Monday Meditations
Starting the week with intention. 11.4.2024
Fairmount Avenue UMC is a joyful, welcoming community; igniting hearts and minds for God's work.
This Beautiful Life
"Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10
Another Helpful Resource
Below is a link to the Election Series created by the Minnesota Annual Conference with thoughtful and timely reflections on the topic of the election.
Church Conference - November 24 after Worship
Fellowship Time Schedule
November
10 Buster Griffing & Norma Cox
Tom & Pam Vitulli
17 Steve & Sandra Burrowes
MJ & Claire Ryan
24 Scott & Corrin Wendell
Updated Coffee Hour Schedule
Below is the first draft of this program year's Coffee Hour Schedule. There are some new names on the list, if you are a new member or regular attender, check to see if you have been added. If you would like to be included, but don't see your name, please reach out to the church office and we would love to add you to the schedule.
Coffee Hour servers bring treats to share and set up and clean up the coffee time with lemonade and coffee between Sunday School and Worship (Sept-May) and after worship (June-Aug.) Wherever possible, people are assigned to their birthday month.
Click below to fill out the "College Student Care Package" form
Lost and Found Items
Lost and found items are on the table in the Education Wing across from the Admin office. Whatever is not picked up by Monday, November 11, will be donated.
Get Involved at Fairmount Avenue UMC
Mark Your Calendars: Look out for these upcoming events at FAUMC!
- November 2 & 9 — Peanut Brittle Brigade. Come join us on either or both dates to make peanut brittle.
- November 10 — Children's Christmas program rehearsals begin! Please join us during Sunday School to practice music and speaking parts for the Christmas program on December 15.
- November 10 — from 2-4PM, attend the Two Bit Game Room Fundraiser for Followers Youth and Young Adult Ministry. Sign-up for your suggested-donation tickets for Two Bit Game Room in the Wesley Room (first room down the hall off the sanctuary) after service.
- November 24 - 11:30am after worship, Church Conference to elect lay leaders and approve clergy compensation.
- November 24 - 6:00pm Thanksgiving Worship service with St. Albans Church of God in Christ with dinner to follow.
- December 12 — All "People Who Eat" are invited to gather for lunch at Andiamo', 80 N Snelling on Thursday, Dec 12 at 11:30 AM. Attendees may order from the menu and we will receive individual tabs. To reserve a spot, Call the home phone or email Cindy Bevier by Monday, Dec 9.
A Joyful Welcoming Community
- Wed School Dinner Help Needed! Volunteers are needed to prepare, serve, and clean up for Wednesday School Dinners. We are hoping to have a rotation of volunteers throughout the program year. There is a team prepping proteins, to minimize the work to prepare the meals. And you can create a menu of your choosing! This is an important and fun way to be community. Sign up for a time that would work for you.
Igniting Hearts and Minds
- Sunday Night Bible Study - Sunday evenings at 6:30-7:30pm. (Every week except the first Sunday of each month.) Come when you can. We will begin with this week's lectionary reading and discuss future readings. This Bible study will give tools to help you read the Bible on your own as well as dig deep into the context of scriptures and encourage discussion. This Bible Study will meet in the Wesley Room.
- Sunday Night Quiet - The first Sunday of every month at 6:30 pm Pastor Shawna will lead a time of contemplative prayer and meditation. Feel free to bring a yoga mat or pillow if prefer to sit on the floor. Sunday Night Quiet will meet in the sanctuary.
- Adult Sunday School- Sundays at 9:00 am in the Wesley Room, we will begin the year with a series on Queering Theology. Queering Theology: How understanding theology builds fortitude in faith in the midst of a changing world and faces anxiety with hope. There are many ways to practice faith, all of them are grounded in theology, or an understanding of God and the study of God. Come when you can as we start with Wesleyan Theology, and then explore Liberation Theology, Feminist Theology, Queer Theology, and Practical Theology.
- Confirmation for Adults - This Wednesday all are invited to dig deeper into the core teachings of Christianity and faith practice as a United Methodist. Whether you were confirmed years ago or never at all, this class will offer opportunities to think deeply about your faith. We will meet Wednesday evenings from 6:30-7:30.
- Followers Youth Activities - For all rising 6-12th grade youth. Join activities throughout the summer! For more information, contact Cindy, Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries, at 763/321-8077 or email cindy@faumc.net.
Regular Wednesday "Thank God It’s Wednesday (T.G.I.W.)” 6:30 - 7:30pm programming, which includes Followers Youth Group. Come often; come as you!
What to Expect: We will build community through games, activities, acts of service, prayer and worship. And we will explore our theme: Do Good: Act Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly with God.
- Upcoming Events:
- Followers Youth and Young Adult (YAM) Two Bit Game Room Fundraiser - All Church goers and friends on Sunday, November 10, from 2 -4 PM join us at the at the Two Bit Game Room in St. Paul for ages 13 on up!
What to Expect: Food, board and interactive video game museum–from Pac-Man on up!
Student/Seniors: $15; Adults $20/person with a maximum of 40 people total.
