Tomorrow night I will be meeting with the Long Term Planning group. We have a wonderful vision for creating a vital and united community that is growing in faith and sharing the love and grace of Christ through worship, fellowship, prayer and reaching out to others in mission! The trouble with mission statements is that they are concise and relatively easy to understand but difficult to accomplish. There are many challenges ahead but I believe that God has uniquely gifted us and called us to carry out our ministry in Christ’s name. This is important. GOD HAS UNIQUELY GIFTED US AND CALLED US TO CARRY OUT A MINISTRY IN CHRIST’S NAME. This statement is a call for us to come together and work for the cause of Christ. When we have put our resources, time and energy in a ministry, we have a vested interest-- that’s good. However, we can never allow ourselves to forget that what we come together to do is not about you and I—it’s always about serving Christ.
The first step in accomplishing our long-term plan is to realize that it may be our hands but the plan and the ministry belong to God. There is a question that is foundational to our future. Over the years I have found it to be a question that gives me life. It’s a motivating question. It makes ministry and the church fun and exciting. It’s a question that I like to ask myself, “What’s the best I can do?” It’s easy for us to ask the question, “What is expected of me?” or even “What do we need to do to get by?” Asking ourselves, “What is the best we can do to serve Christ and his people?” puts us in a whole different frame of reference. It’s fun to be part of something that is wonderfully done. It’s fun to be the body of Christ when we put aside our concerns and focus on what God is calling us to do and to be! Nothing is more exciting or compelling than opening our hearts and minds to hear the voice of God and respond with our best! Pastor Chip
On Saturday, November 13, Michael Barone, Host of Minnesota Public Radio’s Pipe Dreams, will lead an Organ Crawl (tour) for Twin Cities Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, featuring five churches in the east metro area.
Our Arlington Hills Lawrence Phelps Pipe Organ will be the fourth item on the itinerary. Our own Leah Harding will play a 15-minute demonstration at 1:30 p.m., after which other TCAGO members will perform informally for 30 minutes. Leah will also demonstrate the new Fisk Organ at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church (3920 N. Victoria Street, Shoreview at 2:30 p.m.
Our church family is invited to attend (and to partake of the entire “crawl”, if interested . . . more information is online at www.tcago.org or by calling (651.290.1345).
HAMLINE A CAPPELLA CHOIR
CHRISTMAS CONCERT
Please join us at Hamline UMC, 1514 Englewood Ave., St. Paul. Featuring Martin Staehnke from Arlington Hills, the concert is FREE.
Sunday, December 5, 2004
4:00 p.m.
Consecration Sunday Is Coming
We see financial contributions as a way to help people grow spiritually in their relationship with God by supporting their church’s mission and ministry with a percentage of their incomes.
Our congregation’s Stewardship Ministry Team has selected the New Consecration Sunday Stewardship Program as a way to teach the biblical and spiritual principles of generous giving as our education emphasis this year.
New Consecration Sunday is based on the biblical philosophy of the need of the giver to give for his or her own spiritual development, rather than on the need of the church to receive. Instead of treating people like members of a social club who should pay dues, we will treat people like followers of Jesus Christ who want to give unselfishly as an act of discipleship. New Consecration Sunday encourages people toward proportionate and systematic giving in the response to the question, “What percentage of my income is God calling me to give?” During morning worship on Consecration Sunday, we are asking members and friends to make their financial commitments to our church’s missionary, benevolent, and educational ministries in this community and around the world.
Every member and friend who completes and Estimate of Giving Card does so voluntarily by attending morning worship on Consecration Sunday. We urge people to attend who feel strongly opposed to completing a card. The procedure is done in such a way that no one feels personal embarrassment if he or she chooses not to fill out a card.
We will do no home solicitation to ask people to complete cards. During morning worship our guest leader will conduct a brief period of instruction and inspiration, climaxed by members making their commitments as a confidential act of worship.
We will encourage participation in Consecration Sunday events through the Stewardship Ministry team and governing board members. Since we will make no follow-up visits to ask people to complete their cards, we will make every effort to inform, inspire, and commit everyone to attend Consecration Sunday worship.
