Work to Eliminate Racism: 
When you inherit the estate you get both the good and the bad

Reprinted from the Minnesota Council of Churches newsletter
Purple mountains majesty and more than 300 years of racism. Vast riches and institutionalized oppression. While none of us started the problem of racism, we have inherited it from our ancestors and we cannot shirk our responsibility to eliminate its scourge.
Many people have attended diversity trainings at work, but most of those activities are designed just to reduce the chances of conflict in the workplace. What the Minnesota Churches Anti-Racism Initiative (MCARI) does in its single-day and three-day trainings is get to the heart of institutionalized racism: in what ways do we perpetuate systems that oppress others?” People come to our workshops prepared to address personal relationships: how to ‘get along with folks,’” states MCARI trainer Rev. Carmen Valenzuela. “When they leave our workshops they have a more comprehensive picture of just what racism is. They realize it goes beyond personal prejudice; that it is actually embedded in our institutions. We provide them with strategies to dismantle racism.
A single-day initial MCARI training will be held at the Minnesota Church Center on Wed., Sept. 25. A three-day intensive training will be held at Dunroven Retreat Center near Stillwater in November. For more information call MCARI at 612-870-3600, ext. 36 or visit carmenv@gmcc.org.

 

 

 
PHILLIPS POWDERHORN

Peacekeepers Patrol
7/4
Walker Community United Methodist Church, 3104 16th Ave. S., is organizing a Peacekeepers Patrol for the 4th of July celebration at Powderhorn Park. Volunteers will be available between 6 and 10 p.m. to help with things like giving directions and finding lost children. Anyone interested in joining may call 612-722-6612. 

Free Legal Clinic and Free Lunch 
7/6
On the first Saturday of every month, including the summer months, Mount Olive Lutheran Church, 3045 Chicago Ave. S., hosts the Chicago Lake Legal Clinic at 10 a.m. which is followed by a free community meal at noon. The free clinic offers assistance with landlord/tenant, domestic, immigration and other problems. 

Leirvik Mannskor
7/9
The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church, E. Franklin at 10th Ave. S., will host another men’s choir from Norway, following the standing-room-only concert by the Berlevag Men’s Choir last October. The July concert will be performed by Leirvik Mannskor, a group of 47 men, ages 40 to 80, from the island of Stord on the west coast of Norway. Their repertoire is both religious and secular and includes a variety of national-romantic songs. The event will begin at 7 p.m., Tue., July 9. A donation of $10 is requested. 

Soul Liberation 29
7/11 - 14
Park Avenue United Methodist Church, E. 34th St. and Park Ave., will hold its 29th “historic, revolutionary and life-changing” outdoor gospel music festival in July. The four-day religious festival celebrates life and racial reconciliation on the blacktop at this inner city church. The focus is to build up and empower South Minneapolis neighborhoods and their surrounding communities. Some of the best gospel performers and speakers, both local and international, will be there. Park Avenue’s Soul Lib Choir, directed by international gospel and jazz musician Camillo Lombard, as well as special guest Robert Robinson are on the lineup. Featured speakers include the charismatic Efrem Smith, Reverend Silvio Hernan Barahona, senior pastor of 4,000-member Iglesia Cruzada Cristiana in Bogota, Colombia, and Park Avenue’s very own senior pastor, Mark Horst. A South African-style baptism service will be held the last night. 
Soul Liberation events are free and open to the public and begin at 6:30 p.m. every evening from Thu. to Sun., July 11 to 14. 

Habbestad Family Ensemble
7/18
Den Norske Lutherske Mindekirke (The Norwegian Lutheran Church), E. Franklin and 10th Ave. S., offers a concert at 7 p.m., Thu., July 18, by the Habbestad Family Ensemble, a talented performing family with strings, voice, flute and piano, sharing a variety of traditional Norwegian music up through contemporary composers.
A donation of $10 is requested. 

Bach, Schutz and Handel
7/28
Mount Olive Lutheran Church, 3045 Chicago Ave. S., will commemorate the music of J.S. Bach, Heinrich Schutz and G.F. Handel during its 9:30 worship service, Sun., July 28. In the afternoon at 4 p.m., German organist Maik Gruchenberg, organist at Marktkirche, Halle, Germany, will perform works by Bach, Mendelssohn, Reger, Vierne, Salome and Boellmann. Halle is the birthplace of Handel and is very close to Leipzig where Bach served the majority of his career. 
Casual dress is fine. A free will offering will be taken. FFI contact Cantor David Cherwien at 612-827-5919. 

Vacation Bible School
7/28 - 31
Ebenezer Lutheran Church, E. 41st St. and Cedar Ave. S., invites children who’ve finished 1st through 6th grades to Vacation Bible School held at 5:45 p.m., Sun. through Thu., July 28 through 31. A free meal is served to the children and their families at the beginning of the evenings, followed by activities. FFI call 612-722-0157.

