Here and Now
September 2019
Messages
Rev. Adam Blons

Earlier this month, some of you participated in our special Per Capita fundraiser when Corinne and I each took a turn in a dunk tank. This idea seemed like a great way in the heat of the summer to raise awareness and money for our denominations. It was done all in fun.

The following week, a member of the congregation sent me a link to a website with information about the racist origins of the dunk tank. I was totally surprised to learn that:
Rev Adam Blons
"African Dodger, also known as Hit the Coon, was a popular American carnival game from the late 19th century up to the mid 1940s. It involved an African-American sticking his head out through a hole in a curtain and trying to dodge balls thrown at him. Hits were rewarded with prizes. People were sometimes seriously injured or reportedly even killed after being struck. In response to attempts to ban it, a less dangerous game was invented: the African Dip, in which a person was dropped into a tank of water if a target was hit by a ball."

Reading that, my heart sank. The dunk tank was my idea. And there it was, plain as day, a reminder that we do not know the history of racism in our country.  Of course our intentions were good, but anyone who knew that history might look at this event and wonder why a church would use a dunk tank. I wondered if anyone in our congregation knew this history. Then Ginger told me that Martinalan, our custodian, said he did when she told him about it. And then I thought of all of the children who had so much fun trying to dunk their pastors that day. But all of us need to know this history. I am sorry for any harm that came from having the dunk tank.

This situation stands as a reminder to me of how racism is deeply woven into American life in ways most white people like me don't even see. God's call to confront injustice and root out oppression requires humility, especially from those of us who have benefited from that injustice. As we try to work for racial justice, we must face the truth, acknowledge our responsibilities and accept our mistakes. We must continue to educate ourselves about the history of racism and do our best to root out our own ignorance and false assumptions.  

All summer, we have heard powerful stories in worship from members who encountered God in surprising ways and were changed.  Who knew, at the same time, we would come face to face with God and be changed by having a dunk tank!  
Rev. Corinne Freedman Ellis

For many of us, the symbols of bread and cup evoke memories: prayers, liturgy, songs, even particular smells and tastes of communion. They certainly do for me, but all of those memories come from my adulthood: as a child, we never seemed to make it to church on communion Sundays.

Recently I’ve gotten an idea about what that might be. Adam and I sat down for a planning conversation this summer and came up with the idea of Communion and Community Sundays. Every Communion Sunday, our worship could be intentionally intergenerational (as we’ve tried over the past year), and Fellowship Hour could be an intergenerational opportunity for meaningful connection. The problem? First Sundays.

In any given year:
  • The first Sunday in January falls around New Year’s Day and occurs during winter break.
  • The first Sunday in June may be part of the Memorial Day/graduation/end-of-school shuffle.
  • The first Sunday in July falls near Independence Day.
  • The first Sunday in September is often over Labor Day weekend.
  • The first Sunday in December is often the weekend following Thanksgiving.

In short, first Sundays frequently coincide with holidays and travel. We want to focus our intentional community time, both sacramentally and socially, when people will be most present to experience it.
Our solution? Second Sundays. This gives us all a chance to experience the spiritual and theological connectedness that comes at the communion table, and the interpersonal connectedness that comes with joining in meaningful activities together.

Mark your calendar for second Sundays starting September 8! 
Jan Snell

Dear MPUC family,
Summer is rapidly waning, and the beginning of a new school year is upon us! For many, that means new schedules, hectic mornings and evenings, busy days, and lots to manage for both kids and adults as the new routines are established.

It is often a very stressful time, especially for younger children who are entering new classrooms, meeting new teachers and students, and having to get back to a much more structured schedule.
I came across a delightful book that I wanted to recommend to parents or to grandparents and older friends who have young children in your life.

