St. Paul, Minneapolis,
decide on new
congregational names

ST. PAUL AND MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota—Our Nov. 16 service was not a typical service, but the culmination of several projects involving donations of food, toys, customary weekly offerings and re-naming our congregations.

A year ago the St. Paul and Minneapolis North congregations began the process of renaming their congregations and by October each advisory council had narrowed the list of suggestions from 22 for St. Paul and 39 for Minneapolis North to five each.

On Nov. 16 at services each congregation voted on their final five, selecting New Life Christian Fellowship to replace St. Paul, and Living Hope Christian Fellowship to replace Minneapolis North. A few days later we discovered both names, New Life and Living Hope in the same verse in 1 Peter 1:3 (Today’s English Version), a heartwarming confirmation of choice.

Near the end of services, members came forward bringing donations of food for two food banks (382 pounds from Living Hope and a similar amount from New Life). This food was desperately needed as food banks are straining to meet the extra heavy needs brought on by difficult economic conditions.

We further celebrated by donating shoeboxes filled with Christmas gifts for Samaritan’s Purse ministries. Our involvement with this ministry began in 1999 with a modest donation of two shoe boxes prepared by the Jeff Skrove family on behalf of the Minneapolis North congregation.

The next year the number of filled shoe boxes reached 40, climbing to 86 in 2001 as the St. Paul congregation became involved. This year the combined total for both congregations reached 138 gift-filled shoe boxes. Additionally, $920 was donated to cover shipping costs.

Samaritan’s Purse workers remarked that this number of boxes is generally received from congregations much larger than ours, and perhaps even more astonishing is to have any congregation exceed the $5 per box suggested shipping cost donation. Members are already watching the specials in stores, purchasing gift items and storing them away for next year. We estimate Margaret Rotzien has donated 150 pairs of knitted slippers and she’s already knitting more.

We also received our customary weekly offerings used to fund operating expenses for our church. In addition to receiving these offerings we also received "Time and Talent" donation forms. At the end of the month, these "Time and Talent" donations as well as total monetary donations are published in our church bulletin. Our church relies heavily on not only the monetary donations of our members but on donations of time and talent. These donations of time and talent are every bit as valuable as money, so we thought it only fitting that they be formally accounted for and recognized in appreciation.

Perhaps it was only fitting then that we celebrated our New Life and Living Hope by giving several special offerings near the end of our time of worship. Doug Johannsen.

A TIME TO GIVE—Living Hope Christian
Fellowship members with food and gift
and donations.

SPECIAL OFFERINGS—New Life Christian
Fellowship members with donations.
[Photos by Doug Johannsen]

Time and talent donation certificate
New Life Christian Fellowship

A congregation of the Worldwide Church of God

2 Samuel 24:24b "I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that
cost me nothing."

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