(See our Newsletter for additional details.  For our latest COVID updates, click here.)

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MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR SATURDAY, SEPT. 7TH!

A Day of Fun & Good Causes

Run 4 Loaves, BBQ Cook-Off, Tractor Pull

At Blooming Grove UMC

Open to the Public

See below for information RE each activity.  You may also call Brad Saufferer (507-363-6579) for additional details.

Click here for a Poster of the Day's Events

Click here for Run 4 the Loaves Registration Form

Click here for additional info RE the Tractor Pull

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• Run 4 the Loaves:  4 Mile Run/Walk & Kids ¼ Mile Run

Registration: 8:30 am

Kids 1/4 Mile Run: 9:15 am

4 Mile Walk: 9:30 am  

4 Mile Run: 10:00 am

Enjoy the walk or run around the 4-square mile section and feel great about supporting our area food shelves (all registration fees will go to area food shelves).  

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• “Holy Hog” BBQ Rib Cook-Off

Noon:  Food is ready!

Teams from the Prairie Lakes Parish of the United Methodist Church (Blooming Grove UMC, Janesville UMC, and Waterville Evangelical UMC) will be barbequing ribs! Spectators will have the opportunity to taste the results and vote with their wallets by placing their money in a container next to the BBQ contestant they like the most. The BBQ team that receives the highest amount of donations will be declared the best barbeque team and will be awarded the “Holy Hog” trophy. Lunch (and picnic table seating) will be available for a free-will offering.  All proceeds from this event will go to area food shelves.

 

• Farm Stock Tractor Pull

11:00 AM Weigh-Ins Begin

12:00 PM start with the “Blessing of the Tractors”

​Farm Stock tractors only, with a ten-thousand pound weight limit!  There will be 14 weight classes starting at 3,500 and below and going up in 500-pound increments to 10,000 pounds.  The pulls are twenty dollars per pull.  The Blooming Grove UMC sled “Delilah” will be on hand.   Lunch is available throughout the event for a free-will offering.   For more information, weight size, and rules contact:  Brad Saufferer @ 507-363-6579 or Larry Balzer @ 507-363-9065.  All proceeds from this event will go to our Blooming Grove UMC Accessibility Project, through which our new south addition became a reality, providing full access and welcome for all.     

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​Prairie Lakes Parish Bible Study

Thursday, September 12th – 9:30 A.M.

At Cool Wave Coffee Shop, Waterville

• New participants are welcomed at any time, with or without having read the current lesson.

 

Prayer Brunch 

Wednesday, September 18th - 11:30 A.M.

At Tucker's Tavern in Elysian​

• Prayer Brunch welcomes women and men of all ages and stages in life.

• Gather for fellowship, great conversation, and good food - along with the opportunity to share prayer requests with one another.

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Pop-Up Choir Rehearsal

Sunday, September 22nd - 9:15 - 9:30 A.M.

At Blooming Grove UMC

• Join in on a quick rehearsal after church to introduce choir selections for our October 6th Parish Combined Worship Service at Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm

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​Pop-Up Choir Rehearsal

Wednesday, September 25th - 7:15 - 8:15 P.M.

At Waterville Evangelical UMC

• Rehearsal for our October 6th Parish Combined Worship Service at Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm​​​

 

Prairie Lakes Parish Bible Study

Thursday, September 26th – 9:30 A.M.

At Cool Wave Coffee Shop, Waterville

• New participants are welcomed at any time, with or without having read the current lesson.

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Pop-Up Choir Rehearsal

Sunday, September 29th - 9:15 - 9:30 A.M.

At Blooming Grove UMC

• Join in on a quick rehearsal after church for an extra sing-through of choir selections for our October 6th Parish Combined Worship Service at Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm

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​Pop-Up Choir Rehearsal

Wednesday, October 2nd - 7:15 - 8:15 P.M.

At Blooming Grove UMC

• Rehearsal for our October 6th Parish Combined Worship Service at Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm​​​

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Prairie Lakes Parish Joint Worship Service

World-Wide Communion Sunday

Sunday, October 6th

At Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm

• Click here for a Poster of the Morning's Events

 

Bible Conversations

Date/Time TBA

At Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm, Blooming Grove Township 

• Once-a-month opportunity to join as families and friends in a new way to consider faith through fun, fellowship, and food!

• Hosted by Pastor Kathy King, we gather together to enjoy each other’s company, as well as a guided discussion - with a new faith topic each time we gather - based on the resource “Pub Theology”.

• Sponsored by churches of the Prairie Lakes Parish: Blooming Grove, Janesville, and Waterville Evangelical UMCs.

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​"The Stretch" (taking a break over the summer/fall)

Monthly Parish Book Study & Social Justice Conversations

Next Date/Time/Place TBA

Led by Cindy Saufferer

• "The Stretch" is a space with opportunities to learn, grapple, and discover how we show up as love in the world through justice-related topics.  You can expect articles, book suggestions, informed discussion spaces, and a plethora of ways to experience what it means to be Christ in the world. New participants are invited to join in at any time, with or without having read the current book.   All are welcome in the circle!​  Contact Cindy Saufferer with any questions and/or if you would like assistance in ordering a book

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