EPUMC WEEKLY PASTORAL MEMOS

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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

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WORSHIP TIMES & STAFF

Weekly Memo from Prairie Church – March 2, 2008

God’s grace and peace to you in these days of Lent. If you have not yet attended a Wednesday evening Lenten Taizé service or enjoyed the fellowship of the weekly soup supper, make plans to come this Wednesday: 6 p.m. – soup supper; 6:45 – Taizé Prayer Service.

This Sunday we will read the story of Jesus healing the man born blind from the Gospel of John 4:5-42. This Sunday the Rev. Linda Evans will be preaching. The title of her message, based on this reading is “Do We See? Do We Believe?” Linda will also share with us her gift for including drama in worship.

The Chancel Choir will sing at both worship services. Special music led by a small “band” will also play music during the worship service. This Sunday, Jeanette Parr has graciously agreed to provide interim music leadership as we begin the search for a new keyboard/organist. I will be taking some vacation time this week. Pastor Lisa will assist in leading the worship service.

As we continue to grow in our understanding and expression of being a “Welcoming Congregation”, I would like to remind you to wear your name badge each time you come to worship or other events in the church. Although we are not a mega church, we are not so small that we know everyone’s name. PLEASE WEAR YOUR NAME BADGE EACH WEEK and save yourself or another person some embarrassment! Your name badge also helps the greeters and the pastors identify the visitors more readily on Sundays. Thanks for being intentional with this simple but very important request.

Last week I came across this prayer as I was looking for materials and ideas for worship. It is written by Kate McIlhagga.

Into a dark world a snowdrop comes

A blessing of hope and peace

Carrying within it a green heart

A symbol of God’s renewing love.

Come to inhabit our darkness Lord Christ,

For dark and light are alike to you.

May nature’s white candles of hope remind us of your birth

And lighten our journey through Lent and beyond.

Gather to remember and experience the promise of God’s light and grace as you worship this Sunday at 9:00 or 10:30 a.m. in the sanctuary.

Be Blessed,

Pastor Mike Miller

mikem@prairiechurch.org

Weekly Memo from Prairie Church – March 9, 2008

God’s grace and peace to you in these days of Lent. Next Wednesday evening is the last of our mid-week Taizé worship service. Come at 6 pm for the weekly soup supper, and then stay for the Taizé Prayer Service from 6:45-7 pm in the Sanctuary.

This Sunday the worship service is based on the raising of Lazarus from the Gospel of John 11:1-45. Pastor Lisa Dodd will be preaching. The title of her message is “Hope Will Hold Us”. A special drama will also be presented from the GNN (Good News Network).

The Adult Handbells will provide special music at both worship services. Also joining us to lead the worship music will be Daniel Cherrix. Daniel is a candidate for the Organist/Accompanist position. I will be taking this Sunday as vacation but will be back in the office on Monday afternoon, March 10.

We are moving closer to Holy Week as we retell the story of the last week of Jesus’ mortal life. Palm/Passion Sunday marks the beginning of this journey to the cross. It will include a procession with palms as well as several stories of discipleship. We will gather for a “Maundy Thursday Family Feast” on Thursday evening, March 20 at 6 pm. Reservations are needed for the main course. Sign up on the insert sheet in the worship bulletin. Good Friday worship on March 21 will be in the sanctuary, as the Chancel Choir and Chamber Ensemble lead us in a Tenebrae service (increasing darkness) as they present the Cantata “The Shadow of the Cross”. We will end the worship service by passing the cross, used during our Wednesday night worship services. Easter Sunday will include the familiar songs of the day and end with our church tradition of singing the “Hallelujah Chorus”. These worship services are very special and are great opportunities for sharing them with friends and neighbors, especially those who do not have a church home.

As we continue to grow in our understanding and expression of being a “Welcoming Congregation”, I would like to remind you to PLEASE WEAR YOUR NAME BADGE EACH WEEK and save yourself or another person some embarrassment! Your name badge also helps the greeters and the pastors identify the visitors more readily on Sundays.

Last week I received the following prayer from a member of the congregation. It has been around for a number of years in various forms. It gives us perspective on our lives and helps us find hope even in the places where we may not see it.

I asked for strength, and I was given challenges to make me strong.

I asked for wisdom, and I was given problems to solve.

I asked for prosperity, and I was given the ability to work.

I asked for courage, and I was given danger to overcome.

I asked for love, and I was given troubled people to help.

