The Builder --- March 2005
The Pastor Shares
When was the last time you thought about your faith journey and said, “Wow – that was a great experience, I really learned something!”
We want to invite you to join a study that is designed to help us grow together. “The Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren will be the basis for reading, discussion, and a series of sermons designed to help us think and grow. We hope that you will read the book (only 5-9 pages of reading per day for 40 days) and take part in one of our weekly “59 minute discussion groups”. There are several discussion groups that meet at different times. Everyone should be able to find one that works for them!
Rick Warren’s book is a powerful book with some great messages! Pastor Warren also writes some things that I strongly disagree with. The opportunity to dialogue with the book and to dialogue with other people of faith is a tremendous opportunity to grow. Don’t expect to agree with or disagree with everything that you read but use it as an opportunity to discuss and grow! Let God bless you with the scriptural insights as well as the real faith stories and insights of fellow Arlington Hills members and friends in a discussion format and you will experience the wisdom and understanding of the faith community and the Holy Spirit in a way that will enrich your life! Invite a friend or neighbor! Sign up forms are in the Sunday bulletin.
Pastor Chip
BISHOP'S CHALLENGE
At the last Minnesota UMC Annual Conference, Bishop John Hopkins distributed one thousand $20 bills to the delegates from Minnesota's 400+ United Methodist Churches. He challenged each church to multiply their dollars to support the growth of the:
* new St. Petersburg, Russia United Methodist Church
* LaPuerta Abierta UMC, St. Paul, MN
Arlington Hills is growing our "Bishop Challenge dollars" by donating the money from our Wednesday night fish fry and the Church Council who has designated our special Easter Offering toward the Bishop Challenge as well. As of Monday, March 28, 2005 the total funds received was $4,131.
“A special thank you” to those who participated in the Wednesday night fish fry and to those who gave so generously to our special Easter Offering!
We are supporting the growth of these two United Methodists churches, one in our St. Paul community and one in St. Petersburg, Russia!
Diabetic Support Group
Ron and Harriet Youngquist have recently moved to New Brighton and retired from their leadership role of the Arlington Hills Diabetic Support Group. We would like to express our thanks and appreciation to them for their many years of service to the diabetic community. They have arranged many meetings, secured guest speakers and kept the group well informed of medical news pertaining to the diabetic and the disease.
Gene Anderson and Pastor Chip will be leading the group short term and are asking for help in keeping the diabetic group alive and growing.
The group meets the second Wednesday, of the month at 2:00 p.m. in the Fireside Room at church. Our next meeting will be on Wednesday, April 13th at 2:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome!
At our April meeting we will view a video. The topic is the diabetic and the family, how it affects the family, both physically and emotionally. Come and share your experience, questions and solutions to some of the more difficult problems of diabetes.
If you have any questions or need more information please call Gene (651459.3143) or Pastor Chip (651.776.1547).
Something Old That is New
In The Narthex?
The History Committee would like to thank Diane Fruci for her generosity, support and encouragement by donating the magnificent stained glass window restoration now hanging in the narthex. This radiant window was restored in memory of John Stafford Oberg. Stop and take a moment to view this beautifully restored window with God’s sunlight shining through.
Update on the stained glass window restoration project . . . another window is currently under restoration. Keep your eyes open for it’s debut!
Join The Cabaret!!!
Don’t be shy! Share a story, song, or play your instrument to help support the Youth fundraiser on Sunday, April 24th from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. All selections should be less than five minutes.
We are also looking for people willing to bake pies for this event. Share your pastry chef talents in support of our Youth. Proceeds will be used to help fund the Youth’s summer camp and mission programs. Please contact Rachel McDonald (651.770.7388) or contact Cathy Solheim at (651.484.4694) if you have questions or are able to help with this event.
Linder’s Certificates
Think spring! Think gardens! Think Arlington Hills Youth!
Support the Youth at Arlington Hills while you plan your spring garden! Once again the Youth are selling Linder’s certificates Sundays mornings until April 17. You can redeem them at Linder’s Garden Center or at 40 locations of flower marts around the metro area.
There is no expiration date on the certificates of $10, $20, or $25. Linder’s will generously donate 15% of the total sales to our Youth for activities, camping and mission projects.
Parents and Youth
Volunteers Meeting
Sunday, April 10 from 11:45-12:15 at church in the Fireside room to discuss the youth program schedule and volunteer opportunities. Coffee, tea and doughnuts will be provided. All questions, comments and ideas are welcome.
If you cannot attend and would like to receive information or to give input, please contact Jodi Bahmer at 952.212.1662 (cell;) 651.776.1547 (work); or bahmerjm@uwec.edu.
Don’t Forget Your POP
(Power Of Prayer) Youth!
