CONGO COMMENTS The Congregational Church of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, United Church of Christ

REMARKS

Conference Minister Rev. Shari Prestemon asked us to read this message of thanks and challenge in worship or at another church event, or share it in our local church newsletter. It was in the September 4 issue of COMMAntary, the weekly newsletter of the MN Conference UCC. This month I “yield my time” to her. ~ Rev. Mark

Dear Church,

As the first bits of fiery red and orange appear on the leaves of trees and the length of each day shortens, many of your schedules will return to the usual busy-ness of a congregation's program year. Worship attendance will increase, committees will resume their work, faith formation programs will commence with new energy, and the calendars of your church life will fill with new initiatives, fresh commitment, and all the things you treasure about your faith community. It seems like a wonderful time for me to say thank you.

Thank you for all the ways you embody, day to day, what it means to be the Church at its best...

For creating space to explore the mysteries and wonders of our faith;

For carving out time in busy lives to dive into Holy Scripture and discover there the marvelous relevance those ancient texts still have to our modern circumstance;

For caring for one another within your congregation, extending love and understanding in times of loss, transition, and uncertainty and celebrating with one another in times of joy;

For extending that same love to others outside your church walls, as you engage in mission, seek justice, and build peace ;

For sending up prayers, for each other and for our world, inviting God's transforming power and presence to enter in;

For being a living witness to Christ-like mercy, grace, and compassion in a world that craves hope and goodness.

I truly believe that the world needs what we have to offer, dear Church. And so I follow my thanks with this bit of commissioning:

OCTOBER

HAPPENINGS!

October, 2019

More happenings on page 5

MEN’S BREAKFAST

Saturday, October 5th, at

8:00 a.m. at the Holiday Inn.

WOMEN’S BREAKFAST

Saturday, October 12th, at

9:00 a.m. at the Holiday Inn.

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900 Lake Avenue • P.O. Box 642

Detroit Lakes, MN 56502 218-847-4609 www.detroitlakesucc.org

dlcongo@msn.com

@UCCDL

Be bold and be of good courage. There's a lot about our church lives and our world that are challenging in these days, but let the same boldness and courage that was in Christ Jesus be in you. Try something new. Take a courageous stand. And remember the steady counsel of our scriptures to "fear not."

Love fiercely and often. Love seems such a rare commodity these days in our social and political spheres. But we know that loving our neighbor is an inescapable requirement of our faith. Be that church in your community that everyone knows because of your unceasing ways of love. Find a million ways to share it. And never give in to the ugly hatred and cynicism that surrounds us.

Make a difference. Find some way for your congregation to make a real difference in an individual's life, in your community, and in this hurting world. Pay attention to the needs around you. Be prayerful and purposeful about how you respond. Be the Church at work in the world.

Persevere in faith. Whatever challenges may confront you, whatever despair you may feel about our world, trust that God is with you. Lean on God's wisdom and guidance when things get messy. Pray without ceasing. And trust God to travel with you as you navigate difficult decisions and set out into uncharted territory.

I am so grateful for all of you! I am constantly inspired by the love and faith I see at work in you. Know that you are always in my prayers. May God continue to strengthen and uphold you in the good and blessed work in front of you. And may the peace and grace of Christ surround you, each and every day.

With you on the journey,

Reverend Shari Prestemon, Conference Minister

Minnesota Conference, United Church of Christ

NEIGHBORS IN NEED OFFERING

This year’s Neighbors in Need offering will be received October 6th. NIN supports the UCC’s ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States. Two-thirds of the offering is used by the UCC’s Justice and Witness Ministries to fund a wide array of local and national justice initiatives, advocacy efforts and direct service projects. One-third of the offering supports the UCC’s Council for American Indian Ministries. Neighbors in Need helps make A Just World for All possible. Please visit ucc.org/justice to learn more. Thank you for your support of this year’s Neighbors in Need offering!

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OCTOBER GREETERS

06 – Clair and Dick Wilson 13 – Joy Johnson and Joe Craig 20 – Joy Johnson and Joe Craig 27 – LaRae and Terry McGillivray

OCTOBER USHERS

06 – Judy Dey and Cookie Welder 13 – Nancy Hayle and Shar Legenhausen 20 – Sue and Mark Geihl 27 – Lynn Anderson and Patti Kay Von Willard

OCTOBER FRIENDSHIP TIME

06 – Miriam and Dave Moen 13 – Alicia and Steve Lokken Family 20 – Cyndie Blaha and Kay Hartness 27 – Claire and Dick Wilson

OCTOBER ALTAR FLOWERS

06 – Patti Kay VonWillard 13 – Open 20 – Open 27 – Anne Anderson in Memory of Rose Mary Lueben COMMUNION SERVERS

06 - Lynn Anderson and Patti Kay VonWillard

COURTESY GROUPS

Leaders for October, November and December

Sharon and Jim Sinclair and Gini and Gary Kleingartner

Guidelines for Courtesy Group members

1. Every local church member and family is assigned to a Courtesy Group.

2. Your Group serves Friendship Time three consecutive months of the year and you will be asked to take a turn serving Sunday Friendship Time. Assignments will be sent to you prior to the month you serve.

3. Your Group Leaders may contact you to provide food or service in case of a funeral or special event, if your Group comes up in rotation.

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS:

9:00 a.m. to noon Mon., Tues., Wed. Please call ahead if you need to enter the church building at another time.

church at another time.

