Living Waters: December 2025

The December Living Waters

Robbinsdale Parkway United Church of Christ Newsletter

United in Spirit and inspired by God’s grace,

We welcome all, love all, and seek justice for all Creation.

Dec. 1 Shared Ministry Planning 2:30pm Roseville Community Band Concert 7:00pm

Dec. 2 Bible Study 10:00am

Dec. 3 Bell Choir 6:00pm, Choir 7:00pm

Dec. 7 2nd Sunday of Advent Communion Sunday Bell Choir & Choir

Dec. 8 Finance Committee 6:00pm Hospitality 7:00pm

Dec. 9 Bible Study 10:00am Board of Property 6:00pm

Dec. 10 Pilgrim Guild Potluck 12:00pm Noon Bell Choir 6:00pm, Choir 7:00pm

Dec. 14 3rd Sunday of Advent Children’s Pageant

Dec. 16 Bible Study 10:00am, Out to Lunch Bunch 12:00pm, Coordinating Council 5:45pm

Dec. 17 Bell Choir 6:00pm, Choir 7:00pm

Dec. 20 All Bodies All Minds 10:00pm

Dec. 21 4th Sunday of Advent Contemporary Band

Special Worship: “A Light in the Darkness” Contemplative Service 4:30pm

Dec. 23 Bible Study 10:00am

Dec. 24 Christmas Eve! Christmas Eve. Service 4:30pm

Dec. 28 Sunday After Christmas - Carol Singing Service

Dec. 29 - Jan. 3 CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED No Regular Meetings

Jan. 4 Epiphany Inquirer’s Gathering 10:45

Worship Page

Dec. 7 2nd Sunday of Advent / Communion Sunday / Choir & Bell Choir

Scriptures: Isaiah 35: 1-4a; 5-6 (The desert shall rejoice and bloom, the blind shall see and the deaf shall hear…) & Lk. 1: 46- 56 (Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God..!)

Preacher: Pastor Kathy

Sermon Title: “Throw down the powerful and lift up the lowly?”

The Magnificat speaks of God “throwing down the rulers from their thrones, and lifting up the lowly, filling the hungry with good things, and sending the rich away empty.” Powerful words, but what does it mean for us?

Dec. 14 3rd Sunday of Advent CHILDREN’S PAGEANT!!!

Scriptures: The Christmas story, told by our children.

Coordinators: Cheryl Norquist & Mikayla Giehler

Join us for our children' s rendition of the Christmas story, told from the shepherd’s point of view!

Dec. 21 4th Sunday of Advent

Scriptures: Isaiah 11: 1, 5-9 (The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard with the little goat…and a little child shall lead them) and Matthew 1: 18-25 (Now the birth of Jesus took place this way…)

Preacher: Pastor Kathy

The birth of Jesus brings the ‘Prince of Peace’ into the world, although shortly afterwards, they escaped to Egypt to avoid a massacre. How are we centers of peace during non-peaceful times?

Dec. 21 Evening Solstice - ‘A Light in the Darkness’ Special Worship Service

On the longest of nights, you’re invited to be in sacred space with those you know and other seekers. Special readings, quiet meditation, carols and candlelight move us to embrace our fears and longings, and our loss and hope, as we await the Light. Join us for this beautiful service!

Dec. 24 Christmas Eve 4:30 Joint Service with the Congregation from Genesis

Scriptures: The Christmas readings

Preachers: Pastor Kathy & Genesis’ Pastor Kara

Like us, Genesis church offers very similar services with contemporary, justice-minded theology, also at 4:30 on Christmas Eve. Join us as we offer a beautiful joint service ending with the traditional candlelight ‘Silent Night,” (a beloved custom for both churches). Children will bring lights reflecting our Advent theme of “Hope: A Light in the Darkeness.” This will be a wonderful Christmas Eve service!

Dec. 28 Sunday After Christmas

Scriptures: Psalm 148 (Praise God from the heavens, from the heights and depths…praise our God!) and Matthew 2: 13-23 (Joseph’s dream and the family’s escape into Egypt).

Preacher: Pastor Kathy

Sermon Title: “ Praise Our God!”

