Some of you have asked what the United Methodist Church is doing on behalf of the victims of the earthquake in Haiti, and what you can do to help.

 
The United Methodist Church has a relationship with Haiti through the Methodist Church of Haiti, and the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) has had a field office in Haiti since 2005. When you give to UMCOR, 100 percent of your gift will go to relief and development efforts in Haiti. My understanding is that cash donations are most needed at this time. UMCOR's advance number for Haiti relief is 418325. If you would like to donate to this fund, you can write a check to Faith United Methodist Church and place it in the offering plate on Sunday. Include "UMCOR Advance 418325 Haiti" in the memo line, and we will make sure your funds are sent promptly. You can also donate online by clicking on the link below:
 
http://secure.gbgm-umc.org/donations/umcor/donate.cfm?code=418325&id=3018760
 
If you prefer to give something more concrete, health kits are also needed. The kits are valued at about $12 each, and they will be distributed to those who are homeless as a result of the earthquake.
 
Place the following NEW items in a sealed one-gallon plastic bag:
 

     1 washcloth
     1 comb (large and sturdy, not pocket-sized)
     1 nail file or fingernail clippers (no emery boards or toenail clippers)
     1 bath-size bar of soap (3 oz. and up)
     1 toothbrush (single brushes only in original wrapper, no child-size brushes)
     6 adhesive plastic strip sterile bandages
     $1 to purchase toothpaste

(NOTE: Toothpaste is purchased in bulk to be added to health kits to ensure that the product does not expire before they are sent.)

Because the emergency kits are carefully planned to make them usable in the greatest number of situations and strict rules govern product entry into international countries, UMCOR requires that the kits contain only the requested items – nothing more. Bring the kits to Faith Church, and we will be sure they are shipped. Further instructions on assembling and shipping health kits are available at http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/getconnected/supplies/health-kit/ .
 

This is a disaster of epic proportion: Countless Haitians have lost their lives or are wounded, homeless and hungry. The United Methodist community has received tragic news of two deaths. UMCOR's top executive, the Rev. Sam Dixon, has died in Haiti. Initial reports were that he had been rescued, but we now know that he died before he could be pulled from the rubble. Two other UMCOR leaders were able to be saved. Several United Methodist conferences had volunteers in Haiti, and one volunteer, Jean Arnwine of Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas, has died. 

 

Bishop Sally Dyck has called for Minnesota United Methodists to be a neighbor to the people of Haiti by giving generously to the UMCOR Advance and by keeping the people of Haiti in our prayers.
 
May it be so.
 
-- Pastor Leigh

Updated January 29, 2010

Kyle Hayes, the youth ministry coordinator at Faith United Methodist Church, has received word that he has been called to serve as pastor of St. Johannes Evangelical Lutheran Church, a small church in the rural community of St. Clara, West Virginia.

 

Because of his calling, Kyle will be leaving his position at Faith as of Wednesday, January 27. He and his family will be moving to West Virginia on January 30.

 

Kyle recently graduated from Luther Seminary in St. Paul. He has been Faith's youth ministry coordinator while attending the seminary.

 

"Brothers and sisters in Christ of Faith United Methodist Church, thank you for our time service together in this place," Kyle said in announcing his calling. "I will truly miss you all, but especially the youth of this congregation. You are an exceptional bunch!"

 

He added, "While I look forward to what God is doing in my life and in that place, I will look back on my time here fondly. As I come closer to having a date for ordination, which will take place in my home congregation in Woodstock, GA, I will see to it that all of you are invited!"

 

We wish Kyle well as he accepts his new calling and thank him for his service to Faith, especially Faith's youth.

 

-- Updated January 15, 2010

Lent is a time to be intentional about our life in faith: to pray, to worship, to give offerings and to do the things that nurture our spirits for life in God. Join us at Faith Church as we walk together in the way of Christ.

