| Open Circle Calendar
2 Weeks Out
Friday 9/18
7:00 p.m. Card Night
Sunday 9/20
10:00 a.m. Worship
Children's Story
Rhonda Pittman G.
11:00 a.m. Education Hour
Sunday 9/27
10:00 a.m. Worship
Children's Story
Kimberly Boynton
11:00 a.m. Education Hour
Wednesday 9/30
6:30 p.m. Leadership Formation
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Support The Mission And Ministries Of Open Circle
Please help our community of faith continue to be a progressive Christian presence in the Twin Cities metro area. You can make a contribution online by clicking here. You can see our most recent financial statement here. Thank you for your financial suppprt of our ministries!
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Next Newsletter
October 1, 2009
Deadline for Submission is
September 30, 2009 |
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Coffee and Conversation with Jay
It has been quite illuminating to see some of the signs being carried by right-wing protesters at rallies around the country. President Obama with a painted white face, or depicted sitting cross-legged dressed as an African tribesman. I guess I am not surprised that racism exists still in our country, but I have been surprised to see so many people willing to be so open about it.
I fear for the President's life, quite frankly. But I also think that what we are witnessing right now with some of the mass hysteria revolving around virtually every decision Obama makes is a necessary part of the growing and healing process in our country. Obama may have wanted to be a post-racial leader - and in many ways he is - buy his very presence as the leader of our country is exposing the continuing underbelly of racism that exists in America. His election and presence on the national stage as President has picked open the scar of that festering racism and the puss is running out. It needed to be done.
We all have a shadow side. No matter how emotionally healthy we are there is a reservoir of left-over fear and pain - from childhood, from past hurts, from who knows where sometimes - that bubbles up from time to time. If we are emotionally healthy it is because we have been frightened enough or curious enough about this not-so-pretty part of ourselves that we have done some exploring in our shadow world and learned to know where it comes from and what the triggers are. Our shadow doesn't go away as we grow emotionally but it takes its rightful and most helpful place as a teacher and a source of emotional energy.
What happens when we don't do that kind of shadow work? We live in a fear-based world where "dark forces" are out to get us. We tend to project our own deep fears onto others. It is their fault I am in trouble; it is my partners fault that I am not happy; if I had better friends or a more caring community my life would much better.
Racism is what you get when the unhealthy shadow is nourished and fed, intentionally or unintentionally, in a wider culture of fear and a whole other people are scapegoated or blamed as the source of our problems. Hitler proved to be a master at nourishing and feeding that unhealthy shadow in Germany and convinced virtually an entire country that their problems were the fault of the Jews. It was a tragic but classic example of how good people can do terrible things when the shadow is unleashed and given a steady diet of lies and fear.
We are witnessing some of the same dynamic now as the lingering racist shadow is fed by talk radio and mass gatherings where people are emboldened to wear their shadow on their signs and in their angry words. And they think it is perfectly OK. Because it is all Obama's fault.
Fortunately much of our country did its shadow work on issues of race a generation ago in the midst of the civil rights struggles. For most of us Obama's election is a proud symbol of our health and healing as a country. But it is suddenly quite apparent that there is more work to be done. America is not yet a post-racial country. So while I do fear for our President's life I see a larger purpose being served as the shadow is brought into the light of day for all to see.
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End of September Highlights
Card Club
Please join us at the church Friday Sept. 18th for Card Club! We will meet the 3rd Friday of each month from 7pm-10pm to play 500 and other card games, depending on interest. Please bring a small snack to share and your own beverage. Childcare will NOT be provided for this social event. Interested but don't know how to play or need to brush up on your bidding skills? No problem - There will be plenty of opportunity to learn! Call Kristin Standafer 952.210.5137 or Nicole Giesen 952.873.6715 with questions. ***Due to MEA in Oct. we will meet on the 4th Friday, Oct. 23***
Education Hour Resumes
Education Hour resumes September 20 after worship. Children through grade 5 will meet downstairs. Adults will meet upstairs.
Youth Group Begins
Youth (grades 6 and up) will be meeting during the education hour beginning this week, 9/20. Dan Giesen will be providing leadership this week.
Leadership Conversations and Formation
Beginning Wednesday, September 30, 6:30 p.m.
The
Pastoral Leadership Team will be facilitating a leadership class
focusing on the spiritual and psychological foundations of leadership.
Three weeks of the 8-week class will be devoted to spiritual
foundations: spiritual practice, foundational readings, faith sharing;
three weeks will be devoted to psychological foundations: healthy
self-definition, emotional intelligence, group dynamics; we will wrap
up with two weeks on what we are trying to accomplish together as
leaders and how we identify and name gifts.
