Living Waters March/April 2026
- Communications Coordinator
- Feb 26
- 11 min read
Updated: Mar 2
Next Publication will be April 15
Holy Week
March 29 - April 5
Palm Sunday March 29 Maundy Thursday April 2 Easter Sunday, April 5
9:15 Service 5:45 Communion Dinner, 7:00 Service 8:00 Breakfast 9:15 Service
We are moving to mid-month publishing
to enable members to have earlier notice of church events.
Pastor’s Column
Easter! It’s hard to imagine Resurrection when the ground is frozen and our community still suffers from the trauma of ICE. But, that is exactly why Resurrection is so important! How do we recognize the reality of the resurrection when we still see more children suffering, families living in fear, restaurants closing, and over-worked teachers, social workers and medical personnel? Where is hope? Where is God?
This is not new, but we also continuously hear about small acts of heroism, resistance to cruelty, persistent and consistent works of love, no matter what people face. Children drawing pictures for classmates, parents shepherding children of immigrants to and from school, neighbors helping with groceries and paying rent, people patronizing immigrant-owned businesses.
This is the Resurrection! It is the rising power of love when surrounded by fear, anxiety, and sorrow. It is not giving despair and hopelessness traction in our lives. It is contributing to Life while in the midst of forces promoting death.
Christ’s Resurrection embodies God’s promise that the forces of death will never have the final say. The final word is that Life, Love and God will always, ultimately win..
Spiritual Life
Worship
March 1 Communion Sunday & 2nd Sunday of Lent
Scriptures: Genesis 12: 1-4a (Abram leaves his home)
& John 3: 1-17 (Nicodemus visits Jesus)
Preacher: Pastor Kathy
Sermon Title: “In the Dark of the Night”
March 8 3rd Sunday of Lent
Scripture: John 4: 5-42 (The Samaritan woman at the well)
Preacher: Rev. Cordelia Standskrov
Sermon Title: “Thirsting for Relationship”
March 15 4th Sunday of Lent
Scripture: 1 Sam. 16: 1-13 (God tells Samuel to anoint David to be the future King) & Psalm 23
Preacher: Rev. Laura Cannata
Sermon Title: “God’s Eyes, God’s Heart”
March 22 5th Sunday of Lent
Scripture: John 11: 1-45 (The Death of Lazarus)
Preacher: Pastor Kathy
Sermon Title: “Life!”
March 29 Palm Sunday
Scripture: Matthew 21: 1-11
Guest Preacher: Pete Eichten
(Scripture scholar from Plymouth UCC)
Sermon Title: “The March on Jerusalem”
April 2, Maundy Thursday Dinner with Communion 5:45 PM,
immediately followed by church service at 7:00 (See Holy Week)
April 5th Easter Sunday!
Our 9:15 Service of Resurrection will pull out all the stops! Join us for Easter breakfast and this beautiful celebration!
Sunday, April 12 will be listed in the April 3 and 10 E-blasts
Holy Week Schedule
Palm Sunday, March 29 will focus on “The March into Jerusalem” with a joyful procession of children, palms, scripture and drumming at our 9:15 service.
On Maundy Thursday, April 2 our Communion Dinner will feature mid-eastern food from Holy Land. Join us at 5:45 for dinner and Communion Table Service in Fellowship Hall. At 7:00, we will begin our Good Friday service in the church with moving choir music, Passion readings and the extinguishing of candles. This will be a beautiful evening of reflection and prayer.
Easter Sunday, April 5 Join us for an Easter breakfast from 8:00 - 9:00. Our Service of Resurrection begins at 9:15. Children are invited to participate in a downhill egg roll after the service! Happy Easter!
Faith Formation for All Ages
Lenten Book Discussions!
We have two excellent book discussions during Lent this year. On Wednesdays Ken Beck will lead
Dancing in the Darkness: Spiritual Lessons for Thriving in Turbulent Times at 6:00 following soup suppers. This group started on February 25th, but you may still join the discussion.. Author Rev. Otis Moss III is the pastor at Trinity UCC in Chicago, our largest UCC church. Chapters include: Link Love & Justice, Consecrate Your Chaos, Redirect Your Rage, Practise Prophetic Grief, and more. A very relevant book!
Beginning Sunday, March 1st, Rev. Cordelia Strandskov will lead a prayerful discussion of God Didn’t Make Us to Hate Us: 40 Devotions to Liberate Your Faith from Fear and Reconnect with Joy, by Rev. Lizzie McManus-Dail. We will read a 3-5 page devotion each day, reflect, and discuss how the devotions helped (or didn’t!) during the week. This devotional is feminist, anti-racist, and LGBTQ affirming. For anyone raised with a fear-based faith, this book is for you! Kathy Jo will have copies available at coffee hour and the cost is $22.00.
Both Lenten Book Discussions will be available on Zoom:
Meeting ID: 883 8103 4333 Pass: 720923
Lent Art Project The congregational art project for Lent this year reflects the theme of turning. We will be reflecting on our life journey, the paths we are walking. We will be considering what we want our path to be at the end of Lent. The materials and guide lines for the project will be available after worship and at the Wednesday soup dinners.