Thanks to all of you who are serving as POP sponsors for Arlington Hills Youth. Please remember to pray faithfully for them and remember them with a quick note of encouragement or celebration now and then.
40 days of purpose Host/Facilitator Orientation
All those who have signed up to be a host or a facilitator are invited to come. Plan to join us after the worship service on Sunday, April 3rd in the Fireside Room.
A New Member orientation will be held on Wednesday, April 20th from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. We will meet in the Fireside Room to share a meal and get to know each other.
New Members will be received on Sunday, April 24th. If you are interested in joining Arlington Hills or if you would like to know more about our church or the United Methodist Church, please come to the class. You may reserve a place on the yellow Sign Up Sheet.
Cookie Walk and Craft Fair
– Saturday, December 3, 2005 –
Save the date and mark your calendar; it will be a fun day! We will need and be asking for help from everyone in the congregation. What can you do now? Start thinking about the special craft you might create or the special cookies you might bake. You can also start saving coffee cans, which will be decorated and used for cookies. We will be publishing an Arlington Hills cookbook for the occasion. Plan to submit your favorite recipe and plan to purchase a copy at the 2005 Cookie Walk and Craft Fair.
Cookie Walk Co-Chairs
Chris Bewell (651-778-9872) and Kaye Olson (651-481-8143)
Craft & Cookbook Chair
Marsha Froehle (651-429-9643)
All recipes for the cookbook must be turned into Marsha by April 1. Stop at the Welcome Center or see Marsha Froehle for the blank sheets that must be used for all recipes. Continue to watch for more information about how you can participate.
Emma Norton helps to rebuilds the lives of women and their families.
Plan to join others for the Emma Norton Annual Dinner on Tuesday, May 10. Buy a ticket ($30.) supporting our local National UM Mission site, enjoy dinner with friends and entertaining program, heartwarming stories from some Emma Norton residents, and participate in the Silent Auction.
Reception and Auction begins at 5:30 p.m., buffet dinner at 6:30 p.m. at Jimmy’s, 3565 Labore Road, Vadnais Heights. See display at the Welcome Center for information or to sign-up. If you have items to donate please list them. Questions ask Diane Fruci (651.774.8362) or Todd (651.490.9780).
The Outreach Ministry Team will be serving brunch and dinner at the Ronald McDonald House, 621 Oak Street NE in Minneapolis on Saturday, April 23rd and could use your help! Brunch volunteers will be leaving from church at 9:30 a.m. and returning around 1:00 p.m. Dinner volunteers will leave from church at 4:00 p.m. and return by 7:30 p.m. Please check the yellow sign-up sheet to register. Questions please contact Todd Levig (651.490.9780) or e-mail toddlevig@usfamily.net
UMW Quilters
If you would enjoy a time of fellowship while taking part in home mission projects, you are invited to be part of the Quilters group, which meets on the 2nd and 4th Thursday s of each month from 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon.
Small quilts are delivered to womens’ shelters located in the Metro Area and are given to residents who have found themselves in need of a safe place, some of them having left emergency situations.
The projects are not limited to quilting but knitted, crocheted or other sewn items, all items have been well received by the recipients. The most recent delivery included a lovely afghan and 27 quilts.
We held a work day on March 10, and we enjoyed a potluck together.
The quilters are grateful for the donations of materials from members and friends of the congregation. These donations are helpful as individual projects are planned.
For more information call Betty (651.771.9020).
EDUCATION NEWS
Children’s Day Camp
From Monday, June 20th through Friday, June 24th we are having our First Children’s Day Camp. Day Camp is designed to introduce a Bible Camp Ministry to the children through a unique blend of outdoor ministries and congregational ministry. The program will be for preschoolers through fourth grade. The camp is from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and the cost is $60.00 per child. The Camp staff brings their own curriculum, enthusiasm and leadership/teaching style and combines this with the talents and gifts of our congregation
We are also looking for some scholarship money for 1 – 2 children. If you able to help, please speak with Maxine Wallen (651.776.1547).
LIVING OUT LOUD!
MARCH DINNER MENUS
April 6: Chicken Romano, fettuccinni alfredo, salad, vegetable, bread and desert
April 13: Pork chops, Cheesy potatoes, salad, vegetable, bread and desert
April 20: Lemon-garlic chicken breasts, baked potatoes, salad, vegetable, bread and dessert
April 27: Salmon or chicken nuggets, rice pilaf, peas, salad, bread and dessert
THE GAP
GAME NIGHT
Please plan to join us at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 2nd at the church as we heat up a meal from Kitchens for Opportunity to be taken and served at the Family Place. This is a “hands on mission” opportunity. Questions please call Melissa Barton (651.774.0657) or e-mail melissabarton@earthlink.net
THE CONNECTION
This fellowship group is geared toward folks from 30 to 49. We welcome all, with or without kids, with or without a partner. We come together to build relationships, spiritual growth and outreach to others in the community.
