May 2006 Archives

MORNING WORSHIP

Scripture Reading: Titus 2:1-15 (Scripture Reader: Joe Ulferts)
Message: "Life's Greatest Investment" (Pastor Steve)
Lead Worshipers: Bryan De Groot & Praise Team
Offering: Unity Ministries
Children ages 3-preK will be dismissed by announcement for Children’s Church

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND NIGHT VISION SERVICE - 7:30PM

Welcome to Unity!
Welcome to each of you as you enter this place of worship today. May you experience an authentic encounter with God and be refreshed by the outpouring of His Spirit. Above all else we desire to find ourselves in the presence of God.

THE WEEKLY CALENDAR

The monthly calendar can be viewed at www.unitycrc.org/calendar

Today (4th Sunday):
10:00am - Morning Worship
7:30pm - Night Vision

Monday:
4:00pm - Worship Planning Team

Tuesday:
7:00pm - Ladies’ Jail Ministry

Wednesday:
7:00pm - Men’s Jail Ministry

Next Sunday (1st Sunday):
9:00am - Prayer for Missionaries
10:00am - Morning Worship

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Congregational Meeting - Sunday June 11

Ministry Team Training Day - Sunday August 27 5:00-9:00pm

UNITY FAMILY CARES AND CONCERNS

Wedding Congratulations
Congratulations to Justin & Beth (Fischer) Kors who were married yesterday here in our church. May God richly bless your marriage as you begin this new journey together.

Saying “Good Bye”
Mitch and Pat Marcus will be moving to St. Peter. We want to say good bye, Sunday, June 4 2006 after the morning worship with dessert and coffee.

Pastors Jeff and Wendy on Vacation
Jeff and Wendy will be out of the office from May 27-June 5 visiting family and friends in Michigan and on the East Coast.

Attention, Ladies!
Are you interested in doing local outreach with hurting women hungry for the gospel? We currently need more volunteer leaders for our Ladies Jail Ministry. With enough volunteers this can be a commitment of only a few hours twice a month. Let Wendy Fisher know if you are interested.

UNITY CHURCH MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES

Invitation to Pray
The missions team, and anyone else interested in supporting missions with prayer to go along with their monthly paychecks, is invited to come to Pastor Jeff's office between 9am and 9:45 next week Sunday. We will have a sheet of recent prayer concerns for each of our missionary families, and we will take time to pray for all of them. Our missionaries are grateful that we support them with prayer as well as financially. Join us next week Sunday, the first Sunday of the month, during our monthly prayer time. If you can not make it during this time, and you would like to receive a prayer sheet each month, please contact Sarah Brouwer or print a copy off the church website.

Considering Membership
If you are thinking about taking the next step of being connected at Unity by exploring membership, you are invited to join us for our next session of Membership Classes on Wednesday nights June 7 and 14 at 7:00pm.

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Reminder to Cadets Please let Byron Tebben know if you will attend the campout June 9 & 10. Also, if anyone has a canoe (with current license) that we can use on the campout. Thank you.

Vacation Bible School June 5-9
We will start Monday evening at 5:30 p.m. Registration will be held in the west end of First CRC and when completed supper will be served in the basement. Parents make sure you fill in the registration forms, we have a lot of children signed up and each one will be given a name tag for the week, with information about the crew they will be in etc. There is a reminder sheet on the bulletin board in the back of church for the food people have signed up to bring. Congregation please pray for VBS this week that things will go smoothly and the kids will learn a lot and have fun! Thanks for all your help. Becky Hines, Erica Slagter and Nora Ziehl

Seniors & Friends
Due to popular demand, I have arranged to take another bus to attend the play “The Church Basement Ladies” at the Plymouth playhouse. They have added some matinees and I was able to obtain tickets for Tuesday, June 20. The cost would be $45.00 per person. This would include a noon luncheon at the Old Country Buffet, ticket and bus fare. Kindly call as soon as possible for reservations. ~ Ardi Zondervan

The Senior Citizens will hold their June meeting on Thursday, June 15 at 1:00pm. Radica Mauna will speak on her experiences of life in Romania during the communist regime. (Radica is Felicia Yague’s mother). She has many interesting stories to tell and a time will be granted to ask questions. Also Alfred Marcus will share a video on some of his experiences during World War II. Coffee and bars will be served, There will be a free will offering for our guest speaker.