We will use card stock with printed paths, and use words or images, or other manner of creativity to express your journey and the turning it is taking this Lenten season. The path image will be cut along the lines provided. The result will be a mobile like object that when hung will turn. The piece can be taken home with you, or you can leave it for hanging in the church.
We will be hanging the paths in the sanctuary or the gathering area for the Lenten season. If you want your path to be included, leave it in the basket provided. To show respect for your path and privacy, we will hang them with your decorated side facing up.
Belonging and Community
The artwork of June Perry now adorns our Heritage Hall.
She and her husband Patrick Labadie joined our church last year. Do enjoy the works she has shared with us that demonstrates her love for family, friends, pets, history and the environment. Nautical themes reflect Patrick’s work as curator of two maritime museums in Michigan and Duluth. Please stop by and appreciate her work on your way to coffee hour!!!!
Hospitality Report - Kathy Jo Gausman
The Chili Cookoff brought us awesome chilis to taste. We had three winners! First place went to Maya Hammill, a grade schooler who had placed last year. Second place went to Maggie Buck and third to Annette Cook. We are in the process of getting pictures and putting up a bulletin board to keep track of our yearly winners. February brought the Lenten season! We had a minor blizzard on Ash Wednesday resulting in several late comers to our soup supper, but all 40 who braved the drive were well fed and very little was left. We have five more soup suppers to go. The free will offering each Wednesday will go to local immigrant groups as they experience many needs resulting from ICE’s occupation of our city.
On Maundy Thursday we will have a Communion meal provided by Holy Land in Fellowship Hall followed by our Good Friday service in the sanctuary. We will be taking orders for our annual Easter Garden soon and will offer our Easter Sunday breakfast. Open May 15 for our next Spaghetti Dinner.
Service Trip to Kenya
RPUCC has an opportunity to participate in a service trip to Kenya. It would be roughly two weeks during Kenya's wet seasons (October and April). If you would like details, please contact Ken Beck (SheriKenBeck@yahoo.com) or Emily Braun (emilynbra@gmail.com).
Interested In learning more about RPUCC?
Upcoming Inquirer’s Gathering – Sunday, April 26, 10:45 AM
Please attend the next Inquirer's Gathering, Sunday, April 26 - 10:45 AM in Heritage Hall following worship and coffee hour. Join a small group of others and learn about the United Church of Christ, a brief history of RPUCC and the many opportunities for worship and serving. This is one step in the membership joining process, however, you are under no pressure to join, simply come and learn more.
Out to Lunch Bunch will meet on Tuesday, March 17 at the VFW in Crystal. Join us at noon for lunch, friendship, and good food! 5222 Bass Lake Rd., Crystal, 55429
Pilgrim Guild will not be held in March. Join us April 15 for our Wild Rose Cloggers
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, 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.
People with Special Concerns
Taslimah Abdur-Razzaaq Rick Hackney A.J. Houle (Nancy Larson’s son in law, 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 Judi Swenson, friend of Nicole Anderson All Caregivers Jesus is the Way Ministries All our immigrant neighbors |
Outreach, Service and Justice
The Outreach, Service and Justice team has provided two ‘ministry moments’ during our services, focusing on Common Hope and Meals on Wheels. We plan to move to one per month. We have also been reaching out to leaders of various church outreach and service programs, so that we remain current regarding their needs and goals. - Karrie Haugen, Chair
Blood Supply is Critically Low! Red Cross Blood Drive!
RPUCC will host a Blood Drive on Tuesday, March 3. Appointment times are
1:00 – 6:45 p.m. Make your appointment for either of the drives using your Blood Donor app (on Google Play Store or on Apple App Store) or scan the QR Code or at https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=RdaleUnited
Share the Care Offering for March is for our food shelf partners at PRISM and NorthPoint. It is Minnesota FoodShare Month. Monetary donations to the food shelves allow them to buy in bulk; to buy perishable items, e.g. fruits, vegetables, milk; and to buy from local farmers. 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 “FoodShare” or “March” in the memo field. To donate online, go to https://www.osvhub.com/robbinsdale-ucc/giving/funds find PRISM/NorthPoint, and click “Give Now”.
March is Minnesota FoodShare Month!
We will collect monetary donations, non-perishable food items, personal hygiene items, paper products (toilet paper, paper towels), pantry items (cooking oil, salt, pepper, spices). All items must be in their original packaging, not past their “best by” or “use by” date, and cannot require refrigeration or freezing. Please be mindful of what you are donating. Monetary donations are always appreciated, and during March, they may be matched by organizations.
Last year, food shelves raised $10,144,172 and collected 5,647,451 pounds of food. The need is greater this year, because people did not work or go to school during the ICE Surge.
Questions? Contact Dianne Star at diannestar54@gmail.com or text her at
612-868-7118.
One Great Hour of Sharing is one of the UCC’s 5 for 5 special offerings. This offering “supports partners worldwide with ministries that fund health, education, and agricultural development, emergency relief, refugee ministries, and both
international and domestic disaster response.”
