COMMUNITY NEWS
COMMUNITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
October 2016
Pastor’s Pen
In these final weeks heading up to the presidential election, emotions are
running high. Media coverage can be overwhelming. Not only with the elections,
but witnessing many acts of violence from the stabbings in St. Cloud to more
shootings of African American men, and the list goes on.
We struggle to figure out our best faithful response should be as the body of
Christ in the world. We find ourselves asking "how long o Lord"? How long can
this go on? Former president Jimmy Carter has called upon the leaders of the
faith community to address this resurgence of racism in our country. We all
know the problems are serious, but may feel at a loss to know how to respond.
The Commission on Religion and Race of our Annual Conference is providing a
forum for us to gather as the people of the United Methodist Church to worship,
pray and figure out plans of action for our congregations and communities on
Saturday, October 15 from 8:30-4:30 at Living Spirit UMC in South
Minneapolis. You will find more details in the article inserted in this newsletter.
I also commend the enclosed recent letter from our Bishop Bruce Ough
responding to the surge in violence of our time. We keep faith to our baptismal
promises to be the church in our prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness in
the world. May God grant us grace, courage, perseverance, hope and love in
these days ahead as we are agents of healing, justice and reconciliation in
Christ's name.
Yours together in ministry,
Pastor Max
Please note that Pastor Max will be on vacation October 3-9. Rev. Sarah
Lawton will be on call for pastoral emergencies at 612.965.3675
Education
Sunday school parents, grandparents, relatives
and friends…..
MARK YOUR CALENDAR for this year’s Sunday
School program.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11TH
Come experience all the joy of the season with
our children.
-Brenda McCoy
Michelle notified Pastor Max that she has been
offered and has accepted a position with the
Columbia Heights School District. She will be
working with the teacher in the new prekindergarten program. She begins her new
position on October 10th. Michelle indicated that
she might be available for a few hours for a few
weeks to do the bulletin and newsletter to help us
bridge to a new person to fill the position.
The SPRC has started work on finding a
replacement for Michelle. If you know of a
candidate, please let anyone on SPRC know and
we will be happy to forward the job description to
them.
We are happy that Michelle has found a position
with benefits and a regular schedule that will
support her family needs. We wish her well in
her future and we want to thank her for her
dedicated service. Come join us at Sunday’s
worship, October 30 to say goodbye!
Thank You Michelle!
-Mary Tholkes
Meals on Wheels
A big thank-you to those who
helped deliver meals during
the week of September 12th
to the 16th. Your help is
always appreciated and
always needed.
Thank you to:
Naomi Jones
Keith and Carol Felland,
Vivian Tomlinson
Sachi Slaughter
Wilma Berg
Anita Thompson
Pat Cruse
Jim Reinholdson
Anna Lexvold
Alice Mettler
Rod and Sylvia Bruns
Thanks again for what you
do. Our next delivery dates
will be November 14th to
November 18th so mark them
on your calendar, we’ll be in
touch.
Thanks again,
- Sylvia and Rod Bruns
OCTOBER SERVING UNIT
Jody Jones
Evan Wigert
Obediah Wilson
Samantha Hlivka
Verna Stuber
Debra Wilson
Carol Felland
Janis Sandgren
10/01
10/02
10/04
10/10
10/13
10/13
10/17
10/17
Thelma Johnson
Alix Bentrud
Sander Moberg
Skyler Varhol
Judith Snipstad
Ashley Bruns
Nancy Ellis
Nathan Jones
Daniel Pobuda
10/22
10/22
10/23
10/24
10/25
10/25
10/26
10/27
10/28
Chairs: Bert and Naomi Jones
Glen, Dale, Jeffery, Spencer & Carter Mapes
Mario & Tamara LeBlanc
Alice Mettler
Muriel Nichols
John & Shirley Rusnacko
John Rusnacko
William & Karen Schneider
Robert Lundula
Okito Unyangunga
Louise Yema
Obediah & Debra Wilson
Greg & Tammy Hill
LASAGNA DINNER
with Community Market
Wednesday, October 19th
Serving from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
TICKETS $8.00 per PERSON
Walgreens will be present to give Flu Shots
Most insurance coverage is accepted – Vouchers
available
Take out available. Everyone is welcome!