CHURCH OFFICE: 218-847-4609

David Moen, Moderator Lynn Anderson, Vice Moderator Karen Rosby, Clerk Gini Kleingartner, Financial Administrator

Renee Holm, Music Director Joy Herbst, Custodian Rev. Mark Kuether, Minister

SUNDAY SCHEDULE

10:00 a.m. Worship 10:15 a.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Friendship Time

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School Supply Drive for Lakes Crisis and Resource Center

From Shar Legenhausen:

OMG! That was the response from the Lakes Crisis and Resource Center when the school supplies were delivered. Once again the Congregational Church came through. Thank you for your generosity.

The following items were donated:

14) Packs of Crayola classic markers 33) College ruled notebooks 1) Packet Expo Dry Erase Markers 2) Loose leaf paper packs 11) Two pocket folders 6) Packs of Crayola colored pencils 1) Pencil sharpener 17) Three ring binders 1) Binder pencil bag 10) Fiskars scissors 1) Packet of construction paper 2) Handheld scientific calculators 4) Backpacks 1) Dry erase board 16) #2 pencil packs 10) Packages of ballpoint pens 10) Elmer’s liquid glue 3) Water color tins 1) Sharpie package 3) Scotch tape dispensers 11) Crayon packets 24) Packets of stick glue 1) Small memo pad

From Del Rae at LCRC:

Dear Members of the Congregational Church,

Thank you so very much for the school items! You all knew exactly what would work to get our kids off to a

good start of their school year! We greatly appreciate your support in helping us help others.

If anyone would like to see your support at work, please give me a call. 218.847.8572. We can accommodate a

group at your convenience. Our tours are educational, so please leave your checkbook at home.

Blessings, Del Rae, Outreach, LCRC

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OCTOBER HIGHLIGHTS

October 5 –

Men’s Breakfast 8:00

October 6 –

World Communion Sunday

October 9 –

Boards 5:30

October 12 –

Women’s Breakfast 9:00

October 16 –

Church Council 5:30

If you have something you would like to share in the Congo Comments, you can drop it off in the office or email it to dlcongo@msn.com. Information for November’s issue must be received by Sunday, October 27th.

Social Justice Team Updates

Just Who Is Crossing the Line?

The Social Justice Team will host an educational

immigration-related forum entitled Just Who Is Crossing

the Line on November 17th from 2:00-4:00 in our

Sanctuary. Silvie Bisangwa, a lawyer and policy advocate

with the Immigration Law Center of MN in St. Paul, and

Martha Castanon with MN Legal Services, Moorhead, will

be our speakers. Participants will learn about immigration

law in Minnesota and nationally, immigration reform,

programs for immigrants and current conditions. There

will be time for questions. More information will follow.

Mark your calendars and pass the word!

SOS (Support of Students)

A need for gas and food cards has come from the ALC. A

“card” drive ran from September 8th to September 22nd.

A full report about the drive will be in the November

Congo Comments. Subsequent drives will be held in

January and April unless an emergency should arise. A

huge thank you to our Board for Congregational Life

which has donated $200 from the Summer Solstice Salad

Luncheon proceeds to help these students immediately.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

We are looking for

volunteers to pick up

and/or take home

members who are unable

to drive themselves to

church or church

functions. If you are able to

do so please contact Lynn

Anderson at 218-847-9114.

BECKER COUNTY FOOD PANTRY

We collected 224 Razors, 13 cans of Shaving Cream, 10 tubes of Tooth Paste, 3 Toothbrushes, 7 bars of Soap, and 1 box of Cotton Swabs during the month of September.

In October, we will collect Bar Soap. Please keep this in mind as you are shopping. Thank you for your generosity!

~ Sue and Mark Geihl

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THE SEARCH CONTINUES

As you likely know, we’re in the process of finding a new Administrative Assistant/Church Secretary.

Carlene left for a full-time position at the end of August. I have been and will continue to do my best

to do what needs to be done here in the church office. Office hours might not be as consistent as

they’ve been in the past, so if you need to get into the office and don’t have your own key, please call

ahead. Among other things, I’m on the new adventure of producing a church newsletter. I’m giving it

my best effort. I hope to not make too many mistakes or leave out too many things. I also hope to not

repeat too many sentences. I also hope to not repeat too many sentences. Thank you for reading all

the way to the end of this issue of Congo Comments, and for your patience as I deal with the

additional office responsibilities. If you know of someone who might be interested in this position,

please encourage them to contact me. The search continues. ~ Rev. Mark

WHAT’S THE FINANCIAL TEMPERATURE? August 2019 YTD GENERAL OFFERING

$18,431.78

$116,652.02

LOOSE OFFERING $212.82 $1265.82

OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS $0.00 $499.00

RAICES $0 $1,111.55

WE CARE $140.91 $429.63

MNKOTA RECYCLING $0 $54.32

BUILDING USE REVENUE $0 $325.00 SALAD LUNCHEON PROCEEDS $0 $900.00

INTEREST INCOME $0.08 $0.88

TOTAL REVENUE $18,785.87 $120,126.67

TOTAL EXPENSES $12,205.11 $114,084.85

Commentary:

August has been a welcome month, a good beginning to harvest. As the leaves turn colors, members and friends have given a bountiful harvest. At this time, the third quarter of the year ends and all indications are that the end is on a

high note! Thank you, thank you. We are able to meet quarterly obligations without the need to use added investment funds. We need to keep the pace as we look toward year’s end.

The 2020 Stewardship programming year has begun. The theme as we move forward is THE WAY. I am the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). Please review and prepare to commit to 2020.

“What Shall We Bring?” STEWARDSHIP, 2019

Marv Enslin, Board for Stewardship