October 6, 2016

Hamline Church bread oven feeds community

With the help of White Bear Lake United Methodist Church, Hamline Church in St. Paul installed an outdoor pizza and bread oven to invite its neighbors to church. The community effort has been an overwhelming success and has enabled the church to bring its altar from inside of its building to the front lawn. “I was looking for a community, a place where I could come and worship with my family and be part of a group,” says new church member Gil Kruger. “It sounds kind of silly but one of the reasons I became a member of the church is because of getting involved in the bread oven.” United Methodist News Service featured a great video on the bread oven and the ways it's building community. Watch video

Cindy Gregorson: Intent or impact?

Rev. Cindy Gregorson, the conference's director of ministries, has been reading Waking Up White, And Finding Myself in the Story of Race. In her latest blog post, she talks about how even when we have the best intent, because we are acting out of our own cultural biases, the impact we have doesn't always match our intent. At the same time, if we become so cautious, so fearful of saying the wrong thing or stepping on someone’s toes, then we don't put ourselves out there to engage in true dialogue. “Where am I willing to extend myself for the sake of the impact I can have that makes a real difference?” she asked. Read blog post / Related workshop: If it matters, do something

Disaster Response Team provides help, support in Albert Lea

It has been almost two weeks since major flooding in Albert Lea and nearby areas. Four volunteers from the Minnesota United Methodist Disaster Response Team went Saturday to assist with clean up, and more will return this coming weekend. “We show that we care and we can come in and help them the best we can get through these very trying times that they're going through,” said team leader Gary Klason. KAAL-TV and the Albert Lea Tribune featured stories about the clean-up efforts. Watch KAAL news segment / Read Albert Lea Tribune article

Event: Ministry with Millennials

What does ministry to Millennials look like? What are practical models of ministry for a new generation? What does your church need to know to be relevant to young people? If you've ever wondered about any of these key questions, this event is for you. Join others from throughout the conference from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 22 at Arlington Hills UMC in Maplewood. Participants will leave with the tools to discover a vision for a hopeful future, equip for a new age, and become part of a new community working together. Learn more and register

Churches in our prayers

United Methodist churches in Minnesota and across the globe are connected through shared mission and ministry. Through prayer, we can support each other as we collectively seek to grow in love of God and neighbor, reach new people, and heal a broken world. This week, we pray for these churches and their leaders: Clearwater UMC, Community UMC (Columbia Heights), Grace UMC (Fergus Falls), Mazeppa UMC, Slayton UMC, Stewartville UMC, and Wood Lake UMC.

Recommended resources

Thanksgiving and Thanks Sharing: Engage your church with gratitude: It's a popular topic and a hallmark of our faith but how often do we plan thankfulness as a church activity? Here are some great ideas for bringing people together through gratitude. Learn more
Six new things: Six New Things is a weekly post from the Resource Center for Churches. This week's post features resources on marriage, peace, stewardship, the enneagram, and the trinity. View resources

Across the connection

Commission on the Way Forward: Membership selection progresses: The Council of Bishops executive committee announced that 29 United Methodists are being notified that they have been nominated to serve on the Commission on the Way Forward. The panel will address issues around homosexuality and church unity. The group includes eight bishops, 13 clergy, and eight laity. Read press release
Deacons: Bridging the church and the world: Today, 44 percent of United Methodist deacons report that their primary appointment is beyond the local church. They serve as teachers, lawyers, and in many other professions. Twenty years after their order was established, deacons are serving their distinctive call. “I honestly think it’s great because it means the church is getting outside its walls,” said Rev. Victoria Rebeck, a deacon who's part of the Minnesota Conference. “Deacons are really a crucial part of church vitality.” Read article