Come join us on Saturday, April 2nd at the church - 5:00 p.m. for a potluck in the Fireside Room.
Bring your ideas and your calendars, as we will plan to have a mix of activities for the upcoming year. Childcare will be available. Please, rsvp to Angie Star (772-8337) or Liz Jones (484-0650) with what you will be bringing.
The April 9th meeting will coordinate with the video presentation introducing “The Purpose Driven Life”, an eight-week all church study. All members are encouraged to attend this opportunity for personal and spiritual growth. Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 9th 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Questions call Caroline Nentwig (651.771.9861).
GREAT PIPE ORGANS AND
ORGANISTS OF THE METRO AREA
Our very own organist Leah Harding has been honored by the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute part of the Continuing Education at the University of Minnesota on Thursday, April 21st from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. to host a class.
Leah will play selected compositions to bring out the best in our instrument and share her personal story.
“I was most impressed by your playing, and loved Bach Fugue a la Gigue.” Jerry L. Edwards
We are so blessed to have Leah Harding and the many wonderful musical talents that she brings to Arlington Hills on the Lawrence Phelps & Associates organ and the piano as well.
What thoughtful people we have at Arlington Hills United Methodist Church. I have received so many cards, calls, prayers, and visits. A special thank you to Pastor Chip for visiting. Thank you, thank you!
Marianne Sether
YYY
Thank you, to all my friends and especially the UMW for their many cards, prayers and calls after my husband Frank’s death.
Dolores Grezek
YYY
Dear Friends,
Thank you for all your cards, calls, and prayers following the unexpected death of my mother. Your thoughts and prayers brought great comfort. Like my mother, I am blessed with a loving and giving church family. You are very special to me.
Dona Leland
YYY
I would like to express my thanks to the congregation and staff for all of their caring, kindness, prayers and cards of well wishes during my long recovery from surgery. A very special thanks to Pastor Chip for the uplifting visits which were a great source of strength.
Bob Stolts
YYY
Thank you to the family of Emery Barrette, for the Golden Bell Choir music on Palm Sunday, “Hosanna, Loud Hosanna” arranged by Cynthia Dobrinski.
Emery Barrette was a long time member of Arlington Hills and died a few years ago on Palm Sunday.
Linda Oberg – Bell Choir Director
YYY
A BOUQUET OF THANKS!!!
Thank each of you, who shared flowers with us for our Easter Garden, because of you we had a beautiful garden to celebrate our Risen Lord.
A very special thank you to all those who helped arranging the garden in the sanctuary, it was a joy! Thank you to Randy Clark for draping the cross.
If you shared a flower or helped in any way I thank you.
Helen Merkle
YYY
Winter Weekend Thanks!
“Special thanks” to Kaye Olson and Deb Clark for their hard work and master planning. Thanks to Alice Englehardt for grocery shopping and cooking and Karen Johnson for creating out activities. Stop by the Welcome Center to look over the memory book. God blessed us with a beautiful winter weekend!
We will attend the Metro East Morning Apart on Saturday, April 16 at the Hmong Church. Plan to carpool from Arlington Hills, at 8:15 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Our unit will pay the registrations for the first 100 people to sign up. This will be a cultural learning experience plus we will be supporting our new sister UMW unit.
The morning will include devotions with Hmong songs, a presentation by the pastor about his experiences in camps waiting to emigrate and experiences and feelings after arriving in the United States and a Hmong lunch. The “key-note” speaker will be from a group that went to Laos this March as part of the “Bible Women Program.” . We will need to register with the district so please sign up by April 3.
If you have any questions, please call Linda Oberg 776-8074 or Diane Fruci 774-8362.
There will also be a paper drive for Emma. They need paper towels, toilet paper, etc. Bring your contribution to the April 16th meeting.
APRIL CIRCLE MEETINGS
HANNAH - Will be meeting on Saturday, April 2nd at 9:30 a.m. Please contact Laurie Mickelson (651) 777.6416 if you have questions.
NAOMI – Thursday, April 7th at 9:30 a.m. Questions call Mary Ellen O’Brien 651.484.7559.
PRISCILLA – Tuesday, April 5th at 6:30 p.m. at “My Le Hon” restaurant, 2900 Rice Street in the “Marketplace”(north of Little Canada Road). Please call Susan Harwood (651) 489.5795 with questions.