Thanks in advance for your enthusiastic participation in Consecration Sunday events!
John Nentwig,
EXPLORING CHURCH MEMBERSHIP
Our “exploring church membership class” is for those who have an interest in learning more about the ministries of Arlington Hills UMC and/or being a member of the church. Sign up by making a reservation for the class in the church office (651.776.1547). The class will start with supper at 6:00 p.m. and conclude at 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 10. Those who wish to join the church will be received as new members during the worship service on November 14.
Eastside Thanksgiving Choral Festival
In the Spirit of cooperative worship, you are invited to a Thanksgiving Choral Festival Worship Service with the combined choirs at Arlington Hills United Methodist Church on Sunday, November 21st at 7:00 p.m.
Oh come, let us sing to the Lord;
let us make a joyful noise to
the rock of our salvation!
Let us come into his presence
with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to
him with songs of praise!
Psalm 95:1-2
There will be a collection for food shelf, please bring a non-perishable food donation. There will also be a “Love Offering” taken for Merrick Community Services.
At our October meeting the major agenda items were the proposed Education Schedule, 2004 apportionments, 2005 Stewardship Drive, and the Leadership Institute.
The Council unanimously approved the proposal developed by the Education MT, presented by Martha Rice. Jim Watson reviewed the outlook for payment of 2004 apportionments. Salary savings from 2004 will be applied to apportionments assuming that contributions meet budget expectations. The 2005 Stewardship Drive begins onOctober 24 and culminates on November 14.
Nine people from Arlington Hills attended the Leadership Institute at Church of the Resurrection United Methodist Church in Kansas City from September 30 – October 2. Pastor Chip, Maxine Wallen, Jason March, Jan Frankenberg, Martha Rice, Mark Youngstrom, Angie Star, Jim Watson, and Karen Johnson made the trip down in two vans. The experience was inspiring and informational. We came back with concepts and approaches that we would think would support our church mission and vision. We will be incorporating what we learned and experienced into our long-term plan and goals. The Long Term Planning council sub-committee will be working over the next month and half to develop a series of recommendations for enhancing how we go about our mission and to update the long-term plan. The work of the sub-committee will be presented to the Council at the December 14 meeting and then communicated to the congregation through a report, the web site, team meetings, and information sessions. If you would like to hear more about our experience, please just ask any of us.
Karen Johnson
Pastor Chip and the Deacons will be hosting an informal and informational time of sharing for members and friends of church on Thursday, November 4th at 2:00 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 7:15 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. The goal is to provide a forum of open conversation between all members, friends and the Pastor. We will be offering all in the Church an opportunity to hear from Chip first had what he is thinking, and for all to listen and share thoughts in a constructive and caring manner. We can only build stronger relationships, confidence and participation if we dialog. Sign up sheets are at the Welcome Center. We look forward to engaging and informative conversation with everyone.
Our annual Giving Tree will be in the Narthex again this year. The Giving Tree will be decorated with tags that have suggestions for a Christmas gift for a child or youth. Please choose a tag or two and return your unwrapped purchase by Sunday, December 12th.
Some suggestions for gift items include crafts, games, sports equipment, logo sweatshirts, sport clothing and money or gift certificates. (The preferred gift certificates are from Target. Please, no fast food certificates.)
God’s great love comes to us as a gift. Help us share this love with those in need. The Salvation Army really depends on Arlington Hills UMC for these gifts. Please help. If you have any questions, please call the church office (651.776.1547).
help support
our 2004 holiday family
Our Outreach MT has selected a family for the holiday season. Our family was recently involved in a car accident on the St. Paul’s Eastside. Two of the children were thrown from the van and badly hurt. The father of four has recently taken time off of work to care for the children. During this time they have fallen behind on bills. But there is more . . . a few years ago his brother and sister in-law were killed. This has left him to raise their eight-children. That is a total of 12 children. Look for ages and sex of each child on the bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall.
