April 24, 2025 | Weekly Newsletter

Every morning is Easter morning.

This past Sunday we celebrated the power of hope loose in the world. The story of Jesus is witness to the story of God's transformational engagement with all that is. Nothing can separate us from the love and energy of God.

I pray that you found an opportunity to consider the stones that may be blocking the light of hope in your own life.

It is hard to believe in light when we are inundated with news that distresses.

Here is some light for you:



We are now hosting the Volunteer Lawyers Network twice a week in the afternoon. These lawyers work specifically with persons seeking help with immigration law.  

Our Easter offering came in at over $6,000. People gathered for worship and gave generously to support our commitment to the Dignity Center's ministry of rolling away the stones of poverty and loneliness that plague this world.

Our attendance on Easter was up by 20%. Both services were alive with the "alleluia" of Easter. Our electronic reach for worship stands at over 1900 views from Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday.

We have three baptisms in the near future and we are welcoming new members.

Your church is here. We are here to give voice to our commitment to live the teachings of Jesus with all the courage and heart we can.

We can and we do.

Happy Easter!!!!!!!!

Elizabeth

A Conversation with Katherine Stewart on Faith and Politics

May 3 | 3pm

As Christian Nationalism continues to shape our political landscape, we are committed to fostering conversations and actions that challenge its influence. This spring, we are excited to host an exclusive book discussion with Katherine Stewart.

Join us for an exclusive discussion with award-winning author Katherine Stewart as she presents her new book, Money, Lies, and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy (Bloomsbury, 2025). Read More and Register

Earth Day Celebration This Sunday!

April 27 | 11am

Come to church to hear Rev. Dr. Tim Eberhart preach, and then join in the Earth Day Celebration after the service! Earth Sunday activities include:

• Making insect hotels
• Assembling raised beds for the Sunday School plantings
• Learn about the Creation Collective, what we’re planning for 2025, and how you can become involved (in Carlson Hall)
• Browse books about the earth and our climate (in the Library)
• Learn how to compost and recycle (in Koinonia Hall)
• Shop re-use goods from Old School by Steeple People (in the East Entry)

...AND MORE!

This Week in Hennepin History

Written by Phil Wala

Since June 1915, the corner of Franklin and Dupont Avenues in Minneapolis has been home to the Scottish Rite Masonic Center. But did you know that from 1911 to 1915, the sign outside the building read, “Hennepin Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church?"

Read More, and See Other Hennepin History (including a 1997 sermon by Rev. Sally Howell Johnson)

Hennepin Avenue UMC Shows Up on Earth Day

Thank You from "Friends of Loring Park" President

Thank you ALL for your HUGE turn-out on Earth Day, to clean up the Loring Park neighborhood!

Great job organizing people to come, it was very much appreciated!



–Jana and Dave

Thank You for Supporting Groveland Food Shelf

A Message from Dale Longfellow and the Board

We want to thank Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church for your support of the Groveland Food Shelf. We received your generous gift in the amount of $8,500. 

This year and last year have turned out to be challenging, but our clients are experiencing even more challenges. To help them, we adjusted our hours to accommodate those who cannot take time away during the morning. Two days a week we are now open in the late afternoon. According to early statistics, many new clients are finding their way to us as a result. Read Full Letter

Faith's Imagination: Eastertide Series

Sundays | 9am

We've celebrated Easter with a joyfulness "Beyond Words" (thank you, Pastor Elizabeth).  This new series continues the joy as we move through the season of Eastertide, where we take up ways of "Believing into Christ" with hands and hearts of embodied faith. 

We'll explore hopeful scripture texts for creation and community aligned with the sermons, like a weekly prequel to worship!  Read More

For more information contact Nancy Victorin-Vangerud: nmvicvang@gmail.com

What We Learned Last Sunday

Easter Sunday!

We had a gorgeous day of celebrating hope and resurrection, eating donuts, and hunting Easter eggs. What a blessing it is to be together on these special, holy days!



Coming Up This Sunday

April 27: Earth Day Celebration

We just keep celebrating! Join the Creation Collective after worship to build 3 raised garden beds and create insect hotels to house pollinators. We will also make May Baskets for our homebound friends during Sunday school.

To submit event announcements to be published on the public events calendar, please send all the details to communications@haumc.org.

To plan your event, including reserving rooms, email scheduling@haumc.org.

For story ideas or editorial content, you can email commsdirector@haumc.org. All content is subject to the discretion of the editorial team.

Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church www.haumc.org