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Adult Learning & Spiritual Enrichment (ALSET)

If you are interested in participating in one of the below ALSET offerings, please complete the form below. 

If you have questions, concerns, ideas for classes, or if you are interested in supporting ALSET, either as a committee member or a group facilitator, please reach out to Stacy Edwards, ALSET chair by email

Science and Faith Book Study
Belief: Readings on the Reason for Faith by Francis S. Collins

Sundays, 11:00 am-noon (Zoom only)

Facilitators: Don McClung, Chris Dozier, and Paul Glewwe

This study continues our reading of the anthology Belief: Readings on the Reason for Faith. In this book renowned physician and geneticist, Francis S. Collins, has collected essays addressing the reason for faith. It is a brilliant, wide ranging and powerful series of readings on the possibilities, problems, and mysteries of faith

Each essay in the collection stands on its own. So you do not need to have participated in the fall session of this study group to join this winter.

Some of the essays we will be covering include pieces by Elie Weisel, Desmond Tutu, C.S.  Lewis, and Thomas Merton.

Please purchase a book via your favorite book seller.

Sundays February 11-May 5 at 10:45-11:45 AM
Models of Christ
Exploring Our Understanding of Jesus
NOTE: This is available as a hybrid format, on Zoom and in-person.

The central claim of Christianity since the days of the early Church is that Jesus is the Christ: the anointed one, the Messiah of God. What does this actually mean? This class is an opportunity for intellectually and spiritually curious laypersons to explore the meaning and significance of Jesus for the Christian Church and the kind of questions that arise when we explore this rich topic.

Lead by Jeffrey Speaks.

UPCOMING BOOK FOCUS AND MEETING DATES
Date: 1st Thursday of the month at 7pm. By Zoom Nov-April, in-person, May-October. Sign up through the form below.
Facilitator: Julie Konrardy

The books have been selected for the next few months and listed below. You do not have to be an LHUMC UWF member to join us, you can even come if you haven't read the books! Contact Julie Konrardy at [email protected] for email updates.
 

Our upcoming books:

April 4
Good Night Irene by Luis Alberto Urrea
  • May 2 Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
  • Jun 6  Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
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Connection Groups

Let’s connect with each other! Whether you’re looking for a dog walking group, a new book club, launching your HS graduates, or intergenerational women’s group, we have those connections for you and more.
 
If you are interested please fill out the form below and select all that appeal to you! Someone from the church will reach out to get you more information so you can find your place in our groups. 
 
You can also fill out the form below for more options:
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Join us in supporting Every Meal in the fight against child hunger by donating, volunteering, or spreading the word. Every dollar you give adds up and every action you take matters in changing the story of child hunger.

Donate

Our goal for the 2023-2024 school year is to support 40 children who are struggling with food insecurity. You can choose to support our efforts through a one time or a monthly donation.
 
We can help feed one child through a monthly donation of $25, however any amount will help in our efforts to reach our goal.

Volunteer

Throughout the school year we help distribute the food once or twice per week, depending on the school calendar. Most often we do distribution on Fridays. 
 
Lake Harriet UMC will be placing Every Meal food bags in lockers again this year at Lyndale Community School so that students and families have healthy meals on the weekends.
 
Volunteer time commitment is about 90 minutes, usually on Fridays and days before school holiday breaks.  You can sign up for as many or few shifts as fit your schedule! 
 
Please contact Ann Davis at [email protected] for training sign up link, questions or to express interest. Find currently scheduled dates on our volunteer page. 
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3041 Fremont Ave So
Minneapolis, MN 55408

[email protected]

612-825-4431

Joyce Uptown Foodshelf

“The mission of the Joyce Uptown Food Shelf is to distribute food to those in need, with respect and dignity, as an expression of the love of God.”
 
Food insecurity has ballooned nation-wide in response to social inequity, COVID, inflation, and the discontinuation of COVID-related government support. Locally, the Uptown community and especially our businesses experienced a direct impact from the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent Uprising. JUFS seeks to be a stable and reliable resource for our community.
 
Since 2019, JUFS has grown exponentially in response to rising demand. Due to generous community support, JUFS was able to rise to the need. The budget has increased 164%, they have hired full-time staff for the first time, and doubled the number of open hours to the community. They have tripled their food output and increased by 150% the number of individuals served.
 
