from the pastor’s desk · 11/11/2014 · health clinic family din-ner 5:30 mbsr 4 1:00 staff mtg...

NOVEMBER 2014

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VOYAGEUR

N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 4 V O Y A G E U R

From the Pastor’s Desk

Our life in the church is marked by seasons – and I’m not talking about Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter!

The church year marks our life together as lovers of God and disciples of Jesus.

Advent—the season of preparing our hearts for the coming of Jesus—starts everything off in late

November or December. “Advent” means “a coming into being.”

There is Christmastide—a whole season, not just one day celebrating Jesus’ birth!—followed by

Epiphany, which speaks to the coming of light into our world with a big “Aha!” and the visit of the

Magi to Jesus. “Epiphany” means “an illuminating appearance or disclosure”.

The season of Lent is next and lasts forty days, leading up to Easter. Lent is usually a time of self-

examination and prayer; it is a time to humble ourselves and to recommit to God’s way for us. It is a

quietly growing time.

Lent is followed by the glorious celebration of Jesus’ resurrection to new life—and ours, as well—on

Easter. We have fifty days in Eastertide to celebrate and try on our new resurrection lives, here and

now.

Pentecost (from the Greek pentecoste, or “fiftieth day”) commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit

on the church, after Jesus' death, resurrection, and ascension. The disciples, filled with the Spirit, began

to speak in the many languages of the people assembled in Jerusalem for the Jewish harvest feast of

Pentecost.

After Pentecost is Kingdomtide, the green season of growth, which goes for many weeks (because we

really need to grow!) until we arrive again at Advent.

A pastor friend has always referred humorously to this time in the church year—the last part of

Kingdomtide—as Angsttide (angst being a German word for “a feeling of anxiety or worry about your life or

situation”). Angsttide, he said, is characterized by our worries about: the start of the Sunday school year; the

Stewardship campaign and pledging; the church budget and finances and whether we will have enough

money; the piles of year-end paperwork; and, last but not least, the Christmas program. Angsttide really

doesn’t have anything to do with the presence of God traveling with us, but with all those human concerns that

we often have little or no control over. It is humorous because we all get tied in knots over our “to do” lists,

even in the church. We so easily forget that the church is God’s, that the ministry is God’s, and that God will

do miraculous things—with us, or in spite of us—in this world.

I pray that this will be a season of growth, not anxiety, for you. Let God’s peace work within you. Let

God’s purposes direct you. Let God’s goodness and forgiveness cover all your faults and limitations. Let

God’s promises be the foundation of all that you hope for.

