We had an accident with our pulpit Bible– the big one that we read out of every Sunday morning.  The shelf it was placed on during a funeral was underneath a leaking water container, and the book got soaked.  It was open — so Genesis 1 through Psalm 89 were particularly drenched.

Quick to the rescue came my friend and Carleton Librarian Carol Eyler.  With help from her colleagues, she located a service that will freeze dry (really!) the Bible to make sure that no mold develops and the pages stay flat (and not “cockled”– which is that wrinkly post-moist thing that paper does).  And she arranged to have it shipped — complete with dry ice to make sure it doesn’t get moldy — to the book hospital in Illinois.

So a big THANK YOU to our friends at Carleton for this bit of community service.  We’ll let you know when the Bible is back!

The United Church of Christ National Disaster Ministries is already offering help to the victims of Midwest Storms and flooding.

You can help by making a contribution — either through First UCC or online — to help with the expenses of rescue, clean-up, and rebuilding.

You can also volunteer to help — some opportunities have already been posted, and others will be announced soon.

And we can all support the victims, rescue workers, and volunteers with our prayers.

All across the country, members of the United Church of Christ are working together on important issues of justice and peace.

A good way to join in this important work is to join the Justice and Peace Action Network (JPANet).  You’ll receive weekly Legislative Action Alerts, periodic JPANet news, and Biblical and liturgical material for interpreting issues and action.  You’ll find sample letters to send to decision makers, many of which you can send right online from JPANet.

The Justice and Peace Action Network is our grassroots advocacy network — a project that we support financially with our contributions to Our Church’s Wider Mission.  But to be effective, we also need to support it with our attention and action.

It was a bittersweet experience on Sunday as  Damen preached a great sermon, but it was also his last at First UCC, Northfield.  Damen has finished his time with us and is moving ahead on his journey to become a minister.  What an honor it has been to have him with us over these last many months.

  Damen and his fan club.  Parents David and Karen, Aunt Kathryn, Aunt Teresa and Uncle Denny Birdwell.  They traveled from various points in Iowa to be with Damen on this special day. 

Imagine a place where everybody counts. Where all kids look out for little ones, and little ones make faces at wee ones. And everybody laughs out loud.

A place where the sunrise tastes like strawberry ice cream; the sunsets glow like the face of a contented grandparent; where the breeze travels over the glistening lake….. And whispers your name.

Such a place exists and it’s named Pilgrim Point Camp. Where is it? Just far enough away…yet within reach….Alexandria, Minnesota. More than a destination, it’s a mind set; a spiritual oasis attended annually by many youth and adults. All shapes, sizes, ages and numbers are welcome.

Pilgrim Point Camp is a place where bonds are strengthened; where strangers discover their similarities; where goodness is given and where crickets and frogs sing a cappella ‘til dawn. It’s a place where campfires crackle, stories are retold and fowl language is for the birds.

It is also a state of “being.” Where now-ness replaces practicality; where a dinner bell replaces watches and clocks; where imagination is stronger than fact; and where God is as close as your breath.

This beautiful lakeside destination offers the traveler a place to cleanse their soul. An open air sanctuary invites quiet, while offering a chance to reflect, recharge, rekindle, reawaken. It’s as if the trees seem to say, “Whatever was troubling you will just have to wait.”

It’s a place where piggyback rides are the preferred mode of transportation and shooting stars and lightening bugs point to the heavens. A place that makes your heart sing and toes tingle. A place where God is found in moments of kindness and love…. And conversations can be had without speaking a word.

As you wander toward the place for which the camp is named a hand painted sign greets you, “all who enter here do so in silence for this is sacred space.” And indeed it is.

John R. Beard

Pilgrim Point Camp — Think about it for your Family this summer. Click HERE for more information.

Want a chance to talk about it?  First UCC invites young adults (college students and recent grads) to our new program, Leadership 21. 

Starting in the fall, this group will meet weekly for a variety of activities (prayerful and playful) that will help you explore your gifts and think about the ways you can use them in service to others.  That might be ordained ministry, or then again it might not.

Thanks to a generous grant from the Fund for Theological Education, we can offer small stipends (equal to 4 hours of work-study) to participants.

Here’s more information and an application sheet — hope to hear from you soon!

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In all of the media attention to the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, PBS’s Bill Moyers has been a voice of reason and respect.  You may have seen his interview with Rev. Wright (aired April 25 on PBS).

In the aftermath of Rev. Wright’s words at the National Press Club and elsewhere, Moyers has written a thoughtful essay about the situation, and particularly about the role of the media. 

If you have friends who have jumped to conclusions about the UCC, pass this essay along to them, too.

Our congregation is honored to host a showing of the moving video, For the Bible Tells Me So, on Friday evening, May 16 at 7:00 pm at the church (300 Union Street in Northfield)

Through the experiences of five very normal, very Christian, very American families — including those of former House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt and Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson — we discover how insightful people of faith handle the realization of having a gay child. Informed by such respected voices as Bishop Desmond Tutu, Harvard’s Peter Gomes, Orthodox Rabbi Steve Greenberg and Reverend Jimmy Creech, FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO offers healing, clarity and understanding to anyone caught in the crosshairs of scripture and sexual identity.

This presentation is part of First UCC’s commitment (since 1994) to be an Open and Affirming congregation:  No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!

Please invite your neighbors and friends to join us for this important look at the lives of families of faith.

Caring for the earth is a spiritual discipline.  As Sandy said in her sermon on Sunday, we care for creation because God loves creation and we love God.  In that spirit, the Green Task Force is asking First UCC members to make their own pledge of carbon reduction.

FIRST, read the pledge below and check one or more things you will do.

SECOND, fill out the Minnesota Energy Challenge online (there’s a long and a short version).

Third, post this pledge where you can see it, give thanks to God’s creation by pursuing your goals, & return next year to report on what you have done & pledge action anew.

You can learn what other UCC churches are doing by reading this article from the United Church News.

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You’ll want to be at Babcock Park at 5:00 pm on Sunday May 4 for the big season opener between our own Fighting Apostles and St. Dominic’s Blue Team.

Fighting Apostles spokesman Scott Richardson says St. Dominic’s is a tough opponent.  “They actually practice!” he said.

Families of team members were delighted that this year’s opener is not on Mother’s Day.  “It keeps me out of the doghouse,” opined Greg Muth.

The team’s entry fee to the Church Softball League is covered by the proceeds of last Sunday’s French Toast Breakfast.  If you liked eating with them, you’ll love watching them play!

First UCC will hold it’s 3rd Annual Blessing of the Bikes on Sunday,  May 4 right after worship.  Bring your bike, trike, wagon, moped or motorcycle to be included in Sandy’s Blessing.   We’ll meet in the church parking lot.  Bring your friends and neighbors.  It’s a fun event and we always have a great blessing.

Here is the Rev John Thomas’ Letter on Fatih Engaging Science and Technology (PDF).