Activities_outgoing

Welcome to Maxine Johns, Our Parish Nurse:
Maxine Johns will be introduced at both worship services on Sunday, March 15th. Maxine most recently worked at North Point Health and Wellness Center as a Patient Care Coordinator. Has degrees in Nursing, Biblical Studies and Theology She and her husband and were married for about 21 years until his death last year. She writes: �Together we have a total of 8 grown children, 4 from each of us. I am a grandmother and great grandmother of 1.� Maxine has been a registered nurse for 29 years in various jobs including ICU, OB/GYN, case management and in the clinic setting. She is an associate minister at her church, an American Baptist congregation, and has served as a Sunday School superintendent, as well as given outreach to homeless shelters and street witnessing. Maxine has taught Bible School for the last 11 years and has done overseas missions. Maxine writes: I enjoy reading, playing the piano, and aerobic exercise. The Parish Nurse Committee interviewed several candidates and found Maxine our first choice candidate and we�re delighted she was willing to accept our invitation to ministry.
Message from Maxine Johns, Our Parish Nurse: May is stroke awareness month. Know the warning signs of stroke and call 9-1-1 immediately if you have any symptoms. Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body. Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination Sudden, severe headache with no known cause Every minute you delay increases your risk of permanent brain damage. Call 1-888-4-STROKE or visit StrokeAssociation.org for more information.
MINISTRY BOARD formerly Church Council
WITH GREAT JOY We voted in our new lay leadership for the Ministry Board (formerly Council), recognized and thanked those who have completed terms on the outgoing Council. We thanked each former Council member and celebrated those who will continue on, along with new members to the new Ministry Board. Lastly, we voted on continuing my leadership during this Revitalization Ministry of 5+ years. I was very, very moved by the affirming comments and the sense of covenant those present offered for this challenging and exciting ministry for St. Paul�s UCC. The paper ballot vote yielded a unanimous response. Wow, what great support! Thank you so much. return to top
	On the Road to Open and Affirming
	At St. Paul's Church of Christ Annual Meeting on Sunday January 30, 2000 the vote was unanimous for our church to become "Open & Affirming". Open & Affirming: St. Paul's UCC adopted as a motto some years ago the slogan that states, that "We Are A Home For All Christians". This step was an effort to define the meaning of all. What we are saying is that St. Paul's is a home for all people of faith regardless of race, gender, orientation, physical or mental limitation. To help us in the process there were 3 forums on Sunday mornings in December to guiding our thoughts and expanding our understanding of this statement: Our church Council President successfully conducted the meeting which was attended by approximately 130 people and adjourned with all joining hands and saying the Lord's Prayer
	We, the Congregation of St. Paul's United Church of Christ, declare ourselves to be open and affirming: With God's grace, we seek to be a congregation that includes all persons, embracing differences of sexual orientation, gender, marital status, age, mental and physical ability, as well as racial ethnic, or social-economic background. We welcome all to share in the life and leadership, ministry, and fellowship, worship, sacraments, responsibilities and blessings of participation in our congregation.
	If you have any questions , please do not hesitate to give the church office a call at 651-224-5809 or email church office

