Our Congregation |
 |
|
As a United Methodist congregation, we welcome everyone with Open Hearts, Open Minds, and Open Doors. Belgrade Avenue United Methodist Church currently has 582 full members, or 250 family units. We are located in south central Minnesota in Nicollet County, about 90 miles southwest of the Twin Cities, just across the river from Minnesota State University, Mankato. Our church is wheelchair accessible, and a nursery is provided for small children. We also have a "quiet room" available at the back of our Sanctuary for parents with restless children.
Our Church Council adopted the BAUMC mission statement, Every Member a Minister: Inviting, Nurturing, Sending, in 1990, believing in the vision of shared ministry. The heart of ministry is relations between God and people, people and people, and church people and those in the community and world. Ministry takes place through the church as our human needs encounter God's desire to meet those needs through love. This church has discovered the miracle of ministry, and as a result the relationships involved are highly valued. The people of this church fully expect to encounter God, one another, and the world as we engage in ministry together. The result is truly life-giving!
The life-giving, nurturing and maturing BAUMC tree logo was adopted by the Church Council in 1991, symbolizing that we are a community of people growing together in faith. As people of God seeking God's will for our lives, we come together to grow in God's love and spirit.
PINS help us remember who we are and what we are about. In our mission statement, we agree to proclaim the good news of God, invite all people to hear this word, nurture them as they mature in their faith, and send them forth as disciples to do the word. PINS - proclaim, invite, nurture, and send.
|
Our Staff: |
The Reverend Bart A. Fletcher was appointed to serve as the Pastor of Belgrade Avenue United Methodist Church in June 2006.
Our Youth Pastor, Jeff Fitzkappes, works with youth, parents, and counselors to plan and carry out our youth ministry program. This involves recruiting volunteers, helping to select resources, and developing special programs like retreats, mission trips, and camps.
Our Children's Coordinator works with children, parents, counselors, and the congregation to set goals, plan, prepare, and execute the children's ministry program. The coordinator's work involves recruiting and training children's ministry volunteers, leaders, and teachers. As the staff resource person with our Children's Education & Children and Family ministry areas, the coordinator also works with the leaders of our various children's programs, including our summer camp, Christmas program, and Vacation Bible School.
Our Administrative Assistant is Bonnie Weingartz. Lowell & Jean Johnson and Glen Seigfried are our Newsletter Assistants. Glen Seigfried and Teresa Pratt are our Financial Assistants. Our organists are Mary Purrier, Della Luing, and Susan Palmer. Our Custodial Staff is led by Gwen Hawes, and our Nursery is lovingly supervised by Tina Guth, Evelyn Adams, and Katie Burton-Smith.
BAUMC also supports Gordon and Ardell Graner as missionaries in Bolivia, South America.
|
| Office Hours: |
The BAUMC office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 12:00 PM.
Pastor Bart's days off are Friday & Saturday (except for weeks with weddings).
|
| Office Guidelines: |
Information for the Sunday bulletin should be in the church office by 10:00 AM on Wednesday.
Information for the semi-weekly newsletter should be in the church office by 10:00 AM on the Friday preceeding the newsletter. |