Handicapped accessible
“The Columbia Heights Police Department would like to extend its sincere gratitude for
partnering with us for the 2016 National Night Out. This year, we had 53 events with
over 1600 participants in Columbia Heights and Hilltop. All parties were attended by
members of the CHPD. We love to see the neighbor interaction and it is a great way for us
to meet with you and share information. We would not be able to do this without our
gracious event hosts. Thank you for your partnership and your willingness to gather your
neighbors to bring us all together to stand up against crime.” –Officer Andrew Museus
“Dear Pastor Max,
Thank you again for the heart felt service you gave for my dear mother. Thank you also to
the women of the church for their expertise in the kitchen and the love they share with
all.” –The family of Eunice Belden
Make a Difference Day- Saturday, October 29
This is when you make a difference in someone’s life. Send a card, make a call, visit. Check
insert in bulletin on October 23.
Feed My Starving Children-Saturday, November 13, 11:30-1:30
If you haven’t tried it yet, make this the day you start! Sign up with Dick Meixner at 763788-2329.
Hanging of the Greens- Saturday, November 27
This is when we decorate the church for the holidays! Supper is at 5:00, Worship is at
6:15. This event will definitely put you in the holiday spirit!
Ringing of the Bells for Salvation ArmySanta assigned 3 Fridays, December 2, 9, and 16: 10am-8pm @ St. Anthony Cub
Sign up for an hour time slot to ring for donations. It’s a great experience especially when
you see the little kids putting their pennies in the pot. Call Dick Meixner with any
questions at 763-788-2329
Thank DINNER
you,
LASAGNA
Dick Meixner
FINANCE REPORT TO CONGREGATION
This article is being written before the end of September so the figures quoted are
estimates of where we will be as of September 30. We want to keep you informed as
to our current financial situation.
The good news:
 The Rummage, Craft and Bake Sales in September brought in over $2,000.
Thank you to all the workers and all those who donated to the effort.
 We continue to pay 100% of our apportionments of approximately $1,600
each month(see the related article about how apportionment moneys are
spent)
 We served 82 people at our last Community Dinner!
 The new Sunday School year and Adult study programs are underway to
feed our souls.
 A new phone system is being installed so we will have additional
functionality to monitor the phones when no one is in the office.
 Gutters were put on the east side of the church just before the monsoons
hit last week and we did not get water in the basement! Both the gutters
and the phone changes were made possible by the generous donations
folks have made to the Capital Fund. Thank you for your continued
support of this designated fund.
The bad news:
 We currently have a shortfall between giving and our budgeted expenses
of approximately $22,500.
 There are only 3 months left in the year to make up our deficit.
 If this deficit continues to the end of the year, we will need to make up the
deficit up from our reserve funds.
We currently have uncommitted reserves of approximately $91,000. We do not
want to have to dip into these funds to meet our budget. It is a matter of
sustainability of the church. If we are unable to demonstrate that we can support
our building and a full time pastor (our two biggest expenses) we may need to begin
discussions with the conference regarding alternatives. This is not a path that we
want to go down.
Please give prayerful consideration to the financial situation and the future of our
church. If you have ideas regarding fundraising, please share those thoughts with
Pastor Max, Mary, Jim or any other Ad Board member.
Mary Tholkes- Ad Board Chairperson and Jim Reinholdson - Treasurer
Why Do We Pay Apportionments?
What Do They Go Towards?
We as Christians are called to be stewards of the gospel, stewards of God’s creation and
stewards of hope. The United Methodist Church is a connectional church. We believe that
we can do more together than any church can do by its self. Each United Methodist Church
is asked to pay their "portion" to the greater good of the denomination and the world
Apportionments form the framework for our connectional ministry and mission. When we
give our money so our congregation can pay its apportionments, we give to these causes:
World Service Fund: Trying to describe the ways the World Service Fund contributes to
The United Methodist Church requires the use of many “ands.” It helps build new churches
and pay the salaries of missionaries and expand Bible studies and provide leadership for
youth ministry, and much more. World Service is the financial lifeline to a long list of
Christian mission and ministry throughout the denomination.
