This Week at Our Church

Sunday, October 12
9:01am Worship PR
9:30am Adult & Children Education
10:44am Worship S
11:45am Counters C
1pm CROP Walk – Cherokee Park
2pm Brownie Troop 2512 CR

Monday, October 13
5:45pm Youth/Chapel Choirs S
7pm Boy Scout Troop 38 PA
Mac College Lives of Commitment, AA mtg, Oratorio Society, MacGrove Srs. Board mtg.

Tuesday, October 14
1pm Senior Wellness RK
2pm Bulletin submissions due
Recovering Couples Anon., Chrysalis

Wednesday, October 15
7:15pm Chancel Choir Rehearsal
CODA., Childbirth Collective, Calliope Choir, and AA mtg

Thursday, October 16
6:30pm Session Social Hour
7pm Session Meeting
MOMs Club

Friday, October 17
No Events

Saturday, October 18
OA Groups

Next Sunday, October 19
9:01am Worship PR
9:30am Adult & Children Education
10:44am Worship S
C = Conference Room (near west entrance, next to bathrooms); CR = CrossRoads; PR = Plymouth Room (second floor, at top level of elevator) S = Sanctuary; MLH = Merriam Lexington Social Hall; RK = Knowles; PA = Parable

Announcements
Crop Walk --- Today!!! – Please take this last chance to sign up for this afternoon's walk or to pledge on-line at: http://www.cropwalkonline.org/goto/MPUC. The walk starts at 1:00 PM Cherokee Park United Church on the West Side this year. Contact Jerry Storck or Don McCall for details.

LUNCH and LEARN today – free lunch in the Plymouth Room

ADULT EDUCATION NEXT SUNDAY
Bible Discussion in the Conference
Room – 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, Exodus 33:12-23, Psalm 99, and Matthew 22: 15-22. Nancy Smolik, coordinator.
Adult Education Forum in the Plymouth Room – continues with the DVD series Eclipsing Empire: Paul, Rome and the Kingdom of God. Jeff Schulz, facilitator.

MUSIC DURING WORSHIP NEXT SUNDAY…
Chancel Choir sings

…AND IN COMING WEEKS
October 26 – Youth Choirs
November 9 – Handbells
November 23 – Macalester College Choir

Youth Fellowship October 2008
10/12/08 - Crop Walk (meet in Social Hall at 12:30pm)
10/19/08 - MEA Weekend: Informal youth fellowship with Lauren Dickinson. Come, hang out.
10/26/08 - Youth Fellowship 5-7pm for Jr. & Sr. High
(Going forward, the last fellowship of each month will be a mission trip discussion or activity for senior high folk. It will meet at the regular time of 5-7pm. This week we will be putting together the planning committee and considering mission sites.)

Adults If you would like to be considered for the adult team on the youth mission trip, please contact Tom at
tome@macalester-plymouth.org

Remember! Explorers Class with Lauren Dickinson during education hour. It is a great way to prepare for the Bible exam that has been added to the confirmation process which starts this winter.

Flu Shots will be given on Wednesday, October 15th from 10-12pm at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church. Please bring your health insurance card. It is sponsored by Keystone Senior Program and Living at Home Bloc Nurse Program. Questions call Jeanne or Mary Kay at 651-645-7424.

The Meditation Group will meet for its initial gathering on Monday, October 13th at 7:00pm. All church members and friends are invited. Our own Tom Ewald will discuss his meditation practice and how it continues to help him in all areas of his life as well as sharing tips for posture, breathing, and relaxation. Bring a pillow to sit on. Please plan to attend as we will discuss future meeting days and times. Elizabeth Simmer, 651-698-0943

The Women's Association will meet in the Plymouth Room on Thursday, October 23rd, from 10:00-11:30am. Heidi Vardeman will lead the Bible study based on Chapter 2, "The Poor Hear Good News", in our JUBILEE guides. Jean Wylie will host the meeting. All women are invited to attend. For information, call Helen Heisler 651-695-0097.

