JOYFUL SPIRIT UNITED METHODIST CHURCH


Joyful Spirit and UCC:


Joyful Spirit and UCC Partnership

This is where our worship services are held almost every Sunday. The UCC is graciously hosting us while we make plans to build our own church. Everyone at the UCC has made our transition into shared space so smooth. Our land has been purchased and the blueprints have been drawn but until it's built, our home is here, with the UCC Church Family. We are so very grateful for their radical hospitality.

Education Building

Our offices are located in the "Education Building", attached to the UCC Church. The window in this picture is the pastor's office, just inside the door to the right. The administrative office is located just down the hall on the left. Our Administrative Assistant, Donna Mayo-Fearing, along with our Finance Team, Treasurer, Marilynn Uselman and Finance Secretary, Sandi Pratt, share this office with UCC's staff. The UCC's generosity with shared space is above and beyond!

Entrance to Worship

When coming to worship with us, we recommend you use the street entry at the rear of the church, facing 1st Street SW. We call this the Thoene Addition. Both churches have signs posted there as well and the sidewalk is heated for winter so there is no ice or snow on the walk in front of the doors. Additionally, entering here allows you immediate access to the elevator, just inside the doors to the left, and coat racks are also conveniently located here.

First Congregational United Church of Christ (UCC)

CHURCH BUILDING AND OFFICES CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC. PLEASE EMAIL OR CALL AND LEAVE A MESSAGE USING THE CONTACT INFORMATION BELOW.

DUE TO COVID-19, ALL CHURCH SERVICES ARE CURRENTLY ONLINE AT UCC'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Click on the link above to visit UCC's YouTube Channel

Pr. Jim Stoneman, Email: stonemans56482@yahoo.com

Pr. Cindy Lemke, Youth Ministry, Email: clemke514@gmail.com

Tonia Dirks, Administrative Assistant, Email: tmdirks@yahoo.com

Address: 110 Colfax Avenue SW, Wadena, MN 56482

Phone: 218-631-4646

Church Office Email: firstwadenaucc@gmail.com


Inside Thoene Addition

Entering at the street level, this is looking out onto 1st Street SW. As mentioned, this is the best door to enter to get to the sanctuary where weekly worship is held. Especially in the winter because the sidewalk here is heated.

Inside Thoene Addition

Looking up toward the sanctuary while standing at street level in the Thoene Addition, the elevator is to the left here and the steps lead up to the doors into the sanctuary.

Parking

You can park on the street as you can see the vehicle here through the window. On Sundays, the church is allowed to put out the handicap parking signs for street-side parking right at the doors into the Thoene Addition.

Parking, Option 2

Or you can park in the lot behind the church as you can see here in the photo above. There is also overflow parking next to the business located next to the church (Sundays Only) or you can park down 1st Street SW, across from Super One Foods in the parking lot of a business that is no longer open.

Fellowship

The sign posted out in front has both church names, thanks to our UCC Host. We start our fellowship at the top of the hour, 10:00 am, before our worship service, while UCC is still in their service (which begins at 9:30 am). Then their church family joins us at 10:30 am and we fellowship together until we head up to our service which begins at 11:00 am.

Fellowship Space

We fellowship together in the church basement, which is easy to get to when you enter through the Thoene Addition.

Beautiful Kitchen

The UCC is outfitted with a beautiful and efficient kitchen space that makes it easy for us to offer coffee and rolls and more!

The Thoene Addition has a split level for easy access to the basement for fellowship. The elevator goes down to the basement level and up to the sanctuary - very convenient indeed!

There is a nice waiting area here that many appreciate, especially with regard to special events and holidays.

This is the steps leading up to the sanctuary space - there are two doorways into the sanctuary.

This is another photo of the fellowship space. Huge windows make for beautiful, natural lighting and an open feeling even though you are in a church basement. The UCC recently added special tiles to the ceiling so that sound would be improved in this space.

Church Windows

This church building is a beautiful historical site as well - the windows are full of character.

Inside Alternate Doors to Sanctuary

Wide spaces available for those with disabilities, those with children, and/or elderly or low mobility.

Looking From the Back of the Sanctuary

The Sanctuary has great lighting, great sound, and not only has a grand piano, but also an electric piano, and an organ.