Associated Church COVID-19 Quick Links

• Associated Church Online Giving Your continued contributions help us further our mission and ministry even during these unfamiliar times. Since we aren’t able to be together in person, we encourage you to use electronic giving to make your gifts. Thank you!
• Follow Associated Church on Facebook Our most current updates and announcements regarding schedules will be posted to Facebook. We will also be using Facebook to livestream future worship services.
• Sign Up to Receive our Emails If you are not already receiving our emails, sign up on this form and we’ll add you to the list! We are communicating regularly via email to our members and non-members.
• Contact a Staff Member Our church office is closed to the public, but some staff are still working remotely as they are able. Contact them directly if you have questions or concerns.
• Send us a Message If you have any general comments, questions, or prayer requests, you can send us a message on Facebook Messenger! You can also contact us using our website contact form.
• Breeze Login Need a current church directory? Want to update your electronic giving? Log in to your very own Associated Church Breeze account. For questions about setting up your account, please email office@associatedchurch.org.

• Sunday Worship will not be held in-person until further notice.

We encourage you to connect with us during our livestreams (9:00 AM) on Facebook, or on this website. You can also view the last 12 weeks of worship services on-demand at OwatonnaLive.com. We will also continue to update our worship service videos on Owatonna Public Access TV (Spectrum channel 181, Jaguar channel 900) as long as city staff is also able to do so (time slots are Tuesdays at 10 AM and 8 PM, Thursdays at 10 AM and 9:30 PM).

• Wednesday Lenten Vespers will not be held in-person until further notice.

We encourage you to connect with us during our livestreams (6:30 PM) on Facebook, or on this website.

• All other activities at Associated will not be held in-person until further notice.

Please contact us with any questions, and continue to stay connected with fellow faith community members through other means (phone calls, emails, texts, Facebook, and more).

Associated Church Livestream

When a livestream is active, it will show below. Refresh the page if video is unavailable (9AM Sundays, 6:30 PM Wednesdays).

Associated Church COVID-19 Update – March 25, 2020

Letter from Pastor Coqui Conkey

Dear Church,

I am thankful that I can still go out for a walk with my sister, Judith, and our dog. I find joy in and reassurance of God’s presence in smiles and greetings along the path. I find joy and reassurance in the waves on the lake, the geese, the sound of ducks, and even the empty beach at Lake Kohlmeier. I trust the advice that getting outside with appropriate physical distances is a really great practice for our physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. Playing and laughing are also very good for our well-being. How are you playing? What makes you laugh?

Thank you for the many comments about our live-streamed worship last Wednesday and on Sunday. This practice continues today (Wednesday, March 25) and on Sunday, March 29. Gloria Sabin will speak to us Wednesday night out of her experiences. Bev and Sue will lead our music. Join us on Facebook Live or through our website.

The Governor’s Executive Order today allows a skeleton crew to prepare and lead worship. We will share our Sunday, March 29 service on Facebook Live specifically with Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ in Duluth. This is the congregation the Rev. Judith Youngman is serving as interim. She’s here in town, and we will share the joy of worship leadership! Pat Postlewaite is preaching. BTW, did you see her piece in the People’s Press?

OPPORTUNITIES FOR VIRTUAL CONVERSATION

Here are two opportunities for Zoom gatherings/meetings to give Associated folks a chance to chat. These require a computer with a microphone or your phone. You can download the Zoom app to your smartphone or tablet.

If you want to call in from a telephone, call 1-312-626-6799 and enter the meeting number when prompted. Those numbers are 936 330 611 for Thursday and 976 990 754 for Sunday.

• Afternoon Gathering: Thursday, March 26, 3:30 – https://zoom.us/j/936330611
• Java, Juice and Joy: Sunday, March 29, 10:30 (bring your own coffee) – https://zoom.us/j/976990754

FROM THE PRESBYTERY and THE CONFERENCE

Jeff Japinga and the officers of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area and Shari Prestemon of the Minnesota Conference UCC have expressed their expectations that recommendations to avoid group gatherings like worship will continue until or into May. “That includes, of course, Palm Sunday, all of Holy Week, and Easter Sunday. This is terribly difficult for us as the church to say; but right now, it must be said.” (Jeff Japinga)

The Council, Worship Ministry Team, and I will plan for these important days.

Be in touch! Blessings,

Pastor Coqui
coqui@associatedchurch.org
(518) 596-9990 (cell phone)
(507) 413-7313 (Google Voice number)

Associated Church… Who We Are:

Associated Church in Owatonna MN – a community of faith of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the United Church of Christ – is an open, diverse, and inclusive community where God’s love is shared and all persons are welcomed… those who believe, those who question, and those who hope. It is our mission to help every person grow into deeper relationships with one another and with the God we meet in Jesus Christ through:

Worship That:

• rejoices in the good news of God’s unconditional love for all
• finds wisdom, inspiration and encouragement in Christ and the Scriptures
• celebrates milestones together to strengthen our ties as a faith family
• calls each other into action as life-long disciples and faithful stewards

Nurture That:

• builds caring, significant relationships and an authentic community
• fosters relevant, everyday-life faith formation for all ages
• educates each generation to know, love, and serve the Lord
• empowers us to be leaders within our homes, communities, and beyond
• prays for God’s will in our lives and the world
• engages in meaningful conversations about our faith, our stories, and our ideas

Service That:

• works together to serve the needs of others locally and globally
• supports our denominations and the Church beyond through generous giving
• helps us discover, develop, and use our God-given gifts to fulfill Christ’s mission and ministry

Upcoming Events

March 29, 2020

8:00 am CANCELED Property Ministry Team Meeting

9:00 am ONLINE Worship

10:00 am CANCELED Java Juice and Joy Fellowship Time

10:15 am CANCELED Church School

10:30 am CANCELED Conversations in Faith

March 30, 2020

6:00 am CANCELED Lincoln School Program

10:00 am School District

7:00 pm Boy Scouts

March 31, 2020

Weekly Pulse Deadline

9:00 am TOPS

10:00 am School District

April 1, 2020

10:00 am School District

3:30 pm Mission Ministry Team Meeting

5:30 pm Congregational Life Ministry Team Meeting

5:30 pm Lenten Soup Supper

6:10 pm Handbell Choir Rehearsal

6:15 pm Wednesday Night Music & Activities

7:00 pm Associated Choir Rehearsal

7:15 pm Confirmation Class

8:00 pm Cornerstone Rehearsal