Candle Walk: A Bedtime Prayer to God is a calming, contemplative way to help children wind down at the end of the day. Here is a synopsis:
“In this bedtime book, join in a candlelit wander through the woods, listening attentively to the river, trees, stars, and moths singing verses from scripture. This beautifully illustrated picture book invites families to enter into a calm, contemplative quieting-down based on a centuries-old practice of evening prayer from the Christian liturgical tradition. Like the beloved Office of
Compline , the book helps children “complete” their day and prepare for sleep, fulfilling a hunger for a bedtime prayer that is not simply intercessory, but offers an opportunity to practice listening and contemplation. Appropriate for toddlers and school-children alike, Candle Walk is a wonderful way to prepare children for sleep, assured of the nearness of God.”

Church Publishing Inc.
This book is available from Amazon, for those who are interested.

I wish you all a smooth, peaceful beginning to the new year, whatever that means for you and your life!
Ginger Schneider

With summer fading and fall fast approaching, that means I am back to my normal office hours as of September 3.

With the new carpet installed this summer in the Social Hall, we will need to make sure that spills are cleaned up right away. This carpet is treated so most messes will only need a damp towel. If, after this treatment, deeper cleaning is needed - please let me know so that I can enlist Martinalan's help. With everyone's help, the carpet will look nice for years to come. Remember that there are towels in the kitchen by the freezer! Dirty towels can be put in the cloth bag.

It has been a tough couple of months and I have been glad to be part of a caring community here at MPUC.
Submit your next article online!

Introducing a simpler way to submit content for church publications including the weekly bulletin, the weekly Forecast e-mail update, and the monthly Here & Now e-newsletter: the online MPUC Content Submission Portal!

Bookmark this link to submit your next article!
Church News
Growth Survey Results

We received 143 responses to the church growth survey late last spring. Thank you to everyone who participated! This is a great response and gives us a lot of good information to use as we look to grow the congregation. The Session analyzed the results over the summer and has incorporated the findings into our summary on church growth that includes goals. The Session and Deacons discussed this document at their joint meeting in August. You may read that summary by clicking here.

A complete set of all of the survey results can be found in the church office starting on September 8. The bottom line remains unchanged, however. The main way churches grow is through members being excited about the church and inviting people they know to check it out. This fall, we will be helping each other find new ways to widen our witness and welcome.
Mano a Mano
By Gloria MacRae

I know that many of you have actively assisted with, or interestedly followed, the humanitarian work of Mano a Mano since its modest launch in 1994. I'd like to invite all of you to join me in celebrating our amazing last 25 years at a barbecue and pizza party at the Mano offices on Sunday, September 15.

The party will run from 2- 4 p.m., with a program at 3 p.m. The office is at 925 West Pierce Butler Route, St Paul, 55104, and tickets are $35 a person. (Food and drinks are included, and children under 5 are free.)

Checks can be mailed to the above address or purchased online at ManoaMano25years.eventbrite.com. Feel free to call the office with any questions, 651-457-3141. I hope to see you there!
SignUpGenius

Just a reminder that everyone - yes, you! - is invited to use SignUp Genius to volunteer to make our worship happen.
Grow
Renewable Energy
Sunday, September 22, 10 a.m. Worship

Following worship, Zach Emond, Co-Founder of Renew Power Systems, will offer information about a new microgrid renewable energy system that produces, stores and distributes energy through a unique modular system. They have installed systems across the globe!
Nursery Care

Nursery care for infants up to age 3 will be provided during all Sunday morning programs.
Calling all Kids and Their Parents! 
New Program beginning September 15!

Last winter and spring the Children's Faith Formation committee hosted three different opportunities for kids and families to gather and have fun, as well as to provide feedback for learning and growing in the new program year.

In response to feedback, we are excited to share this new opportunity with you. On September 15 there will be an information session to explain all of the details. All children and their parents are invited to come. Beginning September 22, we will be gathering from 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. to learn, grow, and build relationships with each other.

Parents will have their own gathering, hosted by Kari Stoick. They will decide what their topics and focus will be.