Please help us by donating a gift or two before Sunday, December 19. There will be a drop box in the Fellowship Hall. If you wish to make a cash donation please mark your checks/envelopes “2004 Holiday Family”.
Volunteers needed to help with Emma’s Place Holiday Party. Join us on Friday evening December 10th as we turn our Fellowship Hall into Santa’s Workshop. We will have a Youth Group from Pillager, Minnesota spending the night at our church. They will be joined by our youth in setting up for the party. Come join in the FUN and pizza too!
On Saturday, December 11th at 9:00 a.m., Emma’s Place kids will arrive for Breakfast with Santa. After the Pancake breakfast they will be making holiday gifts to give to friends and family. Do you have a gift idea or woodworking, jewelry skills? Please contact Todd Levig (toddlevig@usfamily.net or call (651.490.9780) with questions.
Like the concept of Heaven, that of the Trinity is not detailed in the Bible. The word “trinity” is not found in the Scriptures. Where, then, do we get our belief in the Trinity, and how are we to understand it? Beginning Sunday, November 7, Jim Watson will lead a study of this vital concept.
We will begin with a brief bible study, a hunt for the raw data behind the traditional belief and examine the words of Jesus and Paul. We will remind ourselves of the great events where hints of the Trinity are revealed: the birth, baptism, passion, resurrection, and Pentecost. We will carefully read the opening of the Gospel of John, and consider Abraham’s three visitors. After a quick study of the hot debate in the early centuries of Christianity, we will see that the ancient non-trinitarian beliefs still occasionally come knocking at our doors. Finally, following the treatment of the subject by C. S. Lewis in Mere Christianity, we will consider the personal importance of the three-personed God. The Holy Trinity gives us an image of God at once awesome yet approachable, all-powerful yet tenderhearted; the Creating Mind who cares about us.
Please join us; the first class is November 7 at 9:00 a.m.
"The GAP”
The GAP fellowship group will meet 2:30 p.m. Saturday, November 6th at church to heat up the meal for The Family Place. At that time we will organize carpools to downtown St. Paul to The Family Place. We will serve at about 4:30 p.m. a meal prepared by Kitchens for Opportunity, which is run by St. Paul Second Harvest. They train individuals to become chefs so they can qualify for jobs. We will heat up the meal, serve it, and sit down and eat with the guests. About 40% of them are children! We hope you can join us for this activity. Call Melissa Barton (651 774-0657) if you can come.
PRIME DIMENSION
Please plan to join us on Saturday, November 13th, 1:00 p.m. at church in the Fireside Room. Lois Kubitschek, a geriatric nurse practitioner will present information on healthy aging and growing old gracefully. Please sign-up at the Welcome Center.
The Connection fellowship group invites you to come and join us for a fun-filled evening on November 10th at 7:00 p.m. Come with a hearty appetite, a craving for good conversation and a yearning for fellowship!
Please RSVP to Liz Jones (484.0650) or Anne Kaese by the November 10th by e-mail at Jones.Liz@att.net or Anne at AnneKaese@Yahoo.com
On Sunday, November 14th, at 9:30 a.m., (note: new date is January 9 2005) our first Book Group will meet in the Adult Education room by the Library. The book we are reading for this first session is “The Kitchen Goy” by Robert Alexander. All books are available at the public library. Please join us for our monthly book discussion.
??? MH MYSTERY TRIP???
Our Middle High Youth are encouraged to attend a “special mystery trip” following the Sunday worship service on November 21st. We will return to church around 6:00 p.m. One or two adult drivers are needed, please call Jason March (651.776.1547).
Living Out Loud!
For the month of November, the set up/clean up groups are as follows:
November 3 & 10 Education MT
November 17 Outreach MT
November 24 NO LOL
CIRCLE MEETINGS
HANNAH - Members of Hannah Circle will be meeting on Saturday, November 6th at 9:30 a.m. at church in the Fireside Room. Please contact Laurie Mickelson (651) 777.6416 if you have questions.