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For Your Thoughts and Prayers
If you have prayer concerns or joys to share with our community please e-mail me. Todd and Mary Hall; Todd and Mary are recovering from their transplant surgeries. Dan Kanitz, who has a heart murmur caused by a tear in a valve that will require surgery this winter. Faye Lefever, who is losing her sight due to macular degeneration. Mary Ann Steele's father, Ed Davies, who continues to struggle with a chronic pulminary disease. Todd Lines' dad, who continues to suffer with a chronic pulminary disease. Jeannine Mayer who continues to receive chemotherapy. For families both in Open Circle and in our communities and world who are struggling with life's problems. Continued prayers for the men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, and for the Iraqi and Afghani people.
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Upcoming Events for your Calendar
New or Special Events Rain Garden Update
The project is mostly done. Thanks to everyone who helped. You can see the latest online update here.
Pie Making for Rain Garden Celebration
Help make apple pies and apple butter for our Oct 11th event
Sat., Oct. 3 at Veda's house starting at 9 a.m.
Egg bake served at 9 a.m.
Please bring supplies to help such as: Rolling pin, Pastry board, Mixing bowl, Flour, Sugar, Spices, Aluminum foil pie tins, Small canning jars and lids (apple butter), Apple peeler/corer/slicer, Oil, butter or margarine for pie crust
My address
Veda and Al Kanitz
9830 247th St. E.
Lakeville, MN
(in New Market/Elko Township)
Directions: Take 35W South, exit on Hwy 2, (5 miles south of Hwy 70) turn right and go ½ mile or so to first right on Xerxes (dirt road). Go about a mile to first left on 247th St.
Grey house on right with grey pole barn is mine.
You can also get off and 70, take the frontage road (KENDRICK AVE) South to Cty Rd 62, turn right and then take left on Xerxes but the 70 exit is messed up with construction so it is easier to get off at Hwy 2.
Open Circle Music Schedule- Fall 2009
We welcome all to join us in creating beautiful music at Open Circle! Please mark your calendars now and join us for any and all groups that you may be interested in:
OC Choir: Practicing at 9am the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month- 10/4, 10/18, 11/1, 11/15, 12/6. Singing in church on 12/13 for a Christmas Program, and possibly one of the Sundays in November.
OC Folk Group: Practicing at 6:30pm the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month- 10/6, 10/20, 11/3, 11/17, 12/1, 12/15. Playing and Singing regularly in church, including accompanying/leading congregational singing. (You DO NOT have to be there every Sunday to participate!) Bring your instrument or just your voice and join us for this new group at OC!
OC Children's Choir: Practicing every Sunday after church, before Sunday School (When there is not a community meal). The children's choir will sing in church once a month starting in October (Including 12/13 for the Christmas Program). All Kids ages Kindergarten through 5th grade are welcome.
Men's/Women's/Mixed Ensembles: If you are interested in singing in a small ensemble group, please let Todd or Kristin know and we will inform you of practices. We are hoping to have the Men's Ensemble sing in October and the Women's Ensemble sing in November and several mixed groups singing throughout the Fall.
Wanted: Three or four volunteers to serve as part of a teaching team for our children's educational program.
During the spring of 2008, we had a congregational conversation about what we wanted for our children. This conversation generated several sheets of newsprint full of ideas. A small group that included Rhonda Pittman Gingrich (Team Leader for Ministry with Children and Youth), Vicky Goplin (Pastoral Leadership Team Member), Sam Lucido (parent), Jan Johnson (parent), and Nicole Giesen (parent), took the wealth of ideas generated during the congregational conversation and consolidated the ideas, articulating a list of 15 key learnings we want to pass on to our children (birth through grade 5). The list includes:
· Stewardship/Caretaking (time, talents, money, resources, environment)
· Community, belonging, relationship
· Who/what is God (source of love and life, God is love)
· Service
· Peace (internal, relational, global) and Justice
· I am a child of God (a person of value)
· I have gifts to share (value in the congregation and the world)
· Present an approach to life/God through the life and teachings of Jesus
· Understand and respect diversity.
· Kindness
· Questions are good. Life is a journey.
· Denominational heritage.
· Faith takes courage (the cost of doing the "right" thing)
· Sense of the biblical story (What is the Bible? What is in the Bible? the good, the bad, and the ugly)
· Welcome
This list serves as a guide to how we plan for and interact with children during the education hour and in the broader context of congregational life.
