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“The Good Shepherd”
Look to the North and you won’t just find Polaris, but there is Jesus tending the sheep. Showing us how to love. Showing us how to share in reciprocity. We will look at the architecture of our sanctuary as an invitation to love and be loved.
Join us for worship in-person and online at 10:00 am.
Scripture: John 10:11-18
Liturgist: Carla Benjamin
Church Office Hours:
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Phone: 218-829-2528
___________________________
Pastor T. Michael's Schedule
>> Friday, Saturday & Sunday <<
Fridays 10:00am to 4:00pm
Saturdays by appointment as needed
May 10 through May 18
May 31 through June 1
Leading Worship Services:
May 5, 12, 19 & June 2
& June 9 with Pastor Leslie
You can email Pastor T. Michael at tmichaelrock@gmail.com
or call/text at 612-275-0387.
This Week
**Unless specified otherwise, all church Zoom Gatherings use this link:
tinyurl.com/uccbrainerdzoom
If the Zoom meeting window does not automatically launch, click "Launch Meeting"
By phone: dial 1 312 626 6799, Meeting ID: 645 235 0419, password: 56401
Friday, April 19
10:30 am - Book Group via Zoom
Sunday Worship, April 21
10:00 am - Worship Service in-person and Facebook Live
Rev. T. Michael leads Worship Service
**Testimony - Denise Slipy
11:00 am - Fellowship in Fellowship Hall
11:30 am - Adult Forum - Water Quality & Water Sheds
Wednesday, April 24
11:45 am - Men's Fellowship @ Perkins
1:30 pm - Lance James Celebration of Life
Thursday, April 25
11:30 am - Women's Luncheon @ Sage on Laurel
Friday, April 26
10:30 am - Book Group via Zoom
Justice Sunday Worship, April 28
10:00 am - Worship Service in-person and Facebook Live
Rev. Steve Newcom leads Worship Service
**Testimony - Jack Kraywinkle
11:00 am - Volunteer Appreciation Brunch in Fellowship Hall
12:00 - 1:15 pm - Adult Forum - Justice Tables
***Special Offering Faith Build Habitat for Humanity
***Newsletter Deadline
Hosts, Ushers, Greeters, Scripture readers
Sign up on the clipboard in the narthex or click here to go to signupgenius.com
H.U.G.S. this Sunday, April 21
Host: Dawn Stattine
Greeter/Ushers: Shirley Carper, Deb Griffith,
Jack & Kay Kraywinkle
Counters: Holden Hollister & Marcia Ferris
H.U.G.S. next Sunday, April 28
Host: Stewardship
Greeter/Ushers: Shirley Carper & Deb Griffith
Counters: Tracy Lyons & Trustee
Liturgist: Sunday, April 21 - Carla Benjamin
Liturgist: Sunday, April 28 - Lowell Johnson
Lance Howard James
May 5, 1940 — March 29, 2024
Lance Howard James, 83, of Brainerd, passed away on March 29, 2024, in Brainerd.
A gathering of friends and family will be held on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at the First Congregational UCC in Brainerd, MN. Please join us from 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm for “Lance Story Time”.
A Future Interment will be at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery, in Little Falls, MN.
Lance was born on May 5, 1940, to Claire and Katherine (Colson) James in Barre, Vermont. He graduated high school and Madelia, Minnesota and continued his education and received his bachelor’s degree. Lance served in the Navy.
Lance lived in many places. He returned to Minnesota and spent the last forty years here. He was a free spirit. He was an outdoorsy person and rode his bike to the boundary waters. Lance would build musical instruments. He was an educator and tutored students in math. He will be missed by all who knew him.
Lance is survived by his siblings, Philip Carpenter James, Nancy Claire Jackson; nieces and nephews, Kirsten, Robert Jackson, Heather Nicole Katherine Elizabeth James Coleman; two great nieces and nephews; and many other relatives. He is preceded in death by his parents; brother Louis Meredith James; and nephew Corey Carpenter James.
April Adult Forum
April 21st 11:30 am after worship – "Understanding & Preserving Our Freshwater Resources": Dive into the fundamentals of watersheds and their role in maintaining water quality. We will explore the impacts of our actions on freshwater resources. Presentation by Elizabeth Uebelacher Northern Waters Trust
April 28th 12:00 - 1:15 pm -"Justice Table Committees" - After the Volunteer Recognition Brunch we will gather around our justice tables. We are a congregation deeply involved in the community, with members serving the community in powerful and creative ways. Thirty congregational members are involved with one or more of the five justice priorities identified by the congregation: Mental Health, Creation Justice, Poverty, DEI/LGBTQ, and Community Building.
Everyone is welcome. If you are interested in these areas, please plan to join a table.
April is Volunteer Appreciation month
These posters are in the Fellowship Hall. Take a moment to write in your church and community involvement. It could be driving friends to appointments or caring for children who need you. Blank cards are to fill in. Check the cards and see what everyone is doing. Add your name. Thank you for your Time & Talents! Our church is great ~ because of you!