Next Night Vision Worship Time:

7:30pm on Sunday May 28th
Night Vision is a dynamic youth outreach time of worship, led by young people and young adults, with great worship and music and prayer time for anyone desiring prayer. This is a time of worship geared for all those desiring a new or renewed passion and love for Jesus - whether young or old!

For more information, you can contact us at nightvision@unitycrc.org or by calling us at 320.978.4300.

PRAYER TOWARD A GREATER PENTECOST 10-1-90

VISION: "The Glory of Christ & the Blessing of the Nations"
MISSION: To call Christians from all nations to unite in repentance and prayer, and to collaborate as God’s instruments for the blessing and healing of the nations.

• 10 Days of day-and-night prayer from Ascension Day till the Saturday before Pentecost Sunday.


• A global day of repentance & prayer on Pentecost Sunday


• 90 Days of "Community Blessing"

10 Days of Prayer: Ascension Day (May 25) to Pentecost (June 4) – Like the Early Church in Acts 1, we encourage all local congregations, communities, cities and regions to spend 10 days in prayer leading up to Pentecost Sunday. In all countries around the world Christians will be encouraged to spend these 10 days in Day-and-Night (24-7) prayer, asking God for a fresh outpouring of His Spirit, the salvation of the lost, the unreached and the healing of the nations

We encourage you to use the Global Day of Prayer Guide. If you did not receive a Prayer Guide at church, you may pick one up in the office or you can download the Prayer Guide as an Adobe PDF from the GDOP website.

1 Day: Global Day of Repentance & Prayer - June 4, 2006 - Towns and cities unite in repentance & prayer at stadiums, churches, market squares, and many other locations. In "closed" countries Creative Christians will make a way to pray together. Many television, radio and Internet services around the world will broadcast this phenomenon.

90 Days of Blessing: Expect the blessing of God on community outreach, evangelism, and justice issues after June 4, 2006.

For more information, visit GDOPUSA or Global Day of Prayer

MORNING WORSHIP

Scripture Reading: Zechariah 1:1-6, 9:9-17
Message: “Return: Relationship Restored” (Pastor Steve & Pastor Jeff)
Lead Worshipers: Gar Jasper and Paul Knapper
Offering: Unity Ministries
Children ages 3-preK will be dismissed by announcement for Children’s Church

EVENING WORSHIP

Prayer and Discussion
Offering: United Campus Ministries

Welcome to Unity!

The prophet Isaiah says, "The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame; you will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." (Isa. 58:11)

We are so glad you are here today! May you be refreshed in the presence of God this day as you bring Him your worship and praise! Today is a day of celebration and joy. Our challenge to journey together through the entire Old Testament finishes this week.

St. Cloud Prison Chapel Team
Please take time to pray for the team from Prinsburg that is currently leading the chapel service in the St. Cloud Prison. Phil and Trudy Errfmeyer, Don and Nyla Wieberdink, Wilson Brouwer and Bob Donyes are each contributing in some way to the chapel service for the inmates this morning.

THE WEEKLY CALENDAR

The monthly calendar can be viewed at www.unitycrc.org/calendar

Today (3rd Sunday):
10:00am - Morning Worship
All-Church Potluck
5:00pm - Evening Worship

Monday:
4:00pm - Worship Planning Team

Tuesday:
7:00pm - Ladies’ Jail Ministry

Wednesday:
7:00pm - Men’s Jail Ministry

Next Sunday (4th Sunday):
10:00am - Morning Worship

Sunday Evening Change
Tonight is the final regular Sunday evening worship service. The Council decided at the April 24 meeting to affirm the transition from the formal Sunday evening worship service to a focus on small groups ministry.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR: Congregational Meeting Sunday June 11 after Worship

UNITY FAMILY CARES AND CONCERNS

Open House Bridal Shower
There will be an Open House Bridal Shower honoring Melissa Kallevig, daughter of Gaylen & Becky Kallevig of Kandiyohi and bride-elect of Josh Groen, son of Larry & Pat Groen of Prinsburg at the Prinsburg First CRC Fellowship Hall on Saturday, May 27th from 9:30am - 11:30am.

