FEBRUARY 2012 OLIVE BRANCH PEACE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 1503 2ND AVENUE NE • ROCHESTER, MN 55906 PHONE: 507-282-6117 • FAX: 507-280-0677 WWW.PEACECHURCHUCC.ORG HTTP://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/PEACEUCCROCHESTER Paul Bauch, Senior Pastor pastor@peacechurchucc.org Kayla Bonewell, Pastor for Children, Youth & Young Adult Ministries ypastor@peacechurchucc.org http://www.facebook.com/pastorkayla Sunday Services 8:30 AM Traditional 9:45 AM Faith Formation (all ages) 11:00 AM Contemporary 1st Sunday of the Month Communion Tuesdays 7:00a Men’s Group 10:00a Women’s Bible Study 5:00p Beverage & Bible (meet at Glynners) Check out the Newsletter on our web site (http://www.peacechurchucc.org/Newsletter/current.pdf) see fun pictures of our January events! Sat, Feb 4: FREE Movie Night @ 7pm (showing “Temple Grandin”) This is a story of autistic icon Temple Grandin, a woman who refused to let her disorder limit her true potential. Adapted from Grandin's own writings, the film allows the audience to experience the world much like she does while recounting her colorful life and remarkable achievements from childhood to adulthood. LENTEN WORSHIP & DINNER SCHEDULE Wed, Feb, 22 - Ash Wednesday (5:30 - 6:15 meal; 6:15 - 7 Worship; 7 - 8 Discussion) Wed, Feb 29 - (5:30 - 6:15 meal; 6:15 - 7 Worship; 7 - 8 Discussion) Wed, Mar 7 - (5:30 - 6:15 meal; 6:15 - 7 Worship; 7 - 8 Discussion) Wed, Mar 14 - (5:30 - 6:15 meal; 6:15 - 7 Worship; 7 - 8 Discussion) Wed, Mar 21 - (5:30 - 6:15 meal; 6:15 - 7 Worship; 7 - 8 Discussion) Wed, Mar 28 - (5:30 - 6:15 meal; 6:15 - 7 Worship; 7 - 8 Discussion) Thurs, Apr 5 - Maundy Thursday (5:30 - 6:15 meal; 6:15 - 7 Worship; 7 - 8 Discussion) Fri, Apr 6 - Good Friday (5:30 - 6:15 meal; 6:15 - 7 Worship;) Sun, Apr 8 - Easter Sunday (8:30 & 11am Worship; 7::30 - 10:30 pancake breakfast) NOTE: Confirmation class will meet EVERY Wed night from 7 - 8pm during Lent Our worship and Wednesday night discussions during Lent will focus on the book “Love Wins’ by Rob Bell. If you are interested in this book, please sign up in the Fellowship Hall or call the church office (282-6117). EPONDERINGS OF PASTOR KAYLA... February 22 we will gather for Ash Wednesday and enter into the season of Lent as a community. In our Thursday morning women’s group we are reading the book “An Altar in the World” by Episcopal priest, Barbara Brown Taylor. She speaks to the very essence underlying Ash Wed and what a powerful practice it can be to acknowledge the spiritual fruits of failure: “In Christian tradition, one of the most solemn days of the church year is Ash Wednesday, when believers enter a season of preparation for Easter by confronting their own mortality. That this season lasts forty days is no mistake. Those who follow Jesus are meant to follow him into the wilderness, where they, too, may be tested. For me, the peak of the service comes when the priest invites the congregation forward to the altar rail to receive ashes on our foreheads. Those of us who have done it before know that we are being invited to our own funerals. Kneeling shoulder to shoulder at the rail, we wait our turn, hearing the priest say to others what will soon be said to us. 'Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return,' the priest says, making the sign of the cross on my forehead. I get the sudden urge to ask for more, to ask for a whole bowl of ashes on my head. But it is not yet my turn for a whole bowl. For now, all I get is a taste of death, while there is still time to say please and thank you to the Giver of all life. Popular religion focuses so hard on spiritual success that most of us do not know the first thing about the spiritual fruits of failure. When we fall ill, lose our jobs, wreck our marriages or alienate our children most of us find it hard to shake the shame of getting lost in our lives. And yet, if someone asked us to point to the times in our lives that changed us for the better, a lot of those times would be