A  rich  assortment  of  Sunday  morning  topics    Pastor Dan Adolphson has developed a banquet of topics for adult Sunday School this winter and spring. Join Dan and others on Sunday mornings at 9:15 am in the Esther room for a lively, stimulating and thought-provoking discussions examining the Word at work in our world.

Bonhoeffer: The Life and Writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Jan. 4, 11, 18, 25)

In this 4-week study, we will examine the major themes of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s writing and speaking and how he not only helped transformed an entire faith community in Germany during World War II, but how his beliefs continue to impact the Christian faith of people today.

Religion and the Civil Rights Moment (Feb. 1, 8, 15, 22)

In this study, we will examine the ways in which religious beliefs, practices, people and institutions helped to form and inform the modern Civil Rights movement in the United States. Included in this study will be a brief examination of the theology of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. As part of this study, we will again include a trip to view a play dealing with an issue from the Civil Rights Era. This year’s performance will be Four Little Girls on February 22 at 3 pm at Stepping Stone Theatre in Saint Paul. Four Little Girls: Birmingham 1963 examines the lives of four children killed in the church bombing of September, 1963. Tickets are $10 each and bus transportation will be available.

Embracing the Prophets in Contemporary Culture (Mar. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, Apr. 5)

Walter Brueggemann, arguably America’s leading Old Testament scholar and theologian, takes us on a wild ride through the poetic prophecy of the Hebrew Scripture, identifying cultural contexts, putting a framework to Israel’s history, and, most significantly—and at times challengingly!—drawing connections between Israel’s sociological, economic and spiritual status and that of America today.

Victory and Peace or Justice and Peace (Apr. 12, 19, 26, May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31)

In this study, John Dominic Crossan (the premier historical Jesus scholar in our world today) will help us explore the juxtaposition of Roman imperial theology and the kingdom of God.

The COURIER January  10,  2015  

           

What’s  INSIDE:  

Voices  and  Views  from  Martha  Harris,    

page  2    

Meet  new  member    James  Petermeier,      

page  3    

Health  at  First  column,  page  3  

 UPCOMING  Events:  

 Women’s  Annual  Lunch,  

Saturday,  January  10,  Tucci  Benuch  at  MOA,    

11:30  am    

Volunteer  carpet  cleaning  at  SpringHouse,  

Saturday,  January  10    Board  meeting,  Tuesday,  

January  20,  7  pm  

 Voices  and  Views        Martha  Harris  

Page  2   January  10,  2015  

s

Poems:  good  for  the  soul  

   

  Prayers of Sympathy For family and friends of

people who have recently passed away:

Roger Redmon’s mother Gloria

Jimmy Barnett’s aunt, Betty Fisher

Linnea Engen Ben Tucker’s uncle Bill Tammy Rottschaefer’s

mother Audrey Carol Thomas

Keith Kennedy Prayers for Health      For Larry Pray For all our homebound

members including Elaine Glore and Ruth White

Prayers for Joy    For  Brooke  Apple,  traveling  in  Israel  For  Enid  Griffin’s  85th  birthday  and  Habeeba,  Mike  Hesano’s  grandmother,  turning  90    Prayers for the World For the families of those lost

in AirAsia, the schoolchildren slaughtered in Pakistan, and the police officers slain in New York City

 

                                 In  Our  Prayers

When is the last time you read a poem? Just the other day, I found this poem by Arkansas poet Miller Williams in the newspaper (he recently passed away; the poem was in his obituary) --

Have compassion for everyone you meet, even if they don’t want it. What seems conceit, bad manners, or cynicism is always a sign of things no ears have heard, no eyes have seen. You do not know what wars are going on down there where the spirit meets the bone.

It’s a very, very short sermon tucked into a lovely poem. Every Monday I get a poem in my email inbox from Nebraska poet Ted Kooser, who was the U.S. Poet Laureate for several years. This week, he sent “Insha’Allah,”a poem by California poet Danusha Laméris:

I don’t know when it slipped into my speech that soft word meaning, “if God wills it.” Insha’Allah I will see you next summer. The baby will come in spring, insha’Allah. Insha’Allah this year we will have enough rain. Every language must have a word for this. A word our grandmothers uttered under their breath. . .

There’s more to this poem, but you get the idea of the power of a word/thought/prayer the poem introduces us to. Poems, like scripture, can help us see things more clearly, love things more dearly -- to quote a hymn-poem. If you’re still working on your New Year’s resolutions, I have a suggestion for you: add a little poetry to your life. Subscribe to Ted Kooser’s email list (I’ll be glad to supply it to you), or make Poetry Daily your homepage. Buy one of Garrison Keillor’s wonderful anthologies (Good Poems I and II), and read one every morning along with your coffee. See if there’s an old poetry book lurking on your bookshelves; open it up and see what you find. You may get a mini-sermon, a snapshot of beauty, or a thought that challenges you. Take it from an old English teacher: a poem is good for the soul!

