eSpire February 23, 2018

Copper Street Brass: Big Ears and the Blue Ox  Sunday, February 25 at 1pm in the Sanctuary  Let’s plan the PERFECT party for Paul Bunyan! “Big Ears and the Blue Ox” is our original interactive concert presentation with brass instruments, drums, and narrator designed for children ages 2 - 10.

The concert takes kids on a trip through the Minnesota woods while they help Big Ears the Rabbit build the perfect song for Paul Bunyan’s birthday party. Along the way, children learn how to carefully listen for musical concepts like melody, rhythm and harmony while singing and moving their bodies to the music. Come join the party!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Affordable Housing Challenges in MN Sunday, March 4, 12-1:15pm Central Lutheran Church: 333 S. 12th St. Minneapolis This forum features newly elected Mayor Jacob Frey and moderator Joe Kreisman, Director of the Downtown Congregations to End Homelessness. Hear Mayor Frey‘s views on affordable housing in Minneapolis and share your perspective. A box lunch will be provided for attendees. A donation of $5 per person for the box lunch is suggested.

Music at Hennepin: Coming in March

Mélange à Trois  Sunday, March 11 at 4pm in the Art Gallery Formed out of friendships and a deep love of chamber music, MAT performs well-known works of the horn trio genre, contemporary horn trios as well as commissioned new works.

Pavia Wind Quintet  Sunday, March 18 at 2pm in the Art Gallery Formed in 2005 by alumni from the University and St. Olaf College, this Twin Cities-based group explores a varied repertoire for wind soloists with a focus on contemporary music.

Passion Concert  Sunday, March 25 at 11:30am in the Sanctuary Sanctuary Choir, Soloists, Orchestra and Organ present this moving and emotional choral work filled with ideas of peace, faith, and hope, as crafted by Maurice Durufle, the deeply religious 20th century musician and Parisian organist.

Entry Point: Becoming a Member Sunday, March 11, 11:30am in the Church of Youth Room Visitors and guests are invited to come ask questions about us, meet Rev. Judy Zabel, and explore whether God may be calling you to put down some roots here. Child care is available. RSVP to Larry Duncan at 612-435-1309 or larry@haumc.org .

Hennepin Reads: Mark of an Eagle: How Your Life Changes the Word March 14, 7:00pm in the Art Gallery David McNally’s book Mark of an Eagle: How Your Life Changes the World, invites us into our Lenten theme of ‘JustUs’ as it tells the stories of ordinary and extraordinary people. David’s presentation of his book will be surrounded by hymns and songs of justice.

Singing in the Light Sunday, March 18 at 4pm in the Art Gallery All ages and all abilities are welcome. Singing in the Light is an ongoing community singing experience and fundraiser for the community work of Mar de Jade Wholistic Lifestyle Center, Chacala, Mexico. Suggested donation at the door: $10-$20. No need to RSVP - just grab your friends and come.

Salon Se Leve Sunday, March 25th at 2:30 PM in the Art Gallery Featuring cellist Nygel Witherspoon, first prize winner of both the Schubert Club Scholarship Competition and the Minnesota Orchestra Concerto Competition, and pianist Austin Cheng, first prize winner of the Thursday Musical Competition and the Minnesota Music Teachers Association Senior Young Artist Competition.

Loving-Kindness Practice Sunday, April 15 and 22 at 11:15am We live in times that seek to divide us and to sometimes harden our heart to the ‘other’.Loving-Kindness practice teaches us how to have a loving heart, with gentle kindness toward ourselves and others. It also teaches compassion, joy, and equanimity practices, which are daughters of loving kindness. This class develops self-acceptance and is also great for working with problem relationships and for developing a caring and compassionate heart. This class has two meetings.   Mary Jo Meadow has meditated over 60 years in the Christian, yoga, and Buddhist traditions. She has taught mindfulness in the USA, Canada, Europe, and Australia. She is psychology and religious studies professor emerita at Minnesota State University at Mankato, offers spiritual guidance, and writes and lectures on spirituality. She has seven published books and numerous published professional articles.

OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES

Tesfay Araya, Recent Refugee From Eritrea, Needs a Job! Do you have contacts with businesses offering entry level jobs preferably in St. Paul? Tesfay needs to make at least $14 per hour to cover rent and living expenses for his family of 5. He is VERY motivated to work. He has a high school education, 15 years experience in the military and 10 years experience helping to place war orphans with families in the refugee camp. His English is fair but improving. Contact Ann Carlson at 763-464-6850 or carlsonaj99@gmail.com with ideas!

Sweet Celebrations-sign up today! Celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or other big news? Sponsor donuts!   Now there’s two wonderful ways to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries, honor loved ones and celebrate special occasions. Sign up to provide a beautiful bouquet of Sanctuary Flowers during Traditional Worship and your special occasion will be listed in the bulletin. Sign up to sponsor donuts with Sweet Celebrations and your special occasion will appear in the bulletin and on a poster at the donut table. Bonus: your $100 Sweet Celebrations sign-up raises funds for youth scholarships for camps, retreats, and mission trips. Don’t delay, sign-up spots are going fast so secure your preferred dates today! Sign-up posters are on the kiosk in Carlson Hall.

