Invite them and they will come! The Twin Cities congregation had the pleasure of welcoming families from a record 12 states! Never before had brethren travelled from so many states to participate in the weekend’s activities and events, which took place March 2-4, 2012. Those unable to make the journey could join in the Friday night Bible study, Sabbath services, as well as the interactive workshops via live webcast and telephone hookup.

The theme for the weekend was “Joined and Knit Together,” taken from Ephesians 4:12-16. The participants celebrated this milestone weekend in a spirit of truly being joined and knit together as the very people of God. UCG president Dennis Luker was the weekend’s keynote speaker.

Brian Shaw, pastor of the Minneapolis/St. Paul, Little Falls, and Duluth, Minnesota, congregations, kicked off the weekend by conducting the Friday-night Bible study entitled “Bound and Knit Together: A review of the unifying principles in the fourth chapter of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.”

Dennis Luker provided rich spiritual food with his sermon “Joined and Knit Together by God’s Love.”After a brief coffee break, Brian and ReNae Shaw and Dave and Jolinda Schreiber, who serve the La Crosse, Wisconsin, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Southern Minnesota congregations, as well as the brethren in Sri Lanka and India, conducted two concurrent interactive workshops.

The Shaws presented an interactive seminar entitled “His & Her Thinking: Relational implications of gender differences in God’s design of the human brain.”The Schreibers facilitated an interactive workshop entitled “Joined & Knit Together: Part of being joined and knit together is for the body to edify itself in love.”In the seminar, the Schreibers explored the ways we can individually and collectively edify the body of Christ.

The Marriott catering service opened up the evening by serving a delectable white-linen, three-course meal to the adults and children, and also separately to the teens attending the prom. The two well-attended signature events were the fun show and the teen prom.

The fun show provided an evening for everyone to showcase their talents, passions and abilities with song, music, readings and more to the delight of the many attending the event! At the same time, a majestic moment awaited all the fair maidens and gents at the “Royal Ball,”the theme for the teen dinner and prom. 32 ladies and 22 gentlemen, including 7 graduating seniors, heeded the call to attend this memorable event.

Due to last year’s record participation and back by popular demand, Sunday’s activity again took place at the Water Park of America—America’s biggest indoor water park showcasing the natural wonders of Minnesota. A fellowship room with direct water park access provided the perfect haven for all non-swimmers.

However, the highlight of the weekend was the early Sabbath morning baptisms of Cody Martin and Kaylee Randle! With one baptism last year and two this year; Brian Shaw noted that we might have three or four baptisms next year to continue this trend. Who knows?