NOVEMBER 2014 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

26

PLEDGE SUNDAY

9:15 Adult Forum

9:15 Sunday School

10:30 Worship Service

4:00 Confirmation

27

5:30 Mindful-

ness Based

Stress Re-

duction

28

1:00 Staff Mtg

Noon and 5:30 Yoga

3:00 Girl Scouts

5:30 AA

6:00 Voyageurs Har-

mony Chorus Practice

7:30 Square Dance

Lessons

29

10:00 ROMEOs

at Sanford

Health

6:30 Youth

Group

7:00 Choir Re-

hearsal

30

5:00 Soup Kitch-

en

5:00 Lotus Zen

Meditation

6:30 Finance

Meeting

31

1

9:30 Yoga

2

ALL SAINTS DAY

FOOD SHELF SUNDAY

9:15 Newcomers Class

9:15 Adult Forum

9:15 Sunday School


3

4:30 Upper

Mississippi

Mental

Health Clinic

Family Din-

ner

5:30 MBSR

4

1:00 Staff Mtg

Noon and 5:30 Yoga

3:00 Girl Scouts

5:30 AA

6:00 Voyageurs Har-


6:30 Faith and Fellow-

ship

7:00 Square Dance

Lessons

5

10:00 ROMEOs

at Sanford

Health

6:30 Youth

Group

7:00 Choir Re-

hearsal

6

Noon PEO Meet-

ing

5:00 Soup Kitch-

en

5:00 Lotus Zen

Meditation

5:00 Stamping

Group

7

7:00

Qoya

8

9:30 Yoga

10:00 Prayer

Shawl Meet-

ing

5:30 Adult

Game Night

9

NEW MEMBER SUN-

DAY

9:15 Newcomers Class

9:15 Adult Forum

9:15 Sunday School


4:00 Confirmation

10

4:30 UMMHC

Family Din-

ner

11

1:00 Staff Mtg

Noon and 5:30 Yoga

3:00 Girl Scouts

5:30 AA

5:30 SPRC Meeting

6:00 Voyageurs Har-


6:30 Trustees Meeting

7:00 Square Dance

Lessons

12

10:00 ROMEOs

at Sanford

Health

6:30 Youth

Group

7:00 Choir Re-

hearsal

13

5:00 Soup Kitch-

en

5:00 Lotus Zen

Meditation

14

7:00

Qoya

15

9:30 Yoga

16

COMMUNION SUNDAY

CONFIRMATION SUN-

DAY

9:15 Adult Forum

9:15 Sunday School


17

4:30 UMMHC

Family Din-

ner

18

1:00 Staff Mtg

Noon and 5:30 Yoga

3:00 Girl Scouts

4:00 Hunger & Home-

lessness Awareness

Dinner

5:30 AA

6:00 Voyageurs Har-


19

9:15 BMW

10:00 ROMEOs

at Sanford

Health

6:30 Youth

Group

7:00 Choir Re-

hearsal

20

5:00 Soup Kitch-

en

5:00 Lotus Zen

Meditation

6:30 Finance

Meeting

21

7:00

Qoya

NEWSLET-

TER

DEADLINE

22

9:30 Yoga

23

9:15 Adult Forum

9:15 Sunday School


11:30 Charge Conf.

2:00 Square Dance

___________________

30

9:15 Adult Forum


24

4:30 UMMHC

Family Din-

ner

25

1:00 Staff Mtg

Noon and 5:30 Yoga

3:00 Girl Scouts

5:30 AA

6:00 Voyageurs Har-


7:00 Square Dance

Lessons

26

10:00 ROMEOs

at Sanford

Health

6:30 Youth

Group

7:00 Choir Re-

hearsal

27

THANKSGIVING

DAY

OFFICE CLOSED

28

OFFICE

CLOSED

7:00

Qoya

29

9:30 Yoga

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ANNOUNCEMENTS, REMINDERS, COMMUNITY EVENTS, DATES, ETC.

Church Office winter hours

9:00am—3:00pm Mon—Fri

Phone: 218-751-3503

FOR AFTER HOURS

AND EMERGENCIES:

Rev. Gay Albers—766-7352

If you wish for a pastoral home visit or

hospital visit, or know someone

who needs or desires a visit,

please call the church office.

JUST A REMINDER….

Articles for the December 2014

newsletter are due in the office no later

than 9:00am on Monday,

November 24, 2014.

Any announcements you

wish to have in the

Sunday bulletin must be

called in, emailed, or delivered to

the office by 9:00am

on Thursdays.

THANK YOU!

Email Addresses: Church Office, Charity: [email protected]

Pastor Gay: [email protected]

Krista Coyle: [email protected]

Mailing Address: PO Box 607, Bemidji, MN 56619

Street Address: 924 Beltrami Avenue NW, Bemidji MN 56601

OFFICE HOURS FOR PASTORAL AVAILABILITY: Tuesdays 2:00—3:00pm,

Wednesdays 10:00am—noon, or by appointment.

Pastor Gay’s day off is Monday, Krista’s days off are Wednesday & Friday,

and Charity is off on Thursday afternoons.


NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS Please celebrate and pray for these people

on their birthday.

NOVEMBER

WEDDING

ANNIVERSARIES

If your birthday or anniversary or the birthday or anniversary of a

parishioner is missed here, please call Charity at the office so it

will be included in the Sunday bulletin and future Voyageurs.