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"Big Faith" A bit of History of St. Paul's Thanks to Florence M. for her historical notes.
Part 1:	A group of German immigrants were members of Trinity Lutheran Church in St. Paul. They disagreed radically with the policy of the church to which they belonged in regard to certain restrictions placed upon them. We don�t know the whole story, but from early writings in our church records we know that a number of members resented the policy of the Synod in regard to lodges and secret societies. The synod was opposed to all lodges. There were members of the church who could not reconcile themselves to that viewpoint. They had to choose between the lodges and leaving the church. They left the congregation, and they soon realized they needed a church. There were meetings held (we don�t know how many) and on Sept 7, 1879 the first worship service of a new congregation called St. Paul�s was held. There were fifteen men who signed the original documents. The new little congregation was alive and growing. The first baby was baptized on Sept. 28, the first wedding was Oct. 29, the first funeral Oct. 28. Confirmation was held on March 21, 1889. The congregation met in a small rented building on Temperance Street until Dec 30, 1883, when they moved to our first �owned� building on 11^th and Minnesota Streets. (Now under I 94). There is a photo of this building in the display along the classroom hallway. The church debt rose to $12,000.
Part 2:	The new congregation of St. Paul�s was not affiliated with any synod. About 1887 contact was made with the Evangelical Synod of North America. It was several years later before the congregation actually joined the synod. In November 1900, Rev Karl Koch and his family moved into the parsonage, which was the first floor of the church building. In January 1901, there were 18 families who joined the little congregation. By the time the church celebrated its 25th anniversary, all debts were paid, and a large festival service was held. The church was now growing rapidly. There were two women�s groups. The Frauen Verein and Tabea Society were both active in fund raising and in making sure the church was always prepared for services. About 1911, the church council found out that the property was needed for a new expanded business in St. Paul. Our records do not indicate just what the project was, but we had to move. In 1911 a piece of property was purchased at the corner of St. Peter and Tilton Streets, and the women�s guilds paid for a new parsonage. So the new church building site was chosen to be the corner lot on the same block. The church would be on the corner, the parsonage next door. The church building itself was ready in November 1915. This was our new �home�. All was well.
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Meditation GardenG For those wanting to attend to minor landscaping, your efforts are always welcome.
	If you enjoy gardening, have we got a deal for you. Sections of our Meditation Garden are up for adoption. Individuals, families, and groups, this is your chance to get down and dirty weeding and planting at church! But before we can get planting, we need help buying bedding plants. Please help if you can, since the garden plants are not in the budget this year! Just mark your offering "Meditation Garden Flowers." Thanks to all who have helped in the past, and welcome to all who can join us this year, on behalf of the Building and Grounds Committee, John B and Mary M.
	PEACE POLE DEDICATION If you were not a part of the Peace Pole dedication, please plan on stopping by and taking a look. Not only is the peace Pole inspirational, the flowers look magnificent. Thank you to all of you who helped with the Peace pole planting and the work that went into making the area presentable for the Dedication Ceremony
	Peace Pole "May Peace Prevail on Earth" in 12 different languages. Top Level: (Beginning with English and going around counter clock wise) English, Hebrew, German, MN Ojibwa, Swedish, French Bottom Level: (Beginning beneath English and going around counter clock wise) Somali, Italian, Hmong, Gaelic, Spanish, Japanese. When spring comes and the ground thaws, the Peace Pole will permanently place in the Meditation garden
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NEW BELL RINGING SYSTEM
		Although you may not see it, there is a whole new system for ringing the church bell. The system has been installed by Chime Master. We will be able to ring the bells during the winter. The new system is a gift from Carl Gaetke in honor of his wife. The dedication for this gift and other memorials this year will be a part of the 125th anniversary events this fall.

Reminders
	We have a very lively and valued tradition of Passing the Peace on Sunday morning. The Council would like to recommend for those who choose not to shake hands for medical or personal reasons to clasp your hands together and then acknowledge the person that approaches you by saying �The Peace of Christ� In this way we hope to honor both the significance of this ritual for the worshiping congregation and the individual needs of some members. Church Office - Many individuals and groups, including Church Staff use the office space. Please leave the space as you originally found it. Spills should be cleaned and items returned to their original place. If you "borrow" something please return it. Contribution Envelopes - If you have not been able to pick up your Contribution Envelopes, please call the Church office at 651-224-5809. Deadlines - The Epistle deadlines are published in each issue. Put info/articles in mail cubby marked "Secretary" in Church Office. Fireside Kitchen Refrigerators - The Fireside kitchen refrigerators will be emptied every Thursday afternoon. If you put an item in the refrigerator and want to use it for at future time, please put the date on the item(s) when they will be used. Anything without a date will be thrown away. In addition, please help us maintain the kitchen by wiping the counters and tables off after use. Snow Birds - If you are leaving for a warmer climate (what's wrong with snow and 25 below wind-chill?), please contact the Church Office with your forwarding address and your expected date of return. Have a safe trip!
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Fellowship


Books and Coffee - Newcomers Welcome!
	Books & Coffee meeting information will be listed here
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Capital City Grief Coalition
The Capital City Grief Coalition Support Group is meeting Thursdays (5:00�6:30 p.m.) at Reformation Lutheran Church, 100 North Oxford St. in St. Paul (parking lot on northwest corner, across from the church). Newcomers are welcome at any time. If you, or someone you know, could benefit from these groups, please come or call for more information: Lois Knutson, Coalition Coordinator at 651-227-4430. (Brochures are available on the rack in the narthex.)
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FAN Club (Summit Hill Friends And Neighbors)
	Please feel free to drop in at the Summit Hill FAN Club, which meets each Thursday from 11:00 to 1:00 in the Fireside Room. FANs are *Friends And Neighbors* who get together for socializing, exercise, a meal, short programs, and services like blood pressure testing and (by appointment) foot care. There is no charge except for lunch and foot care. On the last Thursday of each month, members of the former ULAC (United Leisure Age Center) join the group. FAN Club is hosted, by the Summit Hill Living At Home Block Nurse Program, which offices here, at the church. For more information, please call Julie or Sue at 651-222-7884.
FAN ACTIVITY SCHEDULE 11:00 Low-key exercise for seniors & friends 12:00 Lunch ($4 donation requested) 12:30 -1:00 pm Program UPCOMING "FAN" CLUB ACTIVITIES - includes chair exercise
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Friends in Fellowship	Watch this space for information on Friends in Fellowship
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United Leisure Age Center	The "New ULAC" will continue to meet the last Wednesday of the month. Their schedule will remain the same and it will be bring your own sandwich for lunch - dessert and beverage provided
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Working Women�s Circle	The Working Women's Circle meets the first Monday of the month. Please join us for fun, food and fellowship