Update on New Roots and Woodbury

It's been a while since I've posted, but I want to keep folks up-to-date on what's going on with new church.

 New Roots: New Roots Ministries (the name of the ministry in Northern Cass Country, North Dakota) continues to go well. In an email to New Roots families and supporters Pastor Wade Miller explained what was going on at New Roots during Holy Week:

I am writing to all of you because of the exciting service we have set up for tomorrow's Family-friendly worship and After-School ministry. I believe it is a great addition to any of the Holy Week services you might already be planning on attending, and a great way to begin our Easter Celebrations. During our After-School ministry, we will focus on two vitally important stories for Christians to understand, one from the Old Testament and one from the New...Passover (God delivering the Israelites from slavery in Egypt) & Easter (God delivering Christians from slavery to sin/death). Our after-school ministry begins at 3:45 in the library and goes to 5:45. Just a reminder, we always make sure there is time for our kids to work on their homework and reading as well as time for fun & games and teaching... Then, we will clear the tables and begin a very different kind of worship. Instead of gathering in the auditorium and hearing a message, we will set the tables for a Seder-inspired family worship. The Seder (literally, "order") is a meal that started after Jesus' time to help Jewish families teach the story of the Passover. When Jesus gathered his disciples for the Lord's Supper on the night before he was arrested, tried, and crucified, they gathered to celebrate the Passover. The words might have been different. The "order" may not have been the same. But it was the Passover story that reminded us that God has always been faithful, and (even though we still stumble) delivers us from slavery to evil and sin! You will certainly have something to talk about with your friends and family! And, hopefully, we will all learn just a little more what it means to be an Easter people!

Please take some time to visit New Roots website or it's Facebook Page to keep up with their progress in sharing Christ in Northern Cass!

 Woodbury: If all goes well, a new congregation should start in the Eastern suburbs of the Twin Cities later this year. Woodbury Christian Church is in its planning stages being led by Mike Brady, a Licensed Minister and long time member of First Christian Church in Minneapolis. Mike is busy finding rental space for the new community and has a small grant from the Region to help in getting this new ministry. Visit WCC's Facebook Page to learn more about this new seed that's growing in Woodbury! There are still other possibilities that are still in the early stages. I will share more as time passes. Please keep New Roots and Woodbury in your prayers. May God bless them as they share the Good News of Jesus Christ!

Introducing the Northern Cass Project

A girl at the Big Event stares at the story of Zaccheus.

We are excited to see new churches sprout up.  One of those new communities is one that was originally called the Church @ Northern Cass (they working on a new name, stay tuned).  This is a joint Disciples/ United Methodist project headed up by Wade and Theta Miller in Northern Cass County, North Dakota (just north of Fargo, ND).  Wade is a Disciples pastor and Theta is an Elder in the United Methodist Church.  The Northern Cass Project is situated at Northern Cass School and near several new developments.  The plant meets on Wednesdays and is reaching those folks who for what ever reason can't make it to a Sunday morning service.  In their Case Statement, Wade and Theta describe the need for this new ministry: 

 As we live out our calling to be Disciples of Christ, we acknowledge that there is a growing number of families in the region that are “un-churched” or “de-churched”. Part of this trend is reflective of national declines in church attendance and membership, however there are also regional factors that have led to Fargo being named one of the 10 least religious cities in the U.S.# New church starts are the most effective way to bring in diverse new members to experience the life-changing good news of Jesus Christ.  By focusing a new church community on family-based ministry, we will be more likely to adapt to the changing culture while at the same time strengthening faith development and family life. This approach also allows for greater creativity by allowing this church to be “different” from the faith communities that many of these families grew up in or have an opinion of. Finally, by centering this ministry around the school, a relatively flat organization will efficiently use already strong connections to maximize the time and energy of very busy families. It is my hope and intention to pursue the idea of centering a new, mid-week worship community at the Northern Cass County consolidated K-12 school in order to reach a growing number of families in the district. As this family-focused ministry grows, community-based small groups and house worship meetings will begin to form and multiply as new families are involved in neighborhoods throughout the district.

Below is an account of one of their first events.