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27 Lauren Jones

30 Eric Hucke

1 Benjamin Stowe

4 George Stowe

6 Dawson Kimble

7 Emilie Jessen

Lois Jessen

8 Tom Dvorak

Marcia Roline

Lori Hildenbrand

9 Kara Lee

11 Seth Knudson

14 Graig Gilbertson

Donald Leet

17 David Dahlberg

Evan Hazard

Shirley Simmerman

18 Joyce Holmstrom

20 Ruth Larson

23 Sherrill Ellmers

26 Dorothy Sathre

November 8

Gunard and Virginia

Youngdahl

November 14

Mark and Peggy Schultz

November 27

David and Nancy Holles

Conrad and Skippy

Larson


READERS: Coordinator Becky Lueben

Worship Service Volunteers November 2014 If you cannot fulfill your Sunday of volunteering please find a replacement and let the

church office (751-3503) know who your replacement is.

November 2: Randall Burg

November 9: Eric Hucke

November 16: Jackson Finnegan

November 23: Tony Nicholson

November 30: Michelle Crow

USHERS Coordinator: Michelle Crow GREETERS

November 2: Lorne and Verna Lofberg

November 9: Victor Mosser and Sandra Kranz

November 16: Brooke Hildenbrand and Laura Thompson November 23:

November 30:

November 2: Jim and Ginger Tibbetts

November 9: Lorne and Verna Lofberg

November 16: Carson Danielson, Maggie Dahlberg, and Andrew Thompson

November 23: Dawson, Nellie, and Danette Kimble

November 30:

November 2: Tom and Mary Ann Gray

November 9: Eric and Kris Hucke

November 16: Melanie Hough

November 23: Jeff and Charlene Anderson

November 30:

COFFEE SERVERS: Coordinator Skippy Larson

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ATTENTION ALL METHODIST WOMEN

The Bemidji Methodist Women will meet on Wednesday,

November 19th, 2014 at 9:15am in the church lounge.

Refreshments will be served.

Hostesses: Ginger Tibbetts and Doris Pierce

Program: sodajerk 4 [email protected] with Michelle Fritz, speaker

Devotions: Ruth Howe

Old Business: Birthday Party at Havenwood (volunteers), Programs for 2015, Nuts—they will be here be-

fore Thanksgiving.

New Business: Christmas Party, Red Stocking, Nuts—volunteers to sell

Come and join us! Everyone welcome!


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GIVE THE GIFT THAT GIVES TWICE from the

UMCOR Coffee Project

Using UMCOR Coffee Project coffee, tea, chocolate, and/or cocoa in your Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations will help small farmers and their families.

Organic Coffee whole bean and drip grind $6.50 decaf $7.50: Columbian, Breakfast Blend, Mind, Body, & Soul, Love Buzz, French Roast, Decaf

Coffee not your cup of tea? Organic Fair Trade teas for $3.00: Earl Grey, Rooibos, &

Chai.

Organic Hot Chocolate or Baking Cocoa $5.00

Chocolate Bars $2.75 or 2/$5.00: Mint, Orange, Almond, Milk, Panama Dark, Lemon Ginger with Black Pepper, DC Caramel Crunch w/Sea Salt, MC Caramel Crunch w/Sea Salt, Rasp-berry, and Coconut.

Candy Bars $1.00 Organic Dark Chocolate Fruit and Nut and Organic Milk Chocolate Crisp Candy Bar with Puffed Rice and Quinoa

24 Mini Chocolate Bars $4.00

Organic Chocolate Chips

Bittersweet and Semi Sweet $3.75/bag!

Thank you for purchasing your coffee, tea, and chocolate from the UMCOR Coffee Project! When

you purchase fair trade product through the UMCOR Coffee Project you are supporting a fair trade system that allows farmers to earn a stable and fair price for their crops while delivering a fair price to consumers. In addition, fair trade certification prohibits the use of abusive child labor, and en-courages the adoption of safer, chemical-free farming methods. this makes purchasing fair trade coffee, tea , and chocolate a better consumer choice. We can and DO make a difference, one cup at a time!


