As Hurricane Ida sweeps onto the coasts of Louisiana & Mississippi,  we bow our heads in prayer to You.

Sit with all those in the path of the storm: huddled in attics, sheltered for safety, fearing for their lives.

Hold close all those in harm’s way, whose homes & neighborhoods & businesses & lives face the utter devastation of pummeling waters & winds.

Grant your blessed guidance to all those who will rush to help & heal in the midst of the disaster, to all those who will follow in the months and years to come to recover & repair what has been lost.

Hear our prayer, O God.

O God Who grants peace beyond all understanding, we pray for Afghanistan….

For all military service members aiding in the evacuations;

For precious lives lost over 20 long years of war, and for lives violently taken in just these last few days;

For the Afghan people, those who’ve now left their homeland and others who will stay behind, for safety & dignity for women & girls, for a future with abundant life for all;

For a peace that seems to evade us, for wounds that will long be with us to somehow heal.

Hear our prayer, O God.

O Great Healer, Balm to our souls, we pray for a nation and a world still gripped by COVID.

For the families and friends of all who have perished, & for those who suffer in this moment with the scourge of this virus;

For teachers & children & college students & parents as school years begin;

For pastors & chaplains & all who strive to lend comfort;

For all who carry the burden of leadership & decision-making amid continuing uncertainty;

For all exhausted by this ceaseless pandemic journey.

God of grace & glory, hear our prayer & rise within us like the words of the hymn our hearts still dare to sing: grant us wisdom, grant us courage for the facing of this hour. Still the storms around us and within us.  Lend us the courage that fails us & the hope that escapes us. Grant strength for all that weighs upon us. 

Though our voices may tremble & our world may rumble, our faith in you holds fast, and it is in your powerful name that we pray.  Amen.

         (Cards and Calls Appreciated)

Ella Rivers, Donna Church, Musz Bailey, Jim Babcock, Shelley Sherper, Bobbie Berg, Susan Olsen, Jackie Schuelein, Carol Lloyd, Joanne Burdick, Ruby Cawthra, Jane Houlton, Marion Marcott, Cheryl Wold, Judy Halgren, Amy Britt, Bailey Rosdahl, Jimmy Stevens, Dee & Jim Stevens (Jimmy’s parents), Dave Foley, John Olson, Nicole [Kilber] Teske, Linda Fenton, Dave Halgren, Diane Narr, Joan Axen and Nancy Andersen.

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Pastor Robin announced that she is seeking volunteers to do the Children’s Time on Sunday mornings.  She would like to create a group which would share this opportunity.  If you are interested, please contact Pastor Robin.

Pastor Robin also announced that she will be starting a two-session “Union 101” informational class for prospective members.  There may be things you might want to know about this church or the United Church of Christ or anything about our church community.  These two-sessions will cover that.  Anyone may attend.  Please contact Pastor Robin or our Office Administrator Giuliana Beckwith if you wish to attend.

Pastor Robin introduced our new Office Administrator Giuliana Beckwith, who has been on the job for one week.  Welcome Giuliana!  To the general congregation, please feel free to call Giuliana and welcome her to our church and to her new job.  She will also be at the Wednesday afternoon vigil at the Sherburne County Courthouse—you can greet her there as well.

Gigi Nauer thanked the Personnel Committee for hiring her to lead the Senior Choir.  Gigi is giving us the opportunity to be a part of an impromptu group of singers on a designated Sunday morning.  This is for those who cannot make a regular commitment to practice and sing in the regular Senior Choir.  It will be the “Now and Then” singers.  No practice, no age requirement—just show upon the designated Sunday at 9 AM to sing the music provided (“simple but not simplistic”).  The first “Now and Then” singers will meet 9 AM on Sunday, September 26^th. 

The flowers on the altar this morning were provided by Jenny Sliker and Giuliana Beckwith.  Hospitality was provided by the Kannegieter family.  THANK YOU!

It's fair time again! People are happy to be gathering again at the great MN get-together. At the same time, Covid restrictions are becoming more and more necessary again. We pray for all individuals who will work and attend the fair that they practice safety precautions to stay healthy and protect others. This year there is a new attraction at the fair. Please see the link below for the vaccination clinic that is being offered.

Jenny Sliker asked for prayers for all citizens, especially the military including the 13 who were lost this past week in Afghanistan.  She asked for prayers for the people of Afghanistan, those trying to leave and those who will be remaining, especially the women and children.  She also asked for prayers for the leaders of the Taliban, to open their eyes and hearts to a better way.  She stated this is a critical time in the history of our planet, a time of transition.

Paula Benfer had three prayers: 

She asked for prayers for our country that hearts and minds will be open to accept refugees.

Paula also asked for prayers for all the children in the education community, as well as the teachers, service and support staff, as they return to school.  Prayers for peaceful insight for all into this transition.

She asked for prayers for her cousin, Kris, from Iowa, who had emergency hysterectomy surgery which revealed cancer.  Six days later she underwent surgery for an entangled bowel. 

Dave Foley also asked for prayers for the children and teachers going back to school as some are going back in an environment of unmasked and unvaccinated or low percentage of vaccinated children and/or teachers.

Marce Ediger asked for prayers for the people of Haiti who are victims of an earthquake.  Health care is very poor.  She also asked for prayers for the people in the wake of Hurricane Ida, making landfall today—16 years to the day when Hurricane Katrina struck that same area.

Pastor Robin asked for prayers for our partners of Back Bay Mission who are helping the homeless, hosting and helping to find shelter, urging them to plan ahead before Hurricane Ida comes ashore.

Karen Sherper Rohs informed us of some of the greater Minnesota communities who are very stressed out due to the situation in the schools as they send their children back soon.  Many families do not have the capabilities to home school their children or to have their children learn online.  Many of these children are too young to be vaccinated and mask-wearing is not mandated.  Please reach out to any family you know in this situation to give them support and there may be help for them with resources. Also, keep them in your prayers.

Linda Fenton asked for prayers for her grandson, Josh, who fell at work and hit his head.  No further information is available at this time. 

Laurie Lang expressed the joy of seeing the children in church with their families!  She also expressed her thankfulness to the Kannegieter family for hospitality.  Josh is an exceptional chef!

Ron Benfer said he proudly announces that Paula has an entry in the Fine Arts Exhibit at the State Fair.  She was given Honorable Mention!  Congratulations, Paula!   

School supplies have been collected in great numbers! The sizable donation will be delivered to CAER this week. It is never too late to donate, however. Future gifts can be dropped of here at the church at any time. We thank all who donated supplies to help children and families have a successful start to the school year. Your generosity is greatly appreciated!

To see the prayer post for the previous week, please click the link above