Living Waters: August 2025

August Worship

August 3, 8th Sunday of Pentecost, Communion Sunday

• Scripture: Luke 12: 13-21 ("Be careful of greed, for your life is more than possessions!")

• Preacher: Pastor Kathy

• Sermon Title: “Who Am I to Judge?” We determine the paths of our own lives! Am I putting my time and energy where I want it to go?

August 10, 9th Sunday of Pentecost

• Scripture: Luke 12: 22-34 (“Look at the lilies of the field!”)

• Preacher: Pastor Kathy

• Sermon Title: “Consider the Wildflowers…” Investing in fear and worry could be a national pastime. How can we get beyond the ideas that fill our lives with so much stress?

August 17, 10th Sunday after Pentecost - Guest Preacher

• Preacher: Our own Deb Jance, Chaplain at Grace Hospice

• Scripture: Psalm 82 (the foundations of the earth are shaken)

• Sermon Title: “When We Feel Like We’re Walking in Darkness…” The news is so heavy every day. When we see all the challenges facing us from every corner, how do we find the light?

August 24, 11th Sunday after Pentecost

• Scriptures: Matthew 11: 28-30 (“Come to me…for my yoke is easy and my burden light”) & Luke 13: 10-17 (Jesus heals a woman who has been bent over for almost 20 years)

• Preacher: Pastor Kathy

• Sermon Title: “Set Free from Bondage!” Jesus is all about freeing people. How do we place burdens on ourselves that are too heavy to carry?

August 31, 12th Sunday after Pentecost, Labor Day Weekend

• Scriptures: Luke 14: 1, 7-14 (Don’t take first place all the time and remember the others)

• Preacher: Rev. Kathy Itzin

• Sermon Title: “Who Do I Include?” Who do we welcome? How do we form our circles of friends? How do we claim solidarity with others when we may seem so different?

From your pastor

Oh my, what a summer!

Summer Leadership Changes

We began with our Congregational Meeting, during which we elected our new Vice-Moderator, Deb Miedema, and our new Moderator, Nathan Syverson. We also said a big thank you to our retiring Past-Moderator, Lori Myren-Manbeck. Cheryl Norquist will now assume that position.

Since then, after serving for five years as an excellent Treasurer, Karen Montanez has decided to leave that position. Ken Beck has agreed to take on the role once he is approved by Council.

After serving for countless years, Dick Smith has also decided to retire from the bookwork he has done here, as well as from serving as Lead Usher. The Worship Committee plans to have four people who rotate as Lead Usher one Sunday a month. Please let us know if you are interested! We thank both of these people profusely for the service that they have given us so well and for so long!

New Church Partners & Building Improvements

We gave Unity Church a heartfelt farewell on Sunday, July 6, which was their last Sunday worshipping at the church. Our hospitality and events committee then provided a wonderful hot dog open house welcome to Genesis Church on Sunday, July 8, just before they moved in. Council members gave tours of the building and Genesis has been extremely appreciative!

Genesis members also asked permission to paint and provide new furniture in the Bible Adventures and Toddler rooms, which we gratefully accepted. They painted and put up new shelving and storage areas all at their own expense! These rooms look very fresh and welcoming for our little ones!

Speaking of ‘fresh and welcoming,’ our property committee asked Scott Wieker to paint the choir room, and that also looks much cleaner and brighter! Thank you!

Rental and hiring updates Our rental team decided not to renew the contract for Caribbean Kitchen catering, but have been in discussion for several months with Prep Club catering, which would offer us a long-term (three-year) contract. Negotiations are continuing in this area.

At the time of this writing, our personnel committee is conducting final interviews for the Sunday video position. Art Clyde is still looking for a leader and vocalist to complete the monthly contemporary worship band that the congregation approved in January.

Genesis church, which shares very similar values, has also been advertising for a children and youth director. Upon the recommendation from our personnel committee, our council has agreed to combine our 10 hr/week director of children and youth position with the 20 hr/week position offered by Genesis. Children's Sunday schools would continue to be separate, but we would envision sharing some of the middle school/youth group activities. That position has only recently been advertised, and we hope to hire someone by the fall.

Most of our vitality and growth teams have been launched with one or two meetings, and they are off to a great start. Council will meet regularly in August and have invited the chairs of all boards and committees to join them in a half-day orientation retreat on Saturday, August 23.

We are an active and growing church, and I am so glad that we are in this community together!

Pastor Kathy

Growth & Vitality: Reports from our committees and teams

Our Growth and Vitality Committees and Teams are off to a great start!

• Personnel Committee: The Personnel Committee has written several employment policies and contracts which have been approved by Council. They are working on hiring our video professional as well as a children and youth director.

• Pastoral Relations: The Pastoral Relations team has re-formed and is meeting the last week of July.

• Connections and Care Ministry: This ministry met with the pastor and faith community nurse to identify members that may appreciate a visit or a call. They are in the process of starting this.