Special Offering Faith Build - Habitat for Humanity
Sunday Worship - April 28th
Habitat for Humanity works toward our vision by building strength, stability and self-reliance in partnership with people and families in need of a decent and affordable home. Please send your donation to First Congregational UCC, 415 Juniper St. Brainerd, MN 56401. For your convenience use our Paypal account at: paypal.me/uccbrainerd.
Make sure to note on your offering: “Special Offering Faith Build”.
Thank you!
Friday Book Group via Zoom
tinyurl.com/uccbrainerdzoom
We meat each Friday at 10:30 am via Zoom
On April 19th we began reading the non-fiction book, “Eight Bears: Mythic Past and Imperiled Future”, by Gloria Dickie.
This is an investigative journalism book about the 8 species of Bears.
Contact Pat Scott for information.
UCC Care Team
What if I need Pastoral Care? If you would like a visit or a phone call for either yourself or a loved one and the concern is not an emergency, Barb Hoeft and Deb Griffith from the Congregational Care team are available and would love to connect with you. Barb’s number is 218-851-5803. Deb’s number is 218-851-2949.
If you have an urgent pastoral care need (an unplanned hospitalization, a death, etc) please call or text Rev. Rock at 612-275-0387. If he is not in the area and unable to attend to the emergency, he has a list of local pastors who have agreed to be on-call during this time.
Your Congregational Care Team: Barb Hoeft, Deb Griffith, Jack and Kay Kraywinkle, Pat Scott, Chris Yager.
If you or someone you know would enjoy a call from the care team, please let one of us know.
H.U.G.S. Hosts, Ushers, Greeters & Scripture-readers
Sunday morning greeters/ ushers and coffee hosts play an important part in making our church a warm and welcoming place for all.
Here’s a secret; it’s FUN!! If each household committed to 3 Sundays a year as greeter/ushers and/or coffee hosts we would have a full complement of participants. For instance, I plan to take 2 Sundays in August to greet/usher and 2 Sundays in February to Host Coffee.
The Christian Ministry Committee is working on simplified instructions for these duties and one of us will be available to guide you through your first go if needed. Are you ready to take the leap into RADICAL HOSPITALITY?
Give it a go and signup below for your first Sunday as the face of the church! https://www.signupgenius.com/
First Congregational Food Shelf Collection
Our church continues to collect non-perishable food items for the Salvation Army Food Shelf.
There are two collection boxes: one in the parking lot entry hallway, the other in the Narthex. Brian Twamley picks up and delivers the food.
Please consider bringing items and donating.
You may also send a money donation to the church; First Congregational UCC, 415 Juniper St. Brainerd, MN 56401. Or for your convenience use our Paypal account at: paypal.me/uccbrainerd Make sure to write in memo “Food Shelf”.
Church Directory Update 2024
The 2024 directory will be sent out in May via email.
Results from returned Connection Letter will help us finalize updates.
If you would like a hard copy of the directory, please contact Terri in the office.
If you did not have a picture taken by Dan, please send us an updated photo. Email your photo to Terri in the office at uccbrainerd@gmail.com
A jpeg is the best format. Or you may bring a photo into the office or mail it and Terri will scan it for you. Please note if you would like the photo returned.
Check out the 2024 Conference Retreats & Events
Below is a brief highlight of each event; you can find full details on the Conference's website.
To help facilitate a more comprehensive and secure registration process, the Conference has implanted a new registration system for overnight events in 2024.
Check out CampDoc!
Great Lakes & West Central Regional Youth Event
July 17-20, 2024 | Augustana College, Rock Island Illinois
Clergy Family Retreat:
"What Do You Mean We Don’t Have to Plan Anything?"
August 11–13, 2024 | Camp Onomia, Onamia, MN
Women’s Retreat: "You Are a Story"
Friday, September 13 – Sunday, September 15 |
Camp Onomia, Onamia, MN Martha Brunell, Facilator
Fall 2024 Conference Youth Event
October 11–13, 2024 | Osprey Wilds Environmental Learning Center
Crisis Services
All are available 24-hours, FREE and confidential
Bridges of Hope: 218-825-4357 or 1-800-462-7682
Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or Text 988
Crisis Line & Referral Service: 218-828-4357, 218-828-HELP or 1-800-462-5525
Crisis Nursery-Crow Wing County: 218-692-2859
Crisis Text Line: Text “MN” or HopeLine” to 741741
Minnesota 1st Call for Help: 211
Minnesota Farm & Rural Helpline: 833-600-2670
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
Poison Control Center: 1-800-222-1222
Suicide & Mental Illness: 1-800-462-5525
Teen Crisis Line: 310-855-4673
The Trevor Project (LGBTQ Crisis & Suicide Hotline – Youth under 25): 866-488-7386
Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860
Veteran’s Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255 – press 1
WARMLINE: Speak with peers who are there to listen and support adults experiencing emotional distress. 1-844-739-6369 from 5:00pm -7:00am.
Copyright © 2024 First Congregational United Church of Christ, All rights reserved.
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