Worship Sundays at 10:00 a.m.300 Union Street
Northfield, MN 55057
507-645-7532
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By Sandy Johnson, on February 7th, 2010
 What do these things have in common: Church camp, Muir Woods, and Jesus helping the disciples fish? Find out here <grin>!
Deep Water
Isaiah 6:1-8; Luke 5:1-11
About two weeks before my friend Katherine Mulhern and I left for seminary – she to Eden Seminary in St. Louis and I to Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley – we drove across the state of Washington to our beloved church camp on the shores of Lake Coeur d’Alene just over the state line in Idaho. Our friend and pastor Todd Wyrick was just finishing a week with the Senior High Camp, and he had promised to give us a blessing for our journeys.
Continue reading Deep Water
By Andrea Pegram, on February 7th, 2010
 Our church will be producing a new pictorial directory with Olan Mills. Our photography dates are Monday, April 5 through Thursday, April 8. If you wish to sign-up early you may click on https://signup.olanmills.com/familyinfo.aspx?chcontract=50699 for online sign-up through Olan Mills. Once you enter your name and home address information click “SAVE” at the bottom of the screen and the available times will then be displayed for you. You may also call 1-800-866-2263, Mon-Fri, 8AM to 9PM Central Time to schedule or change an appointment. Remember, our directory won’t be complete without YOU!
By Elaine Malecha, on February 3rd, 2010
Please click on the February 2010 Chronicle for church news and interesting events happening at First UCC this month!
By Andrea Pegram, on January 31st, 2010
 We’ve received two important documents from the Disaster Response office of the UCC in Cleveland that we now pass on to you. You can download the Haiti Earthquake Frequently Asked Questions sheet here. You can also find a brief summary related to the possibilities for Hatians coming the U.S. The Disaster Response office reports that some UCC congregations have been asking how they may provide a welcome to Hatians who are coming to the U.S. Their recommendation is to connect with any Hatian community in their local setting and offer their assistance.
By Andrea Pegram, on January 27th, 2010
 Please click here to see the 2010 camp schedule of events for Pilgrim Point. For more information visit www.pilgrimpoint.org.
By Sandy Johnson, on January 25th, 2010
 I don’t usually think of St. Paul as a funny guy, but he makes some broad jokes while trying to persuade the Christians in Corinth to honor the gifts of all of their members. Let’s laugh with him, and then listen again to that important message …
A Thousand Body Parts
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a; Luke 4:14-21
Last week was Part One of the message(from 1 Corinthians 12): There are varieties of gifts. This week is Part Two: All of them are equally important.
And did you notice that St. Paul wrote Part Two with humor?
Continue reading O for a Thousand Body Parts
By Sandy Johnson, on January 17th, 2010
 There are no words of scripture that I quote more often than these from 1 Corinthians 12: “There are varieties of gifts.” Here is why I think it is so important …. (after I say a few words about my June 30 retirement that I announced earlier this week) …
1 Corinthians 12:4-11; John 2:1-11
Many Gifts, One Spirit
I was looking forward to preaching a sermon this morning about weddings. The evocative story of Jesus providing 150 gallons of good wine for the wedding in Cana
Continue reading Many Gifts, One Spirit
By Sandy Johnson, on January 15th, 2010
Some of you may be familiar with the UCC’s Daily Devotional. Today the writing team has posted several very moving prayers for the people of Haiti. Click here to read them …
By Sandy Johnson, on January 13th, 2010
Our own Paul Miller, who led the programs in our church about Haiti, invites our gifts to Partners in Health as a way to donate to relief efforts in Haiti. Click here for their website and online donations.
By Sandy Johnson, on January 13th, 2010
 The United Church of Christ has launched an emergency appeal for Haiti after a major earthquake struck the country. Thousands of people are feared dead and countless have been left homeless.
For more details, and a link to make donations online, click here.
By Sandy Johnson, on January 12th, 2010
 Have you ever noticed that it is harder to receive words of love and affirmation than it is to offer them to others? That is true even when the words come from God …
I Have Called You by Name
Isaiah 43:1-7; Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
There’s a wonderful scene in Barbara Robinson’s The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Imogene Herdman, who had never heard the Christmas story before, is asking questions about how Jesus got his name. Alice Wendleken, the prissy girl who usually got to play Mary in the pageant, steps in to explain.
Continue reading I Have Called You by Name
By Sandy Johnson, on January 4th, 2010
 Our WFFF programs (Wednesdays for Food, Fun, and Faith) resume this week on Wednesday, January 6. Come at 5:30 for supper (free will donation asked for the food), and stay for programs for adults and kids.
This week the adults will start a 3-part series with Pastor Sandy: “Reading the Bible Seriously Without Reading It Literally.” The first week focuses on the Hebrew Scriptures (aka Old Testament) — and some things in the book of Genesis that may surprise you!
By Sandy Johnson, on January 3rd, 2010
 Today’s service was much quieter than usual — silence replaced many of the words. So if you are reading this “sermon,” I hope you will sit quietly and pause for a long time where it is indicated.
In the Beginning
Psalm 147:12-20; John 1:1-15
It is after a thing happens that we think about it. When we are in the middle of an event or a happening, our attention is directed towards what is going on and what we need to be doing. While the adrenalin is flowing, not much pondering is going on.
Continue reading In the Beginning
By Sandy Johnson, on December 30th, 2009
 Several folks have asked about the two stories I read in church on December 27. Here they are — I’ve given you the links to amazon.com because they have full publication information.
Snowmen at Christmas, by Caralyn Buehner, pictures by Mark Buehner
Great Joy by Kate Dicamillo, Illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline
By Sandy Johnson, on December 26th, 2009
 One of the blessings of the Christmas Eve service is the singing of carols by so many voices. But in another way, too, it takes a lot of voices to celebrate Christmas …
Many Voices
Luke 2:1-20 Matthew 2:1-12
If we opened up my family’s mental scrapbook of memories and looked at the pages for Christmas of 1956, here’s what we might find:
Continue reading Many Voices
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