Living Waters: September 2025

Worship Schedule

Sunday, September 7 - Rally Sunday!

Join us for New Member Sunday and a potluck! Remember to bring your own water.

• Sermon Title: “Salt and Light!”

• Preacher: Rev. Kathy Itzin

• Scripture: Matthew 5: 13-18

You ARE the salt of the earth and the light of the world! The world community is blessed because you are part of the whole!

Sunday, September 14

• Sermon Title: “Lost and Found”

• Preacher: Rev. Rosemary Rocha

• Scripture: Luke 15: 1-10 (Stories of the lost sheep and the lost coin)

Faith is a journey of finding and losing oneself — and one’s God.

Sunday, September 21

• Sermon Title: “Who Does God Want to Be a Billionaire?”

• Preacher: Rev. Laura Cannata

• Scripture: Matthew 19: 23-24 (from the Message Bible)

Money is a hard topic to talk about, but there are over 100 verses about it in the Bible. It’s an important issue, and we'll explore what we can learn!

Sunday, September 28

• Sermon Title: “Where is our comfort?”

• Preacher: Deb Jance, Chaplain at Grace Hospice

• Scriptures: Psalm 146 and Luke 16: 19-31 (The story of the rich man and Lazarus)

This service will focus on Expectation, Hope, Praise, and Remembering!

October 2025

Sunday, October 5 - Communion Sunday

• Sermon Title: “Creative Anger for God’s Will”

• Preacher: Rev. Garth Schumacher

• Scriptures: Lamentations 1: 1-6, 3: 19-26, and 2 Timothy 1: 1-14

The Hebrew scriptures raise up the voices of a people who have been harmed and are quite angry about it. God can handle it. How do we focus our own anger into creating God’s will in our world?

From Your Pastor

New Beginnings!

We are starting this fall with many new relationships and opportunities!

Music & Tech

After approval at our congregational meeting, Art Clyde has assembled our new contemporary band! They will make their debut with us on Gathering Sunday, September 7th, and will be leading the music once a month. We also welcomed Noah Oduntan as our video technician at the beginning of August.

Community Partnerships

Our Rental Committee has been working for many months to finalize a long-term contract with Prep Club Catering, which provides healthy low-cost meals for families. A walk-in cooler, approved by our Coordinating Council on August 3rd, has been installed in the basement storage area. The cost will be shared with Prep Club, and upon their leaving, the cooler will belong to the church.

Children and Youth Ministry

We have just hired a very qualified candidate as a Director of Children and Youth! Mikayla Giehler graduated from Macalester College with a BA in Geology & Environmental Sciences. Her position will be shared with Genesis Church, with children’s Sunday School programs remaining separate and middle/high school youth activities potentially combined. Mikayla will be featured in an article in the Living Waters next month.

A Note on Pastoral Care

I will be having some surgery in early September and will be on a four-week medical leave. There is nothing to worry about! Several of our ministers have stepped forward to help during that time:

• Revs. Rosemary Rocha, Laura Cannata, Deb Jance, and Garth Schumacher will be preaching on Sept. 14, 21, 28, and Oct. 5th.

• Rev. NormaRae Hunt will offer consistency in worship leadership for each service.

• Rev. Sue Hamly will provide pastoral care for any emergencies.

• Carol Anderson, Marsha Benshoof, and our Care and Connect team will continue providing care through visits and calls.

This is a wonderful, committed, and active congregation!

Growth and Vitality

Our new Growth and Vitality Committees have been meeting through the summer and most have shared reports at the end of each service. Our Coordinating Council attended a planning retreat on Saturday, August 23, and this group of committed elders are well equipped to lead us into the future!

Gathering Sunday

On September 7th, Gathering Sunday, we will once again celebrate our unity. We will individually pour water that has personal significance to us into a single bowl. We will sing, worship, and celebrate with a shared potluck meal. Come, bring your friends, and join us!

As our Core Values describe: We are a Caring, Progressive, Justice-oriented, Loving, and Welcoming community! To quote our core purpose: “United in spirit and inspired by God’s grace, we welcome all, love all, and work for justice for all creation!"

Interested in exploring church membership?

We'd love for you to learn more about Robbinsdale Parkway United Church of Christ and what becoming a member involves. Please join us for the next Inquirer's Gathering on Sunday, October 26th at 10:45 a.m. CT, following coffee hour.

We're excited to answer your questions and share more about our mission to welcome all, love all, and work for justice for all creation.

Hospitality Updates

What a summer it's been for our community! It's been a time of major changes, and we want to share a few updates with you all.

We said goodbye to Unity Church with an Extreme Coffee Hour, and we extended a warm hello to Genesis Church with a grilled hot dog and ice cream sundae supper.

We're also making a change in our kitchen space, as we've said 'goodbye' to Caribbean Kitchen and will be saying 'hello' to Prep Club. This new group will be with us full-time from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. We're so excited to have them, as they've agreed to work with us for any funeral services or other kitchen needs. Prep Club will begin renting the first week of September, and a new walk-in cooler will be installed in "the cave" to support them.