I asked for favors, and I was given opportunities.

I received nothing I wanted,

Yet I received everything I needed!

Gather to remember and experience the promise of God’s hope and love in all of life as you worship this Sunday at 9:00 or 10:30 a.m. in the sanctuary.

Be Blessed,

Pastor Mike Miller

mikem@prairiechurch.org

Weekly Memo from Prairie Church – March 16, 2008

May God’s peace be with you as we begin the journey of Holy Week. This Sunday is known as Palm-Passion Sunday. Worship will begin with a procession of palms by choir and children who wish to participate. Children should gather in Fellowship Hall to pick up a palm branch and line up for the procession. Our worship service will move from Palms to Passion as we remember the final days of Jesus’ life. We will remember the “last supper” as we read the story of Jesus and the disciples in the “upper room”, and the call to prayerful discipleship as we remember Christ’s journey to the cross. Readings for this Sunday are taken from the Gospel of Matthew: 21:1-11, 26:17-29, 30-39 and Philippians 2:5-11. Two poignant faith stories from a worship resource of our denomination will also be shown. The Chancel Choir will sing at both worship services.

Materials to aid you in experiencing Holy Week will be available this Sunday. A daily prayer and scripture guide for adults and a daily activity sheet for children and parents will be available on a table in Fellowship Hall.

Special Holy Week worship experiences include the following:

· “Maundy Thursday Family Feast” on Thursday evening, March 20 at 6 p.m. Reservations are needed for the main course of baked chicken. Sign up on the insert sheet in the worship bulletin this Sunday.

· Good Friday worship on March 21 will be in the sanctuary at 7:00 pm, as the Chancel Choir and Chamber Ensemble lead us in a Tenebrae service (increasing darkness) as they present the Cantata “The Shadow of the Cross”. We will end the worship service by passing the cross, used during our Wednesday night worship services.

· Easter Sunday will include the familiar songs of the day and end with our church tradition of singing the “Hallelujah Chorus”.

These worship services are very special and are great opportunities for sharing them with friends and neighbors, especially those who do not have a church home. Three weeks ago I asked you to be in prayer someone who may be thirsty for “living water”. If you feel called to invite that person to Easter worship or someone you know who may be receptive to your invitation, pick up an “invitation” card. It is an Easter card with the basic information about Easter Sunday, and a place for you to write a greeting and personal invitation. The art work on the front of the card will also be used for our Easter Sunday worship bulletin. These cards will be available at the “Welcome Center” and on the information table with the Holy Week prayer and activity suggestions.

Each Wednesday following the Taize’ Worship a small group of folks met in the Gathering Room for a time of continued prayer. Here is a prayer that was given to the group this past Wednesday evening, called “Reusing”, written by Chris Polhill:

Jesus our Savior, take our rubbish, the greed indulged,

The broken promises, anger, resentments.

Take the long list of sin that warps our being,

And weave your forgiving love that makes of waste a growing place.”

Gather to give thanks for God’s great love offered to us through Jesus Christ as you worship this Sunday at 9:00 or 10:30 a.m. in the sanctuary.

Be Blessed,

Pastor Mike Miller

mikem@prairiechurch.org

Weekly Memo from Prairie Church – March 23, 2008

May God’s peace and grace be with you as we move from the pain and suffering of the cross to the joy of resurrection in our celebration of Easter. Our worship this Sunday will include many of the familiar hymns of Easter. We will read resurrection stories from Acts 10:34-43 and John 20:1-18. The title of my Easter Message is: “Sorrow to Joy in the Extreme”. We will celebrate the presence of the risen Christ among us as we receive the sacrament of communion.

The Chancel choir will sing several special anthems. Worship will conclude with a Prairie Church tradition as choir and congregation sing Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus”. Those who wish to join the choir for this song will move to the choir area during the last hymn. Music scores will be provided. An abundance of flowers will bring a touch of spring to our sanctuary! Thanks to all who have honored or remembered loved ones with memorial plants.

A special Easter Sunday Continental Breakfast will be served in Fellowship Hall from 9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. You are welcome to enjoy this time of fellowship and food. Thanks to the Hospitality Ministry Team for continuing this great tradition.

Our Easter offering this year will once again provide financial support for the student ministry in L’viv, Ukraine, started by Fred and Stacy Vanderwerf. Your gifts will be used to help our church fulfill the $2,500 covenant we have with this program. The balance of our Easter offering will be used for the mission and ministry of Prairie Church as we reach out with the love and compassion of Christ. Easter offering envelopes are provided in the pews.

