A Message from Our Moderator, Rick Panning
May 2025
(From my May 4 sermon)
“We all do better when we all do better."
For my last moderator message I decided to use the Paul Wellstone quote that says much about what it means to be a community, like St. Paul’s.
During this period of Eastertide, we have been remembering our ancestors and understanding how we are building on their foundational work in our congregation. In its 145 year history, St. Paul’s has had periods of growth and stability and also periods that were hard and challenging. During the last 4 years we have added 100 new members plus many children. Acts 4 teaches us that we need to strengthen our community, our movement, and make change for the good of the whole – those who are with us today and those who will join us in the future. What kind of church will we be for them?
I married into this community of faith in 1981, but did not officially join the church until 4 years later and have now been a member for 40 years. I am honored to be completing my second term as moderator for the congregation. My first time, I was just a “kid” in my 30s and am now 72 with 2 grandchildren.
After a significant period of revitalization during Norma Rae’s ministry, we have been able to experience significant growth in membership, financial stewardship, spiritual life and extensive programming, with Sarah and Eli’jah as our leaders in ministry. In my role as moderator, I have been fortunate to be able to build on the important, challenging and rebuilding work that Kathy Hull and the previous Ministry Boards established for where we are today. During the last 4 years I have also been able to work with the dedicated members of the Ministry Board and to rely on the many committee leaders and members who have stepped up to serve.
On a facility and financial level, 2024 saw the largest investment in our Summit Avenue building since it opened in 1952. Due to hail damage, we needed to replace the roof over the Sanctuary. With the support of our congregation, we took the opportunity to install insulation under the new roof. This is a significant investment in the future and also supports our Earthwise-Creation Justice ministry. It will save on heating costs in the long term and we have already noticed that the sanctuary is not as cold during the winter months. Our Building and Grounds Committee, chaired by Kate Hansen, led us through the many stages of this project and Kent Horsager and the finance committee supported the funding aspects - a combination of property insurance, Ministry Board funds and a Creation Care loan from UCC Funds. Of course, the most important detail is that the scaffolding came down the day before my daughter Kate’s wedding in October. I had promised that there would be no scaffolding in the wedding photos. Such is the power of the moderator!
Since the beginning of this congregation, a consistent theme is that we have been a community built on the scripture, justice and service to the community. In the early years of St. Paul’s the congregation made a specific move to be a refuge and home for the underserved and for those less fortunate. I am proud that we continue to focus on the strength of our spiritually progressive ministry. Historically we were the church that started a long-term care facility (St. Paul’s Church Home, now Oak Meadows) and St. Paul’s Childhood Center. We provided a safe, supportive environment for children and the elderly. We are now blessed to be able to spend more time on the spiritual, justice and programmatic aspects for our growing community.
In addition to being able to be focused on strengthening our own community, I appreciate how Sarah, Eli’jah and many of our members are engaged in the broader community – the St. Paul community in this neighborhood, the Summit Avenue church community, the United Theological Seminary, the Minnesota conference of the United Church of Christ, and Interfaith Action of Greater St. Paul. For so many, we consistently demonstrate that God is Still Speaking.
The following are statements from the reports of our program committees.
“I am grateful for this community of faith”
“Our community is rich, inspiring and deeply led by the spirit.”
“There is a sense of hope – as we work toward a world like God’s kin-dom”
“Our city and God’s people need what St. Paul’s has to offer”
“We continue to deepen our engagement with systemic issues that are the root causes of injustice”
“We are creating a sacred space where children and youth can grow in faith, compassion and a deep understanding of God’s call to justice”
“We nurture spiritual formation through storytelling, community and action”
“We have been drawing the circle wider as we consider what it means to be a Christian in these times”
“We are building a community of people who work with each other, and learning from each other as we help to heal the earth”
I could go on and on. Isn’t this the community that we all want to be part of and grow with? We have so much to be thankful for and have so many strengths.
We are an extravagantly welcoming community
We have an amazing music ministry led by Judith and supported by Parker as our new organist.
We are blessed to experience inspiring worship
We offer Adult educational programming that addresses all aspects of what we need as individuals and a community
We have growing Children, Youth and Family programs
And, of course, our amazing and extensive Social Justice and Outreach AND Earthwise-Creation Justice initiatives.
This is who I want us to be.
As I end my 4th year as moderator, I continue to be optimistic and believe that the future of St. Paul’s is hopeful and bright. The “numbers” show that our worship and special event attendance continues to grow both in person and on the live stream. Under the spiritually progressive leadership of Sarah and Eli’jah, our lay leaders, the work of our committees and task forces this is a church which continues to actively live its mission of Journeying together toward deeper faith, justice, and love for all. I continue to be positive and hopeful about this church that continually transforms itself to meet the needs of its members, the broader community and the planet.
Finally, as our country is experiencing a time when many citizens, and many of our own members, are feeling threatened and overlooked, I truly appreciate the fact that St. Paul’s is the place that provides “a family”, now more than ever, where all can find support and protection. We will continue to stand for those that need us most. St. Paul’s is a safe place for all. We are a congregation where we will continue to emphasize diversity, equity and inclusion. I also think there is a second “D” in DEI – dignity - and I am proud that we stand for it all.
As a Christian Community in the United Church of Christ, we need to focus on:
Collective Responsibility – which requires effort and care from all of us
Personal Impact – Where we each, individually and collectively, can make a difference, even if it seems small
Hope AND Action: We believe that positive change is possible.
And answering the call to care: We are mindful of our surroundings and the needs of others in our community
Remember: Christ before us. Christ beside us. Christ behind us. Christ within us.
Again, I have appreciated the opportunity to work closely with Sarah and Eli’jah, the church staff, the Ministry Board members and to be able to serve this congregation.
I will leave you with a quote from the great theologian, Dr. Suess, from his book The Lorax
"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not."
Fortunately, we do care a whole awful lot.
Rick Panning, Moderator (2021-2025)