We've had some wonderful get-togethers, too. We had another successful Picnic in the Park the last Sunday of July—it was a warm day, but we had lovely lake breezes and about 50 people in attendance. In August, we were so happy to host the UCC for the introduction and vote on our new Conference Minister. We offered a delicious catered taco bar, so all we had to do was set up and clean up!

We're looking forward to more great events this fall:

• The Great Fall Get Together: Join us on Saturday, September 7th, for our annual event that brings everyone back together after the summer. Please bring a vial of water from your summer happy place—be it a lake, a river, a swimming pool, or even your favorite restaurant—to combine with everyone else's. And don't forget a potluck dish to share!

• Spaghetti Dinner: On Thursday, September 19th, we'll have another wonderful spaghetti dinner.

• Turkey Bingo: Plan to join us for a rousing night of Turkey Bingo on Friday, November 22nd.

We can't wait to see you at these events and connect with our wonderful community!

Pilgrim Guild

Wednesday, September 10th

Please join us on Wednesday, September 10th, to hear Dianne Star share the fascinating story of “The Great Census War of 1890” between Minneapolis and St. Paul. Come join us for this interesting presentation!

Out to Lunch Bunch

Tuesday, September 16th at 12:00 PM

The Out to Lunch Bunch meets at a different restaurant on the third Tuesday of every month. All are welcome, and we usually have around 20 folks in attendance. This month, we'll be meeting at the 50's Grill at 5524 Brooklyn Blvd., Brooklyn Center, MN 55429. We can't wait to see you there!

Celebrating Our New Lead Ushers

The worship committee has asked four members to serve as lead ushers now that Dick Smith has retired. Each member will usually serve once a month.

We are incredibly grateful to Jim Gausman, Pauli Rike, John Rost, and Scott Wieker for stepping into this important role. We also extend our sincere thanks to Dawn Conn and the worship committee for leading the orientation and for their continued dedication to our worship services.

This is a wonderful example of our church family coming together to support one another and serve our community. Thank you, all!

Treasurer's Report: Ken Beck

Greetings from your new treasurer! I'm getting a lot of support from Karen Montanez, Char Merz, and the entire finance committee as I step into this role.

Financial Summary for July

• Rental income will show a significant increase with the new lease of our kitchen to Prep Club.

• Pledges for July were down, but we are about $2,600 ahead of our budgeted pledges for the year to date.

• Waste collection in July was about $800 over budget due to cleaning out 'the cave,' which required a few dumpsters.

• Major maintenance costs were also about $2,600 over budget for the month.

• Loan payment for July will show as $0 because it was delayed by a power outage. The payment was made on August 1, so the August budget will show a double payment.

• Overall, the financial situation for July is quite good, and we ended the month in the black by about $1,500.

If you have any questions, please reach out to me.

A Call to Action for Justice at Lucy Laney

For more than 10 years, RPUCC has partnered with Lucy Laney Elementary, a school with one of the highest poverty levels in Minneapolis. You have shown amazing generosity in providing much-needed items for students that are not normally supplied. This year, we need your help again.

Lucy Laney has expressed deep gratitude for our support, and with your help, we can continue to show our love and commitment to justice for all.

Here's how you can help:

• Deodorant: Travel-size for both boys and girls.

• Boxes of Tissues: Many boxes are needed for classrooms and around the school.

• Socks: For boys and girls ages 4-12, to give out when students arrive in the winter without them.

• Underwear: For boys and girls ages 4-10.

• Long Pants: These are not required to be new. Feel free to shop at garage sales or bring clean, gently used pants from family and friends.

We will collect your donations in the Narthex during the first three weeks of September, from Sunday, September 1, 2025, to Sunday, September 21, 2025.

If you are unable to shop but would like to help, please contact Nancy Larson at 763-226-1014. She would be happy to shop for you with your donation. Thank you for your continued generosity!

Your Generosity Can Save Lives

United in spirit, we have another opportunity to work for justice and nurture healing for all of creation. RPUCC is proud to host a Red Cross Blood Drive, and your participation can make a significant, lifesaving difference for those in need.

We invite you to be a part of this community effort.

Join Us for the Blood Drive

• When: Tuesday, October 14, 1:00 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. CT

• Where: Robbinsdale Parkway United Church of Christ

• Sign up: Book your appointment by using the Blood Donor app or visiting the Red Cross website.

What is All Bodies All Minds?

At Robbinsdale Parkway UCC, we believe that everyone belongs. Our All Bodies All Minds ministry is all about turning that belief into action. We work to support and minister alongside people with disabilities and mental health issues, seeing this as a vital part of our mission to work for justice for all.

Our team is dedicated to creating a truly welcoming space. We do this through education, preaching, and advocating for members of our community who are on the margins. We want to ensure that our "All Are Welcome" motto is something we live out every single day.

Want to learn more or get involved? Our ministry team meets on Zoom at 10 a.m. on the third Saturday of each month. We would love for you to join us! Just send Pastor Laura an email at laura@rpucc.org.