Age 3-K will gather in the Garden Room with Courtney for their Sunday School experience.

Grades 1-3 will gather with Julia to explore parables using LEGOS, and grades 4-5 will gather with Kevin Marshall and will also be exploring parables with LEGOS. Each of these two groups will hear, explore and apply important lessons from the parable of the day. Each child will have the opportunity to express something about the story with the Legos.

The dates for these groups to gather are September 22, 29, October 6 and 27, and November 3. A calendar will be posted on the website and sent out to families by email.

Worship together in the sanctuary will be held at 10 a.m. as usual. Alleluia Choir will meet during worship. Communion will be held on the second Sunday of each month and that will also be All-Ages Worship Sunday.

We are looking forward to the beginning of a new program year as we grow in faith together.
Chair Yoga

Roberta Olson will lead a one hour chair yoga class on the second Tuesdays of the month this summer. Using intentional, slower movement, we explore seated and standing poses to improve flexibility, balance and strength, emphasizing safety in movement. People of all abilities are welcome! 

Tuesday
12:30 p.m. in the Plymouth Room
  • September 10 and 24
  • October 8 and 22
  • November 12 and 29
  • December 10
Women's Bible Study

Members and friends of Macalester Plymouth are invited to participate in the Women’s Bible Study, which meets on the third Thursday of each month, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., in the Church’s Conference Room.

This year, we will be discussing Inspired by Rachel Held Evans. Copies are available through the Church office or from Amazon.

Rev. Corinne Freedman Ellis leads our discussion. Bible Study, prayer and fellowship and food are a part of each meeting. Come and visit a meeting and see if you might to make this a part of your spiritual journey.
MPUC Young Adult Group Update

Young adults (20-30s) meet the first Saturday of each month for connection and fun. Looking ahead, we have some REALLY fun things coming up in the next few months. Check out the plan here!
Serve
Opportunity St. Paul Kick-Off
Thursday, September 12, 5:30pm – 7:30pm,
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Saint Paul

Macalester Plymouth is one of ten anchor houses of worship (HOW) in Interfaith Action’s Opportunity Saint Paul (OSP) program. As a HOW, we recruit and support OSP volunteers who work with nonprofits in Saint Paul that have proven records of addressing poverty. Last year, we had 5 volunteers in the OSP program.
We invite you to a kick-off event on September 12 to learn more about how you can make a difference in our community. Enjoy a light dinner and meet fellow volunteers; hear inspiring stories from the seven nonprofit partners; ask the leaders of these leading nonprofit about their work and the impact of volunteers; and discover which nonprofit volunteering opportunities are best for you.
Talk with Dustin Moretz if you have questions about our involvement.
RSVP to Sarah Peterka at (651-) 789-3853 or speterka@interfaithaction.org for the kick-off event on September 12. Click here to learn more: Opportunity St. Paul.
Global #ClimateStrike: Twin Cities March
Friday, September 20, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

For the last year, young people have been staging school strikes around the world, including in Minnesota. At the request of the youth, people of all ages are walking out of our workplaces and homes to spend the day demanding action on climate change. 

This is going to be the beginning of a week (or more) of climate action all over the world. The march begins at 11:30 a.m. at St. Paul College and heads to a rally at the State Capitol. All are encouraged to attend: workers, youth, parents, elders, and people of faith and conscience across the region.
From: St. Paul College
235 Marshall Ave
To: State Capitol
75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard
Caring for Creation News

New CFC Chair!
CFC welcomes our new chair, Kira Pollack. A recent Macalester grad (Biology ‘18), Kira combines her experiences in 4-H and summer camp with a passion for healthy ecosystems in her service term with Conservation Corps’ Youth Outdoors program. She hopes to bring the same spirit of service and outreach to CFC. You can find her by the church’s bike rack or in the chancel singing soprano.

