EPUMC WEEKLY MEMO

You Are WELCOME AT

EDEN PRAIRIE

UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Empowered by God's love, we are a community of Christ's disciples, centered in worship and fellowship with:

OPEN HEARTS to live and serve with compassion and to share God's love

OPEN MINDS to seek spiritual formation and encourage each person's faith journey

OPEN DOORS to invite and welcome all to join in discipleship

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WORSHIP TIMES & STAFF

Weekly Memo from Prairie Church – June 1, 2008

Blessings to you. This Sunday we continue with our summer worship schedule: One worship service at 9:30 a.m. in the sanctuary, followed by a time of fellowship. The summer we will again participate in the Wednesday night “traveling worship” services with five United Methodist Churches in the southwestern suburbs, beginning June 11 at Discovery United Methodist Church in Chanhassen.

A Prairie Church tradition is: “Graduation Sunday”. It is a time to honor the young people from our church who are graduating from High School. They will be participating in the worship service. The theme is based on Psalm 46 and Matthew 7:24-29. Several of the graduates will be sharing their faith story with us.

The Chancel Choir will sing. Communion will be served.

Following worship a special reception will be hosted in honor of the graduates in Fellowship Hall.

The Annual Conference meeting in St. Cloud will be concluding tomorrow afternoon (Friday). Those attending the Annual Conference from Prairie Church were: Ginger Eddy and Jean Myers (Lay members), Don Prestly as a member of the Conference Committee on Episcopacy, and Rev. Linda Evans, Pastor Lisa Dodd and myself as clergy. We will bring a report to you on a Sunday (to be determined) in June.

This is an exciting week for the graduates and their families. It is a time of joy, yet it is also a wistful time, as we watch youth grow into adulthood. In this time of transition and chance, I invite you to hold the graduates and their families in prayer. Here is a prayer for graduates that is included in our United Methodist Book of Worship.

God of truth and knowledge, by your wisdom we are taught the way and the truth.

Bless the graduates as they now finish their course of study.

We thank you for those who taught and worked beside them,

and all who supported them along the way.

Walk with them as they leave and move forward in life.

Take away their anxiety and confusion of purpose.

Strengthen their many talents and skills.

Instill in them a confidence in the future you give them, where energies may be gathered up

and used for the good of all people; for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen.

This Sunday, let us celebrate with these young people, the next step in their journey of life as we give them our blessing and love. I look forward to seeing you in the sanctuary at 9:30 a.m. this Sunday.

[Following the violent storms that hit the Hugo and Coon Rapids areas on May 25, the Minnesota Annual Conference Early Disaster Response Team was in the region assisting with debris cleanup. Please keep the people of this region, along with the trained volunteers and professionals who are serving them, in your prayers. If you would like to donate to help those who were affected, you can send your donation to The Hugo Relief Funds at: Lake Area Bank, 1400 E. Highway 96, White Bear Lake, MN 55110 (651-653-9619); or U.S. Bank, 14431 Forest Blvd N., Hugo, MN 55038 (651-429-7758).]

Be Blessed,

Pastor Mike Miller

mikem@prairiechurch.org

Weekly Memo from Prairie Church – June 8, 2008

Blessings to you. This Sunday we continue with our summer worship schedule: One worship service at 9:30 a.m. in the sanctuary, followed by a time of fellowship.

This Sunday we will begin a four-week focus on evangelism! The worship service this Sunday grows out of the teaching from Matthew 9:9-13; 18-26. The title of Pastor Lisa’s message is “Keeping That Garage Sale Spirit”. The Welcoming Ministry Team will also invite you to assist in our hospitality efforts. Those who feel called to be part of the welcoming ministry in their neighborhood will be invited to take a small gift to those who join us for worship as first time guests. Come see a short and humorous drama about this exciting next step in extending our welcome to others.

Special worship music will be provided by the Men’s Quintet.

Thanks to all who contributed to the special Russia Initiative offering to help build a church in St. Petersburg. Last Sunday we received $1,446. Our gifts along with the gifts of other United Methodists in Minnesota will help us reach the goal of $600,000. Thank you for your generosity.