God was active in helping Jesus’ family escape into Egypt. We still see so many situations of violence and injustice today. What can we learn from this ancient story?

Jan. 4 Epiphany / Communion Sunday

Scriptures: Isaiah 60: 1-6 (Arise, shine; for your light has come!), Matthew 2: 1-12 (Magi followed the star) and John 1: 1-5 (In the beginning was the Word…the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it).

Preacher: Pastor Kathy

Sermon Title: ‘The light shines…and the darkness could not overcome it!”

Jesus is the light of the world, and so are we! The light Cannot be extinguished, ever! We are an integral part of this Good News!

Advent! Waiting!

Advent is a time of waiting; waiting for Christ, waiting for Peace, waiting for Joy.

At the same time, for many of us, it is also a time of rushing around trying to get everything done; dividing our time between people we love and our other responsibilities. It is often Not a time of peace. This year, we also carry the additional stress of knowing that so many people and situations in the world are even farther away from the peace and happiness they deserve..

In the midst of the hurriedness, I offer you this prayer by Ted Loder from the book “Life Prayers.”

Gentle me, Holy One,

Into an unclenched moment,

A deep breath,

A letting go of heavy experiences,

Of shriveling anxieties

Of dead certainties,

That, softened by the silence,

Surrounded by the light,

And open to the mystery, I may be found by wholeness,

Upheld by the unfathomable,

Entranced by the simple,

And filled with the joy

That is you.

May this be your experience of Advent.

Love, Pastor Kathy

THANK YOU GREETERS!

We are a welcoming and hospitable congregation! However, no visitor realizes this until after worship when the smiles and handshakes happen. Therefore the role of the GREETER prior to worship is exceedingly important. Thank you to the following people who have greeted before worship in the past three months! Carol Anderson, Jim & Nancy Greenwood, Dan & Karrie Haugen, NormaRae Hunt, Lola May Moser, Millia Saade, and Garth Schumacher. Our apology if we missed your name on this list! Please join this list for a now and then opportunity to serve!!

-Your Membership Growth Committee

The Out to Lunch Bunch will meet on Tuesday, December 16 at noon

at Lynde’s Restaurant, 209 Co. Rd. 81, Osseo. This is a great opportunity to get to know others in a fun atmosphere while enjoying a good meal! Join us!

Interested in exploring church membership?

Would you like to learn more about RPUCC and what becoming a member involves? Please join us following coffee hour at 10:45 Sunday, January 4th, in the Heritage Hall for the next Inquirer’s Gathering!

Advent Book Study

Sundays at 10:45 a.m., November 23 - December 21

You are still welcome to join others in exploring this compelling Advent read, The First Advent in Palestine: Reversals, Resistance, and the Ongoing Complexities of Hope, by Kelly Nikondeha. “This thought-provoking examination invites us into a season of discovery, one that is realistic and honest, and still wonders at the goodness of God’s grace.” We will cover 2 chapters each week. Books are still available and the cost is $15 each. This is a hybrid event - in person and on Zoom at meeting ID 893 8075 5845, password 531440, https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89380755845?pwd=XWPZy1f9stayQQuTVW8JBgayu4VdUL.1

RPUCC is a Winter Coat Drive site! New or gently used winter coats or heavy jackets are accepted in all sizes. Now through Sunday, December 14. The collection bin will be in the Gathering Area.

Update on Donating to Our Food Shelf Partners at PRISM and NorthPoint!

The federal budget has cut support for food shelves across the country. Our partners at NorthPoint and PRISM use monetary gifts to buy in bulk, to buy perishable items, and to buy from farmers. We encourage you to make a donation to our food shelf partners through the church any time of the year. Donations can be made by making a check out to RPUCC with the memo “Food Shelves”. You can also donate online at https://www.osvhub.com/robbinsdale-ucc/giving/funds and look for the “Give Now” button under “PRISM/NorthPoint”.

Our Food Shelf committee has decided to concentrate on one or two most needed items every 1-2 months. For December and January, we are collecting diapers and wipes. Please place these items in the designated basket by the office. We appreciate your support! For more information or to help with sorting, bagging, or transporting items, contact Nicole Anderson (nicolejanderson11@gmail.com), Diane Amundson (loonlake200@hotmail.com), or Dianne Star (diannestar54@gmail.com).

