October 01st, 2022

​Weekly Schedule
Monday
Men’s Retiree Group – 8:30am
Sunday Service – 10:00am
Children’s Story Schedule
10/2: Vicky Goplin
10/9: Rhonda Gingrich
10/16: Andrea Gonzalez-Ortega
Garbage Detail
10/6: Corrine Kroehler
10/13: Todd Hall
10/20: Cindy Reardon
 
Hurricane Ian Update from Brethren Disaster Ministries
Hurricane Ian Update:
BDM has been in touch with leadership in the Atlantic Southeast District and other volunteers who live in the state. The current reports in find that there are two Brethren church buildings with minor damage but that no one has been injured. One church opened its doors as a shelter and did receive some roof damage and one pastor’s home took on water as well. The district is still trying to gather information from the churches in North Fort Myers and Naples. As news and assessments of the effect of the hurricane on individuals and communities are received, updates will be announced through Facebook and Newsline.
FEMA is reporting that there are over 33,300 in 257 open shelters in the state. CDS has teams to o with the Red Cross this weekend when it is safe to travel where there are the most families needing support. These teams will be stationed in shelters to work with the children and families affected by the hurricane.
BDM leadership has also been in touch with the Hyde Park Presbyterian Church where the rebuilding program hosted volunteers during our Hurricane Irma rebuilding project in Tampa, FL. Pastor James shared that they weathered the storm well with no damage or power outages.
BDM expects to support the shipping of clean-up supplies and other Church World Service kits as part of the early relief efforts. Clean-up buckets and hygiene kits also are needed, go to https://cwskits.org for lists of kit contents and instructions. Kits should be sent to the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md.
If you or family members in FL would like to volunteer in the state, you can register with www.volunteerflorida.org to connect with an organization doing immediate relief. BDM will monitor needs for assistance to support the Church of the Brethren congregations serving in impacted communities, while also preparing to support long-term recovery efforts in Florida.
Donations can be made to the Church of the Brethren’s Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) for hurricane response, go to www.brethren.org/givehurricaneresponse.
Please keep the affected communities and those responding in your prayers, and we will share more updates as they are received.
 
CROP Walk Bake Sale
This year we will be supporting the CROP Walk bake sale. Individuals are invited to bring bake goods to the church Sunday morning October 2. Proceeds will benefit Second Harvest Heartland, which coordinates food distribution with grocers, volunteer agencies, food shelves and clients.
 
CROP Walk 10 Year Anniversary Walk
From the CROP Walk Organizing Committee: On behalf of the South of the River CROP Hunger Walk planning committee, we invite you to an exciting event coming up this fall! Because you and Open Circle Church have been ardent supporters from the beginning, we wanted you to know that we are planning the 10th annual South of the River CROP Walk. We are celebrating this mile-stone by coming full circle and gathering once again at St. James Lutheran Church in Burnsville — where it all started! The date is Sunday, October 2, in the afternoon.
Join Open Circle’s CROP Team here
 
Community Meal
Sunday, October 9 after the service
 
MCC Refugee Services Speaker
Sunday, November 6
Kathryn Berger from the Minnesota Council of Churches Refugee Services will be joining us to talk about who is coming to MN right now as a refugee, what their needs are, and how we as a congregation or as individuals might be involved in meeting their needs.
 
David Radcliff Visit
David Radcliff from New Community Project will be visiting with us on Sunday, December 4.
 
Open Circle Volunteer Opportunities
Your time and energy is needed for Open Circle Church to thrive and continue its mission. Whether you can commit an hour a week or a one-time effort, you will make a difference in our continued success. Opportunities continue to be available in Open Circle management and growth, earth stewardship, community outreach, grounds and building management and beautification, adult and youth education, child care, and congregation community life. For more information talk to Jay.
Volunteer Opportunities
We have two ongoing volunteer opportunities. Each week we have a children’s story as part of our worship. Janet Westenberg manages this list. If you would like to take a turn reading a story from your home, you can send an email to Janet. You can volunteer for one time, occasionally, or be part of the regular rotation: janetwestenberg@gmail.com
We also have a garbage detail, which involves taking the garbage can to the street on a Thursday for Friday pickup, then taking the can back up the driveway on Saturday. We are trying to keep the garbage trucks off our driveway as their weight can cause damage to our new pavement. Bruce Johnson has been managing this volunteer list, but it is now set up on Signup Genius and you can volunteer online here.
Caregiving Response Team
From time to time we have a member in the hospital or recuperating at home from surgery or illness, or someone with another need like moving from one home to another. If we know about the need, we would like to notify our community and ask for help. It could be a meal, a card, a visit, or getting a group of people together to perform a task. If you know of someone who has a need, please feel free to contact Katy Kelly at kmkelly67@gmail.com  612-750-0263 or Jay Steele at jhsteele58@gmail.com.
 
Amazon Smile
Do you shop at Amazon? You can shop as you always do but also generate donations to Open Circle through the Amazon Smile app. Click here to find out more.
 
Brethren Bucks - OCC Scrip Program
Participating in our scrip program has never been easier!  Visit the Brethren Bucks link on the church website for more information and to sign up for this great program that pays Open Circle to shop. Kristin Standafer is our scrip coordinator and can be reached at 952-210-5137 or kristin.standafer@yahoo.com. We offer cash-n-carry gift cards for several retailers on most Sundays
 
Open Circle Finances
We thank you for your financial contributions; they make possible the mission and ministries of our great congregation. Contributions can now be debited automatically from your checking or savings account Please contact Mark Gingrich (gingrich@vt.edu) for an electronic funds transfer form.. Contributions can also be made through the website. Click on the "Donate to Open Circle" link on the website home page (www.opencirclechurch.com).
 
OCC on the web at www.opencirclechurch.com where you can find the most updated volunteer lists, the weekly update, podcasts of Sunday messages, the church calendar, pictures of life at Open Circle, and more.
OCC on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/OpenCircleChurch