In 2022, over 120 volunteers volunteered over 4500 hours, equal to two full time staff. Among other tasks, these individuals staff the front desk, assist customers as they shop, help with food recovery, process and shelve food donations, clean, recycle cardboard, and garden! Some of our volunteers are also shoppers, further enriching an environment that is sensitive and responsive to the life circumstances of those JUFS serve. In addition, they count on many longstanding relationships with community partners such as:
 
Lake Harriet United Methodist Church: Since 2012, when LHUMC took on ownership of our building, the church has been a reliable benefactor and booster. In 2022, the church and its congregants provided over 10% of our operating budget, ran diaper and paper bag drives, and provided administrative support via printing services and use of meeting rooms.
 
Looking ahead, the Foodshelf will continue to live out their mission to serve with respect and dignity and work towards their strategic goals. One of their strategic goals is to provide high quality and quantities of food to all individuals and families that visit the Foodshelf, food options that they can depend on receiving at each visit.
Finally, JUFS is also focused on the vision of improving their physical space for clients. Currently, Joyce Uptown Foodshelf continues to reside in “Joyce House.” Part of living out their mission of serving with respect and dignity is becoming a fully accessible space as well as becoming a full-choice Foodshelf. A full-choice Foodshelf provides food shelf participants the ability to choose their own food options, as they might at a grocery store. The Joyce Uptown Foodshelf board is committed to improving the physical space and have been exploring options on how best to move forward. JUFS will rely on community partners to support us as they move forward on this goal. Continue to look for updates and ways to engage as they move forward.
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Lake Harriet Players Community Theatre

Sponsor the show
We invite you to support this community production with a tax-deductible donation.
 
Your sponsorship helps ensure access for all and any proceeds will be donated to a local charity!
Lake Harriet Players are excited to announce our Spring 2024 musical The Wizard of Oz!
Follow the yellow brick road in this delightful stage adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s beloved tale, featuring the iconic story and musical score from the MGM film, faithfully adapted for live stage performance. 
 
Shows
Performances will be held March 15-17.
  • Fri, March 15 – 7 p.m.
  • Sat, March 16 – 2 p.m. & 7 p.m.
  • Sun, March 17 – 2 p.m. (ASL provided)

Admission is free (pay-what-you-can donations accepted).
 
Seating is general admission and open to the public. Some of our shows fill, so be sure to arrive early. Doors open 1/2 hour prior to curtain.
 

The Wizard of Oz is presented by special arrangement with Concord Theatricals.

Once a year in the spring our stage come to life with an intergenerational, dynamic musical. This group offers acting, creative and spiritual growth opportunities to folks of all ages. We welcome those who have a background in acting, whether it’s the high school one-act-play or a lifelong profession, and for those who have no acting background – we open our doors. This is a space to make friends across generations, support and learn from each other and create a musical experience that entertains, provokes thought and brings people together. 

Anyone can be in a Lake Harriet Players show!
 

Our History

Lake Harriet Players is a collaborative ministry of Lake Harriet United Methodist Church and the surrounding community started in 2001 with their first production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
 
Over the years, Lake Harriet Players has entertained audiences with many family-friendly shows including Fiddler on the Roof, The Music Man, Jesus Christ Superstar, Hello Dolly, Wizard of Oz, Godspell, A Year with Frog & Toad, Annie, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Seussical, and many more.

Our Values

Use the arrow controls to tap through the images from past shows.

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Leadership Council

The purpose of the Leadership Council is to establish and oversee missional priorities and strategies, ensuring alignment across ministries, and to champion our mission: Walking together the words and ways of Jesus.

 

In April Lake Harriet’s Leadership Council engaged in a two-day strategic planning session.  After fleshing out some of the ideas and further discussion, we are pleased to share these five strategic priorities:

  1. Connections – intentional small groups to help the congregation meet, connect and grow in friendship. The groups may be centered around a common interest, activity, life-stage, etc. Janet Bomar is leading this effort and is looking for a few more volunteers to help shape this strategic priority.
  2. Housing Justice – creating a partnership with Beacon Interfaith Housing to work on affordable, intentional, and sustainable housing. This work will involve learning how to be advocates for housing for all at the city and state level. This justice work takes place alongside the charitable work in which we are already involved through the Joyce Uptown Food Shelf, The Dignity Center, Every Meal, and Feed My Starving Children.  Lauren Braswell is leading this task force and welcomes volunteers.
  3. Supporting Young Children – a team will be assessing our physical plant to best meet the early childhood needs of the community. The education wing was built in 1962 and has had very few updates.  It is not air-conditioned and does not meet current code for air-exchange and other hvac/plumbing/mechanical systems.
  4. Sanctuary Enhancement – COVID quickly changed how we worship and use the Sanctuary. The Sanctuary now has the best technology in the church building (audio and visual technology along with live-stream equipment). This task force will be assessing the layout, seating, hearing loop and technology with an eye for both worship and other multi-purpose uses of the Sanctuary.  Kay Halverson, is leading this task force and is looking for more volunteers.
  5. Deepening the Well – Our congregation is already exploring spiritual practices that deepen our relationship with God and neighbor, in part through a partnership with Saint Catherine University and a Lilly grant. ALSET (Adult Learning and Spiritual Enrichment Team) will be working on this strategic priority.  Stacey Edwards, chair of ALSET, is leading this ministry.