Pilgrim Guild Potluck - Join us for our Christmas Potluck on Wednesday, December 10th! Bring a dish to share and join us for this fun and relaxing occasion!

Christmas Fund is one of the UCC’s 5 for 5 special offerings. This fund cares for active and retired clergy and lay employees of the UCC. It provides emergency grants, supplementation of small annuities and health premiums, and Christmas “Thank You” gift checks each December to our lower-income retirees. There will be special Christmas Fund offering envelopes in the pews on December 21. Please make checks out to RPUCC. You may donate online at https://www.osvhub.com/robbinsdale-ucc/giving/funds and look for the “Give Now” button under “Christmas Fund.”

“Help Overcome the Blood Shortage” Blood Drive! In October, our volunteers were asked to host an extra blood drive. The Red Cross was unable to conduct one in December, so we will start our 2026 Blood Drive on Tuesday, January 6. Other confirmed dates are Tuesday, March 3, and Tuesday, April 28. All appointment times are 1:00 – 6:45 p.m. Make your appointment for any of all of the drives using your Blood Donor app (on Google Play Store or on Apple App Store) or at https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=RdaleUnited

Join us for our special Advent and Christmas Eve Services!

This year we will be offering a special contemplative worship service “A Light in the Darkness” at 4:30pm on Dec. 21, the evening of the winter solstice. Special readings, quiet meditation, carols and candlelight will invite us to embrace our fears and longings, and our loss and hope, as we await the Light.

We will be retiring our 10:00 pm Christmas Eve. service and creating new life and beauty at our 4:30 service as we welcome the congregation from Genesis to share our service. Both congregations traditionally offer 4:30 services ending with the candlelight singing of “Silent Night,” as both of us focus on Christmas readings and carols. This is an opportunity to fill the church with members, visitors, children, the Christmas message, light in the darkness, Christmas carols, candlelight Silent Night and joy!

Our TREE of WARMTH is located in the gathering space and has been a constant presence here during Advent. We decorate the tree with hats, scarves, mittens and socks to be donated to organizations and people in need in early January. Hand crafted and store bought items are so gratefully received. Thank you!

Many thanks to blood donors and blood drive volunteers! RPUCC hosted five Red Cross Blood Drives in 2025 which resulted in 201 units, bringing our total number of donated units to 1855. Thank you to the 17 people who volunteered to help run the drives – Carol Anderson, Carol Bulchuck, Maggie Buck, Teresa George, Jim Greenwood, Nancy Greenwood, Melissa Hansen, Karrie Haugen, Carolyn Hendel, Teresa Heupel, Tim Hoppe, Cathy Lloyd, Nancy Long, Karen Montanez, Louiva Puffer, Ann Salt, and Trina Smith. and to the 25 members who donated blood – Diane Amundson, Paul Amundson, Dawn Conn, Karen Ell, Jim Gausman, Teresa George, Nancy Greenwood, Dan Haugen, Karrie Haugen, Dave Hendel, Laura Herman, Teresa Heupel, Kathy Itzin, Elizabeth Labadie, Lisa Lindesmith, Deb Miedema, Karen Montanez, Carrie O’Neill, Kathy Petersen, Dan Peterson, Louiva Puffer, Ann Salt, Trina Smith, and Carol Welton.

Hospitality Report

Turkey Bingo was a huge success. It was well attended and we sold out of raffle tickets twice! Not all the receipts are in yet, but the deposits totaled over $2000 at this writing. Many thanks to Theresa George who put her heart and soul (and gobble) into making it all happen!

December brings us poinsettias to decorate the sanctuary, cards mailed to our shut-ins and out state folk and cookie deliveries to our homebound.. Next Spaghetti Dinner is in January. Our faithful member LolaMay Moser is stepping down from active membership this month. We wish to thank her for her service, not only a member but also as the one who spearheaded our funeral committee. Thank you, LolaMay!

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (call or text)

Mental Health Connect offers navigators who help remove barriers and complexity so that you can gain access to providers and 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, or fill out the navigator request form on their website

at mhconnect.org. RPUCC is part of the Mental Health Connect Collaborative.

