Hello Friends:

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We had a great picnic on Sunday. We even welcomed some new people to the neighborhood and to UBC. Thanks to all who brought food, set up, cleaned up, tended the garden. Many hands make enjoyable work.

 

Tomorrow morning, UBC will be leading the monthly vigil at the Whipple Federal Building. These monthly vigils, coordinated by the Interfaith Coalition on Migration (ICOM), are opportunities to meet with other activists and faith communities and to stand in solidarity with our immigrant kinfolk. The vigil begins at 7:30am and will last a little under an hour. If you would like to help out, please let me know. I’ll lead music and prayers and our speaker will be Immigration attorney Elizabeth Streefland. You can find out more here.

 

On Wednesday morning, we’ll take down the big tent and store it away until next summer.  Anyone who wants to help, we’ll start taking it down at 10am. Also, anyone who wants to make crabapple jelly is more than welcome to harvest the plentiful itty bitty apples from our trees. They are starting to weigh down the branches ;)

 

On Thursday, we’re hosting a concert in the Sanctuary called Musician’s Salon. Founded and led by mezzo-soprano Rebecca Luttio, a seasoned opera and theater performer, the concert will feature a number of local musicians.

 

On Saturday, we begin our latest season of the Roots Cellar. We’re welcoming newly transplanted Minneapolis resident Sadie Gustafson-Zook to the stage. I heard her sing at the Aster Cafe back in July where she did a concert with Roots Cellar veteran Spencer LaJoye. You can find out more about her here. The show starts at 7pm and you can get tickets at the door or here. If you’re willing and able to help take tickets, run concessions, or just be a friendly presence, please let me know. I hope to see you there.

 

On Sunday, we’ll turn our attention to pottery. Jeremiah (1:10, 18:1-12) uses pottery as a metaphor for shaping our lives. A good potter creates beauty out of earth, water, pressure and fire. It takes time, trial, error and persistence. How are we going to fashion our lives this semester? I’ll be singing a song by Elmer Beal, called “Fashioned in the Clay.” That’ll also be the title of my sermon. Paula Moyer will be the worship leader.

 

As part of our 175th anniversary celebration, we’re going to start doing small features on social media about some people in our church community. If you’re willing to participate in this project, please click here to sign up.

 

Dinners for 7 or 8 will be happening this month with our friends at First Congregational church on September 20th. If you’re interested in hosting and/or attending, please sign up here.

 

Check the schedule below for more of what’s happening this week.

 

​Blessings and Peace,

 

Doug Donley