 

What does the Leadership Council need from you?    

  • Your prayers
  • Your openness to new ideas and new opportunities
  • Your time and energy.

 

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Lake Harriet UM Preschool

Lake Harriet UM Preschool is an early childhood education center. It was founded in 1953 as an outreach of the Lake Harriet United Methodist Church. It is the function of the Preschool to supplement the home and to provide an atmosphere where children are loved, understood, and accepted as they are. It provides a place where active learning is on-going and where children can develop an awareness of the world they live in. All children are accepted regardless of their race, creed, or religious affiliation.
 
Now Enrolling for the 2024-2025 Preschool year, and NEW this year, we have Infant and Toddler care!
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Music Ministries

Love music? Enjoy friendship? Looking to serve God with your music? Join the choir, band, and handbell choir! Share your musical gifts as a soloist or in an ensemble. Feel free to visit any group to try it out.

We have music options for every age!
 

Children and Youth Music Groups

The regular season runs from September through May with weekly rehearsals.

Wednesday evenings 5:50-6:10p

Kids develop beginning musical skills and the sense of rhythm through singing, drumming, rainbow bells, and body movements. Led by Ariel Johnson and Rosey.

To join or inquire, contact Cherub Choir Director Ariel Johnson.

 

Wednesday evenings 5:30-6:00p
Kids continue to develop their musical skills and a sense of rhythm through singing, drumming, and rainbow bells. They also learn music reading and fundamentals.
 
To join or inquire, contact Jungjoo Park.
 

Wednesdays 6-6:30pm

Kids develop vocal skills and deepen their music reading skills through singing age-appropriate choral repertoire and hymns. 
 
To join or inquire, contact Director of Music Ministries, Jungjoo Park.
Wednesday evenings 5:30-6:00p
 
Kids are introduced to music notation and body coordination by playing handbells. Great for building up team skills, too. Come and try the bells — you will love the sound! If you don’t read music, we’ll teach you.
 
To join or inquire, contact Thomas Johanson.
Sundays 10:45-11:30am
 
This Youth worship band explores a wide range of Christian music and serves as a worship leader.
 
To join or inquire, contact Jungjoo Park, Director of Music Ministries.

Adult Music Groups

The regular season runs from September through May with weekly rehearsals.

This intergenerational choir rehearses on Wednesday evenings at 7:30 to 8:30p, and participates in worship every other Sunday September-Pentecost Sunday. We welcome all levels of singers! To join or inquire, contact Jungjoo Park.

This intergenerational bell choir rehearses on Wednesdays September-May at 6:30 to 7:30p. Director Thomas Johanson and the ringers would love to have you join (music reading not required). To join or inquire, contact Thomas Johanson, bell choirs director.

This intergenerational band leads worship every other Sunday.  If you have a passion for contemporary Christian music and would like to serve in this wonderful team, contact Director of Music Ministries Jungjoo Park for information or questions.
Christmas Eve Orchestra, Christmas/Easter Choir, All Men’s Ensemble (seasonal), Summer musicians and individual and small groups. These groups gather at key times in the year.
 
Contact Jungjoo Park, director of music ministries, for information or questions.

Lake Harriet UMC Music Staff

JungjooPark.900px-683x1024

Jungjoo Park

Director of Music Ministries

Thomas Johanson

Bells Choir Director

Ariel Johnson

Cherubs Director

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Outreach in and through Lake Harriet UMC

Why does Lake Harriet UMC uniquely exist?
To welcome, inspire and nourish our community to be the hands and feet of God in the world.

Come pack specially formulated meals for starving children in over 50 countries at Feed My Starving Children.  Volunteers that are 3rd grade and older can work together to care for our world’s most vulnerable kids. Lake Harriet UMC sends volunteers to work at FMSC on the first Monday of every month.

Sign up by clicking here to jump to our SignUpGenius page.

The Dignity Center works with people to achieve and maintain stability. Participants engage with one advocate, make and keep appointments, set goals and report actions taken to achieve those goals. We work together on stability skills such as problem solving, decision making, organization and budgeting. Progress is measured as improved housing, increased financial situation, completed education and training, obtained employment, and supportive community.
 