7/29 - 8/2
Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church, 4120 17th Ave. S., invites children age 3 through 6th grade to come to VBS from 5:30 to 8 p.m., Mon. - Fri., July 29 - Aug. 2. A light supper will be served for both the children and their families at 5:30 (free will offering) followed by activities at 6. Fri. evening all families are invited for a potluck supper/gathering.
There is no charge. Preregistration is encouraged but it is fine to register the first evening. FFI call 612-724-3693. 

Choirs of Belgium and Canada
8/4
Mount Olive Music and Fine Arts at E. 31st St. and Chicago Ave. S. presents two choral concerts as part of the Sixth World Symposium on Choral Music, showcasing choirs from Belgium and Canada that are attending the Symposium. Both concerts take place on Sun., Aug. 4. The Belgian choir, Choeur de Chambre de Namur, will perform with a baroque ensemble at 7:30 p.m. The Canadian choir, Elmer Iseler Singers, will perform at 8:30 p.m. Both concerts are open to the public. FFI contact David Cherwien at 612-827-5919.

English as a Second Language

ESL volunteer teachers are needed at Holy Rosary Church, 24th St. & 18th Ave. S. A two-hour commitment once a week for 10 weeks is requested. FFI call Sharon at 612-724-3651.

NOKOMIS

Single Lutheran Adults
7/12
Mt. Zion Lutheran Church, 57th St. and Chicago Ave. S., will host the Twin Cities Single Lutheran Adults on Fri., July 12. Jack Osberg, head football coach at Augsburg College, will speak on “Foundations and Finding the Right Fit.” A get-acquainted time begins at 7:30 p.m., the program is at 8 and a social hour follows the program. A $4 donation is requested. 

Ice Cream Social
7/14
St. James on the Parkway Episcopal Church, 3225 Minnehaha Parkway, will hold an ice cream social after the 10:30 worship service on Sun., July 14, to raise funds for its August Vacation Bible School. 

Redesigning Women
St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 4537 3rd Ave. S., holds a learning group for separated and divorced women on Wednesdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Parish Center. There is no fee. Newcomers are welcome! FFI contact Bonnie at 952-848-7738 or
bpechtel@umn.edu. 

JAMZ on Wednesdays
Mt. Zion Lutheran Church, 5645 Chicago Ave. S., offers JAMZ (Jesus at Mt. Zion)at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays for kids entering grades 7 through 12. There will be a wide range of activities throughout the summer. FFI call 612-824-1882.


RIVERSIDE

Education at Temple of Aaron
7/6 & 20
Learner’s Minyan and a Lunch and Learn Study group will be held at Temple of Aaron, 616 S. Mississippi Blvd., St. Paul, in July. 
Learner’s Minyan, a class to acquire knowledge, spiritual connection and active participation in Sabbath morning services, will be led by Stefanie O’Brien from 9:10 to 10 a.m., Saturdays, July 6 and 20. These are free and open to the public. Those attending will sing and study together. Transliterations of the Hebrew prayers are provided and child care is available at no charge. Following each learning session, participants are invited to join the congregation in the main sanctuary for regular Sabbath services. 
Afterwards, on July 6, Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg will lead Temple of Aaron’s Men’s and Women’s Lunch and Learn Torah study group from noon to 1:45 p.m. The cost is $5.


Summer Program for Children
7/9 - 11
The third session in the Summer Program at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 2730 E. 31st St., will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m., Mon. - Wed., July 9 - 11, for children who have completed grades 1 to 3. They will learn about Ruth, who led an interesting and difficult life, and is remembered for her faithfulness. 
All children are welcome. There is no registration fee. 
Call the church office (612-729-8358) for registration materials.

Questions and Issues
7/23 & 30
St. Albert the Great Catholic Church, E. 29th St. & 32nd Ave. S., invites friends and neighbors to learn about a variety of topics in its “Questions and Issues” series. The last two sessions will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on the last two Tuesdays in July, On the 23rd, Sister Rosann Giguere will present her own story, “A Catholic Woman’s Journey through Traditional Faith to Creation-centered Spirituality.” On the 30th, “Creating Peace in the World,” a video of peace activist Bishop Tom Gumbleton’s talks in Minneapolis last spring, will be shown.

Meeting Jesus Again For the First Time
7/14, 21, 28 & 8/4
St. Albert the Great Catholic Church, E. 29th St. & 32nd Ave. S., will discuss Marcus Borg’s classic “Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time,” chapter by chapter on Sunday mornings from 10:30 - 11:30 during six weekends beginning June 23 and skipping the weekend of July 7. Everyone is invited to become acquainted with this insightful book. It isn’t necessary to commit to all sessions. Call 612-724-3643 for more information. 

