns/
Silence/Prayers of the People
Invitation to Give of Ourselves and our Gifts to God/Doxology/Prayer of Dedication
Invitation to Holy Communion/Words of Institution/Unison Prayer/Lord’s Prayer (using “debts”/Breaking Bread & Pouring Wine/
Sharing Bread & Cup/Responsive Prayer
Closing Hymn
Benediction and Blessing

Monday through Thursday evenings at 6:30 pm join Pastor Jill for“Prayer Connection” (connection information follows)
Wednesday, June 10
10:00 am  Bizarre Bazaar meets by Zoom and limited in-person 7:15 pm  small Zoom group, “We Make the Road by Walking,” meets each Wed evening to discuss Brian McLaren’s book 
Saturday, June 13Delegates to Annual Conference this year will all be participating via Zoom connection.  Our congregation will be represented by Pastor Jill and Joy Wrolson.
Next Sunday, June 14/”The L ion King” Communion /Programmatic Meeting  
10:00 am  Worship online with us:YouTube/First Congregational UCC Alexandria, MN

11:15 am  Annual Programmatic meeting  (details to follow)    

We are still taking measures to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.  Our worship services can be found on YouTube and also each weekday morning at approximately 10:45 on Charter cable channel #181, where we are 3rd in the lineup after Calvary which begins at 9:00 am, then Zion, and then our Church.  The exact time (other than Calvary at 9:00 am) depends on the length of the services, which varies each Sunday for all three churches.  
To watch our recorded services or to watch live on Sundays:  Enter the Church’s website: firstcongregationaluccalex.com; then click on the “watch live” bar to take you to the video page.  If you don’t see the service you want, click on “see all videos” and it will take you to our YouTube page.  All videos should be listed there, and you can choose the one you want to watch.  We continue to use the screen in worship, which you can see at home, so you can follow and sing along if you wish.  If you have questions, please call the Church office or Barb at home (320-846-7801).  We are trying to keep everyone “connected” as a Church family, and we’re meeting those challenges and keeping the faith.

Pastor Jill invites everyone to join her Monday through Thursday evenings at 6:30 pm for “Prayer Connection” using Zoom.  As a participant, you can use the following information for your online device; or you can use your phone to join in.  These are drop-in sort of sessions and no attendance is taken, so join us whenever you wish.  We have been having good groups these past weeks and we are reminded by these gatherings how much we need each other and each other’s prayers!-Pastor Jill      

1) TO JOIN VIA YOUR CONNECTED DEVICE:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/9990015170?pwd=MGMwU0lycTNQSFI0cVJVT0xpcC9Udz09
Meeting ID: 999 001 5170
Password: PRAY

2) To dial in by phone:
 +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
Meeting ID: 999 001 5170
Password: 427210

Next Sunday, June 14, Pastor Jill begins her Summer Sermon Series.  Her sermons will focus on spiritual themes in some favorite movies.  Then, the following Thursday evening, you are invited to participate in a discussion and review of the theme via Zoom.
Upcoming Sunday themes are: 
June 14, “The Lion King”
June 21, “The Wizard of Oz”
June 28, “Lars and the Real Girl”

The Church office is closed!  Until further notice, we are in lock-down mode for as long as advised by the Governor, except for essential business.  If you have a concern or need assistance, you may leave a phone message at the Church or contact Barb (Church secretary) at home:  320-846-7801, and we will make whatever arrangements we can to help.  You can also email the Church office at our new email address:  firrstcongregationaluccalex.com, which we monitor daily.  Please stay safe.  

Many thanks to those who have agreed to be “calling buddies” so folks who do not have email can still receive timely and pertinent messages from Church that are generally sent out on the Holy Hot Line as our Church news occurs.

WE NOW HAVE ONLINE GIVING AVAILABLE!    
As you know, the Church continues to incur expenses, even though our ministries have had to change for this season while we live with COVID-19.  
We have made it easier for you to support the Church financially.  You can go to the Church website: www.firstcongregationaluccalex.com 
and click on the “give” button to give directly.  Or you can text the word “Give” to 1-(844) 913-1752.  Thank you for your generous and ongoing support!

Until further notice:  Our Church has been serving as a drop-off/pick-up spot for the making and accessing of face masks for the community.  Calvary Church was doing this, but they are in the asbestos-abatement stage of their remodeling, and we are providing a space free of contamination for this project to continue.   We are happy to help with this community effort and have provided space in our secure West entryway.  If you need to be in the building at any time, please be sure to use only the East (alley) entrance.  Many more than 20,000 masks have been made in this endeavor, and the goal of the Karing Hands group is that everyone in the community can have a mask.    “Virtual Pancake Breakfasts!”  In the June issue of the VISITOR newsletter, Stewardship Chair Ron Branch challenged us to celebrate this Memorial Day with a “virtual pancake breakfast” since we were unable to have the real thing this year due to the pandemic.  He even shared some of their family’s favorite recipes to make for ourselves.  Since this is a major fundraiser for our Church each year, it was heartwarming to see donations from your pancake breakfasts totaling more than $400!  Thank you for being good sports and “stepping up to the plate” once again by participating and helping our finances in this way!!  Contributions will still be gladly accepted anytime!Our thanks to Chris and Marie Hillemeier who helped Barb Brown in planting several hostas which were lovingly donated by Barb Grover from her gardens for our West entrance.

Welcome & Announcements
Pouring of the Baptismal Water
Responsive Call to Worship
Opening Hymn
Unison Prayer
Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-8(on screen)/Gloria Patri
The Gospel: John 3:1-17
Sermon Hymn
Sermon: “Come, Join the Dance”
Musical Interlude
Sharing of Celebrations and Concerns/
“Worry Stones”/Silence/Prayers of the People/
Lord’s Prayer (using “debts”)
Invitation to Give of Ourselves and our Gifts to God/Doxology/Prayer of Dedication
Closing Hymn
Benediction and Blessing

First Congregational United Church of Christ
221 7th Avenue West Alexandria, MN, 56308

Pastor:  Rev. Dr. Jill Sanders
Pastor’s email: jill@firstcongregationaluccalex.com
Church office email: office@firstcongregationaluccalex.com
Church Phone: 320-763-3341
Like Us on Face Book – First Congregational UCC Alexandria