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Worship at 10 am only in the summer, in person or online.
Sunday, June 7: Rev. Susie Hayward preaching
Sunday, June 14: Rev. Todd Lippert preaching
Sunday, June 21: Rev. Emily Goldthwaite preaching
Pride Sunday, June 28: Rev. Oby Ballinger preaching
| | Important deadline! Articles for the July Current are due Monday, June 15. Send your announcements of 75 words or fewer or articles 100-150 words to admin@creeksideucc.org. | |
Creekside UCC’s Mission Statement
Inspire a collective and personal journey along the Jesus path moving us toward justice through communion with God and discerned action.
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Looking Ahead
Beloveds,
Today, June 1, our beloved Rev. Sarah Campbell begins her much-earned next chapter of retirement after 21 extraordinary years leading Creekside. Later this month, Rev. Emily Goldthwaite will join us as our Bridging Minister, leading and guiding Creekside for 18-24 months as we prepare to call a new settled team lead minister.
Some things will inevitably change as we venture together into new territory. And much will remain consistent: our love for each other and the One who is our ultimate leader and guide, our healthy communications for the good of our community, our bold practice of love in the public square, our deep prayer lives. We are a strong community. I’ve no doubt that we have all we need to move forward boldly and faithfully into the future. I’ve no doubt that Creekside will be OK. More than OK.
This summer, as is our practice, we will hear a rich chorus of voices from our pulpit around a shared theme. The series theme I chose this summer, in consultation with other worship leaders (Bree, Nancy), is Crossing Borders. A theme that I hope will meet us in this borderland time and speak to the broader context in which we gather to worship our God of Love.
Borders shape our world—lines on maps, divisions between peoples, boundaries around bodies, identities, and belonging. Some borders are necessary. Many are not. Too often, the borders we create are enforced with fear, exclusion, and even violence. But the story of faith tells a different truth. Again and again, we encounter a God who refuses to stay contained—a God who crosses every boundary we draw, who meets people on the move, who speaks across difference, and who dwells fully within creation itself.
Together, we will explore what it means to follow a border-crossing God. We will reflect on stories of migration and displacement, and the call to welcome the stranger as ourselves—remembering that many of us, or our ancestors, have known what it is to be outsiders, and that faith often begins in dislocation. We will examine the social borders that divide us—race, gender, religion, sexuality, nation—and the ways love disrupts systems of exclusion, restoring dignity and belonging where it has been denied. And we will explore the deepest border of all: the one we imagine exists between human and divine, discovering a sacred presence that is already here, woven into the fabric of our lives and our world.
In a time when borders are being hardened in our nation and in our hearts, in a time when our beloved community is experiencing a border crossing of sorts in our collective life together, my hope is that this series will invite us to imagine and recommit to another way: a way of courage, compassion, and connection. A way of crossing toward one another—and recognizing that the places we fear most may be the very places where we encounter the sacred.
Let us go forward into the future with the God who always goes with us!
In solidarity,
Rev. Susie
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Council Corner
by Maureen Engelhardt
The final Council meeting before the congregation’s Annual Meeting was, as usual, full. We continued discussing the proposed budget, working to balance several priorities while meeting the goal of presenting a balanced plan. We were able to do so thanks in part to a generous $35,000 grant from the Foundation and a reduction in Creekside’s contribution to Our Church’s Wider Mission (OCWM), a challenging compromise.
In other business, a Capital Appeal Task Force presented a series of recommendations for Council’s consideration and approval. Rev. Sarah offered words of wisdom and shared best practices for lay leaders as she prepares for retirement. We planned the May schedule of congregational meetings, including a budget meeting the day after the Council meeting and the Annual Meeting one week later. Council members organized to work in the kitchen, cutting and serving pie—thank you for your hospitality! We also looked ahead to celebrating our neighbors in mid-May, with a parking lot picnic for Creekside Church and residents of Creekside Commons.
With the close of the program year, the congregation approved a slate of candidates to serve on Council: Robin Keck (who joined in March to fill a vacant seat), Rob Reinhart, Gary Titusdahl, and Shelly Zuzek. We are grateful for the faithful service of outgoing Councilors Barbara Hummel, Sharon Landavazo, and Patrick Magistad. We also celebrate the new officers: Connie Ford as Moderator and Gene Roehlkepartain as Associate Moderator.