• Outreach, Service, and Justice: This team has written its job description, identified its goals, and will be compiling a list of present, past, and needed areas of outreach.

• Worship Committee: The Worship Committee is organizing and training monthly rotating Lead Ushers. They will also be discussing communion processes and parts of the service.

• Communication Platforms Committee: This committee has not yet met, partially due to the temporary committee-resignation of one of the co-chairs. They are working on finding a replacement and expect to meet soon.

• Membership Growth: This team is introducing specific practices to build on and improve our initial welcome to visitors and new members.

• Job Description Task Force: This task force has almost completed creating job descriptions with each new committee chair. These include primary responsibilities, additional responsibilities, who they report to, and coordination with staff or other committees.

• Growth and Vitality Oversight Team: This team has met many times with chairs of various committees and is supervising the progress towards reaching our goals as well as that of the committees and teams.

Membership Growth

Submitted by NormaRae Hunt, chairperson of Membership Growth

Invite, welcome, orient and celebrate new members & friends

The newly formed Membership Growth Team needs your help!

Here’s how you can help:

• Welcome visitors on Sunday. Greeters are the first contact for visitors. Are you willing to commit to one Sunday a month, offering a smile and words of welcome? If so, please add your name to the Greeter sign-up sheet near the monitor in the narthex/lobby.

• Invite others to our ministry activities. Did you know that 87% of people who join a faith community do so because they were personally invited? Only 13% of new members find us.

Think about the people you know who are not active in a faith community. Then, think of all the inviting opportunities we offer. Invite someone to worship, a spaghetti dinner, a book study, a forum, a children or youth group event, an art exhibit, a concert, or an outreach ministry opportunity. Pick one that may meet a need or interest and invite that person to join you.

The potential for inviting is breathtaking. There are people of all five generations who seek belonging and community. Whether they realize it or not, they may be seeking a progressive Christian community like ours offering deeper meaning and personal transformation.

I have a saying sitting on my bookshelf. It reads: “Somewhere someone is looking for exactly what you have to offer.” RPUCC partners, we have a lot to offer!

Inquirer’s Gathering

Next Inquirer’s Gathering – Sunday, August 10, 10:45 AM - Heritage Room

Are you interested in learning more about RPUCC's ministry and the United Church of Christ? Please join a small group on Sunday, August 10 following Coffee Hour at 10:45 AM. We'll spend about an hour together, with a tour of the church at the conclusion of our gathering.

Worship Committee

Remember when you used to personally be handed a bulletin before worship? As we continue to "live past" Covid, we will be making some changes on Sunday mornings, including having a team of Lead Ushers who will prepare the sanctuary, personally hand out bulletins, and invite members to collect the offering.

A big thank you to Dick Smith, who has filled this role for years and is retiring from that position. There will be a sign-up sheet under the scrolling monitor for those who are interested in serving as a head usher once a month.

The Worship Team includes Deb Miedema, Teresa George, Jim Gausman, and Dawn Carlson Conn. Please contact any of us with ideas or interest in the worship area in the future. Thank you.

Outreach, Service, and Justice Committee

The Outreach, Service, and Justice Committee has developed a job description and laid out short-term goals for this year. We are identifying all the activities that members have taken on, and the contact people for each project.

We are going to develop a short questionnaire for each activity and determine the best ways to advertise the activities for new and ongoing projects. We want to support those involved in our areas of outreach and to find the best ways to invite others to join them.

Pastoral Relations

Submitted by Pastor Kathy Itzen

Looking Back at Our Pastoral Relations Committee When Robbinsdale and Parkway consolidated six years ago, we believed it was important to have a Pastoral Relations committee composed of an equal number of members (5) from both churches. We wanted to ensure a smooth transition for both congregations and both pastors. We met quarterly, calling additional meetings when necessary.

A Recent Transition

After T. Michael left to teach at the seminary, there was a period of transition as I assumed responsibilities that had previously been shared by both of us. Adding additional meetings to my schedule was difficult, and our congregation has been doing quite well.

Reforming the Team

Our three-year Growth & Vitality plan includes the reforming and updating of this team. According to the UCC Pastoral Relations handbook, an ideal team consists of 5-7 members. A few previous members have decided not to continue, and others have agreed to serve. We met for the first time the last week of July.

Our Pastoral Relations Members are: Jim Gausman, Sue Hamley, Patty Miller, Justin Sabia-Tanis, and Kristin Sonquist. Thank you all for serving!

The Out to Lunch Bunch

The Out to Lunch Bunch will meet on Tuesday, August 19, at noon at Frankie’s Chicago Style Restaurant, located at 3556 Winnetka Ave in New Hope. About 20 members gather on the third Tuesday of every month for lunch and great conversation. Come join in on the fun!

Pilgrim Guild

The Pilgrim Guild will be taking a break for the summer. They will restart their gatherings on Wednesday, September 10.

