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INSITES May 2020
TheGroveMN.church
Office@ Being
TheHope.org
651-738-0305 Ext. 111
…. for this moment … Online Worship
Sundays, 9:00 am
Facebook Live or thegrovemn.church
May 3
Graduation Sunday
Hear the experience of a High School Senior.
May 10
Mother ’s Day
Hear the experience of someone living alone.
May 17
Comfort Food/Communion
Hear the experience of a healthcare worker.
May 24
Memorial Day
Learn about job loss and financial strain.
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Interested in making some new relational connections at church?
We’d like to start a conversation with you!
You’re invited to join a First Connections Group.
New Online Group is Starting
Sundays
May 17, 24, 31 & June 7, 14
4 - 6 pm
RSVP to Pastor Kelly
kl [email protected]
by May 12 to join.
In need of church or community resource information
during this challenging time?
Resource information is now available from our Grove church website (thegrovemn.church) by clicking on
the appropriate banner on the home page. This link will provide you with information on changes at our
church brought on by COVID-19, as well as provide community resource information (food shelves,
unemployment, mental health, and more) in one place. Information is updated as needed.
The direct link to the website is: https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.cloversites.com/64/646406ac-22f9-4fb5-98d3-02b4120ea138/documents/
Website_Grove_and_Community_Resource_List_updated_0422.pdf
Note: WA Mobile Crisis Response Unit, 24 hrs. crisis line, is available to assist adults and children during
mental health and addiction crisis at 651-275-7400
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The Chapel Renovation
Things have been happening at church during the pandemic and
not just on zoom. The Facilities Team had approved for the
interior of the church to be repainted with funds from the Campus
Improvement Fund. That included the chapel which was built in
1868. The Chapel Project with additional donations from two
church families began the week before the coronavirus hit and the
order for Shelter In Place took over our way of gathering.
With the painting project underway it seemed like a good time to
see if other areas needed to be enhanced. The pews were moved
for the scaffolding so the ceiling could be painted. It was obvious
the floors needed attention. Church member, Jim Luadtke
volunteered to sand and polyurethane them.
Practicing physical distancing, before long a crew led by Jim, was
busy at work. Lee Slagter, Darryl Olson, Jason Helquist and Dave
Henderson pulled out old carpet, rewired defunct electrical
connections and built new steps to the altar.
The biggest part of the project, however, lay ahead of them. They
discovered that the balcony did not meet code and structurally
was not safe. It needed to come down. They did a great job
dismantling the structure, including building a ramp to bring the old
organ down. What appeared in full view were two beautiful stained
glass windows.
Over the last six weeks the chapel has been transformed back to its
original glory. It looks huge with its high 20-foot ceiling. The
stained glass windows on the north side of the chapel are now
visible. It has been a labor of love for the crew. It is wonderful to
see the outcome of all their hard work.
There is still much that needs to be done from a preservation
standpoint to both the chapel and steeple. The steeple was added
in 1912 with the bells coming from Belgium. The first phase of the
preservation was eliminating the bats and sealing up the bat entry in
the belfry. With the restoration of the inside of the chapel a second
phase is complete. Additional needs include: repair and
tuckpointing the exterior limestone walls for the chapel and steeple;
steeple renovations and replacement of entry doors as well as
renovation of outside stained glass windows covering and trim.
Enjoy the pictures. As soon as we can gather together, we will have
a rededication and celebration of our historic chapel. It will be a
time to honor and thank our ancestors for their vision. I think they
would be proud.
Our chapel was a labor of faith, love and
hard work. Today we continue that legacy as
we honor what has been done and preserve
it for future generations.
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VISITATION TEAM
Congregational Care Ministers (CCMs)
Monday, May 4, 9:30 am - Zoom Mtg.
Congregational Care Ministers (CCMS)
are lay volunteers who are trained to
listen and provide emotional and spiritual
support to others. CCMs work alongside
our pastors in providing care by:
• Following up on prayer requests
• Meeting one-on-one with persons
needing a listening ear, offering
prayers and encouragement
• Offering support to grieving families
• Providing a presence on Sunday
mornings for connection and prayer
• Serving communion to members
who can no longer physically
attend worship
• Telephoning persons in need of
contact
• Visiting (hospital, homebound,
care facility)
If you feel called to care for others as a
CCM or if you or someone you care
about could benefit from a visit or call
from a CCM, please contact Carolyn
Winslow, Director of Caring Ministries,
651-738-0305, ext. 129 or at
[email protected] .
