Welcome to our church community!
At New Spirit UCC we know that ministry comes in many shapes and forms, through the hands of all members. Whether it’s teaching our youngest disciples, organizing anti-racism education or initiatives, helping care for our beautiful building, or serving the spiritual needs of the congregation, there are many ways we build community and care here. The active Ministries at New Spirit include:
Missions Outreach looks for ways to invite people in, and spread the word about our inclusive, justice-minded, loving church! Outreach tends to newer members and thinks of ways that we can be an even more welcoming community.
Missions helps us live fully into our vision of being a people who work for radical inclusivity, and racial and gender equity. This group has an active focus on anti-racism and refugee resettlement work. They coordinate book studies, fund raisers, and speakers for the congregation, and help us participate with local organizations such as the Minnesota Council of Churches Refugee Services, and ‘Community Conversations about Race’.
Children, Youth and Families is here to care for, and nurture the faith of our youth and children… from their first steps, to the time they’re ready to step out on their own. We have a robust Sunday School for children from 5-12 during the worship service, a nursery for those who are younger, and a “pray ground” right in the sanctuary for those who would like to stay and worship instead! We celebrate holidays with children’s pageants and yearly events, like our Easter Egg Hunt or Halloween Trunk-or-Treat, and have separate events for youth as well. We offer family trips like an annual canoe/kayak afternoon, and participate in Minnesota Conference Youth and Family Programing when it is offered.
Deacons assist the minister in worship services and organize fellowship/coffee time. They also assist with other events (funerals and baptisms) and special services. Deacons help to beautify and decorate the sanctuary. They will be at the door to greet and welcome people to church with a smile.
Trustees provide a ministry of stewardship, care, and maintenance for our building and grounds. Do you know how to fix the thermostat or the lawn mower? Talk to a contractor? Or do you just enjoy the satisfaction of keeping things running behind the scenes? We have a place for you on the trustees!
Outreach looks for ways to invite people in, and spread the word about our inclusive, justice-minded, loving church! Outreach tends to newer members and thinks of ways that we can be an even more welcoming community.
New Spirit’s Green Team educates the congregation on best practices to reduce our carbon and pollution footprints, and lessen the impact of the many environmental stressors. We lift up in prayer our ecosystems, and join with area churches and organizations (Interfaith Creation Care South Metro) to work together as we advocate “for the beauty of the earth”. After much work on environmental issues, the United Church of Christ has deemed us a “Creation Justice Church”.
Team tends to our commitment to being an Open and Affirming church. Open and Affirming means we are a community that is committed to actively welcoming and supporting the LGBTQ+ community. This team helps us maintain connections with groups like TransFamilies and Out Front Minnesota, and thinks creatively about providing continuing education to the congregation about issues of importance.
Online Ministry is a new and critical component of our church life. We use Zoom to share our worship online every week. This means our volunteer Zoom hosts are integral to making worship happen. We also have people who post on Facebook, upload to youtube, and otherwise help to get the Good Word into people’s homes!