Health and Safety Update

Submitted by Carol Anderson, RN

New Defibrillators

We now have two AEDs (Defibrillators) at the church. One is on the first floor near Heritage Hall, directly across from the handicap entrance, and the other one is in Fellowship Hall.

On July 12, LifeLine offered a four-hour CPR course in Heritage Hall. This was well attended and so appreciated by the eleven people who were certified. Our Safety Committee has decided that each Sunday there will be two volunteers who will take charge in case of an emergency during services or coffee hour. These individuals will be wearing an orange armband.

A fire escape map is posted in each room with directions regarding exiting. Please take a look at these and familiarize yourself with the information provided.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Call or text 988 if you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis.

Mental Health Connect

Mental Health Connect offers navigators who can help remove barriers and complexity so that you can gain access to providers or resources for your unique situation. Navigation and follow-up services are free, individualized, and confidential.

• Call or text 612-642-1220

• Email navigator@mhconnect.org

• Visit their website and fill out the navigator request form at mhconnect.org.

RPUCC is part of the Mental Health Connect Collaborative.

Red Cross Blood Drive

RPUCC will host a Red Cross Blood Drive on Tuesday, August 19, with appointments available from 1:00 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.

During August, the Red Cross will test every donor’s A1C, an indicator of diabetes and pre-diabetes. More than 80% of people who have pre-diabetes do not know it. Donors will also receive a $15 gift e-card to a merchant of their choice. Please be a part of this lifesaving cause.

You can sign up on your Blood Donor app or at https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=RdaleUnited or scan the QR code.

Treasurer’s Report

Submitted by Karen Montanez

I am very pleased to announce that Ken Beck has agreed to take over as Treasurer at the beginning of August.

The church finances continue to be in fine shape. Through June, our income is $23K above plan, and expenses are $32K less than budget, resulting in a surplus of $55K.

Our endowment funds have recovered from earlier losses this year and are currently at $1.47 million. This is a gain of $60K in June and over $166K from this time last year. Our outstanding capital campaign mortgage debt is now down to $100K, versus $155K at this time last year. Donations can still be made to the capital campaign to help us pay down the debt sooner.

It has been my pleasure to serve as your Treasurer for the past five years. Although I will no longer be your Treasurer, I will continue on as a member of the Finance Committee and as an at-large Council member.

Share the Care Offering

The Share the Care Offering for August is the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (www.rcrc.org), a broad-based, national, interfaith movement that brings the moral force of religion to protect and advance reproductive health, choice, rights, and justice through education, prophetic witness, pastoral presence, and advocacy.

To donate:

• Drop coins into the offering plate at church.

• Place coins, bills, or checks into the designated container at worship.

• Mail a check to the church. Make checks to RPUCC and put “RCRC” in the memo field.

To donate online, go to https://www.osvhub.com/robbinsdale-ucc/giving/funds, click Give Now under the Other choice, and follow the directions.

Council Meeting Summary, 6/17/25

Lyle Latzig filling in for Clerk Teresa George

Council approved the Personnel Committee’s recommendation for staff safe and sick time.

• Three-Way Covenant with Theresa Heupel: Theresa Heupel presented her proposed Three-Way Covenant between RPUCC, the Minnesota Conference UCC, and herself to be an authorized minister in the Minnesota Conference as a shamanic healer. This was approved by the Council. All authorized ministers in the UCC who are not church pastors are asked to have a three-way covenant with their local church.

• Committee Reporting: A new system of reporting was approved for all committees and teams. Since there are so many new Growth & Vitality teams, chairs will now submit a written report regularly to Council, rather than reporting in person every month. Chairs will report in person on a rotating basis and whenever there are specific issues that need to be discussed.

• Council and all Chairs will attend a half-day retreat together in August.

• Hospitality Updates: Hospitality reported that they are preparing an extended coffee hour to say goodbye to Unity on July 6 and an Open House to welcome Genesis on July 8. Council members will be greeters and tour guides for Genesis.

• Rental Committee: The Rental Committee is not renewing the contract with Caribbean Kitchen. There is a prospective new renter for the kitchen that would involve a new walk-in cooler, and terms are currently being discussed.

People with Special Concerns

We hold these individuals and their caregivers in our thoughts and prayers.

• Amanda & Rosaria Busch

• Doug Fowler (Char's dad)

• Andy Momont (Parkinson's)

• Lisa Flynn (Carol & Kathy’s niece)

• Kristine Tures (Barbara Kinnunen’s daughter)

• Jim and Margaret Heglund

• Brad and Laurie Jones

• Jan Schwarz

• Jim Watry

• Bill Herrmann

• Avery & Kylie Anderson (Dawn Conn’s great-granddaughters)

• Cordelia Standskov

• John Stoltzfus

• Spence Pierce and Faith Cozier Pierce

• Sharon Stevens (abdominal cancer)

• Sean Stiff

• Laura Cannata

• KJ Davis (and Mom & Dad)

• Danielle Wines (Linda & Don Smith’s daughter)

• All Caregivers