|
® |
EDEN PRAIRIE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH |
|
|
Pastor Mike Miller September is OPEN HOUSE MONTH at our church! This past spring, at the
Annual Conference gathering, Bishop John L. Hopkins declared September to
be “Open House Month” for the United Methodist congregations of
Minnesota. Nearly all of us have “open house” experience either hosting one in
our home, or attending an “open house” as a guest. A church “open
house” is similar. Invitations are sent, the “home” is prepared for
the guests, the hosts welcome the guests and make sure that they feel
welcome and at ease in their home. The same skills of hospitality, which
we practice when guests come to our home, can be applied when we welcome
guests to our church home. Many people have been hard at work during the summer, getting ready to
welcome guests, not only during September, but also in the weeks and
months that follow. Here are some of the highlights of our preparation,
completed or underway: The invitation, planning and preparation are all key elements in being a welcoming church. But YOU ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PART of the entire process. Our welcome statement, (printed on our weekly worship bulletin), our creatively designed invitations, our informative brochures, guest packets and our newly trimmed shrubbery will have little impact if we do not offer a warm and sincere welcome to all who join us for worship during “Open House Month” and the weeks that follow. Look for someone you do not know and introduce yourself to them. It may be a member who is re-connecting with the church, or a new resident in our community. Take the risk. Greet them and introduce yourself. We have designated September as “Open House Month”. I see this month as a time to renew and improve the art of welcoming guests to our church year ‘round, so that all who come will experience through us, God’s acceptance and love and find among us a place to belong.
A b o u t u s . . . . . Baptism: August 11, 2002 Jordan Laine Puegner, son of Jocelyn Puegner Weddings: August 17, 2002 James Grimmer and Tiffany Sherman
“Remembering 9/11 Day” At Prairie Church September 8—Rally Sunday— September 11—7:30-8:00 p.m. (a 1/2 hour worship service of prayer and reflection will be held in the sanctuary.
FALL/WINTER/SPRING - WEDNESDAY EVENING SCHEDULE AT EPUMC 6:30-7:30 P.M. Women’s Book Group Carol Strate Hand ‘N Hand 6:30-7:00 P.M. Prairie Kids Choir Martha Campe Mouse Room 6:30-7:25 P.M. Adult Handbells Ann Johnson Sanctuary 7:30-9:00 P.M. Chancel Choir Don Prestly Sanctuary
YOUTH—GRADES 5 thru 9 7:00-7:20 P.M. Game/Drama – 5/6th Fellowship Hall Game/Drama – 7/8th Buttercup Rooms 1&2 Game/Drama – 9th Youth Room/Entry 7:25-8:00 P.M. Small Group #1 Buttercup 2 Small Group #2 Buttercup 1 Small Group #3 Sunflower Small Group #4 Sumac 1 Small Group #5 Sumac 2 Small Group #6 Baby’s Breath Small Group #7 Library Small Group #8 Youth Room Small Group #9 Computer/Mouse Room Small Group #10 Fellowship Hall
8:05-8:30 P.M. WORSHIP – Gr 5 to 9 Fellowship Hall
Building Awareness – Habitat for Humanity Excitement Builds! Only a few more weeks before our Habitat for Humanity building project begins! Monday through Friday, September 23 to 27 is our BIG week. We will be working with people from Minnetonka United Methodist Church. Our own Rich Dohrmann will be the project manager. He, along with people from the Habitat organization, will oversee the project during our work week. Several people with experience from previous builds have signed up again – Ruth and Dick Nubson, LeAnn Hookom, Fran Dohrmann, Greg Allen, Scott and Shirley Hutchins,Terry Rockwell. Pat Nash has recruited a group of students and adults for one of the days. But between the two churches, we need about fifteen builders per day and we still need more help. No experience is needed to be a part of this rewarding project. Crew leaders, who are volunteers with building knowledge, will give directions and demonstrations each day. And then the crews will work together, maybe even with the owner family, to build someone’s dream home! The work day is approximately 8:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. More exact details will be available soon. The building site in Burnsville will have eleven Habitat homes built on it – five twin homes and one single family home. They are being built on a new street called Aspen Grove Lane. The name Aspen Grove was chosen to reflect the philosophy of the site planners. Aspen trees grow in an unusual way. An entire grove is often completely connected beneath the ground with new trees sprouting from one source tree and one extensive root system. The idea behind grouping these Habitat homes together is to develop a community of families who have a common bond and who can connect with and nurture each other - like a grove of Aspen trees. This concept fits well with the motto of Twin Cities’ Habitat for Humanity: “Building Community”. The Social Action Ministry Team invites you to join the excitement. Recruit your friends. Plan to make new friends. Make a donation. Experience the fulfillment of putting beliefs into actions. CAN WE DO IT? With your help, YES, WE CAN! (Questions? Contact Vicki Lindquist at 952-934-1015 or vlindquist@aol.com) Here are ways you could help build a house Contribute: $10 to buy 1 smoke detector $25 to buy 2 bedroom light fixtures or 100# of nails $50 to buy a kitchen sink $75 to buy 1 toilet $100 to buy 2 interior doors $150 to buy a pre-hung entry door $200 to buy 1 window unit $250 to buy 1 garage door $500 to buy basement waterproofing and insulation $750 to buy a refrigerator and stove or plumbing fixtures$1000 to provide drywall finishing or kitchen cabinets
PROP JULY UPDATE “People Reaching Out to Other People” (PROP) PROP assisted over 700 EP & Chanhassen families in 2001 PROP gives a nutritionally balanced 4-day supply of food to families in need. Our area churches have contributed to our success in helping others. Thank you. . .from the bottom of our hearts!
PRAIRIE CHURCH WEB PAGE Address: www.prairiechurch.org Find: “Tumbleweed” and bulletin announcements Church staff listed: e-mail them directly from page Links to Methodist Church at large/special articles!
|
