July 28 – November 17, 2019 is a time of journey for our congregation. Pastor Laurie will be on sabbatical, renewing/revitalizing herself with contemplative retreats at the beginning and end of her sabbatical; time spent with family and friends, and 6 weeks of discovering/researching her family roots in Wales and Ireland. The congregation will also be spending this time in a season of rediscovery, renewal, and revitalization. All of our activities are listed below, you can also download the full booklet here.
Rediscovering Our Roots
Picnic & Send-Off Celebration
Sunday, July 28: Please join us for worship in the park at North Regional Park, 5116 N. Mississippi Drive in Minneapolis followed by a catered lunch. This is our send-off celebration for Pastor Laurie as she sets off on her sabbatical journey to discover her family’s roots. We will spend the next three months engaging in our own journey to rediscover our roots as Disciples of Christ and renew our purpose as a congregation. You don’t want to miss this special event!
Book Study
The whole congregation will be reading and discussing A Handbook for Today’s Disciples by D. Duane Cummins. Please choose from one or more of the following options for discussing the book:
- Sunday mornings in August with David Cobb: 9:30 – 10:15 a.m., Lydia meeting room
- Thursday mornings in September with Pastor Dan: 10:30 – 11:30 a.m., in Lydia meeting room.
- Interactive Online Study: Details to be announced. Contact Pastor Dan for the link to join the discussion.
- Small discussion groups: time and location to be decided by the participants
History Tour
HISTORY TOUR #1: 2201 Tour south of the Fire Door (old Fellowship Hall and Classrooms) – August 24, 4:00 pm, meet at 2201 1st Ave S in west parking lot. Please RSVP with church office.
HISTORY TOUR #2: 2201 Tour north of the Fire Door and FCC’s previous home sites. We will also tour or view places where we do mission work. Information will be provided on the history of FCC. Slide show starting at 12:30 pm, with tour to follow. Please RSVP with church office.
Renewing Our Purpose
Guest Speakers
The following denominational leaders will be our guest preachers for Sunday morning worship, which will be followed by a light lunch. After lunch our guests will lead us in conversations and activities to learn more about our denomination and our place in it.
- Sunday, September 22: Rev. Lee Hull Moses, Chief of Staff, Office of the General Minister & President
- Sunday, October 13: Rev. Vy Nguyen, Executive Director, Week of Compassion
- Sunday, October 27: Dr. Rick Lowery, President, Disciples of Christ Historical Society
Guest Preachers
Sunday, August 4: David Cobb
Sunday, August 25: Christine Isham
Sunday, September 1: Wendy Manuel
Sunday, October 6: First Christian Players
Prayer Groups
Would you like to join a small group of people to meet regularly for prayer during this time of congregational renewal? Each group will decide when and where to meet. You will be provided with some questions to ponder as you gather for reflection and prayer.
Revitalizing Our Community
Fellowship Meals
Join a group to meet once a month and share a meal together. Groups will be formed to meet either at restaurants or in people’s homes. Sign-up sheets will be in the sanctuary.
Cidery Tour
Sunday, August 11, 2:00 – 7:00 p.m.: Bring your thirst and come hungry! We will depart from SpringHouse and head out to discover the unique flavors of the following cideries: Number 12 Cider in downtown Minneapolis, Urban Winery and Cider House on East Lake Street and Sociable Cider Werks in Northeast, the Twin Cities’ original cider house. Little Tomato is the resident woodfire pizza truck at Number 12 Cider and Sociable Cider Werks hosts a “Chef Incubator” food trailer that plays host to a new up-and-coming chef every six months.
FCC Day at Como Park
Saturday, September 14: Join us for a fun day at Como Park. Come in the morning to enjoy the zoo, conservatory, carousel, Como Town rides, mini golf, paddleboat or bike rentals. There is so much to do! We have a picnic shelter reserved from 3:30 to 9:30 p.m. and will be doing a cookout dinner with potluck sides and desserts beginning at 5:30. (The zoo, conservatory and picnic are free. There are additional costs for other activities.)
Fall Family Fun
Saturday, October 5: Join us for apple/pumpkin picking, hay ride, corn maze and more! More details will be coming soon. There may be additional costs for this activity.
Fall Foliage Tour
Saturday, October 12: Join us for a day-long tour along the Mississippi River in Wisconsin. We’ll head down Hwy 35 (The Great River Road) with stops in Maiden Rock (you’ll want to get some good pastries and bread at the Smiling Pelican Bakery, among other quaint shops), and Stockholm, an artisan community that is also the home to Stockholm Pie Company and General Store. From there, we’ll cross the river and head back north on the Minnesota side (Hwy 61) and stop at Pepin Heights Orchard on the way back to Minneapolis. There will be a couple of photo-ops along the river, so bring your camera! More details to follow.
Bowling at Bryant-Lake Bowl
Sunday, October 20, 12:30 – 2:30: We’ll walk over after church for lunch and two hours of bowling. This event is partially funded by the Lilly Grant, but there may be a small additional fee, depending on how many people go.
Welcome Home Dinner for Pastor Laurie
Sunday, November 17, after worship: Plan to stay in the South Sanctuary for a catered meal and
program to welcome Pastor Laurie home from her 3 month sabbatical. This will be
a time of celebration and sharing our discoveries.