BUMC FAIR TRADE MINISTRY: “A MISSION IN A CUP”

Dear Faithful Members and Friends of BUMC:

How does a mid-sized Methodist congregation in Northern Minnesota improve thousands of lives in far- away

Nicaragua and Congo? Answer: By the power of the Holy Spirit working through members committed to con-

structive Christian compassion!

The history of the BUMC Fair Trade Ministry is a powerful story of hard-working volunteers accomplishing

enormous good. They believed that they could and should work for economic justice and human dignity.

Then, they acted on that life-affirming belief. Their amazing faith and energy has brought hope and help to

oppressed and struggling people from Central America to West Africa.

In 2002, the United Methodist Church, through its Committee on Relief (UMCOR), started its “Coffee Pro-

ject”. The project partnered UMCOR with Equal Exchange—a worker-owned cooperative that distributes cof-

fee, chocolate, and other organic foods marketed by small-scale farmer cooperatives in Latin America, sub-

Saharan Africa, and Asia.

Equal Exchange, together with UMCOR and eleven other Inter-Faith Partners, promotes social justice and

sustainable agriculture in the developing world in two important ways:

1. By assuring that environmentally-responsible small producers of basic commodities are guaranteed to be

paid at or above market prices for their crops, thereby enhancing living standards and keeping rural com-

munities healthy and strong.

2. By promoting earth-friendly farming practices and the preservation and conservation of natural resources.

Without such efforts, “third world” farmers can never successfully “bargain” with multi-national agribusiness-

es to be paid a fair price for their crops. Instead, they are reduced to peonage. The inevitable fluctuations of

international markets drive thousands off the land their families have worked for centuries. The rural farmers’

small land holdings are then absorbed by corporate farming operations conducted without regard to harm to

the environment. Traditional cultures and natural resources are degraded and destroyed.

BUMC took up the challenge of resisting these threats to the Earth and its least-fortunate people when it

joined the UMCOR Coffee Project. Like the proverbial mustard seed of scripture, the BUMC operation began

very small, but has grown to amazing proportions. For over a decade, a dedicated cadre of BUMC Fair Trade

volunteers has faithfully promoted this ministry both inside and outside the church. Central to that effort was

the inspired leadership of Sandra Robinson—though she modestly and sincerely attributes the ministry’s suc-

cess to the power of the Holy Spirit acting through the volunteers and members of BUMC.

Nevertheless, Sandra’s own experiences with Fair Trade exemplify the commitment and compassionate spirit

that animates everyone associated with this important outreach ministry. In 2009, in order to see for herself the

difference Fair Trade was making first-hand, Robinson travelled to Nicaragua at her own expense with a faith-

based Fair Trade delegation. She spent a week with small coffee farmers in the mountains north of Managua.

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She shared their life: sleeping in a small dirt-floored home; picking coffee; enjoying a fiesta held in honor of

the dozen Fair Trade delegates who had journeyed far to celebrate and support the farmers of Tierra Nueva.

Most importantly, Sandra saw how the Fair Trade income was making a vital difference in the lives of farm

families. A simple example: with the extra money earned through Fair Trade, the farm families of the Tierra

Nueva Fair Trade cooperative bought energy efficient and environmentally-friendly stoves for cooking and

heating. The inefficient, poorly-designed old stoves they replaced endangered both the farmers and their farms.

The old stoves vented particulate pollution into family living spaces causing chronic lung disorders.

More insidiously, that same pollution threatened the coffee farmers’ livelihood: it caused deforestation. Coffee

is traditionally grown in the shade of trees. Those trees support a tropical ecosystem that is crucial to the health

of the entire Earth and its inhabitants. Deforestation ruins traditional coffee production, destroys rural life, and

risks environmental disaster.

Sandra Robinson’s experiences on the “front line” of Fair Trade reinforced and redoubled the efforts of the

BUMC outreach ministry. Over the past half-dozen years, revenues from Sunday sales of chocolate and coffee

climbed steadily as BUMC volunteers made more Fair Trade items available which BUMC members faithfully

and enthusiastically purchased. The result: the Bemidji United Methodist Church for the third year in a row

topped all of Minnesota’s churches and synagogues in annual Fair Trade coffee sales. Our church’s purchases

are 3rd nationwide among all United Methodist Congregations. Thousands of dollars of hard-earned and richly-

deserved income have gone to farm families in Central America and West Africa. And those families are grate-

ful—not just for the money and security that Fair Trade brings to their communities, but also for the love and

respect it represents.

