Sunday, September 17

7:00pm-8:00pm, Church of Youth Room

Parents, we have a great shift in ministry and we want you to help craft where it takes us. Alar Choir rehearsal will now run concurrently with Journey on Sunday nights, which means two things:

Come this Sunday to meet with Lynne Carroll , Pastor Nate , and your Parent Peers to discern our meal plan of action and help select our opening curriculum together (three options: short videos + workbooks about spiritual practices, documentary series about the history of religion in the US, or follow the sermon series book, Searching for Sunday ).

Feed My Starving Children

18732 Lake Dr E, Chanhassen, MN 55317

Saturday, 11:30am-1:30pm

RSVP to Kristin Zinsmaster

Attention all parents and teens not on the Confirmation Fall Retreat! Hennepin Avenue is sending a group to Feed My Starving Children on Saturday (Chanhassen location) and needs more volunteers! Hope you can make it.

5:00pm-6:00pm Youth Fellowship

Each week features a new activity aimed at building faith-filled friendships and strengthening our community connections. Come for a night of games, discussions, videos, service projects, faith talk, etc. Most weeks are free and on-site. If there's ever an occasion that involves a field trip with out-of-pocket costs and/or we're meeting at a different time, this email and the new calendar will have the details.

6:00pm-6:30pm Bread Break

Teens gather for a home-cooked meal (or the occasional pizza!) provided by a youth family. Parents and guardians, the sign up is coming soon, thank you!

6:30pm-7:00pm LYFE Groups

We break into small groups for a weekly check-in to share highs and lows, listen to each other's prayer concerns, and practice the art of covenant with our peers.

7:00pm-8:00pm Journey Rehearsal

Journey is excited to have many new voices join in the singing this year. As the SPRC team continues searching for a permanent Director of Music Ministries (the interim director this year is Sharri Speer), we are excited to announce we also have an interim director for Journey choir, Rev. Stephanie Escher! You may have seen Stephanie around Hennepin this year working with teens and helping lead worship and other ministries.

Plus, 7:00pm-8:00pm Youth Parent Class

Pastor Nate leads a brand-new class aimed at youth parents featuring no homework, just great video-based discussion. Want to join? Let me know!

"I am excited to work with you this next year! I know Bill was a very special person in your musical lives and I am honored and blessed to be with you during this transitional year. I look forward to working together with you as we make great music and explore different kinds of genres and styles.

"My hope is to add some instrumentalists at some point and venture into contemporary, gospel, bluegrass/folk and world music as well as continue a solid foundation in exquisite classical works. In efforts to reach out to more youth and enhance the worship experience, we will also be working with creating visuals: videos, etc. to be played during worship on the days we sing. We are privileged to help build a worship experience that truly incorporates the voice of the youth in your own words, images and stories.

 

"I am a provisional elder (pastor) in the UMC [Nate Note: this was my status until I was ordained in June.] and I am currently working as a hospice chaplain in St. Paul. Pastor Judy is my mentor as I seek ordination this next summer and we both thought it would be a great adventure, privilege and lots of fun to work with you as part of my own journey towards this goal. My background includes 14 years of classical piano study, fulfillment of music degree coursework through University of Colorado and UW Madison, private and college conducting classes, musical direction of various church choirs, contemporary youth bands and the occasional children’s choir in Colorado, Wisconsin and Illinois. I have worked in music ministry in churches as a worship and music arts director with the focus of creating dynamic ancient and future worship through various musical and visual art forms. I also spent some time as a professional musician in an all female R&B band in Atlanta.

 

"I will be at the Pizza & Bowling Par-Tay on Rally Sunday, September 10 and look forward to getting to know each of you. RSVP for this great event today!"

- Rev. Stephanie Escher