We are pleased to announce that the Congregational United Church of Christ Neighbors Helping Neighbors fund has been identified as an organization to receive Thrivent Choice dollars. The Neighbors Helping Neighbors fund is a resource for those experiencing immigration related emergencies, and helps with needs such as rent, food, utilities, and transportation on a short term basis within the Northeast Iowa community. The need is great and constant.

By directing Choice Dollars, eligible Thrivent members can recommend which nonprofit organizations they feel should receive charitable grant funding from Thrivent.

If you have Choice Dollars available to direct, please consider directing to Congregational United Church of Christ, Decorah. All Thrivent dollars received will be directed to the Neighbors Helping Neighbors fund.

To learn more, visit thrivent.com/thriventchoice. Or call Thrivent at 800-8474836 and say “Thrivent Choice” when prompted.

Emily Neal, Assistant Director of the Center for Sustainable Communities at Luther College, will speak during Fellowship Hour on Sunday, March 24, 2019. She is also a staff instructor in Environmental Studies. Emily will speak about her experiences in Tanzania with the Water to Thrive project.

A passionate science educator, she has over 20 years of experience teaching people of all ages, on how to integrate concepts of wellness, sustainability and stewardship into their lives. Recognizing that human health is interconnected to the health of our planet, Emily oversees a wide array of healthy living and environmental programs at Luther, including the summer Discovery Camp programs and Endeavor Together, Luther’s  pre-orientation program. Additionally, Emily oversees outreach programs to regional schools. She works with teachers on integrating topics of sustainability into the curriculum and increasing STEM education. She supervises a team of FoodCorps/AmeriCorps members serving schools to help districts foster healthy environments for students, staff, and the communities they serve. She has a Masters in Science Education and an undergraduate degree in Exercise Science, both from the University of Iowa.

Tuesday, March 19
4:00 p.m.- Social Justice subcommittee
7:00 p.m.- Congregational Council

Wednesday, March 20
1:00 p.m. – Prayer Shawl Ministry – Connie Buresh hosts
2:00 p.m. – Governance Advance Team
5:30 p.m. – Lenten Worship Service
6:00 p.m. – Simple Soup Supper
7:00 p.m. – Choir rehearsal
8:00 p.m. – Band rehearsal

Thursday, March 21 Newsletter Deadline
10:00 a.m. – Bible Study with Pastor Amy
12:00 p.m. – Centering Prayer
5:00 p.m. – Community Meal at St Benedicts

Sunday, March 24 – Third Sunday in Lent – no radio broadcast during Luther break
8:45 p.m. – Band Warmup
9:30 a.m. – Worship with Holy Communion
10:30 a.m. – Fellowship Hour offered by Sunday School and Youth Forum
Information about Water to Thrive project shared during Fellowship Hour

Tuesday, March 12
9:30 a.m. – Anna Circle – Aase Haugen, all contribute
1:00 p.m. Worship and Music Committee
4:45 p.m. – Education Committee

Wednesday, March 13
10:30 a.m. – Communion at Aase Haugen
2:00 p.m. – Miriam Circle – LaVerne Ramsey hosts
5:30 p.m. – Lenten Worship Service
6:00 p.m. – Soup Supper
7:00 p.m. – Choir rehearsal
8:00 p.m. – Band rehearsal

Thursday, March 14
10:00 a.m. – Bible Study with Pastor Amy
11:00 a.m. – Stewardship Committee
12 noon – Centering Prayer
1:30 p.m. – Property & Management Committee
5:00 p.m. – Community Meal at St Benedicts

Sunday, March 17 – Second Sunday of Lent
9:30 a.m. – Worship with Holy Communion – 11a.m. Broadcast
10:30 a.m. – Fellowship Hour
10:50 a.m. – Sunday School/Youth Forum
11:00 a.m. – Adult Forum: “Tolerating Intolerance: Responses to Religious Pluralism” – Victoria Christman
3:00 p.m. – Pew to Pulpit – Pulpit Rock Brewing Company

DST begins on Sunday, March 10, 2019, at 2:00 A.M. Remember to “spring forward” in the spring and set your clocks forward one hour (i.e., losing one hour). 

Brief History:  

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 extended Daylight Saving Time in the U.S. beginning in 2007, though Congress retained the right to revert to the 1986 law should the change prove unpopular or if energy savings are not significant. Going from 2007 forward, Daylight Saving Time in the U.S.

• begins at 2:00 a.m. on the second Sunday of March and
• ends at 2:00 a.m. on the first Sunday of November