wilderness times. When the safety net has split, when the resources are gone, when the way ahead is not clear, the sudden exposure can be both frightening and revealing. We spend so much of our time protecting ourselves from this exposure that a weird kind of relief can result when we fail. To lie flat on the ground with the breath knocked out of you is to find a solid resting place. This is as low as you can go. You told yourself you would die if it ever came to this, but here you are. You cannot help yourself, and yet you live.” (Barbara Brown Taylor, “An Altar in the World” Pg 77-78) At Peace church, we gather around each other during these tough moments in life. Many of us walk through the valley of the shadow of death, but we look around to see others with ash crosses on their foreheads. We are reminded that we are not alone on this journey, but among fellow travelers. Please join us as our faith family enters into this holy season together. Peace, Pastor Kayla December Finance Report The Finance Committee of Peace UCC would like to update our members with the current giving status on Pledged and Non-Pledged gifts received as of the end of December 2011: December 2011 2011 Year to Date Gifts Received $30,504 Gifts Received $284,334 Budget $28,750 Budget $315,250 Increase $ 1,754 YTD Shortfall $ 31,916 Dec 2010 $24,182 2010 YTD $263,015 Incr of $6322 over last Dec Incr of $21,319 over last YTD The Finance Committee of Peace UCC would like to thank all of the members for their gifts to the church. REMINDER: For those of you who use eGive, you will need to personally update your own account with your giving changes. For details on how this is done, refer to our web site. peacechurchucc.org/forms/eGive_Update_Instructions.pdf UPCOMING EVENTS!!!! Sat, Feb 4: FREE Movie Night @ 7pm (showing"Temple Grandin") Fri, Feb 10: Family Movie Night @ 6pm (showing “Dolphin Tale”) Cost $5/family for pizza & pop Sun, Feb 12: Rotini with Your Sweetie @ 6pm Cost: $10/pp Child-care provided Sun, Feb 19: Peace Policy / Positioning in Relation to Others @ 9:45am Hosted by Social Action Committee Wed, Feb 22: Ash Wednesday (Lent Begins) 5:30 - 6:15pm meal; 6:15 - 7pm Worship; 7 - 8pm Discussion See first page for Lenten schedule and times! Sat, Feb 25: Adult Progressive Dinner (watch ePonderings & Sunday announcements for more info) VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: We are seeking individuals to help in our Nursery on the following dates/times (a background check will be required). Please contact Theresa Diekvoss (292-0433 ) or Carole Winters (282-8379). Thursdays: 6 - 7pm (2nd - 5th Thursday of the month) 7 - 8:30pm (1st - 5th Thursday of the month) Sundays: 8:15 - 9:30am (3rd or 4th Sunday of the month) COMING IN MARCH... Sat, Mar 3: Women’s Expo Sat, Mar 3: FREE Movie Night Sat, Mar 10: Adult Science Museum Trip Fri, Mar 23: Family Movie Night Your old cell phone can save lives. Peace United Church of Christ Council Minutes December 14, 2011 Members Present:    Scott Bradley, John Franks, Ed LeQuire, Sara Lopez, Bev Moravec, Tom Neher, Lori Paul, Dawn Stevens, Kevin Truax , Pastor Paul, Pastor Kayla, Members Absent:  Cindy Andrist, Tom DeYoung, Bev Morton,   President John Franks called the meeting to order.     Devotions and prayer: Pastor Kayla opened with an Advent devotion.   Agenda:  Motion to approve was made by Bev Moravec, seconded by Lori Paul.  Motion carried unanimously.      Minutes from previous meeting:   Motion to accept by Bev Morton, seconded by Dawn Stevens;  motion carried unanimously.      Old Business   New lawn tractor / snow blower is here and it works good.    New Business  Projects - The following have been completed: Parking Lot, Roof, Landscaping. Remaining are: tuckpointing/waterproofing, AC system, basement areas need to be renovated, old aluminum windows need to be replaced. Vision Team Plan – Will need to determine and develop mission / vision for the future. This will be a one- to two-year process. Church Directory – Needing two coordinators and four to six people to assist with this project. Third Worship Service – At this time there is no decision on a location to hold this service either on-site or off-site.  