Decorah church holds a Ministry Fair

(Left to right): Ezri Dowden, puppeteer (behind screen); Janis Mineart, coordinator of Puppets of Praise ministry; Kiana Folkedahl, Carter and Olivia Rissman watching the puppet show; Marlys Cook and Darlene Graves enjoying Fair food.

Decorah's First United Methodist Church has held a "Bubble Up Ministry Fair" to publicize 15 ministries at the church--some traditional and some brand new.  Like at a county fair, church members could wander from table to table, learning more about each ministry.  

Many of the church's ministries are referred to as "Bubble Up" ministries.  They did not originate in a committee but "bubbled up" from the hearts and minds of members.  So far there are three new Bubble Up Ministries at the church--"Sharing Bread," a way to share home cooked meals with each other; "Reconciling Congregations," teaching ways to be more inclusive in worship and ministries; and "Let's Get Moooving," a fitness and health ministry using a cow motif. 

Children also colored pictures of mosquitoes as they "Imagined No Malaria" and learned more about "Justice For Our Neighbors," an ecumenical program to support immigrants in legal citizenship or other needs.