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Hennepin

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October 22, 2026

All of this past week my head and heart have been singing "I will sing of God's mercy every day, every hour, he gives me power."

The choir last Sunday rocked an anthem, He Never Failed Me Yet (Robert Ray), that has become prayer for me. The anthem also speaks the power of what it is to live God's mercy: "He never failed me yet."

The songs and prayers and witness that sing through our days is intentional discipleship work. I ask myself: Do I live in such a way that God's mercy flows into and through me? Do I live and love grounded in the blessed assurance that God has never failed me?

We are beginning to consider what it means to ask this core question: God, what do you want to do through me? We live the answer to that prayer every day of our lives.

As a church, we are leaning into the question of "God, what do you want to do through me?". We are celebrating a focused commitment to Growing our Future. Hennepin is blessed with 151 years of bold and faithful discipleship. We want to prepare our building and our hearts for the next 151 years.

You will receive information in the mail inviting you to pray and open and consider how it is you experience the power of blessing through Hennepin Ave UMC. We are asking you to support our annual budget (our staff, programs and building are deserving of communal care), and we are inviting you to support a capital campaign supporting the wellbeing of our Cathedral for all Creation.

God has never failed us. We get to sing of God's mercy together.

Pastor Elizabeth

Our sanctuary organ at HAUMC draws us into the participatory nature of worship—it supports our singing, accompanies the choir, and helps set the tone for the different seasons and celebrations of the church year. This instrument was built by Robert Sipe about 1980 in a project overseen by Richard Waggoner, and Michael Barone has called it "a musical instrument of integrity and beauty, and a prize-worthy presence in the Minnesota organ inventory." Our organ's historic place in the Twin Cities musical and religious landscape, visually and aurally, led us to engage Dobson Organ Builders, in Lake City, Iowa, to give the Sipe the care and restoration that it needs in its middle life.

Dobson is one of the premier organ builders in the United States, renowned for their work on tracker organs—building new instruments and restoring current instruments, as they will be for ours. Some highlights of the restoration work include:

• replacing wooden trackers with carbon fiber, which is resistant to humidity and more resilient 
• replacing keyboards, including the pedalboard, which have worn down, to ensure a more consistent touch
• cleaning all pipes and windchests (The dust visible on the outside of the pipes reflects the dust that has accumulated inside the compartments of the instrument!).

The majority of the work that affects our use of the organ will be done after Easter 2027, during the spring and summer months, though Dobson has already begun their work off site. During the time that the organ is unavailable to us, we will sing and hear from a variety of other instruments in worship. We expect the organ work to be completed by the start of the program year, but, as with many major projects, we will allow for grace and space. Maintaining our organ sustains our worship, and we are excited for this work that will help us ensure that it continues to serve our congregation for generations to come. 

Sally Messner, minister of worship and the arts, and Patrick Henning, associate director of worship and the arts

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To support organ repair and our other major long-term projects, please consider pledging to our Capital Campaign Fund here.

Stations of Prayer at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church

A Stations of Prayer Guide has been created to help support your prayer journey as you reflect on our beautiful facility, your community, and how Christ is working through us to build a more loving and just world. Each member of our congregation is asked to spend time in nine places in the church reflecting on where we’ve been as a congregation—and where we are being called to go, as we reflect, “God, what do you want to do through me?”

A video version will be available Oct 27 on our YouTube channel for those who would like to participate, but are unable to do the Stations of Prayer walk in person. You are also invited to join us on social media for a daily station starting on October 27.

Join us for Halloween at Hennepin!

Find details about our upcoming spooky and festive events below! ALL are welcome!

Candy Donations NEEDED for Trunk or Treat on Oct 25!

Even if you aren’t hosting a trunk at our Trunk or Treat (THIS Sunday, Oct 25 from 2–4pm), you can contribute to this neighborhood family-friendly event by donating candy in the bin in the East Entry!

If you would like to host a trunk, it's not too late! Sign up here!

