Worship

Sundays at 10:00 a.m.

300 Union Street
Northfield, MN 55057
507-645-7532

Photo album

The Chronicle (February 2012)

Please click here for the February 2012 issue of The Chronicle newsletter.

Bible Study Group Meets Saturday, Jan. 28

Please join Pastor Bob for Bible Study on Saturday, January 28 at 10:00am in the church parlor.

Frank Gery Memorial Service

A service of Thanksgiving to celebrate the life of Frank Gery will be held on Saturday, January 21st, at 11:00am in the church sanctuary with lunch to follow.

Contributions in his honor may be sent to the Church, Northfield Hospice, or Community Action Center.  For a complete obituary please visit www.biermanfuneralhome.com.

The Chronicle (January 2012)

Please click here for the January 2012 issue of The Chronicle newsletter.

Christmas Worship Schedule

Please join us for worship this Christmas weekend:

  • Saturday, Dec. 24, 4:00pm: Christmas Eve service
  • Sunday, Dec. 25, 10:00am: Christmas Day service

Longest Night Service

First United Church of Christ (Congregational), 300 Union Street will be holding a “Longest Night Service” on Tuesday, December 20 at 7:00 PM in the sanctuary.

This service of quiet music, readings, prayer, and candles is a time to seek peace during the holidays.   All are invited, but it will be especially helpful for those for whom the holidays are a difficult time.  Maybe you are grieving the death of a loved one, maybe the winter darkness recalls other dark times in your life – whatever the reason, this service is a time to acknowledge the reality of pain in the midst of a season of celebration.

In the service we will seek to be honest about our grief, while also seeking to open ourselves to the light and hope that is coming into the world.  You are welcome to join with us.

Sunday School Teachers and Helpers Needed!

Hello All -
Starting in January, our 2nd/3rd grade classroom will be short one teacher.  Please consider becoming a Sunday School teacher!  The curriculum is provided, the children are enthusiastic, and the time commitment is a mere two Sundays a month.  If you have questions, or are interested, please contact the church office, church@firstucc.org.
Also, our children need more Sunday School Helpers.  *Anyone* can volunteer, including those who do not have children in Sunday School!  Volunteer by emailing the church office (church@firstucc.org)  with your contact information or by signing up at the bulletin board in the west hallway.
Remember that our church’s Safe Practices dictate that two adults be present in every Sunday School classroom. To keep our children safe, Sunday School will not be held on Sundays when there is no classroom helper.
Thanks for being involved in the faith formation of our children!
The Children’s Education Committee

Bible Study

Pastor Bob Griggs will host an opportunity for study and discussion on Saturday, December 17 from 10:00 – 11:30 in the Big Room, with the intention being to continue one Saturday a month in the new year.

For the first session, Pastor Bob Griggs will be leading us in reflection and discussion of some of the psalms.  We’ll also take some time to plan what the group would like to focus on: more biblical texts, a book, a series of readings, whatever those assembled would find most rewarding.

Christmas Sharing

First UCC is an official drop-off site for Christmas Sharing.  We will be collecting new, unwrapped gifts until Monday, December 12th.  Gifts for teens are especially needed.  Stop by during office hours to drop off any donations you may wish to make.

For more information on the Christmas Sharing program, click here.

November Pastoral Reports

Please click  for the Interim Senior Minister Report .

Please click for the Interim Associate Report.

Amahl and the Night Visitors

Mark your calendars for the weekend of Advent IV, when Gian Carlo Menotti’s beloved Christmas opera will be performed at First UCC. Amahl tells of a young boy and his mother who are visited by the Three Magi on their journey to Bethlehem. The all-Northfield cast includes Christopher Brunelle, Bob Gregory-Bjorklund, and Jim McKeel as the Three Kings, Tracey Engleman (St. Olaf Music Dept.) as the Mother, and Carson Babbini as Amahl. With a shepherds’ chorus, beautiful orchestral music (conducted by Marty Hodel), and a timely and touching story, this delightful 50-minute show is suitable for young and old alike.

There will be three performances. The tickets for Friday, Dec. 16 (8:00 p.m.) and Saturday, Dec. 17 (8:00 p.m.) are $10, available at First UCC and at Coldwell Banker (419 Division). On Sunday, Dec. 18, the morning service will feature Amahl; no tickets are required, and a free will donation will be taken.

Mission:1 Exceeds All Goals

http://www.ucc.org/news/mission1-exceeds-all-goals.html

Helping Out the Marroquin-Haslett Family

Several websites have been set up to organize help for the Marroquin-Haslett family after their recent house fire.

General Facebook Page – Helping Out the Marroquin-Hasletts

Benefit Concert for the Marroquin-Haslett Family Facebook Page

Sign up to donate clothing and household items – VolunteerSpot

Sign up to help with meals – VolunteerSpot

A support fund has been established at First National Bank of Northfield. For more information or to contribute, contact Rick Estenson at restenson@firstnationalnorthfield.com or 507-645-5656.

Click here to learn more about an effort by Just Food Co-op to raise money to help the Haslett-Marroquins.

The Chronicle (December 2011)

Please click here for the December 2011 issue of The Chronicle newsletter.

Congregational Listening Session 11/20/11

“Although we church folks seldom consider it, we are a people on an amazing journey. Like Abram and so many other biblical ancestors who followed the Spirit’s leading to a new place of promise and hope, each of us is traveling a path God has set before us. Like any journey, our path includes twists and turns, high roads and low places that we must learn to navigate.”1

The interim journey experienced here at First UCC has in fact involved both twists and turns, as well as highs and lows. In an attempt to provide a format for people to reflect upon our interim journey, and as a way to move forward in preparation to receive the first of two new ministers, our Interim Ministers will be facilitating a time to reflect on our journey and identify questions, concerns, hopes and observations made as we move toward a new life that rests in God’s hands.

As the Search Committee is narrowing in on four very strong final candidates, it behoves us to take advantage of this opportunity. This is  an investment in the future of this faith community. Even though we are in the midst of those in-between times, we need have no fear. Rather than anxiety, this can be a time for us to celebrate – because we have entered a phase that is expectant with grace.

Please join us in this conversation on Sunday at 11:30 am in the rear of the sanctuary during the Faith Forum time slot.

__________________
1 Finding Yourself In-Between
by Beverly A. Thompson, George B. Thompson, Jr.