NAOMI – We will meet on Thursday, November 4th, 9:30 a.m. at the home of Goldie Witte, 2211 N. Albert #A306, Roseville. Questions call Ginny Gibb (738-9360).
PRISCILLA – Tuesday, November 2nd at 7:00 p.m. at the home of Lenore Weber, 728 North Oak Drive, Vadnais Heights. Please call Susan Harwood (651) 489.5795 with questions.
SARAH – We will meet on Wednesday, November 3, 1:00 p.m. at the home of Helen Merkle, 1296 Edgehill Court, Maplewood. Lets count our blessings and bring a non-perishable food item for our food shelf. Call Helen Merkle with any questions (651.484.3170).
Don’t forget
- November 14 -
Why do we give to our church? Do we do it so AHUMC can pay its staff and keep the lights on? Or do we do it to support the outreach mission of the church? Or because the roof needs some work? How about guilt—is that the motivator?
Well, yes; all of those things are reasons why we might give. But the best reason of all is because we receive a rich blessing from God when we give to His ministry here on earth. It’s strictly a selfish reason, but it’s the reason I give not only my money, but my time and effort as well. It’s the best “return on capital employed,” to use a business phrase, that I know of.
On each Sunday starting October 24 through November 7, we will hear brief witness from a different member of our congregation. Then on the culmination—Consecration Sunday, November 14—we will hear a guest speaker inspire us to a vision of what we can become. On that Sunday, we will be invited to make our commitment to God’s work. Afterwards, we will celebrate with a special lunch. So please think about this, pray about it, consider how much of a blessing you wish to receive, and come prepared to make your pledge. And come to celebrate with us God’s good gift to you and me.
Jim Watson, Deacon
Stewardship Ministry Team
CHRISTIAN CONCERN,
COMFORT & HEALING
* Please note that hospitals no longer contact the church when a member is hospitalized. If you or someone you know is going to be admitted, contact the church office. If possible, the Pastor will visit and the name will be included in the prayers of the church. *
Please remember . . . those who have recently been hospitalized or are in care centers or continuing with medical treatments: Harold Marklund, Phil O’Brien, Jim Carlson, Cindy Gregorson, Luke and Alisha (granddaughter of Thelma and John James), Jeff North.
Christian sympathy to the families of
. . . Jim and Ann Goserud upon the death of Jims mother; Pam and Tony Gunter upon the sudden death of her sister in-law Heidi.
Congratulations to Craig and Amy Benson married on Saturday, October 9, 2004 at Arlington Hills.
Congratulations to Dale Anderson and Lindy Teiken married on Saturday, October 16, 2004 at Arlington Hills.
Welcome into our church family by baptism Cole Michael Maddio on Sunday, October 17, 2004. Cole is the son of Michael and Tami Maddio
With the changes to the Sunday morning schedule, there are a few changes to the Living Out Loud! Wednesday evening schedule. Beginning on Wednesday November 10th, please note the schedule for Wednesday evenings:
Wednesday - Living Out Loud!
5:30 Supper Hour
6:15 Childcare
6:30 Confirmation
6:30 Sonbeam Choir (K-5)
6:30 Adult Education
7:00 Game Time
7:30 Chancel Choir
9:00 Childcare Ends
We’re excited that these changes are aligned with our mission and meet the changing needs of our congregation. Please help support these changes with prayer and your presence.
WALKERS AT MAPLEWOOD (WAM)
If you want to get in some good exercise and share in fellowship with others in our church family, plan now to be a “Wammer: - a “Walker at Maplewood.” We meet Wednesday mornings at the Maplewood Mall. Coffee and fellowship is in the Food Court at 8:45 a.m. with walking before or after. It’s a great way to meet people of our church and to get or stay healthy doing it!
CONFIRMATION CORRECTION
A “special thank you” to Sheldon Manthei and Bill Morter for their dedication to their confirmation student over this past year.
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, November 28, 2004 for the November issue. 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
Youth Director – Jason March
Director of Shared Ministries & Education –
Maxine Wallen
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
Custodain – Ron Houde