 

The Lenten season begins with the Ash Wednesday service at 7 p.m. on February 17. For the next five Wednesdays (February 24 and March 3, 10, 17 and 24), we will have special events at Faith. On those five Wednesdays we'll start with a light supper at 5:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall, followed by a Lenten class at 6 p.m. in Fellowship Hall and then a worship service at 7 p.m. in the Sanctuary.

 

Holy Week will begin with Palm Sunday Services on March 28 at 9 and 11 a.m. The Holy Thursday service will be at 7 p.m. on April 1. The Good Friday prayer vigil begins at 6:30 a.m. on April 2, and the Good Friday worship service will be at 7 p.m. that evening.

 

On Easter there will be worship services at 9 and 11 a.m.

 

Come for fellowship, education and workship for the whole family during the 2010 Lenten season!

 

-- Updated January 22, 2010

The Appalachian Service Project team is having a spaghetti dinner to raise funds for its 2010 mission trip to Appalachia. The dinner is on Sunday, February 21, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The meal is being prepared by our own Chris Dexter, so come hungry and bring the whole family. Advance tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children under age 10 and are available from any ASP member. Tickets at the door will be $1 more. Please come out to support this worthy cause.

 

-- Updated January 22, 2010

Faith United Methodist Church has been recognized as an official "Welcoming Congregation" by the Igniting Ministry Team, part of the national United Methodist Church. "Welcoming congregations are a select group of United Methodist churches nationwide that meet criteria such as embracing newcomers and providing opportunities in discipleship. The recognition program is part of a larger effort launched in late 2000 by United Methodist Communications, the denomination's communications agency, to use modern technology and the common language of television to spread the Good News of Christ to a world in need.

 

-- Updated January 22, 2010

The Minnesota Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church has appointed the Rev. Leigh Brown as the new minister of Faith United Methodist Church. She currently is associate pastor of the Anoka United Methodist Church. She joined us as of July 5. 

 

 

Rev. Brown has been the associate pastor at Anoka Methodist since 2005, and before that she served as an intern at Fairmont Avenue United Methodist Church in St. Paul. She also has worked as development director for 12 years at several organizations, including St. Olaf College in Northfield, the Hazelden Foundation, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and Grinnell College in Iowa. She received a Master of Divinity degree from United Theological Seminary in 2007 and her undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa.

 

You can view some of Rev. Brown's thoughts about leadership style, gifts for ministry and worship style here.

 

 -- Updated October 1, 2009

The "Full of Faith" team from Faith UMC was the top team for raising donations at the St. Anthony Relay for Life last summer (a fund-raiser for fighting cancer). The team raised a total of $5,140.

 

The team leaders, Kay Kramer and Sue Sattler, want to extend a thank you to each of the team members, their families and their friends who donated to this worthy cause. We are looking forward to participating again next June and hope that our teammates and others will return.

 

-- Updated December 10, 2009

Our new Sunday morning schedule took effect this fall. The schedule approved by the congregation last spring is:

 

 

     9:00 - 9:50      Celebration Service

     9:50 - 10:00    Transition time

   10:00 - 10:45    Education time

   10:45 - 11:00    Transition time

   11:00 - 12:00    Traditional Service

 

Fellowship and coffee time will extend from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

 

-- Updated September 13, 2009

Many people have been affected by the outbreak of H1N1. You may notice a few changes occurring at Faith.

 

• There is a bottle of hand sanitizer on the counter in the Commons, which you are encouraged to use.

 

• All kitchen-based ministries should be using proper food handling procedures.

 

• During church services, the passing of the peace (greeting of fellow congregants) may be done in a different manner.

 

• Communion servers will use hand sanitizer. The bread will be pre-cut and handed to you by the servers.

 

The symptoms of H1N1 include fever, cough, sore throat, stuffy nose, headaches, chills and fatigue. If you suspect you have the flu, please stay home until you have not had a fever for twenty-four hours. Let's remember to care for each other during sickness and in health.

 

-- Updated November 25, 2009

 

 

 

 

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