Although we are not even half way through summer, I want to let you know of some exciting plans for this coming fall and winter. This fall we will launch a new ministry of evangelism and outreach called “The Music and Fine Arts Ministry.”

The vision for this idea has been slowly taking shape in my head. Early this spring, several things came together to make it possible. It began with our Lenten series on Wednesday evenings as we talked and prayed together about the GREAT CHALLENGE, issued by our Annual Conference. We had great discussions and sharing of ideas. The one that was the most challenging for us was “Asking”. We were not sure we wanted to share the Good News of God’s love with others, because it felt like “imposing” our beliefs and ideas on others. But even if we did want to invite or ask others, we were not sure about how to proceed.

During that time an idea was brewing in my head. I thought: “what if we could develop a ministry of drama and music that would provide us with an opportunity to ask or invite others to experience God’s love through Jesus Christ?” I was excited about the possibility of this idea, but was also aware of the financial reality needed to support an effort like this. I knew there was no money in the budget! In the past year we have been committed to balancing our budget and paying our apportionments in full.

As this vision was taking shape in my head, I had lunch with a couple from the church. In our conversation we talked about the “next steps” for Prairie Church. I shared this vision with them. Little did I know that God had planted a seed in their hearts during that conversation. Several weeks later they came to me and offered to provide funding to help launch this exciting ministry.

Knowing that funding was available I began to develop a more specific plan that would help define and launch this ministry. This is what I wrote about the Music and Fine Arts Series

Vision: 

Offer the Christian message through musical concerts and drama presentations in worship or special independent events by guest artists and members of Prairie Church as a key component in the evangelism ministry of EPUMC.

Purpose: 

Strengthen the welcoming and evangelism ministry of Prairie Church through invitation, hospitality, follow- up and engagement.  Create a higher profile for EPUMC in the immediate and surrounding communities.

Provide an opportunity for the congregation to share the ministry of EPUMC with those who attend the series.

Provide ways to engage community people in drama and music who might not initially choose to participate in a regular worship service or spiritual growth experience.

Provide ways for the Prairie Church music and drama programs to be given higher visibility by bringing in guest musicians/artists who can supplement existing music groups.

Affirm the value of diversity by offering various musical styles, groups or drama.

Strategy:

Host at least 2 high profile, outside musical artists or groups each year.

Develop mailing lists and network for church in general and fine arts series in particular.

Use series to raise money for community service agencies such as PROP or Meals On Wheels, etc.

Develop an advertising budget as well as a marketing team to promote the series through paid ads and

Informational articles in Southwestern Suburbs.

At this time an advisory committee has been formed to help launch this vision: Linda Evans, Don Prestly, Brenda Starkey, Steve Wall and Pastor Mike Miller. The group is working on the preliminary ideas for advertising/marketing, hospitality, and scheduling of the events at least three years out.

It is important to note that this series will only be effective with the support of the congregation at large as we invite others to these special events, and in particular by small groups working to provide welcome, hospitality, advertising and marketing. If this series is only seen as “entertainment” for the current congregation we will have missed the mark. It must be seen as a key evangelism strategy for our church. Later this summer as the Shared Ministry Team meets, they will begin the process of recruitment for the support teams needed to make this venture an effective tool for evangelism.

For the coming year, we will schedule most of our special events on Sunday mornings during worship. We already have an effective support system in place for welcoming, hospitality, etc. After we have a bit of practice we will expand our events into other times. Right now we have the following events in place for the coming year:

 

• Barbary Coast Dixieland Band – November 7 (in worship)

• Martin Luther King Dramatization portrayed by Warren Boles of the Mixed Blood Theatre – January 16, 2005 (in worship)

• Partners In Praise Girls Choir – April 24 (in worship)

We are currently exploring the possibility of hosting the following musicians and groups in our 2 –3 year plan:

• Robert (Robby) Robinson (Gospel soloist)

• Ken Medema (composer, singer, keyboard)

• Bethune Cookman Chorale (College Choir from Daytona Beach, Florida – one of our historic United Methodist Black Colleges)

• Cantus (Men’s choral group which began at St. Olaf College)

• The drama component will be developed over the next year and hopefully will be in operation by 2006.

I am excited about the possibility for the ways in which this ministry can help us grow in our experience of being a welcoming and invitational congregation. If you are interested in helping with this project in any way (advertising, planning, hosting, hospitality, graphics), please let me know.

Recently, a writer from the new Eden Prairie Magazine who was writing an article on specialized ministries in the community churches interviewed me. I was pleased to be able to explain this series. The article will be included in the September issue!! I am convinced that God has been at work in all of this, and is not finished with the possibilities! Part of the Great Challenge is “expect God to do great things among us.” Surely, God is among us and with us as we do GREAT THINGS FOR GOD!

Students, sign up on the youth board in the narthex.

Parents, we desperately need your help driving and chaperoning for the events. Please call Bruce Webster at home @ 952/944-1967 or cell @ 612/590-5864 to sign up for the following:

Let’s make it a fun-filled and service-filled summer for our youth! Please volunteer to help with these exciting and enriching activities to benefit our youth and others.