Share the Care Offering for December is the Northern Plains Reservation Aid (https://nativepartnership.org/npra/) helps Native populations in the Northern Plains obtain food and water, emergency, health, and holiday support services. To donate, drop coins into the offering plate at church; place coins, bills, or checks into the designated container at worship; or mail a check to the church.

Make checks to RPUCC and put “NPRA” or “Dec)” 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.

Kitchen Usage by Church Members

At the request of Hospitality and the Rental Committee, Council recently passed policies of interest to members reserving the downstairs kitchen and fellowship hall for private events and to those who wish to borrow kitchen items, tables or chairs. Since we now have a licensed commercial kitchen and ‘Prep Club,’ (a full time professional meal prep service) renting our kitchen on weekdays, the Coordinating Council, Rental Committee, and Hospitality Committee have agreed that the kitchen should be locked when not in use. This enables us to provide security for our tenant’s equipment and inventory.

Those who want to use the kitchen for an event on the weekend should first contact Tyler in the church office, (email communications@rpucc.org.) He will schedule your event on the church calendar and arrange for doors and keys. Although we don’t charge rent for church members, we may ask you to sign a rental usage agreement. This is necessary so you understand the requirements for cleanup after your event, and for liability reasons. Donations for use of the kitchen and fellowship hall are always welcome and appreciated.

If you need access to the kitchen on short notice, leaders of the Hospitality team have keys, as well as Rev. Kathy and Tyler in the church office. There is also a key to the kitchen on the Trustees’ key ring in the church office. If you need to borrow items from the kitchen, folding chairs, or tables for your events outside the church, this can also be arranged. The Hospitality team is coming up with guidelines and a sign out process. Again, Tyler in the church office would be your initial contact.

Thank you, on behalf of the Coordinating Council,

Karen Montanez

Treasurer’s Report

Our overall financial situation is quite good. Our total income for the year is about $57,000 over our expenses. Some of our income sources (such as a few one-time gifts) from 2025 will not be available to us in 2026. The finance team is working on a draft operating budget for 2026. It will be brought to the Council in January and then to the congregation for approval at our congregational meeting on Jan. 25th.. We are expecting costs to increase due to inflation, so next year’s budget will be tight. Pledges are still coming in, so we will know more in a few weeks.

Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns. Ken Beck (SheriKenBeck@yahoo.com, 612-599-0491)

RPUCC Ministries

RPUCC members are involved in a variety of community service organizations. If you are interested in more information about one of these ministries, please reach out to the contact person listed in this table. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZXjg7fvrAkG8LcE1fmk2k0R3lxNLGLlBIto1ZOkfZ2k/edit?usp=sharing

~ Ken Beck (SheriKenBeck@yahoo.com, 612-599-0491)

Summary of Council Meeting, November 18, 2025

If you would like a full version of the notes, please let Teresa George know

and they will be emailed to you (tmorigeorge81@gmail.com).

Pastor’s Report: Sunday, 12/21/25, 4:30 PM ‘A Light in the Darkness’ service (formerly Blue Christmas). Our Christmas Eve Service will be held at 4:30 PM and will be held jointly with Genesis Church. January Congregational Meeting date established for 1/25/2026.

Treasurer Report: The budget has a $57,000 surplus for 2025. Committees are submitting budget requests for 2026. Pledges from Stewardship Sunday to date are a mix of increases predominantly, while other pledges remain the same, with a few decreased amounts.

Motion by Teresa George, Second by Mary Cook, Passed: to commission a needed new committee: ‘Sound and Streaming Production’. Ray Caron is the chair.

New Business: ‘Shared Ministry Team’ – This is a new committee approved by the congregation as part of our Growth and Vitality Plan. The work of this committee has begun offering ‘best practice’ considerations regarding RPUCC committees with the end result of increasing member involvement. Discussion followed.

Next Meeting: Tuesday, December 16, 2025

People with Special Concerns

Rick Hackney (Cancer)

Amanda & Rosaria Busch (home)

Joe Charley (friend of Lori Myren-Manbeck)

Doug Fowler (Char's dad)

Andy Momont (Parkinsons)

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

All Caregivers