By now we've all heard about the tragedy at Annunciation Catholic School and Parish yesterday morning when an active shooter fired many gunshots into the sanctuary of the church where children were worshipping as they began their first day of school. There are things we know, and so many we don't. I don't need to restate the facts for you, but I do want to lift up a few things, as we all process the secondary trauma of this horrific event. 

As my time as summer pastoral intern comes to a close, I have been reflecting on some of the greatest joys of my time here at SPUCC - and Youth Summer Impact Fridays is pretty high up there. These Fridays have been such a beautiful combination of service and fun, and your brilliant kiddos were the ones who made it so.

A will is a critical component of your estate planning and ensures your property and assets are distributed according to your intentions. It is a clear expression of your wishes that allows you to leave a lasting impact, supporting the people, institutions and causes you care about most.

If you love to sing, there is nothing better than to share that love with your community. Being part of the choir allows you to connect with others who have a passion for choral music, and to offer that gift to listeners seeking to connect with something larger.

Happy PRIDE Month! How you spend your money has a huge, visible impact on your local community.

“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?

St. Paul’s UCC will serve as a CSA (community supported agriculture) drop-site again this year. As with last year, we will be a drop-site for the Hmong American Farm Association (HAFA) CSA. You can learn more about them and sign up at https://www.hmongfarmers.com/csa.