Thank You
Thank you, Unity family, for all your love and support for our Mom, Joyce Cross, during her past eleven month battle with cancer. We appreciated your prayers, visits, cards, and the food you shared with us all. Thanks especially to Pastor Steve for helping us celebrate Mom's life by conducting the funeral and to Bryan, Heather, and Christina for making her wishes come true. Thanks to Pastor Steve, Jeff and Wendy for their special times spent with Mom and all of us. God always sent you just when he knew we needed you. We praise God that Mom is now dancing in Heaven.
~Lee Cross, Hubert and Marilyn Wieberdink and family, Jerry and Sandy Rustad and family

Wedding
On Saturday, May 27th, Beth Fischer will wed Justin Kors at Unity. We pray for God’s abundant blessings on their wedding and marriage!

UNITY CHURCH MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES

Attention, Ladies!
Are you interested in doing local outreach with hurting women hungry for the gospel? We currently need more volunteer leaders for our Ladies Jail Ministry. With enough volunteers this can be a commitment of only a few hours twice a month. Let Wendy Fisher know if you are interested.

Considering Membership
If you are thinking about taking the next step of being connected at Unity and would like to explore the possibility of becoming a member, we would like to schedule our next session of membership classes for Wednesdays, June 7 and 14. Please contact Pastor Jeff if you would like to be a part of these classes.

Candidacy Extended
Wendy Fisher was interviewed this week by the Calvin Seminary Board of Trustees so that her candidacy for ordination could be extended another year. This is an annual process for those who have graduated but are not yet ordained. The interviewers concluded that they will recommend the extension to the full Board.

Jeff and Wendy on Vacation
Pastors Jeff and Wendy will be out of the office from May 27-June 5 visiting family and friends in Michigan and on the East Coast.

Vacation Bible School June 5 - 9
Kids make sure you sign up for the FIESTA to be held June 5-9. Times are 5:30-8:45 p.m. We had a great response for signing up to donate food, but we still need some items so new sheets are in the back of church. Thanks for signing up!

Seniors & Friends
Due to popular demand, I have arranged to take another bus to attend the play “The Church Basement Ladies” at the Plymouth playhouse. They have added some matinees and I was able to obtain tickets for Tuesday, June 20. The cost would be $45.00 per person. This would include a noon luncheon at the Old Country Buffet, ticket and bus fare. Kindly call as soon as possible for reservations. 320-978-8322 ~ Ardi Zondervan

After the initial financial goals were met for our proposed building project, the building team met with Cities Edge Architects in January to discuss proceeding with blueprints for our church addition. We were informed that it would take up to four months before
Cities Edge would have time to work on the construction drawings. We also learned that the architect who designed our original church building as well as the concept plan for our new addition would be retiring.

The Finance/Building teams met jointly and decided to consider exploring other architectural firms. In March we met with a representative from HGA, a Minneapolis firm which specializes in church design. Prior to this meeting some members of our committee
visited churches designed by this firm and were impressed by what they saw.

We hope that in the next few weeks, we will find out whether it will work out for us to use HGA. If it does, we will be going through a process of getting plans and drawings developed and then deciding the best method for contracting the project.

We hope that we will be able to start yet this year, but there is still a lot of work ahead of us before we will have final, complete blueprints and specifications ready. We do feel we can benefit greatly from using the services of an architect with expertise in designing churches even if it means that we don’t get started this year. We believe it is important to do this project right.

MORNING WORSHIP

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 18:1-12, 19:1-3, 10-11 (Scripture Reader: Bob Stoel)
Message: “Shaped or Smashed: The Potter’s Clay” (Pastor Jeff)
Lead Worshipers: Praise Team
Offering: Unity Ministries
Children ages 3-preK will be dismissed by announcement for Children’s Church

EVENING WORSHIP

Scripture Reading: Habakkuk 1-3
Discussion Topic: “The Wicked, The Righteous, and the Faithful”
Offering: United Campus Ministries

Welcome to Unity!

We are here today to worship Jesus Christ, our Savior and our King. This day we celebrate as Mother’s Day we acknowledge the love and care evident in motherhood. But more importantly, as the Church, we once again seek the fullness of love in God, who showers it upon each and every one of us, no matter what our parental status or relationship to our families. It is only Christ’s caring love that supports and inspires us to be who we have been called to be. While we celebrate with those who have happy families and experience the wondrous grace of godly motherhood, we also desire to extend grace to those for whom this day is one of difficulty or sorrow. May those who know the challenges and joy of being a mother be blessed this day by God’s grace, may those who do not, rest in God’s bountiful love.