The Dignity Center is located at 425 Groveland Ave, Minneapolis. To learn more about the Dignity Center, click here to visit their website.
 
 

Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative and LHUMC are part of a larger interfaith collaborative of congregations across Minnesota. They join our efforts together to achieve more than they ever could separately. Each congregation brings unique strengths, perspectives, resources, and passion to our common vision.

Check their website, to see a list of congregations across the state that participate. 

 
How does the “Every Meal” program work?
 
  • Every Meal (EM) is a local organization based in the Twin Cities. EM began in 2010 when the school administration at Sheridan Elementary School discovered that students were stealing and hoarding food on Fridays so that they would have something to eat on the weekends.
  • EM purchases food from Second Harvest Heartland, or similar organizations, and transports the food to their Northeast Minneapolis warehouse for storage.
  • EM holds packing events at their warehouse where volunteers fill bags with food to then be distributed to students at participating schools. Each bag of food contains fruit and vegetables and provides nutritious, substantive meals for kids to eat at home. An example of a typical bag includes the following items: a can of pears, a bag of rice, a can of green beans, a can of tuna, a bag of pasta, and a can of chicken noodle soup.
  • EM delivers the bagged food directly to Lyndale School.

**For further information, please visit the Every Meal website at: www.everymeal.org

How You Can Help!

We need two people each week to help place bags of food into children’s lockers at Lyndale Community School.  This will typically be on Friday mornings at 10:45a, and should take about 90 minutes.
 

Financial donations are always welcome and will be put towards helping additional children who qualify for the program. Over 400 children at Lyndale are on the Free and Reduced Lunch program. Donate on our give page.

LHUMC Senior High (8th - 12th Grade)
Youth Mission Trip
July 20-28, 2024
Location TBD
 
Registration is LIVE for next year’s ASP Trip. Dates are July 20th through 28th. All youth who have completed grades 8 through 12 are welcome to join us for this trip. If you are interested in learning more, or would like the group number to register, please contact Ariel Johnson, Ariel, [email protected].
 
If you are interested in chaperoning as an adult, please also let Ariel know. We are excited to serve for our 36th year!
 
Appalachia Service Project (ASP) is a Christian ministry, open to all people, that inspires hope and service through volunteer home repair and replacement in Central Appalachia. Lake Harriet UMC Senior High youth have participated in this vital project for more than 30 years. 
 
Gallery
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View our Sign-Up Genius page to see current opportunities!

Contact our volunteer coordinator, Elizabeth Melton, with any questions.

Volunteer Ministry

Walking Together The Words and Ways of Jesus
 
There are many ways to be the hands and feet of God at Lake Harriet UMC!
 
Worship

Lay Readers and Greeters. Readers will get the reading from Karen several days before Sunday. Greeters – what a great way to say hello to old friends and meet new ones. Greeters also do a headcount and take any money collected to the safe in the workroom. Training and written instructions are provided.

Communion Servers (4)

Communion Sunday is always the same day as the Children’s Service; this would be an excellent way to combine both and get your Family involved with the Communion experience. Instructions are provided.

Communion Steward (1-2+)

Another excellent opportunity to get your Family involved on Communion Sunday. Ideally, bread and juice would be dropped off at church on the Thursday before Communion Sunday. Cutting the bread and filling the juice cups take place before the service begins and instructions are provided.
 

Wednesday Night Suppers

Four volunteers will be needed each week to set-up and serve, or to clean-up.

Coffee Hour

Help our LHUMC community connect with old and new friends! Please note that there are 2 shifts. Set-Up and Clean-Up. Instructions provided.

Every Meal at Lyndale School (2)

This is a critical way to provide food for children and families who may not have enough to get them through the weekend. Usually takes place weekly on Fridays, but the schedule could be fluid due to school holidays. This is truly a joyous way to spread love and kindness in a school setting with darling children. There are many openings through the rest of the school year, which for Every Meal has been extended to June 17th.

Mowing at LHUMC

Do you live in an apt or condo with no grass to mow? OR maybe you have a city lot with so little grass you could cut it with a scissors so it feels like changing into your mowing pants just isn’t worth it. Well, we have a solution. Sign up to mow the church lawn!

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Enjoying Each Other in Sisterhood

Our retreats, book discussions, and fund-raising projects are also good ways to connect with women in our LHUMC Community. 

Nurture your soul—Connect with friends at the WOMEN’S SOUL RETREAT.