Climate Reality Project Conference
Jane Livingston attended the Climate Reality Project conference led by former Vice President Al Gore held in the Minneapolis Convention Center August 2-4. The 1200 attendees came from 47 countries (100 from Canada) and all but three states. The governor and both city mayors were there, plus reps from business, agriculture and many other groups. 

Al Gore gave a 2-1/2 hour presentation, led panels, and talked with Thomas Friedman. He advocated taking action on the local level and including all who have suffered environmental injustices. Gore gave positive stories of people who are working to mitigate the pollution of the air that causes climate change and said solar and wind are key.

The international youth movement was started by a Swedish girl, Greta Thunberg. In a video, 16-year-old Greta said, "Our house is on fire, we don't have time, we need to put it out." One speaker at Climate Reality told about 100 actions we can take, listed in Project Drawdown .
 
In November, Jane plans a talk on the Climate Reality Project conference at Episcopal Homes. During the September 20 youth Climate Strike at the Capitol, she will promote Episcopal Homes residents standing with posters on University Ave.
Earth Care Congregations Meeting
Judy Helgen attended the well-run meeting of nine representatives of Earth Care congregations held August 17 at House of Hope Presbyterian Church. They agreed that "time is running out" on climate change; we are at a crisis moment and must promote advocacy more than education. We should have a sermon on climate change once a month. 
A member of Cherokee United Church urged us to connect with the Citizen's Climate Lobby and support US House File 763, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act (called the carbon tax bill). He advocated that churches host a meeting with the local Climate Lobby. 

Ashley Bier, Associate Pastor at Central Presbyterian in St. Paul (with Dave Colby) urged churches to encourage youth to be part of the Climate Strike on Friday September 30 at 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.at the State Capitol. Fossil fuels and agriculture are the two biggest contributors to carbon emissions. Al Gore urged people not to eat any red meat because of its impact on global climate.

Let me know if you'd like more notes from this inspiring meeting. Judy Helgen | helge018@umn.edu

From Julian Sellers:
Thank you to the organizers of the Capital Campaign completion celebration for drawing attention to climate change by featuring Beyond Meat burgers. Nearly all meat produced in the U.S., particularly beef, is bad for the environment, bad for the animals, and bad for human health.

There is, however, an alternative: 100% grass-fed beef produced using regenerative grazing methods sequesters much more carbon than it releases. It’s good for the environment, good for the animals, and good for you. For more information, see the MinnPost article by Julian Sellers at tinyurl.com/Beef-Climate .
Crop Walk 2019

Macalester Plymouth United Church is excited to again walk in the annual Crop Walk sponsored by Church World Service on October 13, 2019.

We will be walking with churches of all denominations - a true ecumenical event. Mac-Plymouth Youth will not only be participating in the walk, but also be sharing in the leadership of the event.

Walkers may choose routes of 3 or 5 miles. If you are unable to walk on October 13, you can sponsor other walkers or simply make a donation to the Walk online.
Connect
You're Invited into an In-Reach Process

Through our work with ISAIAH, a group of MPUC members and friends has been trained in 1:1 conversations: intentional, meaningful discussions about our struggles, hopes, and values. We want to get together with you - yes, you! - for one of these transformative conversations, happening between now and September 16. We have no agenda other than to get to know our congregation better as a whole, which will help to guide the faith and justice work we engage in together. If you receive a call or email from the in-reach team, this is what we're inviting you into! And if you want to self-select to have one of these conversations with the in-reach team, please get in touch with Sherryl Livingston at jssr@earthlink.net . We look forward to these powerful conversations!
Give
Peace | Neighbors in Need Special Offering

On October 6, Peace Sunday, we will collect a special offering to be split evenly between both of our denominations. The UCC Annual Offering is its Neighbors in Need offering; this year’s theme is Love of Children. The PCUSA’s offering is its Peace and Global Witness Offering; this year’s theme is Peace at All Times in All Ways (quoted directly from 2 Thessalonians 3:16). Both programs support many projects, ranging from local churches to international efforts.