Canadian Male Chorus
7/31 
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 2730 E. 31st St., welcomes everyone to a concert by the Chor Leoni Men’s Choir of Vancouver, British Columbia, at 7 p.m. on Wed., July 31. Quality a cappella singing, eclectic repertoire, imaginative programming and a willingness to “try anything once” have characterized the choir’s meteoric rise to the upper echelons of the Canadian choral world. The choir has commissioned, performed and recorded works by Canadian composers and consistently won prizes in the CBC national competitions. The choir is a mixture of ages, talents and levels of musical training, including professional instrumentalists, music students and teachers, as well as doctors, lawyers, bus drivers, preachers, computer analysts, grad students, professors and an airplane mechanic. 

METRO AREA 

Dealing with Depression
7/3 & 17
A facilitated support group for people dealing with depression and other depressive disorders and the support-givers in their lives is offered from 7 - 8:30 p.m. on the first and third Wednesday of each month (except for holidays) at the St. Paul JCC, 1375 St. Paul Ave. The group is free and open to the public. Call Judy Cavanaugh at 651-698-0751 for information about resources for someone with depression or other mental illness or e-mail judyc@stpauljcc.org.

Coalition for Grief Support
6/6 - 8/29
The South Minneapolis Coalition for Grief Support is offering a 13-week series at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 4100 Lyndale Ave. S., on Thursdays beginning June 6 through Aug. 29, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. (Refreshments and registration begin at 5:45 p.m.). Adults mourning the death of a loved one are invited to attend. Guest speakers will share their own experience and professional knowledge of grief and loss. Small groups for sharing will follow the speaker each week.
For more information call the church at 612-312-3400 or the coalition coordinator at 612-721-5584. 

Our Simchas, Our Lives, Our Pride
6/24 - 7/5
A photo exhibit, “Our Simchas, Our Lives, Our Pride,” that shows life cycle events of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals and their families, will be on display at the St. Paul JCC, 1375 St. Paul Ave., from Mon., June 24, until Fri., July 5. The event is free and open to the public. FFI call 651-698-0751.

Single Parent Volleyball and Picnic
7/5
The Single Parent Christian Fellowship will meet Fri., July 5, for a picnic and volleyball at West Medicine Lake Park on Hwy 169. (Go west on Hwy 55 to Northwest Medicine Lake Drive. Go one and one-half miles and use second parking lot on the right side.)
FFI call 612-866-8970 or 651-649-4525.

Peace Guide Training
7/11
Peace guide training sponsored by WAMM and Friends for a Non-Violent World, will be held at FNVW, 1050 Selby Ave., St. Paul, from 6 to 9 p.m., Thu., July 11. Learn to aid the peace community by nonviolently resolving conflicts such as those encountered with combative counter-protestors and police. Empowering, informative and fun! Led by Betsy Raasch-Gilman, a longtime trainer in nonviolence. RSVP to Phil at FNVW, 651-917-0383. Or e-mail info@fnvw.org.

Jewish Singles Collaborative
7/11, 14, 16 & 21
The Jewish Singles Collaborative, open to Jewish singles of all ages, has planned three events for July. The group will meet at the Lake Harriet Bandstand at 7 p.m., Thu., July 11, to hear music by the Israeli Scouts, teens from Israel on a friendship tour through the United States and Canada. 
The collaborative will meet for a hike at 11 a.m. Sun., July 14, at Hyland Park in Bloomington. Call Susan at 952-933-1338 for more details.

There will be a softball game at the Minneapolis JCC in St. Louis Park on Sun., July 21 at 1 p.m. RSVP to Alex at 651-698-2877.

CARS 
CARS, a fath-based ministry, provides reliable transportation for families in the “welfare-to-work” program. You can help the organization by donating your good used car to this ministry. All donors are provided with a receipt acknowledging a tax-deductible donation. FFI call the CARS office at 952-881-1115.

Peacemaking
An ongoing vigil for peace is held at 5 p.m. Wednesdays on Lake Street and Marshall (start on east side, parking at church) in St. Paul. FFI call WAMM at 612-827-5364.
Alternatives to Violence Project Community Support Group, experiential mini-workshops and discussion time which seek to integrate nonviolence into daily life, meets from 7 to 8:30 p.m. every Wednesday at FNVW, 1050 Selby Ave., St. Paul. 
A vigil outside Alliant Techsystems, a local defense contractor at 5050 Lincoln Drive in Edina, is held from 7 to 8 a.m. every Wednesday. For more information and directions, call 651-388-4814 or go to www.circlevision.org. 

 

 

3200 Chicago Ave. S.
Mpls, MN 55407
telephone: (612) 822-4662
fax: (612) 822-0342