RSVP Link will be provided closer to the date.
- ALL Followers and Parent(s) meeting - on Wednesday, November 13 from 6:00 - 7:30pm. Come often; come as you! What to Expect: We will have a fun game, check in on the program year so far, learn about and create teams for the upcoming events: Christmas Party, pageant help, Youth Sunday, Winter Retreat, communications, and 2025 Mission Trip.
- Y.A.M. Activities - For all young adults (ages 18-30). Join in activities throughout the fall! For more information, contact Cindy, Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries, at 763/321-8077 or cindy@faumc.net.
- Soup, Spiritual Chat, and Activities! - On Sunday, December 1 from 5:00 - 6:15 PM: What To Expect: A vegan soup with additional cheese, etc. that can be added. The Spirit chat will cover a generalized topic for all. And a short fun game. And we will chat about what to put in the Fall College Student Care Packages. Then, at 6:15-ish, we’ll invite all who want to the Sanctuary for our All Church “Sunday Quiet Time,” a contemplative and meditative time lead by Pastor Shawna Horn. Bookmark this sight to keep up with all things Young Adult Ministries by going to QR Code.
- Y.A.M. (Young Adults) Service at Provincial House - (Provincial House, https://maps.app.goo.gl/XZvtfYX3aFGMx4af8 ) On Sunday November, 17 from 3:45 PM - 6:30 (Latest) meet in parking lot or arrange carpool with Cindy Radtke (cell: 763-321-8077); We will check in with chef and help set up dining area and/or help chef with simple kitchen tasks. Serve the guests, then clean up with industrial washer.
For God's Work
- Worship Volunteers Needed! We need volunteers to assist as ushers, greeters, liturgists, and to serve on the Worship Committee. Volunteering is flexible to your schedule. Contact the church office if you think you can help by emailing admin@faumc.net.
First Fruits - We’re so grateful to all who have recently signed up to volunteer. If you are interested in delivering food donations to Keystone Community Services after our monthly donations, please contact the church office or click here: Help Collect and Deliver First Fruit Donations to Keystone
Adopt-A-Drain– Sign up to Help! We are looking for volunteers to clean the storm drains near the church: 3 at the corner of Fairmount and Saratoga and 2 on Fairmount just east of Snelling. Volunteers are asked to pick up and clear trash, leaves, snow and debris to allow water to drain. Please go to Fairmount Ave UMC: Adopt a Drain Signup to sign up for a month. If you have any questions, please contact Nita at nitahanson@gmail.com.
Help Serve a Meal at Provincial House - Project Home is looking for volunteers to serve meals as a part of its weekend meal teams at 1880 Randolph Avenue. There are four shifts available every weekend on Saturday and Sunday for lunch and dinner. This opportunity is great for groups of 3-6 people. Currently the way it works is for one person to sign up for the shift and then bring another 2-5 others with them to help. The link for more information and to sign up: https://tinyurl.com/PHMealTeams2023.
Simpson Meal Thanksgiving Meal Service – Be Part of the Tradition!
We’ll once again be serving on Thanksgiving Day at Simpson Housing Services’ shelter in Minneapolis. This year, to provide more ways to participate, we’re looking to be over at the shelter throughout the day on Thanksgiving, providing a lunch at noontime, prepping and decorating through the day, then serving a full evening meal. This will be a great way to spend some time in community and service on Thanksgiving.
The signup for the Thanksgiving Day is now available at:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040F4AAFAA2BA31-52953771-simpson
For more information about volunteering, contact Dave Hokanson (hokanson.dave@gmail.com) or 612-419-9800. We look forward to seeing you there!
- Welcoming LGBTQ+ Congregants
- Featuring Ellie Krug
- On Thursday, November 7 at 7:00 p.m. join us on Zoom with our featured guest, Dr. Ellie Krug, who will share her insights and experiences for “Welcoming LGBTQ+ Congregants”. Ellie’s personal experiences of being transgender are very insightful. In her words, “I can speak firsthand about what it means to go from living as a straight, cisgender male to being a member of the LGBTQi2+ community at age 52”. Ellie will share tips on how to be welcoming to these persons and talk about challenges that queer people face, including the idea that one’s gender or sexual identity is a “choice”. To learn more about Ellie, visit her website www.elliekrug.com.
- Sign up to attend the event: ttsu.me/zvdbr3
Worship Online
Worship Resources for Online Worship:
- Be sure to follow Fairmount Avenue United Methodist Church on Facebook.
- Subscribe to Fairmount Avenue UMC's YouTube Channel. We will be using YouTube to offer other creative learning experiences as well as publishing our weekly worship.
Online Giving
Fairmount Avenue United Methodist Church
Email: pastorshawna@faumc.net
Website: www.faumc.net
Location: 1523 Fairmount Avenue, Saint Paul, MN, USA
Phone: 651.699.1335
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Fairmount-Avenue-United-Methodist-Church-133875616634215/
Mission Statement: To be a welcoming, joyful community igniting hearts and minds for God's work.