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Notes & NewsletterOur monthly New Life Notes are online! Download the December 2018/January 2019 Newsletter. Please email the Deb in the office if you need a printed version mailed to you.Share Our ChurchWe're on Facebook at
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The Necessity of Grace
"...Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them—though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you have come to believe." Luke 5:1-11, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Project Home here in April - Sign Up Now to Host!We'll again host this temporary homeless shelter for families in our Great Room April 1-April 30. Each night we host up to 20 children and parents for the evening and overnight. Volunteer hosts work with Project Home staff to host in the evening (5:30-8:30pm) and overnight (8pm-7am M-F; to 9am Sat & Sun). Pick up information materials and sign up for this ministry of hospitality at the atrium Project Home table on Sundays. Or you can learn more, look at the schedule, and sign up anytime at our SignUpGenius page. We need everyone who can to help us keep our commitment to our guest families and fill our 124 volunteer spots. The main qualification to serve as a host is the ability to offer a friendly face and a welcoming attitude. Pretty basic, but it means a lot to our guest families. Thank you! Calendar UpdatesIf you see mistakes on or omissions from the church calendar, please email Pamela and Deb with corrections or updates. Thank you! Welcome Deb, Our New Administrative Assistant!Starting today, Deb Griffin is our new Administrative Assistant! Stop by the office, give her a call or send her an email to welcome her! Adult Faith Circle: A Good Time for the Truth
VocalPoint Benefit Concerts February 9 & 10
Give Flowers!
Change the World for a Family in SanctuaryChange the World for an immigrant family currently in sanctuary! One of our partner congregations in the ISAIAH sanctuary network is in need of donations to support their family of guests. The multifaith sanctuary support network of ISAIAH offers refuge to individuals and families facing deportation proceedings by sheltering them within places of worship. Your loose change in the offering plate or donations marked "Change the World" during February and Bowl of Abundance on the last Sunday in February goes to support this family in sanctuary. January Session HighlightsElder Gould summarized Chapter 3 from the book, Faithful Presence. There are three circles in our church—close, dotted, and half circles. The first is our own church; the second close connections on the outside; the third our connections with the wider world. We need to be connected to all three. There were themes of forgiveness, listening, and quiet evangelism.
ACTION ITEMS:
+ The following 2019 communion schedule was presented for approval: January 20, February 3, March 3, April 21, May 5, June 9, July 7, August 18, September 8, October 6, November 3, December 1, December 24. APPROVED.
+ Elder Tubbs on behalf of the committee requested approval of a purchase reconciliation form. This form would be added to the reimbursement form and would focus on the recyclability of the item purchased. This allows people to be more conscious about what they are purchasing and to decrease our carbon footprint. APPROVED.
+ Elect Barb Nelson as clerk for the year. APPROVED.
+ Elect Jym Hubbell as treasurer for the year. APPROVED.
+ The clerk asked for approval of the General Assembly Annual Statistical Report. APPROVED.
INFORMATION ITEMS
+ Personnel
- Tamara McEwen was welcomed as the administrative assistant.
- Custodian Michael Bahnemann’s resignation was accepted.
- Tori Carson was welcomed as the new custodian.
- Office staff is in the process of moving to the Microsoft office cloud which is already included in the Office 365 subscription.
- Merit raises for staff will be considered in the future, not just cost of living raises. Personnel would like the salaries not be made public.
+ Anna Kendig, vice moderator of the presbytery, was a guest. She is visiting all congregations in the Presbytery to determine what they need from Presbytery to further their mission/ministry. She asked Session members to identify joys and challenges they are experiencing at New Life. Some of the joys expressed were: Pastor Riz, ability to host Project Home, growing youth program, and a strategic plan in place. Challenges expressed were: loss of membership and financial concerns. When asked where the per capita money goes, she responded with "Presbytery mission, disaster relief, and staff." She explained that grants are available and Presbytery is trying to make the application process easier. She encouraged Session to explore the resources Presbytery has to offer. Strategic recruiting of commissioners within the congregation can help influence Presbytery and help access the resources available.
+ The clerk encouraged elders to take turns attending Presbytery meetings. We need to elect three commissioners.
+ Pastor Riz read a letter from the leader of the Anuak refugees in the Twin Cities, Rev. Gilo Agwa. He would like our church to explore the possibility of providing them space at New Life. They worship from 1:00 – 4:00 on Sundays. They also need space/time for youth programs (Fridays), Bible study, choir, committee meetings, etc. This would be an opportunity to have relationship with Christians from another culture. Pastor Riz thinks it could work with space and timing. It would be relevant to our building usage vision. Pastor Riz and Session agreed we need to have a discussion with and get feedback from the congregation.
+ The youth would like to go on a mission trip to Puerto Rico or North Carolina to aid churches who suffered hurricane damage. The youth trip will be July 21 – 28.
+ Pastor Riz would like to share Holy Week services with Chain of Lakes P.C. in Blaine and Church of the Master P.C. in Coon Rapids. Elders encouraged the use of car pools to aid folks in transportation to these churches.
+ The meeting concluded with a discussion about Good News for Ministry announcements during the worship service. The announcements need to be time-sensitive and state the what, when and where facts. Elders will consider guidelines re: announcements for future discussion/action.
 Action Alert: Avert Second Shutdown and Protect Dignity of Migrants and Border Communities What’s at stake? After the longest shutdown in government history, Congress has until February 15, to figure out how to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Without a lasting agreement to keep the government funded, departments funded by the remaining seven spending bills will shut down again, while other critical programs continue to linger under threat from the President’s demand for more than $5 billion for a border wall that simply cannot pass Congress. It is critically important that Congress work together to avert another government shutdown while protecting the rights and dignity of migrants, border residents, and vulnerable communities across the nation. CLICK HERE to send an email to your members of Congress. We need people of faith to urge their members of Congress to pursue a long-term solution without further militarizing our border or shutting down the government. Additional funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will worsen our punitive immigration system and put more people in harm’s way. Instead, Congress should invest in alternatives to detention, such as community-based case management, and more humane policies and practices along the border. Further, ICE and CBP should be prohibited from overspending appropriations or repurposing other agencies’ funding for detention, border wall construction, or expanded immigration enforcement. The federal workforce is not a bargaining chip. This nation’s immigrant community is not a bargaining chip. Congress and the President must stop using people's livelihoods as tools in a political game. CLICK HERE for an expanded version of this action alert.  Inspiring stories of Presbyterian Mission Agency activities are published online daily on the Presbyterian Mission Yearbook webpage. Many people find its stories, Bible lectionary links and prayer to be a helpful daily study/devotion guide. If you have announcements for this e-newsletter, please send them to communications@NewLifeChurchRoseville.org |
Can you help to enrich our worship experience and beautify the sanctuary on Sunday mornings? Sign up to give flowers! The sign up sheet is on the opportunities table in the atrium. If you have questions about how giving flowers works, contact Ardys Randall at 651-245-2643.