Mission First

Jul 07

Through the Storm

On May 22nd, a tornado ripped through North Minneapolis killing two people and causing damage to homes in the area.  First Christian was among many congregations in the Metro Twin Cities that came together to help our sisters and brothers in the affected area.  First donated funds to Kwanzaa Community Presbyterian Church, an African American congregation in North Minneapolis.  The church is actively involved in its community and has been busy since the tornado providing aid and comfort to people, many of whom are on the margins of society.

We’ve linked to a story by Tara Parrish, the Director Communications at Kwanzaa, as she shares her experience of the tornado.  You can read other “tornado testimonials” by going to Kwanzaa’s website, www.kwanzaachurch.org.

Through the Storm

Jul 01

Crowdsourcing the Mission and Vision Statements of First Christian Church

A few weeks ago, a the Board of the Ministry Center came together and started talking about a name for the building that the three churches will share.  Part of that discernment on choosing a name meant understanding our identity.  Both Salem and Lyndale have done some work on their vision and mission statements and that got me thinking about the statements for First Christian.  In 1997, we came up with both statements and they were looked at again in 2007.  As we prepare to move into a new building with two other faith communities, it would behoove us to take a look at both statements and see how they fit (or don’t) in our current context.

The Elders and the Board are considering looking at the statement again.  I thought it might be a good idea to share this with others who are part of the family of First Christian.  As you look at the statements below, think about the following:

1. Does either statement fit the current context of First Christian?  How or how does it not fit?
2. What has been left out of either statement?  What no longer needs to be included?
3. Does either statement accurately reflect the identity of First Christian?  If not, why?
4. What is the identity of First Christian?  How are we different from Salem Lutheran and Lyndale UCC?

Please feel free to respond to this posting, comment via Facebook or send an email to associatepastor@fccminneapolis.org.

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Vision Statement of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Minneapolis

At First Christian Church, we seek to be an alive community of faith striving to serve all people.

Mission Statement of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Minneapolis

In response to the grace of God, the mission of First Christian Church is to be a Christ-centered presence, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ, and to witness through service to God’s World.

Jun 28

Packing Event at Feed My Starving Children

First Christian, along with Salem Lutheran and Lyndale UCC will go to the Coon Rapids Warehouse on August 20 to pack food for kids around the world. Come and join us!

Feed My Starving Children Signup

Prayer Shawls: The Witness of an Embracing God

On June 19, we blessed the Prayer Shawl Ministry at First Christian Church.  The ministry is made up of members of the Handcrafters group which meets on Thursdays as well as others in the congregation who love to knit. A number of the shawls made by the Handcrafters have gone to folks both within and outside of the First Christian faith community.  Spiritual Formation Director Deb Murphy worked with long-time member Dorothy Stegner, who is the de facto coordinator of the ministry to display the shawls in the chancel area.  Deb creatively displayed the shawls as liturgical paraments, thereby showing how these shawls not only provided comfort to the recipients, but also were an expression of people of God doing God’s work of inclusion and healing in the world.

Dorothy  says that the shawls are available to any deserving person (and they don’t have to be part of First). If you know of somebody in need of one of these wonderful crafts, please contact the church office.

You can see a photo slideshow of the blessing of the prayer shawls by going to First Christian’s Flickr site.

We give thanks for those involved in the Prayer Shawl ministry here at First.  May their works be a sign of God’s embracing love.

You can read another blog post about Dorothy Stegner and the Prayer Shawl ministry from March of 2010 by going here.

Jan 15

Get to Know the Dignity Center

First Christian is looking at establishing a partnership with Dignity Center, a ministry of Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church in Minneapolis.  Below is a description of what the Dignity Center is all about.

Description of the Ministry:

The Dignity Center is an eight year old outreach ministry of Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church whose mission is to provide support and structure for homeless people as they take steps on the path to obtaining greater stability and self-sufficiency.  Open three mornings per week, The Dignity Center is staffed by a cadre of over 70 trained volunteers, from throughout the Twin Cities Metro Area, who donate an estimated 5000 hours of their time supporting the work of the Dignity Center. The core volunteer job of the Dignity Center is serving as an Advocate.  An advocate meets one on one with a client, assesses the client’s unique needs.  The Dignity Center program is based on clients developing an ongoing and supportive relationship with one or two volunteer Advocates.  The working relationship ensures accountability and gives clients hope and encouragement as they regain confidence and self-motivation.  The Advocate’s role is to help clients with:

·      Setting goals and ensuring accountability

·      Making referrals to  identified  community programs and services to meet clients’ unique needs

·      Provide  ongoing support, problem solving and coaching in life-skills

·      Provide resources such as bus transportation, clothing vouchers, and school supplies to support the client’s stabilization process.