Henderson Mission Trip June 16-24, Registration by April 1 This summer, make it your family’s mission to live life through service to others: join us on a mission trip to the Henderson Settlement in Frakes, Kentucky. Henderson Settlement offers comfortable accommodations and meaningful service work for volunteers of all ages. Total cost is $400 per person. To learn more contact Becky Boland, beckyboland@comcast.net. To register visit, https://mnumc-reg.brtapp.com/HendersonMission18.

Music Mission Trip with Pastor Judy to Brownstown, Jamaica Monday, April 2-Sunday, April 8  The cost is $1200 and that includes airfare, lodging and food. A few spaces remain--call or email Pastor Judy for details and to sign up!

FAITH DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

The Lenten Devotional is Here! Observe the Lenten season with daily meditations on our Lenten theme: JustUs. Pick up your copy of the Lenten Devotional on your way out of services today, CLICK HERE for the full pdf, or follow Hennepin Church on Facebook to receive each day’s reflection in your newsfeed.

New LYFE Groups Forming for Lent We have three new LYFE Groups forming for Lent. This is the perfect time to try out this wonderful small group opportunity. Groups are being hosted by Laura Russ in south Minneapolis on Thursdays at 7:00 and Trish O’Brien & Scott Beaumont in southeast Minneapolis on Mondays at 7:00. Sally Johnson will host a 10:00 a.m. Wednesday morning group at the church. All groups will use Speaking Christian by Marcus Borg as their conversation starting point. Interested, call 612-871-5303 or email Sally@haumc.org.

Parenting for LYFE The focus of this group is parents supporting parents as we help our children take their first steps of faith!  We will gather with children in the Social Hall to enjoy brunch together. Then children will head off to their own programming in room 103, while parents have time together. Future topics include: Sunday, March 11 - Interfaith Dialogue with Our Kids

BIG PICTURE NEWS

The Commission on a Way Forward: A Conversation with Pastor Judy Zabel and Bishop Bruce Ough  Sunday, April 15 at 5:30 pm Sunday, April 29 at 5:30 pm Conversation led by Pastor Judy Sunday, April 22 at 11:15am Bishop Ough will preach at 10 a.m. worship, and will lead the conversational forum starting at 11:15 a.m. The Commission on the Way Forward was proposed by the Council of Bishops and approved by the 2016 General Conference to do a complete examination and possible revision of every paragraph of the Book of Discipline concerning human sexuality and explore options that help to maintain and strengthen the unity of the church. Pastor Judy and Bishop Ough will lead this conversation about where we’ve been, where we are and what the future might hold.

MINISTRIES NEWS

Come to Koinonia! Have you visited Koinonia's webpage lately? It's a great place to see what Koinonia has to offer to church, community and family groups, or for personal retreats. Go to  www.koinoniaretreatcenter.org . Join us for our upcoming events:

From the Trees Come the Paper... From the Paper Comes the Art An Art & Spirit Retreat  March 9-11 at Koinonia Retreat Center With Sandy Spieler from In the Heart of the Beast Puppet & Mask Theater and Lisa Gidlow Moriarty from Paths of Peace  Paper is a gift to us from trees. As we give thanks to the trees, we will be led in the gift of art-making from the simplicity of paper by Sandy Spieler, creator of In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theater. Sandy will share how the art she has created is an expression of Spirit in her life. Also sharing in the retreat, Lisa Gidlow Moriarty, labyrinth creator and facilitator, will lead in individual labyrinths with paper. The weekend will include music, worship, poetry, great food and a chance to gather friends old and new. Cost: $135. includes housing, food and materials. Register at www.haumc.org/events.

Wholehearted Living: A Retreat for Women April 6-8 at Koinonia Retreat Center Author Brene Brown filled Hennepin’s sanctuary with over 1000 people last year. This retreat will use the gifts of some of her key wisdom to explore ways of cultivating a resilient spirit, gratitude and joy, calm and stillness, laughter, play and rest. We will welcome spring at Koinonia, share in great food, worship, relaxation and fun. Led by Sally Johnson and Stephanie Escher. Cost: $125. includes housing and food. Register at www.haumc.org/events.

Kjerringsleppets, a women’s book group 1st Wednesdays at 6pm in the Longfellow Room April 4 - Beartown  by Fredrik Backman Open to all women. Contact Sally@haumc.org.

Progressive Christianity Date Change! Sunday, February 25 at 11:15am The Spong/Progressive Christianity Class will not meet on the 1st and 3rd Sunday this month. Please put these new dates on your calendar.

Submissions and Deadline The deadline for announcements is 12 Noon  on Monday.  Please go to fill out an announcement form at www.haumc.org/communications or drop off at church. All submissions are subject to editing for space and content. Thanks for sharing your stories!