Council Retreat – Scheduled for Sat, Feb 4, from 9am – 3pm, here at Peace (Fellowship Hall and Peace Room). Rick Wagner, Mn Conference Minister, will be joining us from 9:30 – 11:30 to provide information on stewardship and financial matters. Fair-Trade Coffee – Social Action Group will begin to use Fair Trade coffee here at church. This is one of the Justice issues that we need to be involved in. Financial Report  Tom was absent so there was no report. Tom Neher made a motion to accept the Financial Report; Scott Bradley seconded; this motion will be tabled until the next meeting.   Pastor’s Reports:  Pastor Kayla Bonewell  – Christmas caroling Sunday 12/17/2011. Family movie night is a great deal, becoming popular. MLK Rally, Hop dance, snow tubing, and a super night planned (refer to Pastor Kayla’s report for complete list of activities). Young adult UCC scholarships available. Reminder to council person in charge: Please turn heat up in Nursery (now that it is Winter) when opening and turn heat down when locking up. A benefit for Reanna Tentis will be held at the Wicked Moose on March 5, 2012. Pastor Kayla is organizing a team for this benefit; there will be a silent auction, gift baskets, live auction, etc    Pastor Paul Bauch (see report for details) – Ministry teams will move to first Tuesday of every month at 6:30pm. January 2012 Annual Meeting Agenda. Christmas Eve services - 4:00 & 5:30 (Lessons & Carols), 7:30 Beatles Christmas, 11:00 Acoustic Service. Olive Branch – There was discussion to reduce the size of this and make it more streamlined – just highlight bullet points of main issues. The cost and time to produce this is large. An online version can offer more information.   Committee/ Administrative Reports:  Building and Grounds (Scott Bradley):   Nothing new to report at this time. Personnel committee (Bev Moravec):  Discussed that gift cards will be purchased for the church staff; goals identified for 2012; looking for two new members . Memorial Team (Bev Morton absent):  No report.  Church Vitality Ministries (Tom Neher/Ed LeQuire):  Will be meeting on Dec 21; No report at this time.  Social Action (Dawn Stevens): Alternative Gift Fair raised about $6,600 – very good response. Need more bus drivers. Worship Ministries (Cindy Andrist): No report.  Faith Formation (Sara Lopez):  No report.      Adjourn - Motion to adjourn made by Scott Bradley, seconded by Dawn Stevens.  Pastor Kayla shared a closing prayer.   Next Meeting – scheduled for Wed, Jan 11th, at 7:00pm.  Annual meeting will be Sun, Jan 22 @ 9:45am     Respectfully submitted,      Kevin Truax YOUR OLD CELL PHONE CAN SAVE LIVES Peace Church Social Action and Outreach committee is starting a new initiative to recycle old phones called Hope Phones. Hope Phones supports Medic Mobile, a nonprofit organization with projects that support better healthcare infrastructure worldwide. For many people in the developing world, connecting to the care and information they critically need - especially in cases of emergencies - can truly mean the difference between life and death. And hard working health care providers lose precious time traveling to patients in rural areas who could otherwise be reached by phone. When you recycle a used mobile through Hope Phones, the value of your phone is used to acquire new technology that helps provide better health care. Medic Mobile has worked with more than 30 implementing partners in 15 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. This work includes needs assessment and technology strategy, designing services that leverage effective communication, developing software, installing and configuring software and training health workers. These efforts have impacted the care of more than 400,000 patients. What is the current Hope Phones goal? Recycle 10,000 used cell phones in