HELPING HANDS TEAM
Through a carefully organized program,
our hands can extend the love of God by
offering short-term help to our church
family members in need of transportation
(to church or medical appointments, for
example), meals (following surgery or
during an immediate crisis), grocery
shopping or assistance in other tangible
ways. If you feel called to care for others
in very practical and helpful ways or if
you are in need of such assistance,
contact Liz at [email protected] .
[email protected] , 651-738-0305, ext. 129 - Upstairs Office 205
Carolyn Winslow Director of Caring Ministries
Grief & Loss
Support Group …. via Zoom
We are all experiencing a variety of losses during this time -
loss of social contact, loss of loved ones, job loss, physical
separation from loved ones, to name just a few. Some of us
may also be experiencing anticipatory grief, which is a feeling
we get about what the future holds when we’re uncertain.
It can feel like a loss of safety.
We are offering a Grief & Loss Support Group via Zoom on
Thursday mornings at 10 am to provide people with a
confidential and safe space to explore these feelings of loss
and grief.
Facilitating this group will be retired chaplain, Al Kleinsasser,
who is also one of our Congregational Care Ministers. If you
are interested in participating, please contact Carolyn
Winslow at [email protected] .
Guided Meditation via Zoom Saturdays at 10 am
Offered by Jane Sharer Maier Meditation can give you a sense of calm, peace and balance
that can benefit both your emotional well-being and your
overall health.
Interested? Email Jane at [email protected] .
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April was Autism Awareness Month
Awareness - Acceptance - Inclusion
We are all needing to adapt to changes brought on by stress and
uncertainty of this pandemic – changes in routine, loss of connections
with friends, coping with unknowns and fear around contracting the
virus. Individuals with autism may need additional supports to process
the news and adapt to the many changes. They may face additional
challenges related to comprehension, communication, difficulty
understanding abstract language, an insistence on sameness and a
greater likelihood of anxiety and depression, which may be heightened
during this stressful period.
The following seven support strategies are designed to meet the unique
needs of individuals with autism during this period of uncertainty.
These strategies are more fully described in the article that can be
accessed from the link that follows, “Supporting Individuals with
Autism Through Uncertain Times”.
• Understand supports
• Offer opportunities for expression
• Prioritize coping and calming skills
• Maintain routines
• Foster connections (from a distance)
• Be aware of changing behaviors
https://afirm.fpg.unc.edu/sites/afirm.fpg.unc.edu/files/covid-resources/Supporting%20Individuals%20with%
20Autism%20through%20Uncertian%20Times%20Article%20Only.pdf
THE UPPER ROOM
The May-June issues of The Upper Room have arrived at The
Grove. Each daily devotion includes a suggested Bible passage, a
personal story relating the message of the scripture to daily life, a
thought for the day, a prayer and a prayer focus. If you would
like to receive a copy of this daily devotional guide, please
contact Carolyn Winslow ([email protected] ) and one
will be sent to you while supplies last. Please be sure to indicate
if you would like to receive a large print edition.
Carolyn Winslow, Director of Caring Ministries
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IF YOU CANNOT SEW Make your mask
1. Cut the bottom off a folded coffee filter. Keep the top part - - you’ll need it
for the filter in your mask.
2. Lay a bandana or 20” x “20” T-shirt in a rectangle. Fold the bandana or shirt
in half lengthwise.
3. Fold the cut filter in the center of the folded bandana
or shirt. Then, fold the top of the bandana or shirt
down over the filter. Fold the bottom up.
4. Place rubber bands or hair ties around the folded
bandana or shirt, about 6 inches apart.
5. Fold the side of the bandana or shirt in toward the
middle and tuck.
6. Place the rubber bands or hair ties around your ears,
and voila - - you’ve made a face mask, no sewing required.
IF YOU KNOW HOW TO SEW Make your mask
1. Cut your fabric into two 10” by 6” rectangles. Place them on top of
each other.