If you or someone or know is going through a time of transition related to grief, illness, employment, family or any personal issues, Macalester Plymouth United Church can provide a listening presence through its BeFriender Ministry. For more information contact Rev. Tom Ewald at 651-698-8871 or tome@macalester-plymouth.org

LUNCH and LEARN – TODAY

Need to de-brief after the RNC? Come to terms? Find peace over what you saw, heard, or experienced first-hand? Want to hear the stories of those who were there?
Please come to today’s Lunch and Learn. Share a simple lunch and join in the conversation. Today’s forum is hosted by Mission and Social Justice and the Peacemakers. The conversation will be moderated by Ernie Cutting and Rob Ramer. Join us in the Plymouth Room at noon today.

SPECIAL OFFERING – A CHANCE TO CATCH UP

If you missed the special offering for Neighbors in Need (UCC) or the PC(USA) Peacemaking Offerings last Sunday, there is still a chance to make your offering. Please write “special offering” in the memo line and place your check in the offering plate today. As you know, the Neighbors in Need Offering supports Indian Ministries (CAIM) including a congregation right here in the Twin Cities, and it also aids in the Witness and Justice work of the UCC. 25% of the Presbyterian half of our total offering will stay at Macalester Plymouth. It will be used in a peacemaking effort determined by our Peacemakers. The remainder will be sent forward for presbytery, synod, and general assembly use in peace and justice work locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally.

SIGN UP FOR FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN

Sign up today (see Tom Richardson in the Social Hall) to help on October 18th. Carpooling from Macalester Plymouth can be arranged.
What: A fun time measuring, weighing and packing the ingredients of a meal-in-the-bag.
Who: Families and individuals. A great opportunity to involve younger kids in a hands-on mission (3rd grade and up). A chance for adults to meet new folks from church or re-connect with old friends.
Why: Children in many countries are starving to death. This specially formulated meal costs only 17 cents to produce and is specially formulated, vegetarian, and simple to prepare. Last year 185,000 volunteers—more than half of which were under age 18—manually assembled 43 million meals for hungry children, helping to heal the world of the hurt of hunger. Can we top this in 2008?

Joseph’s Coat Needs Donations!

Joseph’s Coat is a free store that provides goods and services to those in need, in an environment of dignity and respect. Their shelves are nearly emptied daily. Can you donate? Needed especially now, in order of priority:

• New/near new socks or underwear for men, women, children
• Men’s pants, esp. smaller sizes (30-34)
• Small toothpaste, toothbrushes, cheap razors, hygiene products, towels
• Blankets, sleeping bags, linens
• Jackets, hats, gloves, mittens
• Disposable diapers
• Other men’s clothing
Only fall/winter season clothing, please.

Member Directory Update – Portraits Taken Oct 10, 11 and 20.

*Portraits will be taken on October 10 and 11, and now an additional day, Oct. 20, afternoon and evening. Olan Mills will be calling people not yet on the schedule list.
*If you haven’t signed up yet for your portrait or need to verify/change your appointment, please call Olan Mills at 1-800-866-2263 and refer to contract number 33723.
*Olan Mills will also make calls reminding you of your appointment date/time. Be sure you note exactly the time they say. We’ve had a few time slots double booked.
*For those who would like to submit their own photos for the directory regular or email your picture to church office (office@macalester-plymouth.org) before Oct 20. If you mail the portrait, be sure your name is on the photograph.
*A BIG thanks to all of you who have already responded (especially those who mutter about hating to have your picture taken, and there are lots of you). Without any one of you, the directory would be incomplete.
*Member Directories should be available in December.

Meet interesting people, get exercise, enjoy good food at the Fall work day Saturday, October 25

The Operations committee (formerly Buildings and Grounds) needs your help. Join us for a fall clean-up day, scheduled for Saturday, October 25, starting at 9am. In addition to the usual outside tasks such as raking and mulching there are a number of opportunities for work around the building.

If you haven’t helped out before, please consider taking a couple of hours out of your normal Saturday routine to assist. This is a great way to get to know others from the congregation while doing good work. Contact Marsha Berry (651) 699-5715 if interested. Or just show up on October 25; we would love to have you join the fun!