REBEKAH – Will meet Thursday, April 7th, 9:30 a.m. at the church in the Fireside Room. Please call Susan Surine with any questions (651) 774.2224
Books now in the UMW Library in the Fireside Room. Contact Susan Surine, 651-774-2224, if you have any questions. They are grouped in the following way:
EDUCATION FOR MISSION
Breathing
Space: A Spiritual Journey in the South Bronx, Heidi B. Neumark
I Saw Ramallah: A Memoir (Palestine), Mourid Barghouti
Mandela, Mobutu, and Me: A Newswoman's African Journey, Lynne Duke
The Unwanted: A Memoir of Childhood (Vietnam), Kien Nguyen
NURTURING FOR COMMUNITY
Making
Peace with Conflict: Practical Skills for Conflict Transformation,
Carolyn Schrock-Shenk and Laurence Ressler, Editors
Raising Ourselves: A Gwich'in Coming of Age Story from the Yukon River,
Velma Wallis
SOCIAL ACTION
Embracing
the World: Praying for Justice and Peace, Jane E. Vennard
An Hour Before Daylight: Memories of a Rural Boyhood, Jimmy Carter
Book and Audio Version
Spiritual Perspectives on Globalization: Making Sense of Economic and
Cultural Upheaval, Ira Rivkin
SPIRITUAL GROWTH
Learning to Pray; How We Find Heaven on Earth, Wayne Muller
ALLEY SHOPPE
VICTORIAN SPRING TEA
Please plan to join us for the Alley Shoppe Victorian Spring Tea on Saturday, April 16, 2:00 p.m. at Arlington Hills Lutheran Church, 1115 Greenbrier Street, St. Paul. Come and enjoy a three course tea and program “Tears, Tea and Laughter” presented by Kitty Anderson.
Tickets are $10 per adult and $5 per child (12-years and under). Invite your friends or a neighbor to this great spring women’s event. Tickets will be available at AHUMC from Dee Quick (651.772.1656).
SUNDAY
BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP
We will be reading The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck for our April. We meet the second Sunday of each month for good conversation about the book we've read. Our next meeting will be Sunday, April 10th at 9:15 a.m. in the chapel. If you've thought about joining us, but just haven't done it yet, we would encourage you to start reading and join us for our next meeting! If you have any questions, you are welcome to contact Lori Nielsen.
CHRISTIAN CONCERN,
COMFORT & HEALING
Please remember . . . those who have recently been hospitalized or are in care centers or continuing with medical treatments: Bob Stolts, Angie Star, Art Kaese, Maria Froehle, Denise Schlueter, Warren Churchill, Jed Wester, Carol Huss, Virgie Roy
Christian sympathy to the families of
. . . Milt Willer, Cheryl and Mark Watson upon the death of Elizabeth Willer wife and mother.
Dona and Gerald Leland upon the death of Dona’s mother
Leah Harding upon the death of her Aunt Dorothy
Dolores Grezek upon the death of her brother Donald.
Congratulations to Mark and Mary Youngstrom and Mildren Rosen who are proud grandparents and greatgrandmother of Brady Philip Hagkull, son of Molly and Craig Hagkull.
sunshine pre-school
registrations
Registration for the 2005/06 school year is open to the public. Sunshine Pre-school is nationally accredited and licensed by the State of Minnesota. Please share this information with your family and friends. Registration forms are available in the church office.
MEN’S PRAYER BREAKFAST
The Thursday Men’s Prayer Breakfast group will resume their regular Thursday morning schedule in April. All men are invited to this special time of Bible study, prayer, fellowship and continental breakfast on Thursday, April 7th.
LIVING EACH DAY
"Faith in the Lord makes all the difference in how we are living each day!" It is with this belief that the Living Each Day website was created in November 2003. The website is rich with stories, poems, prayers, Scripture and music to bring renewal and refreshment to the soul of its visitors; to open hearts to the Lord…always trusting in His loving care. Developed and maintained by Adelle North, you are invited to visit the site often and share it with others. It's web address is: http://www.livingeachday.com/
NEWSLETTER ARTICLES
The Builder welcomes news and feature articles from members, and friends. The staff will not write the/your article(s). We reserve the right to edit material for content and length.
Next Builder deadline is Sunday, April 17, 2005. E-mail articles to Jan Frankenberg at jan@arlingtonhills.org or leave in mailbox #11 in the office. All address changes and mailing inquireies may be directed to Jan at (651.776.1547 – ext. 10). Thank you!
MINISTRY TEAM
Ministers – All members of the congregation.
Pastor – Rev. Carl “Chip” Nielsen III
Director of Shared Ministries/Education – Maxine Wallen
Youth Director – Jodi Bahmer
Organnist – Leah Harding
Director of Music – Barbara Wack
Administritive Assistant – Jan Frankenberg
Sunshine Preschool Director – Becky Marshall
Sunshine Preschool Teachers – Mary Youngstrom, Elaine Gregory, JoAnne Dansdill and Kathy Winters
Custodain – Ron Houde