8-6-2026: Praying the Movies: Les Misérables | Native Garden Volunteer Request

WEEKLY NEWS & UPDATES FROM WBLUMC | Thursday, August 6, 2026

Sunday Worship | August 9, 2026

One in-person summer service at 10am

Praying the Movies: "Les Misérables"

James 2:18-22 | Pastor Christine Ford

In our sermon series, “Praying the Movies,” we’ll explore faith-filled insights through the stories, themes, and characters of some of our beloved films. Series runs July 19 — August 13.

We invite you to watch each movie prior to worship to

enrich your experience:

8/16: “The Color Purple”

8/23: “The Great Santini”

8/30: “Schindler’s List”

9/6: “The Shawshank Redemption”

9/13: “Entertaining Angels”

Church Online continues weekly at 10am.

10:00am bulletin

Coming Up in Worship

Rally Day is Sunday, September 20!!

Stay tuned for more information.

Church Online

• Weekly online worship is available early Sunday mornings on YouTube.

• You can also watch via the church website by using the Church Online button.

• Our Facebook premiere with live chat is every Sunday at 10am. Please share the service so more people can join us!

• You may view all Ministry Minute videos on this YouTube playlist.

Sunday School

Sunday school will resume in the fall. See more details below!

Nursery is open for infants to 3-year-olds during the 10am worship service.

Volunteers Needed for Worship Technology

We are looking for volunteers to help run the PowerPoint presentations and sound system during our worship services. No prior experience is necessary; training will be provided. For more information about what is involved or to volunteer, please email Steven C Anderson. Your assistance helps make our worship services run smoothly and is greatly appreciated!

Children & Youth

August Sundays

Kids stay with their family in worship. Nursery available for ages 0-3 years of age.

Bruce the Bug Guy is back Sunday, September 13

Get ready for a bug-tastic morning! Bruce the Bug Guy returns to WBLUMC with coolers full of live insects. You'll see amazing bugs up close, learn incredible facts, and maybe even have the chance to hold one! Children will be dismissed at 10am worship after the Children's Sermon. This WBLUMC favorite is fun for kids and anyone curious about God's amazing creation. Don't miss it!

Connections

Women’s Golf Group

On Wed. Aug. 12, we will play at Tanner's Brook Golf Club in White Bear Lake. If you are interested in playing or would like more information, please email Marcia Lantto, alternate contact is Carol Effertz 651-429-6023. To view the 2026 Golf Schedule, please click here or on the photo. We hope to see you!!

Volunteers Needed for the Native Garden

Our native garden is off to a wonderful start! The native flowers are growing and blooming beautifully. Unfortunately, so are the weeds.

We're looking for volunteers to help keep the garden healthy by removing unwanted plants. Not sure what to pull? Don't worry—we'll provide guidance and information so you know exactly what to remove. No green thumb is required!

If you're interested in helping, please contact:

Curt Merkle – 651-334-1280 or Amy Pfankuch – 651- 402-8791. Thank you for helping care for this beautiful space!

Rainbow Families

Are you the parent or grandparent of a member of the LGBTQ community? Join us for conversation and fellowship TONIGHT at 6 pm in the church library. Questions? Email LuAnn Roberts or call her at 218 590-6424.

Hearts & Hands

We are a small group for those interested in knitting, crocheting, and other hand crafts. Due to vacation plans, we decided not to meet in July. Join us again on Mon., Aug. 17 at 7pm in the church library.

Coffee for Widow/ers

Attention widows and widowers: we invite you to join us for a warm and friendly coffee gathering on Thurs., Aug. 20 at 9:30am in the library. All are welcome, regardless of how long you have been widowed. If you have any questions or need more information, please feel free to reach out to Karen Fairchild at 651-426-4725. We look forward to connecting with you!

United Methodist Youth/Young Adult Survey:

If you are 35 years old or younger, please let your voice be heard and help shape the future of The United Methodist Church!

Your responses will inform United Methodist leaders to better understand how young people experience the church today—and how they envision the church of tomorrow. To take the survey, please click here or click on the Annual Conference logo. If you are over 35, please share the survey widely.

White Bear Lake Historical Society presents:

The Wall that Heals

August 6 - August 9 | 24 hour access - closes Sunday 2pm

Polar Lakes Park: 1280 Hammond Rd., White Bear Township

The Wall That Heals is officially here. The three–quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, along with a mobile Education Center, has finally landed in Polar Lakes Park - and we hope you'll stop by to experience this incredible monument.

The traveling exhibit honors the more than three million Americans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces in the Vietnam War, and it bears the names of the 58,281 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam.

Be sure to check out all we have planned this week by clicking here. You won't want to miss the Light The Night ceremony on Fri. Aug. 7 at 9pm!

Volunteers Needed!

Various Shifts from Aug.6-9 (especially the overnights) still need covering. To see what shifts are open and sign up, please visit the signup genius by clicking here.

Sun., Aug. 9th 2:00pm-6:00pm Take Down of The Wall That Heals

• Able bodied volunteers who can carry up to 50 pounds are needed to take down the exhibit

• Must be able to be there the full shift

• If you are able to help, please email Sara to sign up

Green Team Tip of the Month - August

Green Team Composting Event—August 23

Good news: Curbside pick-up of food scraps and compostables is now available in most of our area communities! You simply place your green food scrap bags in your regular garbage bin. Let us help you get going on this important and easy task. For such little effort you can feel good about the positive impact you're making on our city, state, and world!

After church on August 23, stop by Fellowship Hall to pick up everything you need to get started with food scrap recycling, including a food scrap container, compostable bags, and helpful information.

In Washington County, these containers normally must be picked up at an Environmental Center on designated dates after pre-registering. This special distribution at church makes it easy to get started without that extra step.

Green Team members will be available to answer your questions. We hope to see you there!

Learn more about the Green Team by attending a meeting!

We are off for August and meet on Tues., Sept. 1 at 7pm in room 200. In October, we will then move back to the first Monday of each month at 7pm in room 200. See the church calendar for updates.

Calendar & Meeting Minutes

Church Calendar

Below are the August meeting dates with elected members, in addition to the volunteer worship committee.

Aug. 13: Finance Committee, 7pm, rm. 206

Aug. 18: Staff-Parish Relations Committee, 2:30pm, rm. 200; Trustees Committee, 6:30pm, rm. 200

Stay up to date on volunteer committee meetings, events, classes and more by clicking into the church calendar link below.

Church calendar

Meeting Minutes

All committees are being asked to provide minutes, and we now have a Realm link for the congregation to access this information. Click the video below to learn how to view all minutes that are available!

WHITE BEAR LAKE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH | 651-429-9026 | wblumc.org

General email: office@wblumc.org | OFFICE HOURS: 9am-1pm M,T,W, Th

Pastor Chris Kneen email: christopher.kneen@wblumc.org