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Weekly memo for February 25

2/25/2016

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At most of the places I frequent, like the bike shop, a few favorite restaurants, the dry cleaner and several others, they know by now that I am a pastor. They often do not let me forget it.
 
Last Saturday I was in the bike shop; I go to the Eric’s on Highway 5. I was trying to figure out how to put a fender on my fat bike so I could ride in this wet, muddy mess without getting covered in the stuff.  After helping me out, the manger whose name is Jay, looked at me and said, “So what’s the sermon on tomorrow?”  Now I know he doesn’t want the whole load. But how do you let a moment like that pass?
 
I really like Jay.   Sometimes I forget he knows I’m a pastor even when he’s asking about the sermon at the bike shop, and so I blurted out, “Don’t kid around with Jesus,” or something like that. Jay laughed and patted me on the back, looking sort of surprised that I had come up with something that made sense to him.  And then he said, “So is that the bike shop version?”  I said, “yes” and left it at that.
 
A couple of weeks ago, I asked a small group I am leading at church to try to catch themselves doing something or saying something that felt directly tied to their faith, without first thinking about it. They looked at me a little confused.  I’ll admit, it’s a confusing question. But what I’m trying to get at is how is it that our faith comes out intuitively, organically, out of who we naturally are as men and women, boys and girls, in any given moment.
 
When people identify me as a pastor, they often expect a certain response. I’ll have to admit that at times that frustrates me; it puts me on the spot of being the type of Christian they have in mind, which is perhaps not the one I am.   But I also feel it’s a great opportunity to connect people to what I believe is important in life. Doing this, without giving someone the whole load of what it means to have a relationship with God, can be hard to figure out, to say nothing of putting it in a way they can receive. But that should not stop us from trying.  It also should not stop us from taking the time to inwardly claim that there are moments in our lives when something of Jesus comes alive in and through and out of us.  This kind of revelation can surprise us more than anyone else.
 
This year I’m going to be asking some of you to share your stories of faith arising organically, unexpectedly.  I hope these stories help more of us to claim that we do indeed have a place in God’s story. These stories are important, both to learn to tell and to hear, because in the telling, in the hearing, Christ comes alive between us.
 
Keep the Faith,
 
Pastor Dan
 

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Weekly Memo for Feb. 18

2/18/2016

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The Staff Parish Relations Committee has some exciting and important news to share about our youth program.  This week, Terri Myers has been invited to take on the position of Director of Youth Ministries and she has accepted this position.  Terri has been a part of EPUMC and our youth program for a long time. Terri needs no introduction to most of us, most importantly to our youth. But here is an introduction anyway.
 
Terri has been a servant in our youth ministry team for many years. (Notice I did not say volunteer.)  She has shared in planning and coordinating our middle school program called B.L.T. She has been a part of several Senior High Mission trips and has participated in other areas of our youth program.
 
Terri will serve 12 hours a week working with youth, parents and Pastor Dan.  Terri brings a passion for youth and a servant’s heart.  She has an energy that is both inspiring and contagious. I believe Terri will continue to be a wonderful role model of faith for our youth.
 
In a conversation I had recently with Terri, we agreed that one of the important things we will be doing in the next months is growing our youth council.  This youth council is made up of youth and adults.  It is a way to hear from youth what they believe is important in their spiritual development and to help them be servants of Jesus Christ at EPUMC.
 
Today I would invite all of you… maybe right now as you are reading this memo….to offer a prayer for Terri and her family as she begins this ministry among us.   That prayer doesn’t need to be anything extravagant.  The one that immediately comes to my mind and heart is, “God help Terri!”  Or “God be with Terri and our youth.” Or if you have a little more time….
 
God of all time
            you reach out to us in all the ages
                        and stages of our life.                      
We pray today for the youth of EPUMC
            and all youth around your world
                        who must navigate the times we live in.
We pray today for Terri Meyers
            and all those who teach and inspire
                        and serve those who are no longer children and not yet adults.
May your grace surround all of us
            that in all times and phases of our life
                        we might recognize the love you have sent
                                    in your son Jesus.
                                                Amen.
 Keep the Faith,
Pastor Dan
 
 
 
 
 

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weekly memo for February 9

2/9/2016

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Tomorrow is the beginning of a season in the church year that we call Lent. And so I thought I’d take up my space on your computer this week on Tuesday instead of Thursday.
 
Lent is 40 days before Easter.  During Lent Christians prepare for the good news of Easter by recognizing we need a savior like Jesus to redeem our lives.  Lent is a time of reflection and prayer.  At EPUMC we add eating together instead of fasting, which seems odd until you consider that maybe what we are fasting from is the many other activities that take up our Wednesday evenings.
 
Starting tomorrow and every Wednesday evening up to and including March 16, we will have a Soup Supper beginning at 5:30.  Tomorrow we will have service at 6:45 p.m.  Each Wednesday after that will be followed by a brief worship service at 6:45. 
 
The services, including tomorrow’s service, are quiet and reflective. At first glance this seems odd after eating together. When we eat together at the soup suppers, the fellowship hall is full of people talking and laughing and asking for recipes. You would think it would be hard to get people to stop talking and come into a quiet sanctuary, but it’s not.  I think it’s because once we have the opportunity to remember one reason why it is so good to be a part of EPUMC (the people, the sharing, the soups), we are made ready to receive the other reasons why it is so good to be here, which are of course, God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
 
Keep the Faith,
Pastor Dan
 
 
 

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Weekly memo for February 4

2/4/2016

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I’m on a stay…cation this week.  A stay… cation, in case you haven’t heard, is a vacation where you stay at home.  We were going to go up to the lake, but last Friday I stepped out of my car going to the Chiropractor and experienced the second worst physical pain I have ever known.  I tore the outside meniscus on my left knee.  Maybe you saw these two buddies of mine at Ken Hookom’s funeral or last Sunday in worship.  Seriously, I could not bear any weight on my left leg until Tuesday afternoon when they gave me a shot of cortisone.  I’m much better, thank you very much, and if this works out I won’t need surgery.
 
There were several things I learned while spending the better part of four days on crutches. The first thing I learned was all the things you take for granted, like how many stairs it is up to the bedroom.  The answer is a lot, and for two days I had to scoot up and down them on my posterior.  Secondly, I’ve come to a brand new appreciation for all the different ways we have made things more accessible.  I had no idea that I’d ever be so very glad to see an automatic door opener as the other day when I went looking for a bathroom after spending a half an hour trying to remain as still as I could for an MRI.  
 
One of the other things I learned is how we depend upon others.  I can’t say “thank you,” enough to my wife for both watching out for me and getting me from one place to another. I also want to thank all those who let me cut in front of them when the guys at the Chiropractor’s office had to carry me in and took me right back.   People also seem to watch out for you a little bit when you are on crutches.  Maybe I just looked like a rookie on them, but I sure had a lot of doors opened for me.
 
This extra kindness from others reminds me of one reason I value being a part of a faith community like EPUMC. Listen to this from William Sloan Coffin who once said, “It is often said that the Church is a crutch. Of course it's a crutch. What makes you think you don't limp?”  What would it be like to treat others as if we could see why they limped?
 
Every once in a while life sends us experiences in which, for a brief time, we have to put up with what is a more permanent limp for someone else.  We often fear and want to be rid of these times, I guess so we can get back to normal.  But if these last days have taught me one more thing, it is that normal is different for everyone. And if some of us have as much to deal with on the inside as I had to deal with on the outside last week, well… I’m glad we have each other.
Keep the Faith,
Pastor Dan
 


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15050 Scenic Heights Road
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
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