2. Fold over the long sides - - 1/4 inch - - and hem.
3. Then, fold the double layer fabric over 1/2 inch along the short sides.
Stitch down.
4. Thread a 6-inch-wide piece of elastic through the wider hem on each
side of the mask and knot it - - this is one of your two ear loops. If you
don’t have elastic, you can do same with hair ties or rubber bands. If
you only have string or fabric, you can make the ties longer and tie the
mask behind your head.
5. Pull on the ear loops so the knots are tucked inside the hem. Gather
the sides of the mask on the elastic and adjust so the mask fits your
face.
6. Then, stich the elastic (or fabric) in place on the corner of the mask to
keep it from slipping - - and voila! You’ve sewn a mask in six steps.
cnn.com/2020/04/04/health/how-to-make-your-own-mask-wellness-trnd/index.html
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Face Masks
“Caring for our neighbors is taking on many forms right
now, but one thing that every person and every
community have in common is a need to be vigilant in
slowing the spread of coronavirus. Many hospital systems
are short on masks and calling for donations. Meanwhile,
the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is now
recommending that everyone wears a cloth face
mask when out in public. So what would it look like to
meet this vital need for people in our churches, our
neighborhoods, our hospitals, our nursing homes?
As we embrace the 2020 Annual Conference theme “Be
the Light: Live Hope!” we invite you to join us in making
masks for all who need them in our communities. Keep
track of the masks you collectively make and give out, and
report your final number to us. As we enter the season of
Pentecost—filled with the Holy Spirit and called to be the
presence of Christ to others—we will lift up and celebrate
how we as the Minnesota Annual Conference made
masks so that all could stay healthy and safe.” – Minnesota
Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church
DO YOU NEED OR WOULD LIKE TO DONATE
HOME SEWN MASKS?
Because the CDC recommends wearing face masks when
using essential services, the Grove desires to support that
recommendation. Do you need a home sewn face mask
for yourself/your family? Have you been sewing masks?
Do you have masks to donate? Please contact Carolyn
Winslow at [email protected] for mask pick-up or
drop-off. Any surplus of masks will be donated to facilities
needing them, including the Emma Norton Residence in
St. Paul, who recently put out a request for 400 masks.
Carolyn will keep track of masks created and donated and
will inform our Minnesota Annual Conference.
Kettlebell Exercise Class Led by John Schultz
Monday -Thursday - 5:23-6 pm
Livestreamed on Facebook
scvexercise.com and click on the
LIVESTREAM link
Class is free during COVID-19 but John
requests that people donate $5 per session
to a charity of their choice.
John states:
“I advertise kettlebells as a whole body
exercise for fitness, cardio, strength and
plyometric (sudden or explosive)
movement. Suitable for beginners to
advanced. Participants can use hand
weights to get started. You can purchase
kettlebells at many big box stores such as
Fleet Farm, Walmart and Target.
For new people, I suggest a 15 lb for
swings and 5 to 10 lb for upper body.
Kettlebells ARE a whole body, strenuous
exercise. If you have pre-existing
condition or are under a doctor’s care,
particularly for heart rate medication, you
should check with your physician before
beginning ANY exercise program.”
Connect with John (contact form at bottom
of website landing page) for a standard form
that participants should complete. If you
check any of the boxes, you should confirm
with your physician that kettlebells are okay
for you.
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[email protected] , 651-738-0305, ext. 119 kids
Nicole Suyak Minister to Families with Children
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
If you have not joined The Grove Families with
Children Facebook page, take a moment to join.
There you will find the latest updates, events, videos
and more.
Children’s Ministry Facebook Schedule
• Sunday - Creation Station Video
• Monday - Activity Video
• Tuesday - Preschool Gathering Video
• Wednesday - Science Video
Grasshopper Online!
Join the Grove Families with Children Facebook page as we will be
doing Grasshopper Live!
Tuesdays: June 23 & 30, July 7 & 14
For kids ages 6 and under
The theme is animals!
Feel free to bring your pet or stuffed
animal to match the weekly theme.