Africa University Fund: Africa University is the only General Conference–approved
degree-granting institution of higher education supported by The United Methodist Church
on the continent of Africa. Men and women from 27 countries in Africa receive
postsecondary education and postgraduate degrees. When we support the Africa
University Fund, we nurture students in Christian values and develop visionary leaders.
Ministerial Education Fund: This fund is essential for The United Methodist Church to
continue its commitment to recruit and educate quality pastoral leadership. Helping to
defray the steep costs of getting a seminary education, the Ministerial Education Fund is
one way The United Methodist Church supports those who are called into ordained and
licensed ministry. The fund also equips our annual conferences with local pastor courses of
study, continuing education and many other efforts to recruit, educate and support people
called to ordained and licensed ministry.
Black College Fund: Through The Black College Fund, The United Methodist Church helps
the 11 historically Black United Methodist–related colleges and universities to maintain
solid, challenging academic programs, strong faculties and well-equipped facilities. Their
graduates are leaders nationally and internationally.
Episcopal Fund: Bishops are an integral part of the spiritual and administrative leadership
of The United Methodist Church. Bishops are elected and consecrated to speak to the
church and from the church. This fund pays our bishops’ salaries and covers office and
travel expenses; it also provides pension and health benefit coverage.
Interdenominational Cooperation Fund: The Interdenominational Cooperation Fund
enables United Methodists to have a presence and a voice in the activities of several
national and worldwide ecumenical and interreligious organizations. It provides the United
Methodist share of the basic budgets of these organizations, and pays for the travel
expenses of United Methodist representatives.
General Administration Fund: This fund attends to the business of The United Methodist
Church by ensuring trustworthy systems of oversight and financial accountability. The
General Administration Fund finances the administrative activities of the church, in
addition to underwriting the basic costs of General Conference, funding work of the Judicial
Council, maintaining United Methodist official documents and historical artifacts, and
designating historical shrines, landmarks and sites.
–Mary Tholkes
Turning to God amid recent violence: A Letter from the Bishop
The past several days my morning prayers return to the same despairing and desperate
lament:
It’s too much! Violence upon violence has overrun grace upon grace.
I can’t deal with all the terror and violence.
How much longer, O God. It’s just too much!
My heart echoes the psalmist’s cry:
“O God, do not keep silence;
do not hold your peace or be still, O God!” (Psalm 83:1)
The last few days have been overwhelming, nearly incomprehensible. The terrorist attacks
in St. Cloud and New York/New Jersey; the police shootings of African-American men in
Tulsa and Charlotte; the relentless, numbing homicides in Chicago (and increasingly
Minneapolis) city streets boiling over with angry protesters and rioters—all add to the
narrative of death and fear reported daily throughout our nation. It is too much!
The only place I can turn is to the One who is always faithful. So, the refrain to my lament is:
“Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new
mercies I see; all I have needed thy hand has provided; great is thy faithfulness, Lord,
unto me!” (UM Hymnal #140)
God remains God in the midst of the violent chaos. And God’s saving, reconciling narrative
remains unwavering in the midst of hopelessness and despair.
So, I urge you to turn to God in prayer. Pray for all those who suffer as a result of violent
and terror-inducing acts. Pray that God will comfort families and friends of the
victims. Pray for the first responders and those, including the police, who work to protect
public safety. Pray for all those feeling vulnerable, isolated, insecure, and fearful. Pray for
peace. So, I urge you to engage in the difficult but necessary and urgent public debateabout
gun control and the growing prominence of violence in our culture. Engage in the debate
about policing our communities. Acknowledge the persistent, debilitating, institutionalized
reality of racism and racial/religious violence and injustice. Racial/religious justice is
ultimately about the restoration of right, respectful, and equitable relationships. Seek and
build restorative relationships. Become a peacemaker. So, I pray:
Gracious and ever-faithful God, Prince of Peace, Healer of the Nations, vanish our despair
and fear. Grant us wisdom, strength, courage, and humbleness of heart to always choose
your path; to always choose to overcome evil with mercy and justice; to always choose
peace; to always place our trust in you, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Bishop Bruce R. Ough- Dakotas-Minnesota Area of The United Methodist Church