More info will be forthcoming throughout September via our usual channels. This early heads-up is also to inform you of the option of subscribing (free) to Path of Peace Daily Reflections via your inbox daily, starting on September 1. You can also just download the whole set in one file (available now). Both options for these choices are at presbyterianmission.org .

Contributions towards this special offering can be made in worship on October 6, online through the Give page on our website, or at anytime in the church office. Thank you for your generous support.
Finance & Stewardship Update

Stock Donations
With the current strength of the stock market, donations of appreciated stock are a great way to make your pledge payments or special gifts to the MPUC. If you are interested in making a gift of this type, or if you have any questions about donations of stock, please feel free to call or e-mail Don McCall , or call the church office to request a copy of the stock donation instructions.

Donations from Your IRA Account
If you happen to be over 70 1/2 years old and are subject to the required minimum distributions rules, you might consider making a charitable contribution MPUC directly from your IRA. The new tax law enacted in 2018 offers various tax benefits for “Qualified Charitable Distributions” from your IRA account that are worth investigating. 

Your tax preparer can best advise you on your personal circumstances, but if you have general questions, please feel free to call (651.398.6550) or e-mail Don McCall with your questions.
Online Giving

Do you appreciate the convenience of online bill paying? Do you like to put your regular obligations on auto pay?
Creative abstract computer technology mobility and communication business concept  laptop notebook or netbook PC mini tablet computer touchscreen smartphone and desktop monitor display screen TV isolated on white background
The Finance and Stewardship Committee has been working to make giving easier with the introduction of online giving. You can set up a schedule for regular giving by automatic payment or a one-time contribution by visiting our  website . You can also give to some of our special offerings and programs such as the Food Shelf or the Youth Mission Trips on this site. The special giving options will change throughout the year. 

Online giving provides an easily accessible electronic record of your donations for you and ultimately reduces the volume of counting and depositing of cash and checks that must be done after each Sunday service by church volunteers. Reduced use of paper is also better for our environment.    

NEW! Online Giving Cards are now available in the pews. Whenever you contribute online or at another time besides Sunday, you may put one of these reusable cards in the offering plate. It is another way to show your faithfulness and to ask God's blessing on your gift. We encourage everyone to try online giving!
 
- Dwight Johnson for the Finance and Stewardship Committee
Mission Partner Updates
Tom and Monica Liddle
East Timor

Rev. Tom and Dr. Monica Liddle and their children Hannah and Simon are from the Minnesota Conference and serve through Global Missions in East Timor.
That arbitrary boundary [of Timor-Leste and Indonesia] was due to a 15th century dispute between the Dutch and Portuguese over who would exploit the sandalwood resources on the island of Timor. In the end, the two colonial powers split the island, the Dutch taking control of the west, the Portuguese the east. Such are the assumptions of colonialism: the world is here to be exploited; it's simply a matter of who's going to do it. 
Rochelle and Tyler Holm
Malawi

Happy Winter from south of the equator! 

In Malawi we are in the middle of our ‘winter’ season and have enjoyed a visit to Mzuzu by Tyler’s parents, Jerry and Marian. Living and working across the ocean from family is hard at times, and we are grateful for the time they were with us.

Check out our blog: holminafrica.blogspot.com
Contact Rochelle or Tyler

You can subscribe to e-mail updates of our family blog on weekly work and life in Malawi by entering your email into the box "Follow by Email" and then confirming your e-mail.  

Please consider supporting the Holms financially or giving to the Faculty of Theology at the University of Livingstonia.
ALL ARE WELCOME
Macalester Plymouth
United Church

1658 Lincoln Avenue
Saint Paul, MN 55105

Phone
651-698-8871

Email

Web
Church Office Hours

Monday-Thursday
7 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Friday
7 a.m. - 12 p.m.

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