June 23 - Pets
June 30 - Farm Animals
July 7 - Water Animals
July 14 - Wild Animals
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To get these updates join The Grove's
Families with Children Facebook
Group at facebook.com/
TheGroveMN.church/
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[email protected] or 651-738-0305, ext. 121 student
Amy Fuller Minister to Families with Students
High School Graduation Milestone Blessing
On Sunday, May 3, high school graduating seniors will be
honored during the 9:00 am online worship. There will be a
special time of blessing for these students and their parents to
celebrate this important life milestone. All students will have a
picture in a slideshow. As a community of faith, we rejoice
with these families. These students have shared their lives and
gifts with us and we are excited for the next step in their life
and their faith journeys.
We know that these students have missed out on expected,
precious milestones due to Covid-19. Our hearts are with
them, and we lift them up to our loving Creator to give them
peace and comfort.
** If your high school student was not listed, please let Amy Fuller know at [email protected]
Stephen Bailey ....................................................... East Ridge High School
Joshua Caldwell ..................................................... Park High School
Ellen Grace Cameron ........................................... Woodbury High School
Tyler Robert Christensen ...................................... Woodbury High School
Allison Fisher ........................................................ Woodbury High School
Caleb Lee Fridinger .............................................. East Ridge High School
Isabelle Henderson ............................................... Woodbury High School
Audrey HuiJung Hong .......................................... Woodbury High School
Nick Kahle ............................................................. Stillwater Area High School
Alexis Leigh Lender .............................................. Simley High School
Emma Rose Lilly ................................................... East Ridge High School
Claire Patchett ....................................................... New Life Academy
Ben Ragan ............................................................. Woodbury High School
Heidi Rogers .......................................................... Woodbury High School
Alexis Schlueter ..................................................... Rogers High School
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#CESKOOLIE NEIGHBORHOOD PARTIES
Mondays at Royal Oaks Elementary June 15 — July 6 & 20 — August 3
Mondays 5-6:30 pm
Thursdays at Armstrong Elementary June 18, July 9 and 23, August 6
Thursdays 5-6:30 pm
Come join our neighbors at the Skoolie Bus
Neighborhood Parties! Skoolie is a
repurposed, brightly painted school bus the
South Washington County Community
Education uses as a mobile classroom.
Skoolie is coming this summer to schools
adjacent to both our Woodbury and Cottage
Grove church campuses. The entire
neighborhood is invited to participate in yard
games, crafts, food and fellowship.
Do you want to be a helper at the events?
Many opportunities for set-up, food prep,
food service, games and take-down.
Signups at ttsu.me/skoolie2020
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The Grove United Methodist Church (The Grove) has a
well-established endowment fund.
Hope for the Future.
The fund is designated to help you and your
family establish a legacy gift
where a portion of your gift (up to 3%)
is distributed annually to the ministry
cause of your choice.
Plan A Gift to Your Church
Including your church doesn’t mean forsaking your children. You can provide for both. Simply
state in your will or estate the following:
I give The Grove United Methodist Church Hope for the Future Endowment Fund a specific dollar amount or a percentage of my estate, to be used by the church for the designated need(s) of my choice: general purpose, scholarships, missions, capital needs, and/or worship and music.
(Suggested language for will.)
Your planned gift will make a much greater impact than you can imagine. It may also
provide you with significant tax advantages.
For more information please contact
Pastor Dan Wetterstrom at
651-738-0305, ext. 13 or at [email protected]
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WOODBURY
PRAYER BREAKFAST 2020
woodburyprayerbreakfast.org
An invitation to join with local
churches and congregations around
Woodbury community, sponsors and
friends. Theme: Be Still. Psalm 46:10
Be still and know that I Am God.
GRANDMOTHERS WITH
CHALLENGES — Meeting via Zoom
Thursdays, 1-2:30 pm as of April 30
Grandmothers with Challenges are
women who have unique
responsibilities in their role
as a grandparent.
During this time of
COVID-19, grandparents
may be facing new
challenges. Join with other
grandmothers for
support and discussion. Interested?
Contact Carolyn Winslow
([email protected] )
for zoom meeting information.
RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE
Friday, June 5, 12-6 pm,
Fellowship Hall
Donate blood and give the gift of life or
volunteer to be a hostess. To schedule
an appointment, call the Red Cross at
651-291-4607. Walk-ins are welcome!