As I conclude my term as Moderator, I am grateful for my stronger relationships with my Council colleagues, for the thoughtful role models who have guided our discernment, and for the opportunity to serve the congregation in this way. Thank you to Creekside Church for entrusting me with this role.
Question of the month: What is OCWM?
Our Church’s Wider Mission (OCWM) is the primary way UCC congregations provide financial support to the conference, national, and global settings of the denomination. By pooling resources, UCC churches can make a greater impact than any one congregation could do on its own. Within the Minnesota Conference, OCWM supports leadership development, pastoral mentoring, and the search and call process for new clergy. It also helps sustain United Theological Seminary, The Damascus Project, youth camps and service trips, and campus ministries. At the national setting, initiatives focused on racial equity, climate justice, and human rights. Globally, OCWM contributions help fund disaster relief and refugee resettlement in partnership with international churches. In the coming months, we will hear more about the ministries and programs supported by our OCWM contributions.
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Special Offering: Prism
Founded by our Community Minister Rev. Oby Ballinger, Prism develops leaders working for LGBTQ equality in Minnesota, strengthening a multifaith, multiracial, and statewide network. Find out more about ways to join and support this community organizing effort via prismorganizing.org and linktr.ee/prismorganizing. Give during June with “special offering” in the memo line or give online with Realm.
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Our Life Together
Welcome to Emily Goldthwaite
As announced by Council in mid-April, Rev. Emily Goldthwaite will serve as Creekside UCC’s Bridging Team Lead Minister, beginning June 17 and continuing for 18 months to two years, as we prepare ourselves for the future.
Rev. Emily worked at Beacon Interfaith Housing for the last eight years, most recently as Director of Congregational Organizing. Prior to Beacon, she was Associate Minister at Creekside (then Mayflower) UCC for five years. Preceding her call to Mayflower, she served as Interim Minister of a UCC church in South Dakota. Her history weaves together working in churches and non-profits dedicated to social justice. Called to wrestle with and preach the gospel, Emily comes to Creekside with a unique and well-honed set of pastoral, business and change management skills. She will bring a deep commitment to theological curiosity, to healthy workspaces and to justice created by collaborative action.
Thank you to the search committee (Shelly Zuzek, chair, Ellen Baker, Connie Ford, Corey Friend, and John Schmitt) who served faithfully during the last many months to identify the best candidates to work with us as we transition from congregational life led by Rev. Sarah and prepare ourselves for the future. Please wholeheartedly welcome Rev. Emily Goldthwaite to our beloved community. Any questions can be directed to the Council. You’ll know the members by their yellow nametags.
Songs of Transition: June 7, 11:15 am–12:30 pm
Join community song leader and Creekside Student Organizing Chaplain Doe Hoyer for an after-worship song circle featuring songs of transition and change. In this time of transition between ministers, we will sing together—learning songs by ear and repetition—and co-create a sacred container for our own processing of transitions large and small.
Online Worship Zoom “Coffee Hour” – Sunday, June 14
We have launched this opportunity for folks worshiping online to connect with others for various kinds of conversation, exploration, discovery, laughter, and much more. Since YouTube is not interactional, this will take place on Zoom. You can use this link to connect when the service has ended (Password: Creekside).
Worship Readers and Wannabe Readers
SignUpGenius for Creekside UCC Readers is now up and running. This easy-to-use interface will let you choose which Sunday you want to be one of the Worship Readers. No more random dates that always seem to land on your vacation, no more remembering to send an email confirming your availability. And we won’t leave out our faithful readers who are not keen on computer tools!
For those of you who have never been readers—there is no qualifying exam, no length of service, no hidden requirements, just your desire to be part of church services. Contact Maggie O’Connor, maggie@haven2.com, and she will put you on the Reader List. After that you will get notices about when to go into the program and choose your date.
If you have been a reader and did not get a notice about SignUpGenius, email Maggie. If you are not keen on computer tools, email or call Maggie O’Connor, maggie@haven2.com. If you need help signing up to be a Sunday morning reader, stop at the Realm table in the narthex every first Sunday of the month and they’ll help you.
