Journey of Faith
On Wednesday evenings, we invite you to share a meal around the table and a Learning Session for adults ages 18 to 118. Chef Roger Brown provides a delicious, simple meal made from local and sustainably grown ingredients. Each Wednesday stands alone, and we are very happy to have new individuals join us for any session. Be sure to seat yourself early for Chef Roger Brown's meal at 6:00 p.m. A $5 donation helps
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In May, Journey of Faith includes:
- May 1st ~ Mental Health and Spirituality – Irene Harris shares psychological research on the relationship between spirituality and mental health, and invites us to work together to develop techniques to use their spirituality to enhance their ability to make positive responses to stress.
- May 8th ~ Feed My Starving Children (Intergenerational) – Four times per year, we join together with local neighbors in packing boxes of food for our underfed neighbors in the global community at Feed My Starving Children in Eagan, MN. Children as young as 5 years old can participate and there is no upper age limit. We carpool from church at 5:20pm and return by 8:00pm.
- May 15 ~ Preparing for Our Sabbatical - The Sabbatical Support Team (Bob Galkiewicz, Kathy Hull, Judith Roska, Student Minister Clare Gromoll, and Lead Minister Norma Rae Hunt) will lead a discussion about our upcoming four-month clergy/congregational sabbatical.
- May 22 ~ No Journey of Faith
- May 29 ~ No Journey of Faith
In June, our Journey of Faith sessions include:
- June 5 ~ Veggie Adventure!
What is Community Supported Agriculture? Have you heard of CSA’s but don’t know what they are all about? Have you considered joining a CSA but felt unsure what you would be getting into? How do you choose one CSA from among so many? If you value responsible stewardship of mother earth, knowing where your food comes from, and supporting local farmers; perhaps you’d like to try participating in a CSA. As Tracie Payne journeys through these questions for herself, she will share what she has learned and invite others to share in the experience of subscribing to a CSA this summer. If we have enough subscribers, food could be delivered to our church!
- June 12 ~ Symphony of the Soil (Intergenerational). People of all ages are invited to a viewing and discussion of Symphony of the Soil, led by Wendy Moylan. “The film examines our human relationship with soil, the use and misuse of soil in agriculture, deforestation and development, and the latest scientific research on soil's key role in ameliorating the most challenging environmental issues of our time. Filmed on four continents, featuring esteemed scientists and working farmers and ranchers, Symphony of the Soil is an intriguing presentation that highlights possibilities of healthy soil creating healthy plants creating healthy humans living on a healthy planet.” (www.symphonyofthesoil.com)
- June 19 ~ Iona, Ancient Threads of a Bright Love. As part of our clergy/congregation sabbatical, Rev. Norma Rae Hunt will journey to Iona, Scotland in late May and early June. Rev. Lisa Bodenheim, who currently serves Clark Memorial UCC in South St. Paul, will lead us on a 2-session exploration of this fascinating religious community where she lived for two years. Through music and images, learn the story the Isle of Iona, Scotland, a "thin place" which has become a place of spiritual pilgrimage for 20th and 21st century people. With a Christian presence beginning in 563, we'll follow the ancient thread of a strongly Trinitarian presence of God.
- June 26 ~ Iona, a Spirituality from the Fringes. Each week, international seekers and pilgrims gather weekly in an ecumenical Christian community at the Iona Abbey and then are dispersed into the world. Learn the words and songs of worship, and the weekly patterns that shape the incarnational spirituality of the Iona Community.
Intergenerational Journey of Faith
Our adult Journey of Faith program frequently expands to incorporate children and youth. Four times per year, we join together with local neighbors in packing boxes of food for our underfed neighbors in the global community at Feed My Starving Children.
All are invited to join in upcoming intergenerational programs:
Recent Journey of Faith Programs:
To view recent and past Journey of Faith Programs in our archive, please click here.
Love and Marriage Series Was Well-Received
In May, The Love and Marriage Task Force held four Wednesday evening Journey of Faith sessions exploring marriage. In addition to love stories from two couples each session, we explored: our impressions of marriage as we learned from our parents and grandparents; a brief history of marriage; diversity and controversy surrounding marriage; and seven intimacies that are part of covenant-making. The Love and Marriage Task Force led two Journey of Faith sessions in August and provided more discussion opportunities on the Marriage Amendment in the time before the November election.
ARC Retreat on March 1-3, 2013
During the middle of Lent, we took a Sabbath weekend away at the ARC Retreat Center near Stanchfield, Minnesota. Located in a beautiful white pine forest, just one hour north of the Twin Cities, we enjoyed the quiet and the companionship of others seeking spiritual renewal. Lynn Scott, on staff at ARC and a United Methodist clergy and spiritual director again lead our weekend with the theme of Letting Go, Letting God: exploring the spiritual practice of forgiveness for ourselves and others.
Interest Groups
(Groups that endure over time – built around common roles, interests, or skills)
Men's Group
Join us on most second Sundays. We will have a light breakfast and gathering time beginning at 9 AM in the Fireside Room. Tom Davis facilitates this group with a little help from friends. Upcoming gatherings: February 10th, March 10th, April 14th.
Women's Group
The Women's Group began in 1994 as "Working Women"— a group that engaged in social gatherings and service work together. The group now includes women in their early twenties through nineties who are employed, underemployed, managing households, and retired. The group gathers for a 6pm dinner at a local restaurant on the first Monday of each month and periodically sponsors a Sunday Morning Fair Trade Coffee Hour with a theme. They also provide Christmas gifts for our homebound members and were the original planters of the Peace Garden in front of the church. Please contact Tami Molkenbur at
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for more information.
20s/30s
20s/30s is a group whose purpose is to nurture a network of caring faith-based relationships among people ages 20-39. Those who are single, divorced, working, coupled, unemployed, parenting, step parenting, and students are all welcome within this group. We utilize a Facebook group to invite each other to events in the wider community, share prayer requests, and organize our monthly gatherings. Please contact Clare Gromoll at
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with any questions. To connect with us on Facebook, click here
Gen-Z Families
(Generation Z children = infants to 8th grade)
Learn more about our parent gatherings, family potlucks, and more by visiting our “Children” page or our “Youth” page.
High School Youth
This group’s purpose is to build a network of caring, faith-based relationships and to pursue service and fun within and beyond the community of St. Paul’s UCC. To connect with us on Facebook, please click here. We gather for casual conversation on 3rd Sundays during Fair Trade Coffee Hour (11:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.). Friends and visitors are welcome!
Small Groups
(Groups of 5-8 people, gathered around a common interest for a limited stretch of time)
Journey Together Book Groups
January book: The Shack by Wm. Paul Young
Members and friends of St. Paul’s UCC (age 14 and older) meet on a weekly basis for 90 minutes, across 4 weeks, in groups of 5-8 people. Small group gatherings involve deepening of relationships, discussion of a specific portion of the book, prayer, and snacks. To learn more about Journey Together Book Groups, please contact Clare Gromoll at
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.
Artist's Way Group
In this twelve session group, we discover the important connection between spirituality and creativity. From January through May we meet twice monthly to experience Julia Cameron’s book and process: The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity. Sessions include Centering Meditation, triad, small-group, and large-group discussions. Sessions are led by Rev. Norma Rae Hunt.
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