I am so excited for the opportunity to support our Follower's youth this coming Sunday after worship, with the annual Pasta Dinner! The Followers are in a season of growth, as the gap in our ages of children has reached the youth group. But our youth are still passionate about community, service and growing together.

Did you know that AV/Tech Booth on Sunday mornings? We have Followers volunteering during the weekdays, folding bulletins and helping organize spaces in the church. We have Followers who volunteer in the nursery on Sunday mornings. The Followers have vision and are excited about their youth group experience, redecorating the Followers room, inviting friends to activities, and planning their annual Service Mission Trip.

In true Follower's tradition, they are developing traditions, making memories, and creating a safe space for each other in the midst of a challenging season of life as teenagers.

This Sunday we hope that you will continue to support the Follower's youth program with a delicious meal and time around the tables and then bid on a dessert to take home. See you Sunday!

October

13 Dee Senaratna, Jeff Bryan, and Liz Kramer

20 Roger Butenhoff, Barbara Korf, and Kevin & Alison Peterson

27 Phill & Linda Gill, Dave Kroonblawd, and Carla Belistri

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.

A memorial service for Bruce Southward will be held at Fairmount Avenue UMC on Saturday, October 19 at 1:00 pm. One hour prior to the service there will be a visitation in the Wesley Room and a dessert reception to follow the service.

Mark Your Calendars: Look out for these upcoming events at FAUMC!

• October 9 - All over age 3 are invited to receive their flu and or COVID shots at the church between 5 - 7 PM. Please reserve a time on the SIgn Up Genius site. When doing so, indicate if you want the regular flu shot, the high dose (for people over 65) and/or the COVID shots. When coming for your shot, bring your insurance card, and wear something so that you can easily expose your upper arm.
• October 15 - The Health Team extends an invitation to our next Retirees lunch out. The date is Tuesday, October 15 at 11:30 AM. We will be at the Andiamo Italian Restaurant, 80 Snelling Ave. N. St Paul (NOT the Downtowner Woodfire Grill as previously noted). Reservations may be made by phone or text with Elaine Lee at 651-238-5102, by Sunday, October 13.

• October 21 — The afternoon circle will meet at 1:00 PM on Zoom. We will discuss chapter 6 in our book “Words of life” – the Commandment - Do Not Kill. In Nov one of our members will be sharing the story of her life. Contact Muriel Olson for the link.
• October 28 — The UMW-UWF book group will meet on Zoom to discuss the book, ‘March” by Geraldine Brooks. Contact Marge Langer for more information

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.
• All Church Fall Work Day - Wear your work clothes to worship on Sunday, October 20, and join us after church for all church fall work day! Lunch and nursery care will be provided. Tasks for all ages and ability levels will be included on the list. Thanks for helping keep up our beautiful building and grounds- see you there!
• Spanish Language Classes - Meeting weekly at 2:00 pm on Sundays, starting October 6 for the month of October join others in learning some basic conversation Spanish to be a more welcoming space for Spanish speakers who may join us in worship or who we may encounter in various ministry settings. Classes will be led by Pastor Shawna's brother-in-law who taught high school Spanish and is now a social worker for Children's Hospital, using his Spanish language skills to serve the community. A suggested donation of $25 for each participant is encouraged to cover the cost of the instructor. Sign up online to express your interest.
• The Health Team extends an invitation to our next Retirees lunch out. The date is Tuesday, October 15 at 11:30 AM. We will be at the Andiamo Italian Restaurant, 80 Snelling Ave. N. St Paul ( NOT the Downtowner Woodfire Grill as previously noted). Reservations may be made by phone or text with Elaine Lee at 651-238-5102, by Sunday, October 13.
  

Igniting Hearts and Minds

• Wednesday Midday Bible Study - Every Wednesday at noon, join Pastor Shawna and others on Zoom for a thoughtful time of study and discussion. Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86287164931
• Sunday Night Bible Study - Beginning September 15, 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, starting in October, 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 beginning September 18.
• 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.
  
• October 13: Followers Youth Pasta Dinner Fundraiser right after church. The youth will be your servers/wait staff. We will have live prize drawings, and a small live drawing/auction at this meal. Tickets will be on sale (cash or check) after church on October 13:
• Individual Adult: $15
• Individual Child (18 years and younger): $5
• Individual College and Over 65: $10
• Family of 4 or more: $30

To clarify, this replaces the March Pasta Dinner to help jump start our fundraising and community building for our 2025 Mission Trip. Know that in March we will still be doing a Followers Youth Group Silent (online!) Auction.

• 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, Spirit Chat, and Games! - On Sunday, October 6, 2024, 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.s: Take-n-Bake - On Sunday, Oct. 27 from 11:30 - 1:30 PM, enjoy a light soup lunch with Terri and Friends then learn to make Armenian kofta and flat bread. No experience necessary. All ingredients provided.

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.

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.

Giving online is easy through our PayPal Giving Fund page. Click the image on the left to check it out!

"A joyful, welcoming community; igniting hearts and minds for God's work."

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/