THE WEEKLY CALENDAR

The monthly calendar can be viewed at www.unitycrc.org/calendar

Today (2nd Sunday):
10:00am - Morning Worship
Celebration of Communion
5:00pm - Evening Worship

Monday:
4:00pm - Worship Planning Team

Tuesday:
7:00pm - Ladies’ Jail Ministry

Wednesday:
7:00pm - Men’s Jail Ministry
7:00pm - Youth Group

Next Sunday (3rd Sunday):
9:15am - Prayer in Pastor Jeff’s office
10:00am - Morning Worship
OTC Celebration Potluck
5:00pm - Evening Worship

Old Testament Challenge (OTC): The fast-track readings for the final week of the OTC are 2 Kings 25; Jeremiah 29:1-23; Daniel 9:1-19; Ezra 1:1-8; Nehemiah 1-2; Malachi 4; Hebrews 11; and Psalms 147-148. For those who are reading the entire Old Testament, if you want to finish by May 28, you should be reading Zechariah, Malachi, Ezra, and Psalms 138-144 this week. The challenge is almost completed!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Annual Congregational Meeting - Sunday, June 11 after Worship

UNITY FAMILY CARES AND CONCERNS

New Baby Congratulations
Congratulations to Norm and Val Duininck in the birth of a new granddaughter Indya Mae (Duininck) Swanson. She was born to Steve and Jodi on Tuesday afternoon, weighs 5 lbs 7oz, and is 20 inches long.

OTC Completed Celebration!
We did it! The challenge is complete. Let's celebrate the completion of the Old Testament Challenge series with a potluck. But let's start at the end and go to the beginning this time. Let's start with dessert first, then the main meal! Bring a dessert or salad to share. Care Group 2 will host the potluck on next Sunday, May 21, following the morning service.

Considering Membership
If you are thinking about taking the next step of being connected at Unity and would like to explore the possibility of becoming a member, we are in the initial stages of planning a time to hold our next session of membership classes. Our first option is to have two Wednesday night sessions on June 7 and 14. Please contact Pastor Jeff this week if you would like to be a part of these classes so we can schedule a time that works with everyone.

Building Project Update!
After the initial financial goals were met for our proposed building project, the building team met with Cities Edge Architects in January to discuss proceeding with blueprints for our church addition. We were informed that it would take up to four months before
Cities Edge would have time to work on the construction drawings. We also learned that the architect who designed our original church building as well as the concept plan for our new addition would be retiring.

The Finance/Building teams met jointly and decided to consider exploring other architectural firms. In March we met with a representative from HGA, a Minneapolis firm which specializes in church design. Prior to this meeting some members of our committee
visited churches designed by this firm and were impressed by what they saw.

We hope that in the next few weeks, we will find out whether it will work out for us to use HGA. If it does, we will be going through a process of getting plans and drawings developed and then deciding the best method for contracting the project.

We hope that we will be able to start yet this year, but there is still a lot of work ahead of us before we will have final, complete blueprints and specifications ready. We do feel we can benefit greatly from using the services of an architect with expertise in designing churches even if it means that we don’t get started this year. We believe it is important to do this project right.

UNITY CHURCH MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES

Small Group Smorgasbord
The “wide variety of choices” of small group materials in the Fellowship Hall will continue to be available for the next several weeks. They are there for you to consider using for your small group this summer or fall. If your group would like some input from Pastor Jeff, you can meet with him Sunday, May 21 after church or contact him by email or phone.

Joining a Small Group
If you are interested in joining a small group, please fill out one of the small group registration forms on the tables in the fellowship hall and place it in the offering plate or return it to the church office. You may also register at www.unitycrc.org/smallgroups on our website. We will work to find a group for you to connect with, and then have that group contact you.

Worship at St. Cloud Prison
Unity Church is scheduled to lead the Sunday Morning Chapel Service at the St. Cloud Prison next Sunday, May 21. If you would like to participate this time, please contact Sarah Brouwer.

Sunday Evening Change
At the April 24 meeting, the Council decided to affirm the transition from our Sunday evening worship service to the small groups ministry, with the final regular Sunday evening service to be held May 21, 2006.

Community Announcements

Vacation Bible School Fiesta will held June 5-9. The evening meal is served at 5:30 p.m. and singing starts at 6 p.m. We have all the teachers lined up and now the kids can sign up. Children must have completed preschool. Sign up for the class they have just completed. Sheets are in the back of church and also sign up sheets for anyone to donate food. We need a lot of different items. Thank you for your help.