Share the Care Offering

Our Share the Care Offering for September is Common Hope. This incredible organization partners with families in Guatemala to confront poverty at its roots through education, and works to overcome obstacles that stand in the way of each child receiving an education.

You can donate in a few different ways:

• 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, made out to RPUCC. Please be sure to put “Common Hope” or “Sept” in the memo field.

• Donate online by going to our Giving Funds page. Click on Give Now under the Other option and follow the directions.

Thank you for your generous spirit in helping us support this important work!

Council Updates

In August, our Coordinating Council met for a specially called meeting, our regular monthly meeting, and a Saturday half-day Council/Committee Chair planning retreat. Here are those reports.

Special Council Meeting, August 3, 2025

• Motion to install Ken Beck as Council Treasurer (Temporary status until next Congregational Meeting in January.) Motion carried.

• Kathy's medical leave: Kathy will be taking a medical leave of 4 to 6 weeks in September. She presented a plan of coverage in her absence.

• Prep Club: This potential new renter would require a walk-in freezer. The meeting focused on discussion regarding the scope of the walk-in cooler project, any potential RPUCC liability, and the terms of the rental agreement. An anonymous gift will cover all costs to RPUCC. The donor was contacted and supports the use of the gift for this purpose.

• We thank the Rental Team for their diligent work on this important, long-term project. The Finance Committee has also reviewed and supports the terms of this potential agreement.

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Council & Committee Chairs Planning Retreat, August 23, 2025

• After prayer, Council and chairs reviewed the organizational structures of RPUCC teams and Committees. We reviewed our “Core Purpose” statement as well as our Core Values as approved by the congregation in 2023.

• We are a healthy and open congregation, and we also discussed the benefits of creating a Faith Community Covenant. This will contribute to the positive atmosphere of our meetings and ensure the continuity of our healthy relationships.

• Coordinating Council, Chairs and committees will be asked to sign their commitment to this, and it will be publicized within the congregation.

Summary of Council Meeting, August 19, 2025

• Youth Director: Interviewing underway.

• Coverage for Kathy’s medical leave: In place.

• Budget: Year-to-date budget is ahead of projections.

• Contemporary band: To premiere at 9/7/25 Gathering Sunday.

• Walk-in cooler installation: On target concurrent with Prep Club move-in.

• Finance Committee: Looking for two new members.

• Communications Committee: To address the replacement of external banners, adding a third member, and advising the Congregation of the current RPUCC outreach activities.

• Investment policy: Writing an investment policy to occur.

• Key Decisions: Financial policies to be reviewed and presented at the February 2026 Council meeting.

Council unanimously approved four points for further action in support of this potential renter involving: renovation of the space (commonly referred to as ‘the cave’), the use of the donation for this purpose, that the rental agreement include a monthly lease as well as monthly installments for costs of the walk-in cooler, and that the rental committee continue to move forward in this effort.

Faith Community Covenant

As members of this faith community, we strive to:

• See God’s light in all people,

• Affirm, encourage, support, pray for and speak respectfully of and to each other.

• Acknowledge each other’s gifts, backgrounds, viewpoints and humanity.

• Communicate with one another in honest, courageous, Christ-like ways.

• Be open to new ways of viewing and doing things.

Celebrating Music, Unity, and Our New Worship Band!

This Rally Sunday, we are thrilled to premiere our new worship band! What can you expect?

Our mission with this new band is all about growth and inclusivity. When we talk about being an inclusive church, we want to think broadly and creatively. Everyone belongs here, regardless of age or cultural background. There are countless styles of worship and music, and what better way to embrace our diversity than through our worship?

We’ve assembled a vibrant group of four incredibly talented musicians ready to lead us in a fresh and engaging worship experience.

Meet our band

Jackson Peters, Bassist and Guitarist Jackson brings a wide repertoire of contemporary, blues, rock, jazz, and country music. With a guitar degree from the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music in Wisconsin, he’s ready to share his passion for music with us!

Mat Roberts, Bassist and Guitarist A Twin Cities native and a Chicago to LA transplant, Mat is a well-known ambassador of jazz and world music. He is not only a talented musician but also a dedicated teacher, eager to inspire others through music.

Everett Needleman, Drummer Hailing from Minneapolis, Everett holds a degree in Jazz Studies from the University of Manitoba. He loves to collaborate, explore new musical directions, and brings dynamic energy to our worship.

Kaira Kewley, Singer and Song Leader Kaira is excited to return to RPUCC, where she first discovered her love of singing when it was RUCC. She now lives in Apple Valley with her husband, corgi, and cat, and continues to enjoy making music and art in her community.

Join us for the premiere

We invite you to join us Rally Sunday, September 7 at 9:15 a.m. CT for our first worship service with the band. It will be a special time of praise, connection, and community, celebrating unity and diversity through music. Bring your friends and family!

People with Special Concerns

• Amanda & Rosaria Busch (home)

• 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

• KJ Davis (and Mom & Dad)

• All Caregivers

• Dennis Scoville (Health)