Realm Assist
The first Sunday of the month there will always be someone at the table in the narthex to answer any questions you have about Realm or how to sign up online for other opportunities, like being a reader. See above…
Senior Men’s Fellowship Breakfast
First Tuesday of every month, 8:00 AM, In-Person,
Richfield VFW 6715 Lake Shore Drive, Richfield
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Faith Formation for Adults
Adult Learning Communities
Looking for connection and inspiration? Consider joining one of Creekside’s ongoing Adult Learning communities. No commitment or previous experience necessary!
Centering Prayer
Mondays, 6:30-8 pm, Zoom
RSVP to Cate Calkins to receive the Zoom invite. All are welcome.
Contemporary Theologies:
Sundays at 8:45, Room 207
Contact Bob Power for additional information. Mid-book newcomers are just fine!
Women’s Spirituality
Sundays at 8:45, Room 211
Contact Connie Ford for additional information. Newcomers always welcome.
Join Women’s Spirituality for a Summer Read
Women’s Spirituality is again hosting a summer reading group. It will be held on the second Wednesday of the month (June 10, July 8, August 12) at 6:30 pm in one of the group member’s homes. (There will likely be a carpool from church.) We’ll read and discuss “Radical Optimism: Practical Spirituality in an Uncertain World” by Beatrice Bruteau. We welcome other folks from the church. If you’d like to join us, please contact Connie Ford.
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Faith Formation for Children, Youth & Families
Upcoming Events
June 27 and 28: TC Pride celebration—UCC conference will have a booth
July 12-17: Youth Trip to DC with other youth from the MN and WI conferences
July 29-August 2: Freshwater Faithworks—Middle School Adventure
🌟 Be the Change Summer Arts and Justice Camp 🌟
Hosted by the Minneapolis Youth Chorus, Prelude Children’s Choir, and Creekside United Church of Christ
Register now for this free, week-long camp that gives 3rd-8th graders a chance to express themselves through choral music, drumming, and visual art. The camp runs from June 22-26 from 9:00 am-12:00 pm. There will be a showcase open to families to hear and see the work that the campers will create. Register via this link.
Freshwater Faithworks—Middle School Adventure
Creekside Church is proud to co-host a super cool new summer experience inspired by last summer’s Creekside youth trip to Blue Theology. July 29 through August 2, we will explore the sanctity of our water sources and how human activity affects the health of our waterways for better or worse. With a combination of hands-on-service-learning, education, exploration, and reflection, participants will be given the opportunity to experience freshwater sources in a wholistic way, inviting them to fall in love with water and empowering them to fight back against climate anxiety and tangible action.
We’re still finalizing the programming, but we know for sure it will include a canoe/kayak experience, a performance by Heart of the Beast puppet theater, learning about rain gardens and other ways to protect the waterways, and visits to various locations along the Minnehaha creek and Mississippi watersheds. We will start with a couple of days here at Creekside and then travel up to First United Church of Little Falls on Friday to continue our adventure.
Thanks to sponsorship from the Ashley Endowment and the Minnesota Conference, we are able to offer this experience for just $75 per youth participant. This project is a collaboration between the Minnesota and Wisconsin conferences of the UCC. Bree is one of the planners, so please feel free to contact her with any questions you may have. Register here.
Call for Teachers and OWL Facilitators
We are in need of a few more teachers to make our Sunday School and Youth programs run this coming year. There are both full-year and single-unit opportunities to contribute. If you want to help foster the faith formation of our young people, and if you are open to being transformed by their insights, contact Bree (bmckee-miller@creeksideucc.org) for more information.
Congratulations to Our Graduating Seniors
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Adam Urch
I am graduating from Minneapolis Roosevelt highschool, and I will be attending Marquette University next fall. This summer I plan on working and spending time outside with my friends.
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Chloe Miller
Chloe (she/her) is graduating from Two Rivers High School. She will be attending the University of Minnesota Twin Cities this fall.
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Merrick Golden
Merrick is grauduating from South High School. He plans to study business at the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota—Twin Cities.
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Gryphon Rapacz
Gryphon is graduating from Minneapolis South High School. He will be performing in the Circus Juventas summer show Whimsy in July and August before attending Carleton College in the fall.
