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Weekly Memo: Reflections after GC 2019

2/28/2019

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I usually write my memos on Thursday mornings but this week I’m writing on the evening before my knee replacement surgery, which is, or I should say was, on Wednesday. They tell me I’ll be on some pretty strong pain medication, so perhaps it is a good idea to write this memo early.
 
I’ve a couple concerns with when this surgery was scheduled. The most important is missing two Sundays of worship and the beginning of the season before Easter we call Lent on Ash Wednesday, March 6. Rev. Susan Weaver will be preaching both Sundays. Susan is known to many of us who are involved at PROP, and she will have great perspective on our theme, “Living in God’s Kind of Time.”
 
On Ash Wednesday Don Prestly and Deb Soderholm will lead our service of the Imposition of Ashes. Although this is a sacramental kind of event, it is not a sacrament of our church. And so it’s appropriate for Don and Deb to place the crosses of ash on your foreheads.  I mean, who else would you want to do it?
 
The other concern I have is not being with you as news breaks from the Special General Conference of the United Methodist Church on sexuality and church unity (or better put, lack of church unity.)  The conference ended today (Feb. 26) and I’m finding it difficult as I try to keep my blood pressure at an acceptable level for surgery.  For me it is heartbreaking to report that the Special General Conference passed a plan that is more restrictive in language and practice concerning those of us who are LGBTQI.
 
Regardless of what has been decided at the General Conference, our focus at Eden Prairie UMC of being “Big Enough to Make a Difference, Small Enough to Care” …to everyone… has not changed!  This mission we believe has come to us through the Holy Spirit, and no decision of any legislative body has the power to change this direction. Our task in these coming weeks and months is to continue to be a safe and nurturing place, now more than ever, especially for LGBTQI persons. 
 
This Sunday at the end of worship Andrea Mardock of our Rainbow Team will offer a brief updated statement about this Special General Conference.  Regardless of what was decided or not decided, this is not time for reactionary behavior. This is a God’s kind of time moment, a time to have a sense of clarity about who we are at EPUMC so that we can continue to focus on our mission even more faithfully.
 

Keep the Faith,
Pastor Dan

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Weekly Memo: Sharing Love

2/14/2019

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We had another great Wednesday Night Live experience last night. A few of us were worried that our unexpected        2-week hiatus caused by the weather would affect attendance.  Instead we had a wonderful time; the pulled pork is my favorite meal, there were so many kids running around you could not help but smile, and frankly I think a lot of us were just glad to be able to be out of the house for something other than work and to be together with our church family.
 
Our response to the weather in the last couple of weeks and dealing with the newest addition to Eden Prairie’s skating rink system, better known to us as our parking lot, is worth remembering. First, let’s remember (because you know winter isn’t over yet), that any time Eden Prairie Schools cancels school or evening activities, we do also. We’ve been consistent about this, and it’s the best way to get the word out. It also seems that our email list is a great way to communicate with most everyone.
 
I also want to thank everyone for understanding our situation about clearing our parking lot. The person who clears out parking lot (he also cuts our grass) gives us a great deal; it‘s a better deal than you can imagine. We have benefited many times by being a priority on Sunday morning. It’s a small business and does not have the capacity to spread sand, salt or other chemicals. And with the timing of the last two ice and snow events, we all got caught in something of a perfect storm. 
 
Sometimes even a perfect storm calls out the best in us. As trustees and leadership responded and made some difficult decisions about preventing any falls on our skating rink, it became even clearer to me how great our congregation works together. And did you see the guys shoveling the walk while it was snowing on Sunday and the guy who was escorting people to the door? What is that?
 
We know what that is! It is our passion to grow a culture of fellowship that extends beyond the obvious and the convenient. It is a whole bunch of people who have made EPUMC a priority in their busy and full lives and take the time do provide direction and do what needs to be done so others have the opportunity to experience the love and grace of Jesus Christ.
 
I realize that last phrase is a bit of heavy lifting when you are talking about clearing snow and ice from a parking lot… every once in a while though, it’s good to be reminded of why we do this. And without going into the many names involved and mentioning the details of it all, I want to say a thank you to everyone who found a way to insure people were safe and that EPUMC shared the gift of the love of Christ that has been granted in abundance to us.
 
Keep the Faith,
Pastor Dan
 
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15050 Scenic Heights Road
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
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