Upcoming Events, Announcements, & Information

2024 Pledge Cards:

It is time to start considering how you would like to support your congregation. Please fill out and return the 2024 pledge cards to the office by December 11th. You will find them in the mail and also outside the office area. Offering envelopes are also available to pick up now, outside of the fellowship hall, pick yours up today!

Hotdish Bake off Update:
We have so much on the calendar this fall there wasn't room to squeeze in the Great Hotdish Bake Off. So, we are moving it to February 2024!

Get your best recipes ready and keep a look out for more information to come!

Christmas Music:

We are looking for Christmas special music. Any kids or adults that would like to play piano, an instrument, or sing on Christmas Eve at the 4am or 9pm service, or on Christmas Day at 9am. If you cannot be at any of the services, we'd still love to have you in the new year!
Christmas Tree Lighting:

Join us December 13th at 5:15pm for a family meal followed by our Outdoor Heartbeat Service and Christmas Tree Lighting! There will be hot cocoa, cookies, carols and maybe even a Santa Sighting! Please help us make Christmas bright for others as well, by filling up the food shelf with nonperishable food items! All are welcome!

URLC Coat Closet is stocked and waiting for anyone who needs a little warmth this season!

Donations are welcomed as well. Most needed items: youth snow pants, and waterproof gloves in all sizes.

Grab a bag of Guatemala Coffee to help support the San Lucas Mission.

If you'd like to round up, those funds will go directly towards the youth gathering in New Orleans next year!

Toys for Tots:

Tis the season for giving! URLC has a Toy for Tots drop box in our lower entry doorway.

If you are looking for a place to donate, you can place new, unwrapped toys for all ages, in the box. Donations will be accepted now through 12/13.

Military Addresses:

We are looking for someone to help write and send cards to our military families. Cards are sent for special holidays and birthdays throughout the year. We currently have around 5 people that cards are being sent to. If you would like to help with this, or for more information, please contact Mary Ayen, 732-7785.

You can also let Mary know about updates on addresses for any of our military relatives and friends.

Holiday Community Connection:

This is a free event for those in need of a little extra this holiday season, at URLC on December 7th, from 5 to 6:30pm. If you would like to donate, they are asking for gift cards, paper and hygiene products, laundry soap and winter gear! You can bring your donations to the church now through December 6th.

All donations are greatly appreciated by those in need! Questions: Contact Rene Arendt, 507-421-6591

Goodhue County Christmas Project:

Our congregation has always been generous in helping with the Goodhue County Christmas Project. We have the opportunity to help make this Christmas brighter for a few families. We are asked to provide food and clothing for these families. Toys are provided by the Marines “Toys for Tots” program. Take an ornament or two from the tree in the back of the sanctuary. Wrap the clothing items (including the gift receipt) and attach the ornament to the package. Be sure to sign the sheets in the back. Cash or checks are very much appreciated to buy additional food items, please designate as “Christmas Project”.

All items need to be brought to the church office by Sunday, December 10th. Thanks for sharing!

ELCA Good Gift Pigs:

Just $30 can provide a piglet to a family in need. When this little piggy grows up, she will give birth to as many as 16 piglets each year. Pigs help fertilize fields, provide food to eat and can be sold at market for much-needed income. What a BIG difference a pig can make! Pick up your piggy bank starting November 1st and consider donating to this meaningful cause! Please have your “pigs” back by December 3rd!

URLC is holding a Toy Exchange!

Please bring in your gently used toys, books, games, and craft items now through November 21st. Once we have all the donations in and set up, we will open the Toy Exchange for the community to get “new to them” items for their families! Our hope is to make this Toy Exchange a success and put all those unused toys into the hands of a child who will love them! Toy Exchange dates are, 11/29 from 5-7pm and 12/6 from 10am to 7pm.

WELCA News:
WELCA Meatball Dinner and Holiday Festival: The WELCA Kitchen will be serving meatballs, mashed potatoes and gravy, orange glazed carrots, cranberry relish, rolls and desserts. Take-out will be available! Free Will offering to go to Stabilize ZM Families! Be sure to come and shop in our Fellowship Hall for your Holiday baking and LEFSE! Saturday, December 2nd, 2023, from 11am to 1pm, in the Fellowship Hall.

Sunday School Christmas Program

This years program is December 17th at 10:15am. All are invited to come see the performance of "The Light Before Christmas',

followed by refreshments in the fellowship hall.

URLC Quilting Ministry:

Fall is upon us and so it's time to get together to complete quilts in preparation for donating to individuals,

or to organizations such as Ronald McDonald House, Hope Coalition, or through Community Connection.
The quilting group will NOT be meeting in November or December. The next session for completion of quilts will be

Thursday, January 25th, 9-noon in the fellowship hall. Additional helpers are always welcome -

either for making quilt tops or assisting with completion. Fabric provided. Questions? Contact Marilyn Anderson 507-251-7660.

VOICE Information

If you would like to receive The Voice by mail, just call the office and we will add you to the list!

Have any ideas or information you would like to see in The Voice? Call the office or send it to admin@urlchurch.org by the 23rd of each month.

Worship Service Help Needed

To meet the needs of a regular Sunday Service, a person/s is needed to usher and greet folks. We need people to distribute communion. After the service people enjoy gathering for coffee. That of course means coffee must be made and any treats need to be put out, and cleaned up. We need individuals, couples or families who would like to be involved in the success of our services. The mission of URLC is dependent upon the congregants and their involvement.

We say a prayer that our mission is successful.

Budget Information

January Needed to keep up with the budget: $24,835.08 - Actual income: $51,196.65

February Needed to keep up with the budget: $24,835.08 - Actual income: $20,307.13

March Needed to keep up with the budget: $24,835.08 - Actual income: $22,654.32

April Needed to keep up with budget: $24,835 - April income: $22,050.71

May Needed to keep up with budget: $24,835.08 - May income: $17,298.64
June Needed to keep up with budget: $24,835.08 - June income: $15,132.80

July Needed to keep up with budget: $24,835.08 - July income: $24,295.80

August Needed to keep up with budget: $24,835.08 - August income: $14,444.80

September Needed to keep up with budget: $24,835.08 - Actual income: $17,840.08

October Needed to keep up with budget: $24,835.08 - Actual income: $20,675.59

Directory Updates

If you are needing to get ahold of our URLC President Matt Cage for any reason please contact him at his landline,

732-5006, or by cell 218-358-0005. The phone number listed in the directory earlier this year is incorrect.
New address, email, or phone number? Please call the office to help us keep our records up to date!

Please Say a Prayer for:

Cindy Reding, Sue Quam, Alice Lea, Ken Olson, sister of Evie Korsten.

Please call or email the office to update this list.