It is no wonder that BUMC’s Fair Trade Ministry is highlighted in a video produced by the UMCOR and Equal

Exchange to celebrate the tenth anniversary of their partnership. No wonder, too, that Bemidji is expressly part

of the marketing of UMCOR’s signature coffee brand “Hope’s Blend”: BUMC’s Fair Trade slogan “A Mission

in A Cup” is prominently printed on every package!

“Hope’s Blend” is more than a trade name for some delicious coffee. It is also a phrase which perfectly sum-

marizes the spirit and values of BUMC’s Fair Trade Ministry: faith, compassion, and joy. It’s a combination

that can work miracles!

Would you like to join the miracle? Come to the Fair Trade team meeting on Sunday November 16th in the

lounge at 9:15 a.m. Find out more about making service in the Fair trade Ministry part of your stewardship in

2015.

Randy Burg, Lay Leader

P.S. As the holiday season fast approaches, remember that Fair Trade products make wonderful gifts!


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Christmas Gift Carnival Dec 7!

Get gifts before the holiday rush! Sunday, Dec. 7, Youth Group will host our third annual

Christmas Gift Carnival. This fundraiser will be in the Fellowship Hall after worship.

All ages will enjoy this event! We host festive snacks, holiday music, offer fun games for

all ages, and provide a chance to purchase tickets to be used for gifts. You place tickets

in the drawings of your choice for various gifts.

We are seeking donations of gift items for the drawing. We would LOVE to feature your

donated gift! Please contact Krista - your donations make this event possible! All pro-

ceeds go toward Youth Group programming and missions.

Thanks so much for your support; this event has been a fun success the last few years!

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Confirmation Information

11/2 No Communion

Sunday School

11/5 Youth Group

11/9 Sunday School

Caramel Rolls Sale

11/12 Youth Group

11/16

Confirmation

Communion

Sunday School

11/19 Youth Group

11/23 Sunday School

Caramel Rolls Sale

11/26 No Youth Group

11/27 Happy Thanksgiving!

11/30 Baptism Sunday

No Sunday School

Please Note:

On Sunday, Nov 16, we will come together to witness and

bless the Confirmation (or Affirmation) of our young peo-

ple who have engaged in Confirmation classes over the last

year. As a congregation, we have the privilege and re-

sponsibility of supporting these youth as they continue

their faith journeys in our midst, helping them to grow in

faith and understanding of Christ, and encouraging their

involvement in the life of the church. Your prayers and

loving support are a crucial part of the Confirmation/

Affirmation process.

Over the last year, led by Pastor Gay and Becky Lueben,

the group discussed Old and New Testament highlights,

how the Bible came to be, learned about the history and

roots of the Christian church, and what it means in this

day and time to be Protestant and United Methodist. We

have explored the sacraments, worship and the church

year, the Trinity and who Jesus/God/Holy Spirit are to us

as individuals. We also dove into United Methodist Social

Principles and how scripture, tradition, reason, and expe-

rience inform our contemporary lives of faith. We did a

retreat in the Twin Cities to learn about different world

religious traditions, which included visiting an Islamic

Mosque, a Jewish Synagogue, a Hindu Temple, and a Unit-

ed Methodist congregation very different from our own.