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Frances Patton
Frances is graduating from Breck School. They will attend Oberlin College in Oblerin, Ohio in the fall, where they will study history.
| | The Creekside community celebrates these amazing young people and wishes them a wonderful next chapter! | | | | |
Social Justice
Creekside Queer Rights Coalition
Join the Creekside Queer Rights Coalition (CQRC) on Sunday, June 14, after the 10:00 am service for “All Things Pride,” a family-friendly "Lunch and Learn" event open to both the congregation and the broader community. Friends, neighbors, family members, and allies are all welcome.
This special gathering will provide an opportunity to learn more about issues important to the LBTQIA2S+ community, upcoming Pride events, and ways to get involved as a community member or ally. Representatives from Transforming Families, Prism Organizing, and Welcoming Villages will each offer a short presentation about their organizations, their work, and ways to participate. Informational materials and resources will also be available to take home. Come connect, learn, ask questions, and celebrate community together. Register here.
Land Acknowledgement Team
Thanks to all those who’ve submitted their suggestions for congregational commitments based on our land acknowledgement. It’s not too late to offer your ideas via our Google form. There are many opportunities this month to spend time connecting with and learning about Minnesota’s Indigenous community and culture! Come see the extraordinary film "The Doctrine," showing at the Riverview on June 17 at 7 pm. (See info below.). The LAT is pleased to support the Race Matters team in attending the Two Spirit Pow Wow on June 23. And finally, consider signing up to hear from the extraordinary and provocative Dine/Navajo activist, educator, and Christian minister Mark Charles in St. Paul on June 27 from 9:30-4. Learn more and register here. Email Rev. Susie with questions about these events.
"The Doctrine" Documentary Screening and Q&A
June 17, Riverview Theater
"The Doctrine" explores the legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery on driving violence against Indigenous Peoples, land, and water in the Americas and around the world. The central narrative follows a group of Indigenous youth from the Twin Cities who travel to the Vatican to confront the Catholic Church about the Doctrine and its legacy. The film exposes how the Doctrine has targeted communities of color around the world for centuries, and still today enables corporate forces driving the climate crisis. This screening is co-sponsored by Creekside UCC. Doors open at 6:30 pm; screening at 7 pm; Q&A discussion to follow. Tickets available at the door and in advance. Watch the trailer and learn more about the film here.
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Beacon Housing
Creekside members participated in a tour of Beacon’s Bimosedaa housing, which sits beside the Central Library in downtown Minneapolis. This building was completed in partnership with the Red Lake Nation, among others, and designed with cultural sensitivity to support unhoused Native community members. And we want to give a big thank you to everyone who provided donations for 66 West. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.
Race Matters Team—June 23: Save the Date!
The Race Matters Team invites everyone to participate in the first event of our summer series. Each event will consist of a pre and post discussion to help us better understand our own humanity as we deepen the bonds of kinship with neighbors we have yet to meet. This first event is the Two Spirit Pow Wow at the American Indian Center in Minneapolis. More details and exact times will be forthcoming. See Rev. Susie or Kate Andrews van Horne if you have questions.
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Global Justice Night
The secpmd Tuesday of each month is Global Justice Night at Creekside. In May, we tackled the underreported issue of the religious basis for the Iran War from the perspectives of Iran, Israel, and the United States. Rev. Loren McGrail, who spent years in Palestine working with the YWCA of Palestine through Global Ministries, led our discussion.
Zionism plays an important role in understanding how Israel and the United States see the Iran War. Zionism, at its core, is the belief in the existence of a Jewish nation state to protect Jews from antisemitism. Zionism is supported by both the left and the right in Israel and the United States.
We looked at Israel’s claim that the Bible is their deed to the land, a land much larger than the current state of Israel (Zionism). In the highest levels of the United States government, officials like secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee are driven by Christian Zionism which is committed to protecting and expanding Israel so Jesus can return. They are committed to a holy war against Muslims. The Iranian theology bases their foreign policy on the Quran and has long opposed the use of nuclear weapons. This casts great doubt on one of the U.S. administration’s main justifications for the war.