Singing in Community: Pre- & Post-Election Sing

Monday, Nov 2 & Wednesday, Nov 4 | 6:30–7:30pm | Sanctuary

On the days before and after the election, you are invited to gather with neighbors to raise your voice in song. We will build solidarity in expressing all that we bring to the gathering—grief, hope, anger, peace, love—there is room for all. We will meet in the sanctuary of Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church 6:30–7:30pm on November 2 and 4. Songs will be short and simple enough to learn by ear. The HAUMC Singing Resistance group will lead the singing.

Join us for a Movie Benefit for Groveland Food Shelf!

Sunday, November 1 | 1pm | $15

The Heights Theater, Columbia Heights

Join us for the 25th Annual Groveland Food Shelf Benefit! Bring your family and join us at the historic Heights Theater for a screening of the classic Muppet Movie! Follow Kermit and the entire Muppet family on a hilarious, music-filled cross-country adventure, featuring beloved stars of the late '70s. Before the show, Ed Copeland will entertain us on the Heights' Mighty Wurlitzer!

Tickets are $15 and all proceeds will benefit Groveland Food Shelf. We will also be accepting non-perishable food and cash donations to help keep our neighbors fed.

Enjoy a family night out with a classic movie, while contributing to an important cause! Tickets can be reserved ahead of time to guarantee your spot.

Fighting Against Christian Nationalism

Check out the current featured books in our library for a collection of contemporary works focused on understanding the rise of Christian Nationalism, its impact throughout our politics and culture as well as ways to dismantle and deconstruct it. Recently, we had two authors speak on the topic, those events are now both available on our YouTube channel here:

• WATCH: Kristin Kobes Du Mez presents Live Laugh Love
• WATCH: Brian Kaylor presents The Bible According to Christian Nationalists

Want more?

If you would like to be more actively involved in local work related to Christians Against Christian Nationalism, you can get involved with the MN chapter! Learn more here: https://cacnminnesota.org/

Click image above to enlarge.

Last month, HAUMC was honored to be a stop on the Twin Cities Metro Growers Network Community Bus Tour! Visitors had the opportunity to learn from garden managers across the city about how these beautiful, productive, and engaging spaces are created to bring people together and help feed our communities. We’re grateful that HAUMC could be part of this opportunity to build connections and celebrate the important role community gardens play in our neighborhoods. Pictured is a thank-you card addressed to Sandy, Juanita, and HAUMC in appreciation of our hospitality! Thank you to our HAUMC team for creating a warm and welcoming space. We’re grateful to be part of work that puts our values of reverence, resistance, and repair into practice. Click on the image to enlarge.

Trunk or Treat | 2–4pm | Parking lot

Bring your little ghouls and goblins for an afternoon of candy, creativity, and community! Our parking lot will be transformed into a Halloween wonderland with trunks decked out in spooky, silly, and creative themes! This event is free and open to everyone, so bring your friends, family, and neighbors dressed in all of your best costumes! Sign up to host a trunk or volunteer at a station, or donate a bag of candy to the bin in the east entry!

Disciple Bible Study with Bill Tipping | 6:30–7:45pm | Zoom **BACK after break!**

Winter’s Journey into Spring | We will meet weekly and explore the Bible—Genesis all the way through Revelation. Scripture readings will be sent via email a week or so before class and typically take about 20 minutes to read (you do not have to complete the readings to participate each week). This is a unique small group experience and our learning and inspiration will come from each other. All are welcome, drop in as your schedule allows!

Every Body Belongs: An Evening with Dr. Amy Kenny

Monday, October 26 | 6:30–8pm | Zoom

MN Disabilities Ministries Committee and the Office of Racial Equity and Justice present: Every Body Belongs: An Evening with Dr. Amy Kenny. Join a free zoom lecture and Q&A with Dr. Amy Kenny the author of My Body is Not A Prayer Request. Her book mixes humor, personal narrative, and theology to invite faith communities to rethink their ableism and learn from the embodied wisdom of disabled people. To read more about Amy Kenny and register for this event, click here!