order to equip two maternal care sites. Where? These projects are located in Nepal and the Democratic Republic of Congo – two of the highest burden countries for maternal health in the world. Half a million cell phones are discarded in the United States every day and pollute the environment with tons of plastic and persistent toxins like lead, nickel, beryllium, and cadmium. Cell phone recycling through Hope Phones reduces hazardous waste in our communities responsibly, while providing a real public health benefit abroad. To help, simply drop off your old phone (whether or not it works doesn’t matter) in the Hope Phone boxes located in the Narthex (next to Welcome Table) or in the Fellowship Hall. IHN NEWS Save the Date....June 16, 2012 Interfaith Hospitality Network Rochesterfest Bed Race Orientation/Training: Thurs, Feb 9 @ 6:30pm Rochester Covenant (4950 31st Ave NW, Rochester) NEWS AT PEACE February Birthdays! 1 Sean Molitor, Mike Maloney, Bev Moravec 4 James Ross 5 Elijah Neher 6 Flynn MacDonald 7 Michelle Laughlin, Samantha Kucirek 8 Jennifer Goertz 10 Fred Trachsel, Russ Koelsch, Tonia Jackson 11 Matt Russell , Earl Stender, Ben Sullivan 12 Bruce Adams 14 Michael Johnson 15 Marianne Hockema, Dean Morbeck, Richard Dahlin, Mark Huyber, Elaine Keehn, Hannah Leof, Mya Rosen 17 Jeremy Newton, Ron Tointon, Kim Davis 18 Susan Paske 19 Doris Ruben, Elsie Weaver, Gabi Ihrke, Ben Wieland 20 Glenn Lilleskov 21 Robert Lyngholm, Scott Bradley 22 Bethany Beilby 23 Alicia Buda, Joel Gordon II 24 Sulynn Russell 25 Rich Biske, Helen Corfits, Janice Timm 27 Keith Severson 28 Nate Ryan The deadline for the March Olive Branch is Feb 15, 2012 The deadline for the bulletin is Wednesday at 9:00 am every week The deadline for PowerPoint announcements are Thursdays at Noon Memorials were given for: Leona Denney, Charlie Gauthier, Frank & Margie Suhr SPECIAL THANK YOU... I want to thank my Peace friends for the love and support you provided by prayers, cards and hugs during my heart surgery. The prayer shawl was my constant companion in the hospital - admired by the staff. Thanks, too, to Pastor Paul for your visits and prayers. A great comfort! ~ Bev Morton YOU'RE INVITED TO A PARTY FOR EARL STENDER! Earl Stender will be 90 years young on February 11, 2012. His children are hosting an Open House to celebrate Dad’s milestone birthday. Date: Saturday, February 11, 2012 Time: 2pm – 5pm (Lunch will be served) Location: Peace United Church of Christ - Rochester, MN “Your presence will be his gift” If you wish to make a donation in his honor, food items received will be donated to Channel One Food Bank. PEACE GROUPS Quilting Group Feb 4 @ 10am Spiritual Journey Group Come and share your spiritual journey with others in a confidential and safe place. We meet the first Monday of every month at 6:30pm in the Peace Room. Everyone is welcome. Thursday Morning Women’s Fellowship Time: 7am Place: Peace Room All women are invited to join us each Thurs morning at 7am in the Peace Room. They are discussing the book “An Altar in the World” by Barbara Brown Taylor Soul Collage Creating & sharing Soul Collage cards is a spiritual practice that helps you learn more about yourself by making art out of magazine pictures! No artistic skill required! Enjoy Community! Supplies provided. 3rd Monday of Month *new day* 6:30pm-8:30pm in Room 104 Men's Fellowship Tuesday Mornings @ 7am in Peace Room DREAM WORK "Working with dreams" means remembering & exploring the dreams from sleep with an eye to their deeper meanings. This is done in a safe, & confidential group setting. 3rd Mon of Month *new day* (6 - 7pm) in Sr High Room Woman's Bible Study Tuesday Mornings 10am Peace Room Miriam Ministry Wed, Feb 22 9:30am in Peace Room Guest Speaker: Coralee Grebe Presentation: Mayo Family All women welcomed! Beverage & Bible (moving our ministry beyond our walls) Tuesdays 5 - 6pm @ Glynners Check out the Newsletter on our web site (http://www.peacechurchucc.org/Newsletter/current.pdf)) see fun pictures of our January events!