This year, we will be working with the theme: Living our Values. We will be focusing on the values of self and community; values based financial decision making; the values of love, joy, peace, and hope (traditional Advent/Christmas concepts); the value of the Bible (What is it? How did it come to be? How do we read it? How does it give roots and wings to our values?); the value of prayer and meditation; and the value of service and outreach (and the importance of seeking balance between our internal and external spiritual practices).
During our education program we want to expose children to these ideas through scripture, conversation, experiential activities (games/art/etc.), and relationship.
We are looking for a team of teachers-people who genuinely enjoy and value children and want to help them grow in faith-who will share the teaching responsibilities throughout the year, providing some stability and consistency for our children and allowing them to build a stronger relationship with a small group of adults. Responsibilities include: attending planning meetings (one meeting approximately every six weeks to prepare for the upcoming theme), willingness to teach (or assist another teacher) once or twice a month. If you are interested in more information or would like to join the team, please contact Rhonda Pittman Gingrich at rpgingrich@yahoo.com or 612-926-9460.
Rain Garden Celebration
Sunday, October 11. We will celebrate the completion of the rain garden during and after worship. Our plan is to invite city and county representatives to thank them for our grants, as well as neighbors and friends. We are having a bake sale as part of this event.
Ongoing Events
September Birthdays
2 Myrna McInenly
2 Marlys Wiens
5 Michael Henly
14 Sam Lucido
26 Rhonda Gingrich
Women's Group
Our Women's Group will be meeting through the summer every other Thursday evening at 7 pm. Folks are welcome to contact Danette (952-835-0353) or Jodi (952-881-3051) for more information.
Community EventsCAMP PINE LAKE RE-ROOFING DATES
Due to damage from the recent hail storm, we will be re-roofing nearly every building at Camp Pine Lake this fall. We will be doing the work ourselves, and this is where you all come in to play! We will be hosting several roofing days throughout the fall, and we need your help as volunteers to get the project done. We will have the materials here, as well as a few nail guns, but if you have nail guns/other tools to help, it would be appreciated. We can use volunteers for the actual roofing, tearing off, general clean up or a few in the kitchen to prepare a meal for those working. Roofing dates are listed below. PLEASE contact Betsy to confirm you are coming first. We need to have a count to prepare for the work and the meals. Thank you all so much for your help! Upcoming Dates: Sat., Sept. 26, Sat., Oct. 3, Sat., Oct. 9 Please call or email with any questions. Have a great day! Betsy Kuecker, Camp Pine Lake, 641-939-5334, camppinelake@heartofiowa.net.
mnpACT EventOctober 9th, 7 pm. Items for SaleFrom Lori Mathiowetz: We assisted in moving a family out of their house whose house was foreclosed on this summer, and we have a few things that we are still paying for storage that we would like to sell on their behalf. Please let me know at your earliest convenience whether you would like to purchase, or know of anyone who may be interested soon in any of these items. Call Lori Mathiowetz at 651-895-0109. Cash only. Thanks. **Gas powered lawnmower with leaf catcher, $85.00 Yard Machines by MTD (sold through Menard's), 5.0 horsepower **Snowthrower, 2 stage, 6 horsepower, $345 Troy-Bilt Model 42027, 21" **Ryobi Hedge Trimmer, $20 Electric **Weed Wacker, Black & Decker cordless power pack (rechargeable) 12" diameter, $20 **Upright fan bike (quiet, requires no electricity), $40 Excel 286a Dual Action **Sony 51" Projection TV with home theater system - $300 Watch two tv programs at once DVI-HDTB Input, 16:9 Hi-scan 1080i Display, HD Microfocus CRT and Lens Dimensions: 47" x 53-1/8" x 25-5/8" Weigt: about 172 lbs (stand included, on wheels] Theater system is by Theater Research: components include DVD player, 5.1 channel home system, woofer & 4 speakers Buyer must pick up - Fridley location Updated Directory AvailableThe
2009 Open Circle Church Directory (18 pages with Pictures) is now
available. Also available is the short form Directory (4 pages without
pictures). These copies are printed in black and white and are
available in the vestibule of the Church. Both directories are also
offered as a PDF file for saving or printing from your own computer.
This PDF versions of the 2009 OCC Directory is in color. Anyone wanting
a PDF version should Email mdhenly@msn.com and it will be returned with the PDF attachments.
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| About Us
Open Circle Church
2400 Highland Drive, Burnsville MN 55337
612-578-3233 |
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