Want more? Dr. Amy Kenny's newest book, My Disability is Divine: A Joyful Witness That Defies Ableist Nonsense, is currently available in the HAUMC Library!

Halloween Movie Night: The Night of the Hunter (1955 Thriller) | 6–9pm | Art Gallery

The Queer Justice Team presents... a viewing of the movie, "The Night of the Hunter", followed by a short Q&A with local filmmakers. Movie refreshments will be provided! Please feel free to bring your own comfortable folding chairs, if you'd like. Costumes are welcome but certainly not required. All are welcome! Read more here.

While this movie isn't officially rated, we'd consider it PG-13. Read the synopsis here. If you have any questions, contact Rachael.

Aging as a Spiritual Practice Resource Fair

Sunday, November 1 | 11:15am–1pm | Art Gallery

Guests will join us in the Art Gallery for the November 1 session of our ongoing Living the Question series (Aging as a Spiritual Practice w/ Bill Tipping). Our guests will host tables with resources related to aging and end of life issues.

Resource Guests include:

• Jennifer Hipple, HAUMC member, representing her business, Marjorie's Daughters, which provides in-home senior support and legacy story writing
• Brenna Healy, Parish Nurse, will have info about Advance Health Care Directives
• Donna Hedin will be giving out workbooks for Last Wishes Planning
• Pamphlets from Wendy Longacre Brown, an end-of-life doula

Ancia Saxophone Quartet in Concert at HAUMC

Sunday, November 8 | 2pm | Art Gallery

Ancia is a Minneapolis based quartet that includes Matthew Sintchak (soprano saxophone), Joan Hutton (alto saxophone), Benjamin Cold (tenor saxophone), and Angela Wyatt (baritone saxophone). On November 8, they will join our 10am worship to provide service music and enrich our hymnody. In the afternoon (2pm), they will present a concert of classical works in the Art Gallery. All are welcome!

State of the Church Meeting: 2026 Church Updates & Reports

Sunday, November 8 | 11:30am–12:30pm | Sanctuary

Find out what is happening around Hennepin Ave UMC, as well as:

• Highlights from the Dignity Center
• Ministry Updates
• Approval of Annual Clergy Compensation

Can't join us in-person? Event recording link will be provided upon request. For the meeting link or to submit questions in advance, email communications@haumc.org.

The meeting is open to all. All HAUMC members and retired clergy in connection have votes. This meeting will be conducted in accordance with The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church— 2020/2024, paragraphs 246 and 247 and others as applicable.

Prayer Requests

We invite you to pray for our community and our world, for even when we do not know how to pray, the Spirit intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words. Romans 8:26

• Randy Minyard
• Noah
• Jim and Bill
• Phillip Duffy
• Judy Sranmark
• Keith Sjoquist
• Mother of James Leavens
• Terra Anderson and her father, Cory 
• Kadie Kinsler
• Donald Turner
• Ross DePriest
• Sergei Gulika
• Vada Bean
• Ksenia Zubairova 
• Diana Kate Scherbert

• Hospitalization: Dickens Deutsch, Karen Knutson
• Treatment for cancer: Kristin Shardlow, Janet Jacobs, Michael Sampica, Sarah Shapiro, Ephim, Scott Fredrickson, Rev. David Wheeler
• Recovery from cancer: Svetlana Gulika
• For those who have died: Karen Andrew
• For victims of gun violence
• For our Somali neighbors and friends
• For the protection of refugees in danger of having their status revoked

What We Learned Last Sunday

October 18: Learning & Fun! Hennepin Kids learned about Isaac's Blessing. Club 67 and the older teens combined and talked about how science and faith can live comfortably together as part of their book study conversation.

Coming Up This Sunday

October 25: TRUNK-OR-TREAT IS THIS AFTERNOON! In Sunday School, our elementary kids will learn about Ruth and Naomi, Club 67 is going to learn about Joseph, and the older teens will continue to talk about how the world is way weirder than we think about.