On June 9, Rev. McGrail will return to help us look more closely at Palestine. Every month we pray to see the world more clearly. Each month, with the help of guests like Rev. McGrail, our prayer is answered making us better equipped to tell the truth with love. Always, ALL ARE WELCOME!
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Earthwise
by Gary Titusdahl
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) was founded 62 years ago. It’s water and wonder; soil and soul. Think of it as a source of woodland stories, the setting for romantic tales of voyageurs, the ancestral home of the Anishinaabe, and the most visited wilderness destination in America. With its pristine clean water of more than 1,100 lakes, it has something for everyone. Unfortunately, it sits atop of deposits of iron and sulfide ores, containing copper, nickel, and other heavy metals. Twin Metals, a subsidiary of a giant Chilean mining company, is pushing to build a mine on the border of the BWCAW. Such a mine would directly contaminate the Boundary Waters with its toxic waste run off. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) can and should protect and preserve this precious area. The Trump Administration has removed federal barriers to this proposed mine; it’s up to Minnesota to block state approval. Please contact Gov. Tim Walz (walz.press@state.mn.us) and DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen (commissioner.dnr@state.mn.us) with your comments. Faith to believe in God’s ability to make good come true fuels the pursuit of justice. And places our dreams on an immediate process of unfolding. “Church it up,” as my son would say. Canoe-ingly yours…
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Ministry of Care
Ministry of Addiction and Recovery Support (MARS)
During the program year, MARS meets monthly on the first Monday of the month. All are welcome. However, during the summer months MARS takes a hiatus. Please join us in the fall! In the meantime, if you are interested in learning more about our ministry, contact Lisa DeWaay (lisadw.mn@gmail.com).
Thank you to all who participated in the blessing of our new Narcan dispensary box on May 25! We dedicated the box to those in or connected to our Creekside community who have died from the disease of addiction, and to the work of love and life in our community. Thanks especially to MARS member Bob Englund who led the effort to bring this box to be. If you weren’t able to be there on May 25, we encourage you to visit the box at the SE corner of our parking lot, near the bus stop, sometime and to offer a blessing or prayer.
Sunday Morning Flowers
Sunday Morning Flowers are provided by Christine Kolb of Christine’s Floral Touch. If you are interested in signing up to sponsor a weekly arrangement, send your desired date, bulletin note/dedication, and any flower or color requests (not required) to Katie at admin@creeksideucc.org. Christine will be in touch regarding payment (christine@christinesfloraltouch.com or 952-210-6412). Weekly arrangements are $65 each, which includes tax and delivery.
What is Prayerways?
Prayerways is a vibrant ministry of dedicated volunteers who feel called to pray for you, Creekside UCC and our greater community. Every week a list of confidential prayer requests is emailed to Prayerways “ministers.” Each Prayerways member prays for the concerns given them. Pray-ers choose their own time, place, and method of praying, are committed to regular prayer for others and keeping all prayer requests confidential. Prayerways Curator: Diane Titusdahl: 507-298-0276, diane.titusdahl@gmail.com.
Dementia Caregivers’ Happy Hour
June 15, 6:30 pm at a local restaurant
Many members are helping a neighbor or family member with dementia, daily or on occasion, near or far. Unwind and find confidential support with others in similar situations. Most attendees order dinner. Contact Dawn Baker for specific location and a spot at the table.
Pastoral Care
Rev. Bonnie Forsman and Rev. Howard Bell are offering Pastoral Care. Please call the Pastoral Care Line (612) 824-0762 to share any pastoral care needs and concerns with them. The line is checked by Bonnie or Howard three times per day.
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Financial Corner
We’re heading into the final month of our fiscal 2026 year with strong giving and expenses that are in alignment with our budget goals. As we continue to move ahead through transitions, we are blessed to have resources that can be available to allow for the financial needs of what comes along during each year.
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Building News
Host Your Next Event at Creekside
Looking for a space to gather your group or host an event? Creekside Church offers rooms of various sizes that are perfect for meetings, celebrations, and community events. To welcome new groups, we are offering a special promotion: your first rental is free, and your second rental is half off. Whether you are planning something small and intimate or a larger gathering, our spaces can accommodate your needs. Contact the church office to learn more and reserve your space.
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