Special Holy Week worship experiences include the following:

· “Maundy Thursday Family Feast” on Thursday evening, March 20 at 6 p.m. Reservations are needed for the main course of baked chicken.

· Good Friday worship on March 21 will be in the sanctuary at 7:00 pm, as the Chancel Choir and Chamber Ensemble lead us in a Tenebrae service (increasing darkness) as they present the Cantata “The Shadow of the Cross”. We will end the worship service by passing the cross, used during our Wednesday night worship Taizé services.

These worship services are great opportunities for inviting friends and neighbors, especially those who do not have a church home. Early in Lent, I asked you to be in prayer for someone who may be thirsty for “living water”. If you feel called to invite that person to Easter worship, pick up an “invitation” card in the basket on the Welcome Center to send or give to them. It is a beautiful card which includes the basic information about our Easter Sunday worship, and a place for you to write a greeting and personal invitation. There are still a few cards left.

As we continue to grow in our understanding and expression of being a “Welcoming Congregation”, please remember to WEAR YOUR NAME BADGE EACH WEEK and save yourself or another person some embarrassment! Your name badge also helps the greeters and the pastors identify the visitors more readily on Sundays.

I like this Easter thought by Clarence Jordan, founder of the Koinonia Farms in Americus, Georgia. He said:

“The crowning evidence that Jesus was alive was not a vacant grave

but a spirit-filled fellowship. Not a rolled away stone, but a carried-away church.”

Let us gather this Sunday as the “carried-away church” as we celebrate the power of God’s boundless resurrection love through song, word and sacrament. I look forward to worshipping with you in the sanctuary this Sunday at 9:00 or 10:30 a.m.

Be Blessed,

Pastor Mike Miller

mikem@prairiechurch.org

Weekly Memo from Prairie Church – March 30, 2008

Easter Greetings! The church celebrates the season of Easter for fifty days concluding on the Day of Pentecost. This Sunday we will sing more of the familiar Easter hymns. The scripture reading from the Gospel of John is a continuation of the Easter story only it is “later that same day”. The Easter evening story is recorded in John 20: 19-31. The other scripture reading this Sunday is from the book of Acts 2:14a, 22-32, which is the witness of the early church regarding the resurrection. The title of my message is “Faithful Doubt”.

At the first worship service we will commission our mission team, going to do work in Van Cleave, Mississippi this week. They are leaving early on Sunday afternoon. Each servant/worker going on this trip has been matched with a prayer partner from our church. I encourage you to be in prayer for them as they share the Easter hope with our neighbors in the south.

This Sunday we welcome our new organist/keyboardist, Daniel Cherrix, as he helps lead weekly worship. Our Adult Bell Choir will be on “tour”, providing special music for the worship service at the Fort Snelling Chapel. They will be joined by the bell choir of Normandale Highlands United Methodist Church.

Last Sunday, nearly 500 people came to the church for Easter Sunday worship. Thanks to the choir and accompanying musicians who provided wonderful music, and to the Hospitality Ministry Team for serving a continental breakfast after each worship service. Thanks to all who have given a gift to support our Easter offering. So far, we have received $3,548. Easter offering envelopes will be available this Sunday if you have not yet given a gift. As stated in an earlier mailing, our Easter offering will once again provide financial support for the student ministry in L’viv, Ukraine, started by Fred and Stacy Vanderwerf. Our gifts will be used to help our church fulfill the $2,500 covenant we have with this program. The balance of our Easter offering will be used for the mission and ministry of Prairie Church as we reach out with the love and compassion of Christ. Easter offering envelopes are provided in the pews.

Here is an Easter prayer for your reflection. It is from a book of meditations called May I Have This Dance? by Joyce Rupp:

Jesus, you are risen! You are with us.

Keep us ever mindful of how you are a part of our lives in a deep and profound way.

Surprise us with a touch of your love in places where we never thought that we would find you.

Fill our hearts with hope.

May the gift of your presence transform every ordinary moment of ours into a sacred place where you dwell. Help us to see this gift through the eyes of faith. Fill us with your peace. Amen.

Let us gather this Sunday as the “risen body of Christ” and celebrate the power of God’s boundless resurrection love. I look forward to worshipping with you in the sanctuary this Sunday at 9:00 or 10:30 a.m.

Be Blessed,

Pastor Mike Miller

mikem@prairiechurch.org

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