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Minneapolis, MN 55410
Phone: 612-926-7645
Email: church@lakeharrietumc.org
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE – March 13, 2020
Dear Friends,
Lake Harriet UMC cares about you, our community and our world. Please be advised of the following changes and cancellations in order to comply with the guidelines put out today by Governor Walz and the Minnesota Department of Health.
- Sunday – No “in person” worship. Please join worship via Live Stream. We will stream one worship service at 9:00a. A recording of the service will also be available to watch later. Go to the church website, click on the “Media” button at the top of the page and scroll down to “Live Stream.” https://www.lakeharrietumc.org/stream/ There is always a “Live Stream” reminder post on Facebook on Sunday mornings that will direct you to the live stream too.
- All in-person ministries of the church are shut down until further notice, with the exception of the Lake Harriet Preschool, which will still be in session. Keeping the number of people in the building to an absolute minimum will help prevent the spread of illness.
- No Wednesday dinner or activities until further notice. The Health Department guidelines require a six-foot space between people, which would make having a meal together, singing in a choir or playing bells really tough!
- Godly Play, Youth groups, adult small groups and team meetings, are also on hold until further notice.
- Activities of outside groups that meet in the building is also on hold.
While we are “social isolating” ourselves to help prevent the spread of illness, this does not mean that we will be socially isolated. The staff is working on creative ways to bring worship, and other spiritual enrichment opportunities to you using technology. I am still blogging the “Running with Mark” series so every day there is a new devotional reading which can be found on the church website and on Facebook. There are virtual meeting websites that can allow us to do discussions/Bible study and may also be accessed by ministry teams that need to meet.
What can you do?
- Pray for the containment of this virus. Pray for health care workers and public health workers. Pray for those who are ill.
- Reach out to members of the congregation by phone or email. Make it a point to reach out to our folks who live alone.
- Your continued generosity in supporting the church will help us weather this storm. https://www.lakeharrietumc.org/give-pay-pledge/
- Remember the clients who use the Joyce Uptown Foodshelf. These folks are perhaps the most vulnerable. Lorrie Sandelin, Director of the Foodshelf suggests cash donations are the most helpful at this time. We will bring the milk products we have been collecting to them at a later date. Consider making a donation to Joyce at joyceuptownfoodshelf.org. Click on the donate button. There may also be serving opportunities at the food shelf as a new method of food distribution is implemented (pre-packaged food boxes) to mitigate the spread. Watch for specific ways you can help.
Friends, I know that this is an uncertain and perhaps scary time. If you would like to talk and pray (by phone, online etc.) please know that I am available. Reach out to me at karen.bruins@lakeharrietumc.org
This situation is fluid so please do check the website and social media for updates.
Trust in God. Hear these words from Isaiah 41:10, “Fear not, for I am with you, do not be afraid for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you.”
Grace and peace,
Pastor Karen Bruins
—————————————————————–
From the CDC: YOU CAN HELP PREVENT THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.
T H E C H U R C H
We are a church that believes all people are children of God, unconditionally loved by our Creator whatever their age, race, nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity, economic status, marital status, physical or mental ability.
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A L L A R E W E L C O M E H E R E !
Welcome and thanks for visiting! Please take a few minutes to explore the site and get a sense of what the LHUMC community has to offer. We also hope you’ll come visit us for worship or an upcoming event. We look forward to connecting with you and going deeper in our faith together. You are welcome here!
Rev. Karen Bruins
Lead Pastor
SHE/HER/HERS
F R O M T H E B L O G
Recent Blog Posts
Running with Mark 87
Day 87 – March 24, 2020
Read:
Yet You, O Comforter, are ever near,
your kindness is made known to all generations;
You answer the prayers of those who cry to You.
Come! Melt every heart;
the appointed time is nigh.
Those who trust in You find solace for their souls;
tears soon turn to joy.
All who reverence and honor the Beloved,
are nourished and held by Love.
For You, O Healer, invite us to wholeness,
to be co-creators along Love’s way.
You hear the cries of the afflicted, and answer their prayer.
Yet beware! Our thoughts are also our prayers,
May they be for the well-being of all!
Music:
Prayer Focus:
A Prayer of Compassion by Mother Teresa
Lord, open our eyes
that we may see you in our brothers and sisters.
Lord, open our ears
that we may hear the cries of the hungry,
the cold, the frightened, the oppressed.
Lord, open our hearts
that we may love each other as you love us.
Renew in us your spirit.
Lord, free us and make us one.
Amen
Grace and peace,
Pastor Karen Bruins
Read more
23
Mar '20
Running with Mark 86
23
Mar '20
Day 86 – March 23, 2020
Read: Psalm
Psalm 89:1-4 New Revised Standard Version
This week five of the readings from the Narrative Lectionary come from the Psalms. Why were they chosen? Psalms were a primary form of prayer for the Jewish community. They continue to speak to the hopes, fears, struggles and worries of all people today.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German pastor and theologian known for his opposition to National Socialism. His ties to the July 20, 1944, conspiracy to overthrow the Nazi regime led to his execution in 1945. His theological writings are regarded as classics throughout the Christian world.