This summer we will again participate in the Wednesday night “traveling worship” services with five United Methodist Churches in the southwestern suburbs, beginning this coming Wednesday, June 11^th, at Discovery United Methodist Church in Chanhassen, 275 Lake Drive (turn left at the light by McDonald’s on Highway 5 west, and then a quick right onto Lake Drive). Prior to the service, Rev. Fritz Sauer will lead a discussion about the DVD "One Consistent Message of Hope”, with a focus on “Prayer”. The group time (6:15pm-7:00pm) consists of viewing a 10 to 15 minute DVD (featuring Rob Bell) followed by discussion. The worship service starts at 7:00pm.

As we seek to live the way of Christ, I offer you the following prayer for reflection and challenge, written by Joyce Rupp:

Spirit of God, you are the stirring in our hearts.

You urge us to get going. You prompt us to follow.

You encourage us not to give up.

You call us to open our minds and our hearts to receive your energizing,

transforming radiance.

Make us receptive so that we will follow your loving movement within our lives.

We trust in your powerful presence within us. Amen

This Sunday, let us celebrate through worship the ways God is at work in our lives as we share God’s love with our neighbor. Worship at 9:30 a.m. this Sunday.

Be Blessed,

Pastor Mike Miller

mikem@prairiechurch.org

Weekly Memo from Prairie Church – June 15, 2008

Grace and peace to you and your household. We continue with our summer worship schedule: One worship service at 9:30 a.m. in the sanctuary, followed by a time of fellowship.

This Sunday our worship service continues with the theme of evangelism, based on Jesus’ challenge to his followers as told in Matthew 9:35-10:8. The title of my message is “Named for A Purpose”. The Welcoming Ministry Team will again invite you to assist in our hospitality efforts. Those who feel called to be part of the welcoming ministry in their neighborhood will be invited to take a small gift to those who join us for worship as first time guests. Worship this Sunday will also include the sacrament of communion.

The “summer choir” will sing. If you wish to sing with the group this Sunday, come for a rehearsal at 8:30 a.m. All are welcome to join the choir for this Sunday, and male voices would especially be appreciated! If you can sing and want to be part of this fun group, contact Don Prestly at the church at (952) 937-8781, send him an email at donp@prairiechurch.org or show up on Sunday morning in the choir rehearsal room (Room 7).

Thanks to all who contributed to the special Russia Initiative offering to help build a church in St. Petersburg. Last Sunday we received additional gifts, bringing our total to $2,266. Our gifts, along with the gifts of other United Methodists in Minnesota, will help us reach the goal of $600,000. Thank you for your generosity.

This summer we are again participating in the Wednesday night “traveling worship” services with five United Methodist Churches in the southwestern suburbs. This coming Wednesday, June 18^th, we will be at Hopkins United Methodist Church. It’s my turn to give the message this coming week! The church is located on the north side of Highway 7 between Hwy 169 and Hopkins Crossroad. Turn at the 12^th Avenue stoplight by the Eisenhower Community Center. Prior to the service, Rev. Fritz Sauer will lead a discussion with a focus on “Noise”. The group time (6:15pm-7:00pm) consists of viewing a 10 to 15 minute DVD (featuring Rob Bell) followed by discussion. The worship service starts at 7:00pm.

The Sacred Space Ministry Team is asking all of us to complete a questionnaire regarding our impressions and experience of the church building and outdoor property. You can complete a hardcopy or go online to the church website. The responses gathered will be compiled and shared at several congregational gatherings this summer and fall. I encourage you to participate in this important process.

I offer you the following “morning prayer” by John O’Donohue, from his book: To Bless the Space Between Us. It is a good prayer to start each day of your week.

All that is eternal in me welcomes the wonder of this day.

The field of brightness it creates offering time for each thing to arise and illuminate.

May my mind come alive today to the invisible geography

that invites me to new frontiers,

to break the dead shell of yesterdays,

to risk being disturbed and changed.

May I have the courage today to live the life that I love,

To postpone my dream no longer,

But do at last what I came here for and waste my heart on fear no more. Amen.

I look forward to seeing you in the sanctuary as we remember through word, sacrament and faith community the ways in which God is among us, calling us to transform the world with the grace and love of Jesus Christ. Worship at 9:30 a.m. this Sunday.

Remember: You belong to a Welcoming Congregation! Wear your name badge!