On Sunday, March 15, there will be special offering envelopes in the pews to donate to this fund. Please make checks out to RPUCC. Online donations can be made at https://www.osvhub.com/robbinsdale-ucc/giving/funds
find One Great Hour of Sharing, and click on “Give Now. “
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)
GREETERS MAKE THE FIRST IMPRESSION!
Lest we take our warmth and hospitality for granted, please know that when you serve as a GREETER prior to worship, you truly make a difference.
Gratitude to those who have served in this role last month: Dan Haugen, Karrie Haugen, Dave Hendel, NormaRae Hunt, Victor Morrison, Lola May Moser, Louiva Puffer, Jim Puffer, Millia Saade. We need to fill in greeters for the last two Sundays in March, the 22 and 29th. Come 20 minutes before the 9:15 AM worship, don a red vest found in the coat room and offer your smile and words of welcome at either the parking lot entrance or upper level door!
Administration
Shared Ministry:
The Shared Ministry Team wishes to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to the members of our congregation who completed the Interest Survey in January. A total of 65 surveys were received. Responses show congregational interest and support for all the areas of ministry being undertaken by Robbinsdale Parkway UCC. Your input has given the team valuable information to help us continue our work.
RPUCC Shared Ministry Team
Teresa George, Tim Hoppe, NormaRae Hunt, Pastor Kathy Itzin, John Lapointe & Sue Wieker
Endowment Fund Opportunity
The RPUCC Endowment Fund provides about $10,000 for special projects and ministries suggested by congregational members. The fund is to enhance the mission and ministry of RPUCC. Any member of RPUCC may apply for these funds (or a portion of them). There are many ways to apply. You can complete this application form online. You can print this application form and give the completed form to the Clerk (Teresa George) or to the Treasurer (Ken Beck). You can ask for a print-out of the application form from Ken Beck (SheriKenBeck@yahoo.com).
Treasurers Report:
My report here will be brief.
Our pledges for January are higher than budgeted. This is because a few members paid their 2026 pledges in one payment in January. We are giving $1,000 to PRISM because of the high demand for rental assistance and there is a matching donation for the month of February. January 1, 2026 mortgage: $86,415. January donation: $2,328. Remaining $20,000 matching grant: $17, 672. Our financial situation is looking good because of the generosity of our congregation. Thank you!
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Ken Beck,
Treasurer
Summary of Council Meeting, Feb. 17, 202
Here is a summary of the RPUCC Council meeting of February 17, 2026. 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).
1. Endowment Fund - The Endowment Fund provides about $10,000 annually for special projects/ministries suggested by congregational members. Ken will prepare a notice for the March 2026 Living Waters announcing the fund’s availability, with applications due by the end of April and decisions in May.
2. A three to five year capital replacement fund –The need for proactive planning for major capital expenses was identified. Council agreed that a professional building assessment is necessary to establish a baseline for the RPUCC facility. Because the assessment will likely cost a few thousand dollars, Council recommended adding it as a line item in the 2027 budget. Kathy to make this recommendation at the October Finance/Budgeting Committee meeting.
3. Pastor’s report - Shared Ministry was pleased with the strong survey response rate. The Stewardship Committee has begun meeting with the goal of making stewardship and generosity an ongoing focus.
4. Financial report -The budget is currently in the black by $15,000 due in part to those members giving their annual pledge in one lump sum.
March 1 2nd Sunday of Lent/Communion Sunday, Book Study 10:45
March 3 Bible Study 10:00, Blood Drive 1:00-6:45
March 4 5:30 Soup, Book Study 6:00, Bell Choir 6:00, Choir 7:00
March 7 Intergenerational ‘Feed My Starving Children’ event
March 8 3rd Sunday of Lent (Bell Sunday) Book Study 10:45
March 9 Shared Ministry 2:30, Finance 6:00
March 10 Bible Study 10:00, Property 6:00
March 11 Soup Supper 5:30, Book Study 6:00, Bell Choir 6:00, Choir 7:00
March 15 4th Sunday of Lent (Contemporary Band) Book Study 10:45
March 17 Bible Study 10:00, Out to Lunch Bunch 12:00 Crystal VFW, Council 5:45
March 18 5:30 Soup, Book Study 6:00, Bell Choir 6:00, Choir 7:00
March 20 Spaghetti Dinner 4:30-7:00
March 22 5th Sunday of Lent, Book study 10:45
March 24 Bible Study 10:00
March 26 Pastoral Relations 6:30
March 29 Palm Sunday, Book Study 10:45
April 2 Maundy Thursday 6:00 Dinner Communion/ 7:00 Good Friday Service in Sanctuary
April 5 EASTER!!! 8:00 Church Breakfast, 9:15 Resurrection Service, Egg Hunt Following
April 7 Bible Study 10:00
April 8 Pilgrim Guild - Wild Rose Cloggers! 12:00
April 12 2nd Sunday of Easter - Forum “Mental Health and ICE” 10:45
April 13 Finance 6:00
April 14 Bible Study 10:00, Property 6:00