Volunteer to staff the sign up table or
the snack table shifts 12-3 pm or 3-6
pm. Contact Jan Slagter at
[email protected] or at
651-739-7719.
#freefunfridays... Friday afternoons, check out The
Grove Planting Project at simple and
free activities to distract us from the
news and remind us that we're in
this together.
In the Know - - - News You Need about Your Church!
Small Groups … See Clippings to keep updated
on OPEN Small Groups.
If you are interested in creating a small group to meet digitally…
• Leaders are free to use their own Zoom account or even a
different service they are familiar with and have access to.
• If you are a small group leader who wants access to the church
account and support in setting it up, please reach out to Tara
Van Berkom at [email protected] .
• All small groups who are meeting should let Tara know
(regardless of the video service you are using) so we can track
our small group numbers.
THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE GROVE
DURING COVID-19
WOODBURY OFFICE AVAILABLE BY PHONE
The office will be answering calls from 9 am to 1 pm.
CALL, EMAIL, TEXT OR SEND CARDS AND NOTES
Keep in touch with family and friends who are more isolated
during this time. Email Carolyn Winslow at
[email protected] if you would like the address of someone
to send to in our Grove Family. This is a wonderful activity for
children too!
FOOD PACK PROGRAM... The Grove's Meal Ministry team is
actively working with SoWashCo Cares and providing food
packs. In order to reduce contact between individuals, our Meal
Ministry Team is handling all packing at this point.
FACEBOOK DAILY PROMPTS
DAILY PROMPTS is a way for us to be in community with one
another even though we are apart. Each day a participant of The
Grove will provide a short reflection. It could be in the form of a
poem, a few words or a prayer. And they will pose a question at the
end for reflection for people to answer in the comments. If you
want to a submit a DAILY PROMPT for The Grove, sign up by
going to ttsu.me/dailyprompt.
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Cottage Grove Campus
8600 90th Street South, Cottage Grove, MN 55016
Campus Phone: 651-769-1303
Main Office Phone: 651-738-0305
Woodbury Campus
7465 Steepleview Road, Woodbury, MN 55125
Main Office Phone: 651-738-0305
Email: [email protected]
Sunday Worship Schedule
9 am Online Worship
CHURCH STAFF
Rev. Daniel Wetterstrom, Lead Pastor — [email protected]
Rev. Kelly Lamon, Associate Pastor — [email protected]
Nicole Suyak, Minister to Families w/Children — [email protected]
Amy Fuller, Minister to Families w/Students — [email protected]
Carolyn Winslow, Director of Caring Ministries — [email protected]
Kelly Reese, Family Ministry Program Assistant —
[email protected]
Robin Muscoplat, Media Specialist, [email protected]
Roberta Wiig, Business Administrator — [email protected]
Maria Rella, Office Manager & Building Scheduler —
[email protected]
Jim Tousignant, Facilities Manager — [email protected]
MUSIC MINISTRY
Rick Murphy, Contemporary Music — [email protected]
Lou Ann Henderson, Woodbury Chancel Choir Director,
[email protected]
Jan Rasmussen, Steeple Bells — [email protected]
Grant Buse & Garrett Strain, Audio Technician
Lea Anna McGowan, Cottage Grove Choral Music — [email protected]
Jean Hendrickson, Cottage Grove Pianist — [email protected]
WOODBURY PRESCHOOL AT THE GROVE Julie Johnson, Woodbury Preschool at The Grove —
[email protected]
Office hours at the Woodbury
campus are Mon-Fri (9 am-1 pm).
The phone will be answered
during those hours. When the
phone is not answered, leave a
private message for any members
of the staff. Directions are given
on the phone system.
Church Leadership
The responsibility for the
day-to-day administrative tasks
of the church has been
invested in the Core Team.
The team functions as the
primary lay-clergy partnership to
provide guidance and direction
to ministries.
Betsy Stites – Chair
Jill Easton – Secretary
Roberta Wiig – Business Adm.
Jennifer Edney
Linda Kleinsasser
Rev. Kelly Lamon
Charlie Maier
Rick Osborn
Rev. Daniel Wetterstrom