Senior Citizens
Our May meeting is Thursday, May 18th at 11:30. We will have our usual potluck dinner at the Fire Hall. Later we will have games and cards. Please bring the following: A-L: casseroles, M-S: salads, T-Z: desserts.

Seniors & Friends
Due to popular demand, I have arranged to take another bus to attend the play “The Church Basement Ladies” at the Plymouth playhouse. They have added some matinees and I was able to obtain tickets for Tuesday, June 20. The cost would be $45.00 per person. This would include a noon luncheon at the Old Country Buffet, ticket and bus fare. Kindly call as soon as possible for reservations. ~ Ardi Zondervan

MORNING WORSHIP

Scripture Reading: Micah 6:1-8, 7:18-20 (Scripture Reader: Eric Groen)
Message: “So What’s Micah About?” (Pastor Jeff Fisher
with Kirk Vander Pol & Mike Pluimer)
Lead Worshipers: Unity Youth Group
Offering: Unity Ministries

EVENING WORSHIP

Scripture Reading: Micah 5:1-15
Discussion Topic: “Micah and the Messianic Prophecies”
Offering: Crossroads Bible Institute

Welcome to Unity!

Today we come together to join our hearts and voices as one people in the presence of God and the power of the Holy Spirit to worship our Risen King, Jesus Christ. May you find joy and life in this place as we offer ourselves to God in worship.

This morning we are privileged to be led in worship by the members of our Youth Group. We trust that you will be blessed by their ministry as they lead in every aspect of our worship gathering this morning.

As part of the Youth Group leadership, Pastor Jeff will be “interviewed” by two of our Youth Leaders, Mike & Kirk, about the meaning and message of Micah. We express our thanks to these students for using their gifts in worship today.

THE WEEKLY CALENDAR

The monthly calendar can be viewed at www.unitycrc.org/calendar

Today (1st Sunday):
9:00am - Missions Prayer Time
10:00am - Morning Worship
5:00pm - Evening Worship

Monday:
5:30pm - Executive Team Meeting
6:15pm - Deacons Meeting
6:15pm - Elders Meeting
7:00pm - Full Council Meeting

Tuesday:
4:00pm - Worship Planning Team
7:00pm - Ladies’ Jail Ministry

Wednesday:
7:00pm - Men’s Jail Ministry
7:00pm - Youth Group

Next Sunday (2nd Sunday):
9:15am - Prayer in Jeff’s Office
10:00am - Morning Worship
5:00pm - Evening Worship

Old Testament Challenge (OTC): The fast-track readings for this week (Week 31) are Jeremiah 1-2, 18-20, 23, 31:31-34, 37-38; Lamentations 3:22-33; and Psalms 44, 126, 143. For the complete schedule on-line go to www.unitycrc.org/otcreading. For those using the Full Reading Version and hoping to finish by May 28, you should be reading Obadiah to Haggai and Psalms 133-137 this week.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Sunday, May 21 after Church
All-Church OTC Challenge Completed! Celebration and Potluck

UNITY FAMILY CARES AND CONCERNS

New Baby Congratulations!
We rejoice together with Steve & Andi Rime on the birth of their son, Braelin Jo. He was born Thursday, May 4 and weighed 5 lbs 15 ounces.

Thank You Note
Thank you very much for all of your expressions of sympathy, cards, food, and memorials. We thank God for special people like you who helped us celebrate my husband and our dad’s long life, and his passing on to eternal life in heaven. ~ Henrietta Breems and family

Worship Grant Awarded
We are excited to announce that Unity Church was one of the 57 churches and ministries that received a Worship Renewal Grant from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship! This program is made possible with funds provided by Lilly Endowment, Inc. Pastor Jeff and Wendy will be attending the Grant Development Event in Grand Rapids, MI on June 20-22. As the program develops, you will be receiving more details.

Joining a Small Group
If you are interested in joining a small group, please fill out one of the small group registration forms on the tables in the fellowship hall and return it to the church office or place it in the offering plate or go to www.unitycrc.org/smallgroups. We will work to find a group for you to connect with, and have that group contact you.

UNITY CHURCH MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES

Small Group Smorgasbord
The “wide variety of choices” of small group materials in the Fellowship Hall will continue to be available for the next several weeks. They are there for you to consider using for your small group this summer or fall. If your group would like some input from Pastor Jeff, you can meet with him Sunday, May 21 after church or contact him by email or phone.

