Worship is currently online – see below1101 17th Ave S, Fargo ND 58103; 701-232-8985

Church Website: www.firstuccfargo.orgFacebook: First Congregational United Church of Christ -

FargoOffice Hours: 8-noon, M-F

Office Mgr. – Bonnie Fischer:1stcongregationalucc@gmail.com

Rev. Dr. Kevin Cassiday-Maloney

mrmetta57@gmail.comCell: 701-373-5709

(just a phone call or textaway... and happy to get

calls!)

MISCELLANEOUS

COMING EVENTS

PRAYERS FOR...

SOMETHING TOPONDER

LAUGHTER IS THE BEST...MEDICINE

Sunday, October 17

I'll be preaching on, “The Apostles' Greed,” based on Job 38:1-7, 34-41 (Good News Bible) and Mark 10:17-31 (CEB). Tony Christensen and I will lead the congregation in singing:

• O Worship the King• Christ Beside Me• Christ Be My Leader

We will be live-streaming worship, and you can access this at our church Facebook page: First Congregational

UCC, Fargo. It will remain available afterward, too.

A reminder that we are heeding the latest CDC guidance and information, and since the level of COVID transmission in Cass County is currently “high,” we are recommending that everyone, vaccinated or non-vaccinated, wear a mask for all indoor church activities, including worship. Thanks for being understanding and faithful!

We are continuing to have Coffee Hour, inviting people to be careful and to self-select in terms of your safety in attending (for others as well as for yourself).

We will be continuing to receive the annual Neighbors in Need Offering through October, with our goal set for $600. You may contribute in church or mail in your check.

In 2021, Neighbors in Need “Unfailing Love” offering is focused on supporting organizations and projects that are serving homeless and immigrant

neighbors or communities. One-third of NIN funds support the Council for American Indian Ministry (CAIM). Two-thirds of this offering is used by the UCC’s Justice and Witness Ministries (JWM) to provide funding grants to UCC churches and organizations leading justice initiatives, advocacy efforts, and direct service projects in their communities.

MISCELLANEOUSGARDENING NOTES – October 12

It took a lot of muscle, and a few determined souls to move the mountain. At last, the last of the compost was moved into the garden. It sounds as ifwe fnished just in time as the weather is about to change. We have been soblessed to have hadthe help of so manydedicated volunteersover the summer. Of

course, we could always use more!!! Keep your eyesand ears open for any opportunity to recruit. It issuch a rewarding experience – not only that we aredoing our part to help feed the hungry, but we havethe opportunity to share that with friends while wework in the garden. We have been able to provide1,530 pounds of vegetables to the food pantry. Youall have made this possible.

Stay tuned. There is more news to come next week.

MANY HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK Click here (https://www.ucc.org/ucc-continues-and-expands-its-ways-to-be-anti-racist/) for an article from United Church News, “UCC continues — and expands — its ways to be anti-racist.”“Join the Movement Toward Racial Justice,” announced in July at General Synod and expected to launch fully by the end of 2021, has a preliminary website up

(https://jointhemovementucc.org). There, people can sign up now to “answer God’s call to be an anti-racist church.” Those who do will receive racial-justice alerts, have a place to share their own racial-justice stories, and more.

COMING EVENTSBIBLE STUDYEvery Wednesday, we gather for a HybridBible Study from 2-3:30 p.m. (both onsiteand Zoom – https://us02web.zoom.us/j/189332169). Weexplore and discuss the scriptures for thecoming Sunday as well as resourcing eachother in our spiritual journeys, with noshortage of joy and laughter abounding.Spread the word!

ZOOM MEDITATIONThe Meditation Group meets via Zoom from 6:30-7:30 every Wednesday for a shared meditation time, as we seek that calm place within. Feel free to invite friends, neighbors, family, enemies… whomever! We share about life and its challenges; we explore some basic tools for coping more effectively; and we meditate for 20 minutes. God is in our midst, and all we really have to do is breathe in and breathe out! https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89226623346

SERVING THE MEAL AT CHURCHES UNITEDEvery 5th Friday, our church serves the mealat Churches United for the Homeless inMoorhead (1901 1st Ave N) from 5:30-7 p.m.Our next service opportunity is Friday,October 29th. Please contact Carol Roth ifyou would like to help prepare and serve themeal: rothca@mnstate.edu; (701) 388-7025. Thanks for your generosity!

PRAYERS FOR...(Please let us know of any specifc prayer concerns or thanks you may want to share.)We pray for Bob Stone who is hospitalized at Sanford on Broadway. They are treating him for colitis, and he hopes to return home this weekend. May God's grace abound for Bob and his husband Jan, and may Bob be home soon and feeling better!

We pray for Harris Widmer who is hospitalized at Sanford on Broadway, as he recovers from a small stroke in addition to severe back pain. May both he and Arlyce be held in God's care, and may healing in body, mind, and spirit unfold day by day!

We pray for Jeanne Dotson who has returned home after a recent hospitalization. She has been through many health challenges and appreciates all our continuingprayers for her and her husband, Doyle. And she has not lost her sense of humor!

We pray for Colleen Roth (Garry's mother), as she is now receiving hospice care at Bethany on University. This is a very hard timefor her and her family, and we pray for God's grace to bring strength and peace for them all!

We pray for all who are suffering in any way in the midst of the ongoing pandemic. May we fnd resilience, vigilance, intelligence, and compassion. And may we remember to work together for the common good! Special prayers for Pastors Kevin and Jo's nephew, Justin, his wife, Martyna, and their baby, Luca, who have all been hit pretty hard by COVID.

We pray for all who suffer the effects of wildfres, volcanoes, and other natural disasters. May we be quick to provide immediate relief and continue to address underlying injustices that exacerbate the suffering.

We pray for congress and all our national leaders as they continue their challenging work. May they fnd unity in working for the common good.

Thanksgiving for Women's Fellowship which met this week. They are small but mighty, and they welcome others to join them next month on Wednesday, November 10 at 10 a.m.

Thanksgiving for all who helped to make for a great second year of our Community Garden and for the produce we were able to donate to help feed the hungry.

SOMETHING TO PONDER

“That it is precisely when we recognizeour common humanity—when werecognize our own humanity in the faceof the other—it is then that we alsorecognize the face of God.” ~ Diana Butler Bass

LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE