News of Our Church

Open & Affirming: The Minnesota Celebration

Join us at United Theological Seminary for the Minnesota Conference's 2018 Open & Affirming Celebration. The theme: Framed by Love and Justice. Details at https://www.facebook.com/events/216471382366910/.

Artisan Festival is coming | Vendors can apply now

Our Summit Avenue Artisan Festival will return on Saturday December 1. If you’re interested in participating as a vendor or know of a wonderful maker of pots, baskets, jewelry, knitted goods, food specialties, note cards, etc., please use this link to apply https://tinyurl.com/SAAF2018App or pass it on to an artist/artisan you may know. Applications are on a first-come-first-served basis. This festive day of fun and food is held annually in conjunction with Grand Avenue Business Association’s Grand Meander and is St. Paul’s UCC’s biggest fundraiser of the year. For more information contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Soup & Substance | Thursdays

We nourish body and soul in these hour-long Thursday gatherings at Noon in the Fireside Room. Please sign up by Wednesday morning by contacting the church office (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 651-224-5809, ext. 0). That helps us plan the delicious meal of bread, a savory, and a sweet. Requested meal donation: $7–$8.

Rain Garden Maintenance Workshop

More than 50 people took part in this workshop at SPUCC on July 31. Capitol Region Watershed District hosted the event here so they could use our two rain gardens for their demonstration. People gathered from SPUCC and the wider community to learn more about rain gardens and to meet others who are also interested in the benefits that rain gardens provide. 

Rev. Clare Gromoll chosen for Next Generation Leadership Initiative

Rev. Clare Gromoll (third from right in the back row) has been admitted into a program at the national setting of the United Church of Christ called Next Generation Leadership Initiative (NGLI). It’s a six-year leadership development program for clergy who are relatively young, relatively new to the profession, and committed to local church ministry. Clare is one of 15 selected from 35 applicants for her NGLI cohort.

Leysath Award-winner Rev. Kay Welsch will retire on September 30

Each year, the Minnesota Conference UCC selects a woman in ministry to be awarded the Leysath award, named after the Reverend Murdale Leysath, celebrating an outstanding woman in ministry. Rev. Kay Welsch received this award of distinction at the Annual Meeting of the Minnesota Conference UCC in June. 

September will be Kay’s last month with us as Visitation Pastor. She has served in this part-time yet essential ministry since August 2008, giving us a decade of excellent pastoral support in her visits to homebound members and those in the hospital or transitional care. Kay has presided at many funeral/memorial Services of Remembrance and Farewell. She has helped lead the Called to Care support group for those providing caregiving for a loved one. And she has blessed us when she has been present in worship, once or twice a month, with her down-to-earth pastoral prayers, her occasional poetry readings, and at least once, accompanying hymns on her accordion!

Kay will be present with us in worship on most of the Sundays in September--the 2nd, the 23rd (when she'll preach), and the 30th, when we'll celebrate her ministry as we bid her farewell. Thank you, Kay!

Blood pressure checks

Get your blood pressure checked on the first or third Sunday of the month after church. We have several skilled members who offer that service at no charge in the church office during Fair Trade Coffee Hour. 

Make a pledge to the planet

The Earthwise Team asks that you make a pledge for the planet. Below is a list of changes you can make to decrease your environmental footprint. Climate change is a big issue, and it seems impossible that small changes could make any difference. But we at St. Paul’s UCC know from experience that it really is accumulated small changes that make all the difference. Let’s make 2016 the year of accumulated small changes. Please, take the pledge to the planet. 

I will help to conserve energy.

• I pledge to plan my errand runs to minimize use of gas.
• I pledge to put my TV and its peripherals (cable, DVD, Roku, Xbox) on a power strip so I can turn everything off when not in use.
• I pledge to walk, ride a bike, or use public transportation on some of my outings.
• I pledge to use cold water when I wash my clothes.
• I pledge to opt in to wind energy.

I pledge to conserve the earth’s resources.

• I pledge to turn off the water while I brush my teeth.
• I pledge to help with Fair Trade Coffee Hour cleanup twice this year, so we don't have to switch back to paper.
• I pledge to reduce the packaging I purchase, whether that means bringing a container to the store for bulk or buying a big container of something rather than single serve.
• I pledge to eat less meat.

I pledge to help the environment by reducing waste and eating local, organic food.

• I pledge NOT to use a single cup coffee maker unless the pods are reusable.
• I pledge to buy 20% of my food organic or from local sources.
• I pledge to put my food scraps and coffee grounds in the compost or the garden, not the trash.
• I pledge to plant a garden or to shop at a farmers market this summer.
• I pledge to remember every day that the earth, its resources, and all its beings are not mine to take for granted.
• I pledge to ______________________________________________________ to help reduce my impact on the environment.

Earth does not belong to us. We belong to the earth. ~ Chief Seattle

Solar panels churning out electricity

Our solar panels are hard at work this summer, turning sunlight into electricity. Click here to see how they're doing!