To guide the client’s in developing life-change goals, the Dignity Center follows a unique comprehensive model including 9 key focus areas in which to develop goals.  They are: housing, income/financial management, employment, health/medical needs, education, relationship repair, legal issues, substance abuse.

Service Statistics and Accomplishments:

In 2010, the Dignity Center saw 884 new clients, 3175 repeat client visits for a total of 4059 client visits.  These service statistics are about the same as in 2009. In 2010, over 250 clients have reported that they have reached significant goals such as finding jobs, housing, getting in or completing training and managing health problems.  Also in 2010, clients received:

·      Thousands of referrals for housing, job counseling, and training, schooling, medical resources, psychological counseling food shelves, financial counseling and legal help.

·      $29,000 worth of tokens and bus cards for schooling, job searches, medical appointments was given to clients. ( In order to receive bus transportation, clients must provide documentation that the transportation help was used to meet scheduled appointments.)

·      3239 pounds of emergency food was given out.

·      Hundreds of hats, gloves, scarves, backpacks, toiletry kits, calendars and sets of school supplies were given.

·      Vouchers and cash help worth more than $20,000 for eye glasses, dental care, clothes, household goods and haircuts were given.

Volunteer Roles at the Dignity Center:

The Advocacy Role, is the key role in the Dignity Center ministry. However, many other roles are needed to keep the program afloat. Volunteers takes on a variety of responsibilities including the following: receptionist, office staff, hospitality, door monitor, purchaser of supplies, organizer of supplies, keeping monthly statistics on resources given.  Twelve people serve on the Dignity Center Steering Committee, which is a working committee who provides administrative and program direction and support to the program. There are many possibilities for volunteering at the Dignity Center. A role can be tailored to an individual’s interests, skills and time available.

Opportunities for Congregations to Partner with the Dignity Center:

The Dignity Center is looking to collaborate with other congregations to provide opportunities for additional people to volunteer in this direct service ministry. Examples of volunteer opportunities include providing some of the support needed for hospitality such as making sandwiches, toiletry kits, hats/gloves/scarves and backpacks as well as providing financial support to the ministry.  For congregational members to become acquainted with the scope of the Dignity center, we encourage people to visit the Dignity Center in action. It’s best for one or two people to visit at a time so they can sit in on a client interview with an advocate. We’d appreciate folks making arrangements for a visit in advance. You can get a broader picture of the Dignity Center ministry by going to the Hennepin Church website.  It is www. Haumc.org. Then click on the Dignity Center.  There is a short film that explains the Dignity Center program more fully.

Dec 16

Don’t Forget the Toothpaste. And the soap. And the toilet paper.

For some reason, I’ve always been interested in travel-sized products.

I remember as a kid being amazed by the little tubes of toothpaste and small bars of soap.  And when I go to a place like Target that actually has a section of travel-sized items, I’m in heaven.

(Yes, I’m odd.)

While I know that most of you don’t have that kind of odd obsession, I am asking folks to consider stopping by the isle with the travel-sized items in the next few days for the Advent Hygiene Drive for Community Emergency Service.  CES is a ministry in Minneapolis that has a foodshelf and other services to help those in need in south Minneapolis.  About a year ago, we met Don Rudrud, a retired Lutheran pastor who volunteers with CES.  He told a group of us at First that one of the things people who stop by asking him about is toilet paper.  Not food.  Not housing.  Toilet paper.

It’s easy to not think about something so basic as toilet paper as something that is desparately needed, but when you don’t have a whole lot of money or you don’t have a home, one of things you need is…toilet paper.

It was during that visit to CES, that many of us from First noticed how few hygiene items there were in their foodshelf.  People might need food, but they also want soap and shampoo to keep clean.  It might not seem like much, but these things are so vital to folks who are having a hard time making ends meet.

So, when you go to Target or WalMart of wherever in the next few days, please consider going by the travel size isle or the paper isle and pick up soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste…and toilet paper.

Thanks.

Dennis Sanders

Associate Pastor

First Christian Church, Minneapolis

www.fccminneapolis.org

Oct 16

Knit. Purl. Pray.

Oct 13

Backpacks for Kids

Feed My Starving Children - For Volunteers - Volunteer Registration

Oct 09

Welcome to Mission First