Information for 2024 coming soon!

A one -day Saturday event with outstanding teachers introducing the UMW Mission studies for the year along with inspiring worship, informative displays and access to resource books and films. Its lovely location: St. John’s University, Collegeville, MN.

UPCOMING BOOK FOCUS AND MEETING DATES
Date: 1st Thursday of the month at 7pm. By Zoom Nov-April, in-person, May-October. Sign up through the form below.
Facilitator: Julie Konrardy

The books have been selected for the next few months and listed below. You do not have to be an LHUMC UWF member to join us, you can even come if you haven't read the books! Contact Julie Konrardy at [email protected] for email updates.
 

Our upcoming books:

April 4
Good Night Irene by Luis Alberto Urrea
  • May 2 Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
  • Jun 6  Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann

On a Sunday morning in early December, talented bakers and chefs share their favorite baked goods and soups to raise funds to help carry out the UMW mission.

Enjoy a fun outing amongst flowers and friends as you sample tea and snacks. Held in June.
 

Information Coming Soon for June 2024!

  • Friends old and new
  • Fellowship
  • Delicious food
  • Fragrant flowers
  • Drop by anytime
  • Plenty of parking
  • Children’s activity Sidewalk chalk

Issue Studies

In the 21st century, the world needs women of faith putting their faith into action.

As we study these issues throughout the year, we use our creative energy to find ways to be a blessing to others through our actions.
 

 

United Women in Faith (Formerly United Methodist Women) members put faith, hope, and love into action in their churches and communities.

Even one woman can make a difference.
 

We seek your ideas for bringing women together for support, fellowship, spiritual growth, and doing mission together. We offer our resources and assistance to you as you make these ideas a reality.

To share an idea, click here to contact Patti Marsh Cagle, LHUMC UMW President.

Learning about our Faith

UMW supports efforts to enlighten ourselves about our faith and about how we can put our faith into action.

Below are some examples: 

From time-to-time, UMW hosts speakers on issues of importance today. Watch the LHUMC weekly E-newsletters for these events. 

In addition, UMW supplies books for studying issues. (There is a shelf in the Fireside Room devoted to UMW materials. It’s just inside the door on the right by the fireplace.) 

During 2021, our areas of focus have been Racial and Environmental Justice.

UMW has provided support to LHUMC activities, such as the Joyce Uptown Foodshelf, the LHUMC Preschool, LHUMC Mission trips for Junior and Senior High Students, the Theater Ministry, Re-U-Nite, and Band of Mothers. We also provided blankets for youth transitioning out of homelessness at 66 West.

 
With the support of the women in Lake Harriet United Methodist Church, we give money to support the work of LHUMC, UMW- supported missionaries around the world, and other organizations, like the Emma Norton Services.

Emma Norton services

Regional Missionaries build relationships with Methodist, United Methodist, ecumenical and grassroots programs that focus on impacting poverty through enhancing the capacities of local women leaders and supporting economic development programs to provide women with the tools required to make positive, measurable change in their communities.

Emma Norton Services is a trauma-informed organization that promotes healing and recovery, operating at a scale that brings a full array of resources to women, individuals, and families who have experienced homelessness. Housing and services are exemplary, offered in collaboration with key community partners.
 

History & Legacy of United Methodist Women

1869: 8 women
Today: 800,000 members
 

For more than a century, women in the Methodist and Evangelical United Brethren traditions have led a struggle for human rights and social justice. The generation of women who founded the early missionary societies developed powerful networks and organizational structures to help women attain full participation in the life of the church and society.

In the early years of the women’s mission organizations, the focus was on sending missionaries and helping to change the lives of women and girls in foreign lands. They incorporated the values of home and family into public life, as they addressed issues of poverty, child labor, immigration, migrant labor, family life, racial discrimination, full clergy rights for women, and many other social ills of the day..

Many problems faced by the women at the turn of the century have reemerged in our own time with a new and demanding urgency: new waves of immigration, homelessness, racial divisions, threats to the environment, substance abuse and addiction, lack of affordable health care, concerns for the well-being of children and the elderly, public education, questions about women’s roles in society, and world peace.

Because of the faithfulness and courage of the millions of women who prayed, planned, organized, marched, petitioned, labored, and supported the work of the early missionary societies, the lives of countless individuals, especially women and children, have been irrevocably changed. Women, children and youth in our generation, and the ones that will follow us, are living the legacy of the women’s missionary movement of the 19th century.

We have much to be proud of and a great deal to celebrate as we continue the journey begun almost 150 years ago by our faithful and courageous foremothers.