Bonhoeffer penned these words on the Psalms:
“The Psalter is the prayer book of Jesus Christ in the truest sense of the word. He prayed the Psalter and now it has become his prayer for all time…we understand how the Psalter can be prayer to God and yet God’s own Word, precisely because here we encounter the praying Christ…because those who pray the psalms are joining in with the prayer of Jesus Christ, their prayer reaches the ears of God. Christ has become their intercessor…”
― Dietrich Bonhoeffer
As you read Psalm 89 from Nan Merrill’s Psalms for Praying – An Invitation to Wholeness, may this be your prayer:
I will sing of your steadfast Love
forever, my Beloved:
with forthright voice I will proclaim
your goodness to all generations.
For your abiding Love rules to the universe,
your faithfulness extends throughout the firmament.
Your Covenant from the beginning of time
encompasses all who choose to walk
the path of Love;
And to all generations that honor
your Way and your Truth
will Love make Itself known.
Music:
Every Praise by Hezekiah Walker
Prayer Focus:
In this time of anxiety, ask God to be your Rock, your faithful One.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Karen Bruins
Read more
22
Mar '20
Running with Mark – 85
22
Mar '20
Day 85 – March 22, 2020
Today’s blog comes from guest blogger Rev. Chris Carr. Chris is the preacher for Sunday, March 22, 2020.
Read:
Mark 12: 28-34 (inclusive Version)
28 One of the religious scholars who had listened to them debating and had observed how well Jesus had answered them, now came up and put a question to him: “Which is the foremost of all the commandments?” 29 Jesus replied, “This is the foremost: ‘Hear, O Israel, God, our God, is one. 30 You must love the Most High God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” 32 The scholar said to Jesus, “Well spoken, Teacher! What you have said is true: the Most High is one and there is no other. 33 To love God with all your heart, with all your understanding and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself—this is far more important than any burnt offering or sacrifice.” 34 Jesus, seeing how wisely this scholar had spoken, said, “You are not far from the kindom of God.” And after that no one dared to question Jesus any more.
This seems as important a time to understand to heed Jesus’ call to Love God and Love our neighbor.
Right now, it feels hard to see God, let alone love God. In this season of a pandemic, there are a lot of questions, and the answers are unclear. We are spending a lot of time looking out of windows, to keep separation and keep people safe. People are either stuck inside, away from family and friends, out of school. We had to make the tough decision to reschedule REYOUNITE youth event, where we had JJ Warren, Jennifer Knapp, and others coming for an amazing weekend. It was a really hard decision. We had a great Youth Group time online on Wednesday and the questions raised were mostly about this sense of the length of time this will continue. How long will we be out of school? How does God let this happen? It feels like there is a lot obstructing our view of the Holy. Fear does that. We get tunnel vision and close off. We are trying to look through a window to see God, but the curtains of Covid-19 are blocking our view.
We don’t know when things that have ceased or been cancelled will be able to happen. But we do know that when we commit into relationship with that which connects us beyond physical contact, we are able to throw back the curtains that obstruct our view and see with greater clarity, and when we do, our actions, whether they are in our home, or in the world of live-streams, can tell our neighbor they are loved.
Please read 1 Corinthians 13 to see what Paul, the apostle whose writings make up a lot of the New Testament, had to say about love.
CHECK OUT THIS MUSIC VIDEO FOR “NEW DAY” FROM JENNIFER KNAPP.
https://jenniferknapp.com/videos/new-day/
Music:
Lyrics:
When i’m feeling low
and my heart is weak
i know you have the strength
to carry me
When i’m broken down
and i’m filled with grief
i know you’re far beyond
what my mind conceives
As I look beyond the cares of life
I can feel your heart
Through the pain and strife
As I look beyond the cares of life
I can feel your heart
feel you wash my sight
i can feel your heart
feel you offer life
you lead me to the water, sweet water
the water of life
when i am sinking,
you lift me up out of the night
how can it be hallelujah
i feel this love overtake me
Prayer:
God, we bring our cries, we bring our questions, we bring our fears. In this uncertain time, help us seek clearing our vision out the window, to push back the blinds and feel your love, and be in relationships that magnify Your love into the world.
AMEN
Peace and Love in Faith,
Chris
Read:
Music:
Prayer Focus:
Grace and peace,
Pastor Karen Bruins
Read more
W H A T ‘ S N E W
Lake Harriet News: March
Lake Harriet United Methodist Church is a vibrant, active, inclusive congregation whose mission is to welcome, inspire, and nourish its members and community to be the hands and feet of God in the world.
Lake Harriet News is our monthly print newsletter for sharing the church’s programs, services, and abundant opportunities to participate in community ministries. We invite you to click on the image, read the document, and explore the opportunities to live out our mission in your daily life in and through the church.
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