A  welcome  to  new  member  James  Petermeier    Pastor Laurie Feille welcomed James Petermeier into official membership at FCC on Sunday, December 21. James has worshiped and worked with us for several years, recently serving as a facilitator for a SpringHouse forum on social justice. James, who hails from Belle Plain, MN, completed his law degree at William Mitchell School of Law last year, concentrating in victims’ rights advocacy and parents’ rights advocacy in child protection matters. He will leave in August for a two year Master’s

program in Peace and Conflict at Upsala University in Sweden.  Youth  receive  grant  for  January  retreat  Youth Pastor Brooke Apple reports: The youth received an Ashley Micro-Grant from the Minnesota Conference of United Church of Christ for $400 to help fund the cost of the retreat we will be taking on January 18-19. We are pleased to be a recipient of this money to allow our ministry program to continue working with the youth on their faith. During this retreat the youth will be working on planning the youth services that will occur on April 19, April 26, and May 3. We will also continue to build community and work with how we can express our faith to everyone we meet.  Artistic  Interpretation  of  Scripture  continues  Deb Murphy will continue with leading sessions where participants look at scripture, especially Narrative Lectionary texts, through the lens of art. The group will meet the second Monday of every month at 7 pm in the Timothy room at SpringHouse, including this coming Monday, January 12. Each session is an independent unit, so all are welcome at any time. Annual  SpringHouse  meeting  set  for  Jan.  25  The three congregations will come together for a joint worship service and the annual meeting on Sunday, January 25. Worship will be at 10:30 in the South Sanctuary, followed by the annual meeting at 11:30. The 2015 SpringHouse budget will be presented at the meeting. A light lunch will be served following the meeting; sandwiches will be provided, and potluck is requested for sides, salads and desserts. Reservations for the lunch are requested. Our annual congregational meeting will take place after lunch. In related news, Emma Jorstad of Salem has volunteered to be the new SpringHouse board treasurer. If no objection is received from any of the congregations, Emma will proceed to work with Michael Vanderford in a smooth transition of duties and responsibilities effective immediately.

T Flu  season  tips   With the flu season in full swing, taking care of ourselves is so important to help bolster our immunity. Eating a healthy diet (what happened to all those Christmas goodies?), plenty of sleep and exercise are always helpful, but one of the most important ways to prevent infection is good handwashing. Using warm water and soap is most effective but when water is not available, using an antibacterial hand sanitizer will do. If you are not feeling well, stay at home and take care of yourself. Try to keep your fluid intake up by drinking a glass of water or juice several times a day. Also, minimizing unnecessary exposure in public while you have a fever. If you take prescription medications for ongoing disease management, you might talk with your pharmacist or doctor. regarding drug interactions with over the counter flu medicines (for fever, body aches, cough, etc.) and your prescriptions. My hope and prayer is that you’ll have a happy, healthy New Year! Julie Andrix, RN

The  Courier  

Page  3  

Health  at  First  

   

Julie  Andrix,    Faith  Community  Nurse  

Narrative  Lectionary  texts  for  Sunday,  January  11  

Baptism  of  Jesus  Matthew  3:  1-­‐17    

Sundays at First Christian Church Worship at 10:30

Before Worship After Worship Children’s Classes, 9:15 am Fellowship Time 11:45 Hearthstone Class, 9 am Diedrich Bonhoffer study, 9:15 am

 

First  Christian  Church  (Disciples  of  Christ),  Minneapolis,    is  a  partner  church  at  SpringHouse  Ministry  Center  

A  Welcoming  Community  of  Faith  in  the  Heart  of  the  City  

Ministry Team Dan Adolphson, Associate Pastor Julia Andrix, Faith Community Nurse Brooke Apple, Youth minister Rick Bowman, SHMC Building

Manager Serena Chial, Nursery Attendant Adam Conrad, Director of Ensembles Laurie Pound Feille, Senior Minister Nate Lien, Child Care worker Leah Siltberg Froehlich, Music

Director Martha Harris, Courier Editor Deb Murphy, Office Manager and

Director of Spiritual Formation for Children & Youth; SHMC Building Use Coordinator

Office Telephone: 612.870.1868 www.fccminneapolis.org E-Mail: office@fccminneapolis.org Christian Courier is published bi-monthly. Send items and ideas to church office or to Martha Harris harrismartha@mac.com by Sunday, Jan. 18 for next issue.

     Reflections  on  the  Word  Matthew 3:13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. The gospel of Mark records the story of the Baptism of Jesus by John straightforwardly, but the authors of the canonical gospels all seem to have some discomfort with the idea that John baptizes Jesus. Luke notes that John is imprisoned by Herod in the verse immediately before the baptism of Jesus (cf. Luke 3:20,21), as if to give the impression that Jesus’ baptism is agentless. Matthew has John clarify that he himself needs baptism from Jesus (Matthew 3:14-15). We continue to wonder: what does it mean that Jesus was baptized, by John? And this leads to another question: What does our own baptism mean? God of love, Help us know that we too are your beloved children in whom you are well pleased. By Prof. Shelley Matthews, on the Narrative Lectionary website

FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF MINNEAPOLIS

(DISCIPLES OF CHRIST) 610 W. 28th Street

Minneapolis, MN 55408

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January  10,  2014  Page  4  January  10,  2014

Mural by Castere Bazile for cathedral in Port-au-Prince, Haiti