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The Board of Trustees manages the church property, equipment, and investments God has entrusted to our ministry. Vic Mosser is the current chair. The Trustees oversee Technology and Communication and Memori-als Subcommittees, both of which are in need of people. The Lay Leadership Committee is responsible for identifying, equipping, and placing leaders for the mission of the church. Lay Leadership is in need of persons who would be willing to serve one, two, or three years; we have several spots open. The Finance Committee manages the funding of our ministries, administering funds and preparing an annual budget. Dana Danielson is the current chair. Finance could use an at-large member and persons to be Offer-ing Counters. The Evangelism and Outreach Committee develops a plan to reach and welcome new people and to empow-er them for their unique ministries in this church. We hope to include In-reach—the building of fellowship and faith within the existing faith community—in this area. We need people on this committee! The Stewardship Committee is responsible for educating the congregation—year-round—about our call to faithful and generous stewardship of God’s resources. They work with the Finance Committee. The Staff-Parish Relations Committee connects the pastor, staff, and congregation. They remind both the staff and the congregation to focus on working together toward the mission of the church with unity and re-spect. Judy Magness is the current chair, and we are in need of more members to work on this committee. The Missions Committee connects our congregation with the needs of the community and world, oversees and supports local and global missions, and educates the church about our opportunities to serve. We also need folks to work with Congregational Care, Youth & Education, and Worship. Feel free to contact

Pastor Gay (751-3503), De Pickett (751-3300), Elaine Clark (755-9076), or Michelle Seibel (759-9576) if you or

someone you know would have gifts and abilities (or willingness!) to share in one of these areas!

Fishing for Leadership

Our Lay Leadership Committee—also known as “Nominations”—is praying and working to find faithful people to serve on various com-mittees of our church for the coming year. Sometimes we know what our gifts are; other times, a friend may see

a quality in us that we were not aware of ourselves. Please pray—as

you read—that you will discern your own gifts and the gifts of others

in this fellowship. The ministry belongs to US and to GOD! Commit-

ments are generally for three years.


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REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS THOSE. . .

… at Neilson Place: Henrietta Britton, Trudy Ditty

… at Trillium: Nelle May, Marjory Beck

… at Windsong: Bill Britton, Jean Leaf, Verona Haluptzok, Wag and Alice Collins, Eunice Flynn, Marian Blehm, Lucille Kinnard, Dick and Jean Slinkman … at Birch Haven: Lois Statton, Doris Pierce … at Tamarack: Betty Howard … at Havenwood Care Center: Patty Boyer, Ruth Blackburn, Mary Conner, Grace Daniels , Joyce Daniel, Tillie Orear … at Cedar Cottage: Dorothea Metzer … at Goldpine #4: Laura Hays, Dorothy Sathre, Harold Fruetel … at Meadowlands: Neil Bryant … at Eagle’s View: Robert Ray … at home on hospice: Gerald Peeler … in nursing care in Staples: Betty Roline (Marcia’s mother in law) … recovering at home: Kathleen Magsam, Alice Collins … at rehab in Rochester: Barbara Geving …anticipating surgery: Lorna Sullivan … undergoing cancer treatment: Chris Shomenta, Kelly Fuhrman, Mary Hoody, William Powell, Sharon Vick (wife of our custodian, David) … in need of special prayers: Betty Brooks, Pennyjo Haupt, Monique Krotzer, Danny Stowe, Gracie Al-brecht, Gail Sorenson’s family, Will Whitson (Kristi Whitson’s brother)

Please visit www.bemidjiumc.com to register your account!

If you need help registering your account, call Sandra Robinson at

444-7817 or Charity in the church office at 751-3503.

924 Beltrami Ave PO Box 607 Bemidji, MN 56619-0607

B E M I D J I U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T C H U R C H

open hearts open minds open doors

The people of the United Methodist Church

Office number: (218) 751-3503 Email: [email protected] Web Site: www.bemidjiumc.com

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Permit Number 8

Bemidji MN 56601

Return Service Requested

NOVEMBER 2014 VOYAGEUR

Published Monthly

Church Staff Gay Albers Pastor Krista Coyle Ministries Coordinator Charity Yoder-Smith Secretary/Bookkeeper Dave Vick Custodian Patty Smith Housekeeping Cynthia White Organist Linda Wagner Chancel Choir Director Virginia Youngdahl Parish Nurse

from the pastor’s desk · 11/11/2014 · health clinic family din-ner 5:30 mbsr 4 1:00 staff mtg...

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