Considering Membership
If you are thinking about taking the next step of being connected at Unity and would like to explore the possibility of becoming a member, we are in the initial stages of planning a time to hold our next session of membership classes. Our first option is to have two Wednesday night sessions on June 7 and 14. Please contact Pastor Jeff this week if you would like to be a part of these classes so we can schedule a time that works with everyone.

Worship at St. Cloud Prison
Unity Church is scheduled to lead the Sunday Morning Chapel Service at the St. Cloud Prison on May 21. If you would like to participate this time, please contact Sarah at 978-9191.

Sunday Evening Change
At the April 24 meeting, the Council decided to affirm the transition from our Sunday evening worship service to the small groups ministry, with the final regular Sunday evening service to be held May 21, 2006.

Community Announcements

CMCS Pops Concert
You are invited to the CMCS Pops Concert that will be held in the high school gym on Tuesday, May 9 at 7:00pm. The concert choir will be performing songs from Surf’s Up! There will also be selections from the male chorus, girls chorus, and various solos and ensembles. We’re looking forward to presenting this concert for you. Pop and popcorn will once again be served so come and enjoy a night of entertainment. All groups are under the direction of Michelle Mulder.

American Red Cross Blood Mobile
The American Red Cross Blood mobile will be at the Roseland Reformed Church on May 10th. The hours are 1pm to 7pm. If you wish to make an appointment, please call Sylvia Hoffman or Marilyn Van Buren before May 9th.

Vacation Bible School June 5 - 9
We still need a couple of teachers and a few more crew leaders. Come join us for a fun week having a Fiesta. If your interested or have questions call Becky Hines or Nora Ziehl. Watch next week for sign up sheets for attending VBS and also for donating food.

Senior Citizens
Our May meeting is Thursday, May 18th at 11:30. We will have our usual potluck dinner at the Fire Hall. Later we will have games and cards. Please bring the following foods:
A - L: casseroles
M - S: salads
T - Z: desserts

Holland Township Cemetery
Please do not put potted plants or flowers on Holland Township Cemetery until after May 25th as the mowing needs to be done just prior to Memorial Day for neat appearance. Also inform relatives and friends outside the church community of this request. If there are any questions call 320-978-4922. Thank you, Holland Township Board

Wills and Estate Planning
Do you find the area of wills and estate planning confusing? Do you know there are other Christians ready to help simplify it all for you? Don Long from Barnabas Foundation is ready to help you. He will be in our area from May 23-25th. The purpose of Barnabas Foundation is to help Christian individuals and families implement thoughtful stewardship decisions in tax-wise estate planning. This service is available to you at no charge because of the foundation’s 200 member charitable organizations. If you don't have a will or it hasn't been recently updated, give Barnabas Foundation a call toll-free at 1-888-448-3040. We will be happy to help you with your estate planning needs.

Seniors & Friends
Due to popular demand, I have arranged to take another bus to attend the play “The Church Basement Ladies” at the Plymouth playhouse. They have added some matinees and I was able to obtain tickets for Tuesday, June 20. The cost would be $45.00 per person. This would include a noon luncheon at the Old Country Buffet, ticket and bus fare. Kindly call as soon as possible for reservations. ~ Ardi Zondervan

May is National Foster Parent Month
In May we celebrate National Foster Care Month and salute the thousands of families who are providing care to Minnesota foster children. More and more churches are encouraging families to become foster and adoptive parents to children from their communities. Minnesota needs more adults to become licensed foster parents for abused and neglected children. Foster children need families to:
-Provide love and stability in their lives
-Help them heal from past trauma
-Help them reunite with their birth families when possible
-Give them hope for the future
Foster parents can be single, married, or in a committed relationship; experienced parents, grandparents, or childless; renters or homeowners. To find out more about how to become a foster parent call the Minnesota Recruitment Project.

May is Mental Health Month
20% of the U.S. population have a mental disorder in a given year. This means that 57 million Americans, including about one million Minnesotans, experience a mental disorder during a year yet only about one-third will seek treatment. Estimates are that mental health care costs our nation more than $200 billion per year in both direct and indirect costs. The lives of both children and adults are becoming more psychologically complex, which is all the more reason to understand mental illness and mental health. Woodland Centers provides services for a six-county area: Chippewa, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Meeker, Renville, and Swift Counties. Call Woodland Centers, your mental health center at 235-4613 or 1-800-992-1716.