Be Blessed,

Pastor Mike Miller

mikem@prairiechurch.org

Weekly Memo from Prairie Church – June 22, 2008

Abundant blessings to you and your household. We continue with our summer worship schedule: One worship service at 9:30 a.m. in the sanctuary, followed by a time of fellowship.

This Sunday our worship service continues with the theme of evangelism and discipleship. In our scripture reading this Sunday, Jesus outlines his expectations for following him. Read about it in the Gospel of Matthew 10:24-39. The title of my message is “Daring Discipleship”.

The Praise Band will provide musical leadership for our worship service.

This Sunday we joyfully celebrate the sacrament of baptism for Thomas Jerald (T.J.) Prodoehl and Benjamin Michael Kleman as their families and sponsors join them.

This summer we are again participating in the Wednesday night “traveling worship” services with five other United Methodist Churches in the southwestern suburbs. This coming Wednesday, June 25^th, we will be at Excelsior United Methodist Church. The church is located on the south side of Highway 7. Turn south at the Christmas Lake Road stoplight and follow the road that parallels the highway. A blue United Methodist Church sign will also direct you to the location. Prior to the service, Rev. Fritz Sauer will lead a discussion with a focus on “Rhythm”. The group time (6:15pm-7:00pm) consists of viewing a 10 to 15 minute DVD (featuring Rob Bell) followed by discussion. The worship service starts at 7:00pm.

We received a call this morning from the family of Barbara Turner, telling us that she died this past week. A funeral service will be held to honor her life and witness to the resurrection on Tuesday, June 24, at 10:30 a.m. at the Washburn McReavey Funeral Chapel on Mitchell Road. Visitation at 9:30 a.m.

This week we officially transition from spring to summer. Summer has been cautious in arriving. The following prayer by Jo Poore comes from the Earth Prayers book. It invites us to experience the movement of the seasons and to be in harmony with all that is around us:

Mother, Father, God, Universal Power. Remind us daily of the sanctity of all life.

Touch our hearts with the glorious oneness of all creation,

As we strive to respect all the living beings on this planet.

Penetrate our souls with the beauty of this earth,

As we attune ourselves to the rhythm and flow of the seasons.

Awaken our minds with the knowledge to achieve a world in perfect harmony

And grant us the wisdom to realize that we can have heaven on earth.

Remember: You belong to a Welcoming Congregation! Wear your name badge!!

Be Blessed,

Pastor Mike Miller

mikem@prairiechurch.org

Weekly Memo from Prairie Church – June 29, 2008

Summertime greetings to you and your household. During the warm summer months we have one worship service at 9:30 a.m. in the sanctuary, followed by a time of fellowship.

This Sunday our worship service continues with the theme of evangelism and discipleship. In our scripture reading this Sunday, Jesus invites his followers (including us) to offer a “cup of cold water” to a stranger as a sign of hospitality and grace. Read this important teaching in the Gospel of Matthew 10:40-42. The title of my message is “Holy Hospitality”.

We have been designated as a “welcoming congregation” by the United Methodist Church, so it is a good time to reflect once again on how we are called to live this out. An important part of holy hospitality at our church is wearing your name badge. Please be sure to put it on when you arrive at church. Name tags help save embarrassment when our memories fail, and they also help us identify who is visiting.

This summer we are again participating in the Wednesday night “traveling worship” services with five other United Methodist Churches in the southwestern suburbs. This is a “skip week”. Because of Independence Day celebrations and travel, we are taking a break. The worship services will resume on Wednesday, July 9^th when we gather at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in St. Louis Park. We will be hosting the worship the following week (July 16). I encourage you to support this ministry and to welcome other United Methodists to our church on that evening.

The following Celtic saying invites us to think about “Holy Hospitality” in our homes and in our church. It comes from the Worship Book of the Iona Community:

We saw a stranger yesterday,

We put food in the eating place,

Drink in the drinking place,

Music in the listening place

And, with the sacred name of the Triune God,

He blessed us and our house,

Our cattle and our dear ones.

As the Lark says in her song:

Often, often, often, goes Christ in the stranger’s guise.

See you in the sanctuary this Sunday as we share the hospitality of God’s grace with all who gather. Worship at 9:30 a.m. this Sunday.

Be Blessed,

Pastor Mike Miller

mikem@prairiechurch.org

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