Energy and Excitement in the Congregation

In this month's Reminder, within the March 12 Council Meeting Minutes, this statement appeared, "A former member noted the energy and excitement of the congregation."

Then, in reading the other articles within the Reminder, I picked out some examples from the activities of our members. I feel the energy and see the excitement!

• Late Night Study Break for UMM Students, May 8:  A place to come to study, for beverages, snacks, and Internet connection
• The Women's Fellowship Salad Supper, hosting guests from Herman, Chokio - Pepperton, and Hancock churches.
• The contributions we made to the Office of Community Engagement in support of their annual "Bread 'N Bowls" fundraiser.
• Our continued efforts to offer the 2-Hour Delay Café for Morris Area High School students for a safe and welcoming place to be before school begins.
• Our efforts to save lives through the "Imagine No Malaria" campaign.
• Contributing toward and attending the "Intercultural Community Event" at the Common Cup.
• Unprecedented giving to the "Foodshare Campaign" in March.
• Creating 60 school kits that will be sent to the United Methodist Committee on Relief for distribution at the end of May.
• The upcoming "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus" Re/New Membership Event to be held May 23, 6:30 - 8 pm.  A time to engage the core of our faith:  "What does it really mean to follow Jesus?"
• Nancy Barbour's article, "Creating Generous Congregations," reminded us of the things Rick Wagner, MN Conference UCC Associate Conference Minister talked about when he was here in February.  He asked that we consider making a covenant in the congregation to:

• Pray daily
• Worship regularly
• Improve yourself
• Volunteer outside the church
• Give generously

Learning Jesus - Lenten Program Begins February 29th

"Learning Jesus"

During the Wednesdays of the Lenten season, we will be "Learning Jesus" together.  A light supper is served at 5:45 pm at no charge, though free will offering is accepted for those who can and wish to.  The program at 6:30 is an opportunity for us to "learn Jesus" together through presentations, activities, and discussion.  ALL AGES learn together in a program that is part worship, part education, and part mission.  The mission aspect focuses this year upon gathering supplies for School Kits to be disbursed through the United Methodist Committee on Relief; each week participants are asked to bring specific items for the school kits.  For the first session, Feb. 29, we will be collecting 6 new, unsharpened pencils (please, no advertisements or patriotic, religious, military, or camouflage symbols) per participant, if you can.  A cash offering will also be accepted.  As always at Federated Church, anyone is welcome to join in regardless of church membership, faith commitment, age, ability/disability, or any other distinctions. 

“Learning Jesus” Lenten School Kit Project

Wk. 1, Feb. 29      6  unsharpened pencils (no advertisements, religious, patriotic, military or
                                camouflage symbols, please; cartoon characters are acceptable)
Wk. 2, Mar. 7         1 hand held pencil sharpener (must be at least one inch long; remove 
                                from packaging)  AND     
                                1  2 1/2 inch eraser (no advertisements or religious, patriotic, military or 
                                camouflage symbols, please; cartoon characters are acceptable)
Wk. 3, Mar. 14       3  units of paper (8 1/2 x 11 spiral notebooks or top-bound pads; 150 
                                sheets of loose-leaf can be as one unit; combination of spiral, top-bound, 
                                or loose-leaf is acceptable, but no composition books, please)

Wk. 4, Mar. 21       1  24 count box of crayons (only 24 count boxes please)

Wk. 5, Mar. 28       1 pair blunt scissors (rounded tip only; no plastic scissors, please) AND                                                          1 30-centimeter rule (hard or flexible; cartoon characters acceptable)