We had a wonderful and amazing First Big Event last Wednesday. Thank you so much to our volunteers who made it possible. Even through a technical issue or two, we had a great opening of learning in the Library before moving into our "Rotations" with the help of our Confirmation "Shepherds" (and yes, they did ask if they could carry shepherds crooks to keep the kids in line!...I told them "No";)  Our other rotation was Kickball and time on the playground. We had 25 kids join us for our first event!

Wade and Theta Miller

After a simple, but tasty!, supper with our families at 5:45, 54 joined together for our first worship service together at 6:30. The focus on the service was "Welcoming", teaching on the story of Zacchaeus and how "extravagant hospitality" was offered by Jesus to one who was labelled a Traitor and a Thief. We also watched a small clip of the movie October Sky. These two stories were reminders of how there are "Zacchaeii" in all our lives, people that are alone (for whatever reason!) and looking for something more. We have been given the gift of God's love through Jesus Christ, and it is meant for ALL God's children! Saints, Sinners, Christians, Seekers, Doubters, Popular, Geeks, Jocks, Loners, and Social Butterflies, just to name a few...ALL of us!

I hope that you will put our next event on your calendar for October 10 (10/10). We will use a clip from the movie, We Bought a Zoo, and our confirmation opening will be in full swing for our 6-8 graders. Again, we will begin the After-School ministry in the Library at 3:45, Family Supper at 5:45 in the Commons, and Worship at 6:30 in the Auditorium, wrapping up by 7:15 to get home and ready for a good night's sleep.

One thing we learned...some of our kids who wanted to stay had to get on the bus because they didn't have a note for their teachers. Don't forget to send a note, especially for our young ones. Also, Confirmation class is weekly at the Arthur UMC after school from 4-4:45 each Wednesday when we don't have an After-School Event. Ride the bus to the mall and walk on over to the church. Please contact Wade if you are going to be a new member for our Confirmation class...I need to make sure we have enough materials.

I look forward to sharing the love of Jesus Christ to more of our neighbors and friends and inviting them to join us on 10/10. I hope you can do the same...you never know which one of us is feeling "Alone" and needs that little word of hospitality and welcome.

Rooted in Christ's Love...
Growing in Faith...
Serving in Community,

Pastor Wade

The project is still in its early stages. Expect more stories to follow! If you want to know more about Northern Cass, you contact Wade at  wadewmiller@gmail.com or Theta at revtheta@gmail.com. May God be with Wade and Theta as they begin this exciting new ministry!

Happy Birthday! Give to the Pentecost Offering!

Happy Birthday!

That’s basically what we are going to celebrate this Sunday, Pentecost Sunday.  It was on that day, long ago when the disciples of Jesus were gathered in a room and received the Holy Spirit.  It was on this day, that the followers of Christ ignited a worldwide movement that continues to this very day. 

We learn about what it means to be a Christian, to be a follower of Jesus through the gathering of believers called the church.  From Sunday School classes to weekly worship and communion, it is at churches in urban areas and in the country that we are formed into Christ followers.

This Sunday, churches accross the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) will be collecting the Pentecost Offering which goes towards supporting new churches, new places where people old and young will be introduced to Jesus through the lives of Christians who have heard the call to plant new communities of faith. 

This offering makes a difference in the Christian Church in the Upper Midwest as we work to foster new communities of faith in Iowa, Minnesota and the Dakotas.  Communities like Open Source Christian Christ and Iglesia Neuva Jerusalem in Rochester, MN or Korean Dordom Christian Church in St. Louis Park, MN.  There are also planned church starts in the incubation stage in Woodbury, MN and Northern Cass County, North Dakota (just north of Fargo).  We are working to spread the good news of Jesus to all people...sharing the news in Korean, English and Spanish, which is kind of like the first Pentecost- telling the story of Jesus in different tounges.

Please consider giving to the Pentecost offering.  You can give in your churches this Sunday or consider giving online.

I’m also urging folk to visit our new church ministry blog called the Pentecost Project.  You will read stories of how these new communities are reaching out to share the gospel and find ways to support them.  I also ask that if you have a passion for new church, please consider joining the New Church Ministry Team.  If you’re interested, you can either fill out the form at the Pentecost Project, or drop me an email at dennis.sanders@gmail.com.

May God bless you this Pentecost and may God’s church continue to grow!

Dennis Sanders

Team Leader, New Church Ministry Team, Christian Church in the Upper Midwest

Associate Pastor, First Christian Church-Minneapolis